Sniper
FR F2, Accuracy International AWM and PGM Hécate II rifles (left to right, 2012) and camouflage Ghillie suits | |
Occupation | |
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Occupation type | Military / Law enforcement |
Activity sectors | Use of high-precision rifles and special reconnaissance |
Part of a series on |
War |
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A sniper is a
In addition to
Etymology
The name sniper comes from the verb to snipe, which originated in the 1770s among soldiers in
The older term
Snipers are also called "hunters" in many languages, due to the nature of the craft (with the hunting horn also being a symbol of marksmanship), being called caçadores, chasseurs and Jäger. Other words for sniper include franc-tireur, tireur d'élite and atirador de escol. Completely different and peculiar is the Italian term cecchino
Modern warfare
Military doctrine
Different countries use different
A sniper's primary function in modern warfare is to stay concealed at all times and avoid detection. Then from long range, to provide detailed
]Military snipers from the US, UK and other countries that adopt their military doctrine are typically deployed in two-man sniper teams consisting of a shooter and a
The German doctrine of largely independent snipers and emphasis on concealment, developed during the Second World War, has been most influential on modern sniper tactics, and is currently used throughout Western militaries (examples are specialized camouflage clothing, concealment in terrain and emphasis on coup d'œil).[11][page needed][12][13]
Sniper teams
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2019) |
The shooter focuses mainly on firing the shot, while the spotter assists in observation of targets, accounts for
The spotter is responsible for detecting, identifying and assigning priority of targets for the shooter, as well as assessing the outcome of the shot. Using a
Law enforcement applications
Police units that are unequipped for tactical operations may rely on a specialized SWAT team, which may have a dedicated sniper.
The need for specialized training for police sharpshooters was made apparent in 1972 during the Munich massacre when the German police could not deploy specialized personnel or equipment during the standoff at the airport in the closing phase of the crisis, and consequently all of the Israeli hostages were killed. While the German army did have snipers in 1972, the use of army snipers in the scenario was impossible due to the German constitution's explicit prohibition of the use of the military in domestic matters. This lack of trained snipers who could be used in civilian roles was later addressed with the founding of the specialized police counter-terrorist unit GSG 9.
Longest recorded sniper kill
The longest confirmed sniper kill in combat was achieved by an undisclosed member of the Ukrainian Security Service of Ukraine in November 2023, hitting a Russian soldier at a distance of 3,800 m (4,156 yd) during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[21]
The previous record holder was a member of the Canadian
In November 2009,
The calculation assumes a flat-fire scenario (a situation where the shooting and target positions are at equal elevation), using British military custom high-pressure .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges, loaded with 16.2 g (250 gr) Lapua LockBase B408 bullets, fired at 936 m/s (3,071 ft/s) muzzle velocity[27] under the following on-site (average) atmospheric conditions: barometric pressure: 1,019 hPa (30.1 inHg) at sea-level equivalent or 899 hPa (26.5 inHg) on-site, humidity: 25.9%, and temperature: 15 °C (59 °F) in the region for November 2009,[28] resulting in an air density ρ = 1.0854 kg/m3 at the 1,043 m (3,422 ft) elevation of Musa Qala. Harrison mentions in reports that the environmental conditions were perfect for long range shooting, "... no wind, mild weather, clear visibility."[24] In a BBC interview, Harrison reported it took about nine shots for him and his spotter to initially range the target successfully.[29]
Military history
Before the development of rifling, firearms were smoothbore and inaccurate over long distance. Barrel rifling was invented at the end of the fifteenth century, but was only employed in large cannons. Over time, rifling, along with other gunnery advances, has increased the performance of modern firearms.
1701–1800
Marksmanship (later "sharpshooting" or "sniping") occurred as early as the mid-eighteenth century.
For instance, in the 1752 Appin Murder, Colin Roy Campbell of Glenure was shot in the back near Duror by an unknown sniper, most likely from within Clan Stewart of Appin, in retaliation for Campbell's role in an early version of the Highland Clearances; the mass eviction of Stewart clansmen and their replacement by members of Clan Campbell.
Hunting terminology was quickly adapted to warfare by British soldiers. In a 1772 letter, a soldier described enemies firing very accurately:[30]
… in erecting our batteries, the people frequently play tricks, by putting a hat with a cockade in it on a spunge staff, which the enemy fire at and often hit, to the diversion of the soldiery, who humorously call it sniping, and watch the flash to return the fire.
On 11 September 1777, during the Battle of Brandywine, British Captain Patrick Ferguson had a tall, distinguished American officer in his rifle's iron sights. Ferguson did not take the shot, as he considered shooting anyone in the back dishonourable. Only later, did Ferguson learn that George Washington had been on the battlefield that day.[31]
At the Battles of Saratoga, Morgan's Riflemen hid in the trees and used early model rifles to shoot senior British officers. Most notably, Timothy Murphy shot and killed General Simon Fraser of Balnain on 7 October 1777 at a distance of about 400 yards.[32][33][34]
In early 1800, Colonel Coote Manningham and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. William Stewart of the British Army proposed using what they had learned while leading light infantry to establish a special unit of marksmen. Subsequently raised as the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen", they were armed with the formidable Baker rifle rather than the inaccurate smoothbore muskets used by most troops at that time.[35] Through the combination of a leather wad and tight grooves on the inside of the barrel (rifling), this weapon was far more accurate, though slower to load. On 25 August 1800, three companies, under the command of Stewart, spearheaded an amphibious landing at Ferrol, Spain.
1801–1900
The term, "sharp shooter" was in use in British newspapers as early as 1801. In the Edinburgh Advertiser, 23 June 1801, can be found the following quote in a piece about the North British Militia; "This Regiment has several Field Pieces, and two companies of Sharp Shooters, which are very necessary in the modern Stile of War". The term appears even earlier, around 1781, in Continental Europe, translated from the German Scharfschütze.
During the Crimean War, the first optical sights were designed to fit onto rifles. Much of this pioneering work was the brainchild of Colonel D. Davidson, using optical sights produced by Chance Brothers of Birmingham. This allowed a marksman to observe and target objects more accurately at a greater distance than ever before.[39] The telescopic sight, or scope, was originally fixed and could not be adjusted, which therefore limited its range.
Despite its success at the trials, the rifle was not adopted by the British Army. However, the
Second Boer War
During the
The first British sniper unit began life as the
After the war, this regiment went on to formally become the first official sniper unit, then better known as sharpshooters.[45]
World War I
During
During the First World War, the static movement of trench warfare and a need for protection from snipers created a requirement for loopholes both for discharging firearms and for observation.[50] Often a steel plate was used with a "key hole", which had a rotating piece to cover the loophole when not in use.[50]
Soon the British army began to train their own snipers in specialized sniper schools. Major Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard was given formal permission to begin sniper training in 1915, and founded the First Army School of Sniping, Observation, and Scouting at Linghem in France in 1916.[51] Starting with a first class of only six, in time he was able to lecture to large numbers of soldiers from different Allied nations, proudly proclaiming in a letter that his school was turning out snipers at three times the rate of any such other school in the world.[52]
He also devised a metal-armoured double loophole that would protect the sniper observer from enemy fire. The front loophole was fixed, but the rear was housed in a metal shutter sliding in grooves. Only when the two loopholes were lined up—a one-to-twenty chance—could an enemy shoot between them.[53] Another innovation was the use of a dummy head to find the location of an enemy sniper.[54] The papier-mâché figures were painted to resemble soldiers to draw sniper fire. Some were equipped with rubber surgical tubing so the dummy could "smoke" a cigarette and thus appear realistic. Holes punched in the dummy by enemy sniper bullets then could be used for triangulation purposes to determine the position of the enemy sniper, who could then be attacked with artillery fire. He developed many of the modern techniques in sniping, including the use of spotting scopes and working in pairs, and using Kim's Game to train observational skills.[55]
In 1920, he wrote his account of his war time activities in his book Sniping in France, to which reference is still made by modern authors regarding the subject.[56][57][58]
The main sniper rifles used during the First World War were the German Mauser Gewehr 98; the British Pattern 1914 Enfield[59] and Lee–Enfield SMLE Mk III, the Canadian Ross rifle, the American M1903 Springfield,[60] the Italian M1891 Carcano, and the Russian M1891 Mosin–Nagant.
World War II
During the
Snipers reappeared as important factors on the battlefield from the first campaign of World War II. During Germany's 1940 campaigns, lone, well-hidden French and British snipers were able to halt the German advance for a considerable amount of time. For example, during the pursuit to Dunkirk, British snipers were able to significantly delay the German infantry's advance. This prompted the British once again to increase training of specialized sniper units. Apart from marksmanship, British snipers were trained to blend in with the environment, often by using special camouflage clothing for concealment. However, because the British Army offered sniper training exclusively to officers and non-commissioned officers, the resulting small number of trained snipers in combat units considerably reduced their overall effectiveness.[12]
During the Winter War, Finnish snipers took a heavy toll of the invading Red Army. Simo Häyhä is credited with 505 confirmed kills,[61][62] most with the Finnish version of the iron-sighted bolt-action Mosin–Nagant. The most successful German sniper was Matthäus Hetzenauer with 345 confirmed kills. In Germany only confirmed kills are valid in the presence of an officer, so Hetzenauer's estimated kills are many times higher. His longest confirmed kill was reported at 1,100 meters (1,200 yards).[63] Hetzenauer received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 April 1945.[64]
One of the best known battles involving snipers, and the battle that made the Germans reinstate their specialized sniper training, was the Battle of Stalingrad. Their defensive position inside a city filled with rubble meant that Soviet snipers were able to inflict significant casualties on the Wehrmacht troops. Because of the nature of fighting in city rubble, snipers were very hard to spot and seriously dented the morale of the German attackers. The best known of these snipers was probably Vasily Zaytsev, featured in the novel War of the Rats and the subsequent film Enemy at the Gates.
German Scharfschützen were prepared before the war, equipped with
A total of 428,335 individuals received Red Army sniper training, including Soviet and non-Soviet partisans, with 9,534 receiving the sniping 'higher qualification'. During World War ІІ, two six-month training courses for women alone trained nearly 55,000 snipers, of which more than two thousand later served in the army.
In the United States Armed Forces, sniper training was only very elementary and was mainly concerned with being able to hit targets over long distances. Snipers were required to be able to hit a body over 400 meters away, and a head over 200 meters away. There was almost no instruction in blending into the environment. Sniper training varied from place to place, resulting in wide variation in the qualities of snipers. The main reason the US did not extend sniper training beyond long-range shooting was the limited deployment of US soldiers until the
The U.S. Army's lack of familiarity with sniping tactics proved disastrous in Normandy and the campaign in Western Europe where they encountered well trained German snipers.[11][page needed] In Normandy, German snipers remained hidden in the dense vegetation and were able to encircle American units, firing at them from all sides. The American and British forces were surprised by how near the German snipers could approach in safety and attack them, as well as by their ability to hit targets at up to 1,000m. A notable mistake made by inexperienced American soldiers was to lie down and wait when targeted by German snipers, allowing the snipers to pick them off one after another.[11][page needed] German snipers often infiltrated Allied lines and sometimes when the front-lines moved, they continued to fight from their sniping positions, refusing to surrender until their rations and munitions were exhausted.
Those tactics were also a consequence of changes in German enlistment. After several years of war and heavy losses on the Eastern Front, the German army was forced to rely more heavily on enlisting teenage soldiers. Due to lack of training in more complex group tactics, and thanks to rifle training provided by the
In the
Common sniper rifles used during the
Training
Military sniper training aims to teach a high degree of proficiency in
Snipers are trained to squeeze the trigger straight back with the ball of their finger, to avoid jerking the gun sideways.
Accuracy
Cartridge | Maximum effective range (m)[68] |
---|---|
5.56×45mm NATO (.223 Remington) |
300–500
|
7.62×51mm )
(.308 Winchester |
800–1,000
|
7.62×54mmR | 800–1,000
|
7 mm Remington Magnum
|
900–1,100
|
.300 Winchester Magnum | 900–1,200
|
.338 Lapua Magnum | 1,300–1,600
|
12.7×99mm NATO )
|
1,500–2,000
|
12.7×108mm (Russian) | 1,500–2,000
|
14.5×114mm (Russian) | 1,900–2,300
|
.408 Cheyenne Tactical | 1,500–2,400
|
The key to sniping is accuracy, which applies to both the weapon and the shooter. The weapon should be able to consistently place shots within tight tolerances.[9][page needed] The sniper in turn must use the weapon to accurately place shots under varying conditions.[9][page needed]
A sniper must have the ability to accurately estimate the various factors that influence a bullet's trajectory and point of impact, such as range to the target, wind direction, wind velocity, altitude and elevation of the sniper, and the target and ambient temperature. Mistakes in estimation compound over distance and can decrease lethality or cause a shot to miss completely.[9][page needed]
Snipers zero their weapons at a target range or in the field. This is the process of adjusting the scope so that the bullets' points-of-impact are at the point-of-aim (centre of scope or scope's cross-hairs) for a specific distance.[9][page needed] A rifle and scope should retain its zero as long as possible under all conditions to reduce the need to re-zero during missions.[9][page needed]
A sandbag can serve as a useful platform for shooting a sniper rifle, although any soft surface such as a
U.S. military
Servicemen volunteer for the rigorous sniper training and are accepted on the basis of their aptitude, physical ability, marksmanship, patience and mental stability. Military snipers may be further trained as forward air controllers (FACs) to direct air strikes or forward observers (FOs) to direct artillery or mortar fire.[citation needed]
Russian Army
From 2011, the Russian armed forces have run newly developed sniper courses in military district training centres. In place of the Soviet practice of mainly squad sharpshooters, which were often designated during initial training (and of whom only few become snipers per se), these new army snipers are trained intensively for three months (for conscripts) or longer (for contract soldiers). The training program includes theory and practice of countersniper engagements, artillery spotting, and coordination of air support.[15] The first instructors are the graduates of the Solnechnogorsk sniper training centre.
The method of sniper deployment, according to the Ministry of Defence, is likely to be one three-platoon company at the brigade level, with one of the platoons acting independently and the other two supporting the battalions as needed.[69]
Targeting, tactics, and techniques
Range finding
The range to the target is measured or estimated as precisely as conditions permit and correct range estimation becomes absolutely critical at long ranges, because a bullet travels with a curved trajectory and the sniper must compensate for this by aiming higher at longer distances.[9][page needed] If the exact distance is not known the sniper may compensate incorrectly and the bullet path may be too high or low. As an example, for a typical military sniping cartridge such as 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 Winchester) M118 Special Ball round this difference (or "drop") from 700 to 800 meters (770–870 yd) is 200 millimetres (7.9 in). This means that if the sniper incorrectly estimated the distance as 700 meters when the target was in fact 800 meters away, the bullet will be 200 millimeters lower than expected by the time it reaches the target.[9][page needed]
Laser rangefinders may be used, and range estimation is often the job of both parties in a team.[70] One useful method of range finding without a laser rangefinder is comparing the height of the target (or nearby objects) to their size on the mil dot scope, or taking a known distance and using some sort of measure (utility poles, fence posts) to determine the additional distance. The average human head is 150 millimeters (5.9 in) in width, average human shoulders are 500 millimeters (20 in) apart and the average distance from a person's pelvis to the top of their head is 1,000 millimeters (39 in).
To determine the range to a target without a laser rangefinder, the sniper may use the
It is important to note that angular mil (mil) is only an approximation of a
At longer ranges, bullet drop plays a significant role in targeting.[9][page needed] The effect can be estimated from a chart, which may be memorized or taped to the rifle, although some scopes come with Bullet Drop Compensator (BDC) systems that only require the range be dialed in. These are tuned to both a specific class of rifle and specific ammunition. Every bullet type and load will have different ballistics. .308 Federal 175 grain (11.3 g) BTHP match shoots at 2,600 ft/s (790 m/s). Zeroed at 100 yards (100 m), a 16.2 MOA adjustment would have to be made to hit a target at 600 yards (500 m). If the same bullet was shot with 168 grain (10.9 g), a 17.1 MOA adjustment would be necessary.[9][page needed]
Shooting uphill or downhill is confusing for many because
Windage plays a significant role, with the effect increasing with wind speed or the distance of the shot. The slant of visible convections near the ground can be used to estimate crosswinds, and correct the point of aim. All adjustments for range, wind, and elevation can be performed by aiming off the target, called "holding over" or
For moving targets, the point-of-aim is ahead of the target in the direction of movement. Known as "leading" the target, the amount of "lead" depends on the speed and angle of the target's movement as well as the distance to the target. For this technique, holding over is the preferred method.[9][page needed] Anticipating the behavior of the target is necessary to accurately place the shot.[9][page needed]
Hide sites and hiding techniques
The term "
The main purpose of ghillie suits and hide sites is to break up the outline of a person with a rifle.
Many snipers use ghillie suits to hide and stay hidden. Ghillie suits vary according to the terrain into which the sniper wishes to blend. For example, in dry grassland the sniper will typically wear a ghillie suit covered in dead grass.
Shot placement
Shot placement, which is where on the body the sniper is aiming, varies with the type of sniper. Military snipers, who generally do not shoot at targets at less than 300 m (330 yd), usually attempt body shots, aiming at the chest. These shots depend on tissue damage, organ trauma, and blood loss to kill the target. Body shots are used because the chest is a larger target.
Police snipers, who generally shoot at much shorter distances, may attempt a more precise shot at particular parts of body or particular devices: in one incident in 2007 in
In a high-risk or hostage-taking situation where a suspect is imminently threatening to kill a hostage, police snipers may take head shots to ensure an instant kill. The snipers aim for the medulla oblongata to sever the spine from the brain. While this is believed to prevent the target from reflexively firing their weapon, there is evidence that any brain-hit is sufficient.[72]
Target acquisition
Snipers are trained for the detection, identification, and location of a targeted soldier in sufficient detail to permit the effective employment of lethal and non-lethal means. Since most kills in modern warfare are by other crew-served weapons, reconnaissance is one of the most effective uses of snipers.[citation needed] They use their aerobic conditioning, infiltration skills and excellent long-distance observation equipment (optical scopes) and tactics to approach and observe the enemy. In this role, their rules of engagement typically let them shoot at high-value targets of opportunity, such as enemy officers.
The targets may be personnel or high-value materiel (military equipment and weapons) but most often they target the most important enemy personnel such as officers or specialists (e.g. communications operators) so as to cause maximum disruption to enemy operations. Other personnel they might target include those who pose an immediate threat to the sniper, like dog handlers, who are often employed in a search for snipers. A sniper identifies officers by their appearance and behavior such as symbols of rank, talking to radio operators, sitting as a passenger in a car, sitting in a car with a large radio antenna, having military servants, binoculars/map cases or talking and moving position more frequently. If possible, snipers shoot in descending order by rank, or if rank is unavailable, they shoot to disrupt communications.
Some rifles, such as the Denel NTW-20 and Vidhwansak, are designed for a purely anti-materiel (AM) role, e.g. shooting turbine disks of parked aircraft, missile guidance packages, expensive optics, and the bearings, tubes or wave guides of radar sets. A sniper equipped with the correct rifle can target radar dishes, water containers, the engines of vehicles, and any number of other targets. Other rifles, such as the .50 caliber rifles produced by Barrett and McMillan, are not designed exclusively as AM rifles, but are often employed in such a way, providing the range and power needed for AM applications in a lightweight package compared to most traditional AM rifles. Other calibers, such as the .408 Cheyenne Tactical and the .338 Lapua Magnum, are designed to be capable of limited AM application, but are ideally suited as long range anti-personnel rounds.
Relocating
Often in situations with multiple targets, snipers use relocation. After firing a few shots from a certain position, snipers move unseen to another location before the enemy can determine where they are and mount a counter-attack. Snipers will frequently use this tactic to their advantage, creating an atmosphere of chaos and confusion. In other, rarer situations, relocation is used to eliminate the factor of wind.
Sound masking
As sniper rifles are often extremely powerful and consequently loud, it is common for snipers to use a technique known as sound masking. When employed by a highly skilled marksman, this tactic can be used as a substitute for a noise
Psychological warfare
Due to the surprise nature of sniper fire, high lethality of aimed shots and frustration at the inability to locate and counterattack snipers, sniper tactics have a significant negative effect on morale. Extensive use of sniper tactics can be used to induce constant stress and fear in opposing forces, making them afraid to move about or leave cover. In many ways, the psychological impact imposed by snipers is quite similar to those of
Historically, captured snipers are often summarily executed. This happened during World War I[76] and World War II;[77] for example the second Biscari Massacre when 36 suspected snipers were lined up and shot on 14 July 1943.
As a result, if a sniper is in imminent danger of capture, he may discard any items (sniper rifle, laser rangefinder, etc.) which might indicate his status as a sniper. The risk of captured snipers being summarily executed is explicitly referred to in Chapter 6 of US Army doctrine document FM 3-060.11 entitled "SNIPER AND COUNTERSNIPER TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES":
Historically, units that suffered heavy and continual casualties from urban sniper fire and were frustrated by their inability to strike back effectively often have become enraged. Such units may overreact and violate the laws of land warfare concerning the treatment of captured snipers. This tendency is magnified if the unit has been under the intense stress of urban combat for an extended time. It is vital that commanders and leaders at all levels understand the law of land warfare and understand the psychological pressures of urban warfare. It requires strong leadership and great moral strength to prevent soldiers from releasing their anger and frustration on captured snipers or civilians suspected of sniping at them.[citation needed]
The negative reputation and perception of snipers can be traced back to the
To demoralize enemy troops, snipers can follow predictable patterns. During the 26th of July Movement in the Cuban Revolution, the revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro always killed the foremost man in a group of President Batista's soldiers.[verification needed] Realizing this, none of Batista's men would walk first, as it was suicidal. This effectively decreased the army's willingness to search for rebel bases in the forests and mountains. An alternative approach to this psychological process is to kill the second man in the row, leading to the psychological effect of nobody wanting to follow the "leader".
Counter-sniper tactics
The occurrence of sniper warfare has led to the evolution of many counter-sniper tactics in modern military strategies. These aim to reduce the damage caused by a sniper to an army, which can often be harmful to both combat capabilities and morale.
The risk of damage to a chain of command can be reduced by removing or concealing features that would otherwise indicate an officer's rank. Modern armies tend to avoid saluting officers in the field, and eliminate rank insignia on
Friendly snipers can be used to hunt the enemy sniper. Besides direct observation, defending forces can use other techniques. These include calculating the trajectory of a bullet by triangulation. Traditionally, triangulation of a sniper's position was done manually, though radar-based technology has recently become available. Once located, the defenders can attempt to approach the sniper from cover and overwhelm them. The United States military is funding a project known as RedOwl (Robot Enhanced Detection Outpost With Lasers), which uses laser and acoustic sensors to determine the exact direction from which a sniper round has been fired.[78]
The more rounds fired by a sniper, the greater the chance the target has of locating him. Thus, attempts to draw fire are often made, sometimes by offering a helmet slightly out of concealment, a tactic successfully employed in the Winter War by the Finns known as "Kylmä-Kalle" (Cold Charlie).[79] They used a shop mannequin or other doll dressed as a tempting target, such as an officer. The doll was then presented as if it were a real man sloppily covering himself. Usually, Soviet snipers were unable to resist the temptation of an apparently easy kill. Once the angle where the bullet came from was determined, a large caliber gun, such as a Lahti L-39 "Norsupyssy" ("Elephant rifle") anti-tank rifle was fired at the sniper to kill him.
Other tactics include directing artillery or mortar fire onto suspected sniper positions, the use of
The use of canine units had been very successful, especially during the Vietnam War.[80]
Irregular and asymmetric warfare
The use of sniping (in the sense of shooting at relatively long range from a concealed position) to murder came to public attention in a number of sensational U.S. criminal cases, including the
Sniping has been used in asymmetric warfare situations, for example in the Northern Ireland Troubles, where in 1972, the bloodiest year of the conflict, the majority of the soldiers killed were shot by concealed IRA riflemen.[82] There were some instances in the early 1990s of British soldiers and RUC personnel being shot with .50 caliber Barrett rifles by sniper teams collectively known as the South Armagh sniper.[83]
The sniper is particularly suited to combat environments where one side is at a disadvantage. A careful sniping strategy can use a few individuals and resources to thwart the movement or other progress of a much better equipped or larger force. Sniping enables a few persons to instil terror in a much larger regular force – regardless of the size of the force the snipers are attached to. It is widely accepted that sniping, while effective in specific instances, is much more effective as a broadly deployed psychological attack or as a force-multiplier.[84][85][86]
Snipers are less likely to be treated mercifully than non-snipers if captured by the enemy.[77] The rationale for this is that ordinary soldiers shoot at each other at 'equal opportunity' whilst snipers take their time in tracking and killing individual targets in a methodical fashion with a relatively low risk of retaliation.
War in Iraq
In 2003, the U.S.-led multinational coalition composed of primarily U.S. and UK troops occupied Iraq and attempted to establish a new government in the country. However, shortly after the initial invasion, violence against coalition forces and among various sectarian groups led to asymmetric warfare with the Iraqi insurgency and civil war between many Sunni and Shia Iraqis.
Through to November 2005 the Army had attributed 28 of 2,100 U.S. deaths to enemy snipers.[87] In 2006, it was claimed that one insurgent sniper, "Juba", had shot up to 37 American soldiers.[88]
Training materials obtained by U.S. intelligence had among its tips for shooting U.S. troops, "Killing doctors and chaplains is suggested as a means of psychological warfare.", suggesting that those casualties would demoralize entire units.[87][89]
Arab Spring
Sniper activity was reported during the
Notable military marksmen and snipers
Even before firearms were available, soldiers such as archers were specially trained as elite marksmen.
17th century
- Lord Brooke, who represented the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, was the first recorded British sniper victim, killed by a Royalist soldier hiding in a bell tower in Lichfield.
18th century
- Simon Fraser during the pivotal Battles of Saratoga, hampering the British advance which resulted in their defeat.[10][page needed]
- Patrick Ferguson (American Revolutionary War) – developer of the world's first breech-loaded military rifle (which advanced sniping and sharpshooting tactics), fought with his Corps of Riflemen (recruited from the 6th and 14th Foot) at the Battle of Brandywine, where he may have passed up a chance to shoot George Washington.[94]
19th century
- Napoleonic Wars – Use of Marine sharpshooters in the mast tops was common usage in navies of the period, and Admiral Nelson's death at Trafalgar is attributed to the actions of French sharpshooters. The British Army developed the concept of directed fire (as opposed to massive unaimed volleys) and formed Rifle regiments, notably the 95th and the 60th who wore green jackets instead of the usual redcoats. Fighting as Skirmishers, usually in pairs and trusted to choose their own targets, they wrought havoc amongst the French during the Peninsular War.
- British Colbert and one of his aides at a range of between 200 and 600 metres (219 and 656 yd) using a Baker rifle.[95]
- Colonel Sharps Rifle. It has been claimed that Berdan's units killed more enemies than any other in the Union Army.[10][page needed]
- Jack Hinson (American Civil War) recorded 36 "kills" on his custom-made .50 caliber Kentucky long rifle with iron sights.[96]
- During the American Civil War, an unidentified Confederate sniper shot Major General John Sedgwick during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House probably with a British Whitworth target rifle at the then-incredible distance of minimum 730 metres (798 yd). Ben Powell of the 12th South Carolina claimed credit, although his account has been discounted because the general he shot at with a Whitworth rifled musket was mounted, probably Brig Gen. William H. Morris. Union troops from the 6th Vermont claim to have shot an unidentified sharpshooter as they crossed the fields seeking revenge.[97] The shooting of Sedgewick caused administrative delays in the Union's attack and led to Confederate victory. Sedgwick ignored advice to take cover, his last words according to urban legend being, "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist-", whereupon he was shot. In reality, he was shot a few minutes later.[10][page needed]
- Major American Old West, but he left the United States to scout in Africa and went on to command the British Army Scouts in the Second Boer War. For his ability to track, even at night, the Africans dubbed him, He-who-sees-in-the-dark,[99] but in the press he became more widely known as England's American Scout.[100]
20th century
- Gallipoli Campaign; he may have had close to 300 kills in total at Gallipoli,[104]and went on to fight at the Western Front.
- Native Canadian sniper credited with 378 kills, and an unknown number of unconfirmed kills. He only took credit for kills when they were verified by an officer.[105]
- Finnish Lance Corporal Simo Häyhä, nicknamed "White Death",[101] was a sniper during the Winter War and is regarded by many as the most effective sniper in the history of warfare, being credited with killing up to 705 Soviet soldiers (505 sniper kills, and estimated 200 sub-machine gun kills) in fewer than 100 days.[101][102][103] Häyhä used a White Guard M/28 "Pystykorva" or "Spitz", variant of the Russian Mosin–Nagant rifle.[101]
- Mikhail Ilyich Surkov has been said to have killed 702 enemy troops, Vladimir Gavrilovich Salbiev had 601 confirmed kills, Vasilij Kvachantiradze had 534, and Ivan Sidorenko had around 500.[106]
- Lieutenant Lyudmila Pavlichenko (World War II) was a female Soviet sniper with 309 confirmed kills, making her the most successful female sniper in history.[107]
- Junior Lieutenant Vasily Zaytsev (World War II) was credited with killing about 200 German soldiers during the Battle of Stalingrad;[108] he is portrayed in the film Enemy at the Gates and in the book War of the Rats. Both are fictionalized accounts.
- Semyon Nomokonov killed 367 persons, including a general.[106]
- Gefreiter (Private) Matthäus Hetzenauer was an Austrian sniper in World War II who was credited with 345 confirmed kills[109] on the Eastern Front, the most successful in the Wehrmacht.
- Obergefreiter (Private First Class) Josef 'Sepp' Allerberger was an Austrian sniper credited with 257 confirmed kills on the Eastern Front in World War II.[citation needed] (the same situation as has Hetzenauer – German officers seldom confirmed kills).
- Helmut Wirnsberger – Austrian sniper, who has served in 3. Gebirgsjaegerdivision during WW II and credited 64 confirmed kills.[110]
- Chinese Sergeant Tung Chih Yeh claimed to have shot and killed over 100 Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) soldiers using a
- Zhang Taofang (Chinese: 张桃芳; Traditional Chinese: 張桃芳; Wade–Giles: Zhang Tao-fang) was a Chinese soldier during the Korean War. He is credited with 214 confirmed kills in 32 days without using a sniper magnifying scope.[47][112]
- Clive Hulme was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He is credited with stalking and killing 33 German snipers in the Battle of Crete.[113]
- Ian Robertson served as a sniper with Australia's 3RAR after World War II. He became one of the most effective snipers during the Korean War, during which in one instance he killed 30 soldiers in a single morning.[114]
- Roza Shanina was a Soviet sniper during World War II credited with 59 confirmed kills, including twelve soldiers during the Battle of Vilnius.[115]
- M2 Browning heavy machine gun, he set a world record for the longest recorded sniper kill at 2,286 m (2,500 yd) which stood for 35 years until 2002.[116][117]
- Chuck Mawhinney (Vietnam War) – 103 confirmed and 216 probable kills.[118]
- Adelbert Waldron (Vietnam War) – achieved 109 confirmed kills.[119]
- Master Sgt. Gary Gordon and Sgt. First Class Randy Shughart (Somalia: Operation Gothic Serpent) – were Delta Force snipers who were awarded the Medal of Honor for their attempt to protect the injured crew of a downed helicopter during the Battle of Mogadishu.[120] This action was later dramatized in the film Black Hawk Down.
21st century
- British Army L115A3 Long Range Rifle rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum. These were the longest recorded and confirmed sniper kills to that time.[121][122][123][124]
- Canadian PPCLI (Operation Anaconda, Afghanistan) – briefly held the record for the longest recorded and confirmed sniper kill at 2,310 m (2,526 yd) in 2002, eclipsing U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock's previous record established in 1967. Perry used a .50 caliber (12.7 mm) McMillan TAC-50 rifle. A few days later, a new record was achieved by his teammate during the same operation.[125]
- Canadian PPCLI (Operation Anaconda, Afghanistan) – achieved a recorded and confirmed sniper kill at 2,430 m (2,657 yd) in 2002 using a .50 caliber (12.7 mm) McMillan TAC-50 rifle.[125]
- post traumatic stress disorder. Subject of the movie American Sniper.
- U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Steve Reichert – Killed an Iraqi insurgent and possibly injured two more hiding behind a brick wall with a shot from 1 mile in Lutayfiyah, Iraq on 9 April 2004. Reichert was using a Barrett M82A3 .50 BMG rifle loaded with Raufoss Mk 211 multipurpose rounds. During the same engagement Reichert killed an Iraqi machine gunner pinning down a squad of Marines from a distance of 1,614 m (1,765 yd).[126]
- U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Jim Gilliland – Previously held the record for the longest recorded confirmed kill with a 7.62×51mm NATO rifle at 1,250 m (1,367 yd) with a M24, killing an Iraqi insurgent sniper in Ramadi, Iraq on 27 September 2005.[127]
- U.S. Army SGT Christopher Dale Abbott: As part of a U.S. Army counter-IED team in Iraq in 2007–2008, Abbott recorded 22 confirmed kills with an M24 7.62×51mm rifle for a period of only 7 months before being injured and sent out of theater. He and his team were tasked with seeking out insurgents placing IEDs along frequently used supply routes.[citation needed]
- U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Timothy L. Kellner – As of 2010[update], Kellner is still active as a sniper in the U.S. Army, with 78 confirmed kills during the Iraq War and 3 in Haiti.[128]
- Canadian Master Corporal Graham Ragsdale, using a 7.62mm C-3, registered 20 confirmed kills over ten days during Operation Anaconda.
- Sri Lankan Army sniper Corporal I.R. Premasiri, alias "Nero", of the 5th Battalion in the Gajaba Regiment has 180 confirmed Tamil Tigers kills.[129]
- Iraqi insurgent "Juba", a sniper who features in several propaganda videos. Juba has allegedly shot 37 American soldiers, although whether Juba is a real individual is unknown. He may be a constructed composite of a number of insurgent snipers.[130]
- Corporal Operation Slipper in Afghanistan. During the Shah Wali Kot Offensive in June 2010, having provided sniper over-watch for ground forces from a helicopter with an M14 EBR rifle, Roberts-Smith was placed into a firefight by helicopter and subsequently eliminated machine gun positions.[132]
- U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Justin Morales – As part of the U.S. Army CIST (Counter Insurgent Sniper Team) in Iraq, he recorded 27 confirmed kills with an M24 7.62×51mm NATO rifle. From 2005 to 2006, Morales and his team in Balad, Iraq were tasked with seeking out insurgents placing IEDs along supply routes.[citation needed]
- During May 2017 in
- Abu Tahsin al-Salhiwas a Shia Iraqi veteran sniper with 350 claimed ISIS kills.
See also
- Jäger (infantry)
- List of snipers
- List of sniper rifles
- Longest recorded sniper kills
- Operation Foxley – plan to kill Adolf Hitler using a sniper
- Sniper Alley
- Snipers of the Soviet Union
- South Armagh Sniper (1990–97)
- Special forces
- Sniper equipment
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{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ Nicholson, Brendan (23 April 2011). "You think I'm brave? Meet my mates: Ben Roberts-Smith". The Australian. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
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- ^ a b Fife, Robert (21 June 2017). "Canadian elite special forces sniper makes record-breaking kill shot in Iraq". The Globe and Mail.
Further reading
- Alpert, Lukas (2 May 2010). "Sniper kills Qaeda-from 1½ mi. away". New York Post. Archived from the original on 6 May 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- Bartlett, Derrick (12 April 2005). "Sniper Tactics: Going for the Gun". Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2006.
- Brookesmith, Peter (2007). Sniper: training, techniques and weapons (2007 ed.). ISBN 978-0-312-36290-4. - Total pages: 192
- Dougan, Andy (2016). One Shot, One Kill: A History of the Sniper. William Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-818940-2.
- Gilbert, Adrian (1996). Sniper: The Skills, the Weapons, and the Experiences (1996 ed.). ISBN 978-0-312-95766-7. 352 pages
- ISBN 1-894581-16-4.
- Neville, Leigh (2016). Modern Snipers. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-1534-7.
- Pegler, Martin (2006). Out of Nowhere: A History of the Military Sniper (2006 ed.). Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-140-3.
- Parker, Eric (1924). Hesketh Prichard, D.S.O., M.C.: hunter: explorer: naturalist: cricketer: author: soldier; a memoir (1924 ed.). T. F. Unwin ltd. 261 pages
- ISBN 978-0-87364-704-5. - Total pages: 453
- ISBN 978-1-58160-494-8. - Total pages: 584
- ISBN 978-1-58160-632-4. - Total pages: 704
- Prichard, Hesketh; Vernon, Hesketh (2004). Sniping in France 1914-18: With Notes on the Scientific Training of Scouts, Observers, and Snipers (2004 ed.). Helion & Company Limited. ISBN 978-1-874622-47-5. - Total pages: 143
- Sakaida, Henry; Hook, Christa (2003). Heroines of the Soviet Union 1941-45 (2003 ed.). ISBN 978-1-84176-598-3. - Total pages: 64
- Senich, Peter R. (1982). The German sniper, 1914-1945 (1982 ed.). ISBN 978-0-87364-223-1. - Total pages: 445
- Senich, Peter R. (1988). The Complete Book of U.S. Sniping (1988 ed.). ISBN 978-0-87364-460-0. - Total pages: 280
- Shore, C. (1988). With British Snipers to the Reich (1988 ed.). Desert Pubns. ISBN 978-0-87947-122-4. - Total pages: 351
- Strong, Charles (2011). Kill Shot: The Deadliest Snipers of All Time (2011 ed.). Ulysses Press. ISBN 978-1-56975-862-5. - Total pages: 192
- Smith, Michael (2 May 2010). "Hotshot sniper in one-and-a-half-mile double kill". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-57500-061-9. - Total pages: 431
- Walter, John. (2017) Snipers at war: And equipment and operations, history (US Naval Institute Press, 2017)