Sniper II.

This is coolbert:

  Sniper, Amerikaner.

The modern U.S. military [U.S. Army and Marines], makes extensive use of snipers. Snipers that are well trained, equipped with the latest hi-tech gear, and are greatly feared by the enemy, whoever that enemy may be. Snipers are included in all operational plans, and are recognized as a positive asset on the modern battlefield.

Strangely enough, the role of snipers in the U.S. military was sorely neglected for a hundred year period beginning with the end of the American Civil War. Strange in that Americans like to think themselves as people that can handle firearms with skill. The Annie Oakley's, Buffalo Bill's, etc., of American history are the archetype of persons that are "sharpshooters".

Snipers and sharpshooters HAVE played an important part in American military history. Confederate snipers had an excellent record, shooting and killing several Union Generals on the battlefield [Reynolds [Gettysburg], Sedgwick [Wilderness]]. On the Union side, the regiment of Union sharpshooters known as Berdan's Rifles were feared by forces of the Confederacy.

That in that one hundred year period, snipers were neglected and not used [sparingly at best, non-existent at worst], is something that is not without reason. The modern military commander realizes that in modern warfare, automatic weapons and artillery account for 80 % of the casualties on the battlefield! Edged weapons such as bayonets, sidearms such as pistols, and snipers account for only a very small percentage of casualties on the battlefield. In each case, probably one half of 1 % of casualties at most are inflicted in modern warfare from such weapons. That a man gets a clean shot at a distant target and is able to successfully engage that target with a single rifle shot is very rare indeed. The American combat commander in the modern era might have agreed that having snipers would be a plus, but only a very small plus. Better to plan, organize, and place emphasis on weaponry where you get the most results.

"Prior to World War II the Army emphasized marksmanship for the infantry, and even provided sniper rifles for a limited number of troops. Nevertheless, the art of sniping had to be rebuilt during the Vietnam war. Initially there were no snipers among the troops sent to Vietnam. Moreover, even when troops were designated as snipers, commanders failed to make proper use of them."

It was not until the Vietnam War that snipers began to become an integral part of all ground operations.

This was due in part of the issuing to Special Forces [SF] units of the "Starlight" scope. The first generation night vision device that could be mounted on a M-14 rifle. A trained shooter could snipe at an enemy in almost TOTAL DARKNESS. Two man hunter/killer teams of SF would sally forth from SF camps during hours of darkness armed with Starlight equipped M-14's. These two man teams were combined reconnaissance/ambush/sniper units all rolled into one. And WERE effective.

Marine sharpshooters first, then Army sharpshooters, also became an integral part of all operational plans during the Vietnam war. Marine snipers in particular demonstrated marked ability. The Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock is the archetype in this regard. Hathcock is credited with 99 confirmed kill [including a VC General]. The actual toll taken by Hathcock maybe as great as 500 enemy!!

"Of all the armed conflicts U.S. combat forces have been involved with in this century, the war in South Vietnam marked the first time in American military history that trained snipers, special rifles, telescopic sights, ammunition, and noise suppression were brought together and employed successfully in a combat environment. This lesson has emphatically been learned. Today, snipers are deployed routinely with both the Army and the Marines. As one commander on the ground has put it, "In recent years, all the conflicts we've been in, the lesson learned is that snipers are worth their weight in gold."

The special rifles, telescopic sights, ammunition and noise suppression as practiced by the modern two man U.S. sniper team includes a sniper using a bolt action rifle equipped with high-power sights and the spotter with a M-14 rifle, also equipped with telescopic sights. Both these weapons undoubtedly fire the .308 NATO round. As warrants the usage, a .50 caliber sniper rifle can be used, this weapon having the ability to fire exploding rounds. Very effective in taking out say an aircraft on the ground [damage to the cockpit and the plane cannot fly!!].

Modern American snipers, as a group, are probably the model the rest of the world should follow. That proper combination of weaponry, experience, training, and employment makes the American sniper formidable.

coolbert.