Sniper

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For other uses, see Sniper (disambiguation).
Arkansas Army National Guard soldiers practice sniper marksmanship at their firing range near Baghdad, Iraq, on February 15, 2005.
Arkansas Army National Guard soldiers practice sniper marksmanship at their firing range near Baghdad, Iraq, on February 15, 2005.
A United States Marine Corps sniper team, with a M40 sniper rifle (2004)
A United States Marine Corps sniper team, with a M40 sniper rifle (2004)
Member of French special forces sniping team.
Member of French special forces sniping team.

A sniper is an infantry soldier specializing in shooting with a rifle from a position of concealment, and usually from longer ranges than is a regular infantryman, often using a specially designed or adapted sniper rifle.

The word sniper stems from at least as early as 1824 in the “sharpshooter” sense. The verb to snipe — British soldier argot, circa 1770s British India- means: “to shoot from a hidden place”, and possibly alludes to snipe shooting, for the snipe is a game bird known as extremely difficult to find, approach, or shoot. It has been contended that because hunters skilled at hunting this bird were dubbed “snipers”, hence being a sniper requires skill in marksmanship, camouflage, and field craft. If this is the etymology of "sniper" it is curious, because fast-flying snipe are typically shot at distances of less than 40 yards (40 m) using pellet-scattering shotguns, while a sniper fires a single projectile at a normally static target at long distance.

During the American Civil War, the U.S. English word for a soldier of the same function was “skirmisher.” An army often protected itself during movement by using concealed marksmen individually deployed at its extremes, whose accurate fire kept the enemy pinned down and unable to react effectively. Generally, skirmishers were selected on the basis of prior, proven hunting skills and marksmanship. They were either promising young men with innate maneuverability and fieldcraft or older, mature soldiers with refined marksmanship, fieldcraft, and tactical skills.[1] The word 'sniper' hence was not widely used in the U.S.A. until after the Civil War.

More recently, the word “sniper” has been rather loosely used, especially by news media in referring to police precision riflemen; an assassination rifleman; any shooting from all but the shortest range in battle; and any civilian criminal armed with a rifle.[2] During the Bosnian War and the Siege of Beirut, “sniper” referred to soldiers terrorising and killing civilians by shooting from high windows and roofs; during the Siege of Sarajevo, its main street was known as “Sniper Alley”.

This loose usage expanded the word's general definition, and attached mixed connotations to it: official spokesmen tend to use other, compound words, especially for police department snipers - “counter-sniper”, “precision marksman”, “tactical marksman”, “sharpshooter”, or “precision shooter.” Some of these alternative words are now commonly used, but most are euphemisms.

Contents

Snipers in warfare

A Jalalabad Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) sniper scans a ridge for the enemy, near Dur Baba, Afghanistan, November 2006.
A Jalalabad Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) sniper scans a ridge for the enemy, near Dur Baba, Afghanistan, November 2006.

Different countries have different military doctrines for snipers in military units, settings, and tactics. Generally, a sniper’s goal in warfare is to reduce the enemy’s fighting ability by shooting a relatively small number of high-value targets and key personnel, such as officers.

Soviet Russian, and derived military doctrines, include squad-level “snipers”, called “sharpshooters” or “designated-riflemen” in other doctrines (see below), because regular infantry lost their long-range sharp-shooting abilities when assault rifles (optimal for close-in, rapid-fire combat) were adopted; c.f. “Soviet sniper” article.

Military snipers are typically deployed in two-man sniper teams, composed of a shooter and a spotter. The two soldiers have different duties, and their assignments correspond to their skills; but a common practice is for the shooter and spotter to take turns to avoid eye fatigue. Typically, the spotter, using a spotting telescope or powerful binoculars assists the sniper in identifying targets or by indicating adjustments to the sniper's sighting or point of aim.

Typical sniper missions are: reconnaissance and surveillance; counter-sniping; killing enemy commanders; selecting targets of opportunity; and anti-matériel tasks (destruction of military equipment), the latter usually requiring large calibre rifles, e.g. .50 BMG or 20 mm. Snipers proved useful to U.S. and U.K. forces in the Iraq campaign, by giving fire support to cover the movement of infantry, especially in urban areas.

The current record for the longest-range confirmed sniper kill is 2,430 meters (7,972 feet or 1.51 miles), accomplished by a Canadian Forces sniper, Corporal Rob Furlong, of the third battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (3 PPCLI), during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan's Shahikot Valley. The weapon used was the Long Range Sniper Weapon (LRSW), a modified .50 caliber BMG (12.7 mm) McMillan Brothers TAC-50 rifle.The bullet's time of flight was around four seconds, and it dropped some 150 feet (46 m).

The previous record-holder was U.S. Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock, who achieved it during the Vietnam War, with a kill at 2,250 meters: he had a career total of 93 confirmed kills. The deadliest sniper in the world is generally believed to have been the Finnish soldier Simo Häyhä, with 505 confirmed kills within 100 days in the north-west European Winter War of 1939-40.

In contrast, much of the U.S./Coalition urban sniping in support of operations in Iraq is at significantly shorter ranges, and often at 200 - 400 metres. But in a notable incident on April 3, 2003, corporals Matt and Sam Hughes, a two-man sniper team of the British Royal Marines, armed with L96 sniper rifles, each killed targets at a range of about 860 m with shots that were “fire[d] exactly 17 meters [56 ft] to the left of the target for the bullet to bend in the wind.”[3]

Police snipers

Honolulu Police Department Specialized Services Division Counter-Sniper Team in aerial platform training.
Honolulu Police Department Specialized Services Division Counter-Sniper Team in aerial platform training.

Police departments typically deploy snipers in rescuing hostages, shooting only as a last resort and when there is direct and imminent threat to human life. Police snipers generally shoot to kill, not to incapacitate, although there have been variously successful exceptions. Police snipers typically shoot from shorter ranges than do military snipers — generally less than 200 meters, and sometimes much closer. In passing, it may be noted that some police units, not being bound by the Hague Conventions protocols prohibiting the use of expanding-bulleted ammunition in warfare, will occasionally use soft-nosed or hollow-pointed ammunition.

The need for specialized training for police snipers became especially apparent during the Munich massacre of 1972. The police deployed untrained policemen with sniper equipment[citation needed] for the airport confrontation at the closing phase of that hostage crisis, and all the Israeli hostages were killed. Using Bundeswehr snipers was impossible because of the German constitution's explicit prohibition of the use of the military in domestic matters. This situation was subsequently put right with the founding of the GSG-9 group.

In a high-profile incident in 2007, a SWAT sniper in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A., prevented a suicide by shooting the revolver from the would-be suicide's hand, leaving him unarmed and unharmed. Despite this success, videographic footage later showed that the suicidal man narrowly avoided severe gun shrapnel injury from flying fragments of bullet and revolver metal.[citation needed] Marksmen who tested this technique by shooting at loaded guns under controlled conditions obtained mixed results. The target gun may fire in any direction, and even a direct hit may fail to disable it. Moreover, firing a bullet in the target's direction is considered as the deadly use of force, and using deadly force to subdue a potential suicide is illegal in some jurisdictions.

In peacetime, police snipers such as the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group (i.e. the Hostage Rescue Team) typically serve longer in the role and receive more training and more operational experience than their counterparts in the armed services.

Training

A Marine ejects a spent casing and chambers a new cartridge in his M40A3
A Marine ejects a spent casing and chambers a new cartridge in his M40A3

Specialized training instills in a sniper the skills he needs to perform effectively. Military sniper training develops proficiency in natural and artificial camouflage and concealment, stalking and observation, and rifle marksmanship in many operational circumstances. Trainees shoot thousands of rounds of ammunition in a few weeks, while learning the core skills.

Marksmanship training is only one part of a sniper's training. A sniper employs special tactics for entering, travelling in, and remaining undetected within his area of operations. Snipers often act as forward observers, and must be trained as such to ensure accurate communication with artillery and air strike command. Further sniper functions are reconnaissance and intelligence, as illustrated in the USMC's former designation of some snipers as Surveillance and target acquisition (STA) snipers. Another skill is the identification and selection of targets, allowing the sniper to decide what equipment and individuals to target. Each area of tactics and target selection is described below.

The telescopic sight, a key tool of the sniper
The telescopic sight, a key tool of the sniper

Marksmanship

Snipers are trained to squeeze the trigger straight backwards with the ball of the finger, so as to avoid imparting any lateral jerking to the rifle. The most accurate firing position is prone, with a sandbag or bipod/tripod supporting the stock, and with the stock’s cheek-piece snug against the shooter's cheek. In the field, a bipod is generally used. Sometimes a sling is wrapped around the non-trigger-finger arm to reduce stock movement. Some doctrines train the sniper to breathe deeply before shooting, then hold his lungs empty while aligning and taking the shot. Others go deeper, teaching snipers to shoot between heartbeats, to minimize motion. Additionally, a sniper must be able to estimate range, wind, elevation, and any other factor that can affect a bullet's flight and trajectory.

Snipers zero the telescopic sight and the rifle at a sniper-specific firing range, where a succession of bullets strike the same point, superimposed by the 'scope-sight's aiming reticle upon the target. Using this known impact point at a known distance, the sniper can then determine how to compensate for the effects of wind and longer or shorter range, by knowing the ammunition's trajectory. Every operational sniper's rifle is regularly zeroed, to allow for changing atmospheric conditions which affect bullet behaviour, and to ensure that it is correctly zeroed at all times.

Much training time is spent instilling marksmanship skills into the sniper so that he can correctly estimate the distance to a target, effectively compensate for atmospheric conditions (i.e. wind, rain, temperature, humidity) and achieve a one-shot hit on the target at the intended point.

US Military

Snipers are volunteers accepted for sniper training on the basis of their aptitude as perceived by their commanders. Military snipers may be trained as FACs (Forward Air Controllers) to direct military air strikes, FOs (Forward Observers) in artillery target indication, and as mortar fire controllers (MFCs). Effective sniping in the military context may necessitate assuming a stationary position for long periods, perhaps for days at a time. Fatigue and muscle stiffness often result from the enforced immobility. Additionally, urination and defecation into a bag or other container may become essential.

Targeting

U.S. Army sniper team in Afghanistan with M24 SWS, 19 October 2006.
U.S. Army sniper team in Afghanistan with M24 SWS, 19 October 2006.

The range to a particular target is measured or estimated as precisely as conditions and equipment permit, and accurate range estimation is especially critical at longer ranges, because bullets travel along a curved trajectory, and the sniper must compensate for this by aiming higher at longer distances to allow for bullet drop due to gravity. If the exact distance is unknown or incorrectly estimated, the sniper will compensate incorrectly and the bullet path will be either too high or too low. As an example, for a typical military sniping cartridge such as 7.62 × 51 mm NATO M118 Special Ball round this difference or “drop” between 700 metres and 800 metres is 200 mm (8 in.), meaning that if the sniper incorrectly estimates the distance as 700 m when the target is actually 800 m away, the bullet will be travelling 200 mm (8 inches) lower than desired when it reaches the target.

Laser range-finders, hand-held or incorporated into a riflescope or spotting scope/binoculars, may be used, but these are usually not preferred on the battlefield because a laser can be detected both by the sender and by other observers, including the enemy. One useful method of range estimation is by comparing the height of the target (or objects very close to the target) to their size on the mil dot reticule of the riflescope, or by taking a known distance and using some sort of measure (e.g. utility poles, fence posts) to determine the additional distance. The average human head is 150 millimeters (6 inches) in width, average human shoulders are 500 mm (20 inches) apart, and the average distance from a person’s crotch to the top of his head is 1 metre (39 inches).

In most situations, to determine the range to a target without a laser rangefinder, the sniper must use the mil dot reticle on a scope to find the range range. Mil (milliradian) dots are used rather like a slide rule to measure the height of a target, and if the height is known, the range can also be determined. The height of the target (in yards or metres) is multiplied by 1000, then divided by the target's height (in mils), and this gives the range in yards (metres). This is only as a general rule however, because mil dot spacings can vary. The USMC standard is that 1 mil (i.e. 1 milliradian) equals 3.438 MOA (minute of arc, or, equivalently, minute of angle), while the U.S. Army standard is 3.6 MOA, chosen so as to give a diameter of 1 yard (36 inches) at 1,000 yards. Many commercial manufacturers use 3.5, splitting the difference, since this is easier to work with.

Explanation: 1 MIL = 1.0 milliradian. That is, 1.0 MIL = 1x10^-3 radian; but, 10^-3 rad x (360 deg/ (2 x pi) radians) = 0.0573 degrees. Now, 1.0 MOA = 1/60 degree = 0.01667 degrees. Hence, there are 0.0573/0.01667 = 3.43775 MOA per MIL, where MIL is defined as a milliradian. On the other hand, defining a mil-dot by the U.S. Army way, to equate it to 1.0 yard at 1000 yards, means the Army's mil-dot is approximately 3.6 MOA.

It is important to note that angular mil (mil) is only an approximation of a milliradian, and that different organizations use different approximations - c.f. three definitions of the angular mil.

At longer ranges, bullet drop plays a very significant role in targeting. The effect can be estimated from a chart, which may be memorised or taped to the rifle's stock, although some rifle telescopes have Bullet Drop Compensator (BDC) systems requiring only that the range be dialed in. These BDCs are calibrated both to a specific class of rifle and specific ammunition. It is important to note that every bullet type and cartridge load will have different ballistics - e.g. .308 Win. Federal 175 grain (11.3 g) BTHP match travels at 2,600 ft/s (790 m/s). Zeroed at 100 yards, a 16.2 MOA adjustment would have to be made to hit a target at 600 yards. If the same bullet were fired with a 168 grain (10.9 g) bullet, a 17.1 MOA adjustment would be necessary.

Shooting uphill or downhill requires special adjustment for the effects of gravity. Wind affects the shot, the effect increasing with wind speed or the distance to the target. The slant of visible convections near the ground can be used to estimate crosswinds, and correct the point of aim. All range, wind, and elevation adjustments can be performed by “holding over” by estimation and eye - a.k.a. Kentucky windage. The most accurate way is by “dialing in” the scope, so that the crosshairs point at the target, while also accounting for the effect of the aforementioned factors. With precision-made sights, dialing-in is more accurate because the eye can more easily line up and hold the target.

For moving targets, the point of aim is in front of the target. This is known as “leading” the target, where the amount of lead depends upon the speed and angle of the target’s movement. For this technique, holding-over is the preferred method. Anticipating the target's behavior during the critical period while the bullet is in flight is necessary for accurate shooting at a moving target.

Sniper equipment

A US Marine sniper wearing a ghillie suit
A US Marine sniper wearing a ghillie suit
Main article: Sniper equipment

The major components of sniper's equipment are the sniper rifle, ammunition and camouflage.

Sniper tactics

Shot placement

Shot placement varies a great deal depending upon the type of sniper under discussion. Military snipers, who generally do not engage targets at less than 300 m (330 yd) distance, usually attempt center-mass body shots, aiming at the chest, which contains many vital organs and presents the largest available target area.[4] To kill, such a shot depends on tissue damage, organ trauma, and blood loss. Police snipers, who generally shoot from much shorter distances, may attempt head shots to ensure the kill. [5] In instant-death hostage situations, police snipers aim for the cerebellum, which is the area of the brain at the base of the skull which controls voluntary movement. Some ballistics and neurological researchers have argued that severing the spinal cord at an area near the second cervical vertebra effectively prevents voluntary motor activity, but this debate remains unresolved and academic.[citation needed]

Positioning

To perform civil pacification, sniper-suppression, and intelligence-gathering roles, a sniper or pair of snipers will locate themselves in an elevated, concealed redoubt. They will use binoculars or a telescope to identify targets, and a radio to pass on intelligence data.

Snipers use deception in the form of camouflage, unusual angles of approach, and frequent, often slow movement to prevent accurate counter-attacks. Without being seen, some snipers are able to shoot an observant target from less than 90 m (98 yd), while the target is still searching for them.

Military Snipers will aim to find a position that gives the largest view of the potential target, while affording the most natural camoflage and colour. This usually means a distance of between 300 and 1000 metres, with 600 metres being the optimum range. Contrary to popular opinion, the military sniper will not always locate himself in the highest position possible. Not only does this make range estimation more difficult due to bullet arc and cosine calculation, but it is also the most obvious position, both to the sniper and his target. Therefore a Sniper must locate himself in an area that can give him the maximum amount of cover, and which will allow a shot to go unnoticed. This usually means either a location behind a solid object, or shooting past one. British sniper tests conducted by Captain Herbert McBride described how the supersonic crack of a sniper's bullet, when fired past a solid object, will cause that shot to appear as if it came from that position. In effect, the shock wave would bounce off the object, usually either a building or large tree, and replicate the sound of the gunshot.

Paramilitary snipers however, take a slightly different approach. While the military sniper is concerned mostly with camouflage and concealment, the paramilitary or police sniper seeks primarily to attain the clearest possible view of the target and his surroundings, as well as to make an incapacitating shot. This means police snipers will usually position themselves much closer to the target - the average shot is taken at 83 meters - so as to ensure pinpoint accuracy and to deliver SITREPs (SITuation REPorts) to their commander. Thus, locating themselves at higher angles or on perches would not be deemed unacceptable in such circumstances. The military sniper will at all possible times be in a position to kill his potential target. Rarely will a police sniper be able to receive fire from their target without being able to fire back instantly.

Target selection

Snipers can target personnel or materiel (i.e. equipment), but most commonly they target important enemy personnel such as officers or specialists (e.g. communications operators) so as to cause the maximum disruption to enemy operations. Other personnel which they might target include those who pose an immediate threat to the sniper, such as dog handlers, who are often employed in a search for snipers. But the sniper's philosophy, and his recipe for personal survival, is never to fire any shot unnecessarily, since the firing of one or more shots can easily betray his whereabouts and attract counter-fire.

A sniper identifies officers by their appearance and behaviour such as the wearing of high-rank uniforms, talking to radio operators, sitting as a passenger in a car, having military servants or attendants, or talking and moving position more frequently. If possible, snipers shoot in descending order of rank, or, if rank is unavailable, they shoot to disrupt communications.

Since most death and destruction in modern warfare is caused by crew-served weapons, reconnaissance is one of the most effective uses of snipers. They use their aerobic conditioning and general high standard of physical fitness, infiltration skills and excellent long-distance observation equipment, tactics and methodology to approach and observe the enemy. In this role, their rules of engagement usually only let them engage high-value targets of opportunity.

With heavy .50 caliber and 20 mm rifles, snipers can shoot the engine turbine disks off parked jet fighters, and place a bullet so as to destroy missile guidance packages, expensive optics, or the bearings, tubes or wave guides of radar sets. Such methods often call for the employment of special anti-matériel rifles. Similarly, snipers may shoot locks or hinges as an alternative to using a door-opening explosive charge.

Psychological warfare

To demoralize enemy troops, snipers sometimes deliberately follow predictable patterns. During the Cuban revolutionary war, the 26th of July Movement always killed the foremost man in a group of Batista's soldiers. Realizing this, none of them would walk first, as it was suicidal. This effectively decreased the army's willingness to search for rebel bases in the mountains. Another approach is to kill the second man in a file, leading to the psychological effect that nobody will want to follow the "leader" who is in first or "point" position.

The phrase "one shot, one kill" has gained some notoriety in popular culture as a glorification of the "sniper mystique." The phrase embodies the sniper's tactics and philosophy of stealth and efficiency. The exact meaning of the phrase can be explained thus:

  • a single round should be fired, avoiding unnecessary and indiscreet firing, and unintended betrayal of the sniper's position
  • every shot should be accurately placed, to cause the maximum possible harm to the enemy

Whether or not the phrase reflects reality, is, of course, a matter for debate, but it is widely used in literature, the news media and cinema.

Counter-sniper tactics

Main article: Counter-sniper tactics

Sniper warfare inevitably led to the evolution of counter-sniper tactics in modern military strategies, with the aim of reducing the damage a sniper causes to an army, its fighting capabilities and morale. Ultimately, snipers are difficult to stop, but there are methods that can be used to hinder them.

Risk to the chain of command is reduced by removing and concealing an officer’s rank. Currently, saluting officers and visible rank insignia are avoided in the field, but officers can betray their identity by their demeanour and activities, such as reading maps and using radios.

Friendly snipers will often hunt an enemy sniper. Besides direct observation, defending forces can use other techniques, such as bullet trajectory calculation via trigonometrical triangulation. Traditionally, triangulating a sniper's nest is done either manually or with the aid of radar technology. Once a sniper's position has been located, the defenders can approach him from cover and overwhelm him. The United States military is funding project RedOwl, using acoustic and laser sensors, to determine the direction from which a sniper has fired. The RedOwl system has been tested on the PackBot robot from iRobot.

The more shots a sniper fires, the more opportunities the defenders have to locate and find him. Often attempts will be made to draw useless shots, sometimes simply by offering an exposed helmet. In the Winter War of 1939-40, the Finns successfully fought the Red Army with the "Kylmä-Kalle" (Cold Charlie) tactic. A mannequin or other doll was dressed as a tempting target, such as an officer sloppily concealing himself, and Soviet snipers were usually unable to resist the target. Once the Finns determined the angle from which the shot came, a heavy-calibre gun, such as a "Norsupyssy" ("Elephant rifle") anti-tank rifle, was fired in the sniper's direction to kill him.

Other tactics involve directing artillery or mortar fire, smoke-screens, and placing tripwire munitions, mines, or other booby-traps near suspected sniper nests. Even dummy trip-wires can be placed to interfere with the sniper's movement. If anti-personnel mines are unavailable, improvised booby-traps, trip-wired fragmentation hand-grenades, smoke grenades or flares are used. Even though this may not kill the sniper, they will often reveal his position. Booby-traps should be placed close to likely sniper hides or along probable routes into and out of the area of operation, and a knowledge of sniper fieldcraft will assist in this task.

One very old counter-sniper tactic is to tie rags (or similar material) onto bushes and trees in the danger area, by night, when snipers usually do not work. The rags flutter in the breeze and create random, distracting movements in the sniper's peripheral vision. The virtue of this tactic is its simplicity, but although it would hinder an amateur sniper, this measure would seldom stop a professional.

Ultimately, sniping and counter-sniping are constant battles of stealth, guile and countermeasures. Whenever there are new developments on one side, the other will try to find ways to negate them.

Snipers in irregular and asymmetric combat

Main article: 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. cases, including the Austin sniper incident of 1966, the John F. Kennedy assassination (22 November, 1963), and the Washington sniper serial murders of late 2002. However, these incidents do not involve the typical long range or skill of military snipers, and in all three cases the believed perpetrators had some US military training, but not as specialist snipers. News reports will often (inaccurately) use the term "sniper" to describe anyone shooting with a rifle at another person or persons.

Sniping has been used in irregular and asymmetric warfare situations, including the Northern Ireland troubles, where in the early 1970s a number of British soldiers were shot by concealed terrorist riflemen, some at a considerable range. There were also a few instances in the early 1990s of British soldiers being shot with .50BMG calibre Barrett rifles. In Northern Ireland, in addition to the functions that have been discussed above, a sniper was quite often a form of bait or "come-on", whereby the sniper's position would be made obvious to a British army or police patrol so as to draw them into an ambush as they attempted to close on the sniper.

The sniper is particularly suited to combat environments where one side is disadvantaged to the other. A careful sniping pattern can leverage a very few individuals and resources to thwart movement or other progress from a much better equipped or larger force.

Because of this perceived difference in force size, sniping attacks may be viewed as the acts of a few persons to terrorize (earning the appelation terrorists) a much larger, regular force, and regardless of the size of the force to which the snipers are attached.

These perceptions stem from the precept that sniping, while effective in specific instances, is much more effective as a broadly deployed psychological attack (see elsewhere in article).

"Sniper" versus "marksman" or "sharpshooter"

Some doctrines distinguish a "sniper" from a "marksman" ("sharpshooter") or "designated marksman". While snipers are intensively trained to master field craft and camouflage, these skills are not necessarily required for sharpshooters. Snipers often perform valuable reconnaissance tasks without shooting, and have a psychological impact on the enemy. A sharpshooter's role, however, is mainly to extend the "reach" of the unit to which he is attached by providing some inspirational long-range shooting.

A sniper also uses intensive training for mastering the arts of stealth, concealment, and infiltration for forward placement and surveillance duties, making the role more strategic than a squad-level sharpshooter. Thus, sharpshooters are often attached at the squad level (in the case of squad designated marksmen), while snipers are often attached at higher levels such as battalion. Notable exceptions to this are "elite" military units such as the 75th Ranger Regiment and United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalions which utilize snipers at the company level - as also does the British army.

The main difference between these two rather different roles are that a sharpshooter is often used in urban areas, where they may work with police or other law enforcement agencies, while a sniper will work mostly in the field, often in jungle and on other well-covered ground.

Selected snipers in history

Marie Ljalková, a Czechoslovak sniper who fought for the Soviet Union in World War II, with an SVT-40
Marie Ljalková, a Czechoslovak sniper who fought for the Soviet Union in World War II, with an SVT-40
Sergeant H.A. Marshall of The Calgary Highlanders. Canadian snipers during Second World War also were trained scouts. His specialized equipment includes No.-4 Mk I(T) rifle and telescope combination and a camouflaged Denison smock. PAC Photo, by Ken Bell (September 1944).
Sergeant H.A. Marshall of The Calgary Highlanders. Canadian snipers during Second World War also were trained scouts. His specialized equipment includes No.-4 Mk I(T) rifle and telescope combination and a camouflaged Denison smock. PAC Photo, by Ken Bell (September 1944).
British Army sniper in the Second World War. IWM Photo.
British Army sniper in the Second World War. IWM Photo.

Before firearms, soldiers such as crossbowmen and archers were specially trained as élite marksmen.

Pre 20th century

20th century

21st century

See also

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External links

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ The American Civil War Home Page
  2. ^ http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&tab=wn&q=civilian+sniper&btnG=Search+News
  3. ^ Nick Parker, (a pooled Gulf War correspondent), Royal Marine snipers in Iraq published in The Sun April 2003
  4. ^ http://www.swatdigest.com/archives/swmag_feb_visualintruder.html
  5. ^ One Shot, One Kill. Civilian Sales of Military Sniper Rifles
  6. ^ Stuart Hadaway Rifleman Thomas Plunkett: 'A Pattern for the Battalion.'
  7. ^ Friscolanti, Michael. "We were abandoned", Maclean's, Rogers Publishing, 2006-05-15, pp. 18-25.

Further reading

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