Marine Snipers Disrupt Insurgent Activity in Afghanistan

AFIS via Globalsecurity.org ^ | KONAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Jan. 4, 2005

[Paul_Denton]

KONAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Jan. 4, 2005 -- In the difficult terrain of Afghanistan's Hindu Kush Mountains, troop movement can be slow and tedious. Often, Marine companies break operations down to platoon and squad elements to locate and close with the enemy.

Since anti-coalition militants are usually well-versed on evasion tactics in the mountains, the snipers of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, give commanders the ability to "reach out and touch someone."

[handy old one]

Use more high speed long range touching to get their attention. We can show them a different type of war.

[pissant]

The best, most honorable, and most rewarding job in the world: A sniper tasked with plinking scumbag jihadis. Keep up the good shooting!!!

[No Longer Free State]

"Call it information operations, call it PSYOPS if you want. Drop a few guys and the message gets around." -- Unnamed United States Marine Sniper

[Paul_Denton]

I agree! Throughout history dropping enemies always gets the message around.

[RKV]

No point in running. You will only die tired.
Heh.

[Paul_Denton]

the beurty is that it not only kills the scum jihadis it strikes fear into them, seeing their buddies's head exploding out of the blue. You could call it instilling terror into the terrorists! It can't get any better than that! :D

[Prince Caspian]

Working in tandem with an observer, Marine Corps scout snipers are trained to quickly determine distances to various points in their field of fire and calculate the proper "dope," or rifle calibration, to accurately engage targets at those locations.

It seems they would have electronic equipment to quickly and accurately calculate the "dope". Stuff like distance, temperature, humidity, wind velocity and direction, altitude, barometric pressure, speed and direction of target, lunar cycle... whatever.

[tje]

I used to drop prairie dogs in the 300-400 yard range with a 22-250. I had a 12 power scope with a built in range finder. For long shots, the kick was so mild I could watch the bullet strike through my scope.

Windage though, that's another thing.

[demecleze]

From the article I see they are still not using a 50 cal. I would think that it is a must with those valleys.

That is unfortunate as the Canadians armed with it were said to be VERY useful there.

[ArrogantBustard]

Sometimes, under some circumstances, the best computer available is the Mk1, Mod0 Human Brain. Each sniper/spotter team comes equipped with two of them, at no additional cost. All that's required is them proper "programming", which they take care of at Quantico.

[RetiredArmy]

Reach out and touch someone. I have hoped for several years now that a good Marine or Army sniper would find a certain tall, white clad Arab dude in their rifle sights over there in Affie land. I wish, oh I wish.

[Paul_Denton]

Yeah I agree. They should use the 50 cal. It would be awesome to see the jihadists bodies literally explode :D

[NY Attitude]

Ah yes, the Prairie Dog Olympics.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Yep..out to 1.6 miles...
DND CA, Long Range Sniper Weapon (LRSW)

MacMillan Tac-50,
http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/English/2_0_35_1.asp?uSubSection=35&uSection=2

Not as fancy as a the Marines rifles...

http://www.snipersparadise.com/articles/2430kill.htm

"When he hit his first target, an enemy gunman at a distance of 1,700 metres"

"the Newfoundland corporal set what is believed to be a record for a long-distance shot under combat conditions, hitting an enemy gunman at a distance of 2,430 metres."

[NorthOf45]

It's my understanding that the Canadian sniper who killed at a record distance used a CF 50 cal. rifle with ammunition provided by his American counterparts. Why on Earth wouldn't BOTH militaries combine the two (rifle/ammunition) as a result?

[Eagles6]

M40A3 7.62 cal. 12.1 lbs.
Barrett 82A1 .50 BMG 30 lbs.
M40A3s are used where weight is a factor, such as long range humping up and down the hills with thinner air. Ammo is also lighter and the spotter also carries a 7.62, so ammo is interchangeable. 50 BMGs would GENERALLY be used where weight is not as much of a factor, ie, shorter humps, closer to transport.
The Canadian probably had to scrounge quality ammo from U.S. because he had inferior long range stuff. I would guess that U.S. sniper ammo is handloaded by the sniper himself or someone who knows the rifle.

[RKV]

Interesting to look at older military weapons - check out the sights in particular. The 1903 Springfield (.30-.06)had leaf sights for ranges from 100 to 2825 yards. Even now the USMC uses M14's for "designated marksmen."

[joesnuffy]

Humpin a 50 cal up and down those mountains plus all your other gear..food ammo water
radio...etc..ufdah...

[RetiredArmy]

The 14 would do the job. I have fired it. It is a nice shooting weapon. Just heavy as heck to hump around in the bush. I liked the M16 in the jungle because it was light and small. Easy to carry. The 14 is like humping a 2 x 4! Har.