Exactly.If they had had some more distance,then they could have knocked off a bunch more Taliban-then called for artillery cover and withdrawn.Is anyone using silenced sniper weapons like a 300 whisper caliber bolt gun?They could have killed just about everybody at the site with a couple of those guns.
Ya know, I'm familiar with the concept, but I kinda wonder if they are a little specialized for military applications.
I can't imagine any way to actually suppress a rifle without sending the gases all hither and yon. That's got to play holy hell with sniper level accuracy...especially with multiple shots.
Also, the payload to powder ratio has got to REALLY restrict the range those things are good at.
I'm sure they're great for sentry removal (how ironic), but general application?
I have been in the target trench while there were bullets passing 10 feet overhead.
The bullet is going supersonic, so the shock wave makes a loud snap. It is almost as loud as the rifle.
You cannot stop the sound from the shock wave, so they would know that someone is shooting at them even it the rifle had a silencer.
It also sounds like the rifle is close by, so if they start looking for it, they will look much too close to themselves, and not out where it originated.