Posted on 03/13/2011 4:46:25 PM PDT by bimboeruption
Operating from a remote patrol base in Helmand, two British snipers were responsible for killing 75 Taliban fighters in just 40 days. In one remarkable feat of marksmanship, two insurgents were dispatched with a single bullet.
The arrival at the newly-established Patrol Base Shamal Storrai (Pashto for “North Star”) in late August 2009 of Serjeant Tom Potter and Rifleman Mark Osmond marked the start of an astonishing episode in the history of British Army sniping.
Within 40 days, the two marksmen from 4 Rifles, part of the Welsh Guards Battle group, had achieved 75 confirmed kills with 31 attributed to Potter and 44 to Osmond. Each kill was chalked up as a little stick man on the beam above the firing position in their camouflaged sangar beside the base gate – a stick man with no head denoting a target eliminated with a shot to the skull.
Osmond, 25, was an engaging, fast-talking enthusiast, eager to display his encyclopedic knowledge of every specification and capability of his equipment. He had stubbornly remained a rifleman because he feared that being promoted might lead to his being taken away from sniping, a job he loved and lived for. Potter, 30, was more laid back, projecting a calm professionalism and quiet confidence in the value of what he did.
Potter had notched up seven confirmed kills in Bara in 2007 and 2008 while Osmond’s total was 23. Both were members of the Green Jackets team that won the 2006 British Army Sniper Championships.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Thanks. After watching the awful news from Japan, I really needed a pick-me-up, feel good kind of story like this.
They are still running a surplus, a lot of them take a pass when they find out their 72 virgins are Helen Thomas knockoffs.
The Green Jackets are actually my sister unit, along with 3RAR in Australia. I was 2PPCLI, so it’s good to see some close relatives putting their time to good use.
LOL!
Thanks, I don’t pay attention to what channel I am watching. Great show and it had some actual footage of snipers doing their jobs and quite a few animated recreations of the shots.....spellbinding show..
That’s a little bit of lead doing a lot of good work.
Loved that movie.
OK you are going to have to tell me what 3RAR and 2PPCLI are. I was not in the military tho not from not trying.
OMG! What an expression.
Based on a true story about a Soviet sniper in Stalingrad.
They made it into a movie, the name escapes me at this moment.
“Stalingrad”
Now that is a thing of great beauty.
3RAR = 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Australian Army, Fast reaction battalion, parachute capable.
PPCLI = 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Canadian Army, Mechanized Infantry.
Thanks.
Snipers are snipers. It is not always necessary to pop a muslim to demonstrate skill.
The article mentioned they were equipped with a silencer to disguise the direction of the shot. It mentioned that the supersonic crack could still be heard - although not likely by the target.
Tell me, do they call Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Patsies? Just couldn’t resist.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.