'Deadly' Canadian snipers cut down enemy fighters

The Globe and Mail ^ | March 14, 2002 | DANIEL LEBLANC

[The KG9 Kid]

Those figures are for sea-level too. These guys are operating at lots higher altitudes.

[KurzeHaare]

3500? Seems a bit steep. Are we talking .308 here?

[RightOnline]

You've tasted the kill.............knocking down the bad guys who wish you harm. There's no going back.

Glad to have you on OUR side, Canada.

[Tailback]

I think 3500 is too fast, the 55gr M198 .223 round is only 3,250 fps and that's a pretty hot caliber.

[oldvike]

Thanks for the info. I had some fanciful idea that it would be over 3000 fps, but your figures probably make more sense. I think I'll go consult my back issues of American Rifleman and see if they've got anything in there. I'd also be curious to see a "distance vs. drop" graph for one of those rifles.

[denydenydeny]

Operation Harpoon is commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Pat Stogran of the Canadian Forces. He is leading 500 soldiers from the Edmonton-based Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and about 100 U.S. troops from the 10th Mountain Division.

I'm a little surprised that no one's commented on this yet.

[The KG9 Kid]

.338 Winchester Magnum is right up there --- well into the mid 3000s.

[Chemnitz]

O Canada!
Our home and native land!

True patriot love
in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts
we see thee rise,

The True North
strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada,

We stand on guard for thee

God keep our land
glorious and free!

O Canada,
we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada,
we stand on guard for thee.

History

"O CANADA" was proclaimed Canada's national anthem on July 1, 1980, a century after it was first sung on June 24, 1880. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, a well-known composer; French lyrics to accompany the music were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier. The song gained steadily in popularity.

Many English versions have appeared over the years. The version on which the official English lyrics are based was written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir. The official English version includes changes recommended in 1968 by a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons. The French lyrics remain unchanged.

Link

A great national anthem for a great people. I last heard it sung when Trudeau was given an honorary doctorate at Notre Dame. My wife and I lived in Canada and loved it.

[IncredibleHulk]

168 grain .308 has a muzzle velocity of 2,650 fps

3500 is on the high end but remember we're talking 30-06 not .308. They are both .30 caliber but the .308 is measured to the bottom on the lands rather than the barrel diameter to denote the different shell casing. The sniper rifles were using the highest capacity casings available with the best load available on 170 grain boattail bullets. The only hotter .30 caliber available was the Weatherby .300 Magnums. (I still have mine.) Each sniper was given 100 rounds at a time and they were hand loaded by some of the best gun smiths in the world.

[NormsRevenge]

Good Shot Hoser... Ay! :-)

[Oxylus]

While Canadians soldiers have killed people during peacekeeping missions, the last time the country's military used lethal force in combat was in 1953.

Now tell me, boys, I know it's been a long time...but don't it feel good?

Damned right it does. Every 3 dead enemy counts.

The Dept of Defense said today that we've killed in this war before these latest 3 kills. The reporter couldn't have heard that (and who knows what JTF2 has done). Also, Canada dropped a lots of bombs on enemy positions during the Gulf War and the Kosovo War. Surely we killed somebody then too. I guess these must be the first confirmed kills since 1953 [and I haven't heard anybody here whine about it yet either].

[Cleburne]

Yes, I'm quite sure now, that it would take at least two, possibly three, well armed Boy Scouts to take over Canada:)

[JamesWilson]

Go Canadians!

All right, Pens. But, hockey's still cool!

[lewislynn]

"I'm proud of the snipers and the important role they provided in giving cover to the other soldiers moving in, and I'm proud of the mission led by Canadians."

Me too, and I'm not Canadian.....Way to go!

[nightdriver]

"Depends on the caliber but for a 170 grain VN era 3500 ft/sec."

Hodgdon claims a max of 2565 fps w/ 168 gr Boat tail and a charge of 43 gr. of ball-c w/47,600 copper-units pressure. Always not quite an '06, but close.

[Consort]

[RLK]

They are experts in camouflage and concealment, and can pick off human prey with rifles from as far away as 900 metres, or the length of nine football fields.

---------------------

That's the only way to do it. Hoorah, somebody finally has it right.

[glc1173@aol.com]

"Canada's snipers -- there are only a few dozen -- learn their trade at the Combat Training Centre at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick. (Globe & Mail)

Just more of an admission about why Canada cannot be taken seriously as a nation.

Canuckistan is affluent and all that - but its land military doesn't add up to what you'd find in the 82nd Airborne down here at Ft. Bragg alone.

[bourbon]

I think that the rough and tumble, masculine side of Canadian culture has been dormant for too long as has Canada's military tradition.

It is my greatest hope that these valuable Canadian traits will soon be reawakened and reinvigorated. Perhaps, lamentable as it may be, a good war is what we all need.