US snipers to defend Iraq oil pipeline

Australian Broadcasting Company ^ | October 05 2003 | AFP

[knighthawk]

The United States military has deployed five teams of 10 airborne snipers to defend Iraq's northern oil pipelines from acts of sabotage by forces loyal to ousted president Saddam Hussein.

Sergeant Brian Stinson said final modifications were being made to Blackhawk UH-60 helicopters, before snipers from the elite Tiger Force could begin patrols along the crucial oil supply lines.

"There is so much area to cover that it requires precision fire, we're on call for 24-hours a day and can be airborne within 30 minutes," he said.

Protection of Iraq's northern pipelines, which stretch 500 kilometres to Turkey and almost to Syria, are a major headache for the American troops, who have devised a series of initiatives to combat sabotage.

This includes the creation of local protection units made-up of the fledgling Iraqi police forces.

Local tribes have also been hired to protect supplies with mixed success.

Armed with 50-calibre M107s, 308 bolt actions and 308 semi-automatics, the Tiger Force deployment also marks the return of airborne snipers in the regular US Army for the first time since the Indochinese wars of the 1960s and 70s.

The 308 bolt is for "personal targets" that limit collateral damage among civilians, with a medium range of almost one kilometre.

Sergeant Stinson said the 50-calibre is for longer range work, capable of killing a person from 2.5 kilometres, and the concussion alone from a round that passes within a close enough distance can kill.

The Tiger Force first won fame in the Vietnam War where it was established by Colonel David Hackworth, the highest decorated US soldier in that conflict.

"It's the same system we used in Vietnam and we've brought it out of retirement," Sergeant Stinson said.

Helicopter pilots from the 101st Airborne Division have trained specifically for ferrying snipers along the pipelines.

Pilots fly at night without light and must keep the Blackhawk in the air and position the helicopter behind, between valleys and hills, which muffles the sound of the rotors while remaining mostly out of view.

However, at the same time, the sniper's sights remain on the target allowing for "precision fire".

"We can hit a target before it knows we're there," Sergeant Stinson, a sniper with the 101st Airborne, said.

Iraq's main pipeline runs from oil-rich Kirkuk north to the Dohuk province and then on westward to the Turkish Mediterranean terminal of Ceyhan.

[knighthawk]

Ping

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[freedom9]

"and the concussion alone from a round that passes within a close enough distance can kill."

That true?

[knighthawk]

Anyone?

[facedown]

[VOA]

1. One Shot
2. One Kill
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until peace occurs.

[ErnBatavia]

Carlos Hathcock - the best of the best.

[The Fed]

This is similar to whats happening in Columbia. Above ground pipelines are protected by U.S. weapons & heavy metal. Both U.S. and Columbian soldiers have shot at impoverished peoples puncturing and stealing the spice.

[Savage Beast]

Say, you remember when the taliban honchos were meeting in some remote location in Afghanistan, and somebody in Florida punched a button and zapped them?

[Shooter 2.5]

and the concussion alone from a round that passes within a close enough distance can kill.

Stupid reporters making stupid statements bump.

Hey, TC, fiveshooter has a video he made yesterday of a Barret semi. He said the videos will be on the net in a couple of days. I'll try to let you know when they're there.

[facedown]

White feather in the field.

[ErnBatavia]

Now THAT is a great picture of Long Trang!

[facedown]

Numbah one.

[Oatka]

"There is so much area to cover that it requires precision fire, we're on call for 24-hours a day and can be airborne within 30 minutes," he said.

Seems reactive. The Bad Guys will be gone by then. Yeah, it is a BIG area but why can't small teams been randomly inserted in areas, stay a few day, pick off a few, and be picked up?

What about drones carrying mini guns? Puree the buggers on site or keep them pinned down until our troops get there?

[niteowl77]

��5{��������ctive. The Bad Guys will be gone by then. Yeah, it is a BIG area but why can't small teams been randomly inserted in areas, stay a few day, pick off a few, and be picked up?

Really, though- who is to say this is want we are actually doing? I can't believe we (that is an editorial, military "we") would give the other team our game plans by revealing them to someone in their PR department (i.e., the global press). Then again, some people want everyone - journalists included - to love 'em... I hope this is not one of those instances.

The .50 BMG concussion blurb sounds sort of like the older kid next door telling you that the local wayfreight can suck you in if you are too close to the tracks, knowing full well that all the track is 10 MPH.

[Ajnin]

I don't think the .50 cal can produce a severe enough concussion to kill a rabbit let alone a human being. While in the Corps I heard an urban legend that the overpressure caused by a tank or artillery round zipping a few feet over a person's head could kill them. I think this comes from the way airburst weapons operate. I don't think a projectile displaces air fast enough for it to damage a person.

[freedom9]

Thanks.
I thought it was bs