Posted on 08/04/2006 12:15:58 PM PDT by Brit_Guy
A BRITISH sniper waging war on the Taliban is so deadly he has earned a chilling nickname — The Man Who Never Misses.
The unerring Army sharpshooter has killed 39 rebel fighters single-handedly.
His marksmanship is so lethal that rumours have spread like wildfire through insurgents’ camps, causing panic and confusion.
The sniper — who The Sun is not naming to prevent him becoming a target himself — is a member of elite 3 Para.
Described by sources as “the best shot in the Army” he is responsible for over five per cent of the 700 insurgents killed by Paras since British forces returned to Afghanistan.
He is based in the wild Helmand province, where our troops launched a massive assault on the Taliban this week.
A source said yesterday: “This sniper is truly something else — a silent assassin.
“In the deadly terrain of southern Afghanistan, where guerilla warfare rules, he has been invaluable. The rumours are sweeping enemy camps that he is the man who never misses.”
The sniper’s actual toll is probably higher than 39 but the Taliban’s tendency to reclaim bodies makes deaths difficult to confirm.
His lethal L96A1 rifle has a range of 1,000 yards and is fitted with electronic sights and laser range-finders.
He works with a partner called a spotter, who locates the target and helps judge wind speed and distance so the bullet travels accurately.
Each day the pair risk their lives away from fellow Paras, taking up covert positions and often lying hidden for as long as ten hours at a time. Once the shot has been fired they need nerves of steel to stay concealed while Taliban rebels wielding rocket-propelled grenades and machine-guns desperately try to hunt them down.
The Ministry of Defence would not discuss the crackshot for security reasons.
But he is regarded as one of the most successful British snipers since World War Two.
Earlier this year it was revealed that the Army is creating an elite force of almost 700 snipers, with all 38 infantry battalions required to have an 18-man platoon of sharpshooters by 2008. It will be the first time formal sniper platoons will have existed since the end of the First World War in 1918.
The decision follows the success of British and US sniper teams who have killed dozens of terrorists on recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In 2003 Royal Marines sniper Corporal Matt Hughes killed an Iraqi gunman from 900 yards with a “wonder shot” in which he aimed 56ft to the left and 35ft high to allow for wind.
The bullet’s trajectory was calculated by his spotter after he studied the movement of dust in the breeze. And Irish Guards Sergeant Eddie Waring lay on a roof for hours to take out three Iraqis who were laying mines in Basra.
Review "The 3rd Battalion has a veteran sniper, Staff Sergeant Jack Coughlin, for whom the war in Iraq was only the latest of many wars; he fought in Mogadishu, too. On the first day of battle at the Diyala Bridge, he had eleven kills. He is one of the best snipers in the Marine Corps, perhaps the very best. When I asked one of his commanders about his skills, the commander smiled and said, 'I'm just glad he's on our side.' "
It's been a really long time since I last qualified on the range, but if I recall correctly, a .308 or a .30-06 will lose over half its velocity at 900 yards. Given a muzzle velocity of, say, 2700 feet per second, the round should take something over two seconds to reach the target. 56 feet would seem to be the correction necessary for a 17mph wind.
That isn't the infamous "prairie dog" video, is it? It looks like humans on first suggestion, but the film is actually of prairie dogs being shot.
I've heard that more and more snipers are going with the .300 win mag short, at least vs. the .308.
LOL
I believe you are right. The field of view of the scope is not that large at 900 yards.
... but I have been wrong before.
TRAJECTORY TABLE, FEDERAL MATCH .308 CAL.168-Gr. BOATTAIL HOLLOWPOINT
Trajectory by Yards, Expressed in Inches
Zero Range 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
100 Yards Zero -4.5 -15.9 -35.5 -64.6 -105 -159 -228 -315 -421
300 Yards +5.3 +6.1 zero -14.3 -38.1 -73.2 -121 -185 -267 -369
400 Yards +8.9 +13.3 +10.8 Zero -20.1 -57.6 -96.3 -157 -235 -333
500 Yards +13.0 +21.5 +23.1 +16.5 Zero -27.0 -67.6 -124 -198 -292
600 Yards +17.5 +30.5 +36.6 +34.5 +22.9 zero -36.1 -87.8 -157 -247
700 Yards +22.6 +40.7 +51.9 +54.9 +48.4 +30.6 Zero -47.0 -112 -196
800 Yards +28.4 +51.4 +69.3 +78.1 +77.4 +65.4 +40.2 Zero -59.4 -139
900 Yards +35.0 +65.5 +89.1 +105 +110 +105 +86.4 +52.2 Zero -72.4
1000 Yards +42.2 +80.0 +111 +133 +147 +149 +137 +110 +65.2 Zero
(Corporal Matt Hughes killed an Iraqi gunman from 900 yards with a “wonder shot” in which he aimed 56ft to the left and 35ft high to allow for wind.)
The Tiger Woods of snipers!
no sir..no prairie dogs in this one..
"Doesn't everyone keep ballistic tables with them at work?"
As a matter of fact I happen to have the Ballisticard Systems Sierra Match 168 Gr. card right here in my hand. Only goes to 500 yds.
"Absolute amateur gun guy question: Is this anywhere near real?"
Nah, not even close. On my Palma rifle I come up 13.5 MOA from a 600 yard zero for the 900 yard line. That's only 11 feet or so. I shot in a howling gale a few weeks ago and came off the 900 yard line with 23 MOA right on my sight, or 17.25 feet.
LAT and NYT working hard to publish his identity.
"When he gets home he won't be trusted to own a gun!"
The rifle in question is fully legal to own here in the uk (as are all other bolt action rifles including 50BMG calibre) provided he obtains the right firearms license from the police. Then he will have to find the $5000-6000 that one of these costs.
One other thing: its strange to see the surprised comments on here regarding the range of 900-1000 yard shooting. Thins is quite common amongst civilian rifle shooters on ranges here with .30 calibre rifles.
Feet, inches etc. are ENGLISH MEASURE. Get it?
Here's a video of a sniper in action. 50 cal.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5820322807673807576&q=SNIPER
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