Posted on 03/14/2002 6:16:37 PM PST by Black Powder
OTTAWA -- A team of six Canadian snipers shot dead heavily armed Taliban or al-Qaeda members in Afghanistan over the past week -- the first confirmed enemy killings in combat by Canadian troops since the Korean War.
Speaking about the fighting as part of Operation Anaconda, Vice-Admiral Greg Maddison said the snipers "suppressed enemy mortar and heavy machine-gun positions with deadly accuracy."
That information emerged yesterday as 600 Canadian and U.S. soldiers launched a new combat mission, called Operation Harpoon, in eastern Afghanistan. Under Canadian command, the soldiers were flown in by helicopter from the Bagram air base, up to a mountainous area where they will chase down Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters.
The coalition troops encountered no resistance as they set up their positions early in the day, getting ready for a mission that will last two to seven days.
Canadian officials estimate that there are fewer than 100 enemy fighters hiding in caves and mountains in the area that they call the Whale Back.
It was during the Operation Anaconda phase that Canadian snipers felled enemy fighters while defending U.S. troops that were under fire.
"As the American battalion was moving down the ridge and dealing with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters that they were encountering, the snipers were there to provide defensive capability," Adm. Maddison said.
He would not say how many enemy fighters the snipers killed or provide any other details of the incident.
There have been no Canadian casualties in the operations so far.
While Canadians soldiers have killed people during peacekeeping missions, the last time the country's military used lethal force in combat was in 1953.
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.
The mission is called a "mopping up" -- finding and eliminating pockets of resistance after a major operation. Hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaeda members were killed as part of the U.S.-led Operation Anaconda, which is winding down.
Some fighters survived, and have fled northwest to the Whale Back.
Commodore Jean-Pierre Thiffault, the top Canadian officer at Central Command in Tampa, Fla., said that Operation Harpoon is "a combat operation to clear out the remaining al-Qaeda and Taliban pockets in caves and other sites in the mountainous areas south of Gardez, near the Whale Back."
Adm. Maddison said this will be a risky endeavour in a dangerous area: mountainous and rough terrain that is filled with caves and holes where the enemy might be hiding.
"It is not a benign environment. Whilst our folks are well-trained and they're well led, and they're prepared for this sort of mission, the risks are high," he said.
Operation Harpoon started with intense bombing of the Whale Back area by U.S. bombers, followed by the "insertion" of Canadian troops under the protection of gunship helicopters.
"There was a heavy amount of air cover that was used to soften the terrain, if you will," Adm. Maddison said.
Operation Harpoon is much smaller than Operation Anaconda, although both are happening in the same general area.
Operation Anaconda focused on an area called Shahi Kot, in which hundreds of Taliban or al-Qaeda fighters had congregated.
Two teams of Canadian snipers, or sharpshooters, are with the coalition fighting in Afghanistan, both from the Princess Patricia's regiment.
Snipers are part of a battalion's reconnaissance platoon. Their job is to figure out how to get as close to the enemy as possible. 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.
Canada's snipers -- there are only a few dozen -- learn their trade at the Combat Training Centre at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick. In addition to six snipers, the Canadian contribution to Operation Anaconda included an indefinite number of commando troops from the Joint Task Force 2 and 10 others members of the Princess Patricia's regiment.
The JTF2 members are back at their home base now. It is Canadian policy to release almost no information on their activities. Adm. Maddison said the JTF2 engaged in combat, but didn't say if they killed anyone.
Canada has contributed 2,400 troops so far to the war on terrorism.
It has almost 900 soldiers in Afghanistan, while the others are working on ships and planes in the area.
Canadian Alliance MP Leon Benoit -- a frequent critic of Canada's defence policy -- praised the work of troops in Afghanistan.
"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."
"Aim small, miss small."
It was joke, son. I suggest you use a suppository and get straight to the doctor.
I'd like to get out there and shoot iron sights all the way back to 1000. That would be great.
The AR15 types are interesting. The low recoil has got to be an advantage in rapid fire. Several of the guys I shot with went up a classification when they switched from the M1A to the AR. For me with the .30 calibers, if my position is tight and natural point of aim is correct, when I come down out of recoil my front sight is at 6 oclock. Take up the slack, and let it go.
Regards
J.R.
I can pick up the magazine at the next gunshow and see what they're talking about. There is a tactical[?] shooting range about 3 hours away that teaches a day class on 1000 yards. I wasn't all that interested because they won't allow .223's.
I would like to find a really good range and wind chart for my .223 loads. It's very easy to find charts for the .308. I put WeatherBug on my computer so I can learn to read the wind. I think anyone can learn to shoot and to write down elevation clicks. It's that wind that is so difficult. www.shooterready.com helps.
Absolutely. My last three sitting scores were 98, 99 and a 96. I noticed that when the group was running a verticle string, I wasn't leaning forward enough. The rifle was bobbing. I have to pay very close attention to the sling tension. The other thing I noticed about the AR was that I don't take the rifle off my shoulder to reload. I also cant the rifle just a little bit in order to hit the release button and I'm good to go. I also noticed that I was shooting faster than others even with the high scores. I think I was able to get them all in 45 or 50 seconds. Where I fail is the standing. I used to shoot .22 silhouette rifle and when I switched to high power, my standing scores were in the 90's. I have a hard time doing that now. The Texas wind is kicking my butt.
Gotta go for a while.
Regards
J.R.
Now that's sad, just a few dozen, and they are trained in New Burnswick too. They should have a school in Afganistan!!!
Snipers up!
I think it's a great name!! Can you imagine the Taliban units saying that they were picked apart by a unit named for a princess??
"Abdul, what happened to your unit? Who did this?"
(highly embarrassed) "Sir, it was... Pr... P... P... Princess Patricia's!"
Whoo-hoo! (looking to my south) Thanks guys!
Sgt. George, Harry Mullin, VC, MM George Mullin was born on the 15th of August 1892 in Portland, Oregan, USA. He enrolled with the 28th Infantry Battalion, joining the Princess Patricia's Light Infantry in the field on the 1st of March 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 6th of May 1915 and to Sergeant on the 2nd of June 1916. For his actions during the Battle of Passchendaele on the 30th of October 1917, he was awarded The Victoria Cross. The Citation accompanying the award reads as follows:
While machine gunners officer Hugh MacKenzie drew the German fire, Sergeant Mullin actually performed the incredible feat of taking the pill box single-handed. He rushed a sniper post in front and destroyed the garrison with bombs and crawling on top of the pill box, shot the two machine gunners with his revolver. Sergeant Mullin then rushed to another entrance and compelled the garrison of ten to surrender. His gallantry and fearlessness was witnessed by many and although rapid fire was directed in his purpose, he not only helped to save the situation but also indirectly saved many lives. "
Sergeant Mullin was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and subsequently struck of strength of the Regiment in 1918. He died in Regina, Saskatchewan on the 5th of April 1964.
I think that's common. The recoil upsets your position. Using that spray adhesive might help.
My problem with standing relates to my sleeping habits. I spent the last ten years on second shift and I can't seem to wake up. The first relay causes me to be sleepy, shaky and a bad disposition. I've noticed that it takes a week for my body to get on the early shift so I can shoot a match. I shoot with country types that are up at 5 AM. I have an IDPA match this weekend and I was up until two yesterday. Since I help to run the match, I can delay my shooting all the way until 10:00.
We're talking Canada here; the same Canada that stormed the beaches of Normandy with us. They aren't the stinking U.N.
you boys still don't scare me
This may come as a bit of a shock to you but his job is not to scare you.
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.