Royal Marine snipers from 3 Commando
Posted on 04/02/2003 3:48:18 PM PST by MadIvan
British snipers have begun operating inside Basra in a series of "harass and destroy" missions against Iraqi paramilitaries defending the city.
Royal Marine snipers from 3 Commando |
Dozens more Iraqis are thought to have been killed by artillery fire and bombs directed by the snipers, who are also acting as forward observers for coalition forces.
Major Ben Farrell, the commanding officer of 2 company of 1st Bn Irish Guards, which has a nine-man team of snipers working inside Basra, said the use of snipers, who could strike without warning, was designed to shatter the morale of the Fedayeen paramilitaries and other troops.
"Our snipers are working in pairs, infiltrating the enemy's territory, to give us very good observation of what is going on inside Basra and to shoot the enemy as well when the opportunity arises," he said.
"They don't kill huge numbers, but the psychological effect and the denial of freedom of movement of the enemy is vast. Our snipers have done really well. What they do is very brave."
The snipers enter Basra in Warrior armoured personnel carriers, jumping out at the back and running for cover while colleagues from the Irish Guards drive forward, delivering distracting fire during "in and out" raids into the margins of the city which British forces have carried out in recent days.
Sgt Eddie Waring, 34, one of the Irish Guards sniper team, described how he and his colleagues worked, and recounted two "kills".
"Sometimes it's a bit hairy when we are getting to our position when there are rounds and mortars coming down around us.
"It's also a bit scary going into the buildings because they haven't been cleared and we don't know if they have left any booby traps for us. But once we are here they don't know where we are and it feels OK. We can report back on what's going on - to call in air strikes or direct artillery - and if they are within range of our rifles we will shoot them.
"I've killed two people for definite. When I got the first guy they brought up a second, and when I shot him they didn't send any more.
"I shot somebody else, but he went over a wall so I couldn't see what had happened to him."
Sgt Waring said everyone was scared of a sniper because they did not know where he was - one sniper could hold back a whole regiment. "The only thing that can beat a sniper is another sniper," he said. The weapon they use is a British-made L96A1 rifle, which has a "first round kill" range of 900 yards. It can deliver "harassing" fire, but is powerful enough to scatter an enemy but not to kill over a further 200 yards. Each rifle is covered in tape painted in camouflage colours to minimise the chances of detection.
Lance Sergeant Ralph Irwin, another Irish Guards sniper, who is known as "the Bull" by his colleagues, said he was unfazed by either the danger, or the clinical nature of his work. "People might think we are a bit crazy, but we just think of it as our job," he said.
"There are mortars and rounds coming in, but other than that, it's just like an exercise.
"It's the first time I have been at war, but we've got a good weapon with a very accurate sight, so it's fine."
Amid the trauma and anxiety of combat, there is, however, time for humour. Outside the bombed-out room on the banks of the Shatt al-Basra waterway in which the snipers are based between missions into the city, is a sign put up after one operation was cancelled. "Guns for sale. Hardly ever used. One careful owner. See the snipers. Closing down special."
While the irony inevitably causes laughter among the snipers' Irish Guards colleagues, the reality of their work does sometimes hit home, as Major Farrell, the men's commander confirms.
"Most of them have never been in this situation before and in some cases the reality of what they are doing is quite shocking," he said.
"They don't take lightly the requirements for them to kill the enemy, but they do their job extremely well."
If you miss, you might hit the wrong guy, or hit the right guy in the wrong place, or just plain make the area too hot to inhabit. Dead by accident or a shot intended for another target, is still dead.
And all I have is my Mauser 48.
There's bnothing wrong at all with the old Model '98 Mauser action, and most of the Yugo Model 48 versions that I've run across are fine examples of the breed. The things saw considerable use in their homeland during the 1990-1991 sniper duels between Serb and Croat [with a few strays thrown in] both in their original 7,92 chambering and rebarrelled to the 7,62 NATO cartridge; the 7,92mm boattailed 198-grain bullet is a fine performer at longer ranges.
And too, the Israelis are still using them as well, mostly also rebarrelled to 7,62, though a few of the 8mm versions soldier on still. It's easy to find a serious affection for those nice old Mausers. Yours one of the *sterile* ones built for Egypt?
-archy-/-
They've gotten sneaky, using heavier bullets, though still capable of developing sufficient accuracy from the same rate of twist as a more usual 150-200 grain .308 load. But 220 and 230-grain bullets for quiet work with a .308 are possible, and can also be made to work nicely in semiauto rifles in the .300 Whisper chambering suitable for use in .223/5,56mm-length actions.
The Berger and Hornady VLD bullets offer particularly interesting possibilities, particularly moly-coated examples, clear out to 1200 meters.
And going the other way, the kissinavistas loads popularized by the late Finnish gunwriter PT *Pete* Kekkonen offer very useful closer range results, even with a non-silenced or soundsuppressed rifle.
-archy-/-
Shoot it. That's what it was meant for, and it's fortunate to have wound up in the hands of one who'll both appreciate its capabilities and make use of them.
If you need info on some particularly accurate 7,92x57mm reload data, just let me know. I've owned a couple of dozen, mostly pretty good ones, over the years. I've got four at present, three of which share the 7,92 chambering. And I'm thinking about a related project for another one or two.
-archy-/-
Doesn't seem to affect the shooter much though.
Maybe a bruise on his sholder, maybe a little ringing in his ears.
-archy-/-
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