Matt's shot in a million

The Sun ^ | Fri, Apr 4, 2003 | NICK PARKER

[pragmatic_asian]

A ROYAL Marines sniper told yesterday how he felled an Iraqi gunman in a strong wind from more than half a mile with an astonishing shot in a million.

Crackshot Corporal Matt Hughes, 28, was ordered to take out the Iraqi, who was firing at his pals and holding up an attack.

Matt pulled off the incredible feat of marksmanship by perfectly gauging the wind speed to bend the bullet to its target.

And amazingly a second sniper alongside him hit a second Iraqi at the same moment with another wonder shot.

The 7.62 calibre round from Matt’s L96 sniper rifle was aimed 56ft to the left to allow for the wind, and 35ft high to allow for the distance.

Yet it flew straight to the target, hitting the Iraqi in the chest. He probably died instantly.

Matt, of the Marines’ spearhead brigade patrol troop in Al Faw, said yesterday: “It was a bit like David Beckham taking a free kick.

“I knew I only had one shot and had to get the angle exactly right.”

Matt, from Betws-y-Coed, Wales, and pal Corporal Sam Hughes, 31, of Plymouth, Devon, calculated the bullet’s trajectory by studying movement of dust across the desert.

Matt said: “Sam told me I would have to fire exactly 17 metres to the left of the target for the bullet to bend in the wind and take him out.

“I made adjustments to my sight. The Iraqi stayed in the crosshairs of my sight the whole time and didn’t move. I knew I’d hit him full in the chest and got him.”

Another Marine sniper next to Matt felled the second Iraqi.

Taking out the two Iraqis who had been shooting at Marines meant the Brits could advance to help secure the peninsula.

[pragmatic_asian]

Glad they're on our side. I'm think Rummy owes the Brits a little apology. I shudder to think about how things would've turned out if the US had gone it alone.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Rummy was just being Rummy. He was making the point that America never NEEDS allied forces to wage a war against Iraq. He said this to a snarky reporter, btw. He quickly apologized, so that the Brits knew that we WANTED them to join us. Never for one minute doubt that Rummy is fully operating from the page that Bush wants him to.

[Windcatcher]

Obligatory quote (sorry, but it has to be done):

"Gun control is hitting your target."

[MEG33]

He did not say we didn't want them..He was asked if we could go without them if they were not allowed to join us. It was one of those press briefings.Would you have preferred he said No,it's impossible without the Brits?

[Ymani Cricket]

What a shot!

[kstewskis]

that's impressive!

[Myrddin]

For those linguistically challenged by the name of Matt's town, the translation of "Betws-y-Coed" means a "prayer house in the wood". I had to pull out my book of Welsh Placenames. Damn good shot!

[Randy Larsen]

I'm stunned....what more can I say...

[Windcatcher]

A friend once mentioned a book written by a former sniper. I think it was titled The Professional, but I'm not sure. The guy once had to assassinate someone, and he had to perform all kinds of elaborate calculations to get the shot right. Wind speed, humidity, temperature, what areas the round would fly over (concrete absorbs heat and would cause thermals to rise in daytime), etc. He hit his target...

[kstewskis]

I would love to learn how to shoot like that.

...not that I am planning on assasinating anyone, but it would be great to understand and calculate wind, humidity, temp, ect...in its relation to bullet velocity.

[LiteKeeper]

bump

[Centurion2000]

Wow .... an English Carlos Hathcock. Nice job to the Brits all around.

[geopyg]

"I would love to learn how to shoot like that."

Obviously the reporter was impressed - this "one in a million shot" happened twice - at the very same instant! It's not luck, it's training and practice. (But still AWEsome!)

[the_doc]

Is this article believable when it claims a windage correction of 56 feet for a mere 800-yard shot?

[Fred Mertz]

Hey logos,

Is this story for real?

[Windcatcher]

Assuming a flight time of one second, that amounts to a transverse velocity of 38mi/hr, or about 33.4 knots. I don't know the crosswise aerodynamic coefficient of a bullet off the top of my head :) but I suppose it's *possible* in high wind. A longer flight time would mean the crosswind didn't have to be as strong, but it would have to have been fairly strong nonetheless. I'm not a sniper, so I don't know if a sniper would attempt a shot in such wind.

[pragmatic_asian]

Not at all. I just said that he should apologize for slighting them even if it was unintentionally. I would've preferred that he show just a little more tact.

[pragmatic_asian]

In the desert it's not just a matter of the wind is it? Wouldn't the sand blown up have a greater affect than the trajectory of the bullet? Anyone know how fast the wind gets in Iraq?

[Windcatcher]

Hmmm...I suppose it depends on the density of the sand. I'd expect it to retard the round's progress and cause it to drop a bit more, *if it's been stirred up*. Of course, high winds would presumably do that. It would also cause the round to take a little longer to reach its target, which would amplify the effect of any crosswind. Of course, this is all speculation; don't take it as gospel...

[Lurker]

It's certainly possible.

It depends on the wind.

L