Escusez-moi mais l'article est en anglais.
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Definition of Sniper
Sniper is already well-established term that has long roots in military history ever since invention of reasonably accurate projectile weapons. The story how “sniper” term was coined reveals the basic outline of professional sniper. As many enthusiasts know the term ”sniper” originated in 19th century when snipe was favorite game fowl in British India. The snipe is small and fast what makes it extremely challenging target. To be successful snipe hunter you needed to be expert shot and proficient in other arts of the hunter. Sniper term was therefore reflection of someone with required skills to be successful snipe hunter. When Germans employed specially trained marksmen with telescopic sights against British Army in World War II for the first time in military history these sharpshooters became quickly known as snipers. (1)
Rather appallingly snipers have recently become something of a fashion for legions of teenagers who get kicks from playing ”sniper” in plethora of First Person Shooter games. Playing sniper can be entertaining in computer screen, but competent military snipers have been and still are devastating precision weapons with immense PsyOps effect. ”Sniper fear” was all too much of a reality for those Allied troops who had to face German snipers in Normandy and beyond. Snipers will continue to operate in battlefield despite the advances in technology and are expected to play even stronger role in years to come as the face of warfare keeps changing from Cold War –type mass engagements to counter-insurgency ”brush wars” and counter-terrorism operations. In more recent times, more or less trained snipers have been negatively associated with the term sniper for the atrocities and crimes they have committed in battlefields and in civilian life. With snipers there is the bad and there is the good. Law enforcement snipers are essential tool in hostage and counter-terrorist operations where they are often credited with saving lives of hostages and police officers.
Some militaries have started to field ”snipers” in infantry squad level by issuing scoped assault rifles to best marksmen. However, these personnel should not confused to elite or professional snipers as they are more in squad fire support (”Advanced Marksman”) and operate primarily within their own squad only.
Mentality of sniper
The mentality of properly trained sniper is not your average Joe or even average infantry man, rather, if one would try to list required mental characteristics of sniper it certainly should include nerves of steel, endless patience, intelligence mixed with calm ruthlessness that stays moulds into emotional balance. Mental characteristics and condition have immense part in selecting sniper in the first place.
His marksmanship and observation ability needs to be extremely high and for this unrivalled eyesight is important element. However, those qualities need to be supplemented with right mentality in order to successfully utilize them in sniper missions. Snipers are often associated with their obvious marksmanship skills, but competent sniper is mix of many qualities that allow him or her to do the job.
A sniper has special abilities, training, and equipment. His job is to deliver discriminatory, highly accurate rifle fire against enemy targets which, because of range, size, location, fleeting nature, or visibility, cannot be engaged successfully by the rifleman. Sniping requires the development of basic infantry skills to a high degree of perfection. A sniper’s training incorporates a wide variety of subjects designated to increase his value as force multiplier and ensure his survival on the battlefield. The art of sniping requires learning and repetitiously practicing these skills until mastered. A sniper must be highly trained in long-range rifle marksmanship and field craft skills to ensure maximum probability of effective engagements and minimum risk of detection. Perfection must be reached before sniper takes part in combat operations.
Sniper Training and Employment TC-23-14 June 1989, US Army
What makes sniper unique in pure warfare terms is that it is a weapon available to nearly any force and with relatively minimal cost. Snipers need minimal support and maintenance to operate unlike many modern high-tech weaponry. What is more snipers are not limited only to elimination of enemy combatants, but perform variety of missions. Snipers real mission scope in battlefield has been lost in the already mentioned games and movies that tend to show only very limited aspect of snipers mission and we shed bit more light later in this article what sniper is expected to do in real military. Often media battlefield reports small groups or even individuals as snipers as do frontline grunts that are exposed to sporadic rifle fire which source cannot be exactly pinpointed. More often than not stragglers, recon patrols or lone die-hards are cause of such sniping rather than elite snipers. It demonstrates that any individual can emulate snipers by hiding and taking aimed shots at distance, but elite snipers should be separated from this type of sniping.
There is aura of controversy with snipers that stems from their ability appear, hide and evade undetected while taking out individual combatants with lethal precision. As part of the snipers training and primary mission sniper identifies individuals that are most valuable for the enemy. These are officers, messengers, communications operators, heavy weapon and vehicle crews and his counterparts in enemy side (logically in actual situation they would be quickly short listed in snipers mind from most dangerous to down, i.e. starting from enemy sniper with riflemen being the last). In certain circumstances there is nothing that the enemy can do about the sniper since he is unseen at great distance. At best they can call in artillery and heavy weapons fire to the suspected location (as proper snipers are rare in lower echelons counter sniper is most likely unavailable with short notice). Enemy snipers are often hated and feared by the regular infantry who have to deal with them in difficult battlefield situations. Snipers therefore have always carried ”high prize value” even to extend where bounties have placed on heads of known enemy snipers. It can be argued that because of the sudden, concealed and personal nature of the elimination sniper’s closest term is assassin although in battlefield there is no such definition. But it can go long way to explain aura of sniper in short. Military lawyers have described sniper as ”legal battlefield weapon system”.
Saving the niceties and concealing military terminology, sniper’s job is to eliminate, to kill enemy combatants, with extreme precision and without remorse.
You get to the point where you start living like an animal” “ You act like an animal, you work like an animal, you are an animal. All you think about is killing."
- Chuck Mawhinney, USMC sniper in Vietnam War, 103 confirmed kills
SNIPER’S SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS
It is to be noted that snipers are often at least non-commissioned officers or even officers. This is because of their extensive training and number of specialized skills that their mission calls. It is also interesting to compare on paper the requirements of Special Forces and those of the sniper. Indeed, the requirements of sniper do not differ much from the Special Forces operatives.
Marksmanship
Marksmanship of sniper differs from ordinary infantry soldier’s marksmanship by its focus on techniques to hit targets at extended ranges. Examples of these techniques are effects of weather conditions to ballistics; holding off for elevation and windage; engaging moving targets; using and adjusting scopes; and zeroing procedures. As with all sniper skills, sniper marksmanship is a perishable skill that must be practiced often. (3)
As history has shown, best snipers come from hunting backgrounds and have typically participated in various marksmanship programs.
Physical condition
Sniper missions, as perfectly described in Carlos Hatchcock’s mission to eliminate NVA general, often call for extended operations with very little sleep, food or water. To endure such missions sniper must be in outstanding physical condition, which translates to better reflexes, better muscular control and greater stamina in field conditions. (4)
Vision
Eyesight is the sniper’s prime tool. Therefore, a sniper must have 20/20 vision or vision that is correctable to 20/20. Glasses or color blindness are considered to be a liability. (5)
Smoking
Rather obviously sniper should be a nonsmoker. Smoke or an unsuppressed smoker’s cough can reveal the sniper’s position, and even as smoking is definite no-go during missions refrainment may cause nervousness and irritation, which will lower sniper’s efficiency. (6) Any nervousness or irritation during aiming process will considerably lower the accuracy of the shooter.
Mental condition
Like we talked about importance of the sniper’s mental profile, commanders will screen sniper candidates to find who can do the mentally strenuous job that needs no further explanation here. A psychological evaluation of the candidate can aid the commander in the process. (7)
Intelligence
Selected sniper candidate must have high intelligence. He must be able to learn ballistics, ammunition type and capabilities, adjustment of optical devices, radio operation and procedures, forward observation (of artillery and mortar fire), land navigation skills, military intelligence and identification of uniforms and equipment. (8)
Emotional balance
Continuing on the mental aspect, emotional balance is required for sniper to be able to operate calmly and deliberately.
Fieldcraft
Movement and camouflage are essential parts of the sniper’s skills. There is no use for sniper unless he can get into position without being detected. Modern day snipers often use ghillie suits to help them to blend into their surroundings, but still key element is to be able to move patiently, quietly and slowly as human eye is naturally attracted to a movement. Even smells and animals are to be noted as this Scout Sniper testifies:
“Nature also threw other obstacles into the scenario. The warm sun had dried the ground that, together with a lack of wind, amplified the slightest sounds made by the Scout/Snipers as they painstakingly moved through the vegetation. Birds had sought refuge from the sun in the trees and could easily be stirred by one wrong move. Even the slight breeze that did occasionally blow ran over the Marines' backs, carrying their scent directly to the enemy position.”
- “Goodbye to Romance – What it takes to be Marine Scout/Sniper” by SGT Lance M. Bacon
Sniper terminology calls approach to the target as “stalk”. These often require extreme patience and bravery as real war example of USMC sniper Carlos Hathcock’s stalk of a North Vietnamese Army General demonstrates. The stalk covered 2000 meters of flat ground with nothing more for cover and concealment than grass that was only two feet high. Carlos Hathcock crawled "inches per minute and yards per hour" for two days and three nights to cover a distance that could be walked, by a man at normal speed, in ten minutes. The entire time Hathcock was moving into his FFP, enemy patrols were walking all around him. One NVA soldier even brushed Carlos' leg as he walked past the sniper hiding in the grass. On the morning of his fourth day, without having eaten any food and having had very little water, Carlos finally made it into the right spot. He found himself 800 meters from the target area. At the appropriate time, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock fired his devastating shot, killing the NVA General. Only after having made the shot, did Hathcock exit his FFP to escape the furious search for the sharpshooter who had seriously damaged the command and control structure of the NVA units operating in the area. (4)
When it comes to the marksmanship the legendary slogan ”One shot, one kill” seems to be more of a myth than reality as veteran snipers mention taking one to two shots per target and giving ”mercy shots” to finish wounded. Typical target engagement range is up to 400 meters although in some cases engagement range can be up to 800 meters. With modern .50cal sniper rifles, like M82 Barret, the engagement range has risen to over 1,000 meters.
Shooting to such long distances require various skills that ordinary rifleman is not required to have. To be able to shoot advanced distances in various combat and weather conditions skills such as range and wind estimation. Extensive knowledge of ammunition, ballistics and effects of weather are needed
Sniper’s tactical employment
Coming to tactical scope of the battlefield commanders can use snipers in variety of roles. Because of their movement, camouflage and observation skills they can be employed in reconnaince role ahead of infantry unit. They can also provide protective screen to infantry companies and pin down enemy to buy time for main force. There is interesting example in United States Marine Corps who employ Scout Snipers that do exactly what the name indicates (recon & snipe).
Sniper doesn’t need always to rely to his rifle to make the elimination. He can also call in fire support or in some cases even engage enemy with full automatic weapon and explosives when in close ambush situation.
In order not to paint the picture of sniper being something of a super-soldier, snipers do have disadvantages. Working alone, in pair or small team sniper is often outnumbered against enemy units. Should his position be revealed and taken under fire escaping and evading much larger force can be tricky. To combat this disadvantage snipers have been provided with tactical support element of about fire team size to provide cover for withdrawal if necessary.
Sniper rear-guard, an German lesson from WWII
Germans used four to six snipers to cover unit withdrawals as snipers could remain undetected with one or two shots while in comparison machine guns or other heavy weaponry would be immediately detected.
Sniper team, an Russian lesson from Chechnya
More modern and refined tactical employment that evolved in Chechnya calls use of two snipers and five-man security element armed with assault rifles. This tactic was brought in after failed attempt to use the common two-man team (sniper & observer) that is at the moment common in Western militaries. For concealment the snipers go into position at night and leave at night and employ scouts who know the area where they have been assigned.
Snipers use night to select their position, but prepare them during the day. Preparation includes digging in, camouflaging the position, clearing lanes of fire, and improving the position.
Snipers are not together, but separated 200 to 300 meters from the ambush area while the support group sets up some 200 meters to the rear of the snipers and some 500 meters to the side. The sniper team will remain in position for one or two nights. (1)
Sniper positioning
Sniper will choose a position that he is least expected to utilize. Towers, trees, high buildings, rooftops, etc. are not utilized in combat situations by experienced snipers. High buildings and roof tops will be hit first in artillery or mortar barrage (for the same reason infantry is not supposed to use most highest floors of the building) and the old rule applies here, if you can see them so can they.
What makes sniper duel so interesting topic that it can make it to a Hollywood block buster is that this tactic is so standard that enemy sniper conducting counter sniper mission will be looking for his opposite counterpart exactly from those unlikely positions that he would use, if roles would be reversed.
Dummy positions and look-a-likes are utilized to trick enemy to shoot and reveal himself. Another classic technique from World War II.
The bread and butter of Sniper
To use professional Russian sniper’s equipment as example typical sniper carries his specially manufactured sniper rifle and assault rifle or machine pistol for close-in fighting. He also should have night-observation device, rations, flare pistol with red flare, radio, grenade, shovel and shelter halves.
Referring to previously mentioned sniper’s aura snipers do not intend to be captured as it can be imagined that captured sniper cannot expect proper POW handling. Should the sniper fail to withdraw illumination flare will bring artillery to his position and grenade will deal with the sniper and his attackers simultaneously. (2)
Snipers use only two types of rifles, bolt-action or semi-automatic. Bolt-action rifles primary advantage is less target signal in terms of reloading action and shooter can choose the timing of shell ejection.
Semiautomatic’s advantage is obviously the higher rate of fire, but semiauto rifles are less popular with Western snipers. Russian snipers have traditionally employed semiauto rifles such as SVD Dragunov, but are currently looking into possibilities of bolt-action rifles.
Calibers of rifles vary from 7.62mm to 12.7mm (.308 to .50cal) with 7.62mm being the most common. .50cal rifles such as M82A1 Barret have attained great deal of popularity in recent times as AARs are coming in from Afganistan and Iraq. .50cal rifle has trendemous advantage in range, penetration and stopping power. So much so that its classification is ”anti-material rifle” and can be used against vehicles. The longest recorded kills for M82 to are well in excess of 1,000 meters
Examples of primary sniper rifles around the world
AUSTRALIA - SR-98
BELGIUM - AI ARTIC WARFARE (L96)
CANADA - C3A1 (PARKER HALE M82)
CHINA - TYPE 79 (SVD)
CROATIA - M76 / EMM-992
DENMARK - L-69
EGYPT - SVD
FINLAND - KIV2000 / KIV85
FRANCE - FR-F1 / FR-F2
GERMANY - G 22
GREECE - SSG-69
HUNGARY - SVD
INDIA - MAUSER SP66 / SVD
IRAN - SVD
IRAQ - SVD
IRELAND - H&K 33/ SG-1 / L96A1
ISRAEL - M24 SWS
ITALY - AI AWPSM
JAPAN - TYPE 64 w/scope
NORWAY - NM149S
PAKISTAN - STEYR SSG-69
PHILIPPINES - MSSR
POLAND - SWD
RUSSIA - SVD
SOUTH AFRICA - PSG-1 / STEYR SSG69
SOUTH KOREA - MSG-90
SWEDEN - PSG-90
UK - L96A1 / L115A1
USA - M40A1 / M40A3 / M24SWS
UKRAINE - SVD
Sniper scopes
In modern day, all sniper rifles are equipped with scope sights and have become sort of a trademark of a sniper.
Generally speaking scope mounted on the rifle allows the sniper to detect and engage targets more efficiently than he could normally do. The primary advantage of scope is focused image of the target and aiming point at the same time. Scope, however, will not make you better shooter; it only helps you to see well.
Since airsoft rifles behave very differently from real steel rifles we will not discuss the scopes in detail here. You can find additional information about scopes from the following parts of this report.
Sniper traditions
Emphasis and interest on snipers has been on on-off basis with major military powers. It appears that during peacetime sniper training has been decreased or even ignored while always during wartime sniper training has been resumed in earnest – more often than not by battlefield requirements. Certainly during wartime snipers have been always valued very highly by the lower echelon commanders, perhaps because the results are there to be seen immediately and personally.
As surprising as it sounds the powerhouse US military has been traditionally regarded weak when it comes to general infantry marksmanship and sniper doctrine. Of the various US military services, USMC seems to have the strongest tradition for snipers. The most famous US sniper is from relatively recent conflict and a Marine. Carlos Hathcock, USMC, racked 93 confirmed kills in Vietnam War and needs no introduction to any US reader. According the recent news reports US military has been stepping up efforts of sniper training and increases the number of snipers employed in conflict areas like Iraq and Afganistan.
Germans were relatively effective in sniper employment in both World War I and World War II. There is numerous stories of German snipers causing high casualties and widespread ”sniper fear” among the Allied troops after Normandy landings in 1944. Soviet Union had established nationwide sharp shooting and sniper training system in 1930s and was well prepared for sniper warfare by the time World War II started. Soviets employed sniper units as large as brigade. As a result many sniper aces could be found from the ranks of Red Army (the highest ranking female sniper is Russian).
End of Recon Report: Sniper part one
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(1-2) Infantry, Summer 2002: Russian snipers in the mountains and cities of Chechnya
(3) Sniper Training and Employment, US Army, TC 23-14, 3-1
(4) ”True Bravery”, SGT Thomas Blahnik
(5-8) Sniper Training and Employment, US Army, TC 23-14
Part Two: Famous Snipers
Part Three: Airsoft Sniper
Part Four: Airsoft Sniper Rifles
Part Five: Field test of Sniper Rifles
Part Six: Upgrading Sniper Rifle
FAMOUS SNIPERS
Je pense que la seconde partie n'est pas très interressante puisque qu'elle relate les exploits et les récits de veritable snipers !!!
Mais si vous voulez que je rajoute cette partie dites le moi et je la rajouterai...
Pour le moment les autres parties (3,4,5,6) n'existent pas encore, alors patience mes amis...
Bonne lecture
je ne comprend rien (je susi comme un gamin chui content rien qu'en voyant les images 
)
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