Posted on 03/07/2008 9:27:50 AM PST by Stoat
It is the latest weapon on the front line against the Taliban - the British Army's most powerful-ever sniper rifle, capable of killing with pinpoint accuracy from more than a mile away.
Yesterday the Army showed off its new Long Range Rifle, which has just entered service with combat units in Afghanistan to replace smaller and less powerful weapons.
The £11million upgrade programme is part of a "renaissance" of the sniper tradition - which during the Cold War was largely relegated to the sidelines - as modern commanders rediscover the huge value of pinpoint fire from sharpshooters.
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The new weapon, the L115A3, fires a heavier bullet to much longer ranges and has a state-of-the-art telescopic sight with twice the magnifying power of the old version.
More than 500 are on order from the British manufacturers, Accuracy International.
Since British forces moved into Helmand Province two years ago to take on the Taliban, demand for snipers has soared and 120 a year are now passing through the specialist training school at Warminster in Wiltshire.
One said: "It's a huge step forward. I'll be using the new rifle in Afghanistan this summer.
"It's a little heavier to carry, but the extra power is worth it. The improved telescopic sight can cut through the heat haze, which was preventing us from spotting targets at longer ranges."
Sniping is proving a hugely-important tactic in Afghanistan, where the difficulty of fighting among maze-like compounds and thick vegetation necessitates attacking the enemy at long range.
The controversy over so-called "collateral damage" from devastating airstrikes killing innocent civilians adds to the advantages of a pinpoint attack.
A senior officer at the Weapons Support School in Warminster said: "With the new rifle we now expect to be able to engage a target at 1,500 metres. With the old version it was about 1,000 metres.
"That makes a massive difference. You can keep the enemy at arm's length with snipers. Or you can have several of them firing simultaneously.
"It is devastating for an enemy's morale if a number of their fighters are suddenly shot at the same instant, and they can't even see where the firing is coming from. They tend to withdraw fast."
Training an infantryman to become a sniper can take up to a year, and only the most talented soldiers are allowed even to start the demanding courses.
First a candidate must master the technical aspects of shooting, learning to judge the strength of the wind extremely accurately using a variety of clues, and to adjust aim accordingly.
Just as importantly a sniper must learn to track his prey, move into position with extreme stealth, camouflage himself perfectly whether in natural cover or a battle-scarred city, and then disappear just as stealthily.
The senior officer said: "There is a long waiting list. Battalions are desperate to send soldiers here for training, and every soldier wants to be a sniper.
"They're held in extremely high regard. This new rifle will make them even more effective."
Ministry of Defence Fact Sheets L96 Sniper Rifle and L115A3 Long Range Rifle
The L96 sniper rifle and the L115A3 Long Range Rifle are used by military snipers across all three Services.
The L115A3 Long Range Rifle [Picture: MOD]
Designed to achieve first-round hit at 600m and harassing fire out to 1100m, the Accuracy International L96 sniper rifle has been upgraded with a new 3-12 x 50 sight and spotting scope.
The L115A3 Long Range Rifle fires an 8.59mm bullet, heavier than the 7.62mm round of the L96, and less likely to be deflected over extremely long ranges.
Sniper Rifle L96
Calibre: 7.62mm
Weight: 6.5kg
Length: (adjustable) 1124-1194mm
Muzzle velocity: 838m/s
Feed: 10-round box
Effective range: 900m, harassing fire 1100m
Long Range Rifle L115A3
Calibre: 8.59mm
Weight: 6.8kg
Length: 1300mm
Muzzle velocity: 936m/s
Feed: 5-round box
Effective range: 1100m plus
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Staring down the barrel of sniper's deadly new rifle that kills at 1,100m - Times Online
City firm's £4m rifle is delivered to Afghan front line - Portsmouth Today
Sniper rifle Kill from a mile away Issued to troops The Sun HomePageNews
sweeeeeet.
FYI
At over about 15x you have to fight with wobble since the magnification actually works against you on smaller targets.
I want one for deer hunting.
hubba hubba
Not to be nitpicky, but 1100 m would only be about .7 miles or so.
I sure would like to have one.
But the B.M.G. is a-ok too.
Can it only be used against the Taliban?
What do you need one of those for deer hunting for?
(rhetorical question - see Nugent’s ‘Kiss My Glock’ video on You Tube)
I wonder how it compares to the Barrett, and I wonder why they didn’t go to the .50 cal.
8.59mm? What is the cartridge based on. What is its capacity? What bullet weight?
Anyone know how this compares to the .50 Cal Barett and other rifles being used by American Forces?
Yes. It uses newly-developed "muzzie sensing" technology and will only work against Taliban.
A Hamas model is due to be unveiled next month. :-)
Main thing is that it weighs about 16 pounds vs. about 35 for the Barrett.
The ammo is lighter, too.
Bah the Cheytac 408 Intervention still holds the world record: Three Shots,16-5/8 Inches: 2,321 Yards
These rounds usually do not leave holes in soft targets. They tend to shred them. I shooting deer would need to be followed up by collecting peices to process later.
Still, it would be cool to shoot.
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