The Taliban Terminator: Brit Sniper gets 39

The Sun (UK) ^ | 4th August 2006 | VIRGINIA WHEELER

[Brit_Guy]

A BRITISH sniper waging war on the Taliban is so deadly he has earned a chilling nickname — The Man Who Never Misses.

The unerring Army sharpshooter has killed 39 rebel fighters single-handedly.

His marksmanship is so lethal that rumours have spread like wildfire through insurgents’ camps, causing panic and confusion.

The sniper — who The Sun is not naming to prevent him becoming a target himself — is a member of elite 3 Para.

Described by sources as “the best shot in the Army” he is responsible for over five per cent of the 700 insurgents killed by Paras since British forces returned to Afghanistan.

He is based in the wild Helmand province, where our troops launched a massive assault on the Taliban this week.

A source said yesterday: “This sniper is truly something else — a silent assassin.

“In the deadly terrain of southern Afghanistan, where guerilla warfare rules, he has been invaluable. The rumours are sweeping enemy camps that he is the man who never misses.”

The sniper’s actual toll is probably higher than 39 but the Taliban’s tendency to reclaim bodies makes deaths difficult to confirm.

His lethal L96A1 rifle has a range of 1,000 yards and is fitted with electronic sights and laser range-finders.

He works with a partner called a spotter, who locates the target and helps judge wind speed and distance so the bullet travels accurately.

Each day the pair risk their lives away from fellow Paras, taking up covert positions and often lying hidden for as long as ten hours at a time. Once the shot has been fired they need nerves of steel to stay concealed while Taliban rebels wielding rocket-propelled grenades and machine-guns desperately try to hunt them down.

The Ministry of Defence would not discuss the crackshot for security reasons.

But he is regarded as one of the most successful British snipers since World War Two.

Earlier this year it was revealed that the Army is creating an elite force of almost 700 snipers, with all 38 infantry battalions required to have an 18-man platoon of sharpshooters by 2008. It will be the first time formal sniper platoons will have existed since the end of the First World War in 1918.

The decision follows the success of British and US sniper teams who have killed dozens of terrorists on recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2003 Royal Marines sniper Corporal Matt Hughes killed an Iraqi gunman from 900 yards with a “wonder shot” in which he aimed 56ft to the left and 35ft high to allow for wind.

The bullet’s trajectory was calculated by his spotter after he studied the movement of dust in the breeze. And Irish Guards Sergeant Eddie Waring lay on a roof for hours to take out three Iraqis who were laying mines in Basra.

[mad puppy]

"It's been a really long time since I last qualified on the range, but if I recall correctly, a .308 or a .30-06 will lose over half its velocity at 900 yards. Given a muzzle velocity of, say, 2700 feet per second, the round should take something over two seconds to reach the target. 56 feet would seem to be the correction necessary for a 17mph wind."

OK, 17mph = 5280ft *17m/hr = 89760 ft/hr = 25 ft/sec. So, if the bullet came out of the barrel moving at 17 mph to the left (in this case) and maintained that speed for your 2 seconds, then yes, 50 ft is close enough to 56 that I'll give it to you.

However, the bullet isn't moving left when it exits the barrel. The wind has to accelerate that bullet from zero to 34 (ish) in order to average 17. That is going to take a very strong wind to do that, much more than 34 mph. Also, that bullet is riping through the air at ~3000 ft/sec and making its own air-shock wave as it goes, not to mention rotating very quickly. But, OK, even though that seems like extreme winds to be shooting in, these guys are really good so let's let that go too.

I'm guessing here and I'm sure I'll be set right soon, but don't sniper rifles shoot bullets with very high ballistic coefficients specifically so that can better maintain their velocity down range? And don't they typically spit those bullets out at very high rates of speed? I'm really asking here I don't know for a fact. I'm guessing a muzzle velocity in the 3500 ft/sec range if not more. If some one REALLY knows, share the wealth. All of which is to say that I think 2 seconds for the bullet to travel that 2700 ft is too long, which of course makes that wind requirement all the more extreme

OK, I'll sit tight and get fried by a true Freeper-shooter.

[pankot]

I think I'm getting an erection!

[VRing]

"One other thing: its strange to see the surprised comments on here regarding the range of 900-1000 yard shooting. Thins is quite common amongst civilian rifle shooters on ranges here with .30 calibre rifles."

Great Britain currently holds the Palma trophy, having won it in 2003. There are many outstanding shooters there, but because of the cost one has to be truly dedicated to engage in the sport.

[midnightson]

35ft high to allow for wind.


That must have been one heck of a downdraft!

[SWAMPSNIPER]

"One other thing: its strange to see the surprised comments on here regarding the range of 900-1000 yard shooting".

---

This was also common in the days of muzzle loaders, and early black powder cartridge rifles. The tradition of marksmanship is in a sad state these days, few people know what a good rifle can do in the right hands.
What hoops will he be expected to jump through AFTER he gets the license and the rifle? I don't expect it will hang on the wall, as mine do.

[Uncle Miltie]

Putting a squad with them would make them more visible. I'm sure they'd prefer to be left alone to their immobility.

I've got a Marine buddy in snipers, and he showed our CAP Squadron his ghillie suit. Under that, you could lie still and have people walk ten feet from you and never see you. You look like a bush or rock pile.

Best to be alone and leave the next night.

[Dead Dog]

Sounds about right. Although I thought a .308 was more like 20 feet elevation at 1000 yards, must have had a headwind.

[Dead Dog]

Looks like an enfield action???

[Attillathehon]

If you're looking for great books about snipers, try Stephen Hunter's "Black Light" and "Point of Impact." Great books and loaded with info on Marine sniper history and unforgettable characters such as "Bob the Nailer."

[sine_nomine]

Or gravity.

Thanks for all the informed posts. I really admire snipers. I just had one in the class I was teaching. We should use many more of them.

I gave the former sniper and the other military people cigars to thank them.

[Mac1]

"There are many outstanding shooters there, but because of the cost one has to be truly dedicated to engage in the sport."

Funnily enough, "fullbore" rifle (anything other than 22 rimfire) has never occurred to me as being expensive, unlike, say skeet/trap. Ranges are hired through clubs at Bisley (40 minutes drive from where I live) and I think there is a lot of 2nd hand equipment available. You can reload ammunition.

[shawnlaw]

Winchster .308 (7.62 NATO)

147 grain BTMJ (boat tail full metal jacket) -56.1 foot drop at 500 yards. Source: Guns and Ammo online.

150 grain 2900 fps muz vel -37 ffoot drop at 500 yards. Source: Guns and Ammo online.

So maybe if you load your own and match the bullet its possible.

[Mac1]

"What hoops will he be expected to jump through AFTER he gets the license and the rifle? I don't expect it will hang on the wall, as mine do."

Correct. He will have to store it in an approved locked steel cabinet bolted to the wall. If he uses it for target shooting (as opposed to hunting) he will be a member of a home office approved club (he will have to be a member BEFORE he gets granted the license and will have served a six month probationary period). I think attendance is monitored by the club who inform the police if it drops off I believe, though I'm not 100% sure on this; I think these rules came in after I gave up shooting. There may be different rules for full time members of the armed forces though.

[teacherwoes]

>>The sniper — who The Sun is not naming to prevent him becoming a target himself...

_______________
However, if he was an American and this was an American news report I'm sure he would have been named.

[sean327]

Show me a 900-1000 yard flint lock muzzle loader shot. Sorry SWAMPSNIPER, but I think you hit the bong a little too hard today. 900-1000 yard shots may be possible with today's inline muzzle loaders, but not with any of the Civil War or Revolutionary War era weapons.

[Candor7]

He was using special boomerang ammo, the new type that curves into the target from the side , and smells like bull shite!!!

[Deguello]

Check your source again, it should be inches.

My ballistic tables would give the same 150gr .308 @ 2900 fps a drop of about 45 inches (depends upon the BC) at 500 yards with a 200 yrd zero (common for hunting).

I shoot a 150 gr .308 Ballistic Tip @3000 fps with a 200 yrd zero. Drop @500 yrd would be 39.8 inches. BC is .435

[mad puppy]

I'm pretty sure those should be inches, not feet.

[Doomonyou]

Bang.

Reach out and snuff someone.

[fish hawk]

Call the NYTimes and get this mans name.