08/20/2004 Entry: ""
Posted by Maynard @ 10:54 AM MST
The Dumbest Snipers in Iraq
Lets take a look at an AP picture currently available at a Fox story here.
First, the duo are using the Dragunov SVD, a semi-automatic long-range rifle, built around the AK-47 receiver, chambering the 7.62x54R cartridge. This is the oldest currently used battle cartridge in the world. It is an excellent sniper round+gun combination for urban warfare, since it is semi-automatic and heavy enough to hit hard at long range.
Unfortunately for them, that's where their good points end.
Their bad points are numerous. First, neither one is using any type of support for their shooting. The better idea would be to put something under their rifle, either a bipod or tripod, to rest the rifle and steady it. If it was large enough, they could also hide behind it.
Neither one of them has a good posture for shooting. Their cheeks are not firmly placed against the stocks (known as a stock weld), which means that their perception of the target is not consistent. This means that their shots are not consistently placed. Their upper bodies, supported only by their legs, will move with their breathing and prevent them from taking steady aim. Now, American snipers are taught to shoot while sitting as well, but their stance is more balanced, with their legs crossed and elbows resting on thighs. This gives their weapon a much more stable shooting platform.
They are, at least at least in the scope of the picture, completely without cover of any sort whatsoever. If they were shooting at paper, they would be fine. But they are shooting at the most- and best-trained forces in the world. Those forces will shoot back. The bullets will hit somewhere, and unfortunately for these guys, somewhere will likely be their chest.
The guy on the left at least has some type of camoflague - his shirt is near in color to the building he is next to. His partner, however, is poorly dressed and exposed in sunlight, producing not only a shadow but contrast, two bad things for snipers. It exposes him to detection very quickly.
There is no supporting team near them. If they get in trouble, they had better have quick legs and good knowledge of the area, otherwise they will get destroyed. Good shoes would help too.
As far as we can see, they only have what is in the magazines as ammunition - a very bad situation for them, since it means a very short time before they can shoot again. Unless they are excellent shots, they can kiss their untrained fundaments goodbye. Given their other poor conditions and postures, I wouldn't say these guys are accurate beyond 200 meters, maybe 300. Beyond that, any hits are pure luck.
American snipers, though, could sit out around 800 meters and eat lunch while they calculate how much they need to adjust their rifle scopes to take these guys out. Two shots, two kills, approximately $1.40 in ammunition. In Vietnam it would cost $0.26.
That's inflation for you.
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