[SG2] [DS2] Sniper factoids

Snipers (1997): US Army: 500 US Marines: 340 (don't know if this includes spec
ops)

(Although we may consider an additional 25% to 200% of this total depending on
your outlook to be sniper trained but not occupying sniper billets). I don't
know the number, but these folks do exist.

(Today) Length of SEAL sniper course: 9 weeks. Army Sniper course: 10 weeks.
(233 hours).

Estimated sniper casualties in Vietnam: Unknown, but Carlos Hathcock trained
600 snipers, and only knew of one killed in combat. Extreme measures were
taken to protect them. They never went on a mission without arty support or
air support, easy reinforcement or extraction, and usually a security section.
Always had radios and other methods of communications. Doctrine called for an
employment up to 500m from friendly positions operating in small
units (4-8 men) and up to 2000m from friendly positions with an 8-12
man security section.

Estimated casualties inflicted: 13,000 (around 1-2% of enemy loses)
(This is a confirmed kill number.... why estimated? Records are fragmentary.
The units they have data for were accounted for and the others estimated off
that data. But the ones they had were Confirmed Kills. Possibles may increase
this total noticeably but to what extent one cannot say).

Estimated casualties per engagement: 1.67

A telling stat on snipers: After 5 months, having trained 54 snipers,
18 had made no engagements. A few had made 1-4. A few more had made
5-9. One had 12. And Mr. Waldron (who ended up with 109 confirmed
kills, not the 103 I earlier mentioned - some other fellow got that -
and Hathcock got 93) had 92. As one can see, not all snipers have the same
skill, the same level of willingness to engage a target, and
(perhaps most importantly) the same level of divisional support -
many commanders did not understand/value snipers.

Longest confirmed kill in vietnam: Using a.50 M2HB MG with an 8x Unertl scope
firing single shots from a sandbagged emplacement, Carlos Hathcock engaged and
killed a VC at 2500 meters. It took him two shots.

Snipers used in Grenada to protect landing by attacking artillery (mortar)
gunners. Snipers used in Somalia very successfully to interdict warlords
gunmen with many successful engagements. Snipers used in Kuwait fairly
extensively. Snipers used in Panama, including storming of various buildings.
(They protected troops by dropping
hostile targets - defensive role).

Number of snipers authorized to US forces:
Per Army Infantry Battalion: 6 scout-snipers.
Per Marine Infantry Batallion: 18 scout-snipers.

Just thought people would find this interesting. I highly recommend Through
The Crosshairs by Michael Lee Lanning. It is a good look at
sniping through the ages (Amero-centric a bit). It focuses on Vietnam
but contains lots of other interesting info. And it contains about 10 full
pages of citations at the end referencing other works well worth reading.
Included is a list of pertinent army and marine docs, some of which are
printed in the appendices.

My 0.02.

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