Snipers

Description: INTERNATIONAL SNIPERS

by Maj A B Beart

During the period 13-16^th July 2001 a 3-man team consisting of Maj Beart, Sgt Simpson and Cpl Morris headed for Dering Lines in Brecon for the inaugural British Army International Sniper Symposium and Competition. The break in the long hot spell of weather had come and had given way to gusty squall conditions.  The wind was a strong to very strong westerly which had the distinctive blue and yellow Bisley range flags flying almost higher than horizontal on their bending flag poles.  Settling down on the 1000m point of the Stickledown Range Sgt Simpson steadied his breathing and squeezed off a cold shot at the infinitesimal Figure 11 target to his front.  The screen disappeared and after a few nail biting moments reappeared with a 2 inch spotting disc in the targets neck – a hit ! Sgt Simpson emerged from the thick cover of his hessian ghillie headress with a massive smile across his face.

Earlier in the week the team had taken delivery of the new spotting scopes and telescopic rifle sights which constituted the mid life upgrade for the L96 sniper system.  In 1997, whilst OC Sniper Division, I had run a trial for the new equipment and had been a member of the project team responsible for procurement. It is very rare to be involved in the procurement of new equipment for the Army and then subsequently to have the pleasure of using it once it is finally issued.  The new equipment is, at last, giving the sniper the ability to meet the doctrinal requirements of a kill at 900m and harassing fire out to 1100m.  In many instances it is allowing much more accurate engagements, for example guaranteed cold barrel hits on a Fig 14 Huns Head out to 600m. Not bad eh?!

With only a week and a half of preparation the team was in no way fully prepared for the stiff competition of the world’s finest snipers but was nevertheless determined to do their best.  The symposium was a really good opportunity to learn ideas and techniques from others. Sniper training is a subject in which you never stop learning and many of the lessons learnt will be implemented to improve our own sniper training within the Vikings.

After a series of challenging and demanding live firing and dry stands the Vikings managed to achieve 4^th position out of 22 teams.  A very creditable performance which saw the team beating stiff competition from other elite units including the US Rangers, Paras and Royal Marines.  Sgt Simpson and Cpl Morris had an outstanding competition and will, next year, be back for more!

In a simple ceremony Pte Nolan, laid the first Minden garland at the base of the tablet which honours the memory of Pte Wood of the Suffolk Regiment.  His body was never recovered from the battlefield and hence he has no grave and is remembered on the walls of the central memorial.  The second garland was placed against the stone inscribed ‘Their name liveth for evermore’.

Brookwood cemetery is surrounded by pine forest which keeps out the noise of suburbia and offers a peaceful haven of remembrance.  The cemetery is surprisingly large and it is very humbling to walk amongst the graves of so many British, American and Commonwealth soldiers.

The laying of the garlands in this way was a fitting way to remember and honour those that have died whilst serving with our former Regiments.