Taliban sniper hunted over seven UK deaths

[Gazzi]

I agree with you on the last two peices you wrote...

...But do you know the difference between a sharpshooter and a sniper? Well, in the British Armed Forces at least, a sniper is a specialist role such as a medic, explosives expert etc where as a sharpshooter isn't. A sniper will train for a longer period of time learning how to observe, hide and shoot at greater distances, such simple things like so. A sharpshooter won't be on the same level as a sniper although not inferior which may seem to some, just a different role which is not classed as a speciality.

Or put simple, a sniper is an art form where as a sharpshooter is what the name suggests, 'Sharp-shooter', i.e a 'very good shot'.

Not entirely correct............

Both the sniper and sharp shooter are able to observe, hide and shoot, as would any soldier. However, a sniper is prefected to the art of stalking his enemy, gather intell, perform recce and identify targets and vehicles like types of tank, AFV, choppers etc etc etc......

A sharp shooter in the British Military sense would be our fire team LSW gunner who uses the light support weapon and able to hit a target of 700 meters comfortably with a 5.56 round. However, never heard this term used before.

He would also be trained to infantry level which is pretty damn decent compared to other militaries in the world, no fence to or Americans colleagues, but these guys are pretty good.

A sniper however, is able to stalk an enemy and if needed, stop an advancing battalion dead in their tracks by drawing its enemy out. He would be able to identify and relay targets, type of targets, enemy positions, live in a small trench for days on end, evade enemy from capture, and work in twos, spotter and sniper togther unless a specific role requires a single man to work alone. Assist Special Forces, lke SAS before RR into enemy strongholds my immobilising heavy gunners or RPGs.

However, it appears quite obvious that whoever this sniper of the Taliban is, is not moving around often. He is sitting/lying/hiding somewhere, where he has observations of the British base, observing movements and watching snipers moving away from the base getting into their positions which is always away from the rest of the unit. He is clearly aware that if he targets the sniper first, then the chances of being targetted or spotted is very slim, especially if he is using a high end market weapon.

The soviets had a way of dealing something like this, Air force bombardment of the entire region to kill him/her.

How do I know this.............did it, done it...........now i'm currently a sharp shooter for the Police

 

[GentlemanObserver]

Seems this chap is the Juba of Helmand. His tally includes one of the best snipers from the Duke of Lancashire Regiment. I know this because his memorial was held in Manchester.

Frankly the situation in Afghanistan is such that Opsec is compromised, i know NAFFI vet all the British non military staff that accompany them, but how well do they vet the local contractors or their staff?

What is to say this guy is not as good as many make out to be and is being fed good intel on the deployment of counter snipers in helmand. Furthermore it smells like total bull crap that an expidationary party of SAS have not managed to track this lone wolf.

This is where you question the commitment of the local OPFOR. I know that the Taliban have very good C2, Humint and tactical advantages vs ISAF in certain areas.

But are you really telling me that the ANA coupled with expeditionary units made up from ISAF cannot secure any grass roots intel on who this guy is or who is supporting him etc...

Lets say for example they were trained in Iran or Pakistan, Even if your the best in the world you need access to logistics, intel, and support. Where are they getting this "inside" Afghanistan.

I mean to say it's not exactly stephen segal out there now is it? More pressure needs to be put on ANA and their local Humint assets to track down these bastards.

How long will the US/UK and ISAF have to sacrifice it's young, the last sniper killed was only 22...

 

[GentlemanObserver]

He would also be trained to infantry level which is pretty damn decent compared to other militaries in the world, no fence to or Americans colleagues, but these guys are pretty good.

No offence but are you honestly telling me their training is superior to a 26 week CIC(UK) or the 9 week basic infantry training at fort benning (USA)?

Indeed they are tough as nails, but saying their training is "damn decent" compared to "other" armies around the world is a bit of an overstatement.

BTW you in the police in PK or UK.

 

[Gazzi]

Seems this chap is the Juba of Helmand. His tally includes one of the best snipers from the Duke of Lancashire Regiment. I know this because his memorial was held in Manchester.

Frankly the situation in Afghanistan is such that Opsec is compromised, i know NAFFI vet all the British non military staff that accompany them, but how well do they vet the local contractors or their staff?

What is to say this guy is not as good as many make out to be and is being fed good intel on the deployment of counter snipers in helmand. Furthermore it smells like total bull crap that an expidationary party of SAS have not managed to track this lone wolf.

This is where you question the commitment of the local OPFOR. I know that the Taliban have very good C2, Humint and tactical advantages vs ISAF in certain areas.

But are you really telling me that the ANA coupled with expeditionary units made up from ISAF cannot secure any grass roots intel on who this guy is or who is supporting him etc...

Lets say for example they were trained in Iran or Pakistan, Even if your the best in the world you need access to logistics, intel, and support. Where are they getting this "inside" Afghanistan.

I mean to say it's not exactly stephen segal out there now is it? More pressure needs to be put on ANA and their local Humint assets to track down these bastards.

How long will the US/UK and ISAF have to sacrifice it's young, the last sniper killed was only 22...

My friend, things are a different ball game when snipers are involved....

(a) the SAS will never discuss their Ops with anyone, not even the Marines, who they would most likely use for support if needed. Their intel stays with them and other then their CO, not many in the regiment will know of each others Ops. Therefore this guy receiving intell is not possible, especially when all comms are monitored and jammed within a certain distance from any base and only other way would be to meet personally. This is way too risky especially when he would be spotted by spotters and observation posts which would fan out to a distances of miles.

Snipers, don't need to be awefully mobile....if they have managed to get into a good position, and when I say a good position, then you are talking about digging a trench deep enough to prevent anyone seeing you and your movement, protect you from the elements, not spacious which would require long labout (normally takes one sniper about 6-7 hours to build, {3-4 hours of which is gone getting it weather tight}), enough food rations and you can be sitting there in one hideout for days and weeks on end.

It takes some going though, and one must question, where did he get this training from........there has got to be a Government hand involved somewhere for him to be able to work so well......

 

[Gazzi]

No offence but are you honestly telling me their training is superior to a 26 week CIC(UK) or the 9 week basic infantry training at fort benning (USA)?

Indeed they are tough as nails, but saying their training is "damn decent" compared to "other" armies around the world is a bit of an overstatement.

BTW you in the police in PK or UK.

bit confused about your question.......Infantry basic training is done in Catterick and spread through to Warcop and others places.....not sure which part you disputed....sorry dude.

I work in the UK

 

[GentlemanObserver]

My friend, things are a different ball game when snipers are involved....

(a) the SAS will never discuss their Ops with anyone, not even the Marines, who they would most likely use for support if needed. Their intel stays with them and other then their CO, not many in the regiment will know of each others Ops. Therefore this guy receiving intell is not possible, especially when all comms are monitored and jammed within a certain distance from any base and only other way would be to meet personally. This is way too risky especially when he would be spotted by spotters and observation posts which would fan out to a distances of miles.

Snipers, don't need to be awefully mobile....if they have managed to get into a good position, and when I say a good position, then you are talking about digging a trench deep enough to prevent anyone seeing you and your movement, protect you from the elements, not spacious which would require long labout (normally takes one sniper about 6-7 hours to build, {3-4 hours of which is gone getting it weather tight}), enough food rations and you can be sitting there in one hideout for days and weeks on end.

It takes some going though, and one must question, where did he get this training from........there has got to be a Government hand involved somewhere for him to be able to work so well......

My friend, things are a different ball game when snipers are involved....

Exactly, that is why Duke of Lanc's has a counter sniper unit stationed there.

the SAS will never discuss their Ops with anyone, not even the Marines, who they would most likely use for support if needed.

I am not referring to the expeditionary force leaking intel, i am referring to the staff working at NAFFI or the local base construction maintaince crew, the Engineer Corps Pioneers outsource maintain ace of base and such tasks to local crews ( how are these vetted, what OPSEC training do they have)? They may be giving away crucial information without realising it...

Therefore this guy receiving intell is not possible, especially when all comms are monitored and jammed within a certain distance from any base and only other way would be to meet personally.

Again my emphasis is more on Human Intel... I know a fair bit of what Signals Crops does as far as Sigsint is concerned.

It takes some going though, and one must question, where did he get this training from........there has got to be a Government hand involved somewhere for him to be able to work so well.....

Which comes back to my question that where is ANA, where is the local grassroots intel that helps counter such incidents, Juba was being supported by locals, this could very well be the case here.

The problem here is a total and utter lack of intel and massive gaping holes in OPSEC.

 

[GentlemanObserver]

bit confused about your question.......Infantry basic training is done in Catterick and spread through to Warcop and others places.....not sure which part you disputed....sorry dude.

I work in the UK

26 week cadre, including Catterick and the deployment to Belize or Germany for weather training. Including basics like M&C, FieldCraft, Weapon Craft, Drill and all the boring meat and potatoes.

Your telling me that is inferior to AQN training?

 

[Gazzi]

Paladin, that is if you are fully sure that it is OPSEC to blame and you have information that others on the base are giving intel away.......bit of a far jump to make if you were the CO on the ground facing such an adversary.

This guy, clearly by know will know the make up of the British fire teams, companies, batallions, there fire and manouvre tactics and support functions. That sort of person becomes even more dangeroud and he would be used to that by now.........he will not require much help.

As before.......our guys are trained to a pretty high standard and if this guy is causing so much trouble, then he clearly nows the terrain well, and trained well also.......

 

[GentlemanObserver]

Paladin, that is if you are fully sure that it is OPSEC to blame and you have information that others on the base are giving intel away.......bit of a far jump to make if you were the CO on the ground facing such an adversary.

This guy, clearly by know will know the make up of the British fire teams, companies, batallions, there fire and manouvre tactics and support functions. That sort of person becomes even more dangeroud and he would be used to that by now.........he will not require much help.

As before.......our guys are trained to a pretty high standard and if this guy is causing so much trouble, then he clearly nows the terrain well, and trained well also.......

Fair point.. But you have to agree with me, S&D will only give you so much about your enemy. This guy has too much information on G2, C2 and and tactics used by our boys.

Either he is being handed intel, or even worse he is a turncoat!

 

[Gazzi]

26 week cadre, including Catterick and the deployment to Belize or Germany for weather training. Including basics like M&C, FieldCraft, Weapon Craft, Drill and all the boring meat and potatoes.

Your telling me that is inferior to AQN training?

I think you are getting my post confused.

I was talking about British peronnel being pretty better trained then other Militaries..........I know this bcus I have served in it and worked with other Militaries........

BTW, the first basic training includes all the above points within its structure and once passed out and stationed will you go abroad. Obvuisly Phase 2 further training lasts 27 weeks from start to finish which is an advance level.

But again, I think I either never explained it well or you mis understood my previous point, it was for British soldiers being trained better.

 

[Gazzi]

Fair point.. But you have to agree with me, S&D will only give you so much about your enemy. This guy has too much information on G2, C2 and and tactics used by our boys.

Either he is being handed intel, or even worse he is a turncoat!

Not necassarily, remember, he has been at it for months........therefore he would know all this by now by mere observations...........its abit hard to explain, but when you are in the field, lying face down, looking through your scopr, mapping your enemy base and watching how they move from day into night, sentry times and changes to duty and positions, soldiers coming in and out of the base, routes used, distances gone and many other points, it becomes easier to deal with a single shot victim and leaving or lying low, and by the time someones realised whats happenned other then hearing a shot, if he isn't supressing the fire then he is cleanly in and out.

All options are always left open, whether receiving intel, a turncoat or just a good adversary, he needs taking out and for that you need to know where he is.........

 

[GentlemanObserver]

I think you are getting my post confused.

I was talking about British peronnel being pretty better trained then other Militaries..........I know this bcus I have served in it and worked with other Militaries........

BTW, the first basic training includes all the above points within its structure and once passed out and stationed will you go abroad. Obvuisly Phase 2 further training lasts 27 weeks from start to finish which is an advance level.

But again, I think I either never explained it well or you mis understood my previous point, it was for British soldiers being trained better.

Ahh k sorry yar that is my brain.. Coffe is not working anymore

BTW im ex OTC ... So i was a bit when ( i thought) you said AQN training is superior. I was going to apply for Duke of Lanc's but family is hesitate

 

[Gazzi]

Ahh k sorry yar that is my brain.. Coffe is not working anymore

BTW im ex OTC ... So i was a bit when ( i thought) you said AQN training is superior. I was going to apply for Duke of Lanc's but family is hesitate

You are going to regret that decision........its one of those things when you grow older and think, why the F*** didnt I just go and do it........my Mum was hesitant, but my dad is old school, he told me that is I get shot in the back my family WILL disown me and leave me there to rot..........hence joy, following in the footsteps of my Grandad, ou served in the British Army during WWII and became a POW to the Nazis.

But hey ho, **** happens...........

 

[GentlemanObserver]

You are going to regret that decision........its one of those things when you grow older and think, why the F*** didnt I just go and do it........my Mum was hesitant, but my dad is old school, he told me that is I get shot in the back my family WILL disown me and leave me there to rot..........hence joy, following in the footsteps of my Grandad, ou served in the British Army during WWII and became a POW to the Nazis.

But hey ho, **** happens...........

Oh don't worry about it.. I have already spoken to the recruitment officer, was one of the best in my OTC, and i have selection coming up in december... I have convinced parents to let me join a non combat arms.. LOL looks like Signals based

 

[MastanKhan]

A quick google search would do, or a history book which would be even better.

This article is quite misleading, the author says such words as "sharpshooter" and "Snipers". To quite a lot of people, more than you think, would think: 'Well, sharpshooter, sniper whats the difference, doesn't matter'. Well, put it this way, if you want to send a bunch of crack shot soldiers to Afghanistan, you send snipers not sharpshooters. Theres a huge difference.

And, this author makes it sound like a Hollywood movie which it certainly is not...Its the real world. Very unprofessional on his part. I very much doubt any soldier would compare it to a movie. All the ones I've met and worked closely with haven't.

On a final note; I'd happily bet my years wage on British snipers slotting more taliban than the reverse.

Hi,

You are correct---but one british sniper is worth a 100 or is it a 1000 taliban---. I would say somewhere in between. Somewhat racial--but how do the british look at it.