How Military Snipers Work

[Raistlin]

I guess many of you know How Stuff Works (http://www.howstuffworks.com/) - one of the greatest sites on the web. They've recently posted an article (http://science.howstuffworks.com/sniper.htm) about military snipers and their resource is an interview with an US Army Ranger. It's a respected site and I highly doubt it's not a ranger they'd interviewed.

Anyway, to tell you the truth, I'm yet to read the full article since I'm dying for sleep. So if it sucks or too obvious, either suffer like a gentleman or blame HSW - you're not going to get those few minutes of your life back anyway :)

[Helly]

I guess many of you know How Stuff Works (http://www.howstuffworks.com/) - one of the greatest sites on the web. They've recently posted an article (http://science.howstuffworks.com/sniper.htm) about military snipers and their resource is an interview with an US Army Ranger. It's a respected site and I highly doubt it's not a ranger they'd interviewed.

Anyway, to tell you the truth, I'm yet to read the full article since I'm dying for sleep. So if it sucks or too obvious, either suffer like a gentleman or blame HSW - you're not going to get those few minutes of your life back anyway :)

Thanks for the link!

Great article. Seems very well-researched.

[Midav]

Good link!

Ty for sharing.

[Raistlin]

For everyone who liked the previous article, here's How Navy SEALs Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/navy-seal.htm).

[joeyblong]

No Christian would EVER get off on killing somebody.

In Jesus' Glorious and Holy name,
Dean Berry
REAL American

[Fintin]

No Christian would EVER get off on killing somebody.

In Jesus' Glorious and Holy name,
Dean Berry
REAL American

your funny...maybe you should read the bible your thumping on peoples head....good day

[joeyblong]

Like you do.

[Fintin]

Like you do.

trubbled young lad...i drink...

[joeyblong]

That's Jesus Christ prodding you to do the right thing. Fess up.

In Jesus' Glorious and Holy name,
Dean Berry
REAL American

[Fintin]

no i drink cause i want to die...but drinking doesnt mean i dont read my bible...

[joeyblong]

I'm indicting your way of life. It's very evil.

[digrar]

No Christian would EVER get off on killing somebody.

In Jesus' Glorious and Holy name,
Dean Berry
REAL American


Unless you have walked in the shoes of an Infantryman you probably wouldn't be in a position to have a opinion on that.

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

joey blong wrote,

No Christian would EVER get off on killing somebody.

In Jesus' Glorious and Holy name,
Dean Berry
REAL American

Depends on your definition of 'getting off'. Is it wrong to take pride in your work?. Do you think a cop shouldn't get off putting a rapist/paediphile/murderer behind bars for the rest of their life or better yet in hole in the ground. Don't think my example is relative?.

Do you have any experience in the military?, ever had someone try to kill you or you comrades?. Do you have any idea what thoughts go through your head as you place the foresight/crosshairs/donut on him?. Ever experienced the emotions that follow your pulling of the trigger?.

That comment paints you as naive and singularly lacking in experience in this subject.


I'm indicting your way of life. It's very evil......You're all sick.

This comment portrays you as shallow, arrogant and suffering from an acute superiority complex.

[digrar]

For all you ninjas wannabes out there http://science.howstuffworks.com/ninja.htm

[shrek]

Hey joeyblong:

I am a devout Christian, read the bible often, attend church 3 times a week for one reason or another and I don't like "christians" like you. Is this the approach that the Jesus that you so easily say you follow would want you to bring people into his light, by insulting and degrading them, you hoping, I guess, that you can guilt them into become more christ-like. These guys don't "get-off" on killing, they simply see it for what it is, a necessary evil. Now, we could all sit around and talk about how horrible the act of killing another human is, but then none of the young men and women that are now fighting for my future, and perhaps yours, would do it anymore. You get it done, you make light of it as best you can, and you come home. Otherwise, you would go crazy thinking about it, no matter who your enemy was.
I regularly speak to several of the people on this website privately about God and religion. And almost every one that I talk to has been forced to kill at one time or another in their lives and we don't "get-off" taking about it.


So, learn a new evangelistic style or stay off my website, you're giving Christians a bad name.

[Raistlin]

http://science.howstuffworks.com/ninja.htm
I find it funny that they put military subjects in "science" section. Maybe it should be better off in "people"

Anyway, here's my compilation of some military articles on the site:

How Carrier Battle Groups Work (http://people.howstuffworks.com/carrier-group.htm)
How Karate Works (http://people.howstuffworks.com/karate.htm) (I forgot, which coutry teaches Karate to its military?)
How NATO Works (http://people.howstuffworks.com/nato.htm)
How Police Dogs Work (http://people.howstuffworks.com/police-dog.htm) (I bet army dogs are not much different from police dogs)
How Ramadan Works (http://people.howstuffworks.com/ramadan.htm) (one needs to understand the other side...)
How Universal Translators Will Work (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/universal-translator.htm)
How Sleep Works (http://people.howstuffworks.com/sleep.htm) (one never knows the lack of sleep until he's in a bootcamp)
How Sunburns and Sun Tans Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/sunscreen.htm)
How Sword Making Works (http://people.howstuffworks.com/sword-making.htm) (a little bit of retro...)
How Flintlock Guns Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/flintlock.htm)
How Machine Guns Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/machine-gun.htm)
How the Rules of War Work (http://people.howstuffworks.com/rules-of-war.htm)
How the U.S. Draft Works (http://people.howstuffworks.com/us-draft.htm)
How the United Nations Works (http://people.howstuffworks.com/united-nations.htm) (should I go or should I stay?)
How Air Force One Works (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/air-force-one.htm)
How Airplanes Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/airplane.htm)
How Ejection Seats Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/ejection-seat.htm)
How Bridges Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/bridge.htm) (I don't know if it's a part of military today but it seems that it was in WW2)
How WWII Fighter Planes Worked (http://science.howstuffworks.com/wwii-plane.htm)
How Digital Cameras Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/digital-camera.htm)
How Cameras Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/camera.htm) (Do advanced defense forces today use normal cameras? Or only digital?)
How GPS Receivers Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm)
How Compasses Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/compass.htm) (Another relic? Does everyone use GPS these days?)
How Helicopters Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/helicopter.htm)
How Apache Helicopters Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/apache-helicopter.htm)
How Black Hawk Helicopters Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/black-hawk.htm)
How Hypersonic Planes Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/hypersonic-plane.htm)
How an F-15 Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/f-15.htm)
How F/A-18s Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/f-18.htm)
How the V-22 Osprey Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/osprey.htm)
How Stealth Bombers Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/stealth-bomber.htm)
How the Predator UAV Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/predator.htm)
How M1 Tanks Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/m1-tank.htm)
How Light Sticks Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/light-stick.htm) (Are they used? Or only for civillians?)
How Radar Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/radar.htm)
How Radar Detectors Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/radar-detector.htm)
How Radio Scanners Work (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio-scanner.htm)
How SCUBA Works (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/scuba.htm)
How Segways Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/ginger.htm) (Is american army still planning to buy them?)
How Skydiving Works (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/skydiving.htm)
How Sunglasses Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/sunglass.htm) (To all you Oakley/Delta fans)
How Exercise Works (http://health.howstuffworks.com/sports-physiology.htm)
How Muscles Work (http://health.howstuffworks.com/muscle.htm)
How Augmented Reality Will Work (http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/augmented-reality.htm)
How Space Wars Will Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-war.htm)
How Spy Flies Will Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/spy-fly.htm)
How Exoskeletons Will Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/exoskeleton.htm)
How Military Pain Beams Will Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/pain-beam.htm)
How Missile Defense Systems Will Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/missile-defense.htm)
How Paintball Works (http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/paintball.htm)
How Submarines Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/submarine.htm)
How Xbox Works (http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/xbox.htm) (I heard submariners have them...)
How Revolvers Work (http://home.howstuffworks.com/revolver.htm)
How a U.S. Spy Plane Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/spy-plane.htm)
How Biological and Chemical Warfare Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/biochem-war.htm)
How Body Armor Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/body-armor.htm)
How MOAB Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/moab.htm)
How Bunker Busters Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/bunker-buster.htm)
How Nuclear Bombs Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-bomb.htm)
How Nuclear Radiation Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear.htm)
How Rocket Engines Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/rocket.htm)
How Rocket-Propelled Grenades Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/rpg.htm)
How Cruise Missiles Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/cruise-missile.htm)
How Sidewinder Missiles Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/sidewinder.htm)
How Patriot Missiles Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/patriot-missile.htm)
How Stinger Missiles Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/stinger.htm)
How E-Bombs Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/e-bomb.htm)
How Smart Bombs Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/smart-bomb.htm)
How Gyroscopes Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/gyroscope.htm)
How Landmines Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/landmine.htm)
How Fiber Optics Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/fiber-optic.htm)
How Night Vision Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/nightvision.htm)
How Flamethrowers Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/flamethrower.htm)
How Grenades Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/grenade.htm)
How Gas Masks Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/gas-mask.htm)
How Military Camouflage Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/military-camouflage.htm)
How MREs Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/mre.htm)
How Quicksand Works (http://science.howstuffworks.com/quicksand.htm)

and something related to this forum: How Verbal Self-Defense Works (http://people.howstuffworks.com/vsd.htm)

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Not to hijack the thread, but that last one on Verbal Self Defense was pretty funny.

Way back when, I used to manage a service dept at a cell phone store (this was back when they would actually fix cell phones). Customers would storm in, out of breath, seething mad, veins sticking out...I had never withstood such a vicious torrent of verbal abuse in my life. As if I had dumped their phone in the water. I quickly learned how to defuse a seriously pissed person while simultaneously telling them that they’re screwed, have no recourse, and please come again. It's an art, really. The guy on "How Stuff Works" calls it "Computer Mode".

[Mongrel]

Verbal self defence is a fantastic skill, and is worth it.

I know of some ex-british police that were trained in this, and they could talk you in, and out of just about anything.

Good posting well worth the read.

Cheers!
M.

[digrar]

How Cameras Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/camera.htm) (Do advanced defense forces today use normal cameras? Or only digital?)
How GPS Receivers Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm)
How Compasses Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/compass.htm) (Another relic? Does everyone use GPS these days?)
How Light Sticks Work (http://travel.howstuffworks.com/light-stick.htm) (Are they used? Or only for civillians?)


Digital cameras are handy, you don't need a dark room and with the good software, you can enhance the photos and you can do it as soon as you get back from patrol, or if equiped straight away from your OP.
Soldiers still need to know how to use map and compass. GPS's break, run out of power and looses signal. You can never rely on technology.
Cylume light sticks come in handy in heaps of situations, from marking FUPs to leaving predator blood trails :P . Infrared ones are also good except when people crack them and don't think they work because they can't see a black light :cantbeli: .

[Raistlin]

Digital cameras are handy, you don't need a dark room and with the good software, you can enhance the photos and you can do it as soon as you get back from patrol, or if equiped straight away from your OP.
Are you talking about personal cameras or issued cameras (like taking aerial images or reconnaissance images)?

[RavenW]

Raistlin, thanks a lot, dude

That was an interesting read.

[digrar]

Issued. We had little point and shoot digitals for each patrol and a big SLR cannon with a monster lens and a night vision adaptor for specific jobs.

[Raistlin]

Interesting info - thanks digrar.

Do you happen to know anything about the Segways as well?

[jizzmonkey]

we dont really use "sniper teams" anymore, we have "squad designated marksman" they are organic to our squads, they carry and m-4 with a fluted barrell and ACOG, and we keep and M-14 on the Stryker next to the shotgun, the SDM overwatches us while we deal with riots or unruley crowds, he has an IMBTR, if I pick someone out of the crowd that is suspicious or instigating, then I make the call to drop him or not, when Haji see's the instigator go down, he tends to back off!

[Raistlin]

we
Sorry, for being blunt but is it "we" as in "rangers"?

[jizzmonkey]

we
Sorry, for being blunt but is it "we" as in "rangers"?

No not rangers, the 75th still use sniper teams, usually SODEC, put they are starting to become more organic to the squad level due to how effective they are, you cant have just a couple of trained guys for an entire Battalion, or in the Ranger's case Regiment and expect them to be everwhere all the time, so you train more guys and multi-task them. and make them organic to the lowest level.

[Raistlin]

Interesting. So that is why all those "designated marksman" rifle systems are popping around.

[jizzmonkey]

Interesting. So that is why all those "designated marksman" rifle systems are popping around.

with the new "army tranformation", its one of the concepts, and it seems to work in the Stryker Brigades.

[Raistlin]

new article

How Aircraft Carriers Work (http://science.howstuffworks.com/aircraft-carrier.htm)

P.S. I've always wondered where does the power for the launching catapult comes from. Heh, nice power recycling (not really recycling but I couldn't find a better word...).

[Raistlin]

One article I've missed before. I think the facts mentioned there would definately apply to some unconventional warfare: Harrowing Survival Stories (http://people.howstuffworks.com/survival.htm)

[Smoothie104]

No Christian would EVER get off on killing somebody.

In Jesus' Glorious and Holy name,
Dean Berry
REAL American

What about killing FOR Jesus! Like smoting heretics, and cutting the tongues out of native people who refuse convert to christianity?