EvanL
03-21-2004, 01:00 AM
On the Range - Friday, March 29, 2002
Snipers love to shoot and it had been a while since the last time. However, last time they had human targets who were firing back.
Members of the Canadian sniper section played host to myself and a number of American snipers for a day of shooting at ranges outside of the Base Kandahar perimeter. This was my first time outside of the base.
It is verboten to speak of the defences that ring the airfield, but suffice to say that in my semi-military mind they are sufficient, and that is just what one I've seen.
We loaded about a dozen people into two trucks and headed out into the countryside. My first impression: there is absolutely nothing here. It's the surface of the moon. If you could remove 99% of all the plants and man-made structures you see in Canada, you'd be left with hard, crusty dirt. That is what it looks like around the airfield.
Snipers arrive at north tower near al-Queda training area.
Everyone was in good spirits when we arrived at the north tower near taranac farms. This is where the al-Qaeda did their training and shot the videos much of the public saw months ago. It was strange to be standing on top of the four-storey tower, for it offered a grand view of everything. Bin Laden probably stood here to observe the training.
Our mood changed when we were shut down. Not only could we not shoot there, but two hours earlier an American soldier was killed when he stepped on a mine not a few hundred metres from where we stood. I never thought too much
as to where I put my feet up until then. I found myself staring at each step when we re-boarded the trucks and took off for another range.
The snipers have been under a lot of stress over the past few weeks and, for them, the day of shooting was a way to let off some steam. They've felt abandoned and unappreciated by the Canadians for their contribution on Operations Anaconda and Harpoon. Keep in mind that these are the soldiers that killed enemy fighters who hammered the coalition force with mortar and machine gun fire. They are a little incensed that they've had neither intelligence nor any stress debriefings. However, they are a tight bunch and their morale took a huge climb upwards at the range. So did mine.
I had the chance to fire everything: the M203 grenade-launcher, the C8 carbine, the C3 sniper rifle, service pistols and the awesome .50 calibre sniper rifle, the very same one used on the operation. I realize that this sounds like testosterone time, but it was a lot of fun. It was nice to see the snipers in their element and enjoying themselves. They really know their craft; they are professionals.
Sniper takes aim on range.
Setting balloons as targets out as far as 600 metres, they were able to pick them off using one or two rounds. A big help was the vector laser range finder that gave the precise distance. It was with this instrument, combined with the 'fifty-cal' sniper rifle, that they were able to hit targets well past 2000 metres during the operations. In the words of one of them, "You can really reach out and touch someone." Hey, I know it's a cheesy, gung-ho expression, but out here, it works.
While out on the range, I asked a few of them how they feel about the killing they did. I found their response heartening, to some extent. With every shot taken, they felt that lives were being saved in terms of the soldiers fighting on the ground and people around the world who deserve to live without terrorism. I could go on and on about these guys, but you know, they are just a normal bunch who could be anyone's neighbour, friend or relative, just like the men that returned from wars gone. To me, the few I knew from years ago and the ones I've come to know now seem pretty regular. But then again, I was once like them.
I hope Canada can welcome them back with open arms and a compassionate heart. Sorry, that was a little heavy, but I worry.
Snipers love to shoot and it had been a while since the last time. However, last time they had human targets who were firing back.
Members of the Canadian sniper section played host to myself and a number of American snipers for a day of shooting at ranges outside of the Base Kandahar perimeter. This was my first time outside of the base.
It is verboten to speak of the defences that ring the airfield, but suffice to say that in my semi-military mind they are sufficient, and that is just what one I've seen.
We loaded about a dozen people into two trucks and headed out into the countryside. My first impression: there is absolutely nothing here. It's the surface of the moon. If you could remove 99% of all the plants and man-made structures you see in Canada, you'd be left with hard, crusty dirt. That is what it looks like around the airfield.
Snipers arrive at north tower near al-Queda training area.
Everyone was in good spirits when we arrived at the north tower near taranac farms. This is where the al-Qaeda did their training and shot the videos much of the public saw months ago. It was strange to be standing on top of the four-storey tower, for it offered a grand view of everything. Bin Laden probably stood here to observe the training.
Our mood changed when we were shut down. Not only could we not shoot there, but two hours earlier an American soldier was killed when he stepped on a mine not a few hundred metres from where we stood. I never thought too much
as to where I put my feet up until then. I found myself staring at each step when we re-boarded the trucks and took off for another range.
The snipers have been under a lot of stress over the past few weeks and, for them, the day of shooting was a way to let off some steam. They've felt abandoned and unappreciated by the Canadians for their contribution on Operations Anaconda and Harpoon. Keep in mind that these are the soldiers that killed enemy fighters who hammered the coalition force with mortar and machine gun fire. They are a little incensed that they've had neither intelligence nor any stress debriefings. However, they are a tight bunch and their morale took a huge climb upwards at the range. So did mine.
I had the chance to fire everything: the M203 grenade-launcher, the C8 carbine, the C3 sniper rifle, service pistols and the awesome .50 calibre sniper rifle, the very same one used on the operation. I realize that this sounds like testosterone time, but it was a lot of fun. It was nice to see the snipers in their element and enjoying themselves. They really know their craft; they are professionals.
Sniper takes aim on range.
Setting balloons as targets out as far as 600 metres, they were able to pick them off using one or two rounds. A big help was the vector laser range finder that gave the precise distance. It was with this instrument, combined with the 'fifty-cal' sniper rifle, that they were able to hit targets well past 2000 metres during the operations. In the words of one of them, "You can really reach out and touch someone." Hey, I know it's a cheesy, gung-ho expression, but out here, it works.
While out on the range, I asked a few of them how they feel about the killing they did. I found their response heartening, to some extent. With every shot taken, they felt that lives were being saved in terms of the soldiers fighting on the ground and people around the world who deserve to live without terrorism. I could go on and on about these guys, but you know, they are just a normal bunch who could be anyone's neighbour, friend or relative, just like the men that returned from wars gone. To me, the few I knew from years ago and the ones I've come to know now seem pretty regular. But then again, I was once like them.
I hope Canada can welcome them back with open arms and a compassionate heart. Sorry, that was a little heavy, but I worry.