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During the evolution of modern com- equipped snipers, and their impact on mander—one of the sons of the Tartar
bat, the maximum effective range of modern combat is increasing. The Rus- Khan. The Tartar had stayed out of the
most weapons has increased dramati- sian military recently demonstrated the 200-pace range, but the Russian heavy
cally. Howitzers accurately fire in ex- value and impact of snipers on the con- crossbow of that day could fire out to
cess of 28 kilometers, tanks kill out to temporary battlefield. 650 paces (445 meters).
four kilometers, helicopter gunship mis- The Russian and Soviet Armies used
siles kill out to eight kilometers. The A Quick Bit of History snipers extensively in combat. During
maximum range of infantry small arms Sniper is a term of excellence in the World War I, conscripted Siberian
engagements, however, has shrunk sig- Russian Army. As in Western Armies, hunters—prized for their field craft,
nificantly over the past century. Some snipers are expert marksmen who hunt patience, and accuracy—were selected
of the standard infantry rifles of World their prey and have special weapons and for sniper duty. In 1924, the Red Army
Wars I and II had sights that ranged out training to conduct long-range killing. founded a series of sniper schools
to more than 2,000 yards (1800 meters), across the Soviet Union to teach sport
and infantry soldiers trained to engage The Russian and Soviet and combat shooting to civilians and
area targets even out to those ranges. military alike. The best shots were sent
But with the adoption of the smaller
Armies used snipers exten-
on to regional, district, and ultimately
caliber, higher velocity .223 bullet as sively in combat. During national schools, where the top gradu-
the infantry standard for many nations, World War I, conscripted Sibe- ates received “Sniper-Instructor” di-
the maximum training—and hence ef- rian hunters—prized for their plomas. The Red Army entered World
fective—range of infantry small arms War II with a number of quality snipers.
has dropped off to 300 meters or less.
field craft—were selected At the start of the war, there were two
Furthermore, while the infantry rifles for sniper duty. types of Russian snipers—snipers who
of the World Wars were bolt action or were part of the Reserves of the Su-
semiautomatic, today’s assault rifles are The sniper tradition goes far back in preme High Command (RVGK) and
all capable of automatic fire. The bulk Russian military lore. The Russian pa- snipers who were part of standard infan-
of small arms rounds fired in modern tron sniper was a resident of Moscow try units. The RVGK snipers were or-
combat suppress rather than kill. Vari- named Adam. On 24 August 1382, ganized into separate brigades—such as
ous sources estimate that 20,000 to Tartar Mongol forces surrounded the the RVGK sniper brigade made up of
50,000 rounds are issued for each casu- Kremlin walls but were careful to stay women. Entire platoons, companies,
alty produced in modern warfare. out of Russian arrow range (200 paces). and even battalions of RVGK snipers
However, there are still riflemen who Adam, a cloth-maker, took his crossbow were assigned to fronts and armies to
engage the enemy at 1,000 meters and and climbed up a tower by the Frolov support critical sectors. Snipers were
beyond, and who produce a casualty for gate. He took careful aim, fired, and also an important element of TO&E
every one or two rounds expended. watched his bolt fatally penetrate the infantry combat power during World
These soldiers are specially trained and chain mail armor of a Tartar com- War II, particularly on static battlefields
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