SCOUT SNIPERS: One Shot, One Kill

"All the sniper feels when he fires is the recoil of his rifle. One shot. One kill." (unknown) These are exciting times in the world of scouts. These soldiers have traditionally represented the greatest degree of versatility in the Army. Today, this tradition continues. The deployment of the IO-vehicle scout platoon (HMMWV) to Korea has significantly increased the accuracy and amount of information the commander of the mechanized infantry, armor, or task force organized battalion receives. This is especially due to the addition of a sniper section to the MTOE. The abilities of the platoon and the information it can provide to the battalion commander is significantly enhanced by these soldiers. They provide an excellent tool for the scouts to utilize in every conventional mission. This article provides some valuable information about the sniper section and its use. The normal MTOE for the sniper section is one E-6 liB sniper, one E-5 lIB sniper, and two E-3/4 19D spotters. A sniper team, or 'Hawk Team' as it is appropriately named, consists of one sniper and one spotter. The sniper's weapon is the M24 rifle with match-grade barrel, and 3 x 10 scope. The only ammunition these weapons can use is the Mll8 7.62 match-grade cartridge. (The use of other ammunition on this weapon will cause damage to both the barrel and the bolt.) The sniper team also will need at least a pair of M22 binoculars or the M49 20-power observation scope, two ghillie suits, one M16A2, one M9 pistol, one manpack radio, weapons drag bag, rations, water, and PVS-7B night vision device. The sniper's special capabilities are especially evident in screening missions. Sniper teams give the scout platoon the ability to place observation posts on key and dominant terrain that 20 less skillful dismounted patrols would not be able to reach. Once on the site, the sniper scout can provide accurate reporting, calls for indirect fire support, or with the proper target of opportunity, his own accurate and deadly direct fire. These additional observation posts increase the IO-vehide platoon's ability to handle a front as wide as 4 to 6 kilometers. Terrain in Korea is especially conducive to this use of the sniper teams due to the readily available high ground. The key problem that occurs with the use of sniper teams is their extraction if the enemy forces friendly units to relocate to their rear. The repositioning will place the sniper teams too deep into enemy territory to be of any great value to the commander, and generally results in their loss. The use of air assets to infiltrate and extract snipers is highly effective, but this also tips the enemy off to the sniper's approximate location. Route reconnaissance missions present a greater challenge to both the sniper teams and their leadership. The planning and execution of the sniper missions must be planned and executed well in advance of both the battalion's movement and the scout platoon's. Commanders must keep in mind that snipers are only capable of moving 500 to 1000 meters an hour in dense terrain. If they are moving into a position or stalking, this speed is reduced even more. During the route recon mission, teams will infiltrate and develop positions where they may be used in several ways. To the scouts and the battalion, they serve as early warning of enemy activity and location, use indirect or direct fire to harass the enemy, and possibly provide some small arms cover to the scouts as they move forward. The extraction of sniper teams is more easily accomplished because the forward movement of the scout platoon and the battalion facilitate the pick up. If planning time is short, air assets are an excellent tool, but increase the possibility of detection. In area or zone reconnaissance missions, the snipers are a valuable asset to the scouts as a local security and small arms cover. If the mission planning and execution time allows for the snipers to infiltrate the area, or when air assets are available to insert, they provide the scouts with early observation of key points, to include bridges, NAIs specified by the battalion, obstacles, likely ambush sites, or at the infamous rock drops of the Korean roadways. The scout vehicles may also deploy the teams in order to move to local key terrain for security and small arms cover. This use is very flexible and allows for quick insertion and extraction. Another mission where snipers are a tremendous combat multiplier is the security and protection of the battalion support area or the battalion tactical operations center in the tactical assembly area. Their ability to detect and eliminate enemy snipers or counter special operations forces disrupting friendly missions is invaluable. The support units of the average tank battalion are usually stretched to their limits in their role of repairing and resupplying. The security that they can provide for themselves in the T AA is limited and they are not generally trained well enough to detect and eliminate an enemy sniper. The stalking and tracking abilities of the sniper team greatly enhance the ability of the battalion to protect its support assets in the BSA and the key leaders within the TOC. The use of snipers in counter-sniper operations reduces the requirement for regular infantry units to assume this mission within a task force. Certain limitations come with the use of sniper teams. The sniper team cannot conduct sustained operations over an extended period. They should only be deployed as the need arises or

Using the cover of darkness to infiltrate and proper camouflage, a scout sniper team is almost undetectable even in an open area. the enemy situation dictates. Asleep plan is essential to keep them combat effective. I have found that the sniper teams can provide excellent infonnation during both day and night operations, as well as during inclement weather. Scout sniper teams are not designed to infiltrate for long distances deep into enemy territory; their deployment should be within the communication range of the scout platoon. This augments the scout's ability to provide early warning to the battalion and disrupt enemy activities. Communications is a limiting factor in this mission. Secure radio systems add ex.- cess weight and bulk. Smaller systems reduce bulk, but sacrifice some range and the secure mode. The secure system with anew battery may be effective over a range of 2-3 kilometers; the smaller systems are effective only within 1'.-'2 to 2 kilometers. Snipers must be trained in the construction of field expedient antennas to improve range, although this option is limited by the sniper's ability to conceal it. Exposure to the cold or heat can become a problem because of the limited supplies a sniper can carry. Movement is generally slow and deliberate. In extreme cold or wet weather, frostbite or hyperthennia are quite possible. Intense heat greatly enhances the possibility of heat exhaustion or heat stroke due to a limited water supply. A sniper section has a psychologically demoralizing effect upon the enemy, while it provides excellent information and reduces an enemy's combat effectiveness. Currently, the only Department of the Anny certified school for snipers is at Fort Benning, Georgia The 2d Infantry Division also has an excellent course that provides snipers to the units in Korea. They accept 19Ds into this school, and the tankers have repeatedJy proven themselves worthy of the task. The graduating class in July 1993 contained two 19Ds from my platoon. They were recognized by the sniper school as the top team in stalking, tracking, identifying, and engaging targets at unknown distances. One of the scouts was recognized for finishing second in the 'Top Gun' competition. Scouts are a natural for this course, and I would advocate the allotment of more slots for them. The sniper section increases the ability of the lO-HMMWV scout platoon to perfonn any mission it is given. The snipers' abilities to range out and cover key terrain can put more depth and observation in screen lines. The harassment they provide, and their ability to provide early warning increase the effectiveness of scouts during route reconnaissance. Their ability to provide local security and small arms cover reduces the risk to scouts perfonning a point reconnaissance. The ability to detect and eliminate enemy personnel facilitates the execution of the support unit's mission in the BSA, in addition to defending key leaders in the TOC. It is important as leaders that we recognize these special skills and don't misuse them. Training programs must be developed to build their skill, and also to educate their leaders on the best methods to deploy them. Scout snipers also are an excellent asset to teach other soldiers in platoon marksmanship and use of cover, concealment, and camouflage. These specially skilled soldiers will long serve as an excellent addition to the scout community. First Lieutenant Eric Teeg-erstrom was commissioned through ROTC at the Univer-. sity of Nebraska. He has completed AOBC, Airborne, and SPLC. He served as a tank platoon leader with B Company, 2R2 Armor, and as the scout platoon leader for 2R2 Armor. He is currently a platoon leader with A Troop, 1/1 Cav in Germany. 21