sniper tactics

[Spotter]

Maybe you have seen Barry Pepper's character in Saving Private Ryan and was amazed at how he seemed to shoot right on every time. Or maybe you saw Enemy At The Gates and saw how Vasily Zaitsev helped expel the Nazi invaders with a (no doubt inflated) kill count of 242. Or you could be even planning on joining the military or law enforcement as a sniper and would like to know what to expect. This guide consists of real US sniper training material and is studied by real snipers during training.

Your dead before you even know he is there.The allure of the sniper cannot be denied. They seem to sneak out from the shadows, strike and disappear without a trace. They are the modern ninja, a surgical tool of warfare that is matched by few on the battlefield. They are often seen as rebels, loners and men who take orders from no one. This is actually very far from the truth. The majority of snipers are very disciplined and snipers more often than not work in a team consisting of two people, the spotter and the shooter.


Snipers can support both offensive and defensive missions , wartime or not . The sniper is a very flexible asset .This the age of Military Operations Other Than War snipers give unit commanders a means of eliminating threats while staying in the confines of the Rules Of Engagement . Snipers can operate as part of a unit operations or independently .

The Ghillie Suit aids the sniper in concealment . While a sniper is conducting independent mission he is trained close on a target by STALKING .When not under direct observation from the target approach walking (above) or on his hands and knees. As he nears the target he can then move by medium crawl , low crawl , or sniper low crawl. The sniper approaches only close enough to be sure of his shot . This exploits the snipers ballistic advantage and keeps him at a relative safe distance . During stalking exercises the sniper closes on an observer (usually another trained sniper ) at a much closer distance must remain undetected as he fires twice under direct observation

(Prone sniper from the dangerous end in full ghillie. Location is Schofield Bks, HI.)

A pistol is essential for the sniper's close range defense.

The sniper team patrolling, the spotter walks point.

Often operating independantly, the sniper team acts as it's own security. This team is at a security halt. The sniper is using the radio in the spotters rucksack to communicate with higher headquarters.

Once in firing/observation position, the spotter assists the sniper in observation and target detection.

While the sniper team is in position, it may use mechanical security to cover it's local area. This may be as simple as trip flare booby traps or as deadly as a specially employed claymore mine.

[snyper]

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Old Sniping Guide, One of a Kind.
« on: December 30, 2006, 03:24:23 pm »

This is an old sniping guide I dug up in the old forums. I thought it was interesting and nothing like anything in the new forums. Since there aren't many guides like this, I thought it should be posted here.


Quote
Quote from Snowwolf, Posted - 12/18/2005 : 3:10:32 PM
One of the things that affects a two-man sniper team the most is their lack of firepower, a sniper team cannot afford to be detected by the opposing team. Especially, a large assault force and a sniper team could not successfully engage any large body force in a sustained engagement. So choosing the right weapons is critical…

There are a few ways to determine what weapons you may need or will work best for your type of operation. First, you need to know what type of operation or duties will be required of you. As in what duties will you as a sniper team be doing or performing…This needs to be decided before the mission even begins and should be part of the planning stage. Most airsoft teams use their sniper teams, as part of the assault team. The sniper team works within the assault team, but are actually a separate unit. The sniper team will usually consist of a shooter (the sniper) and an observer or spotter. The observer or spotter is more or less a back-up and/or provides security for the shooter (the sniper). The sniper is usually armed with a bolt-action rifle for he or she will need to be able to place long range, accurate shots. The observer or spotter is usually armed with an AEG, which can be either equipped with a scope or not. But, needs to have the capability of full auto in case the need arises…

Now working as part of the assault team has its advantages…One, it allows the sniper team to reach its area of operation quicker and safer. Because, it has the main assault team, as a security force should the sniper team be detected. Once the sniper team is in the area of operation, the sniper team can separate from the main assault team and operate alone. But, even after you separate from the main body force, try to stay close so if the situation arises. You can call for assistance; reinforcement or supplies from the assault team and the assault team will be close enough to have time to reach your position.

If you plan to separate from the assault team be sure that the assault team provides you with security before you separate. Once, you have reached your departure point, the assault team can move on…But the sniper team needs to wait for a period of time before they continue on just to ensure that they weren’t compromised. Once, the sniper team feels comfort that they can move on then they can begin performing whatever duties were task to them.
When the sniper team begins moving, you need to try to move slow and cautiously and remember a few things when doing so:
The sniper team should select terrain that will best cover your movement, like a ditch or a dense area or behind hills. Don’t use trails, paths or roads…If you spot opposing team members or patrols avoid them. Again, as a sniper team you cannot engage a large assault force in a sustained engagement. Never assume that just because, you see only one or two opposing team members that they are the only ones in the area. It may be an attempt to flush you out or give away your position. Avoid contact and inform your assault team of the situation, to include the number of opposing team members that you saw, their direction they were heading in and their type of weapons.

When the sniper team moves always assume the area is under observation by the opposing team. The way a sniper team should move is the observer or spotter should be the lead or point man, with the shooter (the sniper) following. The distance that they should be apart is well enough apart so they are not caught in an ambush or by surprise. But, close enough to keep a visual sight of each other…The distance shouldn’t be more than 20 or 30 ft. and visual contact should be maintained, even if you have to go low to the ground. The observer or spotter should keep his or her weapon at the ready and scan the area ahead from the 3 o'clock to the 9 o'clock position. The sniper should also keep his or her weapon at the ready and scan the area ahead from the 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock position. This will give the sniper team an overlapping field of view, so that the area ahead of them is never under a watchful from the sniper team.

If the sniper is armed with a back-up weapon like a small AEG or even a pistol, he or she may opt to keep this weapon at the ready, and keep their sniper weapon slung. This will allow the sniper to have the weapon with the most firepower at the ready, in case an unavoidable contact or engagement is necessary.
The sniper should always keep a visual sight on his observer or spotter, and reaction to whatever he or she does. If the observer or spotter stops, then the sniper should stop…If the observer or spotter goes low, then the sniper should go low. If by chance the sniper team should become separate, you should have a rally point or several rally points picked. These are areas that you have selected along the way in case you do or have to become separated. If you do have to move back or go to a rally point…Never take the same path that you just used, take an indirect route.
As stated before the sniper team must never engage a large opposing team. If by chance you make contact with the opposing team, then there are some things you need to remember. If the sniper team sees the opposing team and the opposing team didn’t see the sniper team. The sniper team needs to take cover and conceal their position to the best of their ability. You need to stay in that position until the opposing team passes by and is well out of the area. If you are ambushed the only thing that you should try to do is get out of the killzone, as quickly as possible. Do not attempt to engage the ambushing team, break contact and employ escape and evasion tactics.

If you are ambushed, there is a few ways to help assist you in breaking contact and making the best possible escape. The observer or spotter must remember that it is his or her job to protect the shooter (the sniper). In an ambush situation, the observer or spotter should without thought start returning automatic fire on the areas where the hostile fire is coming from. The shooter (the sniper) can throw a smoke grenade if available and are allowed to be used between the observer/spotter and the opposing team.

The shooter (the sniper) begins to take well-aimed shots at the most threatening target(s), until the smoke covers the area. The observer or spotter then moves toward the sniper, ensuring he does not move into the sniper’s field of fire. The sniper team then moves to an area where the opposing team cannot place direct fire on the team. Again, if the sniper team gets separated, then they should return to the designated rally point. If the sniper team cannot be break contact, the sniper team can call for their assault team for reinforcement.

Now the above is just some tips to help you work better as a sniper team…The most important thing to remember when planning to work as a sniper team. Is that both the shooter (the sniper) and the observer/spotter are important for the success of the team’s mission. You have to work together and you have to be able to work together effectively…Both team members need to know how the other member will react and without thought react to that member’s actions. If you have the lone wolf attitude…Then you may not be able to effectively work as a sniper team.
It is a simple question upon first glance, but the truth is very different from this. It is not something that can be understood with a simple definition. Partly because of the different definitions that different people may use, but also because a reference to even Airsoft sniping is a broad statement. It is much simpler to refer to Airsoft sniping by what it is and is not. Airsoft sniping is not for everyone. It is not easy. It is time consuming. It is not action packed. It is not always appreciated. It is NOT cheap. Players who wish to be Airsoft snipers must realize that after they have the equipment (Gun and ghillie) they may go months without getting a successful kill. It takes time to learn the skills. Players must be ready to go entire games without getting a kill. It is a learning process that never stops. Though team mates may recognize and respect the skills, they will not always tell us. Snipers have, throughout history, not been respected. Hated by the enemy and sometimes annihilated by their allies, it is not easy. Even in Airsoft players must be prepared for a separation that may become inherent. Even with a spotter the silence may to some extent still be there. Airsoft sniping is NOT for everyone it is for the few. It should not be a person’s first position it should be grown into. Some of it is indeed a choice, but much more of it is not.

Airsoft sniping is not for everyone. There are countless people who at one time in their lives have wanted to be a sniper. There are also countless people who have tried Airsoft sniping and after spending so much money discovered that it was not for them. They have put in the money to learn that they do not have the skills, or the patience, or do not enjoy the totally different play style. Players who wish to be snipers should grow into the position. The developmental process into sniping begins with assault. From there it moves on to support or recon. Then it finally reaches spotter. If a player finds any job to be less fun then assault, then the other jobs are probably not appropriate, especially not sniping.

Airsoft sniping is not easy. It is a never ending learning process. It involves a lot of pressure at certain times, and a lot of nothing at other times. There is crawling and enduring bug bites and many other things. A player that does not have the patience to save up money or make a ghillie does not have the patience to be a sniper. The difficulty is that it can all come down to one important shot.

Airsoft Sniping is time consuming, and therefore requires patience. People have spent over 80 hours making ghillie suits. There is time spent perfecting shots and weapons familiarity. Time is spent working on the hop-up and sighting the scope. Time is spent moving into a position and waiting for sometimes hours for one shot. Airsoft snipers dedicate a LOT of time to their passion.
Airsoft Sniping is not action packed. It is not like some video game where the player is able to run around and pull off countless impossible shots without getting spotted. Sniper’s spend their time moving into position, reporting information, maybe taking a shot, and moving out. The end result is that most of the time snipers are not “doing anything”, but when they do take that shot or call in that information it can be critical. The point is that there is a lot of time spent and a lot of money spent for what could be one moment in a game in which failure could be “deadly” and success game winning.

Although snipers sometimes play an extremely important role in their team, they are not always appreciated. Snipers will never walk around with the most kills, and in this way may not gain the same respect as other team mates. Remember, sniping is not glamorous like movies have made it out to be; it is much different and much harder.

Inherent difficulties that come about from Airsoft Sniping:
In some aspects Airsoft sniping can be harder then military sniping. Of course your life is not at risk and the people you are up against have probably not received the same level of training, but there are some difficulties that come about based on the weapons that you are using. This in fact is the main problem, weapons. Airsoft weaponry cannot fire near as far as real weaponry. Standard sniper range is 800 yards, no Airsoft gun is capable of that. Airsoft sniper weapons are typically used between 100-250 feet. At 100-250 feet it will be much easier for an enemy to spot you compared to the 800 yards that it would be in the military. For this reason concealment, skill refinement, and shot selection are maybe even more important. (I am not taking anything away from military snipers, all true respect goes to them). For these reasons Airsoft snipers have to be capable of hiding themselves effectively and also moving as necessary.

[snyper]

cont'd:

There are three basic types of Airsoft snipers:
Offensive- Assassination
Defensive- Support
Recon- Reconnaissance

The purpose of an offensive sniper is to perform an assassination. This kill might be the elimination of a heavy machine gunner or enemy sniper, or the elimination of a team leader or VIP. The targets that an offensive sniper will be sent after will vary and will sometimes change in game. They will, at least more then defensive ad recon snipers, shoot at targets of opportunity. There purpose is to eliminate key enemy figures and in this manner also be a major intimidation factor against the enemy. Offensive snipers, however, are also most at risk of ambushes and other snipers. Offensive snipers tend to have to move more to accomplish their mission, in this way they can sometimes jeopardize themselves to other snipers. Also, an untrained offensive sniper who does not fully scout out a scenario (Visually and audio) may find himself tricked into firing at a player to then have himself be eliminated. Offensive snipers must have outstanding movement skills (Stealth movement) and the ability to take one good shot. Their concealment skills must also be top of the line. Continuing when sent after enemy snipers or scouts their eyes must also be trained. Basically an offensive sniper is an assassin whose purpose is the elimination of one or several enemy players; if necessary he can be sent on a “suicide” mission.

The purpose of a defensive sniper is to work with but not as a part of another team, providing support. Ideally this sniper will also provide low level reconnaissance to his team to also help support them. His primary purpose comes about either when the team that he is assigned to begins getting sniper fire or enters into a fire fight. When either occurs it is his purpose to manoeuvre and set up so that he can either eliminate the sniper or begin picking off enemy players at a high speed. This position offers the most opportunities for kills because once in combat if the defensive sniper is good enough he will have many targets to fire at. This position requires a player who is also capable at moving quickly, is good at spotting other players visually, and is also capable of personal concealment if the need arises. Most importantly is the ability of this player to make quick accurate shots. The reason is that in a firefight it will be necessary for him to be able to take out the enemies that are shooting at the team that he is working with. Overall a defensive sniper works with but not as a part of an assault force to further the abilities of the assault force and provide them with fire support as needed.

Finally we have the reconnaissance sniper. If any sniper is truly under appreciated it is the recon sniper. His purpose is to gain information about the enemy team, pure and simple. This is the sniper who takes the fewest shots and sees the least action. The role of recon sniper however is essential. A recon sniper can provide extremely important information about the enemy. Do not be confused though… Recon snipers do still get kills. Like an assassination sniper if they have the opportunity to take out a key enemy player without getting taken out too, if they receive permission, the shot will be taken. Recon snipers are in a sense the middle of the road of snipers too. They do not go on assassination missions and they are not always working directly with a single force, but they are always ready to switch to one of those jobs if the need arises. Recon snipers must be outstandingly good at personal concealment. They must have extremely good skills at locating enemy players. It is a position that takes time and practice. Overall their purpose is to provide the information that saves lives, and sometimes be the on that takes them.

Note:
All snipers must be able to change jobs at any given point during a game, however, working towards a specialty is not a bad idea.



Weapons (Primary):
In general Airsoft snipers carry one of three types of weapons: Gas, Spring, and AEG. Weapons like the Super 9 and others like it are generally disregarded because they lack the power to give the sniper the amount of power and consistency that is needed for an Airsoft sniper. Without power and consistency a sniper must get closer to the enemy, in a game where we snipers are usually close anyways. Airsoft rounds will never be as accurate as or stable as real live rounds due to the imperfection and weight. Other aspects such as the weather create a lot of deviation in the flight path resulting in an off target shot. Thus rendering an airsoft snipers effective maximum distance to be around 250-300 feet in premium conditions.
Some of the most popular air cocking/spring rifles are the Tokyo Marui vsr G-spec, vsr-10 and the vsr realshock. These are high quality guns at low prices and have one of the best hop up’s ever found on a sniper rifle. Some other popular rifles include the Classic Army m24 both civilian and military models. Also there is the highly respected range that is the aps2. They have the most aftermarket parts available for them out of any other gun. This includes the sv (Sniper version) with fixed hop up. Also the Maruzen L96 is a sturdy well built rifle but is said to have a not so good hop up system. But this can be fixed with some tlc! All of these rifles have an extensive range of aftermarket parts for them. For example to increase fps these are just a small amount of upgrades that could be added to your rifle: Cocking/bolt handle, spring, spring guide; metal. Piston, piston head, sears, trigger unit i.e. zero trigger unit. Tightbore barrels and also custom barrels and stocks. Many of the upgrades come from respectable companies such as laylax. These upgrades are relatively easy to fit yourself if you know your rifle otherwise it is recommended that you have a specialist look at it. Many respected snipers choose air cocking/spring rifles over gas due to their reliability and their consistency.

Gas:
Gas guns are growing more popular with time as new developments are making them more consistent. The primary complaint with gas guns, in fact, is their lack of consistency. They are also not effective during cold days when the temperature is so low that the gas is no longer effective. This is because the temperature is so low that it does not allow the gas to expand properly therefore causing lower or higher fps depending on the temperature. This means the fps deviates quite a bit which is a very bad disadvantage when trying to deploy that one crucial shot.As I mentioned they are, with new technology, becoming more consistent. Some people are able to master certain weapons (Tanaka M24) and become good enough with the hop-up and other systems to bring their consistency near what a spring gun can do. The people who are capable of this then find themselves with a faster rate of fire and increased ease when cycling the bolt for a shot. Overall they provide a faster rate of fire with more ease, but still lack the consistency of a spring rifle (If only by a little, in the few rare cases).

AEG:
AEGs can be upgraded to sniper level, at least in power. Once upgraded they are capable of semi-automatic fire at sniper ranges. There problem is a lack in consistency. This lack in consistency can sometimes be made up for by the fact that with practice a user can get several rounds into the air before the enemy even realizes that they are being fired at. When considering the use of an AEG remember that it will not have the consistency of a spring rifle and some rounds may go stray. In the same way upgrading an AEG to a sniper level of rifle will cause wear and tear on the parts. For this reason be sure to take extreme care of the gun and get high level upgrades (Sniping is not cheap). Overall less consistency, faster rate of fire, potential damage to the gun. Some of the most popular guns for the marksman playtype are the Tokyo Marui m16a2 and The Tokyo Marui Aug civilian( due to the recent halt in production I have not listed the military version) both of these guns have long barrels which both measure at 510mm. The Aug is often chosen over the m16 due to its ease of use i.e. not restricting movement. This is due to its bullpup design where the barrel sits behind the trigger.

Spring:
Probably the preferred weapon of Airsoft snipers. I am not including guns like the super 9 into this category for reasons stated above. The advantage to a spring rifle that has been upgraded is its power and consistency. When a sniper knows what will always happen to a shot the sniper can, through practice, reach a much higher level of capability with the rifle. Knowledge of shooting up and downhill, how to compensate for wind, even knowledge of how the hop-up affects the gun after the BB has been flying a great distance. Spring guns, once upgraded, do lack in rate of fire. Weaker players sometimes find it difficult to cycle the bolt, especially in the prone position (We all find it hard in the prone position). Basically spring rifles are preferred because of their consistency and the level of capability that a player can achieve with them

Maintenance:
The maintenance of any gun is important but it can really be a god send to have a clean barrel when trying to make that shot. Most owners recommend taking your rifle apart and using 100% silicone oil to keep everything in good shape. The barrel most importantly needs to be clean even the slightest fibre can through the shot of target at the velocities which we are shooting. Using a simple cleaning rod with a .22 gun cleaning patch secured on the end with a little silicone on it is perfectly adequate for this takes. A few strokes in which the user should rotate the rod is all it needs to clean the barrel. Also remember to turn the hop up off before doing this as it may damage the unit. Many snipers are weary of using silicone oil as it can through the hop way off for a little while. But many people recommend using some good quality relatively cheap bb’s i.e. excel and running a hundred or so rounds through the gun until the hop is stable again, these can be fired into the ground or at a target with a safe backstop.

Weapons (Secondary):
AEG:
Some snipers carry a small AEG as a sidearm. This offers extra firepower at a price, it will be harder to move around and keep track of the weapon. One of the most common back up aeg’s used by snipers is the Tokyo Marui mp5k due to its manoeuvrability size and rof (Rate Of Fire)
Pistol:
Other snipers carry a pistol with them as a sidearm. Pistols offer the ability to fire back if the enemy does get close. Ideally they will not be firing at you until they are inside of pistol range anyways.
Nothing:
Some snipers choose not to carry any type of sidearm. This does bring about the weakness of no ability to counter the enemy. The theory however is that if the enemy is that close and knows that I am there it is too late anyways. The other advantage is increased mobility.

Tools:
Weapons (Primary and Secondary)
Ghillie:
Ghillie suits are commonly made out of dyed burlap/jute that has been attached to BDUs. The ghillie suit is one of the most important tools of an Airsoft sniper. People are only visually spotted by movement, colour, body shape, reflection, and silhouette. A well made ghillie prevents the enemy from seeing the sniper by body shape, reflection, and colour. Silhouette and movement remain the snipers job. As many people have said the ghillie suit is like a rite of passage. The effectiveness of a snipers ghillie is sign of the snipers overall effectiveness. When designing a ghillie it is essential to remember that the idea is to match the surroundings and break up body shape, nothing more. Excess burlap can be a mistake, too little burlap the same. Many people also consider that an individual who has demonstrated patience through the making of an effective ghillie suit is prepared to become an Airsoft sniper.

Hide:
Although a hide is not an actual tool like a ghillie or weapons which are carried around it is still a tool. A sniper must be able to select a hide that is appropriate for the mission and that matches his ghillie (or BDUs in some cases). The ability to choose a hide like the patience and ability to make a ghillie is essential. Without the ability to find a proper place to hide when wearing a ghillie it is useless (Many ghillies are capable of being used in many places, but choosing the perfect place is essential). Another point to keep in mind is that if an area looks like a perfect hide experienced enemy players will look for a sniper there. It is a balance of concealment, ability to fulfill mission, and obviousness.

Airsoft sniping being that it is not easy and is not for everyone is however, for those of us for which it is proper, a passion. It is something that we enjoy to no end. Airsoft snipers though they may not always get it do deserve respect. It is not a simple decision and it takes time, but for those few of you who will work your way to here, congratulations. This is by no means a guide to what Airsoft snipers are and how you can mimic this. Its far from it instead it is a guide which shows the fundamentals and dedication that it takes to become a sniper.




Source: www.airsoftretreat.com/oldforums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=89334&SearchTerms=sniping,tactics