Longest recorded sniper kills
Reports regarding the longest recorded sniper kills that contain information regarding the shooting distance and the identity of the sniper have been presented to the general public since 1967.[citation needed] Snipers have had a substantial history following the development of long distance weaponry. As weapons, ammunition, and aids to determine ballistic solutions improved, so too did the distance from which a kill could be targeted. In mid-2017 it was reported that an unnamed Canadian special forces operator, based in Iraq, had set a new record of 3,540 m (3,871 yd), beating the record previously held by an Australian sniper (also unnamed) at 2,815 m (3,079 yd).[4] In November 2023, the record was once again broken by 58-year old sniper, Viacheslav Kovalskyi of the Security Service of Ukraine, who shot a Russian soldier from a distance of 3,800 m (4,156 yd) during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[5][6][7][8][9]
Sniper technology
Although optical equipment such as rangefinders and ballistic calculators have largely eliminated manual calculations to determine elevation and windage, the fundamentals of accurate and precise long-range shooting remain essentially the same since the early history of shooting, and the skill and training of the shooter, and the shooter's spotter where applicable, are the primary factors. Accuracy and precision of ammunition and firearms are also still reliant primarily on human factors and attention to detail in the complex process of producing maximum performance.[original research?]
The modern method of long-distance sniping (shots over 1,100 m or 1,203 yd) requires intense training and practice. A sniper must have the ability to accurately estimate the various factors that influence a bullet's trajectory and point of impact, such as the shooter's distance from the target, wind direction, wind speed, air density, elevation, and even the Coriolis effect. Mistakes in estimation compound over distance and can cause a shot to only injure, or to miss completely.[10] Any given combination of firearm and ammunition will have an associated value, known as the circular error probable (CEP), defined as the radius of a circle whose boundary is expected to contain the impact points of half of the rounds fired.[11]
If the shooter wishes to improve accuracy, increase range, or both, the accuracy of estimates of external factors must improve accordingly. At extreme ranges, highly accurate estimates are required and even with the most accurate estimates, hitting the target becomes subject to uncontrollable factors. For example, a rifle capable of firing a ½ or 0.5 MOA (approximately 0.5 inch center to center of the two holes furthest apart) 5-round group (often referred to as "grouping") at 100 yards will theoretically fire a 12.5 inch group at 2,500 yards (0.5 × 2,500/100 = 12.5). Unless the group is centered perfectly on the target at 100 yards, the 2,500-yard group will be centered 25 times the off-center error at 100 yards. This example ignores all other factors and assumes no-wind shooting conditions, identical muzzle velocities, and identical ballistic performance for each shot.[citation needed]
Devices such as laser rangefinders, handheld meteorological measuring equipment, handheld computers, and ballistic-prediction software can contribute to increased accuracy (i.e. reduced CEP), although they rely on proper use and training to realize any advantages. In addition, as instruments of measure, they are subject to accuracy errors and malfunction. Handheld meteorological instruments only measure conditions at the location they are used. Wind direction and speed can vary dramatically along the path of the bullet.[citation needed]
History
The longest confirmed kill in World War II was by German sniper Matthäus Hetzenauer at 1,100 metres (1,200 yd).
The science of long-range sniping came to fruition in the Vietnam War. US Marine Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock held the record from 1967 to 2002 at 2,286 m (2,500 yd).[12] He recorded 93 official kills.[citation needed] After returning to the US, Hathcock helped to establish the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at Quantico, Virginia.[13]
In addition to his success as a USMC scout-sniper during multiple deployments to Vietnam, Hathcock competed in multiple USMC shooting teams. Hathcock also won the 1966 Wimbledon Cup, which is earned by the winner of the US 1,000-yard high-powered rifle National Championship. Even after being severely burned during an attack on an Amtrac on which he was riding in his efforts to rescue other soldiers, which earned him a Silver Star, and after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Hathcock continued to serve, shoot and instruct. In Vietnam, Hathcock also completed missions involving a "through the scope" shot which killed an enemy sniper specifically hunting him, and a multiple-day solo stalk and kill of an enemy general.[19]
Hathcock's record stood until Canadian sniper Arron Perry of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry exceeded it with a shot of 2,310 m (2,530 yd). Perry held the title for only a few days, as another man in his unit, Corporal Rob Furlong, beat Perry's distance with a 2,430 m (2,657 yd) shot in March 2002. Perry and Furlong were part of a six-man sniper team during 2002's Operation Anaconda, part of the War in Afghanistan.[3]
Corporal Furlong's record was bested by a British soldier, Corporal of Horse Craig Harrison, of the Blues and Royals, Household Cavalry, who recorded two consecutive 2,475 m (2,707 yd) shots (confirmed by GPS) in November 2009, also during the War in Afghanistan, in which he hit two Taliban insurgents consecutively.[20] Harrison killed the two Taliban machine gunners with shots that took the 8.59 mm (0.338 inch) rounds almost five seconds to hit their targets, which were 900 m (980 yd) beyond the L115A3 sniper rifle's recommended range. A third shot took out the insurgents' machine gun. The rifle used was made by Accuracy International.[21]
In June 2017, an unnamed sniper from Canada's Tier 1 special forces unit, Joint Task Force 2, surpassed the 2009 record by over 1,000 m (1,100 yd), with a 3,540 m (3,871 yd) shot in the Iraqi Civil War. As with the previous two Canadian records, a McMillan TAC-50 with .50 BMG ammunition was used.[1][2]
In November 2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a special agent with the Security Service of Ukraine, later revealed to be 58-year-old sniper Viacheslav Kovalsky, surpassed the previous world record by shooting a Russian soldier from a distance of 3,800 m (4,156 yd). The sniper used a Ukrainian-made, multi-caliber anti-materiel sniper rifle named Volodar Obriyu (Horizon's Lord). The ammunition used was a newly developed .50 caliber round named 12.7×114 mm HL, which was made by necking down a 14.5×114 mm case.[5][6][7][8][9]
Confirmed kills 1,250 m (1,370 yd) or greater
This list is not exhaustive, as such data is generally not tracked nor managed under any official procedure. For example, the 2002 Canadian Army sniper team that saw two soldiers set consecutive new records (Arron Perry at 2,310 m (2,526 yd) and Rob Furlong at 2,430 m (2,657 yd)), also made a number of kills at 1,500 m (1,600 yd) that are not counted here.[22] The list also shows that, in some cases, an armed force command may choose to withhold the name of the sniper for security reasons.
- Notes
- ^ Longest confirmed kill using non-match grade ammunition.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Fife 2017
- ^ a b c Bunch 2017
- ^ a b c d Kalvapallé, Rahul (24 June 2017). "Small but mighty: How Canada's military produces some of the world's best snipers". Global News. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
- ^ [1][2][3]
- ^ a b c Evans, Holly (21 November 2023). "Ukrainian sniper 'breaks world record after killing soldier nearly 2.5 miles away'". The Independent. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ a b c "Ukrainian sniper destroys record for longest kill". Newsweek. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ a b c "SBU sniper claims world record after successful 3.8 km shot". kyivindependent.com. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ a b c "9 seconds to target – Ukrainian sniperopens up about his world record kill shot". Yahoo News. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ a b c MacDonald, Alistair (4 December 2023). "Ukrainian Sniper Breaks Cover to Claim World-Record Hit of More Than 2 Miles". WSJ. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ Plaster 1993
- ^ "Circular Error Probable (CEP)," Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Technical Paper 6, Ver 2, July 1987, p. 1
- ^ a b Henderson 2003, p. 181
- ^ Henderson 2003, p. 283
- ^ Dougherty, Martin J (2012). Sniper: SAS and Elite Forces Guide: Sniping skills from the world's elite forces. Amber Books Ltd. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-909160-38-5.
Upon reaching the target area he discovered that his shot had gone through the scope of the sniper's rifle
- ^ Sasser, Charles W.; Roberts, Craig (1 July 2004). Crosshairs on the Kill Zone: American Combat Snipers, Vietnam through Operation Iraqi Freedom. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-4165-0362-0.
Hathcock's bullet had gone through the cobra sniper's scope and entered his eye
- ^ Riegert, Keith; Kaplan, Samuel (25 June 2013). The MANual: Trivia. Testosterone. Tales of Badassery. Raw Meat. Fine Whiskey. Cold Truth. Ulysses Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-61243-183-3.
Unfortunately for the guy behind the scope, Hathcock's shot was clean and true—perfectly passing through the glass scope
- ^ Sasser, Charles W.; Roberts, Craig (1 April 1990). "Their Mission: One Shot One Kill". One Shot One Kill. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-4391-3712-3.
Both lenses of the enemy's sniper scope, front and back, were shattered. It was obvious what happened. My bullet smashed through his scope and into his right eye.
- ^ "Carlos Hathcock: Famous Marine Corps Sniper". military.com. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ [14][15][16][17][18]
- ^ a b Smith 2010
- ^ Tovey, Alan (2 February 2015). "The company behind the rifle used by the world's deadliest sniper". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Friscolanti, Michael (15 May 2006). "We were abandoned". Maclean's. Archived from the original on 19 September 2007. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ Wahler & Linwood 2014, p. 192
- ^ "Ukrainian sniper takes out Russian soldier 1.68 miles away nearly breaking world record". The Mirror. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ "Ukraine claims that a Ukrainian sniper made the second-longest combat kill ever". jpost.com. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ Sheridan, Michael (3 May 2010). "British sniper Craig Harrison (The Silent Assassin) breaks record, kills target from 1.5 miles away". Daily News. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
Sgt. Brian Kremer of the United States Army held the record in 2004 with a shot in Iraq that struck its target from about 7,545 feet (2,300 m; 2,515 yd).
- ^ "Report: Canadian sniper shattered world record for the longest confirmed kill in history". ktvb.com. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
U.S. Sergeant Bryan Kremer has the longest confirmed sniper kill shot by a U.S. soldier, the Globe and Mail reported. He killed an Iraqi insurgent from 2,300 metres (7,546 ft; 2,515 yd) in 2004.
- ^ "This legendary Marine sniper made the Corps' longest known kill shot more than 50 years ago with a machine gun". businessinsider.com. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ Gibson 2013
- ^ Helfrich 2013
- ^ Hofstatter, Stephan; Oatway, James (22 August 2014). "South Africa at war in the DRC – The inside story". Sunday Times. South Africa. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ "Gun Charges Dropped Against Sniper Who Once Held Record in Afghanistan". nbcwashington.com. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ "8 Longest Sniper Shots in History". gunsandammo.com. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ Nye, Logan (23 February 2016). "The 7 longest range sniper kills in history". businessimsider.com. Retrieved 11 October 2022 – via We Are The Mighty.
- ^ "SERGEANT RANSTAD HONORED BY TN STATE LEGISLATURE, VISITS BARRETT". barrett.net. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ Sanchez, Raf (2 January 2012). "'The Devil of Rahmadi' named America's deadliest sniper". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ "Chris Kyle, America's deadliest sniper, offered no regrets". cnn.com. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ Jennings 2011
- ^ هاني صفيّان يخبر (7 May 2016). وراء خطوط العاصفة (in Arabic). Al Arabiya. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ D'Alessio 2005
- ^ Souter 2012, p. 40
- ^ Johnsen 2008
- ^ "Soviet snipers in Afghanistan, 1979 – 1989 years. (28 photos)". methgag.com. 18 November 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ Cannon 2010
- ^ Evening Public Ledger 1918, p. 4
- ^ Harnden 2006
Bibliography
- Brownlie, Robin (2003). A fatherly eye: Indian agents, government power, and Aboriginal resistance in Ontario, 1918–1939 (2003 ed.). University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0-19-541784-5.
- Bunch, Ashley (22 June 2017). "Canadian sniper crushes world record for longest confirmed kill in military history, reports say". Militarytimes.com a division of Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- Cannon, Chuck (19 April 2010). "Army sniper films spot for History channel based on 1,300 meter shot in Iraq". United States Armed Forces. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- Charleston Courier (6 December 1864). "Charleston Courier". Charleston Courier. ISSN 1061-5105.
- D'Alessio, Stephen (22 February 2005). "Marine Sniper Receives Bronze Star Medal for Valor". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- Evening Public Ledger (5 February 1918). "Johnstown Sammee First to Kill Hun". Evening Public Ledger. Philadelphia: Cyrus H. K. Curtis. pp. 1–16. ISSN 2151-3945. LCCN 83045211. OCLC 9355469. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
- Fife, Robert (21 June 2017). "Canadian elite special forces sniper makes record-breaking kill shot in Iraq". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- Fredriksen, John C. (2010). The United States Army: A Chronology, 1775 to the Present (2010 ed.). ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-59884-344-6.
- Gibson, Erica (30 August 2013). "SA skerpskutter skiet doodskoot oor afstand van meer as 2 km" [SA sniper's kill shot from over 2km away]. Volksblad (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 30 August 2013.
- Harnden, Toby (1 January 2006). "Sniper shot that took out an insurgent killer from three quarters of a mile". The Sunday Telegraph. London. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- Henderson, Charles (2003). Silent Warrior (2003 ed.). Berkley Books. ISBN 0-425-18864-7.
- Helfrich, Kim (30 August 2013). "SANDF mum about DRC sniper super shot". DefenceWeb. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- Masters, Chris (29 October 2012). "Taliban remain in fear of lethal strikes". Australian Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- Jennings, Christian (17 August 2011). "Long range killer: Behind the scenes of Accuracy International". Wired.com. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- Johnsen, Nilas (7 October 2008). "Dreper fra 1380 meter" [Kills from 1380 meters]. Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Retrieved 8 October 2008.
- Jowett, Philip; Snodgrass, Brent (2006). Finland at War 1939–45. Elite 141 (2006 ed.). Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-969-1.
- Plaster, John L. (1993). The ultimate sniper: an advanced training manual for military & police snipers (1993 ed.). Paladin Press. ISBN 978-0-87364-704-5.
- Smith, Michael (2 May 2010). "Hotshot sniper in one-and-a-half mile double kill". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- Sohail (18 November 2015). "Soviet snipers in Afghanistan, 1979 – 1989 years". methgag.com. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- Souter, Gerry (2012). American Shooter: A Personal History of Gun Culture in the United States (2012 ed.). Potomac Books Inc. ISBN 9781597976909.
- Westwood, Dr. David (2005). Rifles: an illustrated history of their impact (2005 ed.). ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-85109-401-1.
- Wahler, Glenn; Linwood, Russell (2014). One Shot Kills: A history of Australian Army sniping. Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 9781922132659.