Chapter Eighty-Three: Sniping
"Sniper" is a derivative term, in short, it means that this is the Chinese translated name of foreign things. Indeed, in traditional Chinese history, there was only the title "Shén Shè Shǒu" (神射手), and there was no concept of "sniping". People who could shoot accurately at 100 paces were called "Shén Shè Shǒu", not "Sniper" as referred to in Western countries. Of course, the term "Sniper" also appeared in modern Western world.
In the early 17th century, optical instruments began to be gradually applied to military weapons and equipment. With the help of optical aiming devices, "snipers" slowly emerged. However, for two whole centuries, the development of tactical sniper technology was hindered by the slow development of firearms craftsmanship, until during the American Revolutionary War, a Major Sharp of the American militia used specially modified firearms and various small tricks, such as wrapping each round bullet in oil-soaked deerskin, making loading easier, and increasing range and accuracy.
Major Sharp led a team of independent, highly mobile marksmen who accurately shot and killed several high-ranking British officers at an incredible distance of over 300 meters for the time. They repeatedly turned the tide of battle with minimal losses, and from then on, the English language had a new word: "Sharpshooters", referring to shooters who were both accurate and calm under fire.
And to aid in long-range aiming and prevent distraction from the environment, Sharpshooters often wore a mask similar to those worn by today's special forces when performing sniper duties, thus earning them another nickname as "Masked Men", which in English referred to marksmen or sharp shooters. Later both terms were replaced with "Sniper" which became the official name for this new military "branch" and battlefield ghost.
The war that just passed, while brewing a large number of casualties, also gave birth to countless war heroes. After stripping away the outer garments of merit and guilt, one can see real lives, true fighting heroes. Among the many soldiers who became heroes, the most unknown and secretive are snipers.
Within one to two years of the outbreak of war, German forces had established a reputation for marksmanship supported by domestically manufactured high-quality optical instruments such as telescopic sights and binoculars and excellent firearms, the Mauser 98 rifle in particular gave German troops an edge at long range shooting. In trench warfare, many Allied soldiers, officers, artillery observers etc., were picked off by snipers whenever they appeared above the parapet of a trench.
As the Allies learned from their bloody lessons, they also began to send out their own snipers rather than professional marksmen to confront the Germans. However, it was clear that they were far inferior to the seasoned German army, but still managed to engage both sides in a sniper competition. In order to achieve better sniper results while minimizing their own losses, both sides began experimenting with various optical materials, making aiming instruments more precise, manufacturing better sniper rifles, and shooting farther and more accurately.
Trench warfare provided a good platform for snipers on both sides, the cruel war eliminated the weak, and the remaining ones gradually matured. They were able to achieve more results not because their sniper shooting skills were better than others, but because they hid themselves better, responded to counter-sniping, and gained longer survival, which naturally led to more results.
Soon, both sides began to summarize and study the experience of old snipers, studying sniper camouflage, position selection, shooting and lurking, what factors can be more conducive to the success of snipers' killing and withdrawal, and more conducive to striking opponents and saving themselves.
After the war entered its mid-term, the Allies, especially Britain, began to establish special training schools at a painful cost to cultivate their own snipers, observers and scouts. The students who were strictly trained played a great role in the war. The American Expeditionary Force also sent a large number of soldiers for sniper training. The trained soldiers played a great role in the subsequent war. Someone once described the role of snipers with one sentence: "A sniper soldier plus a rifle, and he is the most dangerous enemy in the world." Because their snipers could accurately shoot targets within 400 meters without installing a sighting mirror on the Springfield M1903 rifle, it's not an exaggeration to describe the sniper phantoms on the World War I battlefield with such a heroic language.
However, the use of snipers and how to train them is still in a very primitive state. Due to the fact that many battles take place outdoors, when both sides have similar strength, the battle often quickly turns into a stalemate, at which point snipers become cold-blooded killers on the battlefield, using their accurate shooting to kill enemy personnel who "stick their heads out", thus expanding the gains of the battle.
So, they have not yet formed a true understanding of the use of snipers, and their training and equipment are also very limited due to insufficient understanding. In another time and space, it was only after countless wars that there was a systematic understanding of the rational use and training of snipers, until the Vietnam War when there was a more systematic understanding of snipers.
Regularized training and more specialized equipment have continuously led to the sniper's combat power, better firearms, sighting instruments, camouflage techniques, etc., which have made sniping warfare high-precision, long-range, and powerful. The invisible sniper on the battlefield has become even more "frightening", of course, this is a gradual process, an outcome of countless baptisms by fire.
When history took a turn, all this was bound to change, especially under the guidance of some special people, and with the development trend of the military at that time, the term "sniper" almost accompanied the People's Army from its founding day. After six or seven years of growth, the People's Army's understanding of sniping gradually deepened, and the result of this deeper understanding was naturally a more systematic and professional training scale. For every type of terrain and climate, such as mountains and forests, sea and land islands, deserts and plateaus, plains, etc., the People's Army carried out relatively comprehensive sniper research, and also took many reserve snipers to train.
"I don't want to ask you how many people you've killed. I just want to know how you kill people. How long does it take to kill a person? Is there anyone who can tell me..."
Surrounded by mountains and a vast forest, on a small hillside in the midst of a primitive jungle, stood several "thatched cottages". From afar, people would generally think it was just a poor mountain village. However, outside one of the thatched cottages, there was a particularly precious little dam with a straight flagpole, and a bright red five-starred flag fluttering in the wind. Apart from this super eye-catching sign, the village had no other distinctive features, not even a sign indicating it was the "People's Army Land Force Sniper Jungle Special Training School".
"Do you know why our school is built in such a remote place? Do you know why our training isn't like other troops, with plenty of ammunition and casual target practice? Every kilogram of supplies we get has to be carried back by you from the supply depot fifty kilometers away - ammunition, medicine, food..."
"Of course, the ten weeks you will spend here will be unforgettable. It's pointless to say that anyone who wants to leave voluntarily can do so. I just want to ask, is there anyone among you who is afraid? If you are really afraid, feel free to ask me and we will take good care of you!"
Lin Xuewen was no longer the little yellow-haired boy he used to be, years of ups and downs had made him thoroughly mature. The War of Resistance Against Japan, the War of Liberation, countless bandit-suppressing operations, Lin Xuewen grew up slowly in countless sniping missions. Although so far, any opponent encountered by the People's Army has not had a formal sniper, or any opponent has not had the strength to contend with the People's Army.
Although domestically there may not be any opponents, it does not mean that internationally there are no opponents. Lin Xuewen and the entire People's Army have never lowered their training standards, especially in a newly emerging Soviet regime where imperialist powers can intervene without reason. This foretells that as long as one day the term "autonomous region" gradually evolves into the word "China", if China is not conducive to the traditional interests of the imperialist powers, then China will inevitably become the next Soviet Union. If it does not want to perish, there is only one way to go: possessing even stronger strength and using that strength to win recognition from the imperialist powers; otherwise, anti-intervention warfare will be unavoidable.
So, the People's Army has only one step and one footprint, doing a good job in training, suffering more in peacetime and bleeding less in wartime. Especially for snipers, who are considered important tactical tools by the army, they have played a very good role in countless battles or operations from the founding of the army to the present. Therefore, the sniper team has already been incorporated into the battalion-level troops of the People's Army, and the army also believes that snipers will play an even greater role in future wars.
"I believe that anyone who can make it here is no longer an ordinary person, and of course, this isn't an ordinary school either!" Fully armed, Lin Xuewen's face was painted with camouflage just like everyone else. When he spoke, the muscles on his face, illuminated by the sunlight, gave off a special dynamic feeling, especially when speaking continuously.
"A good sniper must have three conditions. First, excellent marksmanship, this is the most basic and must be strictly qualified. Second, discipline. Obeying superior orders, unconditional obedience. Third, tenacity. Without sufficient patience and perseverance, without sufficient meticulousness and strength, then this profession is not suitable for you!"
"I don't have the habit of making students stand in class, everyone sit down. Today is your first time attending my class, of course I won't be like those teachers from compulsory education schools who tell you what to do and what not to do at all times. The youngest among you has also served for three years, so it shouldn't be necessary for me to nag. Everyone, take a seat!"
At the sound of Lin Xuewen's order, all 32 trainees sat down silently, wearing camouflage uniforms, combat boots, big-brimmed hats, and camouflage makeup. There were also the Type-21 sniper rifles leaning against their shoulders, which were two types of sniper rifles that had been tried out by military designers and troops since they were first equipped in 1918 and 1915 respectively. After five years of use and modification, although most troops are still using the Type-18, militia reserve units are still using the Type-15, special soldiers have already started using small-scale produced Type-21 sniper rifles.
Unlike the Type 15's well-designed but poorly manufactured, resulting in a rough gun quality, the actual use results and design expectations were quite inconsistent. This is not to blame anyone, after all, the manufacturing level of the autonomous region around 2015 was definitely limited. However, despite this, the Type 15 was still widely liked by regular troops due to its practical and durable characteristics, especially as a "supplementary force" for militia reserve forces, where all snipers were still using large quantities of six-year-old equipment.
The emergence of the Type 18 is not a coincidence, but the formal birth of the People's Army's Type 18 rifle family. As a formally equipped rifle family for the entire People's Army, it includes a complete series of military firearms such as pistols, rifles, light and heavy machine guns, and submachine guns. Of course, this also includes improvements made to the Type 15, including optical sights and human-machine interface issues. Its performance is better than that of the Type 15, so the "regular troops" who are always ready for battle are equipped with it.
The Type 21 has so far only appeared in small numbers, and was immediately put into trial use by many special forces units, including the sniper training unit under Lin Xuewen. The troops will be trained in jungle, island, desert and urban environments, and will be very loyal to their trainees and their firearms.
"Today, you are all holding the brand new Type 21 rifle. Many of you have a special affection for the Type 15 and a particular liking for the Type 18, but I'm sure you're all especially looking forward to this latest Type 21. Unfortunately, we don't have tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition here for you to play with. With new guns and limited ammo, you'll only have about a week's time and less than 100 rounds to practice. If that's not enough, you can always switch rifles. Of course, I'm sure all of you will fall in love with this gun!"
Before the lecture, Lin Xuewen made a humorous remark, causing everyone to reveal their rare smiles. He gently stroked his new treasure, and for soldiers, the day they entered the army and received their guns was like getting married - marrying their own guns. The group of elite soldiers he faced were naturally already familiar with the Type 81 sniper rifle, but when they came here for jungle training, they discovered that there was also a Type 21. Logically speaking, frequently changing standard equipment is a taboo, as soldiers had just become familiar with one piece of equipment and then had to change to a new set. Even if the new set was better and more advanced, soldiers needed time to get used to it, and the unit needed time to grind and re-form its combat effectiveness.
But the People's Liberation Army is different, first of all, its troop formation scale is relatively small, and the six regular army divisions are just enough for the current defense work. Xu Shichang made a fuss in Beijing to show his attitude, and the third division stationed in Shaanxi entered level three combat readiness, but in fact, it didn't have the strength to launch an attack on its own initiative. Leaving aside the relatively intact transportation system, rushing straight to Beijing across Shanxi would be enough to make the third division dare not move, so the army pursues being small and refined.
From the original Lee-Enfield rifle, traditional bolt-action rifles paired with machine guns and cannons, the People's Army was no different from today's powerful armies. Later, it transitioned to semi-automatic rifles, towed artillery, and standardized firearms, giving the People's Army a somewhat modern flavor. Nowadays, many people are studying armored forces, believing that the next step for the People's Army is to enter the mechanized era. Overall, considering there aren't any particularly strong enemies domestically, the military equipment updates have been a bit fast, requiring adaptability from the troops. Of course, this isn't necessarily bad, as it has been three years since the semi-automatic rifle was equipped, and no new weapons are being introduced yet; perhaps new equipment will be slightly different.
Snipers as the army's secret weapon can be said to be a long-range artilleryman who has been unchanged for centuries, performing diversified tasks in various divisions, regiments, and even squads. In each battle, suppression, and crackdown, snipers have played an enormous role, often with one accurate shot, letting the ringleader fall on the spot, but the mobs couldn't see where the enemy was, this deterrent effect is more powerful than a strong siege... Therefore, the special troops of snipers in the army must always maintain an absolutely leading position, whether it's equipment or training, accepting frequent updates of equipment is also a test of their adaptability, any situation can happen on the battlefield, and the situation where they capture enemy equipment and sniper enemies on the spot may also occur, so it's still beneficial for snipers to see more types of firearms.
"The tasks of a sniper can be divided into several types, including designated hunting, team observation, firepower support, patrol hunting, non-hard equipment destruction and fixed-point elimination. I believe that in your many years of sniping career, you are already familiar with the four tasks of designated hunting, firepower support, fixed-point elimination, and team observation. The highest shooting record among you should be 86 people, which was also completed during the execution of these four tasks. However, you may still have tried patrol hunting and non-hard equipment destruction!"
Designated assassination is to terminate the life of a target specified by command with all means, regardless of the method used. The sniper of the People's Army mainly uses long-range rifle shooting, accurate marksmanship, perfect camouflage, and silencer, etc. Snipers will not use traditional methods to assassinate targets, such as bows and arrows, flying knives, close combat, traps, poisoning, etc., which have been used by a small number of snipers, but most of the time, two-sniper teams are dispatched, with one main shooter and one deputy shooter, the main shooter is responsible for shooting, while the deputy shooter can serve as an observer or supplementary shooter, and even shoot at the target simultaneously with the main shooter to ensure the success of the assassination.
Accompanying observation and firepower support, as a company-level unit, there are not many reliable and effective firepowers on the battlefield at any time. Even in the People's Army equipped with machine guns at the company level, there are still many problems that need to be solved by snipers.
When the troops are in a combat patrol state, the sniper needs to use his own observation results and experience to judge whether it is easy for his side to be sniped by the enemy and draw conclusions. If there really are snipers, they must be resolved. The camouflage situation of the troops can also be checked by him, and those that are easily exposed and subject to enemy sniper fire need to be corrected in a timely manner.
Under sudden attack, the sniper accompanying the team must immediately observe the enemy's firepower and enter a favorable shooting position to quickly snipe the enemy with a sniper rifle, giving the enemy the greatest shock. At this time, other members can smoothly transfer to a safe area. The sniper is playing the role of a "long-range artillery" at any time, and the enemy may use heavy artillery, mortars or light and heavy machine guns, or even snipers attacking their own side, but at this time, only the sniper can quickly and effectively counterattack.
After avoiding the ambush, as a professional sniper and retreat expert in the troops, he needs to provide the best retreat route for the officer's decision-making, and he will make some deployments that are beneficial to his own side according to the situation. He can set up various traps for himself to snipe at the enemy, and now he can also set up numerous landmines to hinder the enemy's pursuit. Later, it is to provide retreat cover fire for the troops, or to leave alone to deter the enemy. They must have a quick decision, in short, ensuring the safe retreat of the troops is their unquestionable responsibility.
"Professionals are the best", this sentence describes the outstanding role of snipers in the army. Commanders can command troops with a professional perspective and tactics, while snipers can also evaluate the feasibility of certain tactics from a professional angle. For example, based on their daily observations and records of the battlefield, they have already detailed various possible hiding places, enemy positions, and made judgments. They know what the enemy sniper is thinking and how to prevent it, so the sniper is the "special intelligence officer" of the unit he belongs to, and a very professional one.
Sniping at fixed points is a task that snipers must do, and it is also of interest to the world's powers. In World War I, during the trench warfare between the Allies and the Central Powers, both sides used large numbers of skilled marksmen to kill each other's exposed personnel, but they had not yet formed a more professional understanding of sniping, such as who must be killed immediately and who can be ignored for the time being. In their view, anyone who dared to expose themselves was a target for sniping. Sometimes, enemy artillery observers were not killed, and instead, a new recruit was targeted.
However, a well-trained sniper can perform point-clearing tasks very well because they have better equipment and camouflage. They also know a sniper priority sequence. The enemy's sniper is always the first in the priority sequence, and the sniper is always the most feared threat among his peers. Only after solving him can other sniper sequences be executed. The commander is ranked second, of course, this second sequence also has a small ranking, that is, the one who should be sniped is naturally the commander with a higher military rank, and then decreasing in order.
The third priority is the enemy's key combat personnel, such as artillery observers, light and heavy machine gunners, artillerymen, etc. If they can be eliminated to prevent the enemy from exerting their full combat effectiveness, then the purpose is achieved. Of course, these priorities are actually memorized by the sniper, and how to execute them depends on the sniper's own judgment, who usually determines the priority based on the level of threat to our side, with personnel and equipment being equally important.
"In many cases, the situation on the battlefield is often confusing, with no knowledge of people, time, place, or things, nor the development and changes of the situation. To ensure that the situation is favorable to us, hunting and killing key enemy personnel is a crucial move, but due to limited intelligence, task targets can be confusing, so designating a specific area for free hunting becomes an effective combat mode, which is what we call patrol hunting. This mission tests your ability to adapt as a sniper in unfamiliar terrain and weather conditions, how to safely carry out the hunting mission under uncertain circumstances, this is the purpose of your training here."
"Non-kinetic equipment destruction, this may be a relatively new topic. We all know that the target of a sniper's shot can be an enemy, and it can also be the enemy's equipment. The 7.62mm caliber of our sniper rifle has not changed no matter how it changes, the power of the bullet has not changed much, and the accuracy of the shot is getting better and better. As for what can enter the army today, it is nothing more than transportation equipment such as cars."
"Of course, there is already a thing called tanks and armored vehicles in the world today. If in future wars, the enemy uses large numbers of vehicles and armored forces to fight, then our tasks as snipers will also undergo some changes. 12.7mm caliber sniper rifles and new 7.62mm ammunition will be used by us one after another. However, these are not the content that I am going to talk about in this jungle special training school. Today, our task is to get familiar with the new rifle, everyone... stand up!"
Ten minutes later, the sound of gunfire came from the mountain forest, and of course, the familiar sound of shooting targets. The sound of gunfire echoed in the mountains, startling a flock of small birds.
