The Sniper
in
Urban Areas
RIGHT: A British Army Chieftain tank of the Berlin Brigade in the British Army urban camouflage scheme used during the eighties in the Cold War. The author was so impressed with this design and its ability to conceal large armor he used it as a basis, along with others, as a camouflage pattern to conceal men.
movements. With skilled planning and use of defense stores such as barbed wire and mines, and deliberate destruction of bridges and buildings, the snipers can direct an unsuspecting enemy into a carefully planned killing area, and leave an obvious escape option that leads them into the next killing area, and so on.
BELOW: The author’s urban camouflage suit in the design stage. It is somewhat curious that after shelving the idea the British Army then issued a remarkably similar oversmock design to snipers for use in the urban scenario.
Concealment. The urban environment offers a multitude of concealment choices for the sniper, and with careful reconnaissance he can make it virtually impossible for the enemy to locate him. Through making good use of adjoining buildings, roof spaces, alleyways, and gardens the sniper can move very quickly around his area of operations, enabling him to hit the enemy from several different angles. Such well directed shots from different directions increase the mental pressure on the enemy troops, reduce their morale and their willingness to fight, and, in the ultimate, may even result in a breakdown in command and control. 121