Sniper Shot Placement
constructed to withstand vast pressures associated with deep water, and as such do not readily spring to mind as a sniper target. However, the submarine has many external areas that contain vital equipment and that are vulnerable to small arms ammunition. On modern submarines, recessed or raised sections along the side and on the bow of the submarine are normally passive sonar arrays that allow the sub to silently search the oceans for enemy submarines and ships. These systems are electronic and are therefore easily damaged by high-speed ammunition impact. Some of the systems are mounted on retractable masts that rise from the bow and stern decking and resemble thick posts. The submarine’s sail or conning tower is a pressurized inner structure contained in a thin outer structure and so offers no protection for crew members who are targeted by the sniper as the sub transits in or out of harbor. Also located in the sail are mastmounted sensors and optics. The periscope, both search and targeting radar, and other electronic sensors are all located in the sail, and therefore vulnerable to rifle fire. In addition, along the stern sides of the submarine, or mounted on the rudder, is tubing that houses towed array sonar for locating and decoying enemy warships and submarines; so to lose this through damage would reduce the submarine’s ability to deploy. Civilian environment targets
The increasing incidence of global terrorism has seen a rise of law enforcement sniper teams into a more prominent position. They have the optics to identify a suspect or target point, and the long-range ability to remain totally undetected by the suspect so that they
can choose the moment of initiation without any warning to the suspect, and therefore perhaps prevent the firing of a weapon, detonation of a bomb or triggering of any other threat to the surrounding general public. To enable them to respond to any given threat or situation with the correct level of firepower there is a requirement for police sniper teams to have a selection of semi-automatic and bolt-action sniper rifles in various calibers at their disposal. These should include 5.56mm (.223caliber), 7.62mm (.308-caliber), .338 Super Magnum, and .50-caliber weapons since there are situations that require the use of all of these types. Without them the snipers will find themselves making do with either over-powered or under-powered rifles, with the risk of injury to hostages or the general public, and possible consequential criminal proceedings against them. Hostage situations
Police officers all over the world have to deal with hostage situations on an almost daily basis. This does not mean that terrorists take hostages daily, but that the police sniper is often called to a drugs- or alcohol-related domestic situation where one party has decided to take another hostage and threaten them with a weapon. These situations are normally ended by negotiation and nobody gets injured, but during all negotiations there is a sniper team positioned to provide real time intelligence and if necessary take the shot that will bring the incident to a close if innocent life is threatened. Such incidents can take place in a built-up community where the distance to 93