MILITARY SKILLS

Military Skills

Military Skills

Introduction

The figure of the sniper goes back several centuries, and in 1867 during the First Anglo-Afghan war Afghan accurate snipers were able to stop the advance of the British columns. Half a century later, during the First World War, was shown the effectiveness of snipers in the war of fixed positions, hidden in no man's land, they were shooting at any enemy that let see from his trench, thus undermining the morale of an enemy who did not feel safe either in their same positions. However, the snipers were not yet part of the military of many of hosts present in the race, also had not been trained as such and sometimes used as a weapon of precision hunting rifles equipped with a visor. It was in the Second World War where specialization of rifles and a further refinement of the technique resulted in a large spread and development of the sharpshooters. Therefore, all the issues related to snipers will be discussed in detail.

Discussion

The military fighters were already present in all armies and fronts, supporting with its precise and accurate fire at other infantry units, but was in some battles where his presence was highlighted, as Dieppe, Monte Cassino, Stalingrad, Arnhem, Berlin, or Kwajalein Atoll (Japan). It was certainly in the defense of Stalingrad the Russian city where snipers played a key role in the outcome of the battle. Russian shooters were hidden among the ruins caused by the heavy bombing of the Luftwaffe and artillery fired at all enemy soldier who was not sheltered, as demonstrated by the testimony of a German officer: "Our battalion has been attacked four times, and people have detained four. Snipers kill anyone who ventures without caution and not take cover. During the Battle of Stalingrad many Russian snipers were popular, as is the case of Vasily Ivanovich Zaitsev, a shepherd from the Urals that just ten days after entering combat was over more than 40 Germans, up to his incredible account of 149 enemies killed. Vassili was not the best as shooters Soviet snipers were others who got higher figures, such as white or Ilin Zikan with 185 to 224. In addition to the battle of Stalingrad were other actions where the snipers were involved, Dieppe is the case in which German shooters infused chaos on the coast to take as targets to bomb and radio operators, thereby preventing the progress of tanks through the beaches strewn with obstacles and mines, and also Monte Casino, where a few German snipers managed to stop the advance of troops New Zealander, or the Kwajalein Atoll in the Japanese snipers arrested a U.S. company to that this was not supported by tanks and artillery (Davies, 2004, 65).

Snipers are prepared and used mainly by various military units; the sniper has a key role in the demoralization and incapacitation of enemy personnel. There are many publications on the history of the sniper's movements and their use in various military ...