From the American War of Independence to Second World War, the
history of the military combat marksman is one of indifference and cost cutting.
Despite the proven effectiveness of the rifleman in battle, for most of the 20th
Century snipers were regarded as little more than paid assassins. It was not
until the Vietnam War that the undeniable effectiveness of the sniper was fully
appreciated by the military, and with the advent of the 21st Century, the sniper
has become one of the most vital battlefield specialists. Illustrated throughout
with colour and black and white photographs, this chronological study of snipers
details their evolution, training, weaponry and tactics. It also includes
material from the author’s first hand interviews with the veteran snipers whose
skills and extraordinary courage have made them the most greatly feared
specialists in warfare.
Contents
The
sniper in perspective * The rifleman emerges 1500-1854 * American Civil War and
European Wars 1854-1914 * World War One, the watershed, 1914-1916 * World War
One, the fight back 1916-1930 * Russian sniping 1926-1945 * Germany and the war in
Russia. 1941-1945 * The War against
Japan 1941-1945 * The War in
Western Europe 1940-1945 * Limited Wars, 1945-1985 * Vietnam, America's nemesis * Into the 21st
Century
