Throughout history, the best marksmen in any military force have
been employed as marksmen or sharpshooters, and equipped with the
best available weapons. The German states made the first serious
use of sharpshooters on the battlefield during the Seven Years’
War in the 18th century. Some of these talented riflemen were then
employed as mercenaries in America, where the tactical use of the
rifle in wooded terrain was valued. By the Revolutionary Wars,
American riflemen were formidable, able to blend into the landscape
and take out targets at long range. Their potential was noted by
the British who began to train rifle units; during the Napoleonic
Wars, the Green Jackets were the elite of the British army. The
mid-19th century saw the development of optical sights, meaning
that the units of sharpshooters raised in the Civil War were even
more lethal. The accuracy of German sniper fire in the trenches in
World War I provoked the British Army to create sniper schools,
manuals, and counter-sniping tactics. However, lessons were not
learned and the outbreak of World War II saw almost all major
powers unprepared for sniping or counter-sniping, meaning that
talented marksmen like Simö Häyhä were able to accrue massive
scores. In this accessible introduction packed with firsthand
accounts, sniping expert Gary Yee explores the history of the
marksman, his weapons and tactics from the flintlock era through to
the present day.
General
Imprint: |
Casemate Publishers
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Series: |
Casemate Short History |
Release date: |
June 2017 |
Authors: |
Gary Yee
|
Dimensions: |
198 x 125 x 11mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
160 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-61200-486-0 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
1-61200-486-5 |
Barcode: |
9781612004860 |
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