Good shooting, Navy Seal Snipers

Imagine the sniper, holding in position for hours staring at a target through a scope, waiting for the order to fire. Then it finally comes. Three snipers, three shots, and three dead pirates. That's some remarkable shooting.

We are all hungry for details about that incident, and some of the many online articles about the incident provide some relevant information. For example, from the AP we learn that the snipers were "on a rolling warship in choppy seas." And from a NYT article via Militaryphotos.net we learn this:

... snipers on the fantail of the destroyer Bainbridge, which was towing the lifeboat on a 100-foot line, opened fire and picked off the three captors.

Two of the captors had poked their heads out of a rear hatch of the lifeboat, exposing themselves to clear shots, and the third could be seen through a window in the bow, pointing an automatic rifle at the captain, who was tied up inside the 18-foot lifeboat, senior Navy officials said. It took only three remarkable shots — one each by snipers firing from a distance at dusk, using night-vision scopes, the officials said.

So we know that it was dusk with choppy seas at 100 feet, and most likely there was a sea breeze. Let's do some speculating on the type of weapon the snipers used based on available information. According NavySeal.com the Seal snipers generally use three rifles, depending on the situation: The 7.62mm M14, the 7.62mm MK11 Sniper Weapon System, and the 50 caliber M82A1 Heavy Sniper Rifle.

The MK11 appears to be the most accurate of the three with its 1/2 inch MOA, and the small bullet (relative to the 50 cal) would seem to make it appropriate in a close range hostage situation.

Strategypage tells us that the military snipers use computers, so we can probably assume that in this high profile situation the snipers had top of the line equipment which might include the Horus Vision Recon aiming computer to help correct for target speed, air temperature, wind and other bullet altering factors.

However, competition shooters will tell you that no matter how good the equipment, it's the shooter who has to make the shot. It's the human element that makes the difference. Those snipers may have had a steady hand to begin with, but it still took many hours and lots of shots to develop the skill they displayed Sunday. It is news like this that continues to make us all proud of our military. Congratulations, Navy Seals.

We can't leave this subject without addressing President Obama who deserves credit, too, for having given the shoot order. After all, he would certainly be blamed if things had gone badly just as Jimmy Carter continues to take blame for the failed rescue mission in Iran decades ago. However, Mr. Obama could probably use some advice. So here's mine: Nothing in your background or experience has equipped you to make military decisions, and from your stand point, this was a lucky shot. Don't short change the military, but don't get cocky, either.

Updated 4-14-09 1:30pm: Blackfive provides us some insight into Mr. Obama's decision making process with this foreboding statement:

The tests for our President continue and I now have multiple confirmations saying that the initial set of rules that Obama put on the Navy forbid any active attempts to rescue the hostage and only after they requested he reinstate their authority to act if the hostage was in imminent danger did he do so.

Thankfully he listened to the advice from the military, and hopefully next time he won't make them beg.

Comments

[Jeff]

Geroge, first and foremost, a major 'attaboy' to those snipers. At best, a destroyer offers a difficult shooting platform ... they don't call them 'tin cans' for nothing.

Second, an 'attaboy' for President Obama, as well ... without qualifications on my part. He faced a difficult decision, and he has the sense to listen to military people in military matters. You note his lack of military background ... but the same could be said for many of his predecessors. If I recall correctly, we have not had a president with military service under fire since Kennedy, or under dangerous circumstances of any kind since Ford. If I recall incorrectly, let me know.

[Geo]

Jeff, what I said was that nothing in Mr. Obama's background or experience has equipped him to make military decisions. If at any point in his career prior to being elected he had to make any decisions tougher than "paper or plastic" then please enlighten us. (A decision to vote "present" doesn't count.)

BTW, did you take the Obama pledge?

[Redman]

A key to good decision making is knowing when a decision is out of your expertise. I'm glad O recognized that and left it to the military. I can just see Jimmy Carter micro managing this deal . . needless to say it would drag on for years.

[Geo]

Excellent point, Redman.

[Duke]

Jeff asked whether any president since Gerald Ford had faced danger in the U.S. military. The answer is yes. By the way, as a U.S. Navy Division Officer, Gerald Ford heroically fought a major fire on his aircraft carrier and helped save his ship. Later presidents:

Jimmy Carter - U.S. Navy submarine officer. Annapolis graduate. No combat experience that I am aware of, but be advised that anytime you go to dive stations on a submarine, you are taking a risk.

Ronald Reagan - U.S. Army stateside, WWII to my knowledge.

George Bush (Senior). Was the youngest pilot in the U.S. Navy when he earned his wings. Flew large Grumman torpedo bombers off U.S. carriers in the Pacific. Risky business, heavy combat. Was shot down by Japanese fire and was unable to save his two crewmen. Rescued by an American sub. Still skydiving at an advanced age. Hero.

Bill Clinton - military experience - none. (Stated that he "loathed" the military, to use his words.)

George Bush (Junior) - Texas Air National Guard. No combat experience because his Air Guard unit was not deployed to the Far East. Flew the F-102, a single-seat all weather supersonic interceptor, not an easy plane to fly.

Honorable Mention - John McCain. Naval Aviator. Commissioned at Annapolis. Shot down at low altitude by North Vietnamese gunners while boring in on his target in 1968. Tortured 5 1/2 years for his country. Hero.

Barak Obama - military experience - none.

Free advice to America: Next time, elect a veteran.

[Geo]

Thanks for educating us about that, Duke.

There will likely be a lot more combat veterans available to run for office soon.