Basic Information
The Sniper is a combat role of someone who combines ranged combat with the element of surprise. Ranges from One Hit Kill types, to dedicated Terrain Denial.
A sniper is - or should be - an expert in camouflage, observation and fieldcraft as well as a master of his weapon of choice (normally a bolt action or semi-automatic rifle). Useful personal characteristics include strong self reliance, patience and the ability to kill scientifically and with detatchment.
Other roles for the sniper include reconaissance, close observation and forward control of fire support, all of which use his characteristics and skill set to a similar degree. The role of the sniper in locating and eliminating enemy snipers should also not be overlooked, since in many cases this will prove to be the most effective solution.
Properly employed a sniper can tie down dozens or even hundreds of men and still remove key enemy personnel as required - important targets would include enemy leaders and key specialists (intelligence staff, interpretors, pilots, engineer officers etc.) and, if the sniper is equipped with an anti-material rifle key pieces of equipment such as signals nodes, radars and landed aircraft can also be neutralised.
In many cases snipers work in pairs with one as the "shooter" and the second as a "spotter", locating targets and assessing effect of fire with a high specification viewing device.
This tends to overlap with various other combat roles and tropes:
- The Sniper is similar to The Bushwacker, but lacks the speed, skill or stealth to escape a duel.
- Alternately, they may be ridiculously good at stealth, so rely on it over all other tactics. Still just a long-range version of the Bushwhacker or The Ranger.
- With a big enough weapon it's Glass Cannon or The Nuker, depending on how resilient the sniper is.
- If you're going for crippling wounds, pinning them down or disrupting enemy morale, it's a little like The Mezzer or The Trapper.
- Ace Pilots are often Snipers, because they can fire a single (possibly computer-assisted or heat-seeking) shot, then take off over the horizon.
Sources
FM23-10 - US Army Manual on Sniper Training
FMFM 1-3B - US Marine Manual on Sniper Training
Enemy at the Gates a semi-historical portrayal of one of the greater sniper duels in history.
The Story of Simo Hayha … probably one of the world's best snipers.
Game and Story Use
- One well-hidden and extremely patient sniper can hold down a much larger unit for hours.
- Conversely, hunting down a sniper could well be a task for a small unit of disposable misfits … or PCs as they are known outside O-groups.
