Army Snipers in Afghanistan get New M-110 SASS

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Snipers in Afghanistan Get New Rifle

Army News Service | Matthew Leary | April 23, 2007

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan (Army News Service, April 23, 2007) - Soldiers from Task Force Fury are the first in a combat zone to receive a new sniper rifle, the XM110 semi-automatic sniper system.

The new rifle has several new features, the most prominent being an improved rate of fire.

"It's semi-automatic, so it allows for rapid re-engagement of targets," said Staff Sgt. Jason R. Terry, a sniper instructor with the U.S. Army Sniper School.

Older rifles such as the M24 Sniper Weapon System are bolt-action weapons that require the user to manually feed another round into the chamber after each shot. The automatic firing capabilities of the SASS will decrease lag time in between shots, Staff Sgt. Terry said.

A metal tube that fits over the barrel of the rifle also significantly reduces the signature blast and eliminates the small cloud of dust that rises off the ground from the gases emitted through the barrel.

This advancement will make locating snipers in the field, even after they have fired a shot, difficult for enemy forces, said Staff Sgt. Terry.

The new weapons came with three days of training, both in the classroom and on the range, by Staff Sgt. Terry and other experts.

"We learned to maintain and operate the weapon, what we can fix ourselves and what we can't," said Pfc. Joel D. Dulashanti, a sniper with the 82nd Airborne Division's Troop C, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team.

Mr. Kyle P. Gleason, an equipment specialist with Tank Automotive and Armorist Command, handled the maintenance portion of the class.

"I teach them the basics," he said. "Here's your rifle, here's what it can do and here's how you take care of it."

Mr. Gleason taught Soldier how to determine the level of maintenance the weapon needs and who is capable of providing it. He also cautioned Soldiers about particularly fragile parts of the weapon, which only manufacturers can repair.

Soldiers appreciated the hands-on training, which they said helped them better understand their new equipment.

"I think it's a pretty simple gun to maintain and operate," said Spc. Aaron J. Fillmore, an infantryman with Troop C, 4-73rd Cav. "It was good to get the familiarization with the weapon."

On a diferent forum I've read that the rifle isn't all that "cool".
 

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They shouldn't use the term 'Sniper' when refering to this weapon, this is a marksman weapon, not a snipers!

:2c:
 
They shouldn't use the term 'Sniper' when refering to this weapon, this is a marksman weapon, not a snipers!

:2c:

It could be emloyed within a sniper team or Det. We have had it so one was on a 338, one on a Tac .50 and then one with an AR 10. Now this could be debated, one could have a C8/C7 203 combo or a minimi.
 
Within a sniper team/det sure, but not as a sniper primary weapon.
 
Within a sniper team/det sure, but not as a sniper primary weapon.

Right.... But it would have uses, remember I come from a small, highly over extended army. So my views are a bit different. For urban counter sniping, it could be used. It could be great for a DM, but they aren't trained in defensive sniping and counter sniping like actual snipers are. And in an urban enviroment, you may want a smaller caliber with a higher rate of fire.
 
Right.... But it would have uses, remember I come from a small, highly over extended army. So my views are a bit different.

Yeah sorry I forgot, coming from a New Zealand Army background with unlimited resources I sometimes forget about the wee kids on the block! :uhh: LMAO!


For urban counter sniping, it could be used. It could be great for a DM, but they aren't trained in defensive sniping and counter sniping like actual snipers are. And in an urban environment, you may want a smaller caliber with a higher rate of fire.

I get you point I really do, but this is a 7.62mm weapon, we established many many years ago that a semi auto is no good in a sniper role, DM, great personally I think every section/squad should have a 7.62mm DM :2c: this is apparently meant to replace the M24 & M21 big mistake.

Bring it on and employ to section/squad or platoon level but keep it away from a sniping role.

Its an easy/lazy way to get sharp shooters online with out the skill and effort of training sniper, experience has shown this is a recipe for disaster.
 
Yeah sorry I forgot, coming from a New Zealand Army background with unlimited resources I sometimes forget about the wee kids on the block! :uhh: LMAO!
LOL!!



I get you point I really do, but this is a 7.62mm weapon, we established many many years ago that a semi auto is no good in a sniper role, DM, great personally I think every section/squad should have a 7.62mm DM :2c: this is apparently meant to replace the M24 & M21 big mistake.

Bring it on and employ to section/squad or platoon level but keep it away from a sniping role.

Its an easy/lazy way to get sharp shooters online with out the skill and effort of training sniper, experience has shown this is a recipe for disaster.


Well they are all the same caliber at that level. At the most it will be new parts. As we stated before as long as it is not the primary weapon of a SNiper Det.
The difference is, a Sniper can do a lot more with a semi auto 7.62 x 51mm rifle then a DM can.
But we do need both, and every section should have a DM in it.
 
From what I hear the SASS is not meant to replace the SWS, its meant to be a addition to their weaponry. Still, I've read (on a different forum) that its not doing so good.
 
Probably, but he cant do as much as he can with a bolt action, AS A SNIPER!

Well,
I was talking to a guy from the 75th, who is in charge of their sniper program. The reason semi auto is doing so well is that, target exposure is so quick in Iraq. You are shooting insurgents that are dodging in and out of ally ways. The last thing you want, when engaging a group of fleeting targets is to spend time working a bolt.
In an Urban enviroment, .308 (7.62 x 51) is a great round, especially if you can deliver accurate and rapid fire up to 800meters. In an urban enviroment it really turns you into a force multiplyer, which is one of the most important roles of the sniper.
 
All sniper teams must have the platform to allow them to fight back to their patrol base, the SASS allows that, in a caliber better than the standard M4 5.56.

5th SFG SOTIC has them already form what SFC T.B. tells me. I havent got my hands on one, but the next time they take a class out to the test range, I am gonna lay my greasy dick skinners on one and shoot something... /drool/
 
Well,
I was talking to a guy from the 75th, who is in charge of their sniper program. The reason semi auto is doing so well is that, target exposure is so quick in Iraq. You are shooting insurgents that are dodging in and out of ally ways. The last thing you want, when engaging a group of fleeting targets is to spend time working a bolt.
In an Urban enviroment, .308 (7.62 x 51) is a great round, especially if you can deliver accurate and rapid fire up to 800meters. In an urban enviroment it really turns you into a force multiplyer, which is one of the most important roles of the sniper.

or a FLEET of GROUPING targets:huh?::huh?:
 
Well,
I was talking to a guy from the 75th, who is in charge of their sniper program. The reason semi auto is doing so well is that, target exposure is so quick in Iraq. You are shooting insurgents that are dodging in and out of ally ways. The last thing you want, when engaging a group of fleeting targets is to spend time working a bolt.
In an Urban enviroment, .308 (7.62 x 51) is a great round, especially if you can deliver accurate and rapid fire up to 800meters. In an urban enviroment it really turns you into a force multiplyer, which is one of the most important roles of the sniper.

Again we agree except on one vital point, that is not a snipers job, that is the job of a DM.
For a DM this (like the M14 varients) is a great rifle.

A snipers role has never been to engage groups/multiple targets etc...

His role is to observe/report and take out specific high quality targets.
 
Again we agree except on one vital point, that is not a snipers job, that is the job of a DM.
For a DM this (like the M14 varients) is a great rifle.

A snipers role has never been to engage groups/multiple targets etc...

His role is to observe/report and take out specific high quality targets.

In a coventional open plains scenario yes, Even though we practice priority of tgts, so that a sniper det can make an enemy unit ineffective.
However, thats what this dude from the 75th was telling us. Roles are changing. For example, baiting targets... Drop a guy with a weapon, and wait for others to try and pick it up. That is not the job of a DM, but of a sniper.
A DM is a section/platoon asset. A sniper works at battalion level, which means that they can act independantly, and not under control of a section commander/platoon commander.
In complex terrain, firing at multi storey buildings while covering the advance of a battle group, I believe that there is a need of a short range, semi auto rifle.
Again, this is my opinion.
When firing at a fleet of grouping targets, it's best to use a minigun;)
 
I asked a similar question to the NCOIC of the 5th SOTIC.. 'Bull' P.

Said if a sniper picks up an old kentucky flintlock, then that weapon essentially becomes an improvised sniper weapon platform. He also said the role of the typical 'sniper' has evolved.. It used to be almost 100% sneak peak report, and possibly shoot one bad guy.. Now they are employed mostly as often to shoot multi targets as anything...

Things, they are a changin....
 
Times change and either you change with it or go the way of the dinosaurs.

The traditional tasks of the sniper were observation and precision long range fires on selected targets in that order.

After the events of the last few years a few enlightened operators have made it into positions of influence in various militarys not to mention the actual utility of snipers vs their perceived use based on conjecture and outdated experience has been evidenced beyond debate.

One of the major lessons learned to come out of OIF in the sniping fraternity is that in an MOUT environment the semi auto SR fufills a role for urban sniping that the bolt action SR cannot handle with its limited mag capacity, slower reloads, and slower follow up shots.

This is what drove the SASS program.

Unfortunately the M110 was never intended to replace the M24 but instead suppliment it along with the M107.

All three platforms have unique characteristics that make them ideal for specific roles. No single weapon can adequately do the job of the others.

But it seems a faction has managed to push their agenda which is to replace the M24 with the M110. The M110 and MK11 have specific roles in the Sniper community, ie, MOUT ops with multiple targets out to 600 meters. They're not effective past 600m and when they warm up the group expands exponentially. M110 suggested ROF is 4rpm. After that it MPI blows out.

The new LWRC .308 SABR might be a huge improvement if it performs as well as the PR states.
 
Just to confirm, the SR is in addition to the M24. No one in their right mind would replace it with the SR.
 
As an addition to the current weapons it is a great idea IMO.

As long as sanity prevails and people in charge dont try to do what the always try and that is to have a "one rifle that does all" in the sniper role. :2c:
 
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