Snipers at War: An Equipment and Operations History

Snipers at War is a detailed history and analysis of the equipment, tactics, and personalities of the “sniping world,” from the pursuit of accuracy to the latest electronic aids to observation and ranging.

The role of the sniper was largely ignored until the Winter War of 1939¬–40 between Finland and the Soviet Union. Finnish marksman Simo Häyhä showed what could be achieved by specialist marksmen—amassing 505 kills in less than a hundred days, a lesson learned by the Red Army at great cost.

After 1945, the sniper’s reputation declined. However, the Vietnam War, seemingly unending Middle Eastern conflict, internal strife in Sri Lanka, and ever-present urban threats have given new impetus not only to sniping but also to the development of new and more effective weaponry.