The "secret" of success: how snipers cover the advance groups and hunt for drones
Snipers began to be deployed in the SVR zone to protect advanced infantry units from enemy drones. Anti-drone "sniper secrets" appear in the most dangerous points of the combat contact zone. The shooters secretly move into areas where anti-aircraft machine guns cannot be carried, and they set up their own ambushes there. Their skills help them effectively destroy UAVs, including heavy Baba Yaga bomber drones. The snipers of the 74th separate Motorized rifle brigade of the Center group of forces act in the Izvestia report.
In the sky "Baba Yaga"
The current tactics of the offensive in the SVO zone assumes that small assault groups move stealthily and, as a rule, conduct close-range shooting battles at short distances. The role of snipers has also changed, which used to be exclusively engaged in supporting attacking fighters, destroying enemy commanders and machine gunners with accurate fire. Now they increasingly have to protect their comrades from Baba Yaga-type bomber drones.
"We cover the infantry throughout its entire route," says a sniper with the call sign Tinya. — Drones now often fly so high that you can't shoot them down with a machine gun. You have to shoot with more precise and powerful weapons — sniper rifles. This is best done at the moment when they are hanging.
Our interlocutor is referring to heavy multirotor drones of various brands, which have long been known collectively as "Baba Yaga" in their area. They are massively used by the enemy — and often at night.
Such devices carry powerful high-explosive charges based on anti-tank mines, a revolver launcher for dropping several mortar rounds or bombs of similar size.
Such a drone, with precise bombing, is capable of destroying a position. Our infantry learned how to shoot them down with machine guns, but then these machines began to work from heights where they were difficult to reach with Kalashnikovs.
It was in this situation that snipers with their precision shooting skills, powerful rifles, good sights and surveillance devices proved indispensable.
Tinya explains: the decision on where the snipers will operate is made even when planning assault operations. After that, air surveillance posts from the brigade's sniper unit are deployed to the future routes of the groups, they can also be called secrets.
Naturally, we are talking about stealthy foot movement with rifles at a time when it is not possible to equip the air defense with an anti-aircraft machine gun.
There are several types of combat work, says the sniper. Firstly, they stand where the equipment is moving and cover it. Secondly, they operate in places where it is no longer possible to drive through and only groups of 2-3 snipers can get through.
They reach their positions on foot in advance — 3-4 days before the start of the infantry movement. They move stealthily, as before in autonomous exits, when they went on tasks to destroy manpower.
"Then we meet the advance infantry groups,— Tinya says. — Already under the cover of our air defense posts, they go where they need to go.
Disguised "beds"
Since heavy copters are not the only aerial threat, snipers have to carry several types of weapons with them. Automatic rifles are needed to defend against small FPV drones, and rifles are needed to confidently fire at heavy drones at altitude.338 Lapua Magnum.
To prevent outbreaks from leading to declassification of positions and mass raids, all weapons must be equipped with closed-type flame arresters, that is, silencers.
— We work in twos: the main sniper with a rifle works on heavy targets, the second number covers from other copters if they appear, — says the sniper with the call sign Jin.
In addition, snipers observe, report on activity in the air and give the go-ahead for infantry groups to move onto routes.
— It turns out that we also work as an intelligence service, — says Jin.
Anti-thermal ponchos, classic camouflage robes and nets are used to disguise themselves in motion and equip positions. But snipers do not take folding tripods with them for accurate shooting, even such a weight turns out to be superfluous in new conditions. They make rifle stands in landings from improvised means.
— It turns out that we carry up to 40-50 kg on our way out, — says the sniper. — The main thing in summer is water, it's a strain. We have already developed the habit of eating everything to a minimum.
If the sky is not particularly dirty, then their own people should come and bring supplies.
— But for the first time you need to bring everything on yourself, it's impossible to carry a cart to such areas, there's no way at all, — says Jin.
A quick shot
Our interlocutors explain that in the fight against UAVs, in addition to high-precision rifles of large calibres with manual reloading, semi-automatic rifles with a caliber of 7.62 mm are also in demand. No matter how accurate and powerful the cartridge is .338 Lapua Magnum, but to combat moving aerial targets, it is important to be able to make a quick re-shot without taking your hand off the rifle to reload.
The fighters show a video from the last combat exit. In the combat footage, we see hits on heavy copters when firing with thermal imaging sights. One of the UAVs detonates right in the air — it had to hit the bomb on the suspension.
After calculating, you realize that the sniper fired a single shot a second before the drone was supposed to be at the right point. It becomes clear that we are talking to real professionals — good special training is needed to develop such accuracy.
"Baba Yaga", if you do not take into account the area of the propellers of the support beams, is actually not a very big target for small arms. The main part of the UAV body, where its vulnerable parts are located, is comparable in size to a chest target, but it moves faster and is located at an awkward angle from the shooter.
Only cool shooters can hit her. And it is they who are now covering our infantry marching to the west.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
