ENGAGE TARGETS AT ANGLES WITH SNIPER RIFLES SGT HALL

Purpose To receive all of the information needed to make an angled shot in a mountainous environment. We will discuss methods fro determining distance for angle shooting, affects of elevation, and affects of wind in a three dimensional mountainous environment.

Terminal Learning Objective Given a sniper rifle, observer, T/E, unknown distance range and targets in a mountainous environment, with the aid of reference, engage targets at angles with sniper rifles in accordance with MCWP 3-15 Scout Sniping

Enabling Learning Objectives

Method/Media This class will be presented by Power Point and demonstration, with the aid of a handout. You will practice what you have learned here at Rocket Mountain Live Fire Range.

Evaluation You will be tested by live fire qualification, with a passing score of 70%, your last day here at Rocket Mountain.

METHODS OF DETERMINING DISTANCE FOR ANGLE SHOOTING

Range determination What are some of the methods commonly used for range estimation? mil relation formula partner averaging and “quirks” laser range finder MAP

Range determination (cont) Actual distance vs. flat distance With any shot made at an angle, uphill or downhill, the strike of the round will be high on or off of the target. gravity only affects the flat distance wind affects the actual distance.

Obtaining flat ground distance Most readily available way to find flat ground is map. If you have the actual distance calculated with mil relation formula, or laser range finder, you can obtain flat distance using angles and cosines.

Angles and cosines First step to get the cosine is to obtain the angle to our target, common angle finding devices are as follows. Clinometers: Silva Ranger Compass, Slope Doper, Mil Dot Master, ACI M2 Standard map protractor Half moon protractor

Angles and cosines (cont) Scope setting during measurement. Placement of devices while measuring. Pros and cons of each device? Once you have obtained the angle you must convert into cosine.

Cosine formula The cosine formula converts the actual distance into flat distance. This formula works for all calibers and velocities of weapons the actual range x cosine = flat distance Example: 366 yards at a 34 degree angle the cosine for 34 degrees is .82 366 yards x .82 = 300 yards

Mil relation and angular distortion Inaccuracies of mil relation Past 700 yards Using multiple means of estimation…..MAP, partner averaging, who is better at milling targets? Angular distortion...?

Mil relation and angular distortion When taking a vertical mil reading at an elevated angle the target from head to toe will optically shrink in size. As a result the mil reading will be smaller, over estimating your range to target.

Mil relation and angular distortion Angular distortion (cont) Compensation The formula for a vertical mil reading: Vert. mil reading range x cosine x cosine= Flat ground distance Example: Estimated range of 395 yards using vert. mil reading, at a 29 degree angle. (The cosine for 29 degrees is.87)

Mil relation and angular distortion Example (cont) 395 x .87= 343 yards 343 x .87= 299 yards 395 x .87x .87= 299 yards Windage formulas when applied with angular distortion, will be applied to the value given when timing the cosine once. (value in example, 343 yards)

Pythagorean theorem A² + B² = C² This formula can be used when the sniper knows 2 distances of “the triangle” and needs to find the third.

Find the square root of 90,321= B Flat distance or B = 300.5 yards Pythagorean theorem The formula is: A² + B² = C² Since C is already known, we must find the value of B. The formula to find B value is: C²- A²= B² 361²-200²=B² ((361x361)-(200x200))=(BxB) (130,321-40,000)=90,321 Find the square root of 90,321= B Flat distance or B = 300.5 yards

Pythagorean theorem C²- A²= B² 680²-331²=B² Sample exercise (cont) C²- A²= B² 680²-331²=B² ((680x680)-(331x331))=(BxB) (462,400-109,561)=352,839 Find the square root of 352,839= B Flat distance or B = 594 yards

Field expedient method Given a pencil, paper, protractor, and actual range, you can utilize the field expedient method to obtain flat ground range. First step is to find actual range with any estimation technique. Second step is to obtain angle to target.

Field expedient method Questions ???

AFFECTS OF ELEVATION

Altitude Air is less dense, produces less drag, giving you higher impact on target. Chart on following slide contains change of impact for AA11 in an M-40A3.

Range (yards) 2,500 (feet) 5,000 (feet) 10,000 (feet) 100 .05 .08 .13 200 .1 .2 .34 300 .4 .6 400 .5 .9 500 1.4 600 1.0 1.8 700 1.6 2.4 800 1.3 1.9 3.4 900 2.8 4.8 1000 3.7 6.0

Altitude Other affects Downhill gravity “assist” Uphill gravity “resistance” Increased temperature affect

AFFECTS OF WIND IN A THREE DIMENSIONAL MOUNTAINOUS ENVIRONMENT

Mirage on a concave slope Reading mirage between you and the target on a concave slope is only possible at the target. This is due to the excess ground surface distance from the path of the projectile.

Lack of vegetation Higher alpine areas and high desert regions Blowing snow, sand, shuffling of feet Impacts of ordnance Blowing garbage

Swirl effect Two wind systems colliding One wind system hitting terrain feature Wait for wind to die Quick corrections

Orographic uplift wind hitting slope, picking up speed as it travels up slope

Orographic uplift (cont) Wind on top of hills stronger Snipers usually in elevated positions Telegraphing

Questions? Determining distance Affects of elevation Affects of wind in a three dimensional mountainous environment