British sniper in Afghanistan kills six Taliban with one bullet

[mystery-ak]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/10735666/British-sniper-in-Afghanistan-kills-six-Taliban-with-one-bullet.html

British sniper in Afghanistan kills six Taliban with one bullet
Lance Corporal in the Coldstream Guards hit trigger switch of suicide bomber whose device then exploded, Telegraph learns



he sniper incident is one of a dwindling number of gun battles between British forces and the insurgents Photo: Heathcliff O'Malley

By Holly Watt, Sterga 2, Helmand province, Afghanistan

10:15PM BST 31 Mar 2014
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A British sniper in Afghanistan killed six insurgents with a single bullet after hitting the trigger switch of a suicide bomber whose device then exploded, The Telegraph has learnt.

The 20-year-old marksman, a Lance Corporal in the Coldstream Guards, hit his target from 930 yards (850 metres) away, killing the suicide bomber and five others around him caught in the blast.

The incident in Kakaran in southern Afghanistan happened in December but has only now been disclosed as Britain moves towards the withdrawal of all combat soldiers by the end of the year.

Lt Col Richard Slack, commanding officer of 9/12 Royal Lancers, said the unnamed sharpshooter prevented a major attack by the Taliban, as a second suicide vest packed with 20kg (44lbs) of explosives was found nearby.

The same sniper, with his first shot on the tour of duty, killed a Taliban machine-gunner from 1,465 yards (1,340m).


Several hundred British and Afghan soldiers were carrying out an operation in December when they were engaged in a gun battle with 15 to 20 insurgents.



“The guy was wearing a vest. He was identified by the sniper moving down a tree line and coming up over a ditch,” said Lt Col Slack. “He had a shawl on. It rose up and the sniper saw he had a machine gun.

“They were in contact and he was moving to a firing position. The sniper engaged him and the guy exploded. There was a pause on the radio and the sniper said, 'I think I’ve just shot a suicide bomber’. The rest of them were killed in the blast.”

It is understood the L/Cpl was using an L115A3 gun, the Army’s most powerful sniper weapon.

The armed forces are gradually decreasing their presence in Helmand province, handing over security of the country to the Afghan armed forces.

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[Atomic Cow]

Bonus points and double perks for the multi-kill.

[Oceander]

“They were in contact and he was moving to a firing position. The sniper engaged him and the guy exploded. There was a pause on the radio and the sniper said, 'I think I’ve just shot a suicide bomber’. The rest of them were killed in the blast.”

[rustynail]

Has he been brought up on-charges yet? That must be against the ROE.

[Chieftain]

Actually, a .338 Lapua might just do 8 Jihadis if you lined them up nut-to-butt and shot 'em front-to-back......

Sounds like a good Mythbusters challenge.........

 

[Atomic Cow]

I'm amazed at how much .338 Lapua costs.  I was at a gun store in Austin a couple of weeks ago and one box of 20 cost $130.

But to truly reach out and touch someone, .338 or .50 is the only real choice.

[EC]

Has he been brought up on-charges yet? That must be against the ROE.

Your RoE, yes. Ours, no. We've had too much crap in the shit holes to piss about with the idea of fair play.

Nice shot.

[SouthTexas]

Actually, a .338 Lapua might just do 8 Jihadis if you lined them up nut-to-butt and shot 'em front-to-back......

Sounds like a good Mythbusters challenge.........

 

I like it!

Damn good shot.