Not going to lie. This thread is turning me on a little bit.
Enjoy......
From a post on OAMAAM.
Things have moved on and continue to develop. The deployment of snipers is covered at staff college (CO's course) = not just for deployment as a force multiplier weapon/obs/surveillance capability - but also for ISTAR integration. See below:
RM sniper course are 13 weeks – was 5 weeks (my course) having recently been increased from 9 weeks - this is after attending a 1 week selection – additional focus on marksmanship
Reconnaissance Troop in 40 & 45 (includes a sniper section)
42 commando now the home of the Maritime Sniper Team
Juliet Company 42 Commando fields specialised Maritime Sniper Teams (MST). These 2-man teams deploy on Lynx and Merlin helicopters that are operating from Royal Navy vessels on maritime security and counter narcotics operations.
Note: MSTs were previously deployed by S Squadron 43 Commando. S Squadron was moved into Juliet Company 42 Commando in 2017 when 42 Commando re-roled as a Maritime Operations Commando.
The role of an MST is to provide overwatch for Royal Marines / Royal Navy boarding teams. When supporting Fleet Standby Rifle Troop (FSRT) missions, a single MST is deployed. Operations by the Fleet Contingency Troop (FCT) - which may involve opposed boardings with hostages onboard - are usually supported by 2 teams in 2 helicopters.
Maritime Sniper Team - Weapons
The MST have 3 different weapon systems available to them.
Depending on the mission, they may use a designated marksman rifle (DMR). This is a semi-automatic, scoped rifle, chambered in 7.62mm x 51mm NATO. MSTs have used variants of the Heckler and Koch G3 rifle in this role, and more recently, the L129A1 Sharpshooter rifle.
If more firepower is needed, the MST sniper can turn to the L121A1 anti-material rifle. This bolt-action weapon fires a .50 BMG round which can disable boat's engine, a method employed against smuggler's speed boats. In this role, the L129A1 is fitted with a short range optic such as an EOTECH red dot.
Finally, MSTs are trained in the use of Royal Navy helicopter door guns such as the .50 Cal M3M heavy machine gun mounted in the Wildcat HMA2.
British Army Sniper Training
Snipers with the Parachute Regiment and Household Cavalry learn their trade at the Household Division and Parachute Regiment Centralised Courses (HDPRCC) school at Pirbright, Surrey, England. The HDPRCC sniper course is 9 weeks long, split into marksmanship (firing the L115a3) and field craft (stalking, concealment etc.) modules.
For other army cap badges, each battalion runs its own sniper selection cadre. Students who pass their unit's SSC then attend the Basic Sniper Course (Part 1) run by Sniper Division, Support Weapons School at the Infantry Battle School (IBS) at Brecon in Wales. This is a multi-week course that covers marksmanship. Students then return to their unit for Part 2, which covers field craft.
Further training may be undergone at Sniper Wing, Direct Fire Support Division, Specialist Weapons School, Warminster via a Sniper Commanders Course. This 12 week advanced course teaches the command, planning and logistical skills needed for the role of Sniper Section Commander and Sniper Platoon Commander. The course includes Urban Operations, Counter Sniping, Command and Control and Tactical employment modules. They are also trained to act as instructors for their unit's sniper cadres. The course is also open to Royal Marines and RAF Regiment snipers.
RAF Regiment Sniper Training
RAF Regiment snipers go through a 9 week selection and training program held 3 times a year at RAF Regiment Training Wing, RAF Honington.
The first part is a 4-week sniper selection course. The program begins with a Sharpshooter Course which provides a grounding in marksmanship and field craft.
Only 12 of the initial 24 students are then selected to go on to Basic Sniper Course. This is a 5 week course that covers use of the L115a3 rifle, judging distance, camouflage and concealment, stalking, map reading and observation, shooting, sniper knowledge and RAF Regiment sniper doctrine and tactics. The course culminates in a 2-week-long practical exercise. This includes 'the stalk' - in which students attempt to infiltrate across 1.5km of terrain, get in position, fire their weapon and withdraw to a safe area, all without being spotted by the instructors.
RAF Sniper Section Commanders undergo a 7 week Sniper Section Commanders course which enables them to command a sniper section in a RAF Regiment Field Squadron. It also qualifies them as a sniper instructor capable of running continuation training at a Field Squadron level.
