Glenn Wahlert - One Shot Kills

Copyright Army History Unit

Campbell Park Offices (CP2-5-166)

Canberra ACT 2600

AUSTRALIA

(02) 6266 4248

(02) 6266 4044 fax

Copyright 2014 Commonwealth of Australia

First published 2014

This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission.

See National Library of Australia for Cataloguing-in-Publication entry.

ISBN: 978-1-922132-65-9

Published by Big Sky Publishing, Sydney

Cover and typesetting by Think Productions, Melbourne

Printed in China through Asia Pacific Offset Limited

Front cover and title page: Spotter Private Adam Tanner, 27 and Sniper Lance Corporal Clancy Roberts, 31 from the 3rd Battalion of The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), look for targets as they scan the Sam Hill Airfield in Shoalwater Bay Training Area. (Department of Defence 20110915adf8095516_367)

Back cover background: Australian soldiers look through the scopes of their rifles during a break in a security patrol in Afghanistan.

Back cover top right: An Australian soldier attending a sniper course in Darwin in 1942 (AWM 027768).

Back cover middle right: Australian sniper pair at Gallipoli (AWM P01531_015).

Back cover bottom right: One view of the future of sniper rifles is TrackingPoints precision-guided firearm (image courtesy of TrackingPoint).

Contents

In 2004, the then Chief of Armys Strategic Advisory Group comprising the Armys senior generals, established a scheme to promote the study and understanding of military history within the Army. The focus was the Armys future generation of leaders and, from this, the Campaign Series was created. The series is intended to complement the Armys other history publications which produce academically rigorous and referenced analytical works.

The Campaign Series focuses on leadership, command, strategy, tactics, lessons and personal experiences of war. Each title within the series includes extensive visual sources of information maps, including specifically prepared maps in colour and 3D, specifically commissioned artwork, photographs and computer graphics.

The Campaign Series covers both well-known campaigns and battles and those that are less familiar. The Army History Unit envisages this series as making a significant contribution to the history of the Australian Army and providing a comprehensive introduction to the campaigns and battles in which the Army has fought.

Dr Roger Lee, Army Historian

Like many of the authors of the Campaign Series books, I am indebted to the numerous current and retired service personnel who gave their time willingly and often enthusiastically. Lieutenant Colonel Russell Linwood, a sniping instructor and weapons enthusiast, dedicated many weekends to reading copies of my manuscript and providing valuable advice. I owe Russell an apology for the numerous late-night phone calls and emails seeking answers to technical questions or just to chew the fat over some obscure sniping issue. John Land, Manager of the Infantry Centre Museum was, as always, an excellent resource for a photograph of a rare weapon or for a sanity check of weapons and munitions facts. Several snipers, from the Second World War through the Korean War to modern operations, were extremely helpful in describing just how the sniper operated in these conflicts. One in particular, who cannot be named since he continues to serve, provided access to his valuable library of images and was always available and willing to provide advice and assistance. Jason, I am sorry I could not give you the full credit you deserve, but I am grateful for your constant advice and assistance throughout the writing of this book. Numerous gun collectors and enthusiasts also sent me images, stories and encouragement, including Brad Hedges and Peter Bruem. Finally, a chance encounter on a tour of Gallipoli led to a remarkable discovery. One of the men I was guiding over the old battlefield shared my interest in military history and, of all things, sniping. Having mentioned that I was thinking of writing a book on the subject of Army snipers, Donald Leys offered me access to his grandfathers papers. His grandfather, Sergeant David Mortimer of the 14th Battalion, had served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front and was one of the first Australians to attend the British Armys School of Scouting, Observation and Sniping in 1916. Mortimers notebook from that course was a treasure trove of information on how British and Australian snipers operated on the Western Front. This is the only known primary source covering the operations of Australian snipers on the Western Front in the First World War. Don, I will always be in your debt.

Glenn Wahlert

Canberra

2014

The most dangerous individual soldier, and the worlds best rifle-shot is the sniper. He is deadly. He is feared more than the tank, more than the aeroplane. Inefficiency, carelessness, over-confidence - just one little slip and you are a goner. So learn all you can before you venture out to shoot men.

Ion Idriess