Designated marksman
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The Designated Marksman (DM) is a military role in a U.S. infantry squad (The analogous role in the Israeli army is "squad sniper." Soviet and Russian doctrines (snaiper') use the Dragunov rifle in this way). The designated marksman's role is to supply rapid accurate fire on enemy targets at ranges up to 500 meters (550 yd) with a telescopic-sighted, very-accurate, semiautomatic rifle. Like snipers, DMs are trained in precision shooting, but unlike the more specialised 'true' sniper, they are also intended to lay down accurate rapid fire.
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[edit] Weapons
As the role of Designated Marksman fills the gap between a normal infantryman and a sniper, the so-called designated marksman rifles are also designed with this middle ground in mind. These rifles have to be effective - in terms of accuracy and terminal ballistics - at ranges exceeding those of assault rifles (typically 500 m or 550 yd), but do not require the extended ranges of a dedicated sniper rifle (1000 m or 1100 yd and more).
[edit] Characteristics
Characteristics shared with sniper rifles:
- Telescopic sight
- Use of more powerful cartridge (in NATO typically 7.62 x 51 mm and in the former Soviet bloc 7.62 x 54 mm R)
Characteristics shared with assault rifles:
- Semi-automatic fire, that is quicker than bolt-action typical of sniper rifles.
- Standard capacity magazines of 10-30 rounds
Typically the easiest and most suitable option is to modify an existing battle rifle or assault rifle with the addition of the following:
- Telescopic sight
- Bipod
- Adjustable stock (adjustable cheek-piece aids in the use of a telescopic sight).
[edit] Battle rifle adaptation
In this context, "battle rifles" refer to semi-automatic rifles of 7.62 x 51 mm calibre like the M14, FN FAL or Heckler & Koch G3 that were typically replaced by rifles of the less powerful 5.56 x 45 mm NATO calibre that fall into the category of assault rifle like the M16. These battle rifles are more suitable for adaptation to designated marksmen rifles than assault rifles for the sole reason of their more powerful cartridge.
Examples of battle rifle adaptations:
- M21 adaptation of M14
- U.S. Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) adaptation of M14
- G3SG/1 variant of Heckler & Koch G3
[edit] Assault Rifle adaptation
This is the very easiest and most cost effective option for many armies, because existing rifles can be adapted, often by merely adding a telescopic sight and keeping the relatively weaker 5.56 x 45 mm NATO cartridge.
A more effective solution is to rechamber the assault rifle for a more powerful cartridge and using a heavier barrel.
Examples of assault rifle adaptations, keeping 5.56 x 45 mm NATO:
- United States Army Squad Designated Marksman Rifle (SDM-R) adaptation of M16
- U.S. Marine Corps Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R) adaptation of M16
- M16A2E3 variant of M16.
- United States Navy Mark 12 Mod X Special Purpose Rifle heavily modified M16.
- British Army L86A2 LSW - originally a light support weapon, after the introduction of the FN Minimi in that role it has been redesignated as a DMR. It required no modification as the longer, heavier, free floating barrel and existing optical sight make it very accurate.
Examples of rechambered assault rifle adaptations:
Examples of assault rifle adaptations, keeping 7.62 x 39 mm:
- Tabuk Sniper Rifle adaptation of Kalashnikov M70 assault rifle
[edit] Purpose built rifles
- The Dragunov (SVD) is one example of a rifle designed from the outset to meet the requirement now known as "designated marksman rifle".
- Similar in appearance to the Dragunov, the Romanian PSL is a DM rifle based on a modified Kalashnikov action.
[edit] Difference from snipers
[edit] Roles
- Snipers often work independently of other infantry units.
- Designated marksmen are integral ("organic") members of regular infantry platoons, much like machine-gunners or grenadiers.
[edit] Weapons
- Snipers usually use bolt action sniper rifles or semi-automatic sniper rifles with high accuracy.
- DMs usually use an accurized assault or battle rifle.
[edit] Ranges
- Snipers are mainly employed for ranges of up to 1,500 meters (1,650 yd).
- DMs are mainly employed for ranges of up to 800 meters (875 yd).
[edit] Mobility and position
- Snipers usually take a strategic position and camouflage themselves (with a Ghillie suit). They usually remain prone.
- DMs are mobile and rapidly change positions. They usually have no more camouflage gear than other infantrymen.
[edit] Worldwide use
[edit] Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
After years of suffering a poor reputation in its sniping abilities, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) implemented significant changes to sharpshooting doctrine in the 1990s. Doctrine, training program, and courseware were completely rewritten and snipers were issued the bolt-action M24 SWS instead of the M14 rifle. A major change was the introduction of a new battle profession – the designated marksman (קלע סער, "kala saar" in Hebrew) – intended to improve the accuracy and firepower of an infantry platoon and compromise between the role of a sniper and an assault rifleman and generally called a "squad sniper" in description of his role. This newly designated marksman role has proven to be a great success. During the Al-Aqsa Intifada DMs proved to be valuable part of infantry squad, taking out many enemy soldiers who approached to engage the troops. In one incident, a single marksman managed to stop a Hezbollah attack in 2005 on the Druze village of Raghar in the northern border of Israel, after he shot and killed 4 enemy soldiers, including RPG-armed motorists.
[edit] U.S. Marine Corps
The US Marines utilizes an M14 which is rebuilt at Quantico Marine Corps Base and redesignated the U.S. Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle. The Corps also utilizes an adaptation of the M16, the U.S. Marine Corps Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R).
[edit] U.S. Army
The US Army have an M16 which is accurized in a manner similar to the SAM-R of the US Marines and redesignated the United States Army Squad Designated Marksman Rifle.
[edit] Soviet snipers
Although referred to as "snipers", the Soviet Union and its allies have since World War II employed specially equipped and trained "sharpshooting" soldiers at a section ("squad") level to increase the range of their section to 600 meters (660 yd) and beyond. This is commonly accepted as the first example of what came to be known as a designated marksman as opposed to a true sniper.
Since 1963 these soldiers have been equipped with the Dragunov (or "SVD") rifle that shares all the characteristics typical of a designated marksman rifle (Semi-automatic fire, Telescopic sight, chambered for standard military rifle cartridge).
[edit] See also
- Related military roles
- Soviet sniper, the Soviet equivalent of a Designated Marksman.
- Sniper, more specialised military marksmen.
- Rifles
- Dragunov Sniper Rifle
- M21, the scoped and accurized version of the M14.
- United States Army Squad Designated Marksman Rifle
- U.S. Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle
- U.S. Marine Corps Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle
- United States Navy Mark 12 Mod X Special Purpose Rifle
- SR-25, designed by Knight's Armament Company
