Out of Nowhere: A history of the military sniper, from the sharpshooter to Afghanistan

Description

The sniper is probably the most feared specialist warrior and the most efficient killer on the battlefield. Endlessly patient and highly skilled, once he has you in his crosshairs, your chances of survival are slim. This revised edition of Out of Nowhere provides a comprehensive history of the sniper, giving insights into all aspects of his life; his training tactics, equipment and the psychology of sniping are examined in the context of the major wars of modern times - including the American Civil War, both world wars, the Vietnam War and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. First-hand accounts from veteran snipers demonstrate their skill and extraordinary courage and show why they are still such a vital part of any war. COVER TITLE DEDICATION CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOREWORD THE SNIPER IN PERSPECTIVE THE RIFLEMAN EMERGES,1500–1854 THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR & EUROPEAN WARS,1854–1914 THE FIRST WORLD WAR:THE WATERSHED, 1914–16 THE FIRST WORLD WAR:THE FIGHT BACK, 1916–18 RUSSIAN SNIPING,1936–45 THE GERMAN SNIPER & THE WAR IN RUSSIA,1941–45 THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN, 1941–45 THE WAR IN WESTERN EUROPE, 1940–45 LIMITED WARS, 1945–85 VIETNAM, AMERICA’S NEMESIS INTO A NEW MILLENNIUM 21ST CENTURY SNIPING GLOSSARY NOTES SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX ABOUT THE AUTHOR IMPRINT