Drizzt
April 5, 2003, 02:35 AM
Matt's shot in a million
From NICK PARKER
in Southern Iraq
A ROYAL Marines sniper told yesterday how he felled an Iraqi gunman in a strong wind from more than half a mile with an astonishing shot in a million.
Crackshot Corporal Matt Hughes, 28, was ordered to take out the Iraqi, who was firing at his pals and holding up an attack.
Matt pulled off the incredible feat of marksmanship by perfectly gauging the wind speed to bend the bullet to its target.
And amazingly a second sniper alongside him hit a second Iraqi at the same moment with another wonder shot.
The 7.62 calibre round from Matt’s L96 sniper rifle was aimed 56ft to the left to allow for the wind, and 35ft high to allow for the distance.
Yet it flew straight to the target, hitting the Iraqi in the chest. He probably died instantly.
Matt, of the Marines’ spearhead brigade patrol troop in Al Faw, said yesterday: “It was a bit like David Beckham taking a free kick.
“I knew I only had one shot and had to get the angle exactly right.”
Matt, from Betws-y-Coed, Wales, and pal Corporal Sam Hughes, 31, of Plymouth, Devon, calculated the bullet’s trajectory by studying movement of dust across the desert.
Matt said: “Sam told me I would have to fire exactly 17 metres to the left of the target for the bullet to bend in the wind and take him out.
“I made adjustments to my sight. The Iraqi stayed in the crosshairs of my sight the whole time and didn’t move. I knew I’d hit him full in the chest and got him.”
Another Marine sniper next to Matt felled the second Iraqi.
Taking out the two Iraqis who had been shooting at Marines meant the Brits could advance to help secure the peninsula.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003152436,00.html
From NICK PARKER
in Southern Iraq
A ROYAL Marines sniper told yesterday how he felled an Iraqi gunman in a strong wind from more than half a mile with an astonishing shot in a million.
Crackshot Corporal Matt Hughes, 28, was ordered to take out the Iraqi, who was firing at his pals and holding up an attack.
Matt pulled off the incredible feat of marksmanship by perfectly gauging the wind speed to bend the bullet to its target.
And amazingly a second sniper alongside him hit a second Iraqi at the same moment with another wonder shot.
The 7.62 calibre round from Matt’s L96 sniper rifle was aimed 56ft to the left to allow for the wind, and 35ft high to allow for the distance.
Yet it flew straight to the target, hitting the Iraqi in the chest. He probably died instantly.
Matt, of the Marines’ spearhead brigade patrol troop in Al Faw, said yesterday: “It was a bit like David Beckham taking a free kick.
“I knew I only had one shot and had to get the angle exactly right.”
Matt, from Betws-y-Coed, Wales, and pal Corporal Sam Hughes, 31, of Plymouth, Devon, calculated the bullet’s trajectory by studying movement of dust across the desert.
Matt said: “Sam told me I would have to fire exactly 17 metres to the left of the target for the bullet to bend in the wind and take him out.
“I made adjustments to my sight. The Iraqi stayed in the crosshairs of my sight the whole time and didn’t move. I knew I’d hit him full in the chest and got him.”
Another Marine sniper next to Matt felled the second Iraqi.
Taking out the two Iraqis who had been shooting at Marines meant the Brits could advance to help secure the peninsula.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003152436,00.html