Philip Rubakho was born on January 23, 1923 in the village of Aksai, Rostov region, in the family of a retired naval officer, participant in the Tsushima battle, and a Don Cossack woman. He was left without parents early ...

Philip Rubakho was born on January 23, 1923 in the village of Aksai, Rostov region, in the family of a retired naval officer, participant in the Tsushima battle, and a Don Cossack woman. He was left without parents early and was brought up in the Batumi orphanage. He studied well, was fond of music and shooting sports. After graduating from high school, he received an invitation to study at the Leningrad Conservatory.

But the Great Patriotic War broke out ... On the second day, Philip stood in front of the military commissar of the city of Batumi. The military commissar categorically refused the 18-year-old boy to enroll in military service. Philip insisted, arguing:
- You don’t look that I’m so thin, I’m strong and go in for shooting sports, I have the Voroshilov shooter badge ...

And only after learning that the young man plays a variety of musical instruments, the commissioner suggested: "Do you want us to send you as a volunteer to the musical team at the naval base of the Black Sea Fleet?" Philip agreed, but thought to himself: "Well, I just need to get into a military unit, and then I will achieve my goal." A bloody battle unfolded from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea. And Philip toiled in the rear city of Tuapse and played the flute. But soon he achieved a transfer to the small boat division.

He was enrolled in the artillery calculation of the forty-five. Their division of small boats took part in escorting transports with weapons and replenishment personnel to Odessa besieged by the Nazis. An ear for music helped Philip to be one of the first to determine by sound the direction from which enemy aircraft approached the guarded caravan. But Rubakho was eager for the land front, the marines, and achieved his goal: he was sent to defend the main base of the Black Sea Fleet - Sevastopol.

Here, in the Balaklava Valley, the Red Navy sailor Rubakho, having struck a fascist submachine gunner with a rifle, experienced the joy of victory. Here he received his first wound, but did not go to the hospital. It was then that Philippe Rubajo had a desire to become a sniper. The platoon leader began to send the young soldier to the forward patrol, and for better observation handed him binoculars. This allowed Philip to hit targets at a great distance. In December 1941, he was sent to study at the navy sniper school.

In the sniper school, particular importance was attached to the choice of a combat position, camouflage, the ability to quickly navigate, instantly find a target and hit it for sure from the first shot. And Philip learned to be precise, skillful, quick-witted and inventive. The commander of the North Caucasian Front, Marshal S.M.Budyonny, arrived at the school for graduation.

Rubakho performed all the exercises perfectly and received gratitude from the marshal. The difficult summer of 1942. The enemy developed an offensive along the entire Soviet-German front, and wherever it was especially difficult, the marines fought hand in hand with the soldiers of the Red Army on the land front. In battles, they became famous for their courage, perseverance, indomitable hatred for enemies and ardent love for the Motherland. The sailor's peakless cap and striped vest instilled fear in the Nazis, they called the sailors "black cloud", "sea devils" ...

At the end of June 1942, as part of the Marine Corps Brigade, Philip Rubajo arrived on the Southern Front. He fought for Rostov, went on counterattacks near Mozdok, defended Vladikavkaz. In the battles near Tuapse, Philip Rubakho was wounded in his left arm, but refused to go to the rear and was treated in the medical unit of his brigade. By this time, Rubaho's sniper had brought his personal score to 80 destroyed fascists. Glory spread about his skill throughout the entire defense sector, and in the combat sheet of the Marine Corps battalion, the Red Navy soldier wrote:

Sniper Rubajo
Agreement with the fighters:
Smash the enemy without fear
Hit him point-blank ...

The flame of hatred for the fascist invaders was calling for battle. After recovering from the medical unit, Philip returned to his battalion. As confirmed by the documents, in the mountains he and his partner destroyed a company of fascists, and Philip Rubaho's personal account was brought to 200 destroyed enemies. In December 1942, the brave sniper was wounded for the third time - in the leg and back of the head.

In early January 1943, the Rubakho sniper was discharged from the hospital, but was not sent to the active unit, but instructed to lead a team for training snipers. In Gelendzhik, the first meeting of fellow countrymen took place - the sniper Philip Yakovlevich Rubakho and the commander of the marines Caesar Lvovich Kunikov. Rubakho already knew that Major Kunikov had formed an airborne detachment to be thrown into the rear of the enemy and that he was allowed to enlist volunteers from all parts of the base ...

- It's good that you are getting better.
What are your plans for the future? Where would you like to serve? - asked Kunikov.
- Where there is more real business, - answered the foreman of the first article Philip Rubaho.

A team of snipers led by Philip Rubaho was enrolled in the Kunikov detachment. But with chagrin, Philip learned that they would not be able to participate in the first rush to the enemy shore. Kunikov perfectly understood that one can do without snipers at the time of a night landing and risking the life of an excellent sniper and his team is not worth it, because to fight for more than one day and a month….

Himself unrestrainedly brave, always walking in front, the commander knew how to value and protect his fearless fighters. The landing party of Major Kunikov stormed the western coast of the Tsemesskaya Bay on the night of February 3–4, 1943. By morning, the marines drove the Nazis out of the coastal fortifications, occupied several streets of the village of Stanichka, and consolidated their foothold on the near approaches to the southern outskirts of the city of Novorossiysk.

The bridgehead, recaptured from the enemy by the Kunikov paratroopers, and later expanded by the paratroopers of three naval brigades, was named "Small Land". A team of snipers from Philip Rubajo landed as part of the 225th Marine Brigade on the night of 6 February. Only at the "Malaya Zemlya" bridgehead, the personal score of the destroyed Nazis was increased to 276. The 393rd Separate Marine Battalion, formed on the basis of Kunikov's detachment, was preparing for hostilities to liberate Novorossiysk.

A group of snipers organized in the battalion under the leadership of Petty Officer I of Article Philip Rubaho in August 1943 entered the area of \u200b\u200bthe defensive line of our troops in the area of \u200b\u200bthe cement plants of Novorossiysk. Here a group of 12 people killed 57 fascists in eight days. F. Rubaho personally killed 3 officers, 2 snipers and 3 soldiers. By order of the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Petty Officer I article Rubakho was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

During the landing operation in the port of Novorossiysk in September 1943, acting as part of the headquarters group of the commander of the 393rd separate battalion under the command of Lieutenant Commander Vasily Andreevich Botylev, a brave sniper with a grenade throw suppressed the enemy's firing point and destroyed 3 Nazis in hand-to-hand combat.

In three days, the Rubaho sniper destroyed more than fifty enemies. When Philip was wounded in the legs, he asked the Red Navy men to transfer him from one window to another and continued to destroy the Nazis. During the operation, about 500 fascist soldiers and officers were destroyed by the group of Philip Rubajo. And the personal account of the legendary sniper was brought to 346 destroyed fascists.

On September 14, 1943, during an artillery attack by shrapnel, Philip was seriously wounded in the head. A month later, he died in a hospital in the city of Sochi. By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 22, 1944, Rubakho Philip Yakovlevich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. By order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, the name of Sergeant Major I article Rubakho Philip Yakovlevich was forever entered into the lists of one of the military units of the Black Sea Fleet. Streets in the hero city of Novorossiysk and in the hero's homeland in the city of Aksai, Rostov region, are named after Philip Rubaho.

Philip Yakovlevich Rubakho (1923-1943) - participant of the Great Patriotic War, sniper of the 393rd separate battalion of the marines of the Novorossiysk naval base of the Black Sea Fleet, foreman of the 1st class. The hero of the USSR.

Born on January 13, 1923 in the village of Aksayskaya (now the city of Aksai, Rostov region) in the family of a worker, a former officer of the Russian fleet. Kazakh. He grew up in an orphanage, where he received a name that was not typical for Kazakhs.

Secondary education. He was left without parents early, was brought up and studied in the Batumi orphanage. Even in his youth, he was awarded the "Voroshilovsky shooter" badge for his successful participation in large shooting competitions.

In the Navy since July 1941. Was enrolled in the musician team of the Tuapse base of the Black Sea Fleet. However, he soon managed to achieve transfer to warships and was credited with the number of an artillery crew in the division of small boats of the fleet. As part of it, he took his first battle in the Great Patriotic War in September 1941 during a campaign in besieged Odessa.

The Red Navy sailor Rubakho did not have a chance to fight on boats for a long time: as part of the combined battalion of the marines, he was sent to the land front and took part in the heroic defense of Sevastopol. In December 1941, he was wounded and evacuated from Sevastopol, and upon recovery he was enrolled in the navy sniper school. From June 1942 - again at the front, as part of the Southern Front, participated in the defense of Rostov, Kuban, the North Caucasus and the passes of the Main Caucasian ridge. He showed himself as a talented sniper, since December 1942 he had 200 killed enemy soldiers and officers on his combat account. In December 1942 he was wounded again.

After recovering, he was enlisted in the 393rd Marine Corps Battalion and, under the command of its legendary commander, Major Caesar Kunikov, took part in the amphibious landing near Novorossiysk. Then he took part in the defense of the bridgehead captured by this landing, which was named "Small Land". There he became the commander of a group of snipers, brought his personal score to 276 Nazis and Romanians. After being transferred to other sectors of the North Caucasian Front, in August 1943, a group of snipers by Philip Rubakho was sent to the land sector of the front near Novorossiysk. Then he returned to Gelendzhik as part of his battalion, preparing for a new landing on the berths of the Novorossiysk port.

Sniper of a separate marine battalion, candidate for membership in the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, Petty Officer 1st Article Philip Rubaho, on September 9, 1943, among the first in the battalion, landed on the coast in the Novorossiysk region, destroyed two enemy firing points with grenades, and three enemy soldiers in hand-to-hand combat ... The brave marine was seriously wounded in the head on the bridgehead in Novorossiysk during an artillery attack on September 14, 1943, was evacuated by boat to one of the hospitals in Sochi, but the next day, September 15, he died.

He was buried in the city of Sochi, Krasnodar Territory, in a mass grave at the Zavokzalny Memorial.

In total, Petty Officer 1st article Rubakho F. Ya. Destroyed 346 Nazis, blew up 8 bunkers, a tank, and a mortar.

• By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 22, 1944, for the courage and heroism shown in the fight against the Nazi invaders, Sergeant Major of the 1st article Rubakho Philip Yakovlevich was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
• He was awarded the Order of Lenin (1944), the Order of the Red Banner (1943).

• Forever enrolled in the lists of the military unit.
  Streets in the hometown of Aksai, in Gelendzhik and in the hero-city of Novorossiysk are named after the Hero. In 1977, on the eve of the 34th anniversary of the liberation of Novorossiysk from the Nazi invaders, a memorial sign was erected on the street named after the sniper Rubaho.
• Rubakho's name is on the Memorial Board at the Black Sea Fleet Museum in Sevastopol.
• In the city of Sochi, at the Zavokzalny memorial complex, Rubakho's surname is not on the list of buried soldiers. Work is currently underway to close this gap.

Sniper survival textbook ["Shoot rarely, but accurately!"] Fedoseev Semyon Leonidovich

Super Sharpshooters from the Marine Corps

The system of training and using snipers in the United States Marine Corps is very interesting. The use of "super sharp shooters" by the US Marine Corps has a long tradition dating back to the First World War and the Second World War. However, in the forties and fifties, the art of sniping was undeservedly forgotten in most of the armies of the world. Only during the Vietnam War did the corps command return to active training and use of snipers in combat.

ILC snipers were actively used during the US military operations in Somalia, Libya, Haiti. During the peacekeeping mission in Somalia, according to media reports, more than a hundred people were killed by marine snipers opposing the American forces. Snipers worked no less intensively in Haiti, participating in the elimination of some "instigators of mass riots."

SNIPER TRAINING

1-2. Combat mission

The sniper's primary task in battle is to support combat operations by providing accurate fire on selected targets over long distances ... The sniper creates casualties in enemy troops, slows down enemy movement, intimidates enemy soldiers, reduces morale and adds confusion to their actions. The sniper's secondary mission is to collect and transmit information on the battlefield.

A well-trained sniper ... is a versatile support force for the infantry command. A sniper's importance cannot be measured simply by the number of casualties he inflicts on the enemy. The awareness of the presence of a sniper instills fear in elements of enemy troops and influences their decisions and actions. The sniper enhances the unit's firepower and increases the number of different ways to destroy and harass the enemy ... The role of the sniper is unique in the sense that it is the only way a unit can hit point targets at distances exceeding the effective range of the service small arms ...

Snipers are used at all levels of conflict ...

1-3. Organization

In light infantry divisions, the sniper unit includes six battalion reconnaissance battalions, organized into three teams of two ... In motorized infantry battalions, the sniper unit consists of two riflemen (one team) located at the headquarters of each rifle company. The commander determines the tasks and priorities of goals for each team and can assign or transfer a command under the operational control of a company or platoon ...

A. Sniper teams should be centrally controlled by a commander or officer using snipers. This officer (OIC) is responsible for the command and control of the snipers assigned to the unit ...

The duties and areas of responsibility of the OIP are as follows:

- advising the unit commander on the use of snipers;

- issuing orders to the commanders of the teams;

- determination of combat missions and methods of using snipers;

- coordination of the sniper team and the unit commander;

- briefing of the unit commander and command commanders;

- analysis of the problem with the unit commander and team commanders;

- team training.

B. The sniper team leader is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the sniper team. His areas of responsibility include:

- taking on the responsibilities of the OIC, which are related to the team, in his absence;

- team training;

- issuing the necessary orders to the team;

- preparation for combat missions;

- team management during a combat mission.

B. Snipers work and train in teams of two. One person's primary responsibilities are those of a sniper, while the other serves as an observer. The sniper weapon is a sniper weapon system. The Observer has a standard service rifle that provides the team with more powerful suppression and defense fire ...

Saboteur scuba diver

Until 1975, sniper schools were created in the US army only for the period of the war, and then they were disbanded. Today, Scout Sniper Schools are found in every Marine Corps division. For a year, one such school conducts four graduations of forty students, with a training period of eleven weeks. The qualification requirements for candidates are quite strict. For example, when passing the standard for fire training, the candidate must, within three days, shoot 25 rounds at 12-inch (30.5 cm) targets located at various distances up to 850 yards (773 m). The future cadet is obliged to hit 20 targets out of 25 at least two days out of three. In addition, the test includes orientation in difficult terrain at night.

In addition to practical shooting, cadets study and practice tactics of actions as part of a sniper pair and a reconnaissance group, a radio exchange system and rules for using standard radio stations, camouflage techniques on the ground and covert movement.

To pass the test in camouflage, a cadet must, within four hours, several times, unnoticed by the instructors, overcome an open area of \u200b\u200bterrain 800 meters long, build several shelters of various types and fire a blank shot from a distance of no more than two hundred meters, while remaining undetected. It should be noted that all camouflage means - ghillie camouflage and a rifle case - are made by the cadets on their own, using regular uniforms and materials at hand.

At the end of the training, the so-called "hell week" is held - a five-day field exercise. Each day begins with the advance to the firing position, where the test for camouflage and stealthy movement in a "ghillie" suit is passed. This is followed by qualifying firing, receiving a combat mission, building a mock-up of the terrain where you have to act, drawing up a plan and order to carry out a reconnaissance operation, entering a given area, equipment and masking a position. Upon completion of the training operation, a report is drawn up.

Each Marine battalion has a 17-man sniper-reconnaissance platoon - 8 snipers, 8 scouts and a platoon leader.

Marine snipers usually work in pairs. The spotter, equipped with a 20x magnification M49 observation device, assists the sniper in determining distances, determines wind corrections and provides cover. Every half hour, the sniper and spotter change places to avoid eye strain.

Marine snipers are sometimes used as forward artillery spotters and air gunners. To do this, during training, snipers are introduced to the rules for setting a fire mission with an indication of the target, the method of shelling and the type of ammunition.

ILC snipers can only move through dangerous territory at night or in conditions of limited visibility. The "super sharp shooter" must orientate himself on the ground not only with the help of a satellite topographic reference system and a compass, but also using natural landmarks and signs.

For a sniper, reconnaissance training is of particular importance. Traces make it possible to reveal the nature of the enemy, the methods of his movement, the system of combat security, etc. The Marines are specially trained to move through the enemy's territory, leaving no traces, and to evade pursuit. Having found the pursuers, the sniper pair must either destroy them with fire from their rifles, or set a mine trap, or direct artillery fire or an aviation strike at them.

Some of the techniques used by the American Marines when shooting are interesting. For example, if the shooter, lying in an open place, sees the target, but cannot raise his head, he takes the "Hawkins pose": he rigidly straightens his left arm and clasps the rifle strap near the upper swivel, and the lower corner of the butt rests against the ground, pressing it from above with his shoulder - a shot is fired from this position.

The M40A1 rifle does not have a bipod, like most modern sniper models, therefore, when shooting, a backpack, a sandbag or an improvised tripod made of branches is placed under the weapon. If the fire is fired without support, a rifle strap is used.

At the firing position, the ILC snipers load the rifle with one round, since they always make only one shot at the target. The rifle magazine is fully equipped while moving - due to a possible meeting with the enemy.

In order not to be detected by the shine of the sleeve, snipers learn to open the bolt with the thumb of their right hand and catch the ejected sleeve with the palm of their hand.

The Marines fully use the capabilities of their weapons - this is already evidenced by the fact that the most optimal distance for firing sniper fire is considered to be a distance of 600 yards (546 m): at the same time, a high probability of hitting a target from the first shot and the greatest safety of the shooter himself from detection are provided.

If there is a threat of being captured, the sniper must break the sight lenses with a ramrod, tie a grenade to the rifle barrel and activate it.

In some cases, marine snipers use 12.7-mm self-loading M82A1 rifles. This weapon is used for firing at embrasures, lightly armored objects (such as armored personnel carriers) and helicopters.

PERSONAL COMPOSITION

(Extract from US Army Manual FM 23-10)

Sniper training candidates require careful selection ... A rigorous training program and increased personal risk in combat require high motivation and the ability to master multiple skills ...

A. The following are basic guidelines for selecting sniper candidates.

Marksmanship... The sniper must be a well-aimed expert shooter. An annual confirmation of the expert's qualifications is required ...

The physical state... A sniper often involved in long-term operations with very short naplimited to food and water, must be in excellent physical shape. Good health means better reflexes, better muscle control and more vitality. Well-being and endurance ... are the defining qualities for a practicing sniper.

Vision... Sight is the main tool of a sniper. Therefore, the sniper must have 20/20 vision, or vision corrected to 20/20. However, wearing glasses could be a hindrance if they are lost or damaged. Color blindness is also considered a hindrance to the sniper ...

Smoking... The sniper must not be a smoker. Smoking or an unsuppressed smoker's cough can betray a sniper's stance, and even if he does not smoke during the mission, abstinence can cause nervousness and irritation that reduces his effectiveness.

Mental condition... When commanders sift through sniper candidates, they should look for traits that usually indicate that the candidate has the right traits to be a sniper ... Some traits to look for are reliability, initiative, loyalty, discipline and emotional toughness. ...

Mental capacity... The trainee must be a person with high mental abilities. The duties of a sniper require a wide range of skills. He must know and have skills in the following areas:

- ballistics;

- types of ammunition and their capabilities;

- adjustment of optical devices;

- radio business and radio communication procedures;

- observation and adjustment of mortar and artillery fire;

- skills of orientation on the terrain;

- revision of intelligence and their transfer;

- identification of uniform / equipment posing a threat.

B. In a sniper team's operations involving long-term independent use, the sniper must also demonstrate ... determination, confidence ... good situational awareness and a sense of teamwork. This requires two other important qualifications ...

Emotional resilience... The sniper must be able to calmly and deliberately destroy targets that may not pose an immediate threat to him. It is much easier to kill in self-defense or in defense of others than to kill without apparent motivation. The sniper must be immune to emotions ...

Field skills... The sniper must be familiar with environment in the field and feel comfortable in them. Extensive outdoor training and knowledge of natural phenomena will assist the sniper in many of his assignments. Individuals with this training often have great capabilities as snipers.

From the book Technique and armament 2011 12 author Technics and Armament Magazine

PHOTO REPORT The landing of units of the 155th Marine Brigade on September 14, 2011 in Avachinskaya Bay, not far from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, as part of the practical phase of the command and staff exercises, the amphibious landing took place. The landing was attended by units of the 155th

From Asa's book of the Korean War 1950-1953 author Ivanov S.V.

United States Marine Corps VMA-312L-t Jesse Vollmar 1 (FG-1D / F4U-4) VMC-1M-r George Linnemeyer 1 (AD4) VMF (N) -513 Lieutenant John Andre 1 (F4U-5N) Lt. Col. Robert Conley 1 (F3D) Lieutenant Joseph Corvey 1 (F3D) 1st Lieutenant X. Daig 1 (F4U-5N) Captain Oliver Davis 1 (F3D) Captain Philip De Long 1 (F4U-5N) Major Elswin Dunn 1

From the book of the Aces of the United States, F4U pilots "Corsair" author Ivanov S.V.

From the book Blitzkrieg: how is it done? [The secret of "lightning war"] author Mukhin Yuri Ignatievich

Privates and Riflemen As you understand, the German generals paid exceptional attention to the power and effectiveness of the weapons of the German infantrymen and the issues of the protection of soldiers on the battlefield. And when you read, say, about the equipment of a German infantryman, it amazes how much more

From the book Gnimman Avenger. Part 2 author Ivanov S.V.

Marine Corps The first USMC squadron equipped with TVM-1 Avengers was VMSB-131 (later renamed VMTB-131). She arrived at Guadalcanal in November 1942 and was based at Henderson Field. Already on November 13, 1942, two days later. after the Japanese

From the book Sniper Survival Tutorial ["Shoot rarely, but accurately!"] author Fedoseev Semyon Leonidovich

Riflemen of the NKVD A special practice of using snipers existed at that time in the NKVD troops. After training and special training, "super-sharp shooters" went on combat training in the army. Such sniper teams usually numbered 20 to 40 people,

From the book Sniper War author Ardashev Alexey Nikolaevich

Wehrmacht riflemen Strange as it may seem, very little is known about the opponents of Soviet snipers - "super-sharp riflemen" of the German army. Despite the fact that during the First World War the Germans were the first to take the initiative in the use of specially trained soldiers and rifles

From the book Fighting vehicles of the world, 2014 № 19 AAVP7A1 author

"Super Sharpshooters" from the Marine Corps Very interesting is the system of training and use of snipers in the US Marine Corps. The use of "super sharp shooters" by the US Marine Corps has a long tradition dating back to the First

From the book Crimea: the battle of special forces author Kolontaev Konstantin Vladimirovich

Marine Corps Armor The United States Marine Corps (ILC) is a highly mobile force capable of conducting combat operations virtually anywhere in the world, far from bases. Such tasks put forward special requirements for the composition and armament of units.

From the author's book

Chapter 1. Formation of new units of the Soviet marines after the start of the Great Patriotic War. By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, there were about 500 thousand people among the citizens of the USSR who were subject to conscription into the Armed Forces from the reserve.

From the author's book

Chapter 2. Formation of marines in the Black Sea Fleet after the start of the Great Patriotic War and before the start of the second defense of Sevastopol (period from July to October 1941) By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the Black Sea Fleet marines were

From the author's book

Chapter 3. Grigorievsky landing - the first landing operation of the Black Sea Fleet marines after the start of the Great Patriotic War The first large offensive landing action of the Soviet fleet after the start of the Great Patriotic War was the Black Sea landing

From the author's book

Chapter 4. Reflection by units of the Black Sea Fleet of the first assault on Sevastopol by German troops in the period October 31 - November 24, 1941. The processes of the formation and reorganization of marines in the Sevastopol defensive area in this

From the author's book

Chapter 6. Formation and reorganization, as well as the fighting of units of the marines in Sevastopol in the period between the second and third assaults in January - May 1942 Soon after the end of the second assault, in January 1942, in the initial period of relative calm again

From the author's book

Chapter 9. The role of the Black Sea Fleet marines in the battles for the defense and liberation of Sevastopol.

From the author's book

Chapter 10. List of Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet in 1941-1945 Separate platoons: 588th separate officer penalty platoon of the Black Sea Fleet. Separate companies: Marine Corps of the Danube Flotilla, Local rifle (guard) companies in Odessa, Kerch and Batumi,

After World War II, it seemed to many that lone warriors would not play any role in future battles. Taking into account the development of weapons of mass destruction, the emergence of new types military equipment the commanders of all the armies of the world relied on the scale of the forthcoming hostilities. The generals were preparing to fight in divisions and armies, with rapid breakthroughs in the enemy's defenses. In this regard, many military specialties were shown a "red card". So, in the US armed forces, this number included the position of a sniper, withdrawn from the states of line units. Today it’s hard to believe, but it was so. Vietnam was the beginning of the revival of sniper art. It was here that the exploits of the shooters influenced the change in the views of the army leadership about the methods and scope of use of snipers. The main mover of this process can be safely called the Master Sergeant of the Marine Corps Carlos Hathcock, who became a legend during his lifetime, after he, together with his partner, the observer, Corporal John Burke, destroyed a company of the regular army of North Vietnam in the Valley of Elephants.

Born hunter
In the mid-1980s, Charles Henderson's book "Marine Sniper" was published in the United States, which tells about the fate of Carlos Hathcock. In it, the author writes: “It takes a special courage to fight alone. The sniper is left alone with his thoughts, fear and doubts. Courage is not a special feeling of adrenaline rush, and you do not undertake this business so that other soldiers do not consider you a coward. " He also notes that the sniper does not hate the enemy. He respects him, but treats him like a prey. “Psychologically, the sniper is helped by the realization that he is the most suitable person for this kind of activity. Hatred on the battlefield destroys a person, and a sniper even faster than others. "
Yes, it is this kind of psychology that allows the sniper to feel like a hunter who goes alone to the bear. And in order to return alive and with prey, you need to be a professional from all points of view. It is not enough just to be able to shoot well, although this is important, you need to know the enemy's habits, his strengths and weaknesses, the places where he can be and, most importantly, where he can wait for you. All this Carlos Hathcock knew and knew how. Since childhood.
He was born in 1942 and raised in rural Arkansas, the very birthplace of another famous American army sniper, World War I hero Sergeant Alvin York. In 1959, on his 17th birthday, Carlos Hathcock volunteered for the Marine Corps. After completing a basic training course, he was sent to a sniper school in Hawaii. The only courses for the entire Marine Corps prepared a reserve of this specialty in case of war. The preparation here was carried out on the very the highest level... Judge for yourself: all training lasted one week. Future marksmen were really taught only shooting. No tactics, topography or anything else for you. All classes were held at firing lines at static targets.
In such conditions, Carlos Hathcock could hit the target with his eyes closed, without any optical devices. Affected by the skills of using weapons from a very early age. From the age of 5, he and his father began to go hunting. And from the age of 10 he hunted alone (his parents divorced, and the boy began to live with his grandmother), while he never came home without prey.
Here, one of the course leaders, Lieutenant Edward Jim Land, noticed a well-aimed shooter. It was he who invited the recruit to test himself in the competition for the best marksman in the Marine Corps. And, as they say, he made the right decision - Hathcock won with absolute superiority. Over the next few years, he had no equal, Carlos won all the competitions in which he participated, for example, the annual shooting competition of the navy. And he confirmed the title of the best shooter in the United States by winning the most prestigious competition in 1965 - the Wimbledon Long-Range Shooting Cup. He was awarded the honorary title of "High Class Multi-Stage Champion".

Vietcong hunting club
In 1966, Sergeant Hathcock was sent to Vietnam. He served in the military police for several months, after which he was transferred to the sniper school of the 1st Marine Division.

It was the second year of the official war, the need for the intensive use of snipers was finally realized by the American command. In the formations and units, the corresponding training structures (after the war they were all closed). In the 1st Division, the organizer of the school was Jim Land, who had already become a major by this time. Knowing what Carlos is capable of, he brought him in as an instructor. Over the next 8 months, the school, with a staff of 17, trained 600 shooters, while the curriculum was radically changed from what was taught in Hawaii.
As they would say in our army, in this military unit there was an excellent team of like-minded people, whose main business was a passion for weapons. They also instilled this in their wards. According to the school's instructors, the profession of a sniper was much more difficult than just the job of destroying a target. And the sniper is primarily a person with a large baggage of knowledge, and not a killing machine, stupidly shooting at a target from a long distance on the orders of the commander.
At Hathcock's suggestion, cadets were given skills not only in shooting, which was given most of the time, but also in other military sciences. In particular, the cadet had to know the tactics of the enemy's actions, be able to conduct observation, read the map and navigate the terrain, disguise himself, and also adjust the fire of artillery and aviation. In fact, it all boiled down to the fact that the school graduate was not only a sniper, but also a scout.
Later in the US Marine Corps, the Scout sniper position would become an integral part, but in the mid-60s this had to be proven. All students of the sniper courses were sent back to the units, however, according to the instructors, they could be used much more effectively by sending them on assignments on their own. This was confirmed by the successful statistics of cadets' reconnaissance, which they made first with instructors during training, and then alone, passing the final exam - actions in the territory controlled by the enemy. And as you might guess, no one ever returned “without loot”. Because of this, the main sniper base was nicknamed the "Murder Farm", but the name invented by the well-aimed shooters themselves - "Vietcong Hunting Club" became more widespread. This was more in line with their morality and philosophy.

Hamburger Catcher
TRAINING by training, but Carlos Hathcock preferred to be in battle more, to go out on special operations. He approached this business thoroughly, starting with a detailed study of the plan for completing the assignment, right up to inventing equipment for himself. Then there was still no ammunition specifically for snipers. Camouflage suits, sewn by hand. Here is how Hathcock himself later described the rest of the equipment of the sniper pair:
“The two of us have always traveled light. I carried a tarpaulin cartridge with eighty-four caliber 30.06 rounds with a full charge in metal cases, two canteens, a bayonet knife, a 45-gauge pistol, a compass, a map, and several small cans of peanut butter, jelly, cheese and dry biscuits. ... Burke (Corporal Johnny Burke is a constant partner in the war. - Author's note) carried practically the same thing. In addition, we had a model 70 hard drive with an optical sight, an M 14 rifle, binoculars, a radio and a high magnification sight tube. As soon as we returned from the assignment, we began to prepare for the next one, so at any moment we were ready to leave the place and go.

In Vietnam, US Army snipers used the Springfield 1903A4 rifle of the 1940 model with a telescopic sight that had a tenfold magnification. Such rifles were in service until the end of the 60s. The Marine Corps took a different path, using sporting weapons: Model 70 Winchesters in caliber 30.06 with a sliding bolt, some with Anertla's telescopic sight, others with those they could find. Later they will be replaced by the legendary M40 sniper rifle of the Marine Corps, designed on the basis of the target rifle "Remington 700" (Remington Model 700).
One shot - one hit. This famous motto of snipers around the world at Hathcock had a meaning. To kill the first time means to complete the work to the end. He did this not out of pleasure, but to protect American soldiers from injury and death, that is, to save life. Every guerrilla he killed in Indochina meant that another Marine or JI could return home alive.
Therefore, he constantly wandered in the jungle alone or with his comrade Corporal Burke in search of the next "hamburgers" - as they called their goals. During 1966-1967, the first cycle of Hathcock's stay in the war, 80 hits were recognized for him, including 7 in one day. However, only proven cases were included. The sniper's report was to be accompanied by evidence from an officer or sergeant. And among the unrecognized there were almost 100 more, whom he killed while hunting alone or in such conditions when it was impossible to get confirmation. So, he was not credited with a whole company, which he destroyed together with Burke in the Valley of the Elephants in March 1967.
During the next operation, being at the top of the hill, the Marines noticed a column of 80 soldiers, most likely recruits - young people in new uniforms, unlike the worn out uniforms of the Viet Cong guerrillas. The first bullet hit the officer walking in front, and at the same time killed the last one. Panic broke out, the soldiers began to hide behind the dams of the rice field (about 60 cm high). As soon as one of them raised his head, he died. Both shooters repeatedly changed position, avoiding enemy fire and causing additional confusion. On the morning of the fifth day, about 10 Vietnamese remained alive, almost dead from fear and fatigue. However, the Americans no longer had enough food and ammunition. So they called in the artillery, which finished the job. The only surviving Vietnamese sergeant, later caught by the reconnaissance group, did not want to believe that only 2 snipers did it all.
The Valley of the Elephants was the actual gateway from north to south, and the Kaid River flowing along it was constantly used by the guerrillas as a transport artery. The best sniper spot was hard to find. Hathcock and Burke often joined the reconnaissance detachments on patrol to the river, so that, having reached their goal about twenty kilometers from the base in Dan Nang, they would go on a "free" hunt.
So, in April 1967, the main target was the "Apache Woman" - the commander of the Viet Cong platoon, who was engaged in the professional torture of captured American soldiers. Hathcock, along with Major Land, after several days of patrolling, found her - she was at the head of a large group of partisans. The Americans decided to call upon themselves mortar fire, and at the moment of the first explosion, panic broke out among the partisans. The "Apache woman" rushed to run towards the Americans, hidden in the dense thickets. Hathcock calmly raised his rifle and fired.

Nicknamed "White Feather"
Every shot he shot brought death. Over time, legends began to circulate about his courage and skill both among his own and among his enemies. He was even given the nickname "White Feather" ("Long Chang"). It stuck to Hathcock after a sniper once picked up a feather from a beautiful soaring white bird and stuck it among the branches attached to the hat. In war, many soldiers wear talismans. Coin, church amulet, photograph. A sniper cannot do without luck at all. The white feather became Sergeant Hathcock's calling card.
Carlos was a master at shooting. That only is his shot, made in the same 1967. Sitting in ambush on a hillside above a wide valley near Doug Fo, a sniper shoots a bicycling messenger with a single shot at a distance of 2500 meters.
The Vietnamese listened to his name with horror. If the White Feather appeared anywhere, it became a harbinger of death. But he felt himself "like a duck on a fine day on a pond surrounded by hunters" when a Vietnamese sniper entered the fight with him. Most of all, he did not want the Vietnamese al to save the lives of his fellows and get his head in the collection.
To stop the activities of American snipers, the Vietcong command sent a platoon of their snipers to the vicinity of the base where the Vietcong Hunting Club was located. The Americans, although they suffered losses, but one by one destroyed all the enemy soldiers. Except for the most important and dangerous. From a wounded Vietnamese woman, the Americans learned that their enemy lives alone in the jungle, feeds on rabbits and rats, and catches snakes with his bare hands. Therefore, he was nicknamed Cobra.
Hathcock and Burke accepted the challenge and started the game. For two days they hunted down the Vietnamese in the tracks they left behind. On the morning of the third day, they found a hole dug in the ground. Fearing an ambush, the Americans surrounded her, but the cry of the frightened birds showed that Cobra had already left through another hole and was descending the hill. It all started all over again. In the afternoon, they struggled up the hill that dominated the area. Suddenly a shot rang out from under the fallen tree, and a bullet whistled through Burke's bowler hat. On the other side of the valley, they saw a Vietnamese fleeing. The Marines rushed after him, but did not have time to catch up. Continuing the hunt, the Americans lay down on the top of another hill. We waited for almost an hour. Evening was approaching. The setting sun was behind me. Suddenly something flashed a few dozen meters ahead.
"It looked like someone was dabbling in a mirror," Burke recalled. Hathcock fired immediately. The bullet went through the telescopic sight of the Cobra carbine and hit him in the eye. This meant that he was already holding Hathcock at gunpoint, and the question of life and death was decided only by seconds.

General hunting
But the most famous Hathcock operation was the elimination of a North Vietnamese general, the commander of one of the divisions. This happened a few days before his return to the United States. Carlos was summoned to headquarters and told about an important mission with a small chance of survival. An hour later, he was already sitting in a helicopter, and after a flight that lasted several hours, he was dropped off in the jungle. He only knew that he was somewhere in Laos, Cambodia or North Vietnam.
He walked along the route marked on the map and after six hours reached the desired area. The general's residence was in an old brick building, built in the French colonial style, well camouflaged from the air. There are many guards around, posts with machine guns. Everywhere there are Vietnamese soldiers, and there is no tree or bush on the territory of the headquarters. Everything was overgrown with grass up to half a meter high. There was only one way to get closer to the building - to crawl over one kilometer on bellies. He covered his face with camouflage paint and removed the white feather for the first time in his career.
On the first night, he moved at a speed of several meters per hour, stopping and listening every minute. Somehow the first patrol passed 5 meters away from him. The second was at dawn, with one soldier walking on the left and the other on the right. During the day, he gradually approached his firing position. In the afternoon, I came face to face with a bamboo snake, the bite of which kills in a few minutes. The reptile's ruby \u200b\u200beyes looked at the sniper from a distance of 40 cm. The emotions lasted for several seconds. The snake stuck out its black tongue, "sniffed" Hathcock, and silently moved on its way. The sniper took a long time to recover. At night, he reached a shallow ditch 700 meters from the general's apartment. From here it was possible to complete the task. He had to lie in the pit for another day without food, using only water. At dawn on the third day, Hathcock wiped off his optics and prepared his weapons. Through the window in the house, he noticed the general getting ready for the road. A few minutes later, the official, accompanied by an adjutant, left the building. The long-awaited moment has come. Hathcock grouped himself up and aimed his crosshair at the Vietnamese's chest. After waiting for the adjutant to stop covering the target, he pulled the trigger. The general fell ... It took Hathcock three days to reach his firing position, but the retreat took only 10 minutes. Taking advantage of the confusion and panic that arose, Hathcock ran along the dry bed of the irrigation canal and left the enemy's location and reached the agreed site, where he was picked up by a helicopter. His appearance, according to the evacuators, was terrible.
At the end of 1967, the command sent Hathcock on a well-deserved home leave. 13 months spent in the war physically drained the guy. Imagine, with an increase of 180 centimeters, he weighed a little over 50 kilograms.

Marine Corps Sniper
Carlos Hathcock returned to Vietnam in 1969. But, as it turned out, not for long.
In April, a Marine Corps platoon was ambushed near Caisson. The amphibious transporter on which the sniper was traveling was blown up by a land mine made from a 200-kg aerial bomb. The car turned over and caught fire. Hathcock climbed out of the car and then pulled seven more infantry from the flaming vehicles. When he went for the eighth, there was an explosion.
He woke up already in the hospital. His wounds were terrible. More than 40 percent of the skin was burnt. He was rushed to the US Army Medical Center in Texas, where he subsequently underwent 13 operations.
After a year of treatment, doctors recognized him as fit for military service, but he could no longer be a sniper. The account of the battle "trophies" of Carlos Hathcock stopped at 93 confirmed hits. This is not the largest number, Charles Mauhinney made 103 confirmed hits, Adalbert Walron 113 hits, but the actions of Hathcock influenced the change in the army command's ideas about the methods and scope of use of snipers. In this regard, to continue serving as a Knight of the Order of the "Silver Star" was sent to the Marine Corps base in Quantico, where preparations began for the opening of a school of scout snipers.
In 1975, Hathcock faced another blow of fate - his health deteriorated, and he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, with an incurable nervous breakdown. Over the next 14 years, he battled a terrible disease while continuing to train Marine snipers, and retired when he was no longer able to move independently. This happened 55 days before 20 years of service.
Sergeant Hathcock was escorted to retirement solemnly, with all the insignia. And as a sign of special gratitude for the merits from the command, he was presented with a commemorative plaque. The inscription on it read: “There were many Marines…. But there is only one Marine sniper - Sergeant Carlos Hathcock. One shot - one target. "
After retiring, he began lecturing at the police department on the art of sniping, as well as training snipers for SWAT units. Under his leadership, a special ten-day anti-terror sniper course was developed for them.
Two books will be written about his life (which have not yet been translated into Russian) and a film will be shot. The plot of the blockbuster "Sniper" with the participation of Tom Berenger will be based on the exploits of Hathcock in Vietnam.
On February 23, 1999, Carlos Hathcock passed away.

Victor BOLTIKOV