Hunt Chat - Longest "Confirmed" in Iraq

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Longest "Confirmed" in Iraq

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...light=2,sniper

Quote:

Marine sniper credited with longest confirmed kill in Iraq
Submitted by: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Story Identification #: 200512134758
Story by Cpl. Paul W. Leicht

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Jan. 02, 2005) -- Seen through a twenty-power spot scope, terrorists scrambled to deliver another mortar round into the tube. Across the Euphrates River from a concealed rooftop, the Marine sniper breathed gently and then squeezed a few pounds of pressure to the delicate trigger of the M40A3 sniper rifle in his grasp.

The rifle's crack froze the booming Fallujah battle like a photograph. As he moved the bolt back to load another round of 7.62mm ammunition, the sniper's spotter confirmed the terrorist went down from the shot mere seconds before the next crack of the rifle dropped another.

It wasn't the sniper's first kill in Iraq, but it was one for the history books.

On Nov. 11, 2004, while coalition forces fought to wrest control of Fallujah from a terrorist insurgency, Marine scout snipers with Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, applied their basic infantry skills and took them to a higher level.

"From the information we have, our chief scout sniper has the longest confirmed kill in Iraq so far," said Capt. Shayne McGinty, weapons platoon commander for "Bravo" Co. "In Fallujah there were some bad guys firing mortars at us and he took them out from more than 1,000 yards."

During the battle for the war-torn city, 1/23 Marine scout snipers demonstrated with patience, fearless initiative and wits that well-trained Marines could be some of the deadliest weapons in the world.

"You really don't have a threat here until it presents itself," said Sgt. Herbert B. Hancock, chief scout sniper, 1/23, and a 35-year-old police officer from Bryan, Texas, whose specialized training and skill helped save the lives of his fellow Marines during the battle. "In Fallujah we really didn't have that problem because it seemed like everybody was shooting at us. If they fired at us we just dropped them."

Stepping off on day one of the offensive from the northern edge of the Fallujah peninsula, the Marine reservists of 1/23, with their scout snipers, moved to secure a little island, but intense enemy fire near the bridgeheads limited their advance. Insurgents littered the city, filtering in behind their positions with indirect mortar and sniper fire.

"The insurgents started figuring out what was going on and started hitting us from behind, hitting our supply lines," said Hancock in his syrupy Texas drawl. "Originally we set up near a bridge and the next day we got a call on our radio that our company command post was receiving sniper fire. We worked our way back down the peninsula trying to find the sniper, but on the way down we encountered machinegun fire and what sounded like grenade launchers or mortars from across the river."

With a fire team of grunts pinned down nearby, Hancock and his spotter, Cpl. Geoffrey L. Flowers, a May 2004 graduate of Scout Sniper School, helped them out by locating the source of the enemy fire.

"After locating the gun position we called in indirect fire to immediate suppress that position and reduced it enough so we could also punch forward and get into a house," explained Hancock. "We got in the house and started to observe the area from which the insurgents were firing at us. They hit us good for about twenty minutes and were really hammering us. Our indirect fire (landed on) them and must have been effective because they didn't shoot anymore after that."

Continuing south down the peninsula to link up with the Bravo Co. command post, Hancock and Flowers next set up on a big building, taking a couple shots across the river at some suspected enemy spotters in vehicles.

"The insurgents in the vehicles were spotting for the mortar rounds coming from across the river so we were trying to locate their positions to reduce them as well as engage the vehicles," said Hancock. "There were certain vehicles in areas where the mortars would hit. They would show up and then stop and then the mortars would start hitting us and then the vehicles would leave so we figured out that they were spotters. We took out seven of those guys in one day."

Later, back at the company command post, enemy mortar rounds once again began to impact.

"There were several incoming rockets and mortars to our compound that day and there was no way the enemy could have seen it directly, so they probably had some spotters out there," said 22-year-old Flowers who is a college student from Pearland, Texas.

" Our (company commander) told us to go find where the mortars were coming from and take them out so we went back out," remembered Hancock. "We moved south some more and linked up with the rear elements of our first platoon. Then we got up on a building and scanned across the river. We looked out of the spot scope and saw about three to five insurgents manning a 120mm mortar tube. We got the coordinates for their position and set up a fire mission. We decided that when the rounds came in that I would engage them with the sniper rifle. We got the splash and there were two standing up looking right at us. One had a black (outfit) on. I shot and he dropped. Right in front of him another got up on his knees looking to try and find out where we were so I dropped him too. After that our mortars just hammered the position, so we moved around in on them."

The subsequent fire for effect landed right on the insurgent mortar position.

"We adjusted right about fifty yards where there were two other insurgents in a small house on the other side of the position," said Flowers. "There was some brush between them and the next nearest building about 400 yards south of where they were at and we were about 1,000 yards from them so I guess they thought we could not spot them. Some grunts were nearby with binoculars but they could not see them, plus they are not trained in detailed observation the way we are. We know what to look for such as target indicators and things that are not easy to see."

Hancock and Flowers then scanned several areas that they expected fire from, but the enemy mortars had silenced.

"After we had called in indirect fire and after all the adjustments from our mortars, I got the final 8-digit grid coordinates for the enemy mortar position, looked at our own position using GPS and figured out the distance to the targets we dropped to be 1,050 yards," said Flowers with a grin. "This time we were killing terrorism from more than 1,000 yards."

Photos included with story: Sgt. Herbert B. Hancock, chief scout sniper, sniper platoon, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, is credited with the longest confirmed kill in Iraq, hitting enemy terrorists from 1,050 yards in Fallujah Nov. 11, 2004. Hancock, a 35-year-old activated reservist and police officer from Bryan, Texas, has been a Marine Corps sniper since 1992.

Interesting last name... :cool:

Bet you're glad he isn't shooting skinnys in your 'hood.:D

amazing what that .308 will do isn't it???

Whoa...I somehow missed that it was a .308 the first time I read that. I just kinda assumed that at that distance it was the .50. That makes it even more impressive. Not just that, but Herbie Hancock made the shot!

I wonder if he was using Sierra Match Kings or one of those premium bullets that are necessary for big game? :D :D

7.62 is .308 ammo

I know 7.62 is .308, I just somehow completely overlooked the mention of 7.62 ammo being used...happens when you just kinda skim through stuff once in a while.

Really good ammo, really good equipment, excellent training, works everytime...

Every M40 rifle uses Custom ammo loaded just for that rifle by the armorers at the Marine Armory in Quanico VA. They use the Sierra 175gr Match-King and Lake City Match brass. The 175 Match-King will remain supersonic out to1000 yds when fired from the 7.62 NATO. Bad news for the bad guys!!!

P.S. Evan03, Take easy it on the Marines. I'd be willing to bet that the "average marine sniper" can out-shoot you any day,any time,
any weather,anywhere with any rifle. And we're not even talking
about the "good snipers". I know. My step-cousin has been one for 14 yrs. I think that he currently with the 3rd Force Recon Batt.
I use him when I get a chance to see how good a new rifle will
shoot. Most of my rifles shoot better than I do.

Quote:

Originally posted by Evan03
i wonder if they just get lucky flinging that 1000 pack bulk crud. chances are they are.

man they must be shootin some kinda decent ammo, unless we are to cheap

i for atleast in this area dont have much respect for the level of acuracy im seeing out of our guys that pack firearms around everyday as part of theyre job. i dont care if you trained sniper or not. when you go shooting with me you damn well better be able to hit the side of the barn at 300yds, with any rifle i throw you it blows me away

What the hell? Dude, are you just saying your not impressed with what your reading, or did I miss the part where you where in Iraq and had first hand experience?

I've deleted and moved several posts in this thread and a thread in AAG directly related to this one.
I don't think Evan was deliberately trying to run down our Mil Snipers and he may have just typed it out in the wrong way.
The responses back to him were pushing the envelope per HC's rules.
Speaking for myself, I have great respect for our Marines and soldiers and what they do and have done. I'm sure Evan meant no disrespect.

http://www.huntchat.com/rules.php

(4) Remember that written communication seldom conveys the entire gist of the message. Even with smilies and emoticons, messages may come across to you in a way not intended by the poster. If you find something offensive, ask for clarification and do not presume intent as you perceive it. The benefit of a doubt goes a long way in this mode of communication.

(5) No personal attacks, period. This includes disrespect, antagonism, baiting, name-calling and a host of other demeaning attributes. Such behavior, whether perceived as justified or not, is forbidden. Disagreements are common in groups of highly individual people, but we pursue the goal of communication above insult and we endeavor to keep it that way. If you feel the need to pursue such an exchange, do it off site. It will not be tolerated here. If you feel that you are being personally attacked by a moderator or treated unfairly, please notify Petey immediately.

These rules might seem to pussify HuntChat but we try to set ourselves above the flame wars that start on other boards.
Hence the atmosphere is more family-oriented. :)
So lets move on.

Thanks for understanding.
Allen

We had a really great sniper in Nam named Carlos Hathcock! He was ...well....great at what he was trained for!

I see that the "Editorial Police" have come-a-callin'.
I don't care what anybody thinks.
I stand behind EVERY word that I said!!
Anybody up for round two ?

Is a Sierra Matchking a non-expanding bullet? I thought that all bullets had to be FMJ, non-expanding, under the rules of modern warfare. I guess it could be classified as such, even though I know we have had a couple of discussions on here about whether a Matchking bullet should be used for hunting, and several people on the board have stated it expands quite well.

Of course, I might not be completely right about the rules of modern warfare.

I also thought I heard somewhere that the Marines were using .300 Win Mags as sniper rounds. I know the .308 has been used for a while, just thought the .300 Win Mag was also being used.

Last but not least, the "editorial police" are what keep this board civil and a joy to be on. When something gets edited, it usually deserves to be and it is usually discussed amongst several people before it gets edited. Whatever was said before is water under the bridge. I think we all should give the military a great amount of respect, because if they didn't do the dirty work for us, this nation wouldn't be such a great place to live in. Likewise, we should give the "editorial police" some respect too because without them this board wouldn't be quite as enjoyable. I have met Skinny in person, spoke to him several times on the phone, and sent him several e-mails. He is a nice, decent guy that devotes a good amount of his time to making the board a nice place to be, and he doesn't get paid for doing it. Let's not give him any flack for trying to keep it a nice place to be.

Yea, Yea, I know. But certain things (and certain people) really
tick me off. Skinny is only doing his job.

The Marines are using the 300 mostly for 1000 yd target comp.
heard a rumor that they were testing the .338 Lapua mag for
field use. The Brits are using them with execellent results.
The 308 stays around because if for some reason you run out of custom ammo you can still use machine gun ammo.

Quote:

Originally posted by fabsroman
Is a Sierra Matchking a non-expanding bullet? I thought that all bullets had to be FMJ, non-expanding, under the rules of modern warfare. I guess it could be classified as such, even though I know we have had a couple of discussions on here about whether a Matchking bullet should be used for hunting, and several people on the board have stated it expands quite well.

Of course, I might not be completely right about the rules of modern warfare.

We never signed the Accords which laid down the law on whats human and whats not. We simply try to abide by the rules if and when we can.

Matchkings, is being use quite a bit, especcially with Spec Ops elements that have grown fond of 77 grain ammo provided by Black Hills. It retains a lot of energy out to around 600 meteres or so, much better than the 62 grain M855 ball we have now.

YOTE AND FABSROMAN

PART OF WHAT GOT DELETED WAS MY REPLY TO A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL WHO INSINUATED MY COMRADE, YOTE, SPOKE AN UNTRUTH. ALSO THAT HE WAS SPEWING FORTH MALE BOVINE MANURE. NO BODY IS GOING TO TELL A FELLOW VETERAN THAT IN FRONT OF ME.

I DIDN'T SPEND 27 YEARS OF MY LIFE DEFENDING MY COUNTRY AND HAVE TO LISTEN TO SUCH MEANDERINGS. I ALSO DEFENDED MY COUNTRY SO THAT THE MODERATOR COULD DO WHAT HE DID. I WAS IN VIETNAM WHEN HE WAS WETTING HIS DIDDIES, BUT THAT IS NOT RELEVANT.

OH, AND BY THE WAY WHEN WE GOT BACK FROM VIETNAM WE GOT SPIT ON AT THE AIRPORT BY "OUR COUNTRY MEN". THINK I GOT AN AXE TO GRIND, YOU BET YOUR PATOOTIE I DO. I STILL HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN AND NEVER WILL.

SO WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT A FELLOW SERVICEMAN PAST OR PRESENT, IN FRONT OF ME, THEY CAN EXPECT A BARAGE FROM ME. AND I'LL BE GLAD TO TAKE THE HIT FOR IT. I'VE GOT A RUBBER BALL IN MY BACKSIDE AND I'LL BOUNCE RIGHT BACK UP IF YOU KNOCK ME DOWN.

DON'T PICK ON MY FRIENDS AND COMRADES AND WE WILL GET ALONG FINE.

THANKS.

WILLIAM DOERSAM SR.
MSGT, USAF/RETIRED

Yote, thanks for understanding. I could be accused of being the "EP" if I deleted a post or edited it because I didn't agree with it. Editorial police is a good one but I'd prefer the title "brown shirt" :D
Billy, I'm aware of the service to your country and what you've left behind in S.E. Asia per some previous posts. And wanting to help a fellow Vet is commendable.
But, when the board rules are broken, we (moderators) have to step in. We don't look to hassle members on purpose but if we didn't have some rules, this board would degenerate quickly.
Does that seem unreasonable?

Anyone that's wants to continue the conversation, please feel free to PM or email me. I'd like to hear from you.

Now that everyone has had their say let's get back to guns and shootin'.
Allen

ALLEN

MY APOLOGIES. WHEN I READ WHAT THE PERP SAID I WENT SUB ORBITAL BALLISTIC AND SCREWED MY SELF INTO THE CEILING. AT 68 YOU'D THINK I WOULD KNOW BETTER, BUT AGE DOESN'T FIX ALL PROBLEMS.

MY GRANDPA TOLD ME WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY, "IF SOMETHINGS NOT RIGHT, FIX IT." THOSE WORDS HAVE BEEN IN MY COMPUTER BANK ALL MY LIFE.

I CAN CERTAINLY AGREE WITH YOUR ASSESSMENT ABOUT THE BOARDS AND HOW THINGS COULD DEGENERATE INTO SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE PUBLIC. I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS IN NOT LETTING THAT TYPE OF THING HAPPEN. I DON'T CONSIDER YOU A "BROWN SHIRT" OR "THE EDIT POLICE". I AM A MEMBER OF OTHER FORUMS WHERE MEMBERS USE LANGUAGE THAT IS NOT THE MOST APPROPRIATE, EXCEPT IN A BARROOM, AND EVEN THEN IT WOULD BE QUESTIOABLE. SO I CAN ONLY COMMEND YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

YOUR POLICY SEEMS TOTALLY REASONABLE TO ME AND YOU HAVE MY FULLEST COOPERATION. I DIDN'T GET TO SEE WHAT WAS POSTED AFTER I LET GO WITH MY SALVO BUT IT IS IRRELEVANT NOW. THANKS FOR PULLING IN THE REINS.

SINCERELY,

THANKS, BILL

So, what you are telling me is that we decided to follow the rules when it suits us and we are enforcing those rules against Iraq because they were violating them by manufacturing weapons of mass destruction and chemical weapons. Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black. In essence, we can do whatever we want, but other countries cannot.

Personally, I think we should do whatever we want because we are the strongest nation in the world. Then again, I can see why a lot of countries might not like us.

How the military guys explain it to me is that FMJ ammo is when you are fighting a UNIFORMED enemy who also signed the geneva convention. If our soldiers are shooting at terrorists, they can use any bullet they want.

Okay, that makes sense. In other words, we obey the rules when we are fighting others that obey the rules, and when fighting those that don't follow the rules, all bets are off.

Snipers have never followed the "rules" and never will. That's the nature of the game. I know of 2 U.S military snipers who receive handloads from home loaded with Nosler BT's. (A shoulder wound that rips your arm off!). It is roumored that german snipers in WWI & WW II used bullets laced with mecury. So much for playing by the rules.

fabsroman, spoken like a true lawer !! (Flip-Flop & Flim-Flam).
You chose your trade in life, need I say more?

Yeah, I actually enjoy my profession most of the time. However, sometimes it does suck.

Yote:
First let em say I agree with most of your posts on this thread.
By you backing your claims against Evan with military experience, I assume you know of what you talk. And I also understand how your temp rose when you felt offended.
But now you insult Fabsroman's profession and him personally? I think we all need to lighten up some around here... and my vote goes for ending this thread. Obviously, our own opinions are more important then civility on this one.:rolleyes:

Just giving fab-man a little tickle with the ol' pheasant feather!!

By the way, I smell poop, is there a lawyer in here????
TEE-HEE-HEE!!!!:D :D :D :D

Gotta love those lawyer jokes.

Trust me, there are plenty of lawyer jokes out there, and I think I have heard them all.

Q: How many electricians does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Twenty. One to stand on the ladder and hold the light bulb
and the other 19 to sit around and drink until the room spins!!

(I'm a Union Electrician by trade)

A little candy for fabs! Enjoy.

The reason I love this site is because it is usually good for a laugh or two a day. Today was a tough day at work. I was working with a man that understands nothing about the tax code (i.e., he is in the granite counter top fabrication and installation business). He wanted to know if he could deduct the $12,000 in plastic surgery that he was paying for his girlfriend. I asked if she was a professional prostitute in Nevada or a stripper, and the answer was no so the deductibility answer was no. Even if she were a prostitute or stripper, he still wouldn't have been able to deduct the expense on his tax return because it would have been her expense. After trying to explain that to him, I told him that by taking $12,000 out of the company to pay for the surgery, he would have to pay about $3,000 in taxes next year. He couldn't understand that either. What really got him out of his chair was when I told him that his tax liability for 2004 would probably be around $30,000 or more. He has been in business for almost a year now and he is making money hand over fist. Problem is that he is a good granite guy, not a good business man, and he spends the money left and right, doesn't keep receipts for all of his "cash" business expenses, doesn't understand why he has to pay taxes on money he withdraws out of his business bank account with his ATM card, and he doesn't understand that he has to pay taxes as a small business owner (i.e., his clients do not withhold taxes like his previous employers did). What a nightmare, but this post and the rabbit post in hunting tales were good enough to get rid of some of the headache.

guys id just like to apoligize.

what i meant to say went a screw with what i said.

what i said didnt have anything to do with trained snipers. snipers are in a league all there own, and im positive the worst one in the bunch could out shoot me head over hills any day of the week rain or shine. i dont claim to be better than anyone. not anyone on this site or anywhere.

again i apoligize for miss leading everyone

Evan

EVAN

OK. I'LL BUY THAT.

AT LEAST YOU WERE GENTLEMAN ENOUGH TO APOLOGIZE. I APPRECIATE THAT.

IT'S OVER AND DONE.

LETS START ANEW.

When I first read this thread by Skinny (i.e., before there were any replies), I thought it was a good story and left it at that. Didn't think much would come of it on the board. Next thing I know, I look at the thread and it is a couple pages long. If we keep this up, it just might be able to rival the manbeef thread from years ago.

OK FABS, I'M NEW TO THIS FORUM.

SO WHATS THE MANBEEF GIG?

ROOKIES WANT TO KNOW.

THIS THREAD WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN SO LONG IF A CUOPLE OF GUYS NAMED YOTE AND BILLY D. WEREN'T KINDA THIN SKINNED. A GUY TAKES ENOUGH CRAP IN THE MILITARY AND EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE YOUR CRAP OVERFILL LIGHT COMES ON AND YA BLOW YOUR STACK.

A STRANGE THING ABOUT THE MILITARY. WE CAN CALL EACH OTHER NAMES AND OTHER ASSORTED THINGS, AND THEIR IS SUCH A THING AS INTERSERVICE RIVALRY, BUT LET SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE THE BROTHERHOOD SAY SOMETHING AND THERE WILL BE RETRIBUTION.

JUST THE WAY WE ARE.

I HOPE YOU AND ALLEN AND EVAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

Roger That! And apology accepted.

boys i had no hard feelings nor did i mean naything bad about anyone,

this is an old thread, old old already. i dont check my personell messeges very often but i did yesterday. that is the only reason i knew there were happings going on with it.

why i originaly responded with what i did i dont know. maybe i was short on sleep. in a bad mood. or just maybe its all the military freinds that im tired of. lol nothing against them either.

whats done is done. i would have apoligized a long time ago if id of checked the thread, but i didnt and this thread is now pretty well wasted.

again i apoligize, for wasteing this space on the net and our time.

Evan

Evan03, Yote, and Billy D.,

You guys are all good guys, assuming that you are men lol.

Quite honestly Billy, I have no idea what the manbeef thread was about. I was so confused by it I stopped reading it. However, it stayed around forever and I continued to see it on my new posts page for quite a while. I think it died down for a while and then came back again. It was posted in the Almost Anything Goes ("AAG") forum when I first started visiting the board and I think I saw it there just a couple months ago.

I'll see if I can resurrect it for you. Probably something Skinny doesn't want to hear. LOL