3 December 1965

BATTALION ORDER 3574.2

From:       Commanding Officer

To:            Distribution List

Subj:         Sniper Team

Ref:     (a)            RegtO 3574.1

1. Purpose.  To establish procedures and instructions for the Battalion Sniper Team.
2. Background.
3. Experience in the Chu Lai area has shown that the predominance of VC small arms fire has been at ranges for 500 to 1000 meters.  At such ranges it is, in most cases, difficult to locate the source of firing and to place well aimed shots on target.  Further, the natural concealment, in most areas, permits VC to move with small chance of detection.
4. In compliance with reference (a) a Battalion Sniper Team has been formed.  Members of the sniper team are capable of placing well aimed fire on targets at ranges up to and including 1000 meters.
5. Assignment.  The S-2 Officer is appointed Battalion Sniper Team Project Officer.
6. Action.
7. Battalion Sniper Team Project Officer

(1)               Coordinate Sniper Team activities within the Battalion.

(2)               Approve ammunition requests and submit them to the Regimental Sniper Team Project Officer 24 hours prior to date required.

(3)               Insure that sniper rifles are used only by trained snipers.

(4)               Submit required reports to the Regimental Sniper Team Project Officer upon completion of a mission.  Negative reports are required.

(5)               Submit a report to the Regimental Sniper Team Project Officer upon completion of four months usage in the following format.

(a)                Evaluation of weapons, scopes and ammunition to include significant maintenance problems.

(b)               Methods of employment.

(c)                Results of program.

(d)               If warranted, a recommended table of organization and table of equipment.

(6)               Assigned Responsible Officer for sniper rifles and scopes.

1. Battalion Sniper Team Leaders.

(1)               Requisition ammunition for their teams via the Battalion Sniper Team Project Officer and distribute same.

(2)               Ensure that sniper rifles are employed only by trained snipers.

(3)               Store all sniper rifles in the Battalion Armory when not in use.

1. Operations Officer.  Report results of the employment of sniper teams on daily situation reports indicating the location, times, methods of employment, ammunition expended, and casualties inflicted.
2. Company Commander.

(1)               Plan and conduct sniper activity within own companies.

(2)               Advise Sniper Team Project officer of planned employment of snipers.

(3)               Request additional snipers as required through the Battalion Sniper Team Project Officer.

(4)               Provide snipers for use by other Companies as requested by Sniper Team Project Officer.

(5)               Submit a report to the Battalion Sniper Team Project Officer within four hours after the completion of each mission to include the following.

(a)   Number of rounds fired.  (Match ammo)

(b)   Number of rounds on hand.  (Match ammo)

(c)   Hits scored (include time and coordinates of target).

(d)   Number of enemies killed and wounded.

(e)   Any difficulties encountered with weapons.

5. Ammunition.  Match ammunition will be issued at the Regimental Armory only to Sniper Team Leaders possessing approved requisitions.
6. Maintenance.
7. Under no circumstances will rifles be disassembled by the individual or by the unit.
8. When maintenance is required, regardless of how minor, the weapon must be turned into the Regimental Armory.
9. Cleaning is limited to the bore, outside of the rifle and stock only.
10. Do not disassemble scope.  Interior cleaning and all maintenance is performed by FLSG.
11. Safety.  Care must be exercised that innocent persons are not the victims of sniper rifle fire.

1. J. PERRICH

This page last corrected 19 September 2011