The Winter GB...!

[Guest]

That is an interesting definition as the Baker rifle ,which was issued to the 95th , outclassed the standard issue Brown Bess and the two rifle regiments were specially trained in their use.

Apparantly a Rifleman called Tom Plunket shot the French cavalry General Colvert in the head at well over three hundred yards and after reloading headshot the Trumpeter who went over to check on the Generals condition.He shot them both while lying on his back with the rifles sling wrapped around his foot.

I think the Rifle Regiments would of used cover ,while skirmishing/sharpshooting (if available) as they were not a strictly line regiment. Also i need an excuse to start on the Napoleonic stash as i haven't made one since i was a kid.

All the best,Paul

[Guest]

Nice one Ian,sorry i didn't see your reply before i submitted my last one.I best get me thinking hat on now.

All the best ,Paul (or Paolo ,whatevers easiest to type really)

[Guest]

Just to clear the history up a bit, I came across this while doing a bit of research into the Accuracy International L115A3 sniper rifle

The snipe is a wading bird renowned for being the hardest of all birds to hunt due to being difficult to locate, impossible to approach without flushing, or to hit once in the air due to its erratic flight. In the days of market hunting, those who brought snipes to market were regarded as the best of the best and earned the term snipers. The verb snipe originated in the 1770s among soldiers in British India applying similar skills in wartime with a human quarry.

So 1815 is fine by the sound of it

[Guest]

"Sharpshooter" was another word that was used at the time, IIRC.

Nelson was killed at Trafalgar by a chap in the rigging of a French ship with a rifle, and that chap is usually referred to as a sharpshooter - so I'd say in terms of terminology perhaps at that point "sniper" was still a bit of Indian army jargon and the chaps in the 95th Rifles would have called themselves sharpshooters. Or, yes, Light Infantry.

[Guest]

Also, while we're on the subject of ruthlessly effective snipers, may I present Simo Häyhä, known to the Russians as "Belaya Smert" - the White Death. For a rather more colourful (language warning!) account of his exploits, see here.