Counter-sniper tactics

Counter-sniper tactics are military tactics and countermeasures used to avoid, neutralize, or reduce the effectiveness of hostile snipers.

During the stalking phase of their attack, a sniper will, if time allows, try to identify high-value targets, such as other snipers, spotters, heavy weapon operators, medics and engineers, or senior officers and NCOs. They will do this by closely observing the behavior of the people in front of them. The intention is to identify who is in charge and then prepare to fire at them. It naturally follows that leaders should attempt to blend into the background by avoiding anything that distinguishes them from the most junior soldiers and attracts the interest of a sniper.

To reduce a sniper's ability to disrupt the chain of command, doctrine and equipment need to prevent any observable "leadership" behaviors and signs. Identification symbols, e.g. rank insignia, should be subdued (i.e. dark or black as opposed to bright colors), camouflage colors on battledress, battledress identical for all ranks, military servants and rank-based luxuries (like saluting) avoided in forward areas, and commands and instruction should be given discreetly. Other acts such as looking at maps, using a radio, pointing authoritatively, abstaining from menial tasks, and other forms of body language can betray an officer's rank.

Because snipers use camouflage, choose their firing positions carefully, and often attack from long distances, they are difficult to locate. Gunfire locators have been developed to do this. These may sense a variety of signatures, including:

When the trajectory of the bullet can be sensed, backtracking can be done to calculate the sniper's location. Sensor techniques are often used in combination to improve detection and eliminate false alarms.

A friendly sniper is generally the most effective counter-sniper tool. With similar training, knowledge of the surroundings, and equipment, the friendly sniper can offer advice to the squad, enhance searching capability, and combat the enemy sniper directly. When told what to watch for, the squad can also act as additional eyes and ears for the friendly sniper. Aside from watching over the squad, the friendly sniper also has the option to detach and engage the enemy sniper. With no outside help from the squad, the respective skills of each sniper play a significant role in determining victory. The enemy sniper's skill can also be determined by the precision of their shots.

Once a sniper's position is known or suspected, other options follow: