Heliborne SEAL sniper

[Tuck's]

In the SNIPERNET forum, it says that SEAL snipers are used as platoon support to cover SEAL raiding parties from inside a helo
,using M21 rifles.
Is this true?

Thanks

[SSD]

Not what I'd consider a stable shooting platform.

[Jay]

Im not sure about the Seals, but I know the Rangers and Delta Force use heliborne snipers. Two of whom won the Medal of Honor in Somalia for covering a downed air crew until their ammo ran out.

[Michael Robertson Moore]

Yes, but Shughart and Gordon earned the MOH for roping down from the Black Hawk to defend Durant on the ground.

[GreenGhost]

Not to mention they had been inserted about 500 meters( more if i remember the story right) and then had to walk on foot to the village. They ran out of their ammo and the ammo of a few of their vicims and the ammo from the guns in the downed HELO. A brave act even though only the pilot came out alive from it.
GHOST

[Roy]

The sad thing is when they ran out of ammo they were over-run and killed. And there wives recived the MOH in the honor.


Roy

[GreenGhost]

Yeah.... Its too bad..... they were great men.... who really believed in Duty, Honor, Country. Such a terrible way to go out of this world for such a selfless act of heroism.....

[Mac679]

their sacrifice explempified the Creed in every way, shape, and form.
"...Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and shall fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy, and under no circumstance will I ever embarrass my country.
Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor."
Mac
"Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die"

[Infil Rat]

Heliborne sniper support by the SEALS I believe was established in the 80's. So yes, they do use heliborne snipers. As for the choice in weapons, it's a take your pick type situation. Basically if you can sling it, or secure it with a bungy and hang it out of the doors on a helo; snipers will use it.I've seen everything from MP-5's to FR-F2 sniper rifles being used from a helo's. For a visual example of this technique watch "SEALs- The Silent Option" on the Discovery Channel. There's a scenario of a oil rig take down, and for cover a pair of Ocean Hawk helo's with shooters armed with M4's with optics are featured.