| | | History of Snipers | While the the use of camouflage and stealth have
probably always been a part of the hunting techniques
of ancient man, the idea to use these same techniques
in combat is a relatively new idea.
The term "sniper" was originally used to describe a
person who was skilled at hunting snipe. The snipe was
a notoriously wary and skittish bird with excellent
eyesight. In order to hunt snipe, one had to not only
be a master marksman, but also be skilled in the arts
of subtlety and camouflage.
Armed forces in the late eighteenth century were
commonly adorned with bright, flashy, easily
distinguished uniforms. It was the thinking of the
military leaders that the bright uniforms would
attract new recruits, foster troop cohesion and
morale, and reduce the instances of friendly fire in
conditions of low visibility. As weapons gained range
and accuracy, these gaudy uniforms only served to make
a better target for the enemy. British troops in India
found that by soaking their white summer uniforms in
tea, that they were able to dye them a light tan color
that stood out far less than the previously used red
uniform.
The british thought of the idea of using snipers in
combat from observing the way gamekeepers used
camouflage ghillie suits to stalk and hunt game. The first British
sniper group was Lovat's Scouts, who were recognized
for their work during the second Boer War.
During the American Civil War, but the Union and
Confederate forces employed "skirmishers" who were
scouts positioned on the outskirts of a moving
regiment of troops. These scouts were charged with
protecting the troops while they moved.
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