WWI Marine Scout Sniper Accuracy - Wow!

[Jim Tarleton]

History from the Rear!

One might think that there are no records of Marine sniper shots from WWI, but one would be wrong. There is a record of Marine Scout Sniper Pvt Roland Fischer killing six Germans at a range of 1400 yards on 11 Jun 1918. The shots were witnessed (written testimony) by an officer and a staff NCO. The rifle used? A 1903 Springfield fitted with a Winchester A5 scope with a very interesting serial number. Those shots were made using the ammo of the day, not reloads or Match grade ammo, and under direct artillery fire and severe combat conditions. The very proficent Marine Sniper was subsequently wounded by artillery fire for his effort.

Most WWI Marine Sniper kills in one day (so far) was twelve Germans, a feat accomplished by the indomitable "Old Corps" Marine Sniper Pvt (GSgt) Walter Cook on 2 Jun 1918.

How about them apples? Move over Hathcock, those boys could shoot too.

Semper Fi,

Jim

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Lancebear]

Hey Jim,

Thanks for the great post.

Any info on how many shots Pvt. Fischer fired? Figure at 1400 yards maybe he and his spotter remained in one position since the distance would make it hard for the Huns to locate them? Guess they did since they put artillery on the man. Maybe it was a good guess and a big spread.

Remember reading another of your posts about snipers not being especially liked by regular troops because they drew big shells their way. Think that was you?

Hey...did that rifle serial happen to have a "666" in it, would be appropriate for a "Devil Dog" to be shootin' it.

Death to bad guys,

Robert/Lancebear

[Jim Tarleton]

Robert,

I don't have the narrative in front of me, but I don't recall any mention of the number of shots he took, but he had no spotter. He was firing from a haystack.

Artillery was the solution to snipers firing from a distance for both sides, and the snipers did draw artillery fire. The Marines seemed to have accepted this fact moreso than their Army counterparts. German snipers firing in close were promptly dispatched by the Marines by whatever means they had at hand. This particular Marine sniper survived horrendous battles and a wound only to die from Spanish Influenza just before the Armistice.

The rifle he was using didn't have a "666" in it, but it was from a set of rifles not attributed to Marine Corps use. I have recently gained access to a large number of Belleau Woods Marine rifle serial numbers, and they were not what I expected except for the sniper rifles. I do know for a fact that Niedner mounted sniper rifles made the trip, but I have yet to identify any of the 1918 Winchester mounted sniper rifles at Belleau Woods. Marine snipers were used extensively at Belleau Woods, but I have found little evidence of similar large use of snipers at Soissons or Mont Blanc (probably due to terrain). The final drive in the north edge of Belleau Woods was preceded by a mass of Marine snipers picking off Boche machinegun crews (Lee's idea) followed by a massive artillery barrage. The results were devastating to the Germans, and led to a final successful assault.

Semper Fi,
Jim

[Lancebear]

Hey Jim,

Thanks for the extra details, seems like the Marines figured it out in the end and made the Boche pay in spades. Gotta' get back to reading and get some more books about Belleau.

Hittin' the show in Kenner tomorrow. Hope to sell probably the best '03 that will be in the house and also trade a Colt revolver for an antique Winchester .44-40 rifle that I have been wanting for awhile if the guy still has it.

When does your book come out?.

Man...the information you find.

Cheers to the brave and the smart,

Robert Lancebear

[gunner]

So as i read in a older thread they use the rifle for sniping also without a scope. Then my Winchester could also have been such a sniper rifle.

Regards

Gunner

[Jim Tarleton]

No book. I just like to do research. It keeps me awake on those long drives to work. Besides, someone has to speak for the "old" Marines who gave their all. Speaking of old Marines, If you check the Muster Rolls, you will see that most of the "Old Salts" died on the 6th of June. It was the fresh young Marines who won that battle in the end, and the subsequent battles were won by lowly replacements. A Marine is a Marine, and once a Marine, always a Marine.

Besides, I was trying to understand the internal forces that would convince men to walk, not run, across 600 yards of open field in the face of dozens of blazing interlocking machine guns. I have decided it was E'sprit de Corps.

Semper Fi,
Jim

[gunner]

It must been this E`sprit de Corps there is no other logically explanation to do
such things, with that thoughts: "When does it hit me?" in your mind ! You wrote about a long way to get to work, what is a long way for you? Here you can say there is a long way when you have to drive for an hour or so.

Regards

Gunner

[Jim Tarleton]

So as i read in a older thread they use the rifle for sniping also without a scope. Then my Winchester could also have been such a sniper rifle.

Regards

Gunner

Gunner, if you are referring to the Marines, your Winchester could never be one of those rifles. I have found many instances of individual Marines "sniping" with open sighted rifles as a matter of necessity, but the Marine Scout Snipers used Winchester A5 scoped rifles.

Semper Fi,
Jim

[Jim Tarleton]

It must been this E`sprit de Corps there is no other logically explanation to do
such things, with that thoughts: "When does it hit me?" in your mind ! You wrote about a long way to get to work, what is a long way for you? Here you can say there is a long way when you have to drive for an hour or so.

Regards

Gunner

My work commute is 72 miles one way (Burgaw to Spivey's Corner). That is an improvement, as my last job was 75 miles one way (Corpus Christi to Rosita). Someday I will have a job in the same County where I live. It will be the first time since 1985. I used to be lucky if my job was in the same state I lived in (lived in Texas, worked in Louisiana, 1982-1985).

Semper Fi,
Jim

[gunner]

Hi Jim,

here we have some Truck-drivers they have a document from M.A.N (a truck maker) wich says they had driven M.A.N for more than 1.5 millions of kilometers. You will have this in miles to work. I am a bit better i have only 54 km all the way to and back from work.

Regards

Gunner