Page 35 - History of War - Issue 25-16

10 DEADLIEST SNIPERS

The Texan-born Navy SEAL who became the
01. Chris Kyle most notorious sniper in US military history

Growing up, Kyle wanted to be a bronco rider, a dozen insurgents in the irst 12 hours. Kyle fact language he used regarding his kills, along
but a fall at a rodeo set him on the path to used a number of ril es but preferred the with calling Iraqis “savages”. Kyle defended
becoming a Navy SEAL. After graduating from bolt action .300 Winchester Magnum Mk15, himself by claiming that he was only referring to
the punishing Basic Underwater Demolition/ which accounted for most of his kills, and the the insurgents.
SEAL (BUDs) selection course, he was posted McMillan TAC-338. He made his longest shot Surprisingly, considering he experienced
to SEAL Team Three before later completing against an insurgent RPG gunner in Sadr City some of the heaviest i ghting of the Iraq War,
the three-month SEAL sniper course. His i rst in 2008 using the TAC-338. Kyle’s fame led Kyle died not on the battlei eld but back in his
kill came during the invasion of Iraq when an to him being christened ‘the Legend’ by the home state of Texas. After leaving the navy
Iraqi woman attempted to throw an anti-tank SEALs and ‘Shaitan Ar-Ramadi’ or the ‘Devil of and writing his book, he established a shooting
grenade at US Marines. Kyle, watching from a Ramadi’ by the insurgents. school and volunteered to help fellow veterans
rooftop hide, shot her before she could release Kyle completed four combat tours of Iraq suffering from PTSD. One of these veterans, a
the grenade. Many more followed, including a before retiring from the navy in 2009. In 2012, 25-year-old former US Marine, shot and killed
1,460-metre shot in Fallujah. his autobiography, titled American Sniper, both Kyle and a friend at a target range in
The majority of Kyle’s kills was released, earning him acclaim from February 2013. The highly successful biopic
were during the Battle those who saw him as a God-fearing of his life, directed by Clint Eastwood, was
of Ramadi in 2005, and patriotic American. However, he released in 2015, but takes some liberties with
when he dispatched attracted criticism for the matter-of- Kyle’s own account.
“THE MAJORITY OF KYLE’S KILLS WERE DURING THE
Right: The late Chris
Kyle, former Navy SEAL BATTLE OF RAMADI IN 2005, WHEN HE DISPATCHED A
sniper and ofi cially the
most deadly sniper in DOZEN INSURGENTS IN THE FIRST 12 HOURS”
the US military
Far right: Two
Marines take cover
during the 2005
Battle of Ramadi

Confirmed kills: 160
Unconfirmed kills: 200+
Longest shot: 1,920 metres (2,100 yards)
Bounty: $20,000