Page 36 - History of War - Issue 25-16

10 DEADLIEST SNIPERS

The American
Marine with
the most kills
02.Chuck Mawhinney in Vietnam

Charles ‘Chuck’ Mawhinney, a keen hunter, NVA platoon attempted to outl ank Mawhinney’s 1,370 metres when he engaged four Viet Cong
had intended on joining the navy, however, a Marines. Instead, they ran into the American across a river, killing two.
recruiter promised to defer his start date until sniper, who made a record 16 kills, all Mawhinney ended his war with a record 103
after the hunting season if he instead joined headshots, in an estimated 30 seconds, kills and 216 probable kills after a 13-month
the Marine Corps. Mawhinney proved a superb blunting the attack. tour with two further six-month extensions that
shot and attended Scout Sniper School before For his ‘Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre’, as he volunteered to complete, as he believed
shipping off to Vietnam in 1968. the incident became known, Mawhinney used his sniper skills saved American lives. He
Mawhinney typically deployed as part of a a semi-automatic 7.62x51mm M14 with a was eventually sent back to the USA with
two-man team that would operate alongside an night-vision scope. Normally, however, he used a suspected ‘combat stress’ and served out his
infantry unit, providing its eyes and ears and Marine-issue bolt-action M40, which can today commitment as an instructor.
guarding the lanks. His most famous action be seen on display in the Marine Corps Museum. Mawhinney still holds the Marine Corps
was on the night of 14 February 1969, when an His longest-range shot was between 1,200 and record for the most kills, although US Army
sniper Adelbert Waldron held the overall record
“MAWHINNEYENDEDHISWARWITHARECORD 103 KILLS AND with 109 until Navy SEAL Chris Kyle’s 160 kills.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Mawhinney didn’t
216PROBABLEKILLSAFTERA13-MONTH TOUR” mention his sniper service to anyone, including
his wife. After leaving the Marine Corps in 1970
for a job with the Forestry Service, he was
i nally ‘outed’ by another Marine sniper’s book.

Charles B ‘Chuck’
Mawhinney poses with a
replica of the M40 sniper
ril e he used in Vietnam

Above: Marine sniper Chuck
Mawhinney’s 7.62x51mm M40
ril e, which is on display at the
Marine Corps Museum

Left: A US Marine sniper watches
for a target across paddy ields
in Vietnam, circa 1968

Confirmed kills: 103
unConfirmed kills: 216
Longest shot: 1,370 metres (1,500 yards)

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