No story about war is complete without mentioning snipers. Snipers are trained in not just marksmanship and long-range shooting but also other tactical skills. Detection, camouflage, infiltration, surveillance and many other abilities become almost second nature to the best snipers in the world. Here are the snipers that became the best snipers in the world because of their ability to turn off their feelings.
1. Simo Hayha
With 505 kills, this list of the best snipers in the world opens with Simo Hayha. Hayha served in the Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland. To blend in with the snow, his uniform was all white.
2. Ivan Sidorenko
Ivan Sidorenko has cemented himself as one of the best snipers in the world because the team he was assigned to wasn’t as exciting. Sidorenko was a younger officer of the mortar team fighting in the Battle of Moscow. With his Mosin-Nagant rifle, he took down more than 500 German soldiers.
3. Fyodor Okhlopkov
Fyodor Okhlopkov is another contribution of the Soviets to this list of the deadliest and best snipers in the world. While serving with the Red Army in the Second World War, he assassinated 429 soldiers with his rifle alone.
4. Francis Pegahmagabow
Francis Pagahmagabow is a Canadian sniper who served in the First World War. Owing to his hunting experience, he developed sharpshooting skills which contributed to his rise as one of the best snipers in the world. He is credited with 378 confirmed kills.
5. Lyudmila Pavlichenko
Though unexpected, it makes perfect sense for Lyudmila Pavlichenko to be counted amongst the best snipers in the world. Pavlichenko was one of the few female snipers to have worked with the Red Army during World War 2. After overcoming her initial hesitance, her total tally comes up to 309 kills.
6. Vasili Zaitsev
Owing to the reputation of the Red Army, it’s no surprise that many of the best snipers in the world come are Soviet. Vasily Zaytsev fought in World War 2 and although his sniping career didn’t really begin until 1942, he killed 242 enemies before losing his eyesight in 1943.
7. Christopher Kyle
With 255 confirmed kills and nickname ‘Al-Shaitan Ramad’ Christopher Kyle is worthy of being featured among the best snipers in the world. The Navy SEAL sniper was deployed 4 times to Iraq. Kyle is famous for knocking an enemy dead from more than 2 kilometers away.
8. Zhang Taofang
Zhang Taofang from the Chinese Army served only for two years. But during his stint in the Korean War, he killed 214 enemies in a period of 32 days. His journey from a sniper that missed all 12 shots in his training to one of the best snipers in the world is incredible.
9. Henry Norwest
Another Canadian sniper, Henry Norwest worked as a rodeo performer and ranch hand before joining the Army. His stealth and ability to leverage camouflage earned him 115 confirmed kills and the title as one of the best snipers in the world.
10. Adelbert Waldron
With 109 kills, Adelbert Waldron’s total is the lowest on this list of best snipers in the world. However, having served in the Vietnam War, Waldron is renowned for shooting an enemy soldier, from a distance of 900 yards from a moving boat.
What about the longest sniper kill record holder, Craig Harrison?
Ian Robertson. Aussie sniper, Korean war. He got more kills than Chris Kyle in one week.
Ranjith senevirathne has conformed 180 kills. Why he doesnt listed in this?