Canadian sniper's historic 3.5km shot: New details emerge
The elite Canadian special unit Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) made history in 2017 by executing the longest confirmed sniper shot in military history. An ISIS fighter was eliminated from a distance of 3.5 kilometres. New information about this achievement is coming to light.
The record-breaking shot was fired in June 2017, when the JTF2 team was tasked with eliminating a fighter from the Islamic State (ISIS). The mission in Iraq was part of "Operation Impact," Canada's contribution to the international fight against ISIS.
The sniper, whose identity remains classified for security reasons, fired from a McMillan TAC-50 sniper rifle from a high-rise building. The soldier made the shot from an astonishing distance of 3,540 metres, reaching the target after 10 seconds. It was an incredible feat.
"The Canadian Special Operations Command can confirm that a member of Joint Task Force 2 successfully hit a target at 3,540 metres. For operational security reasons and to preserve the safety of our personnel and our Coalition partners, we will not discuss precise details on when and how this incident took place," the Canadian Armed Forces stated in a press release.
The Globe and Mail also reported that the camera and additional data separately verified that the target had been eliminated. The shot interrupted an Islamic State attack on Iraqi security forces.
The Canadian sniper's record shot. New facts
To eliminate the target from such a distance requires almost otherworldly precision. When taking the shot, one must consider factors such as wind, gravity, and even the curvature of the Earth. Therefore, the sniper team used advanced ballistic software and wind gauges to ensure maximum accuracy.
That's not all, as the SOFREP service reports, the rifle was modified using special rails that allowed for proper barrel angle adjustment.
Surpassed the previous record by a kilometre
Finally, let's add that the Canadian sniper broke the previous world record held by British sniper Craig Harrison, who in 2009 eliminated a Taliban fighter from a distance of 2.4 kilometres.
Only a select few possess such incredible skills. It is also worth remembering another record holder, who comes from Finland. Simo Häyhä was the most effective shooter in history concerning the number of targets eliminated. He was said to have shot 505 Red Army soldiers with a sniper rifle during the so-called Winter War in 1939–1940. Häyhä had a telling nickname—"White Death."
