Long-Range War: Sniping In Vietnam [Hardcover]

Peter R. Senich (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0873647890 | ISBN-13: 978-0873647892 | Publication Date: September 1994 | Edition: 1ST

This is the most complete report ever on the U.S. military's unprecedented use of snipers and sniping equipment in Vietnam. Highlighted are the fielding of the XM21 sniper rifle and the Adjustable Ranging Telescope, plus the application of sound suppression devices and special carbines so typical of the unconventional warfare in SE Asia. 8 1/2 x 11, hardcover, photos, illus., 280 pp.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter R. Senich is recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities on the history of modern weapon systems and their applications. He is also a leading military historian and the author of nine books on military sniping and small arms.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press; 1ST edition (September 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873647890
• ISBN-13: 978-0873647892
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,434,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historical and technical detailed account, July 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Long-Range War: Sniping In Vietnam (Hardcover)

This complete and heavily illustrated account of the military development of the role of long range soldiers,equipment and tactics was the best I have seen on this subject. The review of the efforts and trials of various hardware items and the reported outcome from the field were included. Nearly every variant of gun, scope and night vision device was detailed in selection, trials, users choices in which worked best. The exhaustive review of telescopic sights and mounts was highly appreciated. Anyone reading this book will have a high appreciation for those involved in the sniping sciences and arts during the war.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-Researched Technical Work, March 6, 2010

By 

Rob Krott "Rob Krott" (Iraq) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Long-Range War: Sniping in Vietnam (Paperback)

Adherents of sniping and those collecting sniping rifles, equipment, and memorabilia will like The Long Range War. It is a well-researched technical and historical work. Senich is also the author of seven other books on sniping and weapons including: The German Sniper 1914-1945, US Marine Corps Scout-Sniper: World War II and Korea, and two other books on US military sniping (all published by Paladin Press).

Senich documents the wide use of sniping tactics and new technologies, including the fielding of a wide range of experimental equipment, that was, until then, unprecedented in the US Army and USMC. The paddies and jungles of Vietnam became a laboratory for such erstwhile innovators as James M. Leatherwood, Gordon Ingram, and Mitchell WerBell III.

Senich begins his history of sniping in Vietnam with the lack of adequate equipment in the early days and the fielding of supplemental and expedient sniping systems. Advisory teams and other special units often adopted a "whatever it takes" attitude towards the use of civilian equipment. He painstakingly covers the history and circumstances of the XM21 sniping rifle and the Adjustable Ranging Telescope (ART) development, as well as the sound suppressors and their subsequent combat application in Vietnam. The book progresses to the rapid development undertaken after the 1965-1966 period when most sniping was done by troops with field expedient systems operating on their own agendas to the end of the war.

The Long Range War is the most definitive work yet published on the subject. Photos are numerous, averaging about two per page, and the book includes seven full-page illustrations by military artist Max Crace. Chapters address such topics as the development of the XM-21; auto-ranging telescopes and the Leatherwood Principle; noise suppression; night vision; and sniper instruction. There are plenty of blueprints, developmental drawings, tables of technical data, equipment photos, and copies of correspondence and official documents. Anyone who has an avid interest in sniping has probably already added this outstanding book to their military book collection.

Rob Krott is the author of SAVE THE LAST BULLET FOR YOURSELF: A Soldier of Fortune in the Balkans and Somalia

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Redundant, June 29, 2009

By 

Sarah B. Meurs - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Long-Range War: Sniping in Vietnam (Paperback)

This book is almost entirely about the weapons and sights. The illustrations are of scopes and mounts with very few field pictures. I bought this book to learn about the sniper program in Vietnam but instead learned about the development and fielding of the M84 scope. If you are only interested in very dry redundant information about a few sniper weapon systems then this is definitely the book for you. If you are looking for anything else about snipers in Vietnam find a different book.