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"One shot, delivered by a skilled marksman, is often worth a thousand heavy bolter rounds."

— Trooper Kol, Catachan CCIII Jungle Fighters Regiment
Valhallan sniper

An Imperial Guard sharpshooter of the Valhallan Ice Warriors

An Imperial Guard sharpshooter, also referred to as a "marksman," "sniper," "hawkeye," "scope," "reaper," and dozens of other terms both official and informal, are specialist troopers of the Astra Militarum who possess deadly skills that enable them to kill the enemies of the God-Emperor from afar.

These men and women are experts with single shot weapons. Such troopers are generally identified during basic training, but just as often are singled out during operations as their natural talents become obvious. Having been identified as an exceptional shot, the trooper is labelled as his unit's best shot and while he continues to perform the same combat duties he did before, he takes on an additional and highly specialised responsibility.

In battle, the sharpshooter operates as part of their squad or platoon, serving as a line trooper according to the specific combat doctrines of their regiment. In many cases the presence of a sharpshooter in a unit is not at all obvious, especially where the designation is an informal one. In other cases the sharpshooter might wear some form of badge or other insignia, though generally in such a manner that enemy snipers cannot pick them out from their peers.

The only other outward clue that the trooper has these skills is likely to be the weapon they carry. The troopers who possess these particular and deadly skills often carry specialised targeting equipment. Usually, this includes a powerful scope mounted on a main weapon, but sometimes takes the form of helmet-mounted sighting devices or even permanently grafted-on cybernetic augmentations. In those regiments with close ties to the Adeptus Mechanicus, a sharpshooter might have received extensive augmetics and tactical neural implants, all wrought to maximise the native talent they already possess for precise fire.

The expertise that sharpshooters hold is hardly limited to their conventional weapons, however. While their talents frequently manifest themselves through the use of the lasgun to engage targets too far distant for most troopers to hit, they usually extend to other weapon systems as well. While every sharpshooter has their favourite weapon, all are well able to use a wide range of different systems, from Missile Launchers to Sniper Rifles.

Regardless of the weapon being used, the sharpshooter displays a keen ability to locate an enemy, draw a bead on him, and to unleash the killing round at the most opportune moment. The sharpshooter is a master of the doctrine of "one shot, one kill" and can be relied upon to send a single bullet, bolt or blast towards the heart of an enemy where hundreds, even thousands of rapid fire weapons have missed their mark.

When confronted with such a foe, any unit commander worth their commission knows which of their troopers is best suited to fire the shot that might very well turn the battle that wins the war that defeats the enemy once and for all.

Sharpshooter Training[]

"I watched a world die. Eight thousand years of defiance, gone in an eyeblink. With it, went some of the finest soldiers I had the honour to serve alongside. Not for glory. Not for victory. Not even for defiance. But because sooner or later the void swallows everything. I learned something that day: no world, no bastion -- maybe no faith -- is impregnable. The agents of the enemy are everywhere. Watching. Plotting. Waiting. Only thing to be done with heresy is to root it out with fire and steel."

Veteran Sharpshooter
ImperialGuardVeteranSharpshooter

A Veteran Sharpshooter of the Astra Militarum who now serves as an Acolyte of the Inquisition's Ordo Hereticus on the Moebian Domain Hive World of Atoma Prime.

While the vast majority of Imperial Guardsmen recruited across the length and breadth of the Imperium are issued with the ubiquitous lasgun, the degree to which they are trained to use it varies enormously. The bulk of regiments are raised from existing military organisations on their homeworlds and so it can be assumed that most guardsmen of the Astra Militarum have some affinity with their weapons, but this is not always the case.

Some units issue their troops with lasguns but forbid them to use their weapons in anything other than ceremonial roles. Others regard the expenditure of ammunition on anything other than slaying the foes of the Emperor a sinful waste, meaning that troops recruited from such cultures might be adept at maintaining their weapons but entirely unskilled in their use. Some planetary defence forces are so lacking in resources that only a proportion of those inducted into the Astra Militarum have ever handled a lasgun, even though each world is required to render up the best of their forces and to arm them for the travails ahead. Needless to say, such laxity is a crime of the worst order for which the Imperial Commander responsible is likely to pay with their life.

Conversely, other planetary defence forces are drawn from cultures steeped in the use of the lasgun and a myriad of other forms of weapons technology. Some populations exist in a state of total war, whether against lawless elements of their own society, xenos invaders or the environment itself. Needless to say, guardsmen recruited from such cultures require little in the way of training and often respond badly to any Drill Abbot that attempts to do so.

Because of the huge disparity in training and familiarity with the weapons they will use, the Departmento Munitorum has a gargantuan task to perform in terms of imposing standardised doctrines and drills across the Astra Militarum. Most regiments are transported some distance to their first (and often last) deployment, and to ready them for their role on the battlefield, they are often subjected to a brutally intensive training regime whilst aboard the troop transport ship.

It is during these punishing sessions that those with a natural aptitude with ranged weapons are identified and assigned to yet more intensive instruction. Depending on the length of the voyage, these individuals might have time for familiarisation with every weapon in the regiment's arsenal, or with just a few.

To augment the training aboard the troop transport vessels, some regiments employ courses of hypno-indoctrination to give their troopers new skills. The knowledge to operate a wide range of weapons are blasted directly into the recipient's mind by a highly invasive procedure that bypasses conventional procedural memory processes and implants the necessary expertise indelibly upon the individual's psyche. This technique does not necessarily improve the recipient's native talent, but it can vastly increase the range of applications for which that innate ability can be used. For a guardsman, this might mean gaining the ability to wield weapons they have never even seen before as if they had been using them their entire life, the implanted memories imposing themselves upon their mind when required.

Many guardsmen who become skilled with precision weapons receive no formal training whatsoever, instead learning the use of a wide range of weapons as necessity dictates. Some are forced to take up the weapon of a fallen comrade, and in so doing discover a previously unknown talent. Others are assigned training drills as a form of punishment for some minor disciplinary infraction, the regimental provosts noting the latent skill and ensuring it is exploited, regardless of the trooper's wishes.

Sharpshooter Tactics[]

Sniper Ratling

A Ratling Sniper taking aim, preparing to take out an enemy target.

The sharpshooter's task is a relatively simple one, but one on which the tide of battle itself may turn. Individual guardsmen with these skills are called upon when a single, long-range, pinpoint attack is required. Given the varied conditions of the battlefields of the 41st Millennium and the countless foes, creatures, and war machines ripe for the Emperor's justice, the skills of sharpshooters are ever in demand.

There are vast beasts and machines all but immune to explosions, hails of fire, sheets of flame, gouts of plasma, and nearly all the other weapons wielded by the warriors of the Imperium. Sometimes, it is not overwhelming fire that defeats an enemy, but a single, well-placed shot aimed at some miniscule gap in armour that only the sharpshooter notices. Perhaps the target is the exposed commander of a super-heavy tank, or a vulnerable mechanism on a towering Daemon Engine. Perhaps it is an enemy general ensconced in their command bunker, directing their troops from imagined safety and the sharpshooter has worked themself into a position to unleash the one shot not defended against. When facing ravening xenos monstrosities, the sharpshooter is capable of aiming a single, high velocity shot at an eye or similarly vital organ that brings the beast to its knees.

When an Astra Militarum unit faces such a foe that only the sharpshooter's immediate action can save the day, the members of that unit often switch from line troopers, each with their own tasks to perform in battle, to a dedicated support unit for the specialist. Some units practise this drill relentlessly so that each trooper knows exactly what they must do to allow the sharpshooter the time and opportunity to take that one, vital, battle-winning shot. In other units, especially those drawn from a Human culture where such martial values are honed from birth, the process is instinctive and its execution flawless.

Whatever the case, the entire squad bends its every effort to aid the sharpshooter, covering them against enemy fire, distracting the foe and ensuring they have ample ammunition. Countless times in the war-torn history of the Imperium, such men and women have fired shots that resound throughout the ages, but only because their comrades have sacrificed themselves to allow them to do so.

Regimental Variations[]

No two Astra Militarum regiments utilise sharpshooters in exactly the same manner, and indeed some rarely if ever use such specialists at all. Even when a particular planet's regiments employ Departmento Munitorum-approved doctrine, individual regiments often implement such drills according to their own, sometimes idiosyncratic traditions.

Some regiments that have a particular predilection for fostering the specialised expertise of individual soldiers employ sharpshooters in a highly formalised manner. Several such regiments even maintain regimental marksmanship schools through which the specialists must pass before being awarded the highly-prised insignia that marks out their role. In such regiments it is a matter of pride for a trooper to represent their platoon or company in the regular regimental competitions and those that perform consistently well often earn the patronage and favour of the regiment's ranking officer and their command staff.

More rugged regiments, by contrast, often do things entirely differently. These regiments rarely maintain standing marksmanship schools, their individualistic troopers much more interested in grand actions and violent achievements than fancy badges and fussy titles. Instead, the role of sharpshooter is simply applied to whichever member of the squad is the best shot, and shifts based on who can get the job done best at a given time. In such closely-knit units every member knows their comrades so well that the appointment may be entirely unspoken and instinctive and is often made by silent consensus in the heat of battle.

Sharpshooters provide critical support in regiments of all sorts. Some are issued specialist equipment, while others are merely better with the precision weapons that the regiment already fields. If the regiment specialises in close-quarters combat, then its particularly gifted snipers might often be assigned to operate in the rear of the formation.

In contrast, if the regiment is designed around long-range bombardments, its sharpshoooters are often assigned to its forward elements, cutting down enemy soldiers from unexpected angles before they can reach the artillery or mortars that the regiment uses to do the Emperor's violent work.

Regiments particularly dedicated to reconnaissance and stealth tend to rely particularly heavily on sharpshooters. Such soldiers can silence a sentry at the exact opportune moment for an infiltration team or slay a patrolling guard and his comrades before they can raise the alarm, and so the success of a mission often rests on the skill of sharpshooters.

Ratling Snipers[]

"Another day, and another set of useless bloody orders from some useless bloody karker sitting safe in planetary orbit while I'm down here in the mud, trying not to get my block knocked off. Just my karking luck. I mean, it wasn't my fault that a few things went missing from the stores, now was it? If they were needed for the war effort, then the quartermaster would've locked the door or at least place a guard, wouldn't he? That was just the start. Nothing goes right for me...and the latest thing? The one that got me here? Don't want to talk about it."

—A Veteran Ratling Sharpshooter
Ratling tracker

A Ratling Sniper tracking an enemy armour column.

Ratlings are members of a small, loud, hungry and lecherous Abhuman species. Ratlings are granted full Imperial citizenship despite their mutant status and in the past have often served in the regiments of the Astra Militarum. Though unsuited for many battlefield roles, Ratlings make excellent snipers, even without the telescopic laser-sights of the needle-rifles.

With careful, methodical aim, the Ratlings place their crosshairs, targeting the vulnerable eyes of alien beasts or the exposed joints of armoured foes. They snipe enemy commanders and tank crews with contemptuous ease, amused at the panic and confusion they wreak.

In battle, Ratlings excel at infiltrating the warzone unseen, secreting themselves wherever there is cover, whether it be amongst the undergrowth of a Forest World, the craters of bomb-scarred tundra or within the twisted remnants of a ruined building. Any position that has a commanding field of fire will do, and one which reduces the possibility of any actual combat is even better.

Many Ratlings serve as sharpshooters in Astra Militarum regiments, a role in which they excel due to their superior marksmanship. While they are often the butt of soldier's jokes, more than one Imperial Guard unit has had cause to be grateful for the covering fire of a unit of Ratling Snipers.

Veteran Sharpshooter[]

"Just another day in the Imperial Guard. Official name's the Astra Militarum; thing is, I'm not even part of the guard any longer, not since that business with the commissar, the court-martial, and the holding cell."

—Anonymous Veteran Sharpshooter now serving as an Acolyte of the Ordo Hereticus in the battles for Hive Tertium on Atoma Prime.
VeteranSharpshooterIcon

An icon used by the Inquisition to identify Veteran Sharpshooters in service as Acolytes to the Ordo Hereticus on the Moebian Domain Hive World of Atoma Prime.

A Veteran Sharpshooter is a Veteran of the Astra Militarum who epitomises the service's combat doctrine: overwhelming firepower honed through training and delivered unflinchingly in the heat of battle.

The sharpshooter specialises in ranged combat drills, keeping the foe at a distance while bringing firepower to bear against high-priority targets. Though they can spray and pray with the best of them, the Veteran Sharpshooter is at their most dangerous when they take the time to place their shots where the enemy is vulnerable. Breathe in. Breathe out. Blow them away.

Veteran Sharpshooters are generally skilled with almost any type of ranged weapon, including a vast pattern of laspistols, autopistols, autoguns, lasguns, Human-sized boltguns, and even the rare plasma gun which might come into their possession.

As no battle in the 41st Millennium can be sure to be decided only at range, Veteran Sharpshooters are often highly skilled with whatever melee weapon they choose to keep as back-up protection, often including a sword, axe, combat knife, chainaxe or chainsword.

Wargear[]

  • Standard Imperial Guard Regimental Kit
Triplex Pattern Lasgun

Triplex Pattern Lasgun

  • Triplex Pattern Lasgun - A highly refined variant of the standard lasgun, the Triplex Pattern offers alternative firing modes that make the weapon more versatile on the battlefield.
Long-Las

Long-Las Rifle

  • Long-Las (Optional) - Favoured by sharpshooters and snipers, the long-las is a specially modified version of the lasgun constructed for added range and accuracy. As its name implies, a long-las also has a much longer barrel than a standard lasgun, sometimes being up to twice the length, which makes it awkward in close quarters combat.
  • Ballistic Sniper Rifle (Optional) - This variant of the Sniper Rifle fires solid metal bullets. This weapon is rarely issued by the Imperial Guard, but may be acquired by soldiers as a "trophy weapon" on the battlefield. Many of these weapons are much simpler than the Long-Las, using bolt-action systems that are archaic compared to most weapons used by the Imperial Guard. Some sharpshooters prefer them nonetheless, and their trophy rifles become lucky charms for them, especially if they fell a particularly important foe with them.
  • Missile Launcher (Optional) - Like the Grenade Launcher, Missile Launchers fire a variety of explosive rounds at long distances. A missile is fitted with guidance systems to aid target acquisition, which is excellent at long ranges. Most launchers, like the Locke-pattern, are shoulder mounted tube-like weapons that fire a single round with great accuracy, while the ancient Retobi design holds a huge vertical clip of 5 rounds but is much more awkward to fire and has less precision.
  • 4 Krak Missiles - The shaped warheads of Krak Missiles are designed to penetrate even the toughest of vehicle armour.

Weapon Upgrades[]

Sharpshooters often give their weapons upgrades to enhance their performance. The upgrade descriptions below list the most commonly used weapon upgrades by Imperial Guard Sharpshooters:

  • Motion Predictor - A complex target-tracking Cogitator in this device is activated once the user has sighted the desired target. The predictor then tracks the target and, when the trigger is pulled, chases the target with all the rounds in a clip in one long burst.
  • Omni-Scope - A vastly expensive and rare device normally found only in the hands of legendary assassins or bounty hunters, the omni-scope is a cluster of finely-tuned sensor wands linked to a precision lens. Some of these scopes plug directly into a bionic cranial port, allowing the user to shoot around corners without exposing himself—the scope becomes a "third eye."
  • Photo Sight - This is a weapon sight that enhances ambient light levels, improving the user's vision and ability to see in the dark.
  • Preysense Sight - This is a weapon sight that shows thermal images and reveals the hiding places of enemies who lurk in the darkness.
  • Red-Dot Laser Sight - A non-magnifying reflector (or reflex) sight for firearms that gives the user an aimpoint in the form of an illuminated red dot.
  • Silencer - Silencers lower the noise from a weapon's discharge, preventing detection of the shot.
  • Targeter - Expensive, heavy, and rarely used except by elite forces, a Targeter uses a variety of guidance Cogitators and omni-sights to improve accuracy. These upgrades are normally hard-wired into a specific weapon for maximum efficiency. Commonly viewed as adding to the weapon's Machine Spirit, they create an even closer bond between gunner and weapon.
  • Telescopic Sight - Telescopic Sights magnify the target's image, making it easy to see. This is especially useful for long-range shots that need to hit a very specific target location.
  • Tripod and Bipod - These attachments are for heavier weapons or those using integral ammunition canisters rather than a backpack-mounted source (such as Plasma Guns or Meltaguns). Resting the weapon on the ground increases accuracy but sacrifices mobility, thus making them more common in static defence lines. Bipods and tripods allow a weapon to be braced anywhere there is a reasonably flat surface. A weapon braced on a bipod has a 90-degree arc of fire, while one on a tripod has a 180-degree arc.

Weapon Customisation[]

Through training and deployment, an Imperial Guard Sharpshooter spends virtually every moment with their trusted weapons within easy reach. Over time, their primary weapon becomes an extension of their body. As each soldier becomes increasingly familiar with their armaments, they may opt to make minor changes to the weapon.

Extensive changes would invariably violate standard doctrine and draw the ire of superior officers. However, most officers choose to turn a blind eye to minor tweaks of the weapon. In this way, a sharpshooter may find solutions to offset bad habits in the way they carry and wield the weapon, but also adjust it so that they may operate at their peak efficiency.

Sources[]

  • Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook (Bluebook), pg. 93
  • Codex: Chaos (2nd Edition)
  • Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, Revised Codex), pg. 43
  • Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition), pp. 25, 43
  • Codex Imperialis, pg. 29
  • Only War: Core Rulebook (RPG), pp. 176, 182, 189-191
  • Only War: Hammer of the Emperor (RPG), pp. 82-85
  • Warhammer 40,000: Apocalypse, pg. 174
  • Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (1st Edition)
  • White Dwarf 186 (US), "Ratling Snipers: Imperial Guard", pp. 19-21
  • First and Only (Novel) by Dan Abnett
  • Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (Video Game)
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