One Shot Kills by Glenn Wahlert

Author:Glenn Wahlert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing
Published: 2014-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

German snipers clean their rifles after an action. The rifle shown here is a Mauser K98k with a high-turret Ajack four-power scope (AHU image).

The German World War II sniper rifle Scharfschützen K98k

The German Model K98k sniper rifle (Scharfschützen K98k). Its scope is a Zeiss Zielsech, six power with a 22 mm wide band Sauer & Sohn long side-rail mount (image courtesy of Dave Roberts).

With the benefit of their experience in the First World War and the advanced state of the German optical industry, Germany had the edge in producing high quality sniper rifles during the Second World War. While a number of the older Gew 98 sniper rifles remained in service in 1939, they were eventually replaced as the Wehrmacht adapted its new standard infantry rifle, the 7.92 mm K (Karabiner) 98k, for the sniper role, the main difference an improved scope on a shorter barrelled rifle.

Initially, various models and adaptations were trialled and fielded, including short and long side-rails; turret and claw mounts; and numerous telescopic sight combinations — even captured Russian scopes. Eventually, however, selected K98k rifles that had proven exceptionally accurate during factory tests were fitted as sniper rifles. These rifles proved accurate out to 1000 metres when used by a skilled sniper. German industry was able to provide the Wehrmacht with a range of options for its sniper scopes. German optics, as used in Wehrmacht armoured vehicles, were generally superior to those used by the Allies and included 1.5 and four-power Zeiss scopes, and commercial telescopes such as the six-power Hensoldt sight.

Later in the war the Wehrmacht also fitted its sniper rifles with silencers (Schalldampfer) copied from a Russian design then being used against German forces on the Eastern Front. German semi-automatic rifles such as the G (Selbstladegewehr) 41 and G43 were also equipped with scopes for sniping purposes, with mixed success. These rifles took advantage of Finnish and Russian experience in semi-automatic sniper rifle development. The G43, with a ten-round detachable box magazine and a Zielfernrohr 43 (ZF 43) four-power magnification, helped address the slower rate of fire of the bolt-action rifles.

The German snipers facing the Australian troops in Greece, Crete and North Africa in the early years of the war were equipped with either the K98k sniper rifle, with a short side-rail/turret-mount system and a four-power scope, or the World War I Scharfschützen Gew 98 with scope. The K98k rifle itself was robust, accurate and reliable, used extensively throughout the war and exported to or produced under license by various German allies.

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