Designated marksman
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The Designated Marksman (DM) is a military role in a U.S. infantry squad. (The analogous role in the Israeli army is accurately descriptively named "squad sniper." Soviet doctrine uses the Dragunov rifle in this way.) The designated marksman's role is to supply rapid accurate fire on enemy targets at ranges up to 500 meters with a telescopic-sighted, very-accurate, semiautomatic rifle. Like snipers, DMs are trained in precision shooting, but are also capable of rapid accurate fire.
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Weapons
The DM's standard weapon is a battle rifle that has been fitted with a telescopic sight, bipod, cheek piece, and other features which improve the accuracy and ergonomics of the weapon. The only major exception to this has been heavily-modified M-16 assault rifles that have added-on extra-heavy barrels. Many if not most assault rifles, such as the AK-47, just aren't suited to this role due to poor trajectory of their ammo. Often, they are also rechambered in order to enhance the accuracy, lethality, and range of the weapon. Examples of such weapons include the accurized U.S. M16A2E3 (unofficially called M16A3), the Russian SVD Dragunov, and the Israeli Galil Tzalafim and Tavor sharpshooter. A M14 rifle fitted with scope can also count into this category. Rifles almost invariably are in 7.62mm (.308) or 7.62x54mm, though some accurized M-16 types with add-on heavy barrels now also are used in 5.56mm.
Sometimes the DM uses semi-automatic sniper rifles such as the .50-caliber Barrett M82A1 or the 7.62mm KAC SR-25. The main demands are not very high accuracy (below 1 minute of arc is sufficient) but rapid fire rate and light weight which enable rapid movement.
Difference from snipers
- Roles
- Snipers often work independently of other infantry units.
- Designated marksmen are integral ("organic") members of regular infantry platoons, much like machine-gunners or grenadiers.
- Weapons:
- Snipers usually use bolt action sniper rifles or semi-automatic sniper rifles with high accuracy.
- DMs usually use an accurized assault or battle rifle.
- Ranges:
- Snipers are mainly employed for ranges of 0-1500 meters.
- DMs are mainly employed for ranges of 0-500 meters.
- Mobility and position:
- Snipers usually take a strategic position and camouflage themselves (with a Ghillie suit). They usually remain prone.
- DMs are mobile and rapidly change positions. They usually have no more camouflage gear than other infantrymen.
Designated Marksman in the world's armies
Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
After years of suffering a poor reputation in its sniping abilities, the IDF started a sharpshooting revolution in the 1990s. The entire shooting doctrine and teaching lessons were completely rewritten and the snipers were issued the bolt-action M24 SWS instead of the M14 rifle. A major change was the introduction of a new battle profession – the designated marksman (קלע סער, "kala saar" in Hebrew) – intended to improve the accuracy and firepower of an infantry platoon and compromise between the role of a sniper and an assault rifleman and generally called a "squad sniper" in description of his role. The new designated marksman role has proven to be a great success. During the Al-Aqsa Intifada DMs proved to be valuable part of infantry squad, taking out many enemy soldiers who approached to engage the troops. In one incident, a single marksman managed to stop a Hizbullah attack in 2005 on the Druze village of Raghar in the northern border of Israel, after he shot and killed 4 enemy soldiers, including RPG-armed motorists.
US Marine Corps
As a very mobile unit, USMC platoons need the option of rapid accurate fire for medium to long ranges. Equipped with the semi-automatic but very accurate U.S. Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle and/or SAM-R, USMC designated marksmen are deployed mainly on special forces.he:קלע סער