Special Forces Worry About M110 Durability

[sinister]

The M110 CSASS (Compact Semi Automatic Sniper System) is tor replace the M110 on a 1-for-1 basis.

The semi-official Army SDMR (per the Infantry Center and School as of 2005, but not in any MTOEs or TDAs) is an M4 and ACOG.

[wild_wild_wes]

Does the Army have a doctrine on how a mix of CSASS and XM-2010 would be employed?

[sinister]

The Army's doctrinal manuals are never current with what's actually issued. From FM 23-10 (1994):

5-15. ARMS AND AMMUNITION

As a minimum, the sniper team requires arms and ammunition that should include the following:

a. Sniper:

M24 sniper weapon system with M3A scope.
M9 bayonet.
100 rounds M118 special ball.
M9 pistol.
45 rounds 9-mm ball ammunition.
4 M67 fragmentation grenades; 2 CS grenades; 2 concussion grenades (MOUT).
M18A1 mine, complete.

b. Observer:

M16A1/A2/M203 with quadrant sight and AN/PVS-4 mounted.
M9 9-mm pistol.
M9 bayonet.
210 (plus) rounds 5.56-mm ball ammunition.
45 rounds 9-mm ball ammunition.
6 rounds 40-mm high-explosive ammunition.
3 rounds 40-mm antipersonnel ammunition.
4 M67 fragmentation grenade, 2 CS grenades; 2 concussion grenades (MOUT).

[RHINOWSO]

The Army's doctrinal manuals are never current with what's actually issued. From FM 23-10 (1994):

I see the Navy isn't the only service where manuals are written and by the time they are approved, out of date again....

[wild_wild_wes]

"Official" doctrine or not, I was just interested as how these two very different rifles would be issued and employed.

[KevinB]

SRD has staffed a 7.62mm DMR requirement -- unsure of where it is at -- and do not expect it to continue further as Budget will kill it (and eventually CSASS).

CSASS or SASS intent is to be a SSR (Sniper Support Rifle), when the 2010 was adopted as the main sniper rifle.

Eventually Big Army intends to follow SOCOM down the PSR road - and issue Sniper Teams both a PSR and CSASS. CSASS for the 0-800m and PSR for the 400-1600m range band.

AFAIK the 2010 was the immediate band-aid with no intent to be fully implemented.