Deadliest Tech (2012) s01e06 Episode Script
Special OPS
Narrator: SPECIAL FORCES OPERATORS -- WAR'S UNRIVALED MASTERS OF STEALTH, SPEED, AND PHILOSOPHY THIS THING COULD CUT A TREE IN HALF.
TAKING THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMY ON HIS OWN TURF, EXECUTING CRITICAL OPERATIONS WITH SPLIT-SECOND PRECISION.
FROM THE ENEMY'S STANDPOINT, THIS MEANS THERE'S NO LETUP.
Narrator: WE'LL EXPLORE THE LATEST INNOVATIVE TACTICS AND TECH THAT MAKE THESE ELITE FIGHTERS SUCH A POTENT FORCE IN THE NEW LANDSCAPE OF WAR.
THEY'VE INVITED US INSIDE THEIR SECRET WORLD, WHERE THEY REVEAL SHOCKING DETAILS THAT WILL MAKE YOU RECONSIDER EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS SPECIALIZED ARENA OF WAR, FROM THE VEHICLE THEY USE AS A BATTERING RAM TO THE MINI MINES THAT CLEAR THEIR WAY FOR A FAST ESCAPE.
NOW ON "DEADLIEST TECH: SPECIAL OPERATIONS.
" CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS SPECIAL OPERATIONS ARE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMEN OF MILITARY SUCCESS, FROM SABOTAGE TO HOSTAGE RECOVERY TO ELIMINATING HIGH-VALUE TARGETS LIKE OSAMA BIN LADEN.
THEY ARE ON THE TIP OF THE SPEAR OF THE HIGH-RISK, UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE.
TRAINED TO OVERWHELM THE ENEMY WITH EXTREME FORCE OR SNEAK IN CLOSE TO KILL WITH STEALTHY PRECISION, SPECIAL-OPS WARRIORS ARE AS SKILLED IN THE ART OF WARFARE AS ANY FIGHTING FORCE ON EARTH.
AND IN TODAY'S POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, THE U.
S.
MILITARY DEPENDS ON THEM AND THE WEAPONS THEY WIELD MORE THAN AT ANY TIME IN HISTORY.
Sawyer: BEING A PART OF AN ELITE S.
E.
A.
L.
TEAM IS A MATTER OF PRIDE, BECAUSE I LOOK TO MY LEFT AND RIGHT, AND I SEE THESE HARD OPERATORS THAT ARE THE BEST.
THEY WANT TO KICK THE ASS OUT OF THE BAD GUYS SO THAT THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY BACK HOME ARE SAFE.
Narrator: IN AFGHANISTAN, SPECIAL OPERATORS DO MUCH OF THEIR WORK IN THE CLOSE-QUARTERS, URBAN ENVIRONMENT, AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE FOG OF WAR IS THICK AND THE CONSEQUENCES CAN BE CATASTROPHIC.
Sawyer: IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT, YOU'VE GOT FRIENDLIES AND CIVILIANS RIGHT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, AS WELL AS THE ENEMY.
SO, IT TAKES MAXIMUM DILIGENCE TO IDENTIFY THAT THREA AND DEAL WITH IT ACCURATELY AND NOT HARM INNOCENT BYSTANDERS.
Narrator: FOR URBAN MISSIONS, IT'S THE SNIPER'S JOB TO PROVIDE OVERWATCH OF THE OPERATIONS AREA, CAREFULLY STUDYING EVERY THREA AND IDENTIFYING WHICH ONES TO ELIMINATE IN ORDER TO CLEAR A PATH FOR THE TEAM TO MOVE IN.
Haney: THE USE OF SNIPERS -- YOU'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE VERY PRECISE, PINPOINT, DISCRIMINATIVE SHOOTING.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES, DELTA FORCE, S.
E.
A.
L.
TEAM 6 -- THAT'S THEIR MANTRA ANYWAY IS THEY SHOOT THE ONES THAT NEED TO BE SHOT, AND THEY DON'T HURT ANYONE ELSE.
Narrator: AS A WELL-USED SPECIAL-OP MOTTO PROCLAIMS, SNIPERS ARE THE SCALPEL, THE TEAM ON THE GROUND IS THE HAMMER.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THIS SPEC OP TEAM IS SET UP AS IT PREPARES FOR A LIVE-FIRE TRAINING RUN.
Simon: HERE'S OUR MISSION IN OUR COMPOUND DOWN IN THE VALLEY HERE.
WE HAVE A HIGH-VALUE TARGET INSIDE.
FIRST, THERE'S A SNIPER ON THE HILL UP THERE, AND HE'S GONNA TAKE OUT THE SENTRY DOWN HERE.
MY JOB IS I'M GONNA TAKE OUT THE SENTRY HERE.
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO IT SIMULTANEOUSLY.
THE TEAM'S GONNA COME IN.
Narrator: TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR ASSIGNED TASK, THE SNIPERS RELY ON A CLASSIC RIFLE, THE REMINGTON 700.
ACCURATE UP TO 1,500 YARDS, THE 700 IS STILL WIDELY USED BY SPECIAL-OP TEAMS AROUND THE GLOBE TODAY.
Mueller: THIS IS AN EXCELLENT WEAPON FOR PROVIDING LONG-RANGE SUPPORT OF OPERATORS.
I CAN REACH OUT TO 1,500 YARDS EFFECTIVELY.
I CAN ENGAGE MULTIPLE TARGETS.
GOT TO ACQUIRE TARGET.
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
Narrator: THE ROUNDS RING OUT AT A RATE OF NEARLY 3,000 FEET PER SECOND, KNOCKING OUT THEIR TARGETS AND SIGNALING THE BEGINNING OF THE RAID.
FROM HERE, THE GROUND TEAM WILL HAVE TO ELIMINATE SEVERAL OBSTACLES ON ITS WAY TO THEIR OBJECTIVE -- FOUR ENEMY COMBATANTS OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND, THE COMPOUND GATE WITH TWO GUARDS STANDING WATCH, TWO MORE ENEMY PERSONNEL INSIDE THE GATE, AND THE DOOR ON THE STRUCTURE THAT HOUSES THE HIGH-VALUE TARGET.
THE TEAM WILL STORM THE COMPOUND IN ONE OF THE MILITARY'S MOST UBIQUITOUS VEHICLES -- A HUMVEE.
BUT THIS IS NO ORDINARY HUMVEE.
IT'S A VERSION THAT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE UNIQUE MISSIONS SPECIAL-OPERATIONS TEAMS CARRY OUT.
Glenn: OPERATORS ARE SO ADAPTABLE AND TRAIN SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE ANYTHING, INCLUDING A HUMVEE, AND TURN IT INTO AN ATTACK VEHICLE OF SORTS FOR THEIR PURPOSES, DEPENDING ON WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING.
THAT'S HOW THEY'RE TRAINED.
Narrator: THE TEAM HAS TURNED THE HUMVEE INTO A KILLING MACHINE BY ADDING ONE OF THESE -- THE FEROCIOUS MINIGUN.
EASILY MOUNTED ON EVERYTHING FROM HELICOPTERS TO BOATS TO HUMVEES, THE MINIGUN SPINS OFF UP TO A SCORCHING 100 ROUNDS PER SECOND.
[ RAPID GUNFIRE .]
THIS THING COULD CUT A TREE IN HALF.
THIS THING CAN BRING DOWN WALLS.
Glenn: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL VALUE ALONE IS REALLY DEBILITATING FOR AN ENEMY, LET ALONE TO AN ACCURATE WEAPON LIKE THE MINIGUN.
Sawyer: MINIGUN'S A BADASS WEAPON.
IT FIRES AT AN UNGODLY RATE, AND IT JUST THROWS AMMO AT THE ENEMY LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW.
AND FOR THEM, THERE IS NO TOMORROW.
Narrator: AS THE TEAM STORMS INTO THE KILLING ZONE, THE MINIGUN TATTERS THE ENEMY TARGETS.
IT'S THE TYPE OF OVERWHELMING ASSAUL THAT, ON THE LIVE BATTLEFIELD, INFLICTS BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEVASTATION IN THE ENEMY.
Paul: THE MINIGUN ALLOWS US TO GO INTO A CONFLICT, USE THAT TO SUPPRESS THE ENEMY.
SO, IT'S GONNA CAUSE THEM TO FREEZE UP, IF NOT EGRESS OUT OF THE AREA.
SO, THAT GIVES US FIRE SUPERIORITY ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.
Narrator: AFTER MAKING QUICK WORK OF THEIR TARGETS OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND, THE TEAM MUST NEXT BREACH THE STEEL-ENFORCED WOODEN GATE.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THE HUMVEE DISPLAYS ITS VERSATILITY, THIS TIME AS A BATTERING RAM.
Sawyer: WE'RE JUST GONNA RAM THAT WITH THE HUMVEE AND ROLL STRAIGHT INSIDE.
[ RAPID GUNFIRE .]
Narrator: THE HIGHLY-TRAINED AND DISCIPLINED SOLDIERS USE SILENT AND PRECISE HAND SIGNALS TO ENSURE TOTAL COOPERATION AMONG ALL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM.
THE TEAM'S NEXT CHALLENGE IS TO BREACH THE WOODEN DOOR THAT SEPARATES THEM FROM THEIR HIGH-VALUE TARGET INSIDE.
THEY HAVE A CRITICAL DECISION TO MAKE -- CHOOSING THE RIGHT BREACHING TOOL TO FORCE ENTRY.
Paul: YOU WANT TO USE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DAMAGE GETTING INTO THE ROOM BECAUSE NOT ALL THE TIME DO YOU UNDERSTAND OR KNOW WHO IS IN THAT ROOM.
Narrator: THE MALLEABILITY OF C-4 EXPLOSIVES IS HANDY BUT TOO DESTRUCTIVE.
[ EXPLOSION .]
A BATTERING RAM ELIMINATES COLLATERAL DAMAGE BUT IS BULKY AND IMPRACTICAL FOR QUICK-HIT MISSIONS.
THE TEAM'S SOLUTION -- A TRIED-AND-TRUE FIREARM THAT DELIVERS A SHORT YET POWERFUL PUNCH.
Paul: THE SHOTGUN'S A GOOD ONE BECAUSE YOU CONCENTRATE ON THE HINGES.
IT'S GONNA BLOW THOSE HINGES OUT.
IT DOESN'T CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE INSIDE THE ROOM ITSELF.
[ GUNSHOT .]
[ GUNSHOTS .]
Narrator: THIS IS WHERE SPEC-OP WARRIORS THRIVE -- CLOSE-QUARTER COMBAT, THE BATTLE AREA WHERE SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS DETERMINE WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES.
Paul: YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE FEARS.
"WHAT IF IT'S DARK IN THERE? I CAN'T SEE.
I SEE MOVEMENT.
I CAN'T IDENTIFY IF IT'S A THREAT.
IS IT A MAN? IS IT A WOMAN? IS IT A CHILD?" YOU KNOW, AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION BEFORE YOU ENGAGE.
Sawyer: PREPARATION FOR THIS TYPE OF SKILL SE IS ONLY DONE THROUGH REPETITION.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO TRAIN AT IT AND EXPOSE YOURSELF TO I AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND GRADE YOURSELF HARSHLY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT ONLY THROUGH DOING THA AGAIN AND AGAIN CAN YOU REALLY HONE YOUR SKILLS AND FORCE THAT DISCIPLINE DEEP DOWN THAT YOU WILL ONLY SHOOT WHEN NECESSARY AND THAT YOU WILL SHOOT ABSOLUTELY IMMEDIATELY WHEN NECESSARY.
Narrator: ONCE INSIDE, THE TEAM MUST CLEAR THREE ROOMS.
IN ROOM ONE, THE TEAM WILL IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO ELIMINATE TWO TARGETS.
THEY WILL THEN MOVE DOWN A HALLWAY, WHERE ANOTHER TARGET AWAITS IN THE ROOM ON THE RIGHT.
AND FINALLY, THE MAIN ROOM, WHERE THEY WILL TAKE OUT TWO FINAL COMBATANTS GUARDING THE HIGH-VALUE TARGET THEY'VE COME TO TAKE.
THEY WILL THEN EXIT OUT THE STRUCTURE'S SIDE DOOR.
Paul: YOU'VE GOT YOUR SECTOR TO COVER, SO YOU'RE GONNA COVER I AS QUICKLY AND AS EFFECTIVELY AS YOU CAN TO IDENTIFY ANY THREATS AND ENGAGE THEM.
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE FAITH THAT YOUR TEAMMATES ARE DOING THE SAME THING.
Narrator: MOVING QUICKLY IN SUCH TIGHT QUARTERS POSES A DEADLY CHALLENGE WHEN DECIDING WHICH TYPE OF WEAPON TO BARE.
EACH SPECIAL OPERATOR IS FREE TO CHOOSE HIS OWN SOLUTION.
Haney: YOU CAN PROBABLY COUNT ON YOUR HANDS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT U.
S.
SPECIAL-OPERATIONS SHOOTERS HAVE KILLED WITH THEIR PISTOLS.
YOU'RE USING A SHOULDER WEAPON.
THE GUN'S IN FRONT OF THEIR FACE, OR IT'S IN FRONT OF THEIR BODY, SO IT LESSENS YOUR PRESENCE AS A TARGET.
Narrator: THE M4A1 CARBINE -- DESIGNED FROM THE STANDARD MILITARY-ISSUE M4, IT WAS SPECIFICALLY ALTERED FOR THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS.
THE M4A1 IS FULLY AUTOMATIC, FIRING 15 STANDARD 5.
56 NATO ROUNDS PER SECOND.
WITH A 14-1/2-INCH BARREL AND WEIGHING JUST SEVEN POUNDS, THE M4A1 DELIVERS THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF SIZE, MANEUVERABILITY, AND FIREPOWER FOR FIGHTING IN CLOSE.
Paul: IT'S SMALL ENOUGH THAT IT DOESN'T GET IN YOUR WAY.
YOU'RE ABLE TO WIELD I AND, YOU KNOW, NOT GET BOUND UP WITH IT.
Haney: IT'S IN FRONT OF YOUR BODY.
IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR HANDS.
AND THEN WHEN YOU NEED YOUR HANDS, YOU HAVE THOSE, BUT YOUR WEAPON'S RIGHT THERE IMMEDIATELY.
Glenn: FOR COLLATERAL DAMAGE, IT'S NOT GONNA BE AS SIGNIFICAN IF YOU'RE JUST GONNA GO IN THERE WITH A HIGHER-CALIBER WEAPON AND START BLOWING HOLES THROUGH WALLS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WALL WITHIN A CLOSE PROXIMITY, BE IT, YOU KNOW, CIVILIANS AND/OR HOSTAGES.
Narrator: ANOTHER SPEC-OP WEAPON OF CHOICE FOR CLOSE-QUARTERS COMBA IS THE M14.
Sawyer: IF YOU COLLAPSE THE STOCK DOWN, IT'S A RELATIVELY SHORT WEAPON AND EASILY WIELDABLE INDOORS.
Narrator: PROPER WEAPONS AT THE READY, SPEC OPERATORS HAVE THE FREEDOM TO FOCUS ON THE BATTLE AREA IN FRONT OF THEM.
ONCE YOU ENTER THE STRUCTURE AS A TEAM, THAT'S WHEN THINGS HAPPEN VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
Narrator: CENTRAL TO THE SPEC-OPS SKILL SE IS THE ABILITY TO QUICKLY DETERMINE FRIEND OR FOE, SO SPECIAL OPERATORS ARE TRAINED TO QUICKLY ASSESS THE HAND MOVEMENT OF EACH POTENTIAL THREAT.
Sawyer: YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES BASED ON THEIR PRESENTATION OF A WEAPON TOWARD YOU OR THEIR SUBMISSION.
AND IF SOMEONE WANTS TO RAISE A WEAPON AND ENGAGE YOU, THEY HAVE TO DIE.
Narrator: AFTER A ROOM IS CLEARED, THE TEAM REGROUPS IN FORMATION AND STARTS THE PROCESS OVER AS THEY CONTINUE TO SYSTEMATICALLY WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE ENEMY STRUCTURE.
Haney: IF WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN A HALL, NOW WE BECOME STEALTHY AGAIN.
SHUT UP, MAKE NO NOISE, GO DOWN QUIETLY, GET TO THE NEXT BREACH POINT, BE IT A DOOR OR ANOTHER ROOM OR ANOTHER BUILDING, AND THEN IT'S EXPLOSIVE AGAIN.
Narrator: FOR ANY SOLDIER IN COMBAT, THE INTENSITY OF BATTLE CAN BE DEBILITATING, WREAKING SUCH HAVOC ON NERVES THAT IT OFTEN LEADS TO PTSD OR OTHER COMBAT-RELATED ILLNESSES.
BUT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT SPEC OPERATORS MAY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OVER THE AVERAGE SOLDIER WHEN IT COMES TO STAYING CALM AND FOCUSED UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS.
IT'S DUE TO A NATURAL PHENOMENON CALLED THE METRONOMIC HEARTBEAT.
A HEALTHY PERSON'S HEART BEATS AT AN UNEVEN PACE, WHERE THE INTERVAL BETWEEN EACH HEARTBEAT VARIES.
THE AVERAGE SPECIAL OPERATOR'S HEART BEATS LIKE A METRONOME, TICKING AWAY WITH NO VARIABILITY IN BETWEEN EACH BEAT.
COMBINE THIS NATURAL ADVANTAGE WITH INTENSE TRAINING, PRIDE, AND FEROCIOUS WEAPONRY, AND IT'S NO WONDER WHY AMERICAN SPECIAL FORCES ARE KNOWN AS THE FINEST WARRIORS ON THE PLANET.
COMING UP, SPECIAL-OPS SNIPERS TAKE TO THE AIR IN A LITTLE BIRD WITH A BIG BITE.
[ GUNSHOT .]
Narrator: SPECIAL-OPERATIONS WARRIORS, RENOWNED FOR THEIR TOUGHNESS, CUNNING, AND EXPERT USE OF WEAPONRY.
INTEGRAL TO ANY SPEC-OP MISSION IS THE SNIPER.
USUALLY CAMOUFLAGED AND LAYING IN WAIT, HIS IS A SPECIALTY THAT FEW POSSESS.
Bevo: THE TWO BIGGEST QUALITIES WOULD BE CONFIDENCE AND PATIENCE.
IF YOU BLOW A SHOT -- IN WHICH DIRECTION AM I GONNA GO? AM I GONNA START QUESTIONING EVERY SHOT I MAKE? OR AM I GONNA SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT? I KNOW I'M A GOOD SHOT, AND I'M GONNA PICK UP THE NEXT ONE.
" YOU KNOW, AND, OF COURSE, THE PATIENCE 'CAUSE SOMETIMES YOU'LL SIT UP ON A TARGE AND STARE AT IT FOR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS WAITING FOR JUST ONE SINGULAR MOMENT.
Narrator: AND OFTEN, WAITING FOR THAT SINGULAR MOMEN IS NOT ONLY THE BEST TACTICAL DECISION.
IT'S ALSO THE BEST ONE FOR THE BOTTOM LINE, AS THE ALTERNATIVE TO A SNIPER, PRECISION-GUIDED BOMBS, COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
A SNIPER ROUND COSTS LESS THAN $10.
[ GUNSHOT .]
SPEC-OP SNIPERS ARE NOT LIMITED TO GROUND OPERATIONS.
THEY CAN ALSO TAKE TO THE SKY IN ONE OF THESE, THE LITTLE BIRD HELICOPTER.
DESIGNED TO RAPIDLY TRANSPORT AND PROTECT SPEC-OP TEAMS, THE NIMBLE LITTLE BIRD DOES DOUBLE-DUTY AS A QUICK-HIT SNIPER PLATFORM.
WE'RE USING A MODIFIED VERSION.
IT'S THE EXACT SAME HELICOPTER, JUST MINUS A MACHINE GUN AND RUNNING BOARDS ALONG ITS SIDES.
Bevo: THE LITTLE BIRD IS A GREAT CHOICE FOR SPEC OPS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF ITS STABILITY AND ITS MANEUVERABILITY.
IT CAN HIDE VERY WELL.
WITH A LITTLE BIRD, THEY HAVE COMPLETE MOBILITY.
SO, GET IN TO WHEREVER THEIR TARGET IS, TAKE THEIR SHOT, AND GET OUT.
Narrator: NICKNAMED "THE KILLER EGG," THE SINGLE-ENGINE LITTLE BIRD IS SURPRISINGLY QUIET, ADDRESSING THE SNIPER'S FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR STEALTH WITH INNOVATIVE MUFFLERS AND SPECIALLY-DESIGNED ROTORS.
Glenn: WHEN COMING UP ON A TARGE ON AN UNSUSPECTING ENEMY, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY GONNA HEAR THEM AS EASILY OR AS QUICKLY AS THEY WOULD A NORMAL HELICOPTER.
[ HELICOPTERS BUZZING .]
Narrator: THE NOISE LEVEL OF MOST ATTACK HELICOPTERS OPERATING AT AVERAGE POWER IS MEASURED AT AROUND 100 DECIBELS, WHICH IS TWICE THAT OF A HARLEY MOTORCYCLE.
THE LITTLE BIRD'S NOISE LEVEL REGISTERS AT JUST 85 DECIBELS, THE EQUIVALENT OF AN ELECTRIC RAZOR.
[ LITTLE BIRD HUMMING .]
WHERE LITTLE BIRD DESIGNERS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL DEALING WITH NOISE, SPECIAL-OPERATIONS SNIPERS STILL MUST DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGE INHERENT WITH THE NATURE OF HELICOPTER FLIGHT.
Bevo: YOU GOT WIND, SO YOU GOT THE MOVEMENT OF THE HELICOPTER.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT A ROUND ON TARGET.
IT'S PRETTY CHALLENGING.
Narrator: THE CHALLENGE IS MET WITH GREAT PILOTING, A COMPACT AND POWERFUL RIFLE, AND A SKILL SET UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE MILITARY.
"BEVO" IS A RETIRED SPEC-OPS SNIPER INSTRUCTOR.
WITH THIS DISPLAY OF MARKSMANSHIP, IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY.
OF COURSE, THE MORE TRADITIONAL SNIPER MISSION IS CONDUCTED ON THE GROUND.
AND BEFORE THERE WERE HELICOPTERS TO SHOOT FROM, SNIPERS HAD TO OVERCOME A DIFFERENT SET OF OBSTACLES, ONE BEING SHAME.
Glenn: SINCE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, SNIPING WAS FROWNED UPON AND LOOKED DOWN UPON AS, YOU KNOW, DISHONORABLE.
Narrator: CHIVALRY EVENTUALLY GAVE WAY TO WHAT IS NOW CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TACTICS ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
Glenn: THIS IS THE UNSEEN ENEMY THAT'S STRIKING AT AND HITTING YOU AND TAKING OUT YOUR BEST BUDDIES, YOUR COMMANDER, ET CETERA.
Bevo: IT'S EXTREMELY DEMORALIZING WHEN YOU CAN'T PINPOINT WHERE ONE PERSON IS THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WREAKING HAVOC ON YOUR GROUP.
ONE PERSON CAN KEEP 100 HEADS DOWN.
Narrator: SUCH SKILL CAN ONLY COME FROM ENDLESS HOURS OF PRACTICE ON THE SNIPER RANGE.
HERE, THE TARGETS ARE PLASTIC JUGS FILLED WITH WATER COLORED WITH RED DYE.
Brown: SHOOTER READY.
WE GOT ONE TARGET FOR YOU.
12:00.
APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS.
WHAT'S YOUR DOPE SETTING, ZERO? YEAH, I'M SET.
HOLD CENTER.
RED TARGET.
STAND BY.
YOU MAY FIRE WHEN READY.
SHOOTER AND SPOTTER ON.
COPY.
[ GUNSHOT .]
GOOD HIT.
[ GUN COCKS .]
THIS IS A STANDARD, BASIC SNIPER/SPOTTER PARTNERSHIP HERE, HOW WE SET UP.
THE JOB OF THE SPOTTER, WHICH IS HONESTLY AS IMPORTAN OR MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SHOOTER, TO MAKE CORRECTIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE TWO, THE COMMUNICATIONS JUST FLOWS SMOOTHLY, CLEARLY.
Narrator: THE SPOTTER'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO HELP THE SHOOTER GAUGE HIS SHO AND THEN TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON CONDITIONS OF THE BATTLEFIELD.
ALL RIGHT, LAST TARGET AT 200.
STRAIGHT OUT, OAK TREE.
APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS PAST LAST TARGET.
RIGHT EDGE OF SHADOW ONE YARD.
SEND IT.
COPY.
[ SIGHS .]
[ GUNSHOT .]
THAT WOULD BE A TOP-EDGE, RIGHT-SIDE HIT.
GOOD SHOT, THOUGH, 'CAUSE YOU DID HIT THE JUG.
HITTING ANY LONG-RANGE TARGET OR THE ENEMY ON THE BATTLEFIELD POSES SEVERAL CHALLENGES FOR A SNIPER.
WIND POSES THE BIGGEST PROBLEM, AND SPOTTERS STILL USE A TIME-TESTED METHOD TO SOLVE IT -- WATCHING THE BOIL.
IMAGINE A HEAT MIRAGE AS YOU SEE IN THE DESERT.
LIKE, IT LOOKS LIKE WATER.
YOU READ THE HEAT MIRAGE.
AND AS THE WIND TRAVELS THROUGH IT, IT PUSHES IT AROUND, AND YOU CAN SEE IT THROUGH THE SCOPE.
AND IT HELPS YOU GAUGE YOUR WIND CORRECTIONS.
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT A SLIGHT BOIL.
COPY.
WE GOT TO COME UP TOTAL OF -- LET'S TRY 8.
25.
COME UP.
AND I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME A 1/4 MINUTE LEFT.
DIAL IT.
Narrator: "A 1/4 MINUTE LEFT" IS SNIPER TALK FOR MOVING THE CROSSHAIRS INSIDE THE SHOOTER'S SIGH TO THE LEFT ONE CLICK, WHICH WILL EQUAL ONE 1/4 INCH PER 100 YARDS OF DISTANCE TO THE TARGET.
I'M GONNA CRANK ON THE WINDAGE KNOB HERE ONE CLICK, WHICH IS ONE 1/4 MINUTE OF ANGLE, WHICH IS THE ADJUSTMENT HE GAVE ME, WHICH IS GONNA ALLOW ME TO HOLD THE CROSSHAIR CENTER.
BUT IT'S GONNA PUSH THAT BULLET WHERE I NEED IT TO FOR THE WIND.
YEAH, SEND IT.
COPY.
[ GUNSHOT .]
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY .]
THAT'S PERFECT.
OKAY.
CENTER MASS.
EXACT.
GO TO 1,250 ON THE HILL, BIG GUY.
AS THE TARGETS INCREASE IN DISTANCE, THE MORE PHYSICS COME INTO PLAY.
THE FURTHER THE BULLET MUST TRAVEL, THE MORE IT SLOWS DOWN, MAKING IT MORE APT TO BE PUSHED AROUND BY THE WIND.
Bevo: THE SPOTTER'S GOT TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THAT ROUND.
AND WHEN I SAY "GET ON THAT ROUND" -- SPOT THE ROUND IN FLIGHT FOR THE SHOOTER AND SEE WHERE THE IMPACT IS TO GIVE A CORRECTION.
Narrator: WHICH IS WHY SNIPERS USE HIGH-CALIBER RIFLES LIKE THE REMINGTON 700.
Brown: IT'S A .
300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM.
IT HAS A 190-GRAIN BULLET.
IT'S TRAVELING AT ABOUT 3,100 FEET A SECOND.
THIS PARTICULAR ROUND HAS AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF ENERGY AT 1,000 YARDS OF IMPAC AS A .
44 MAGNUM DOES AT THE BARREL -- AS IT EXITS THE BARREL.
Narrator: AND WATCHING THAT KIND OF POWER IN MIDAIR IS ANOTHER WAY SPOTTER'S ADJUST FIRE.
A CLOSER LOOK SHOWS THE TRAJECTORY OF THE .
300-MAG ROUND.
AS ANOTHER SHOT RIPS THROUGH THE WIND AT OVER 2,100 MILES PER HOUR, IT BEGINS TO LOSE ENERGY, DIPPING JUST A BIT AS IT TRAVELS FURTHER FROM THE RIFLE.
A QUICK ADJUSTMENT, AND IT'S BACK ON TARGET.
[ GUNSHOT .]
SLIGHT RIGHT TO LEFT, WHICH I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA CHANGE.
COPY.
READY? SEND IT.
[ GUNSHOT .]
GOOD HIT.
CENTER.
FAVOR LEFT JUST A LITTLE.
SEND IT.
[ GUNSHOT .]
Narrator: AFTER A SHORT DRIVE OUT TO THE TARGET AREA TO ASSESS THE RESULTS, IT'S APPARENT WHY SPEC-OPS SNIPERS ARE WORLD RENOWNED AS EXPERTS AT THEIR CRAFT.
YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT RIGHT HERE AS IT PASSED THROUGH.
THAT'S A MAN.
THAT'S HIS CENTER.
YOU'RE STILL GONNA BE RIGHT HERE WITH THAT.
YEP.
HE'S NOT GONNA BE IN THE FIGHT ANYMORE.
EVEN WITH BODY ARMOR, THE .
300 WIN MAG -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE'D SURVIVE THAT -- EVEN A CENTER SHOT WITH A PLATE.
THAT'S A LOT OF ENERGY.
Narrator: WITH THE NIMBLE LITTLE BIRD AND DEADLY-ACCURATE SNIPER RIFLES, THE TOOLS USED BY SPEC-OP SNIPERS ARE UNRIVALED.
BUT WHEN THE MISSION CALLS FOR A SNIPER'S EXPERTISE, IT TAKES A TEAM BOTH IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMY.
NEXT UP, WE'RE BACK IN THE AIR WITH THE SPEC-OP GUNSHIP THAT CAN MORPH FROM A PLANE TO A HELICOPTER.
Narrator: SPECIAL OPERATIONS RELY ON THE MILITARY'S MOST SKILLED AND RIGOROUSLY TRAINED FIGHTERS EXECUTING BOLD, TACTICAL GAME PLANS WITH SPEED AND PRECISION TIMING.
IN ANY SPECIAL OPERATION, THE DANGERS ARE MANY, BEGINNING WITH THE CRUCIAL INITIAL PHASE, SURGICAL INSERTION OF THE OPERATIVES AT THE MISSION'S OBJECTIVE AREA.
THIS REVOLUTIONARY AIRCRAFT, THE CV-22 OSPREY, HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR THIS DEMANDING TASK.
THE OSPREY IS AN INNOVATIVE, TILTROTOR AIRCRAF FUSING THE SPEED OF A PLANE AND THE VERTICAL LANDING AND TAKEOFF CAPABILITIES OF A HELICOPTER.
THE OSPREY HAS BECOME FOR SPECIAL FORCES WHAT THE EARLY HELICOPTERS WERE IN VIETNAM.
IT ENABLES YOUR TEAMS TO GET IN AND GET OUT OF AREAS THAT THEY COULDN'T OTHERWISE PARACHUTE INTO.
Narrator: PARACHUTE INSERTIONS LACK PINPOINT PRECISION, INTRODUCING A RANDOM ELEMEN THAT COULD DERAIL A SPECIAL OPERATION AT ITS OUTSET.
THE OSPREY CAN RAPIDLY DELIVER A SPEC-OPS TEAM TO A PREDETERMINED SITE, ENSURING THAT THE MISSION WILL COMMENCE EXACTLY AS PLANNED.
Glenn: WHEN YOU'RE HOPING TO HI A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, SAY A MOUNTAINTOP, PARACHUTING REALLY BECOMES IMPRACTICAL AND EVEN DANGEROUS, WHEREAS THE USE OF AN OSPREY CAN GET YOUR MEN RIGHT THERE ON TARGET SAFELY.
Narrator: SPECIAL-OPERATIONS TACTICS DEMAND UNRIVALED SPEED.
THE OSPREY MEETS THAT CHALLENGE.
IT'S TOP SPEED IS MORE THAN 300 MILES PER HOUR, TWICE AS FAST AS THE SWIFTEST HELICOPTER IN THE U.
S.
MILITARY FLEET.
THE ABILITY TO GET THERE FAST AND THEN LAND LIKE A HELICOPTER IS UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC ONLY TO TILTROTOR TECHNOLOGY.
IT GETS THE GUYS IN THAT WE NEED TO GET IN, AND IT GETS THEM OUT WHEN WE NEED TO GET THEM OUT.
Narrator: THE OSPREY MORPHS FROM PLANE TO CHOPPER WITHIN AS LITTLE AS 15 SECONDS.
THIS LIMITS THE OSPREY'S TIME AT THE LANDING ZONE, MINIMIZING THE CHANCES FOR THE ENEMY TO DETECT THE SPEC-OP TEAM AS THEY DEPLOY.
AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE, THIS HUGE, GIGANTIC BALL SCREW IS ACTUALLY OUR CONVERSION ACTUATOR.
IT'S WHAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO MOVE OUR NACELLES UP AND DOWN.
Narrator: THE OSPREY MUST OFTEN DELIVER SPECIAL FORCES ON THE UNEVEN, RUGGED, DUSTY TERRAIN, COMPLICATING THE LANDING PROCEDURE.
SO, A CREW MEMBER CALLED THE TAIL SCANNER, POSTED ON THE OPEN RAMP AT THE CRAFT'S REAR, HELPS DIRECT THE PILOT.
Lederman: THE PILOT WILL FLY THE ENTIRE MISSION, BUT ONCE WE GET TO OUR HELICOPTER-LANDING ZONE, IT'S KIND OF THE GUY ON THE TAIL CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT.
HE'LL SAY, "HEY, WE NEED TO MOVE LEFT.
WE NEED TO MOVE RIGHT.
SLOW DOWN.
THERE'S A BIG ROCK UNDERNEATH US.
" HE FOLLOWS MY VOICE.
I TELL HIM WHAT TO DO BECAUSE UP FRONT HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SEE JUST BECAUSE OF ALL THE DUST THAT WE'RE KICKING UP.
SO, I WILL ACTUALLY STICK MY HEAD OU AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT GONNA HIT ANYTHING.
Narrator: THE TAIL SCANNER ALSO CONTROLS THE OSPREY'S RAMP-MOUNTED MACHINE GUN.
IF THE OSPREY AND THE SPEC-OP TEAMS ENCOUNTER ANY ENEMY RESISTANCE, HIS COMMUNICATION WITH THE PILO IS ONCE AGAIN CRUCIAL TO MISSION SUCCESS.
YOU'LL HAVE THE PILOT DESCRIBE TO YOU, "ALL RIGHT, TARGET'S COMING DOWN LEFT SIDE.
TARGET'S COMING DOWN RIGHT SIDE.
" AND YOU WILL LOOK FOR IT AS HE'S DESCRIBING IT.
AND THEN YOU GO WEAPONS HOT.
[ RAPID GUNFIRE .]
TAIL SCANNER WOULD BE IN A POSITION SIMILAR TO THIS.
THAT WAY, HE COULD SCAN BOTH SIDES.
HE COULD GET BOTH SIDES OF THE AIRCRAFT AT 5:00 OR 7:00.
[ RAPID GUNFIRE .]
Narrator: IF THE OSPREY ATTRACTS ENEMY FIRE IN THE FORM OF HEAT-SEEKING MISSILES, IT PROTECTS ITSELF WITH AN INNOVATIVE DEFENSE SYSTEM.
INFRARED SUPPRESSORS BUILT INTO ITS EXHAUST SYSTEM COMBINE COOL, OUTSIDE AIR WITH THE ENGINE'S HOT EXHAUST, REDUCING THE OSPREY'S HEAT SIGNATURE SO HEAT-SEEKERS CAN'T LOCK ON.
IF AN ENEMY ROUND STILL MAKES IT THROUGH AND DISABLES ONE OF THE OSPREY'S ENGINES, A KEY DESIGN FEATURE KEEPS THE CRAFT AIRBORNE.
THE TWIN ENGINES ARE LINKED, SO IF ONE QUITS, THE OTHER CAN DRIVE BOTH ROTORS.
FAST, VERSATILE, AND INNOVATIVE, THE OSPREY MEETS THE DEMANDING STANDARDS REQUIRED BY SPECIAL FORCES.
IT'S FULL STRATEGIC POTENTIAL HAS YET TO BE TAPPED.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO UNLOCK WHAT THIS PLATFORM IS CAPABLE OF DOING.
IT'S SUCH A NEW AIRFRAME THAT THERE'S JUST SO MANY MISSIONS OUT THERE THAT IF SOMEBODY WAS TO ASK US, "HEY, CAN YOU DO THIS?" CAN YOU ATTEMPT TO COMPLETE THIS?" I MEAN, WE'RE UP FOR ANYTHING.
IT'S BEEN ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING WE'VE ASKED IT TO DO.
Narrator: ONCE INSERTED, A SPECIAL-FORCES TEAM MUST OFTEN CONDUC A RAID, RESCUE, OR OTHER MISSION IN A SMALL, CONFINED ZONE IN CLOSE-QUARTERS COMBAT WITH THE ENEMY.
SUCH A SCENARIO FREQUENTLY DEMANDS HIGHLY-SPECIALIZED AND SUSTAINED CLOSE AIR SUPPORT.
THE AC-130 WHISKEY IS AN AERIAL TERMINATOR TAILOR-MADE FOR THE TASK.
IT'S A HEAVILY-ARMED, GROUND-ATTACK AIRCRAFT, THE LATEST AND DEADLIEST VARIAN OF THE C-130 HERCULES CARGO PLANE.
[ GUNFIRE .]
WHAT'S FANTASTIC ABOUT THIS AIRPLANE IS WE'RE BUILDING THE NEXT GUNSHIP, THE GUNSHIP THAT'S GONNA BE HERE FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.
AND IT'S REALLY AN AMAZING THING TO SEE.
Narrator: THE AC-130 WHISKEY PROTECTS SPECIAL FORCES WITH THE MOST ADVANCED WEAPONRY OF ANY GUNSHIP IN THE U.
S.
MILITARY.
Slaght: THIS IS THE 30-MILLIMETER, MARK 44 BUSHMASTER II CANNON.
THIS IS WHAT MAKES THE WHISKEY A GUNSHIP.
THE BEST WAY I CAN COMPARE THIS TO A LEGACY GUNSHIP IS IF A LEGACY GUNSHIP WAS SIMILAR TO A BASIC-ISSUE BATTLE RIFLE, THIS IS LIKE A SNIPER RIFLE.
Narrator: THE BUSHMASTER II CANNON FIRES ARMOR-PIERCING, INCENDIARY AMMUNITION AT 200 ROUNDS PER MINUTE.
AIMING IT WITH DEADLY PRECISION IS THE JOB OF THE COMBAT-SYSTEMS OFFICER, OR CSO, WHO GETS AN ASSIST FROM THIS VIDEO-INFRARED SENSOR.
Slaght: THE M2 IS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE 30-MIL CANNON, SO THIS IS WHAT THE CSO USES IN THE AIRCRAF IN ORDER TO AIM AND FIRE THE GUN.
Narrator: THE AC-130 WHISKEY GUNSHIP ALSO COMES ARMED WITH LASER- AND GPS-GUIDED GRIFFIN MISSILES.
THEY WEIGH JUST 33 POUNDS AND MEASURE ONLY 42 INCHES LONG, WITH A SMALL WARHEAD DESIGNED TO REDUCE COLLATERAL DAMAGE.
THE GRIFFIN MISSILE IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE IN THE RIGHT SPO AND NOT HURT ANYTHING ELSE.
WE PUT THE COORDINATES IN THE SYSTEM, WE SHOOT IT OFF THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE MUNITION WILL DO THE RES AND MAKE ITS WAY TO THE SPOT THAT WE DESIGNATED.
Slaght: THE MUNITION COMES OUT THE TAIL THROUGH THESE PORTALS AND, ONCE IT'S SAFELY AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT, THEN BEGINS ITS DESCENT TO THE TARGET.
Narrator: THE FINS OF A GRIFFIN MISSILE FOLD SO THE MISSILE'S BODY CAN FI INTO ONE OF THE AC-130's 10 LAUNCHING TUBES.
Slaght: THERE IS A PISTON INSIDE THE TUBE, AND IT PUNCHES IT OUT, OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPLANE.
AND ONCE IT'S FREE AND CLEAR OF THE AIRPLANE, THEN IT'LL POP OUT ITS FINS, RIGHT ITSELF, ROCKET MOTOR FIRES, AND OFF IT GOES.
Narrator: THE AC-130 WHISKEY'S ADVANCED WEAPONS ARE UNRIVALED FOR A GUNSHIP.
BUT JUST LIKE WITH THE THREE DIFFERENT AC-130s IN OPERATION, ALL ARMED WITH A VARIETY OF GUNS AND CANNONS, IT'S THE CREWS DEPLOYING THE GUNSHIP'S WEAPONS THAT MAXIMIZES THEIR LETHAL EFFICIENCY.
[ GUNFIRE .]
Reinecke: AND IT'S ALL VERY CHOREOGRAPHED ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROCESS A TARGET.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRAIN TO.
WE TRAIN TO SYNERGY, TO PERFECTION, TO EXACTLY COVERING THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW BEFORE WE LAUNCH WEAPONS OUT OF THIS AIRPLANE.
Narrator: AS A SPEC-OP TEAM ENGAGES AN ENEMY ON THE GROUND, THE AC-130 FLIES DIRECTLY ABOVE IN A TIGHT ORBIT.
THIS ENABLES ITS CREW TO RAIN DOWN A CONTINUOUS HAIL OF FIREPOWER ON ENEMY POSITIONS.
INSTEAD OF YOUR TYPICAL AIRCRAF THAT WOULD MAKE A PASS AND FIRE AND THEN HAVE TO REROUTE AND MAKE A SECOND AND THIRD PASS, WITH THE AC-130, IT MAKES WHAT YOU CALL A PYLON TURN.
SO, IT'S TURNING IN A CONSTANT CIRCLE.
WITH ALL OF ITS GUNS MOUNTED ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOUR TARGET BECOMES FULLY SATURATED IN FIRE AS THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUES TO TURN.
FOR THE SPECIAL-FORCES TEAM THAT'S EITHER IN TROUBLE OR NEEDS THAT EXTRA FIRE SUPPORT, THE AC-130 IS THE IDEAL SUPPORT AIRCRAF BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF FIREPOWER THAT THEY CAN POUR ON THAT ENEMY TARGET.
IT'S UNRELENTING.
Narrator: THROUGHOUT THIS UNRELENTING ASSAULT, THE AC-130 CREW IS IN CONSTANT RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH THE SPECIAL-FORCES UNIT ON THE GROUND.
THEIR COMS ARE SHORT, CRISP, TO THE POINT, AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CHATTER.
SO, YOU CAN HAVE A VERY SHORT SENTENCE, AND IT TELLS A GREAT DEAL TO THE GROUND PARTY WITHOUT HAVING A LONG, DRAWN-OUT CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
THEY'VE CROSSED OVER THE CANAL.
THEY'RE NOW WALKING WEST.
Narrator: THE COORDINATED EFFORT MAXIMIZES ENEMY CASUALTIES AND REDUCES RISK TO THE SPECIAL-FORCES FIGHTERS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE TARGET ZONES.
OTHER ASSETS THAT THE MILITARY HAS FOCUS ON TARGET DESTRUCTION.
WE FOCUS ON KEEPING THE FRIENDLIES SAFE.
Roundtree: IT PROVIDES THEM PROTECTION THEY NEED AND THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT ON THE GROUND KNOWING THAT WE'VE GOT THEIR BACK, AND WE'RE PRETTY MUCH LIKE A GUARDIAN ANGEL OVERHEAD WATCHING THOSE GUYS ON THE GROUND.
Narrator: FOR THE SPECIAL-FORCES UNIT ON THE GROUND BELOW, THE AC-130's INCESSANT FIREPOWER HAS ALWAYS DELIVERED AN OVERWHELMING TACTICAL EDGE.
FOR THEIR OUTGUNNED FOES, EVEN RETREAT IS A REMOTE OPTION.
FROM THE ENEMY'S STANDPOINT, THIS MEANS THERE'S NO LETUP.
THEY REALLY HAVE NO ESCAPE AT THAT POINT.
THEY'RE COMPLETELY PINNED DOWN.
Narrator: DESPITE THE DEADLY PRECISION OF THE AC-130's WEAPONS, RIVAL COMBATANTS BELOW CAN BE SO CLOSE THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF FRIENDLY FIRE KILLING OR INJURING SPECIAL-FORCES FIGHTERS CANNOT BE ELIMINATED.
[ GUNFIRE .]
THE MARGIN FOR ERROR, ESPECIALLY IN A SPEC-OPS MISSION, CAN BE SO NARROW THAT ONE LAPSE IN EXECUTION CAN BE DISASTROUS.
YOU NEED TO BE PRECISE AND KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.
AND THE GUYS ON THE GROUND TRUST YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT PROPERLY.
Narrator: FOR SPECIAL-OPERATIONS TEAMS, THE AC-130 AND CLOSE AIR SUPPORT ARE SYNONYMOUS, A COMBINATION THAT HAS REDEFINED THE LIMITS OF SPEC-OP TACTICS AND CAPABILITIES.
COMING UP SPECIAL FORCES CARRY THE BATTLE TO THE ENEMY ON THE WATER USING AGGRESSIVE, SEABORNE TACTICS.
Narrator: THE SUCCESS OF ANY SPECIAL OPERATION HINGES ON CAREFULLY CONCEIVED TACTICS EXECUTED BY CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONALS ARMED WITH WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT APPROPRIATE FOR THE MISSION.
[ GUNSHOTS .]
A CRUCIAL VARIABLE IN ANY SPEC OP IS THE COMBAT ENVIRONMENT.
TACTICS MUST BE TAILORED NOT ONLY FOR LAND-BASED AND AIR-SUPPORTED MISSIONS, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE ON THE WATER.
THE ASSAULT TACTICS FOR SPEC-OPS IN RIVERS AND COASTAL WATERWAYS REVOLVE AROUND SMALL, HEAVILY ARMED BOATS CALLED RIVERINE CRAFT.
[ RAPID GUNFIRE .]
Glenn: THE USE OF RIVERINE CRAFT ENABLES US TO GET TO THE ENEMY AT PLACES THAT WE NORMALLY COULDN'T GO TO.
WITH THESE CRAFT, OUR FORCES CAN GO UP AND DOWN THAT RIVER AT WILL STRIKING AT THEM AND THEN GETTING OUT.
Haney: THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT THE USE OF SMALL CRAFT -- THE SLOW AND STEALTHY, AND THEN THERE'S THE LOUD AND FAST.
Narrator: THE RIVERINE'S 400-HORSEPOWER ENGINE CAN PUSH IT TO OVER 80 MILES AN HOUR.
AND WITH A TIGHT-TURNING RADIUS, RIVERINE CRAFT FUNCTION EQUALLY AS WELL AS MOBILE-ARMED PLATFORMS.
COMBINE THAT SPEED WITH A LOW RADAR SIGNATURE, AND THE RIVERINE IS IDEAL FOR COVERTLY INSERTING SPEC-OP TEAMS FROM OFFSHORE SHIPS AND SUBMARINES.
[ GUNFIRE .]
THEY CAN GO IN HEAVY, GUNS BLAZING, OR THEY CAN GO IN QUIETLY TO DROP OFF A TEAM THAT CAN THEN GO AND DO THEIR MISSION, BE IT RECONNAISSANCE OR AGGRESSIVE.
Narrator: THE TACTICAL TRADEOFF FOR A RIVERINE CRAFT'S SPEED AND MOBILITY IS A MINIMUM OF ARMOR.
IN A FIREFIGHT, THE BEST DEFENSE FOR SPECIAL OPERATORS IS A FURIOUS OFFENSE, STRIKING THEIR TARGETS WITH DEVASTATING FIREPOWER BEFORE THEY THEMSELVES ARE HIT.
[ GUNFIRE CONTINUES .]
Sawyer: LIKE ANY INSERTION OR EXTRACTION, YOU WANT TO PLAN IT VERY WISELY.
AND ULTIMATELY, YOU'D LIKE TO DO IT NOT UNDER HEAVY FIRE FROM THE ENEMY.
SO, THAT ALL COMES IN THE PLANNING AND PREP.
Narrator: THE WATERCRAFT USED BY THE NAVY S.
E.
A.
L.
s ARE A PRODUCT OF LESSONS LEARNED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
USING THE SO-CALLED SWIFT BOATS OF THAT ERA, NAVAL CREWS PENETRATED DEEP WITHIN THE MAZE OF VIETNAM'S INTERCONNECTED INLAND WATERWAYS.
[ GUNFIRE .]
FROM THEIR BOATS, THEY CARRIED THE BATTLE TO THE VIETCONG, DENYING THEM THE SANCTUARY ONCE OFFERED BY THEIR REMOTE JUNGLE CAMPS.
UNLIKE AMERICA'S CONVENTIONAL LAND FORCES THAT WERE SLOWED BY THE SWAMPY RICE PADDIES AND DENSE JUNGLES, SPEC-OP RIVERINE TEAMS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE WATERWAYS TO INCREASE THEIR MOBILITY AND HARASS THE ENEMY.
FOR LONGER, OCEAN-BASED MISSIONS, SPEC OPS USE ONE OF THESE, THE MARK V SPECIAL-OPERATIONS CRAFT.
TWO POWERFUL DIESEL ENGINES, A V-SHAPED HULL THAT SLICES THROUGH THE WATER, AND A 2,600-GALLON FUEL TANK GIVES THE MARK V THE SEA LEGS TO TRAVEL UP TO 500 MILES FROM BASE.
AND WITH UP TO 16 SPECIAL OPERATORS ONBOARD WIELDING THE UNRELENTING FURY DISHED OUT BY AN ARRAY OF MACHINE GUNS AND GRENADE LAUNCHERS, THE MARK V, LIKE THE RIVERINE, CAN CREATE AN INSTANT BARRAGE OF OVERWHELMING FORCE.
Glenn: YOU CAN UP-GUN THEM HOWEVER YOU NEED PER YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL PURPOSE.
YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO PUT A MA DEUCE ON THERE? YOU WANT TO PUT A 240 ON THERE? YOU WANT TO THROW A GRENADE LAUNCHER? IT'S REALLY UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL TEAM AND THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS FOR THE MISSION THAT THEY'RE GOING ON.
Narrator: IF THE SPECIAL OPERATION CALLS FOR A MORE NIMBLE AND STEALTHIER APPROACH, THE MARK V CAN ALSO LAUNCH AND RECOVER SMALL, RUBBER LANDING CRAFTS FROM ITS REAR RAMP.
NAVY S.
E.
A.
L.
TEAMS ALSO EXPLOIT THEIR EXPERTISE AND COVERT TACTICS UNDER THE WATER.
THE S.
E.
A.
L.
DELIVERY VEHICLE IS A MANNED SUBMERSIBLE DESIGNED TO SECRETLY TRANSPORT S.
E.
A.
L.
s AND THEIR EQUIPMEN THROUGH ENEMY-PATROLLED WATERS.
THE S.
E.
A.
L.
s CAN THEN TRANSITION FROM SEA TO LAND, INFILTRATING, BY STEALTH, AREAS INACCESSIBLE TO LARGER, CONVENTIONAL FORCES.
ONE SPECIALIZED VARIETY OF SPEC OPS MUST BE CARRIED OUT EXCLUSIVELY UNDER THE WATER'S SURFACE -- COVERT EXPLOSIVE-ORDINANCE DISPOSAL.
THE MISSION OBJECTIVE IS TO NEUTRALIZE ENEMY SEA MINES IN HOT SPOTS TOO DANGEROUS OR TOO REMOTE FOR MINESWEEPING SHIPS.
Nelson: YOU REALLY DON'T THINK ABOUT THE DANGER INVOLVED.
AND YOU GO FORWARD, AND YOU DO YOUR JOB.
AND THEN YOU GO TO THE NEXT JOB.
Narrator: THE MINES TARGETED BY SPEC-OP E.
O.
D.
TECHNICIANS ARE DESIGNED TO EXPLODE IN ONE OF TWO DISTINCT WAYS.
A CONTACT MINE BLOWS UP WHEN A SHIP MAKES PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH IT.
AN INFLUENCE MINE DETONATES WHEN IT'S TRIGGERED BY AN ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE, USUALLY THE SOUND OF A SHIP'S PROPELLER OR ENGINE OR A MAGNETIC SIGNATURE EMITTED FROM THE SHIP'S HULL.
TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF SETTING OFF THESE MINES PREMATURELY, E.
O.
D.
TECHS COME EQUIPPED WITH A SPECIALIZED BREATHING APPARATUS CALLED THE MARK 16.
Nelson: IT IS A REBREATHER, WHICH, FIRST OF ALL, MEANS IT'S CLOSED-CIRCUIT, SO YOU DON'T HAVE BUBBLES THAT ARE ESCAPING THAT WOULD CAUSE AN ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE.
IT IS ALSO NON-MAGNETIC.
THE RIG HAS NO MAGNETIC SIGNATURE THAT WOULD CAUSE AN INFLUENCE MINE TO DETONATE, AS WELL.
Narrator: TO NEUTRALIZE A SEA MINE, SPEC-OP DIVERS HAVE TWO TACTICAL OPTIONS.
THEY CAN PLACE A TIME-DELAYED PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE ON THE MINE ITSELF OR RIG A SO-CALLED OVERPRESSURE CHARGE NEAR THE MINE THAT CREATES A SHOCK WAVE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO CRACK ITS SHELL.
BELOW THE WATER'S SURFACE OR ON IT, SPECIAL-FORCES OPERATIVES ARE MASTERS OF AQUATIC COMBAT ENVIRONMENTS.
LIKE THEIR SPEC-OP COUNTERPARTS ON LAND, THEY DEMONSTRATE THAT A SMALL FORCE WITH EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS AND TACTICS CAN MAKE A HUGE CONTRIBUTION IN WINNING A WAR.
COMING UP, SPECIAL-OPERATIONS TECH THAT MAKE THE TEAMS DEADLIER THAN EVER.
ONE MUFFLED [ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
THE OTHER DEAFENING.
[ EXPLOSION .]
Narrator: IN THE NEW LANDSCAPE OF WAR, SPECIAL-OPERATIONS UNITS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT.
JUST AS TERRORIST CELLS HAVE REPLACED STANDING ARMIES AS THE GREATEST THREAT TO PEACE, SPEC-OP TEAMS ARE PROVING MORE ADEP THAN LARGE COMBAT FORCES AS THE PRINCIPLE COUNTERMEASURE.
THE STAKES ARE HIGHER THAN EVER, BUT THE BATTLEGROUND IS SHRINKING.
STEALTH IS THE MOST ESSENTIAL TACTIC IN ANY SPECIAL OPERATION, EVEN WHEN COVERT TEAMS MUST CALL ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES BY FIRING THEIR WEAPONS.
[ GUNSHOT .]
[ GUNSHOT .]
[ GUNSHOT .]
SUPPRESSORS DAMPEN THE NOISE OF EVERY DISCHARGE, OBSCURING THE LOCATION OF THE SHOOTER.
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
THIS IS AN UNSUPPRESSED SR-16 CARBINE FIRING A 5.
56-MILLIMETER ROUND.
[ GUNSHOT .]
[ GUNSHOTS .]
NOTE THE DIFFERENCE AFTER A SUPPRESSOR IS ADDED.
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
THE BIG THING FOR THE MILITARY IS IT ALSO DAMPENS NOT JUST THE SOUND, BUT IT DAMPENS THE MUZZLE FLASH, AS WELL.
SO, THE ENEMY, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, CANNOT SEE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
'CAUSE TYPICALLY IT'S EASY TO AIM AT MUZZLE FLASHES AND RETURN FIRE.
[ GUNSHOT .]
Narrator: SPEC-OP SNIPER RIFLES CAN ALSO BE FITTED WITH SUPPRESSORS.
A MYTH PERSISTS THAT SUPPRESSORS REDUCE A RIFLE'S RANGE AND ACCURACY.
THIS WAS TRUE ONLY OF THE EARLIEST SUPPRESSORS.
DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS IN TODAY'S MODELS HAVE CORRECTED THAT FLAW.
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOTS .]
SPEC-OP SNIPERS MAY SOMETIMES NEED TO MAKE THEIR WEAPONS STEALTHIER, NOT JUST AS THEY FIRE THEM BUT ALSO AS THEY TRANSPORT THEM.
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
AN OPERATIVE ON A COVERT MISSION MAY HAVE TO DISCREETLY CONCEAL HIS WEAPON UNTIL HE ARRIVES ON POST.
ARMS TECH'S .
50-CALIBER SNIPER RIFLE CAN FIT INSIDE AN ORDINARY BACKPACK, THEN BE ASSEMBLED, COMPLETE WITH SUPPRESSOR, IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.
Leone: AND THAT'S A SNIPER RIFLE.
Narrator: STEALTH IS ONE COMPONEN TO A SUCCESSFUL SPEC-FORCE MISSION.
ANOTHER IS THE ABILITY TO DEPLOY COMBAT EXPLOSIVES WITH PRECISE AND DEADLY EFFECT.
MUNITIONS ENABLE COVERT TEAMS TO DESTROY ENEMY ASSETS, BREACH BARRIERS, ESTABLISH DEFENSIBLE PERIMETERS, AND KILL ENEMY PERSONNEL.
AMONG THE MOST MOBILE AND VERSATILE EXPLOSIVE TOOLS IS THE MINI-CLAYMORE, A SMALL VERSION OF THE REMOTE-CONTROLLED, ANTIPERSONNEL LAND MINE USED BY CONVENTIONAL FORCES.
IT'S THE IDEAL GETAWAY TOOL FOR A TEAM THAT'S TRYING TO EXFILTRATE FROM A TARGE TO MOUNT IT THERE ON A TREE OR A WALL.
THEN ONCE IT GOES OFF, SERVES AS A DETERRENT AND/OR KILLING TOOL.
IT WILL KEEP THE ENEMY AWAY FROM YOUR TEAM AS THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OUT.
Leone: ONCE YOU OPEN IT UP, WE SEE THE BUSINESS END.
THIS CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 400 STEEL PROJECTILES HELD IN PLACE BY A POLYMER-EPOXY RESIN.
Narrator: THE MINI-CLAYMORE'S DEVASTATING PUNCH CAN COME FROM A VARIETY OF EXPLOSIVES, LIKE C-4, 30% MORE POWERFUL THAN TNT.
THE ONLY REMAINING STEP IS TO PRIME THE CHARGE AND WIRE IT TO THE OPERATOR'S REMOTE STATION.
UPON DETONATION, EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES WILL BE FORCED OUT OF THE CLAYMORE MINE IN A FAN-TYPE PATTERN.
FIRE IN THE HOLE! FIRE IN THE HOLE! Narrator: THE MINI-CLAYMORE'S BLAS HAS PRODUCED ITS DESIGNED BLAST PATTERN, 16 FEET WIDE AND 2 FEET HIGH, IDEAL FOR DECIMATING ENEMY TROOPS AT CLOSE RANGE.
FOR SPECIAL FORCES, THE MINI-CLAYMORE IS ONE AMONG MANY INNOVATIVE ASSETS.
SUCH TECHNOLOGY IS KEY TO EXECUTING THE TEAM'S PRECISE, COORDINATED TACTICS.
THE MOST ESSENTIAL WEAPON IN A SPECIAL OPERATION ISN'T THE ASSAULT RIFLE OR THE GUNSHIP, OR THE EXPLOSIVE, OR THE ATTACK BOAT.
IT'S THE ELITE SOLDIER BEHIND EACH OF THOSE.
THE OPERATOR IS THE DEADLIEST WEAPON.
Paul: IT'S MORE ABOUT THE MEN THAN THE EQUIPMENT.
IT'S IN THE HOURS AND HOURS AND DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS YOU SPEND PREPARING.
YOU GIVE A TOOL TO A WELL-TRAINED OPERATOR, AND IT MAKES HIM THAT MUCH BETTER.
Haney: AND AS AMERICANS, WE TEND TO WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF TECHNOLOGY AND FORGET ABOUT OR NOT FULLY REALIZE IT'S ABOUT A WELL-TRAINED, VERY WELL-MOTIVATED PERSON GOING IN HARM'S WAY FOR SOMETHING THEY REALLY BELIEVE IN.
Narrator: THE SPECIAL-FORCES WARRIORS DEFENDING AMERICA'S INTERESTS WAGE BATTLES THAT LARGELY ELUDE PUBLIC NOTICE.
[ GUNSHOT .]
THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INVALUABLE.
[ GUNSHOTS .]
THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY WILL ALWAYS BE AT THEIR DISPOSAL, BUT IN THE END, IT'S THE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED, ELITE SOLDIERS OF SPECIAL FORCES THAT WILL CARRY THE DAY.
TAKING THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMY ON HIS OWN TURF, EXECUTING CRITICAL OPERATIONS WITH SPLIT-SECOND PRECISION.
FROM THE ENEMY'S STANDPOINT, THIS MEANS THERE'S NO LETUP.
Narrator: WE'LL EXPLORE THE LATEST INNOVATIVE TACTICS AND TECH THAT MAKE THESE ELITE FIGHTERS SUCH A POTENT FORCE IN THE NEW LANDSCAPE OF WAR.
THEY'VE INVITED US INSIDE THEIR SECRET WORLD, WHERE THEY REVEAL SHOCKING DETAILS THAT WILL MAKE YOU RECONSIDER EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS SPECIALIZED ARENA OF WAR, FROM THE VEHICLE THEY USE AS A BATTERING RAM TO THE MINI MINES THAT CLEAR THEIR WAY FOR A FAST ESCAPE.
NOW ON "DEADLIEST TECH: SPECIAL OPERATIONS.
" CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS SPECIAL OPERATIONS ARE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMEN OF MILITARY SUCCESS, FROM SABOTAGE TO HOSTAGE RECOVERY TO ELIMINATING HIGH-VALUE TARGETS LIKE OSAMA BIN LADEN.
THEY ARE ON THE TIP OF THE SPEAR OF THE HIGH-RISK, UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE.
TRAINED TO OVERWHELM THE ENEMY WITH EXTREME FORCE OR SNEAK IN CLOSE TO KILL WITH STEALTHY PRECISION, SPECIAL-OPS WARRIORS ARE AS SKILLED IN THE ART OF WARFARE AS ANY FIGHTING FORCE ON EARTH.
AND IN TODAY'S POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, THE U.
S.
MILITARY DEPENDS ON THEM AND THE WEAPONS THEY WIELD MORE THAN AT ANY TIME IN HISTORY.
Sawyer: BEING A PART OF AN ELITE S.
E.
A.
L.
TEAM IS A MATTER OF PRIDE, BECAUSE I LOOK TO MY LEFT AND RIGHT, AND I SEE THESE HARD OPERATORS THAT ARE THE BEST.
THEY WANT TO KICK THE ASS OUT OF THE BAD GUYS SO THAT THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY BACK HOME ARE SAFE.
Narrator: IN AFGHANISTAN, SPECIAL OPERATORS DO MUCH OF THEIR WORK IN THE CLOSE-QUARTERS, URBAN ENVIRONMENT, AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE FOG OF WAR IS THICK AND THE CONSEQUENCES CAN BE CATASTROPHIC.
Sawyer: IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT, YOU'VE GOT FRIENDLIES AND CIVILIANS RIGHT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, AS WELL AS THE ENEMY.
SO, IT TAKES MAXIMUM DILIGENCE TO IDENTIFY THAT THREA AND DEAL WITH IT ACCURATELY AND NOT HARM INNOCENT BYSTANDERS.
Narrator: FOR URBAN MISSIONS, IT'S THE SNIPER'S JOB TO PROVIDE OVERWATCH OF THE OPERATIONS AREA, CAREFULLY STUDYING EVERY THREA AND IDENTIFYING WHICH ONES TO ELIMINATE IN ORDER TO CLEAR A PATH FOR THE TEAM TO MOVE IN.
Haney: THE USE OF SNIPERS -- YOU'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE VERY PRECISE, PINPOINT, DISCRIMINATIVE SHOOTING.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES, DELTA FORCE, S.
E.
A.
L.
TEAM 6 -- THAT'S THEIR MANTRA ANYWAY IS THEY SHOOT THE ONES THAT NEED TO BE SHOT, AND THEY DON'T HURT ANYONE ELSE.
Narrator: AS A WELL-USED SPECIAL-OP MOTTO PROCLAIMS, SNIPERS ARE THE SCALPEL, THE TEAM ON THE GROUND IS THE HAMMER.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THIS SPEC OP TEAM IS SET UP AS IT PREPARES FOR A LIVE-FIRE TRAINING RUN.
Simon: HERE'S OUR MISSION IN OUR COMPOUND DOWN IN THE VALLEY HERE.
WE HAVE A HIGH-VALUE TARGET INSIDE.
FIRST, THERE'S A SNIPER ON THE HILL UP THERE, AND HE'S GONNA TAKE OUT THE SENTRY DOWN HERE.
MY JOB IS I'M GONNA TAKE OUT THE SENTRY HERE.
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO IT SIMULTANEOUSLY.
THE TEAM'S GONNA COME IN.
Narrator: TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR ASSIGNED TASK, THE SNIPERS RELY ON A CLASSIC RIFLE, THE REMINGTON 700.
ACCURATE UP TO 1,500 YARDS, THE 700 IS STILL WIDELY USED BY SPECIAL-OP TEAMS AROUND THE GLOBE TODAY.
Mueller: THIS IS AN EXCELLENT WEAPON FOR PROVIDING LONG-RANGE SUPPORT OF OPERATORS.
I CAN REACH OUT TO 1,500 YARDS EFFECTIVELY.
I CAN ENGAGE MULTIPLE TARGETS.
GOT TO ACQUIRE TARGET.
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
Narrator: THE ROUNDS RING OUT AT A RATE OF NEARLY 3,000 FEET PER SECOND, KNOCKING OUT THEIR TARGETS AND SIGNALING THE BEGINNING OF THE RAID.
FROM HERE, THE GROUND TEAM WILL HAVE TO ELIMINATE SEVERAL OBSTACLES ON ITS WAY TO THEIR OBJECTIVE -- FOUR ENEMY COMBATANTS OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND, THE COMPOUND GATE WITH TWO GUARDS STANDING WATCH, TWO MORE ENEMY PERSONNEL INSIDE THE GATE, AND THE DOOR ON THE STRUCTURE THAT HOUSES THE HIGH-VALUE TARGET.
THE TEAM WILL STORM THE COMPOUND IN ONE OF THE MILITARY'S MOST UBIQUITOUS VEHICLES -- A HUMVEE.
BUT THIS IS NO ORDINARY HUMVEE.
IT'S A VERSION THAT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE UNIQUE MISSIONS SPECIAL-OPERATIONS TEAMS CARRY OUT.
Glenn: OPERATORS ARE SO ADAPTABLE AND TRAIN SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE ANYTHING, INCLUDING A HUMVEE, AND TURN IT INTO AN ATTACK VEHICLE OF SORTS FOR THEIR PURPOSES, DEPENDING ON WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING.
THAT'S HOW THEY'RE TRAINED.
Narrator: THE TEAM HAS TURNED THE HUMVEE INTO A KILLING MACHINE BY ADDING ONE OF THESE -- THE FEROCIOUS MINIGUN.
EASILY MOUNTED ON EVERYTHING FROM HELICOPTERS TO BOATS TO HUMVEES, THE MINIGUN SPINS OFF UP TO A SCORCHING 100 ROUNDS PER SECOND.
[ RAPID GUNFIRE .]
THIS THING COULD CUT A TREE IN HALF.
THIS THING CAN BRING DOWN WALLS.
Glenn: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL VALUE ALONE IS REALLY DEBILITATING FOR AN ENEMY, LET ALONE TO AN ACCURATE WEAPON LIKE THE MINIGUN.
Sawyer: MINIGUN'S A BADASS WEAPON.
IT FIRES AT AN UNGODLY RATE, AND IT JUST THROWS AMMO AT THE ENEMY LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW.
AND FOR THEM, THERE IS NO TOMORROW.
Narrator: AS THE TEAM STORMS INTO THE KILLING ZONE, THE MINIGUN TATTERS THE ENEMY TARGETS.
IT'S THE TYPE OF OVERWHELMING ASSAUL THAT, ON THE LIVE BATTLEFIELD, INFLICTS BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEVASTATION IN THE ENEMY.
Paul: THE MINIGUN ALLOWS US TO GO INTO A CONFLICT, USE THAT TO SUPPRESS THE ENEMY.
SO, IT'S GONNA CAUSE THEM TO FREEZE UP, IF NOT EGRESS OUT OF THE AREA.
SO, THAT GIVES US FIRE SUPERIORITY ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.
Narrator: AFTER MAKING QUICK WORK OF THEIR TARGETS OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND, THE TEAM MUST NEXT BREACH THE STEEL-ENFORCED WOODEN GATE.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THE HUMVEE DISPLAYS ITS VERSATILITY, THIS TIME AS A BATTERING RAM.
Sawyer: WE'RE JUST GONNA RAM THAT WITH THE HUMVEE AND ROLL STRAIGHT INSIDE.
[ RAPID GUNFIRE .]
Narrator: THE HIGHLY-TRAINED AND DISCIPLINED SOLDIERS USE SILENT AND PRECISE HAND SIGNALS TO ENSURE TOTAL COOPERATION AMONG ALL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM.
THE TEAM'S NEXT CHALLENGE IS TO BREACH THE WOODEN DOOR THAT SEPARATES THEM FROM THEIR HIGH-VALUE TARGET INSIDE.
THEY HAVE A CRITICAL DECISION TO MAKE -- CHOOSING THE RIGHT BREACHING TOOL TO FORCE ENTRY.
Paul: YOU WANT TO USE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DAMAGE GETTING INTO THE ROOM BECAUSE NOT ALL THE TIME DO YOU UNDERSTAND OR KNOW WHO IS IN THAT ROOM.
Narrator: THE MALLEABILITY OF C-4 EXPLOSIVES IS HANDY BUT TOO DESTRUCTIVE.
[ EXPLOSION .]
A BATTERING RAM ELIMINATES COLLATERAL DAMAGE BUT IS BULKY AND IMPRACTICAL FOR QUICK-HIT MISSIONS.
THE TEAM'S SOLUTION -- A TRIED-AND-TRUE FIREARM THAT DELIVERS A SHORT YET POWERFUL PUNCH.
Paul: THE SHOTGUN'S A GOOD ONE BECAUSE YOU CONCENTRATE ON THE HINGES.
IT'S GONNA BLOW THOSE HINGES OUT.
IT DOESN'T CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE INSIDE THE ROOM ITSELF.
[ GUNSHOT .]
[ GUNSHOTS .]
Narrator: THIS IS WHERE SPEC-OP WARRIORS THRIVE -- CLOSE-QUARTER COMBAT, THE BATTLE AREA WHERE SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS DETERMINE WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES.
Paul: YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE FEARS.
"WHAT IF IT'S DARK IN THERE? I CAN'T SEE.
I SEE MOVEMENT.
I CAN'T IDENTIFY IF IT'S A THREAT.
IS IT A MAN? IS IT A WOMAN? IS IT A CHILD?" YOU KNOW, AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION BEFORE YOU ENGAGE.
Sawyer: PREPARATION FOR THIS TYPE OF SKILL SE IS ONLY DONE THROUGH REPETITION.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO TRAIN AT IT AND EXPOSE YOURSELF TO I AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND GRADE YOURSELF HARSHLY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT ONLY THROUGH DOING THA AGAIN AND AGAIN CAN YOU REALLY HONE YOUR SKILLS AND FORCE THAT DISCIPLINE DEEP DOWN THAT YOU WILL ONLY SHOOT WHEN NECESSARY AND THAT YOU WILL SHOOT ABSOLUTELY IMMEDIATELY WHEN NECESSARY.
Narrator: ONCE INSIDE, THE TEAM MUST CLEAR THREE ROOMS.
IN ROOM ONE, THE TEAM WILL IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO ELIMINATE TWO TARGETS.
THEY WILL THEN MOVE DOWN A HALLWAY, WHERE ANOTHER TARGET AWAITS IN THE ROOM ON THE RIGHT.
AND FINALLY, THE MAIN ROOM, WHERE THEY WILL TAKE OUT TWO FINAL COMBATANTS GUARDING THE HIGH-VALUE TARGET THEY'VE COME TO TAKE.
THEY WILL THEN EXIT OUT THE STRUCTURE'S SIDE DOOR.
Paul: YOU'VE GOT YOUR SECTOR TO COVER, SO YOU'RE GONNA COVER I AS QUICKLY AND AS EFFECTIVELY AS YOU CAN TO IDENTIFY ANY THREATS AND ENGAGE THEM.
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE FAITH THAT YOUR TEAMMATES ARE DOING THE SAME THING.
Narrator: MOVING QUICKLY IN SUCH TIGHT QUARTERS POSES A DEADLY CHALLENGE WHEN DECIDING WHICH TYPE OF WEAPON TO BARE.
EACH SPECIAL OPERATOR IS FREE TO CHOOSE HIS OWN SOLUTION.
Haney: YOU CAN PROBABLY COUNT ON YOUR HANDS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT U.
S.
SPECIAL-OPERATIONS SHOOTERS HAVE KILLED WITH THEIR PISTOLS.
YOU'RE USING A SHOULDER WEAPON.
THE GUN'S IN FRONT OF THEIR FACE, OR IT'S IN FRONT OF THEIR BODY, SO IT LESSENS YOUR PRESENCE AS A TARGET.
Narrator: THE M4A1 CARBINE -- DESIGNED FROM THE STANDARD MILITARY-ISSUE M4, IT WAS SPECIFICALLY ALTERED FOR THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS.
THE M4A1 IS FULLY AUTOMATIC, FIRING 15 STANDARD 5.
56 NATO ROUNDS PER SECOND.
WITH A 14-1/2-INCH BARREL AND WEIGHING JUST SEVEN POUNDS, THE M4A1 DELIVERS THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF SIZE, MANEUVERABILITY, AND FIREPOWER FOR FIGHTING IN CLOSE.
Paul: IT'S SMALL ENOUGH THAT IT DOESN'T GET IN YOUR WAY.
YOU'RE ABLE TO WIELD I AND, YOU KNOW, NOT GET BOUND UP WITH IT.
Haney: IT'S IN FRONT OF YOUR BODY.
IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR HANDS.
AND THEN WHEN YOU NEED YOUR HANDS, YOU HAVE THOSE, BUT YOUR WEAPON'S RIGHT THERE IMMEDIATELY.
Glenn: FOR COLLATERAL DAMAGE, IT'S NOT GONNA BE AS SIGNIFICAN IF YOU'RE JUST GONNA GO IN THERE WITH A HIGHER-CALIBER WEAPON AND START BLOWING HOLES THROUGH WALLS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WALL WITHIN A CLOSE PROXIMITY, BE IT, YOU KNOW, CIVILIANS AND/OR HOSTAGES.
Narrator: ANOTHER SPEC-OP WEAPON OF CHOICE FOR CLOSE-QUARTERS COMBA IS THE M14.
Sawyer: IF YOU COLLAPSE THE STOCK DOWN, IT'S A RELATIVELY SHORT WEAPON AND EASILY WIELDABLE INDOORS.
Narrator: PROPER WEAPONS AT THE READY, SPEC OPERATORS HAVE THE FREEDOM TO FOCUS ON THE BATTLE AREA IN FRONT OF THEM.
ONCE YOU ENTER THE STRUCTURE AS A TEAM, THAT'S WHEN THINGS HAPPEN VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
Narrator: CENTRAL TO THE SPEC-OPS SKILL SE IS THE ABILITY TO QUICKLY DETERMINE FRIEND OR FOE, SO SPECIAL OPERATORS ARE TRAINED TO QUICKLY ASSESS THE HAND MOVEMENT OF EACH POTENTIAL THREAT.
Sawyer: YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES BASED ON THEIR PRESENTATION OF A WEAPON TOWARD YOU OR THEIR SUBMISSION.
AND IF SOMEONE WANTS TO RAISE A WEAPON AND ENGAGE YOU, THEY HAVE TO DIE.
Narrator: AFTER A ROOM IS CLEARED, THE TEAM REGROUPS IN FORMATION AND STARTS THE PROCESS OVER AS THEY CONTINUE TO SYSTEMATICALLY WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE ENEMY STRUCTURE.
Haney: IF WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN A HALL, NOW WE BECOME STEALTHY AGAIN.
SHUT UP, MAKE NO NOISE, GO DOWN QUIETLY, GET TO THE NEXT BREACH POINT, BE IT A DOOR OR ANOTHER ROOM OR ANOTHER BUILDING, AND THEN IT'S EXPLOSIVE AGAIN.
Narrator: FOR ANY SOLDIER IN COMBAT, THE INTENSITY OF BATTLE CAN BE DEBILITATING, WREAKING SUCH HAVOC ON NERVES THAT IT OFTEN LEADS TO PTSD OR OTHER COMBAT-RELATED ILLNESSES.
BUT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT SPEC OPERATORS MAY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OVER THE AVERAGE SOLDIER WHEN IT COMES TO STAYING CALM AND FOCUSED UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS.
IT'S DUE TO A NATURAL PHENOMENON CALLED THE METRONOMIC HEARTBEAT.
A HEALTHY PERSON'S HEART BEATS AT AN UNEVEN PACE, WHERE THE INTERVAL BETWEEN EACH HEARTBEAT VARIES.
THE AVERAGE SPECIAL OPERATOR'S HEART BEATS LIKE A METRONOME, TICKING AWAY WITH NO VARIABILITY IN BETWEEN EACH BEAT.
COMBINE THIS NATURAL ADVANTAGE WITH INTENSE TRAINING, PRIDE, AND FEROCIOUS WEAPONRY, AND IT'S NO WONDER WHY AMERICAN SPECIAL FORCES ARE KNOWN AS THE FINEST WARRIORS ON THE PLANET.
COMING UP, SPECIAL-OPS SNIPERS TAKE TO THE AIR IN A LITTLE BIRD WITH A BIG BITE.
[ GUNSHOT .]
Narrator: SPECIAL-OPERATIONS WARRIORS, RENOWNED FOR THEIR TOUGHNESS, CUNNING, AND EXPERT USE OF WEAPONRY.
INTEGRAL TO ANY SPEC-OP MISSION IS THE SNIPER.
USUALLY CAMOUFLAGED AND LAYING IN WAIT, HIS IS A SPECIALTY THAT FEW POSSESS.
Bevo: THE TWO BIGGEST QUALITIES WOULD BE CONFIDENCE AND PATIENCE.
IF YOU BLOW A SHOT -- IN WHICH DIRECTION AM I GONNA GO? AM I GONNA START QUESTIONING EVERY SHOT I MAKE? OR AM I GONNA SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT? I KNOW I'M A GOOD SHOT, AND I'M GONNA PICK UP THE NEXT ONE.
" YOU KNOW, AND, OF COURSE, THE PATIENCE 'CAUSE SOMETIMES YOU'LL SIT UP ON A TARGE AND STARE AT IT FOR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS WAITING FOR JUST ONE SINGULAR MOMENT.
Narrator: AND OFTEN, WAITING FOR THAT SINGULAR MOMEN IS NOT ONLY THE BEST TACTICAL DECISION.
IT'S ALSO THE BEST ONE FOR THE BOTTOM LINE, AS THE ALTERNATIVE TO A SNIPER, PRECISION-GUIDED BOMBS, COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
A SNIPER ROUND COSTS LESS THAN $10.
[ GUNSHOT .]
SPEC-OP SNIPERS ARE NOT LIMITED TO GROUND OPERATIONS.
THEY CAN ALSO TAKE TO THE SKY IN ONE OF THESE, THE LITTLE BIRD HELICOPTER.
DESIGNED TO RAPIDLY TRANSPORT AND PROTECT SPEC-OP TEAMS, THE NIMBLE LITTLE BIRD DOES DOUBLE-DUTY AS A QUICK-HIT SNIPER PLATFORM.
WE'RE USING A MODIFIED VERSION.
IT'S THE EXACT SAME HELICOPTER, JUST MINUS A MACHINE GUN AND RUNNING BOARDS ALONG ITS SIDES.
Bevo: THE LITTLE BIRD IS A GREAT CHOICE FOR SPEC OPS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF ITS STABILITY AND ITS MANEUVERABILITY.
IT CAN HIDE VERY WELL.
WITH A LITTLE BIRD, THEY HAVE COMPLETE MOBILITY.
SO, GET IN TO WHEREVER THEIR TARGET IS, TAKE THEIR SHOT, AND GET OUT.
Narrator: NICKNAMED "THE KILLER EGG," THE SINGLE-ENGINE LITTLE BIRD IS SURPRISINGLY QUIET, ADDRESSING THE SNIPER'S FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR STEALTH WITH INNOVATIVE MUFFLERS AND SPECIALLY-DESIGNED ROTORS.
Glenn: WHEN COMING UP ON A TARGE ON AN UNSUSPECTING ENEMY, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY GONNA HEAR THEM AS EASILY OR AS QUICKLY AS THEY WOULD A NORMAL HELICOPTER.
[ HELICOPTERS BUZZING .]
Narrator: THE NOISE LEVEL OF MOST ATTACK HELICOPTERS OPERATING AT AVERAGE POWER IS MEASURED AT AROUND 100 DECIBELS, WHICH IS TWICE THAT OF A HARLEY MOTORCYCLE.
THE LITTLE BIRD'S NOISE LEVEL REGISTERS AT JUST 85 DECIBELS, THE EQUIVALENT OF AN ELECTRIC RAZOR.
[ LITTLE BIRD HUMMING .]
WHERE LITTLE BIRD DESIGNERS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL DEALING WITH NOISE, SPECIAL-OPERATIONS SNIPERS STILL MUST DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGE INHERENT WITH THE NATURE OF HELICOPTER FLIGHT.
Bevo: YOU GOT WIND, SO YOU GOT THE MOVEMENT OF THE HELICOPTER.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT A ROUND ON TARGET.
IT'S PRETTY CHALLENGING.
Narrator: THE CHALLENGE IS MET WITH GREAT PILOTING, A COMPACT AND POWERFUL RIFLE, AND A SKILL SET UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE MILITARY.
"BEVO" IS A RETIRED SPEC-OPS SNIPER INSTRUCTOR.
WITH THIS DISPLAY OF MARKSMANSHIP, IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY.
OF COURSE, THE MORE TRADITIONAL SNIPER MISSION IS CONDUCTED ON THE GROUND.
AND BEFORE THERE WERE HELICOPTERS TO SHOOT FROM, SNIPERS HAD TO OVERCOME A DIFFERENT SET OF OBSTACLES, ONE BEING SHAME.
Glenn: SINCE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, SNIPING WAS FROWNED UPON AND LOOKED DOWN UPON AS, YOU KNOW, DISHONORABLE.
Narrator: CHIVALRY EVENTUALLY GAVE WAY TO WHAT IS NOW CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TACTICS ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
Glenn: THIS IS THE UNSEEN ENEMY THAT'S STRIKING AT AND HITTING YOU AND TAKING OUT YOUR BEST BUDDIES, YOUR COMMANDER, ET CETERA.
Bevo: IT'S EXTREMELY DEMORALIZING WHEN YOU CAN'T PINPOINT WHERE ONE PERSON IS THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WREAKING HAVOC ON YOUR GROUP.
ONE PERSON CAN KEEP 100 HEADS DOWN.
Narrator: SUCH SKILL CAN ONLY COME FROM ENDLESS HOURS OF PRACTICE ON THE SNIPER RANGE.
HERE, THE TARGETS ARE PLASTIC JUGS FILLED WITH WATER COLORED WITH RED DYE.
Brown: SHOOTER READY.
WE GOT ONE TARGET FOR YOU.
12:00.
APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS.
WHAT'S YOUR DOPE SETTING, ZERO? YEAH, I'M SET.
HOLD CENTER.
RED TARGET.
STAND BY.
YOU MAY FIRE WHEN READY.
SHOOTER AND SPOTTER ON.
COPY.
[ GUNSHOT .]
GOOD HIT.
[ GUN COCKS .]
THIS IS A STANDARD, BASIC SNIPER/SPOTTER PARTNERSHIP HERE, HOW WE SET UP.
THE JOB OF THE SPOTTER, WHICH IS HONESTLY AS IMPORTAN OR MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SHOOTER, TO MAKE CORRECTIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE TWO, THE COMMUNICATIONS JUST FLOWS SMOOTHLY, CLEARLY.
Narrator: THE SPOTTER'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO HELP THE SHOOTER GAUGE HIS SHO AND THEN TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON CONDITIONS OF THE BATTLEFIELD.
ALL RIGHT, LAST TARGET AT 200.
STRAIGHT OUT, OAK TREE.
APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS PAST LAST TARGET.
RIGHT EDGE OF SHADOW ONE YARD.
SEND IT.
COPY.
[ SIGHS .]
[ GUNSHOT .]
THAT WOULD BE A TOP-EDGE, RIGHT-SIDE HIT.
GOOD SHOT, THOUGH, 'CAUSE YOU DID HIT THE JUG.
HITTING ANY LONG-RANGE TARGET OR THE ENEMY ON THE BATTLEFIELD POSES SEVERAL CHALLENGES FOR A SNIPER.
WIND POSES THE BIGGEST PROBLEM, AND SPOTTERS STILL USE A TIME-TESTED METHOD TO SOLVE IT -- WATCHING THE BOIL.
IMAGINE A HEAT MIRAGE AS YOU SEE IN THE DESERT.
LIKE, IT LOOKS LIKE WATER.
YOU READ THE HEAT MIRAGE.
AND AS THE WIND TRAVELS THROUGH IT, IT PUSHES IT AROUND, AND YOU CAN SEE IT THROUGH THE SCOPE.
AND IT HELPS YOU GAUGE YOUR WIND CORRECTIONS.
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT A SLIGHT BOIL.
COPY.
WE GOT TO COME UP TOTAL OF -- LET'S TRY 8.
25.
COME UP.
AND I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME A 1/4 MINUTE LEFT.
DIAL IT.
Narrator: "A 1/4 MINUTE LEFT" IS SNIPER TALK FOR MOVING THE CROSSHAIRS INSIDE THE SHOOTER'S SIGH TO THE LEFT ONE CLICK, WHICH WILL EQUAL ONE 1/4 INCH PER 100 YARDS OF DISTANCE TO THE TARGET.
I'M GONNA CRANK ON THE WINDAGE KNOB HERE ONE CLICK, WHICH IS ONE 1/4 MINUTE OF ANGLE, WHICH IS THE ADJUSTMENT HE GAVE ME, WHICH IS GONNA ALLOW ME TO HOLD THE CROSSHAIR CENTER.
BUT IT'S GONNA PUSH THAT BULLET WHERE I NEED IT TO FOR THE WIND.
YEAH, SEND IT.
COPY.
[ GUNSHOT .]
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY .]
THAT'S PERFECT.
OKAY.
CENTER MASS.
EXACT.
GO TO 1,250 ON THE HILL, BIG GUY.
AS THE TARGETS INCREASE IN DISTANCE, THE MORE PHYSICS COME INTO PLAY.
THE FURTHER THE BULLET MUST TRAVEL, THE MORE IT SLOWS DOWN, MAKING IT MORE APT TO BE PUSHED AROUND BY THE WIND.
Bevo: THE SPOTTER'S GOT TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THAT ROUND.
AND WHEN I SAY "GET ON THAT ROUND" -- SPOT THE ROUND IN FLIGHT FOR THE SHOOTER AND SEE WHERE THE IMPACT IS TO GIVE A CORRECTION.
Narrator: WHICH IS WHY SNIPERS USE HIGH-CALIBER RIFLES LIKE THE REMINGTON 700.
Brown: IT'S A .
300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM.
IT HAS A 190-GRAIN BULLET.
IT'S TRAVELING AT ABOUT 3,100 FEET A SECOND.
THIS PARTICULAR ROUND HAS AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF ENERGY AT 1,000 YARDS OF IMPAC AS A .
44 MAGNUM DOES AT THE BARREL -- AS IT EXITS THE BARREL.
Narrator: AND WATCHING THAT KIND OF POWER IN MIDAIR IS ANOTHER WAY SPOTTER'S ADJUST FIRE.
A CLOSER LOOK SHOWS THE TRAJECTORY OF THE .
300-MAG ROUND.
AS ANOTHER SHOT RIPS THROUGH THE WIND AT OVER 2,100 MILES PER HOUR, IT BEGINS TO LOSE ENERGY, DIPPING JUST A BIT AS IT TRAVELS FURTHER FROM THE RIFLE.
A QUICK ADJUSTMENT, AND IT'S BACK ON TARGET.
[ GUNSHOT .]
SLIGHT RIGHT TO LEFT, WHICH I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA CHANGE.
COPY.
READY? SEND IT.
[ GUNSHOT .]
GOOD HIT.
CENTER.
FAVOR LEFT JUST A LITTLE.
SEND IT.
[ GUNSHOT .]
Narrator: AFTER A SHORT DRIVE OUT TO THE TARGET AREA TO ASSESS THE RESULTS, IT'S APPARENT WHY SPEC-OPS SNIPERS ARE WORLD RENOWNED AS EXPERTS AT THEIR CRAFT.
YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT RIGHT HERE AS IT PASSED THROUGH.
THAT'S A MAN.
THAT'S HIS CENTER.
YOU'RE STILL GONNA BE RIGHT HERE WITH THAT.
YEP.
HE'S NOT GONNA BE IN THE FIGHT ANYMORE.
EVEN WITH BODY ARMOR, THE .
300 WIN MAG -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE'D SURVIVE THAT -- EVEN A CENTER SHOT WITH A PLATE.
THAT'S A LOT OF ENERGY.
Narrator: WITH THE NIMBLE LITTLE BIRD AND DEADLY-ACCURATE SNIPER RIFLES, THE TOOLS USED BY SPEC-OP SNIPERS ARE UNRIVALED.
BUT WHEN THE MISSION CALLS FOR A SNIPER'S EXPERTISE, IT TAKES A TEAM BOTH IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMY.
NEXT UP, WE'RE BACK IN THE AIR WITH THE SPEC-OP GUNSHIP THAT CAN MORPH FROM A PLANE TO A HELICOPTER.
Narrator: SPECIAL OPERATIONS RELY ON THE MILITARY'S MOST SKILLED AND RIGOROUSLY TRAINED FIGHTERS EXECUTING BOLD, TACTICAL GAME PLANS WITH SPEED AND PRECISION TIMING.
IN ANY SPECIAL OPERATION, THE DANGERS ARE MANY, BEGINNING WITH THE CRUCIAL INITIAL PHASE, SURGICAL INSERTION OF THE OPERATIVES AT THE MISSION'S OBJECTIVE AREA.
THIS REVOLUTIONARY AIRCRAFT, THE CV-22 OSPREY, HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR THIS DEMANDING TASK.
THE OSPREY IS AN INNOVATIVE, TILTROTOR AIRCRAF FUSING THE SPEED OF A PLANE AND THE VERTICAL LANDING AND TAKEOFF CAPABILITIES OF A HELICOPTER.
THE OSPREY HAS BECOME FOR SPECIAL FORCES WHAT THE EARLY HELICOPTERS WERE IN VIETNAM.
IT ENABLES YOUR TEAMS TO GET IN AND GET OUT OF AREAS THAT THEY COULDN'T OTHERWISE PARACHUTE INTO.
Narrator: PARACHUTE INSERTIONS LACK PINPOINT PRECISION, INTRODUCING A RANDOM ELEMEN THAT COULD DERAIL A SPECIAL OPERATION AT ITS OUTSET.
THE OSPREY CAN RAPIDLY DELIVER A SPEC-OPS TEAM TO A PREDETERMINED SITE, ENSURING THAT THE MISSION WILL COMMENCE EXACTLY AS PLANNED.
Glenn: WHEN YOU'RE HOPING TO HI A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, SAY A MOUNTAINTOP, PARACHUTING REALLY BECOMES IMPRACTICAL AND EVEN DANGEROUS, WHEREAS THE USE OF AN OSPREY CAN GET YOUR MEN RIGHT THERE ON TARGET SAFELY.
Narrator: SPECIAL-OPERATIONS TACTICS DEMAND UNRIVALED SPEED.
THE OSPREY MEETS THAT CHALLENGE.
IT'S TOP SPEED IS MORE THAN 300 MILES PER HOUR, TWICE AS FAST AS THE SWIFTEST HELICOPTER IN THE U.
S.
MILITARY FLEET.
THE ABILITY TO GET THERE FAST AND THEN LAND LIKE A HELICOPTER IS UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC ONLY TO TILTROTOR TECHNOLOGY.
IT GETS THE GUYS IN THAT WE NEED TO GET IN, AND IT GETS THEM OUT WHEN WE NEED TO GET THEM OUT.
Narrator: THE OSPREY MORPHS FROM PLANE TO CHOPPER WITHIN AS LITTLE AS 15 SECONDS.
THIS LIMITS THE OSPREY'S TIME AT THE LANDING ZONE, MINIMIZING THE CHANCES FOR THE ENEMY TO DETECT THE SPEC-OP TEAM AS THEY DEPLOY.
AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE, THIS HUGE, GIGANTIC BALL SCREW IS ACTUALLY OUR CONVERSION ACTUATOR.
IT'S WHAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO MOVE OUR NACELLES UP AND DOWN.
Narrator: THE OSPREY MUST OFTEN DELIVER SPECIAL FORCES ON THE UNEVEN, RUGGED, DUSTY TERRAIN, COMPLICATING THE LANDING PROCEDURE.
SO, A CREW MEMBER CALLED THE TAIL SCANNER, POSTED ON THE OPEN RAMP AT THE CRAFT'S REAR, HELPS DIRECT THE PILOT.
Lederman: THE PILOT WILL FLY THE ENTIRE MISSION, BUT ONCE WE GET TO OUR HELICOPTER-LANDING ZONE, IT'S KIND OF THE GUY ON THE TAIL CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT.
HE'LL SAY, "HEY, WE NEED TO MOVE LEFT.
WE NEED TO MOVE RIGHT.
SLOW DOWN.
THERE'S A BIG ROCK UNDERNEATH US.
" HE FOLLOWS MY VOICE.
I TELL HIM WHAT TO DO BECAUSE UP FRONT HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SEE JUST BECAUSE OF ALL THE DUST THAT WE'RE KICKING UP.
SO, I WILL ACTUALLY STICK MY HEAD OU AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT GONNA HIT ANYTHING.
Narrator: THE TAIL SCANNER ALSO CONTROLS THE OSPREY'S RAMP-MOUNTED MACHINE GUN.
IF THE OSPREY AND THE SPEC-OP TEAMS ENCOUNTER ANY ENEMY RESISTANCE, HIS COMMUNICATION WITH THE PILO IS ONCE AGAIN CRUCIAL TO MISSION SUCCESS.
YOU'LL HAVE THE PILOT DESCRIBE TO YOU, "ALL RIGHT, TARGET'S COMING DOWN LEFT SIDE.
TARGET'S COMING DOWN RIGHT SIDE.
" AND YOU WILL LOOK FOR IT AS HE'S DESCRIBING IT.
AND THEN YOU GO WEAPONS HOT.
[ RAPID GUNFIRE .]
TAIL SCANNER WOULD BE IN A POSITION SIMILAR TO THIS.
THAT WAY, HE COULD SCAN BOTH SIDES.
HE COULD GET BOTH SIDES OF THE AIRCRAFT AT 5:00 OR 7:00.
[ RAPID GUNFIRE .]
Narrator: IF THE OSPREY ATTRACTS ENEMY FIRE IN THE FORM OF HEAT-SEEKING MISSILES, IT PROTECTS ITSELF WITH AN INNOVATIVE DEFENSE SYSTEM.
INFRARED SUPPRESSORS BUILT INTO ITS EXHAUST SYSTEM COMBINE COOL, OUTSIDE AIR WITH THE ENGINE'S HOT EXHAUST, REDUCING THE OSPREY'S HEAT SIGNATURE SO HEAT-SEEKERS CAN'T LOCK ON.
IF AN ENEMY ROUND STILL MAKES IT THROUGH AND DISABLES ONE OF THE OSPREY'S ENGINES, A KEY DESIGN FEATURE KEEPS THE CRAFT AIRBORNE.
THE TWIN ENGINES ARE LINKED, SO IF ONE QUITS, THE OTHER CAN DRIVE BOTH ROTORS.
FAST, VERSATILE, AND INNOVATIVE, THE OSPREY MEETS THE DEMANDING STANDARDS REQUIRED BY SPECIAL FORCES.
IT'S FULL STRATEGIC POTENTIAL HAS YET TO BE TAPPED.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO UNLOCK WHAT THIS PLATFORM IS CAPABLE OF DOING.
IT'S SUCH A NEW AIRFRAME THAT THERE'S JUST SO MANY MISSIONS OUT THERE THAT IF SOMEBODY WAS TO ASK US, "HEY, CAN YOU DO THIS?" CAN YOU ATTEMPT TO COMPLETE THIS?" I MEAN, WE'RE UP FOR ANYTHING.
IT'S BEEN ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING WE'VE ASKED IT TO DO.
Narrator: ONCE INSERTED, A SPECIAL-FORCES TEAM MUST OFTEN CONDUC A RAID, RESCUE, OR OTHER MISSION IN A SMALL, CONFINED ZONE IN CLOSE-QUARTERS COMBAT WITH THE ENEMY.
SUCH A SCENARIO FREQUENTLY DEMANDS HIGHLY-SPECIALIZED AND SUSTAINED CLOSE AIR SUPPORT.
THE AC-130 WHISKEY IS AN AERIAL TERMINATOR TAILOR-MADE FOR THE TASK.
IT'S A HEAVILY-ARMED, GROUND-ATTACK AIRCRAFT, THE LATEST AND DEADLIEST VARIAN OF THE C-130 HERCULES CARGO PLANE.
[ GUNFIRE .]
WHAT'S FANTASTIC ABOUT THIS AIRPLANE IS WE'RE BUILDING THE NEXT GUNSHIP, THE GUNSHIP THAT'S GONNA BE HERE FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.
AND IT'S REALLY AN AMAZING THING TO SEE.
Narrator: THE AC-130 WHISKEY PROTECTS SPECIAL FORCES WITH THE MOST ADVANCED WEAPONRY OF ANY GUNSHIP IN THE U.
S.
MILITARY.
Slaght: THIS IS THE 30-MILLIMETER, MARK 44 BUSHMASTER II CANNON.
THIS IS WHAT MAKES THE WHISKEY A GUNSHIP.
THE BEST WAY I CAN COMPARE THIS TO A LEGACY GUNSHIP IS IF A LEGACY GUNSHIP WAS SIMILAR TO A BASIC-ISSUE BATTLE RIFLE, THIS IS LIKE A SNIPER RIFLE.
Narrator: THE BUSHMASTER II CANNON FIRES ARMOR-PIERCING, INCENDIARY AMMUNITION AT 200 ROUNDS PER MINUTE.
AIMING IT WITH DEADLY PRECISION IS THE JOB OF THE COMBAT-SYSTEMS OFFICER, OR CSO, WHO GETS AN ASSIST FROM THIS VIDEO-INFRARED SENSOR.
Slaght: THE M2 IS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE 30-MIL CANNON, SO THIS IS WHAT THE CSO USES IN THE AIRCRAF IN ORDER TO AIM AND FIRE THE GUN.
Narrator: THE AC-130 WHISKEY GUNSHIP ALSO COMES ARMED WITH LASER- AND GPS-GUIDED GRIFFIN MISSILES.
THEY WEIGH JUST 33 POUNDS AND MEASURE ONLY 42 INCHES LONG, WITH A SMALL WARHEAD DESIGNED TO REDUCE COLLATERAL DAMAGE.
THE GRIFFIN MISSILE IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE IN THE RIGHT SPO AND NOT HURT ANYTHING ELSE.
WE PUT THE COORDINATES IN THE SYSTEM, WE SHOOT IT OFF THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE MUNITION WILL DO THE RES AND MAKE ITS WAY TO THE SPOT THAT WE DESIGNATED.
Slaght: THE MUNITION COMES OUT THE TAIL THROUGH THESE PORTALS AND, ONCE IT'S SAFELY AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT, THEN BEGINS ITS DESCENT TO THE TARGET.
Narrator: THE FINS OF A GRIFFIN MISSILE FOLD SO THE MISSILE'S BODY CAN FI INTO ONE OF THE AC-130's 10 LAUNCHING TUBES.
Slaght: THERE IS A PISTON INSIDE THE TUBE, AND IT PUNCHES IT OUT, OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPLANE.
AND ONCE IT'S FREE AND CLEAR OF THE AIRPLANE, THEN IT'LL POP OUT ITS FINS, RIGHT ITSELF, ROCKET MOTOR FIRES, AND OFF IT GOES.
Narrator: THE AC-130 WHISKEY'S ADVANCED WEAPONS ARE UNRIVALED FOR A GUNSHIP.
BUT JUST LIKE WITH THE THREE DIFFERENT AC-130s IN OPERATION, ALL ARMED WITH A VARIETY OF GUNS AND CANNONS, IT'S THE CREWS DEPLOYING THE GUNSHIP'S WEAPONS THAT MAXIMIZES THEIR LETHAL EFFICIENCY.
[ GUNFIRE .]
Reinecke: AND IT'S ALL VERY CHOREOGRAPHED ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROCESS A TARGET.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRAIN TO.
WE TRAIN TO SYNERGY, TO PERFECTION, TO EXACTLY COVERING THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW BEFORE WE LAUNCH WEAPONS OUT OF THIS AIRPLANE.
Narrator: AS A SPEC-OP TEAM ENGAGES AN ENEMY ON THE GROUND, THE AC-130 FLIES DIRECTLY ABOVE IN A TIGHT ORBIT.
THIS ENABLES ITS CREW TO RAIN DOWN A CONTINUOUS HAIL OF FIREPOWER ON ENEMY POSITIONS.
INSTEAD OF YOUR TYPICAL AIRCRAF THAT WOULD MAKE A PASS AND FIRE AND THEN HAVE TO REROUTE AND MAKE A SECOND AND THIRD PASS, WITH THE AC-130, IT MAKES WHAT YOU CALL A PYLON TURN.
SO, IT'S TURNING IN A CONSTANT CIRCLE.
WITH ALL OF ITS GUNS MOUNTED ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOUR TARGET BECOMES FULLY SATURATED IN FIRE AS THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUES TO TURN.
FOR THE SPECIAL-FORCES TEAM THAT'S EITHER IN TROUBLE OR NEEDS THAT EXTRA FIRE SUPPORT, THE AC-130 IS THE IDEAL SUPPORT AIRCRAF BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF FIREPOWER THAT THEY CAN POUR ON THAT ENEMY TARGET.
IT'S UNRELENTING.
Narrator: THROUGHOUT THIS UNRELENTING ASSAULT, THE AC-130 CREW IS IN CONSTANT RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH THE SPECIAL-FORCES UNIT ON THE GROUND.
THEIR COMS ARE SHORT, CRISP, TO THE POINT, AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CHATTER.
SO, YOU CAN HAVE A VERY SHORT SENTENCE, AND IT TELLS A GREAT DEAL TO THE GROUND PARTY WITHOUT HAVING A LONG, DRAWN-OUT CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
THEY'VE CROSSED OVER THE CANAL.
THEY'RE NOW WALKING WEST.
Narrator: THE COORDINATED EFFORT MAXIMIZES ENEMY CASUALTIES AND REDUCES RISK TO THE SPECIAL-FORCES FIGHTERS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE TARGET ZONES.
OTHER ASSETS THAT THE MILITARY HAS FOCUS ON TARGET DESTRUCTION.
WE FOCUS ON KEEPING THE FRIENDLIES SAFE.
Roundtree: IT PROVIDES THEM PROTECTION THEY NEED AND THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT ON THE GROUND KNOWING THAT WE'VE GOT THEIR BACK, AND WE'RE PRETTY MUCH LIKE A GUARDIAN ANGEL OVERHEAD WATCHING THOSE GUYS ON THE GROUND.
Narrator: FOR THE SPECIAL-FORCES UNIT ON THE GROUND BELOW, THE AC-130's INCESSANT FIREPOWER HAS ALWAYS DELIVERED AN OVERWHELMING TACTICAL EDGE.
FOR THEIR OUTGUNNED FOES, EVEN RETREAT IS A REMOTE OPTION.
FROM THE ENEMY'S STANDPOINT, THIS MEANS THERE'S NO LETUP.
THEY REALLY HAVE NO ESCAPE AT THAT POINT.
THEY'RE COMPLETELY PINNED DOWN.
Narrator: DESPITE THE DEADLY PRECISION OF THE AC-130's WEAPONS, RIVAL COMBATANTS BELOW CAN BE SO CLOSE THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF FRIENDLY FIRE KILLING OR INJURING SPECIAL-FORCES FIGHTERS CANNOT BE ELIMINATED.
[ GUNFIRE .]
THE MARGIN FOR ERROR, ESPECIALLY IN A SPEC-OPS MISSION, CAN BE SO NARROW THAT ONE LAPSE IN EXECUTION CAN BE DISASTROUS.
YOU NEED TO BE PRECISE AND KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.
AND THE GUYS ON THE GROUND TRUST YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT PROPERLY.
Narrator: FOR SPECIAL-OPERATIONS TEAMS, THE AC-130 AND CLOSE AIR SUPPORT ARE SYNONYMOUS, A COMBINATION THAT HAS REDEFINED THE LIMITS OF SPEC-OP TACTICS AND CAPABILITIES.
COMING UP SPECIAL FORCES CARRY THE BATTLE TO THE ENEMY ON THE WATER USING AGGRESSIVE, SEABORNE TACTICS.
Narrator: THE SUCCESS OF ANY SPECIAL OPERATION HINGES ON CAREFULLY CONCEIVED TACTICS EXECUTED BY CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONALS ARMED WITH WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT APPROPRIATE FOR THE MISSION.
[ GUNSHOTS .]
A CRUCIAL VARIABLE IN ANY SPEC OP IS THE COMBAT ENVIRONMENT.
TACTICS MUST BE TAILORED NOT ONLY FOR LAND-BASED AND AIR-SUPPORTED MISSIONS, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE ON THE WATER.
THE ASSAULT TACTICS FOR SPEC-OPS IN RIVERS AND COASTAL WATERWAYS REVOLVE AROUND SMALL, HEAVILY ARMED BOATS CALLED RIVERINE CRAFT.
[ RAPID GUNFIRE .]
Glenn: THE USE OF RIVERINE CRAFT ENABLES US TO GET TO THE ENEMY AT PLACES THAT WE NORMALLY COULDN'T GO TO.
WITH THESE CRAFT, OUR FORCES CAN GO UP AND DOWN THAT RIVER AT WILL STRIKING AT THEM AND THEN GETTING OUT.
Haney: THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT THE USE OF SMALL CRAFT -- THE SLOW AND STEALTHY, AND THEN THERE'S THE LOUD AND FAST.
Narrator: THE RIVERINE'S 400-HORSEPOWER ENGINE CAN PUSH IT TO OVER 80 MILES AN HOUR.
AND WITH A TIGHT-TURNING RADIUS, RIVERINE CRAFT FUNCTION EQUALLY AS WELL AS MOBILE-ARMED PLATFORMS.
COMBINE THAT SPEED WITH A LOW RADAR SIGNATURE, AND THE RIVERINE IS IDEAL FOR COVERTLY INSERTING SPEC-OP TEAMS FROM OFFSHORE SHIPS AND SUBMARINES.
[ GUNFIRE .]
THEY CAN GO IN HEAVY, GUNS BLAZING, OR THEY CAN GO IN QUIETLY TO DROP OFF A TEAM THAT CAN THEN GO AND DO THEIR MISSION, BE IT RECONNAISSANCE OR AGGRESSIVE.
Narrator: THE TACTICAL TRADEOFF FOR A RIVERINE CRAFT'S SPEED AND MOBILITY IS A MINIMUM OF ARMOR.
IN A FIREFIGHT, THE BEST DEFENSE FOR SPECIAL OPERATORS IS A FURIOUS OFFENSE, STRIKING THEIR TARGETS WITH DEVASTATING FIREPOWER BEFORE THEY THEMSELVES ARE HIT.
[ GUNFIRE CONTINUES .]
Sawyer: LIKE ANY INSERTION OR EXTRACTION, YOU WANT TO PLAN IT VERY WISELY.
AND ULTIMATELY, YOU'D LIKE TO DO IT NOT UNDER HEAVY FIRE FROM THE ENEMY.
SO, THAT ALL COMES IN THE PLANNING AND PREP.
Narrator: THE WATERCRAFT USED BY THE NAVY S.
E.
A.
L.
s ARE A PRODUCT OF LESSONS LEARNED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
USING THE SO-CALLED SWIFT BOATS OF THAT ERA, NAVAL CREWS PENETRATED DEEP WITHIN THE MAZE OF VIETNAM'S INTERCONNECTED INLAND WATERWAYS.
[ GUNFIRE .]
FROM THEIR BOATS, THEY CARRIED THE BATTLE TO THE VIETCONG, DENYING THEM THE SANCTUARY ONCE OFFERED BY THEIR REMOTE JUNGLE CAMPS.
UNLIKE AMERICA'S CONVENTIONAL LAND FORCES THAT WERE SLOWED BY THE SWAMPY RICE PADDIES AND DENSE JUNGLES, SPEC-OP RIVERINE TEAMS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE WATERWAYS TO INCREASE THEIR MOBILITY AND HARASS THE ENEMY.
FOR LONGER, OCEAN-BASED MISSIONS, SPEC OPS USE ONE OF THESE, THE MARK V SPECIAL-OPERATIONS CRAFT.
TWO POWERFUL DIESEL ENGINES, A V-SHAPED HULL THAT SLICES THROUGH THE WATER, AND A 2,600-GALLON FUEL TANK GIVES THE MARK V THE SEA LEGS TO TRAVEL UP TO 500 MILES FROM BASE.
AND WITH UP TO 16 SPECIAL OPERATORS ONBOARD WIELDING THE UNRELENTING FURY DISHED OUT BY AN ARRAY OF MACHINE GUNS AND GRENADE LAUNCHERS, THE MARK V, LIKE THE RIVERINE, CAN CREATE AN INSTANT BARRAGE OF OVERWHELMING FORCE.
Glenn: YOU CAN UP-GUN THEM HOWEVER YOU NEED PER YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL PURPOSE.
YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO PUT A MA DEUCE ON THERE? YOU WANT TO PUT A 240 ON THERE? YOU WANT TO THROW A GRENADE LAUNCHER? IT'S REALLY UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL TEAM AND THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS FOR THE MISSION THAT THEY'RE GOING ON.
Narrator: IF THE SPECIAL OPERATION CALLS FOR A MORE NIMBLE AND STEALTHIER APPROACH, THE MARK V CAN ALSO LAUNCH AND RECOVER SMALL, RUBBER LANDING CRAFTS FROM ITS REAR RAMP.
NAVY S.
E.
A.
L.
TEAMS ALSO EXPLOIT THEIR EXPERTISE AND COVERT TACTICS UNDER THE WATER.
THE S.
E.
A.
L.
DELIVERY VEHICLE IS A MANNED SUBMERSIBLE DESIGNED TO SECRETLY TRANSPORT S.
E.
A.
L.
s AND THEIR EQUIPMEN THROUGH ENEMY-PATROLLED WATERS.
THE S.
E.
A.
L.
s CAN THEN TRANSITION FROM SEA TO LAND, INFILTRATING, BY STEALTH, AREAS INACCESSIBLE TO LARGER, CONVENTIONAL FORCES.
ONE SPECIALIZED VARIETY OF SPEC OPS MUST BE CARRIED OUT EXCLUSIVELY UNDER THE WATER'S SURFACE -- COVERT EXPLOSIVE-ORDINANCE DISPOSAL.
THE MISSION OBJECTIVE IS TO NEUTRALIZE ENEMY SEA MINES IN HOT SPOTS TOO DANGEROUS OR TOO REMOTE FOR MINESWEEPING SHIPS.
Nelson: YOU REALLY DON'T THINK ABOUT THE DANGER INVOLVED.
AND YOU GO FORWARD, AND YOU DO YOUR JOB.
AND THEN YOU GO TO THE NEXT JOB.
Narrator: THE MINES TARGETED BY SPEC-OP E.
O.
D.
TECHNICIANS ARE DESIGNED TO EXPLODE IN ONE OF TWO DISTINCT WAYS.
A CONTACT MINE BLOWS UP WHEN A SHIP MAKES PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH IT.
AN INFLUENCE MINE DETONATES WHEN IT'S TRIGGERED BY AN ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE, USUALLY THE SOUND OF A SHIP'S PROPELLER OR ENGINE OR A MAGNETIC SIGNATURE EMITTED FROM THE SHIP'S HULL.
TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF SETTING OFF THESE MINES PREMATURELY, E.
O.
D.
TECHS COME EQUIPPED WITH A SPECIALIZED BREATHING APPARATUS CALLED THE MARK 16.
Nelson: IT IS A REBREATHER, WHICH, FIRST OF ALL, MEANS IT'S CLOSED-CIRCUIT, SO YOU DON'T HAVE BUBBLES THAT ARE ESCAPING THAT WOULD CAUSE AN ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE.
IT IS ALSO NON-MAGNETIC.
THE RIG HAS NO MAGNETIC SIGNATURE THAT WOULD CAUSE AN INFLUENCE MINE TO DETONATE, AS WELL.
Narrator: TO NEUTRALIZE A SEA MINE, SPEC-OP DIVERS HAVE TWO TACTICAL OPTIONS.
THEY CAN PLACE A TIME-DELAYED PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE ON THE MINE ITSELF OR RIG A SO-CALLED OVERPRESSURE CHARGE NEAR THE MINE THAT CREATES A SHOCK WAVE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO CRACK ITS SHELL.
BELOW THE WATER'S SURFACE OR ON IT, SPECIAL-FORCES OPERATIVES ARE MASTERS OF AQUATIC COMBAT ENVIRONMENTS.
LIKE THEIR SPEC-OP COUNTERPARTS ON LAND, THEY DEMONSTRATE THAT A SMALL FORCE WITH EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS AND TACTICS CAN MAKE A HUGE CONTRIBUTION IN WINNING A WAR.
COMING UP, SPECIAL-OPERATIONS TECH THAT MAKE THE TEAMS DEADLIER THAN EVER.
ONE MUFFLED [ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
THE OTHER DEAFENING.
[ EXPLOSION .]
Narrator: IN THE NEW LANDSCAPE OF WAR, SPECIAL-OPERATIONS UNITS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT.
JUST AS TERRORIST CELLS HAVE REPLACED STANDING ARMIES AS THE GREATEST THREAT TO PEACE, SPEC-OP TEAMS ARE PROVING MORE ADEP THAN LARGE COMBAT FORCES AS THE PRINCIPLE COUNTERMEASURE.
THE STAKES ARE HIGHER THAN EVER, BUT THE BATTLEGROUND IS SHRINKING.
STEALTH IS THE MOST ESSENTIAL TACTIC IN ANY SPECIAL OPERATION, EVEN WHEN COVERT TEAMS MUST CALL ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES BY FIRING THEIR WEAPONS.
[ GUNSHOT .]
[ GUNSHOT .]
[ GUNSHOT .]
SUPPRESSORS DAMPEN THE NOISE OF EVERY DISCHARGE, OBSCURING THE LOCATION OF THE SHOOTER.
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
THIS IS AN UNSUPPRESSED SR-16 CARBINE FIRING A 5.
56-MILLIMETER ROUND.
[ GUNSHOT .]
[ GUNSHOTS .]
NOTE THE DIFFERENCE AFTER A SUPPRESSOR IS ADDED.
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
THE BIG THING FOR THE MILITARY IS IT ALSO DAMPENS NOT JUST THE SOUND, BUT IT DAMPENS THE MUZZLE FLASH, AS WELL.
SO, THE ENEMY, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, CANNOT SEE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
'CAUSE TYPICALLY IT'S EASY TO AIM AT MUZZLE FLASHES AND RETURN FIRE.
[ GUNSHOT .]
Narrator: SPEC-OP SNIPER RIFLES CAN ALSO BE FITTED WITH SUPPRESSORS.
A MYTH PERSISTS THAT SUPPRESSORS REDUCE A RIFLE'S RANGE AND ACCURACY.
THIS WAS TRUE ONLY OF THE EARLIEST SUPPRESSORS.
DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS IN TODAY'S MODELS HAVE CORRECTED THAT FLAW.
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
[ SILENCED GUNSHOTS .]
SPEC-OP SNIPERS MAY SOMETIMES NEED TO MAKE THEIR WEAPONS STEALTHIER, NOT JUST AS THEY FIRE THEM BUT ALSO AS THEY TRANSPORT THEM.
[ SILENCED GUNSHOT .]
AN OPERATIVE ON A COVERT MISSION MAY HAVE TO DISCREETLY CONCEAL HIS WEAPON UNTIL HE ARRIVES ON POST.
ARMS TECH'S .
50-CALIBER SNIPER RIFLE CAN FIT INSIDE AN ORDINARY BACKPACK, THEN BE ASSEMBLED, COMPLETE WITH SUPPRESSOR, IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.
Leone: AND THAT'S A SNIPER RIFLE.
Narrator: STEALTH IS ONE COMPONEN TO A SUCCESSFUL SPEC-FORCE MISSION.
ANOTHER IS THE ABILITY TO DEPLOY COMBAT EXPLOSIVES WITH PRECISE AND DEADLY EFFECT.
MUNITIONS ENABLE COVERT TEAMS TO DESTROY ENEMY ASSETS, BREACH BARRIERS, ESTABLISH DEFENSIBLE PERIMETERS, AND KILL ENEMY PERSONNEL.
AMONG THE MOST MOBILE AND VERSATILE EXPLOSIVE TOOLS IS THE MINI-CLAYMORE, A SMALL VERSION OF THE REMOTE-CONTROLLED, ANTIPERSONNEL LAND MINE USED BY CONVENTIONAL FORCES.
IT'S THE IDEAL GETAWAY TOOL FOR A TEAM THAT'S TRYING TO EXFILTRATE FROM A TARGE TO MOUNT IT THERE ON A TREE OR A WALL.
THEN ONCE IT GOES OFF, SERVES AS A DETERRENT AND/OR KILLING TOOL.
IT WILL KEEP THE ENEMY AWAY FROM YOUR TEAM AS THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OUT.
Leone: ONCE YOU OPEN IT UP, WE SEE THE BUSINESS END.
THIS CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 400 STEEL PROJECTILES HELD IN PLACE BY A POLYMER-EPOXY RESIN.
Narrator: THE MINI-CLAYMORE'S DEVASTATING PUNCH CAN COME FROM A VARIETY OF EXPLOSIVES, LIKE C-4, 30% MORE POWERFUL THAN TNT.
THE ONLY REMAINING STEP IS TO PRIME THE CHARGE AND WIRE IT TO THE OPERATOR'S REMOTE STATION.
UPON DETONATION, EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES WILL BE FORCED OUT OF THE CLAYMORE MINE IN A FAN-TYPE PATTERN.
FIRE IN THE HOLE! FIRE IN THE HOLE! Narrator: THE MINI-CLAYMORE'S BLAS HAS PRODUCED ITS DESIGNED BLAST PATTERN, 16 FEET WIDE AND 2 FEET HIGH, IDEAL FOR DECIMATING ENEMY TROOPS AT CLOSE RANGE.
FOR SPECIAL FORCES, THE MINI-CLAYMORE IS ONE AMONG MANY INNOVATIVE ASSETS.
SUCH TECHNOLOGY IS KEY TO EXECUTING THE TEAM'S PRECISE, COORDINATED TACTICS.
THE MOST ESSENTIAL WEAPON IN A SPECIAL OPERATION ISN'T THE ASSAULT RIFLE OR THE GUNSHIP, OR THE EXPLOSIVE, OR THE ATTACK BOAT.
IT'S THE ELITE SOLDIER BEHIND EACH OF THOSE.
THE OPERATOR IS THE DEADLIEST WEAPON.
Paul: IT'S MORE ABOUT THE MEN THAN THE EQUIPMENT.
IT'S IN THE HOURS AND HOURS AND DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS YOU SPEND PREPARING.
YOU GIVE A TOOL TO A WELL-TRAINED OPERATOR, AND IT MAKES HIM THAT MUCH BETTER.
Haney: AND AS AMERICANS, WE TEND TO WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF TECHNOLOGY AND FORGET ABOUT OR NOT FULLY REALIZE IT'S ABOUT A WELL-TRAINED, VERY WELL-MOTIVATED PERSON GOING IN HARM'S WAY FOR SOMETHING THEY REALLY BELIEVE IN.
Narrator: THE SPECIAL-FORCES WARRIORS DEFENDING AMERICA'S INTERESTS WAGE BATTLES THAT LARGELY ELUDE PUBLIC NOTICE.
[ GUNSHOT .]
THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INVALUABLE.
[ GUNSHOTS .]
THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY WILL ALWAYS BE AT THEIR DISPOSAL, BUT IN THE END, IT'S THE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED, ELITE SOLDIERS OF SPECIAL FORCES THAT WILL CARRY THE DAY.