Article on Finnish Sniper in the Winter War

[stonecreek]

The Deadliest Marksman’s Cold, Brave Stand

Eighty years ago, a freezing Finnish farm boy took aim at the unstoppable Red Army — and became the greatest sharpshooter the world has ever seen.

getpocket.com

Hopefully this link will work. I have no idea how accurate the article is, but thought others might enjoy reading about a famed sniper in the Finland's Winter War with Russia, 1939-40.

 

[bigbear]

The Deadliest Marksman’s Cold, Brave Stand

Eighty years ago, a freezing Finnish farm boy took aim at the unstoppable Red Army — and became the greatest sharpshooter the world has ever seen.

getpocket.com

Hopefully this link will work. I have no idea how accurate the article is, but thought others might enjoy reading about a famed sniper in the Finland's Winter War with Russia, 1939-40.

Thanks! a nice read.

 

[bloorooster]

1400 yrds … open sights!

 

[Furdown]

1400 yrds … open sights!

1400 feet466yrds

 

[bloorooster]

1400 feet466yrds

Oh…well heck, what’s so hard about that?

 

[mattimoose]

The Deadliest Marksman’s Cold, Brave Stand

Eighty years ago, a freezing Finnish farm boy took aim at the unstoppable Red Army — and became the greatest sharpshooter the world has ever seen.

getpocket.com

Hopefully this link will work. I have no idea how accurate the article is, but thought others might enjoy reading about a famed sniper in the Finland's Winter War with Russia, 1939-40.

Good read. I don't think it was in his nature to embellish his kills as he wanted his commanders to have a proper Idea of what they were up against at all times. Others who fought alongside him also intimated that Simo was too proud to count anyone he hadn't deliberately killed with a rifle, and that many more probably fell to his use of other weapons he had to employ with the fast pace of the actions he was in.

I find-it ironic that he was left in a body pile after his injury. My father's, great-grandfather, was a mercenary in The Crimea and came-under shelling at dawn while still in a tent. he threw his britches on and jumped on a horse and was cut-down in a charge, only, he wasn't hit directly, the mounted guy next to him got hit with a cannon ball and the viscera of that guy and his horse blew my great-relative out-of the saddle. Covered in bits of someone else, and unconscious, they threw-him onto the body pile.. When he regained consciousness, it was dark, and he wriggled his way out of the corpses and made his way back to the encampment where the other Finnish-Speaking mercenaries were sitting around the fire.

Assuming he was a ghost, they were terrified but soon realized it was him, literally "In the flesh". By firelight they explained that looking at him; his britches, which normally tied in the back, were at his front, so, they assumed the cannon ball had spun him around. He was in such a hurry, he had hurriedly thrown the britches on backwards to get-out of the tent in the dark and onto a horse. The heat of battle makes strange things seem to make sense I guess.

 

[bloorooster]

This is a real good movie…not as gritty as some of these formentioned tales but it will definitely help one understand the meaning of the word Sisu

(Um..some scenes and language my be disturbing to viewers)

 

[Bowne1]

Great Read, Thanks Stone.

 

[gangsterofboats]

His particular issued rifle was a Sako m/28-30 from 1933 that retained its early m/28 front sight. Those rifles are very hard to find with that early sight still intact, as the vast majority were upgraded for the much better screw adjustable sight.

 

[icebear]

His particular issued rifle was a Sako m/28-30 from 1933 that retained its early m/28 front sight. Those rifles are very hard to find with that early sight still intact, as the vast majority were upgraded for the much better screw adjustable sight.

I have two of the early (no date marking) m/28-30 rifles, both of which have the upgraded sights. I also have an m/28 that was upgraded with 28-30 sights, including the improved front.

Simo Häyhä must have had amazing eyesight to make the long-range shots that he did.

 

[gangsterofboats]

I had a rifle like his up until recently, and from a neighboring Civil Guard in Viipuri area. I sold it because it had been counterbored and the barrel was mostly shot out. That original front sight definitely made for more rapid target acquisition which I think he must’ve liked. And I agree, he would’ve had to have had exceptional eye sight.

 

[bigbear]

The Unknown Soldier movie (Finnish) on YouTube is a well made, entertaining movie about the Winter War. The subtitles were not distracting (to me at least).

 

[mattimoose]

I have two of the early (no date marking) m/28-30 rifles, both of which have the upgraded sights. I also have an m/28 that was upgraded with 28-30 sights, including the improved front.

Simo Häyhä must have had amazing eyesight to make the long-range shots that he did.

I've heard tales, not necessarily only about Simo, but I think there was someone in the continuation war that cranked a Soviet officer at 1000 , just for spite. I am going to have to dig that-up but I can't remember if that was scoped or not. There was a static line of slit trenches and some sniper rode-up with his Reindeer in a snowstorm and hunkered-down with the animal for just the one shot.
Other favorite lore is about the train-load of Stalin's, Ski-Shield, units that got shot in the legs and buttocks by a team of Finnish snipers up-in the trees, Molotov cried Foul to the Red-Cross for such inhumane and demoralizing tactics. There were 253 soldiers on one train, all shot in the legs and buttocks.