Out of Nowhere

The sniper is probably the most feared specialist warrior and the most efficient killer on the battlefield. Endlessly patient and highly skilled, once he has you in his crosshairs, your chances of survival are slim. This revised edition of Out of Nowhere provides a comprehensive history of the sniper, giving insights into all aspects of his life; his training tactics, equipment and the psychology of sniping are examined in the context of the major wars of modern times - including the American Civil War, both world wars, the Vietnam War and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. First-hand accounts from veteran snipers demonstrate their skill and extraordinary courage and show why they are still such a vital part of any war.

Martin Pegler has a BA Hons in Medieval and Modern History and an MA in Museum Studies, both from University College, London, and was for many years the Senior Curator of Firearms at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds. He now lives in the Somme, France, where he and his wife run a small bed and breakfast, which is situated on top of the old German front line! Martin has established The Somme Historical Centre (www.martinpegler.com), where visitors can see the technology used in the 1914-18 trench warfare. Martin enjoys shooting historic firearms, and has participated in many shooting competitions. He is currently an author and firearms consultant and he also lectures at local Great War museums. In his spare time Martin runs motorcycle tours of the battlefield. He is the author of a number of books including 'The Military Sniper since 1914' (Osprey, 2001), 'Firearms in the American West 1700-1900' (The Crowood Press, 2002), and the highly acclaimed 'Out of Nowhere: A History of the Military Sniper' (Osprey, 2004), and he has also contributed to a number of magazines. In the 1980s he had the privilege of interviewing many World War I veterans about their wartime experiences, and the recordings are now part of the sound archives of the Imperial War Museum, London