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Rhodesian Army Marksman Badge

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Your Price: $7.00

Part Number: RHOMARKSMANBAD01

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Reproduction Rhodesian Army marksman badge, typically worn above combat dress chevrons to denote status as an expert marksman or sharpshooter in the Rhodesian Army.

Designed in line with British sharpshooter badges of the post war period, the badge represents two crossed Lee Enfield rifles. The embroidery was significantly simplified in many period examples during the mid-1970s, and the combat dress variant of this marksman badge had a somewhat peculiar outline representing more of a facsimile of a Lee Enfield, rather than a clear silhouette. This was backed onto a standard light olive backing similar to other combat dress insignia. It was generally seen on the arms of musketry instructors at the School of Infantry, or those that had been posted to the various military installations and training bases across the country.

This insignia however did not denote the role of a designated marksman or sniper in a traditional sense. All Rhodesian infantryman would have been trained to operate their service rifle with extreme effectiveness both in a convention range settling, and in the close quarters fighting of the Bush. Among their many tactics was extensive practice in Drake shooting, which required the soldier to identify potential points of cover and concealment, and engage these targets independently. This paid off in dividends on the "sharp-end" as soldiers could react quickly to contact, and direct fire at points of enemy cover/concealment without the need for additional fire commands. Scoped FN FAL service rifles were issued on a somewhat ad-hoc basis based off operational needs, and the designation of "sniper" was only ever given to one known Rhodesian, Sergeant Clive Mason of the Selous Scouts, who was killed in action on 15 March 1977 during an operation in Mozambique. As a testament to the rigorous standards of the Rhodesian marksmanship, no soldier ever passed Mason's sniper course, and thus no other "snipers" were ever officially qualified.

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Rhodesian Army Marksman Badge

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