In the last week of August, the guided-missile frigate ORP "Gen. T. Kościuszko" at a training ground in the Baltic Sea became the arena for an unusual shooting event organized by the Polish Navy in cooperation with the CWS Słupsk Sports Club. For two days, invited snipers practiced in shooting at a floating target from the ship's deck at a training ground on the high seas.
Floating targets were located at a distance of up to 600 meters (usually around 400 meters). The distance was (nomen omen) fluid, as the ship was in constant motion, and sometimes firing had to be interrupted until the ship's side was re-aligned at the proper angle to the target. In these unusual conditions, in addition to the typical factors affecting the precision of a shot, it was necessary to also take into account the movement and rocking in all possible directions of the firing platform on the waves, and to coordinate these movements with the target, which was similarly independently moving on the waves. Despite the slight undulations during the firing and the ship's weight of nearly 3,900 tons, the laws of physics and the element of the sea cannot be neglected. Not only shooting skills, but above all, patience and reflexes were crucial in this case.
The first training target was a 30 cm gong suspended on a buoy, and on the second day, during and after the competition, the targets were 1-meter Styrofoam blocks with TS-2 targets glued to them.
Shooting on the high seas from the upper deck of a moving frigate at a floating target presents a completely different level of precision shooting challenge. For MBS Challenge participants, this was usually a completely new experience, and therefore the organizers devoted most of the time to the workshop portion. This is particularly important for the Polish Navy snipers, who, of course, also participated in the event, and for whom such conditions will be natural during their service (their standard training usually takes place on land). Representatives of other invited formations also benefited, from the police, the State Protection Service (SOP), the Territorial Defence Forces (WOT), the Land Forces (including Armored and Mechanized Forces), and the Special Forces. A small group of civilians from the CWS club, who assisted with the organization, were also invited, including the undisputed authority for long-range shooters Jerzy A. Ejsmont – author of such books as "Accuracy of Small Arms," "Ammunition and its Reloading. A Practical Guide," and "Ballistics for Snipers. A Practical Guide," which is considered the bible for snipers.
A total of 12 shooting pairs were invited, totaling 24 officers and soldiers. Due to limited shooting space and accommodation, the number of places was severely limited.
Despite the high profile and seriousness of the event, the atmosphere was very friendly. Participants were hosted for two days in the cabins of the over 200-strong crew of the ORP "Gen. T. Kościuszko." It also provided a good opportunity for exchange between participants. A wide variety of equipment was on display, including the latest solutions and offerings for the armed forces. What caught the eye was the compact Nightforce CFS 6-36x50 mm F1 spotting scope, new rangefinder solutions such as the Tango Innovations FIRE 4000 WMLRF, and the Sig Sauer Zulu6 stabilized binoculars.
Meanwhile, in the workshop section, those interested could undergo combat medicine training conducted by CLS Battlefield Rescue Instructor from the Maritime Operations Center, Maritime Component Command, 2nd Lt. Cdr. Rafał Stankiewicz. The training covers massive hemorrhage control in accordance with the official U.S. Department of Defense program, Stop The Bleed, and includes simulations and practical exercises using advanced lifelike trainers from world-class manufacturers. Incidentally, this may have been the first training conducted in the waters of the Baltic Sea! The STB training was conducted as part of the grassroots pro-defense initiative Tacticaldefencepl (Instagram: @tacticaldefencepl) Stop The Bleed ambassador. According to the Stop The Bleed organization's website, the initiative is based on the experience gained by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan regarding the best methods of stopping severe bleeding. The aim of the campaign is to train and equip people to use medically proven bleeding control methods to save the lives of people who have suffered injuries resulting in severe blood loss.
The sailors themselves also took advantage of their presence at the naval training ground, organizing a shooting range on the helicopter landing pad on the lower deck. They practiced firing the WIST-94 pistol and the Wz. 96 Mini-Beryl carbine.
The event culminated in a shooting competition. Each sniper pair fired 20 shots at their target (a 1x1 meter Styrofoam block with TS-2 targets suspended at a distance of approximately 400 meters). The best were soldiers from the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade, 18th Mechanized Division, with 93 points, but officers from the Kraków Armored Combat Team came in second with the same number of points. Third place went to soldiers from the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade. At the end, as is customary, prizes were drawn among the participants.
We would like to thank the Polish Navy for the opportunity to participate in the event and make a report on it.
Photos: Medard Starzycki
