Largest Target ever successfully engaged by a Lee Enfield

[TomEnfield]

What was the biggest target ever successfully engaged by a Lee Enfield?

I'm betting it was this


Essentially a RM sniper engaged the bridge of the ARA Guerrico with a L42A1 forcing the captain to take cover!

Leach was armed that day with the right weapon for that job: the L42A1 rifle. A conversion of the Lee–Enfield No. 4, Mk. 1(T), the L42A1 was chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge and mounted the 3.5-power No. 32 scope. Lying on the table on the second floor, the Sergeant Major placed the post of his reticle on the approaching ship’s bridge. By then, Guerrico was once again facing the channel and closing on King Edward Point. A moment later, as the other Royal Marines began hammering away at the ship for a second time, Sergeant Major Leach began firing carefully aimed shots at the vessel. He directed his opening rounds at the five windows across the front of the bridge. At this point, only Captain Alfonso, the helmsman, and the quartermaster were manning that station as glass began to shatter. The three men were forced to crouch down behind ship’s structures to avoid being struck by the rapid succession of accurate shots coming from Leach’s sniper rifle.

See link for the full article
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/guest-b ... gan.html/2

A very impressive action fought by some very brave marines! Also its pretty impressive that the first British, adopted, Magazine Loading Action invented the late 1800's made it through to 1982 still delivering the goods.

I wonder what distance he was firing over and exactly how effective the fire was, does anyone know any more information?

[ovenpaa]

I remember reading this a while ago and probably wrongly assumed it was around 600-800m

[Chapuis]

"What was the biggest target ever successfully engaged by a Lee Enfield?
I'm betting it was this"


I'm betting that it was a Zeppelin during the first world war.

Sergeant Major Leach did a grand job with the L42 on the ARA Guerrico from what I recall but didn't the marines also engage it with Carl Gustaf when the captain ventured in too close to shore?

[pe4king]

I thought it was a submarine with the Charlie G ??

[Chapuis]

I thought it was a submarine with the Charlie G ??

I think you are right, and wasn't it South Georgia?

[snayperskaya]

It was an Argentine Corvette, the ARA Guerrico, that was hit by a Charlie G off South Georgia.

[Chapuis]

It was an Argentine Corvette, the ARA Guerrico, that was hit by a Charlie G off South Georgia.

I must admit that my memory of this is failing me or at the very least confused and I shall have to look it up just to satisfy myself. Fair dues to the marines for such a small number they put up a pretty good fight in the circumstances so far from any sort of reinforcement sand with so few resources.

[Rearlugs]

I thought it was a submarine with the Charlie G ??

No, you are probably thinking of the Santa Fe (S-21).

After the seizure of South Georgia by the Argies, the submarine was used to deliver supplies to the garrison (all Argie surface units having fled back to Argentina following the arrival of British nuke submarines and the sinking of Belgrano). On one such resupply trip, the Santa Fe was detected by the RN and depth charged. This damaged it and forced it to surface. It was then attacked by an RN Lynx which dropped a torpedo - and missed - and strafed it with a Gimpy. Then along came two Scout helis ("Sprouts") which succeeded in hitting it with ancient S-12 missiles.

The Santa Fe was grounded in Grytviken harbour, where it was later captured during the British re-occupation.

[pe4king]

Your right that's the fella, Santa Fe