Amazing Sniper Story... Simo Hayha

[TN Outlaw]

Simo Häyhä

December 17, 1905 – April 1, 2002

Nicknamed ‘The White Death’

705 confirmed kills (505 with rifle, 200 with submachine gun)

Was a Finnish soldier who, using an iron sighted bolt action rifle, amassed the highest recorded confirmed kills as a sniper in any war…ever!!

Häyhä was born in the municipality of Rautjärvi near the present-day border of Finland and Russia, and started his military service in 1925. His duties as a sniper began during the ‘winter war’ (1939-1940) between Russia and Finland. During the conflict Häyhä endured freezing temperatures up to -40 degrees Celsius. In less than 100 days he was credited with 505 confirmed kills, 542 if including unconfirmed kills, however the unofficial frontline figures from the battlefield places the number of sniper kills at over 800. Besides his sniper kills he was also credited with 200 from a Suomi KP/31 Submachine gun, topping off his total confirmed kills at 705.

How Häyhä did all this was amazing. He was basically on his own all day, in the snow, shooting Russians, for 3 months straight. Of course when the Russians caught wind that a #### load of soldiers were being killed, they thought ‘well this is war, there’s bound to be casualties’. But when the generals were told that it was one man with a rifle they decided to take a bit of action. first they sent in a counter-sniper. When his body was returned they decided to send in a team of counter-snipers. When they didn’t come back at all they sent in a whole god#### battalion. They took casualties and couldn’t find him. Eventually they ordered an artillery strike, but to no avail. You see Häyhä was clever, and this was his neck of the woods. He dressed completely in white camouflage. He used a smaller rifle to suit his smaller frame (being 5ft3) increasing his accuracy. he used an iron sight to present the smallest possible target (a scoped sight would require the sniper to raise his head for sighting). He compacted the snow in front of the barrel, so as not to disturb it when he shot thus revealing his position. He also kept snow in his mouth so his breath did not condense and reveal where his was. Eventually however his was shot in the jaw by a stray bullet during combat on March 6 1940. He was picked up by his own soldiers who said half his head was missing. He didn’t die however and regained consciousness on the 13th, the day peace was declared.

Once again total kills…. 505 sniper + 200 submachine = 705 total Confirmed Kills…all in less that 100 days.

[klamb5]

One Bad A##

[TrickyNicky]

Total bada$%. it's funny, in a way even modern day US snipers owe a certain "debt" to Simo. He basically made it up as he went along and many of his techniques eventually got taught to the Ruskies who in turn eventually went on to share them with us.

The real moral of his story IMO is how even just a few bound and determined locals can really make life hell for invading forces using not so common sence, a good understanding of the lay of the land, and even rudimentry equipment.

Good reading TN Outlaw.

BTW, did you ever look up Billy Dixons incredible shot with the Sharps rifle? A story I think you would enjoy.

[TN Outlaw]

he truly was a bad Dude the thing that amazes me is that he only used iron sights, and he supposedly had more than the 700 kills

[Caster]

Simo says, take a dirt nap!

[TN Outlaw]

Simo says, take a dirt nap!

[BigK]

I'm as impressed that he spent enough time outside in -40 degree temps for that significant of an amount of time. And, he was eating snow, which lowered his body temp. I think he was secretly a yetti.

[TN Outlaw]

I'm as impressed that he spent enough time outside in -40 degree temps for that significant of an amount of time. And, he was eating snow, which lowered his body temp. I think he was secretly a yetti.

it is amazing how he survived and was more amazing that he thrived and racked up 705 confirmed kills in 100 days and maybe more