Barrack Room (OOC discusions).

[Rex]

I am not sure we are sneaky enough as a group to follow them and really don't want to split the group.

[Rex]

Just looking, only 2 of us have Silent Movement and we are not great at 30% and 37%.

[Leitz]

really don't want to split the group.

Where reasonable, I enjoy splitting the group. It's really a strength of PbP, as long as the DM isn't overwhelmed. I'm made that mistake, and crashed bad because of it. Other DMs can float more independant groups, though.

[Scott308]

I think we'd have a hard time sneaking up on them, but if we want to try, the rest can cover from above and drop them if we need to. Also, just because we see two of them, there is no guarantee there aren't more nearby. I say we just let them pass and watch for a while to make sure nobody else comes along. If they are heading the same way we are planning to go, we may not want to give them as much lead time, but we could follow and try to ambush them if they stop.

[Rex]

Sounds like a reasonable plan. Normal rank and file or do we want the 2 with silent movement in the front, following?

[Bluehorse]

So I'll put away the grenades...

[Rex]

Keep them handy!

[Spearmint]

Diego the language roll is not a perfect translation. The pair speak in Vietnamese, a local accent to those you have heard recently. Certainly not from any Montagnard community. They speak only a few words, asking what the corned beef could be, mention the village in the forest and then decide to go over the bridge. You can not be sure of the verb they used, shall we go this way or shall we check this way

As far as distinguishing the peasant dressed men's intentions you should be able to analyse that they both carry bolt action rifles, maybe an old French design. They have come from the trail you walked which means they must have stumbled on the cave firefight aftermath. You left the bodies in place though the area received a pounding from the artillery afterwards. The possible sign that betrays them is that they follow in your footsteps so take a right at the T-junction taking the footpath east which goes beneath the falls. They stop at this area then about turn to go west.

[Leitz]

Thanks! That's the sort of information Diego is built to collect.

The team really needs a sniper with a silencer.

[GreyWolfVT]

Yeah that is one thing that could be handy a sniper!

[Bluehorse]

When Rex dies, (hopefully not) I will make one.

[Spearmint]

A quick check through character sheets will show you have two characters with Sniper as primary MOS.

[The Bindoner]

Glyndwr may have Sniper, but he's a poor shot with rifles. Sniping with the M60 though....

[Rex]

They used modified M60's as sniper rifles in Vietnam. It was what set the stage for the 50 BMG sniper rifles developed in the 80's

[Bluehorse]

Very nice love little mini lessons like this

[Rex]

Actually it was a modified M2 machine gun.

Legacy

Hathcock remains a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. The Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock Award is presented annually by the National Defense Industrial Association "to recognize an individual who ... has made significant contributions in operational employment and tactics of small arms weapons systems which have impacted the readiness and capabilities of the U.S. military or law enforcement."[39] The Marine Corps League (MCL) sponsors an annual program with 12 award categories, which includes the Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II Award presented "to an enlisted Marine who has made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of marksmanship training."[40][41] A sniper range named for Hathcock is at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

In 1967, Hathcock set the record for the longest sniper kill. He used an M2 .50 Cal Browning machine gun mounted with a telescopic sight at a range of 2,500 yd (2,286 m), killing a Vietcong guerrilla.[42] In 2002, this record was broken by Canadian snipers (Rob Furlong and Arron Perry) from the third battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry during the War in Afghanistan. Hathcock was one of several individuals to utilize the M2 Browning machine gun in the sniping role. This success led to the adoption of the .50 BMG cartridge as a viable sniper round. Springfield Armory designed a highly accurized version of their M1A Supermatch rifle with a McMillan Stock and match grade barrel and dubbed it the "M-25 White Feather". The rifle had a likeness of Hathcock's signature and his "white feather logo" marked on the receiver.[43] Turner Saddlery similarly honored Hathcock by producing a line of leather rifle slings based on his design. The slings are embossed with Hathcock's signature.[44] On March 9, 2007, the rifle and pistol complex at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar was officially renamed the Carlos Hathcock Range Complex.[45]

[Spearmint]

I think this is the most famous pic associated with Carlos Hathcock.

[Rex]

A very famous picture for sure.

[Bluehorse]

Local boy from Little Rock hell of a story there.

[Spearmint]

Go ahead Cinead. Those running to the boulder across the gully will be within your 200 metres range.