Editing Sniper (section)

===Sniper teams===
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2019}}
[[Image:061019-A-7603F-151.jpg|thumb|right|A U.S. Army sniper team from [[Jalalabad]] Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)]]
[[Sniper rifle]]s are classified as [[crew served weapon|crew-served]] in the [[United States military]]. A '''sniper team''' (or '''sniper cell''') consists of a combination of at least one primary weapon operator, (i.e.: the shooter), with other support personnel and force protection elements, such as a ''spotter'' or a ''flanker''. Within the ''[[Table of Organization and Equipment]]'' for both the [[United States Army]] and [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], the shooter does not operate alone, but has a backup shooter trained to fulfill multiple roles in addition to being sniper-qualified in the operation of the main weapon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://science.howstuffworks.com/sniper2.htm|title=How Military Snipers Work|last=Valdes|first=Robert|date=11 June 2004|website=HowStuffWorks}}</ref>

The shooter focuses mainly on firing the shot, while the spotter assists in observation of targets, accounts for [[atmospheric sciences|atmospheric conditions]] and handles ancillary tasks as immediate security of their location, communication with other parties (e.g. directing artillery fire and [[close air support]]). A flanker is an extra teammate who is tasked to act as a [[picket (military)|sentry]] observing areas not immediately visible to the sniper and spotter, assisting with the team's rear security and [[perimeter defense]], and therefore are usually armed with a faster-firing weapon such as an [[assault rifle]], [[battle rifle]] or [[designated marksman rifle]]. Both the spotter and flanker carry additional ammunition and associated equipment.<ref name="Shah">{{Cite web|url=https://fasttimesintech.com/2016/09/12/the-sniper-and-the-spotter/|title=The Sniper and the Spotter|last=Shah|first=Hiren|date=12 September 2016|website=Fast Times in Tech {{!}} Blog by Hiren Shah|language=en|access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref>

The spotter is responsible for detecting, identifying and assigning priority of targets for the shooter, as well as assessing the outcome of the shot. Using a [[spotting scope]] and/or a [[Rangefinding telemeter|rangefinder]], the spotter will predict the [[external ballistics]] and read the [[wind speed]] using an [[anemometer]] or physical indicators like the [[mirage]] caused by ground heat. Also, in conjunction with the shooter, the spotter will calculate the distance, shooting angle ([[slant range]]), [[angular mil|mil]]-related correction, interference by atmospheric factors and the [[deflection shooting|required leads]] for moving targets. It is not unusual for the spotter to be equipped with a [[ballistic table]], a [[laptop|notebook]] or a [[tablet computer]] specifically for performing these calculations.