Infantry: March 27, 2000

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The British Royal Marines have fielded a new sniper rifle that appears to be a big jump forward in ground combat. The $38,000 Long Range Rifle (no fancy names here) is .338 (8.6 mm) caliber weapon that can hit a one meter diameter target out to 1,100 meters. At that range it can penetrate most body armor used by infantry, or crack the engine block of a truck, or go through light armor. The rifle uses an exceptionally accurate scope that also works at night as well as a laser range finder.