--- title: "This British sniper took out six insurgents by detonating a Taliban suicide vest" date: "2020-02-05" modified: "2020-10-22" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/this-british-sniper-took-out-six-insurgents-by-detonating-a-taliban-suicide-vest/" categories: - "Afghanistan War" - "History" - "War History" --- # This British sniper took out six insurgents by detonating a Taliban suicide vest ![]() A 20-year-old Lance Cpl. of Britain's Coldstream Guards was right on target in December 2013. His quick shooting prevented a major offensive by Taliban fighters when he hit the trigger of an enemy suicide vest – with a round from his L115A3 rifle. --- ![]() *The L115A3 is the primary weapon of British military snipers. (MoD photo)* The [UK's Telegraph reported ]()that his unit was hundreds strong during a joint patrol with Afghan counterparts in Helmand Province, near Karakan. They came under heavy fire from a Taliban ambush. The commanding officer of the 9/12 Royal Lancers, Lt. Col. Richard Slack, did not give the name of the sniper, but acknowledged his decisive action. "The guy was wearing a vest. He was identified by the sniper moving down a tree line and coming up over a ditch," said Slack. "He had a shawl on. It rose up and the sniper saw he had a machine gun. ... They were in contact and he was moving to a firing position. The sniper engaged him and the guy exploded." It was the lance corporal's second shot of his tour. When he hit the vest's trigger, the man exploded, taking out five more of his fellow fighters. He was 930 yards away. ![]() *An Afghan Taliban suicide vest. (Khaama Press)* The sniper's first shot killed an enemy machine gunner during the same engagement. That shot was from more than 1,400 yards away. When the smoke cleared, British forces found a second vest containing 44 pounds of explosives. Holly Watt of the Telegraph called it "one of the dwindling number of gun battles between British forces and the insurgents." ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()