Editing Designated marksman (section)

{{Short description|Marksman in a military infantry squad}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}
[[File:Designated Marksman Rifle 2.jpg|thumb|300px|US Marine Corps Designated [[Marksman]], armed with the [[United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle|Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR)]], derived from an [[M14 rifle|M14]] rifle with a [[telescopic sight]].]]
[[File:CIMIC Joint Training, GER and ITA Army, Capo Teulada, Trident Juncture 15 (22678987186).jpg|thumb|300px|A soldier with a ''[[Heckler & Koch HK417|G28]]'' of the [[German Air Force]]]]

A '''designated marksman''' ('''DM'''), '''squad advanced marksman''' ('''AD''') or '''squad designated marksman''' ('''SDM''')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://manual.americasarmy.com/index.php/U.S._Army_Infantry_Squad_Organization|title=U.S. Army Infantry Squad Organization – AAManual|website=manual.americasarmy.com|access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810100323/http://manual.americasarmy.com/index.php/U.S._Army_Infantry_Squad_Organization|archive-date=10 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> is a military [[marksman]] role in an [[infantry]] [[squad]]. The term ''[[sniper]]'' was used in [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[military doctrine|doctrine]] although the soldiers using the [[Dragunov sniper rifle|Dragunov SVD]] were the first to use a specifically designed [[designated marksman rifle]].

The DM's role is to supplement the attached squad by providing accurate fire upon enemy targets at distances up to {{convert|600|m|yards}}.  Due to the need for repeated effective fire, the DM is usually equipped with a [[telescopic sight|scope]]d [[semi-automatic rifle]] called a [[designated marksman rifle]] (DMR).  Like [[sniper]]s, DMs are trained in [[reconnaissance|scouting]] and precise shooting, but unlike the more specialized "true" sniper (who often operate independently), they operate as an intrinsic part of an [[infantry]] [[fireteam]] and are tasked to lay down accurate support fire at valuable targets as per tactical necessity, thus extending the reach of the [[fireteam]].

The growth of the DM rifle can be attributed to two main influences; the near-universal adoption of [[intermediate cartridge]]s, such as [[5.56×45mm]], [[5.45×39mm]], and [[7.62×39mm]] for standard service rifles, which limit the typical effective range of a standard infantryman to within {{convert|200|-|300|m|yd}}; and the increasing specialization over the last 15 years (mid-2000s to late 2010s) of Western sniper rifles and their employment of more powerful rounds, such as [[.300 Winchester Magnum]] and [[.338 Lapua Magnum]], which are more suitable for targets beyond {{convert|600|m|yd}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snipercentral.com/bolt-action-designated-marksmansniper-rifle-dms-r-conceptual-proposal/|title=Bolt Action Designated Marksman/Sniper Rifle (DM/S-R) Concept Rifle – Sniper Central|date=23 October 2014|website=Snipercentral.com|access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801034446/http://www.snipercentral.com/bolt-action-designated-marksmansniper-rifle-dms-r-conceptual-proposal/|archive-date=1 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>  These two influences have left a gap in the firepower of the rifle [[platoon]] that a more accurate optic-equipped [[service rifle]] derivative can usefully fulfill, especially in theaters such as [[Afghanistan]] where the shortcomings of standard 5.56mm service rifles at ranges over 300&nbsp;meters became apparent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://defensetech.org/2010/01/08/brits-getting-into-the-7-62-vs-5-56-debate/|title=Brits Getting into the 7.62 vs 5.56 debate – Defensetech|date=8 January 2010|website=Defensetech.org|access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801081410/https://www.defensetech.org/2010/01/08/brits-getting-into-the-7-62-vs-5-56-debate/|archive-date=1 August 2017|url-status=usurped}}</ref>