Editing Designated marksman (section)

=== Soviet snipers ===
{{Main article|Snipers of the Soviet Union}}
Although referred to as "snipers", the Soviet Union and its allies have since World War II employed specially-equipped and trained "sharpshooting" soldiers at a section ("[[squad]]") and platoon level to increase the range of their section to {{convert|1000|m|yd|sp=us}}. This is commonly accepted as the first example of what came to be known as a ''designated marksman'' as opposed to a true sniper.<ref name="Cutshaw2011">{{cite book|last=Cutshaw|first=Charles Q.|title=Tactical Small Arms of the 21st Century: A Complete Guide to Small Arms From Around the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=npHP9aV5rBgC&pg=PA259|date= 2011|publisher=Gun Digest Books|location=Iola, Wisconsin|isbn=978-1-4402-2482-9|page=259}}</ref>

Since 1963, these soldiers have been equipped with the Dragunov SVD rifle that shares all the characteristics typical of a designated marksman rifle (Semi-automatic fire, [[telescopic sight]], chambered for standard military rifle [[Cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]]).