Water Pressure, Turbulence, Refraction! Directly Hitting the Army Reconnaissance Unit's Underwater Live Fire Shooting Assessment

Recently, a certain brigade of the 74th Group Army organized reconnaissance teams to conduct underwater live-fire shooting assessments in the eastern Guangdong hinterland, focusing on testing the underwater target reconnaissance, tactical application, and assault capabilities of the reconnaissance soldiers.

After the live-fire assessment order was issued, each reconnaissance team entered the water in turn. Underwater, the officers and soldiers overcame water flow interference and psychological pressure, maintaining a stable shooting posture. Underwater operations are constrained by multiple factors such as water pressure resistance, water flow disturbances, obstructed visibility, and oxygen supply limitations, making target reconnaissance difficult and requiring high shooting accuracy. The officers and soldiers adapted to the water flow conditions while autonomously searching for hidden underwater targets. Upon discovering a target, they quickly aimed, corrected shooting deviations, and accurately completed the strike.

Brigade member of the 74th Group Army, Xiao Nuonuo: Underwater, the combat environment is quite complex; each firing window is fleeting. At the same time, we must eliminate water flow interference, stabilize our aim, and execute every action to perfection under extreme conditions.

Expert Analysis: Three Major Challenges Restrict Underwater Shooting

In this underwater live-fire shooting assessment, the officers and soldiers used 5.8mm underwater automatic rifles and specialized arrow-shaped underwater ammunition, which has a long, dart-like warhead. Experts indicate that underwater shooting is significantly more challenging than shooting on land.

Military Observer Wei Dongxu: The first challenge is the difficulty of the ballistic trajectory. Water is the enemy of bullets; when ordinary rifles are fired underwater, the effective range may only be about one meter after the bullet exits the barrel, while specialized underwater firearms have a range of only a few dozen meters. The second challenge is the difficulty of aiming. Underwater visibility is poor, light refracts, and personnel must wear breathing apparatus and masks, using specialized equipment to confirm the distance and approximate location of targets. The third challenge is the physical difficulty; ordinary rifles have significant recoil when fired on land. Underwater, this issue persists, and it is difficult to find a stable point of support, leading to drifting. Therefore, when shooting underwater, sometimes a kneeling position is necessary, provided there is a supportive environment.

Underwater Reconnaissance Soldier: Comprehensive Coverage of High-Tech Equipment

In addition to specially designed firearms, the full set of equipment for amphibious reconnaissance soldiers has been specially designed, covering the head, body, hands, and feet, with multiple high-tech devices working in coordination.

The equipment worn by amphibious reconnaissance soldiers underwater includes closed-circuit underwater breathing apparatus, diving suits, diving gloves, hoods, diving boots, fins, buoyancy control vests, weight belts, wrist-mounted diving instruments, underwater headlamps, and diving knives.

Military Observer Wei Dongxu: I believe that the underwater reconnaissance soldiers are equipped with high-tech gear from head to toe. In addition to the specialized underwater breathing devices required for special operations, there are also some pieces of equipment that we usually do not see. Not only do they have underwater shooting rifles, but they also have underwater handguns, which are more convenient to carry. Additionally, there are small underwater scooters, which are essentially very small barrel-type propellers. When moving underwater relying solely on physical strength, the distance is limited, so using the small underwater scooter can shorten the time taken to travel from the submarine or starting point to the mission area, making underwater movement more efficient and safer.

Underwater Special Operations Complete a Key Link in Three-Dimensional Defense

Experts state that the maritime defense system is not limited to surface and aerial forces; underwater special operations complete a key link in three-dimensional defense.

Military Observer Wei Dongxu: The amphibious reconnaissance team is elite; their personnel are selected from the best of the best. They must be able to complete complex tasks in isolated and unsupported environments. Before island combat operations commence and before large-scale amphibious operations take place, the amphibious reconnaissance team must assess the nearshore and coastal conditions of the mission area, checking for underwater obstacles, mines, or which beach areas are suitable for landing and deploying heavy amphibious equipment. In addition, they can also conduct covert assault operations, even decapitation missions. In the landing operation system, I believe the role of the underwater infiltration team is that of a vanguard and also experts in special operations. After conducting comprehensive reconnaissance of the landing area, they provide crucial information and intelligence on where our main forces should launch attacks and from which direction, determining the main attack direction, which I believe is extremely important.