Photo Of The Day and yet another great photo by Hille James Combat Photographer. Today we’re looking at a Dutch sniper of the Korps Commandotroepen (KCT) in Afghanistan. The sniper has a Suppressed Heckler & Koch HK417 with, most likely, a Schmidt & Bender riflescope and an Aimpoint Micro as a secondary sight. I think the laser range finder is a RAPTAR from Wilcox.

The Korps Commandotroepen is the Special Forces unit of the Royal Netherlands Army.

Here’s how the Royal Netherlands Army describe their Commando Corps:

The Commando Corps conducts special operations, which are mainly operations of strategic or operational importance that are conducted in an area which is not under control of friendly forces. The main tasks of the Commando Corps are:

• Special Reconnaissance: special reconnaissance missions to acquire information about a hostile or semi-hostile area, about a threat or about the effects of an attack.
• Direct Action: offensive actions, such as ambushes, sabotage and target designation.
• Military Assistance: military assistance with the aim of training or advising allies or groups.

In addition, the commandos carry out counterterrorist actions and rescue operations.

Most of the operations conducted by KCT operators remain classified, but many of the unit’s missions in Afghanistan are now official.