"Death Hawks", who are the 10 strongest snipers in the history of mankind

Snipers have been an essential component of military strategy, as their ability can eliminate opposing troops from a great distance and penetrate invisible enemy lines. Sniper teams (from World War I to the present day) have repeatedly proven their ability to inflict massive damage on opposing forces. However, as with all fighters, some snipers are distinguished from others by their skills.

But who are the most famous snipers in history and what is their record during the operation?

10- Chuck Mawhinney
Charles Benjamin "Chuck" Mawhinney was a former United States Marine who served 16 months in the Army during the Vietnam War. As a sniper, Mawhinney's kill record is estimated to be 103, by confirmed count (a Marine Corps record), while 216 is estimated to be the unconfirmed kill count. Mawhinney was the son of a World War II Marine Corps veteran and joined the Marines after graduating high school in 1967.

9- Adelbert Waldron
Adelbert F. "Bert" Waldron III was a former United States Army sniper who served with the 9th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. Before serving in the Army, Waldron served approximately 12 years in the US Navy. After transferring to the army, he was assigned to patrol boats (PBR) to monitor the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. In less than eight months, Waldron had killed 109 opposing forces.

8- Henry Norwest
Henry "Ducky" Norwest was a Canadian sniper known for his exploits in the First World War. Born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, on May 1, 1884, Norwest worked as a farmer, rodeo performer and eventually in the Royal Northwest Constabulary before joining the Canadian Army in 1915.

Although initially discharged for misconduct just three months into his military career, he was later reinstated in the army under a different name and assigned to the 50th Canadian Infantry Battalion. In less than three years, Norwest had committed 115 murders.

7-Chris Kyle
Christopher Scott Kyle was a United States Navy sniper who served four tours of duty in Iraq. Kyle was born in Odessa, Texas on April 8, 1974 to Wayne and Deby Lynn Kyle. After working as a farmer, professional rodeo rider, Kyle later joined the United States Navy SEAL unit after suffering a career-ending injury during his time as a rodeo rider.

After undergoing surgery to repair his arm, Kyle received an invitation to Basic Underwater Training (BUD/S) and SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) training in Coronado, California (1999). Later assigned to the sniper element of SEAL Team-3, Kyle soon found himself in the middle of some intense action throughout Iraq. Over the course of four tours, Chris Kyle had 160 confirmed kills across Iraq in areas such as Ramadi, Fallujah and Baghdad.

6-Vasily Zaytsev

Vasily Grigoryevich Zaytsev was a Soviet sniper who served in the Red Army during World War II. He is credited with over 242 confirmed kills. Born in Yeleninskoye on March 23, 1915, Zaytsev is said to have learned his shooting from his grandfather in the Ural Mountains. After graduating from college and working briefly in construction, Zaytsev later enlisted in the Soviet Army, serving in the Pacific Fleet (beginning in 1937).

5-Lyudmila Pavlichenko

Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko was a Soviet sniper who served with the Red Army during World War II. She is credited with 309 confirmed kills during her military career. Born in Bila Tserkva (present-day Ukraine) on July 12, 1916, Pavlichenko later moved with her family to Kiev, where she worked at the Kiev Arsenal factory. In her spare time, Pavlichenko developed a keen interest in shooting and even joined a local club where she developed her skills as a sharpshooter.

To this day, Pavlichenko remains one of the strongest snipers in modern history and is considered the most successful female sniper of all time. She is credited with killing 257 Nazi German soldiers, including 36 snipers.

4- Carlos Hathcock
Carlos Norman Hathcock II was a United States Marine Corps sniper who served during the Vietnam War and is credited with 93 confirmed kills. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 20, 1942, Hathcock had a knowledge of hunting from an early age, as his family relied heavily on hunting for sustenance.

3- Francis Pagahmagabow
Francis Pagahmagabow was a sniper in the First World War. He is credited with 378 confirmed kills. He was born on the Shawanaga First Nation Reserve in Nobel, Ontario, on March 9, 1891. After the outbreak of World War I, Pagahmagabow volunteered for military service and was assigned to the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914 (and later was reassigned to the 23rd Canadian Regiment).

2-Fyodor Okhlopkov

Fyodor Okhlopkov was a Soviet sniper who served with the Red Army during World War II. He is credited with 429 confirmed kills during his career.

Born on March 2, 1908 in the village of Krest-Khaldzhay, Russia, Okhlopkov was of Yakut ethnicity from the Far Eastern sectors of the Soviet Union. Although little is known about Okhlopkov (due to the lack of records regarding his life), it is believed that he first joined the Red Army with his brother, who was later killed in action.

1- Simo Hayha
Simo "Simuna" Hayha was a Finnish sniper who served in the Winter War of 1939-1940 and is credited with 505 confirmed kills against Red Army soldiers. Born in Rautjarvi, Viipuri Province, Finland, on December 17, 1905 to a farming family, Hayha later joined the Finnish Volunteer Militia (known as the "White Guard") at the age of twenty-one. Using skills first developed in his youth from hunting expeditions with his father, Hayha competed in numerous shooting competitions throughout Viipuri Province, winning numerous trophies for his sharpshooting skills. With the outbreak of war between Finland and the Soviet Union in 1939, Hayha served as a sniper during the Battle of Kollaa.