Ulster Galilean Sights: Sniping on the Cheap

During the First World War, the Germans were the first to implement a formal sniping program, which inflicted severe casualties on Entente troops. In response, in 1915 the British Army organized its own sniper program. However, the British optics industry could not keep up with demand for proper riflescopes, so as a stopgap measure the Army adopted a variety of tubeless “optical“ or “Galilean“ sights that could be quickly and cheaply manufactured and fitted on rifles. Five different models were adopted or approved for private purchase: the Martin, the Lattey, the Ulster, the BSA, and the Gibbs. However, the sights saw little combat use and were replaced by proper telescopic sights by 1917. SOURCES: