Issue 41 - November 2014

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THE Airsoft Magazine

108 PAGES OF AIRSOFT ACTION!!

AIRSOFT ACTION

COMPETT-SITSEINOTINNELSIV

WIN AN S-TWORTH £860!

OPERATION N O E C A L P A IN W B PODESTA O B E ID S G N O L A N INTRADO

RIFLES17 GBB

UMAREX HK4 EL IV S-T-T-S SENTIN GER ARES HONEY BAD

EVENTSLUE FOX

INSIDE AIRSOFT

BORDER GUARDS OFFICER – BERLIN WALL, 1980

PRIOR PREPARATION AND PLANNING…

UKMCPRO PORTSMOUTH

BILLY BASICS: HOW TO WIN l DEBATE: THE BIGGER PICTURE l LOADED OR UNLOADED?

NOV 2014 - £4.50

A SQUADRON

9 772047 348032

NOVEMBER 2014

COLD WAR WARRIOR

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OPERATION B NDER GUNMAN WEEKE ARTED OPERATION UNCH

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THE Airsoft Magazine

108 PAGES OF AIRSOFT ACTION!!

ONS COMPETT-SITI SENTINEL IV

WIN AN S-TWORTH £860!

OPERATION WIN A PLACE ON E BOB PODESTA INTRADON ALONGSID

RIFLES 7 GBB

UMAREX HK41 IV S-T-T-S SENTINEL ER ARES HONEY BADG

EVENTS

INSIDE AIRSOFT UKMCPRO PORTSMOUTH

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A SQUADRON PRIOR PREPARATION AND PLANNING…

BILLY BASICS: HOW TO WIN l DEBATE: THE BIGGER PICTURE l LOADED OR UNLOADED?

9 772047 348032

COLD WAR WARRIOR BORDER GUARDS OFFICER – BERLIN WALL, 1980

NOV 2014 - £4.50

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FOX OPERATION BLUE ER GUNMAN WEEKEND D ARTE OPERATION UNCH

Editor: Nigel Streeter Assistant editor: Gareth “Gadge” Harvey Graphic design: Havoc Design Ad design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter Cover Photograph: Spectre Airsoft Photography

UK 12 - issue subscription rate: £43 UK 6 - issue subscription rate: £24 For overseas prices visit: www.airsoft-action.co.uk

Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL Tel: 01684 878 003 Web: www.airsoft-action.co.uk ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2014 Distribution: Distributed to the newstrade

by Comag Magazine Marketing, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE T: 01895 433 800 Copyright © Calibre Publishing Limited 2014. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print.

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Letter, idea or question?

Got something to say? A question for our experts? An article or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know.

Either email the editor (nige@airsoft-action.co.uk), write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

AS I SIT AND WRITE THIS LEADER, just a few days before the magazine goes to press, it’s difficult not to be stunned by events going on around us.

For example, by the time you read this we will know whether Scotland is still a part of the UK, or independent of the Union. Politics aside and whatever “side” of the argument you agreed with, I passionately believe that every country should have the right to stand on its own two feet, as an independent, democratic, proud nation and be self-governing without outside interference.

Maybe it is just me but it seems ironic that at the same time a certain Russian premier seems hellbent on subjugating just such a nation and, potentially, turning back the clock 40 years – something I can’t imagine that anyone with any sense whatsoever could possibly endorse.

That being said, I guess if these World events didn’t happen then we wouldn’t be out there reenacting them. Think about that for a moment. Just about every game of airsoft is loosely based on a conflict of some type. Granted, not all real (for example, I don’t remember real hordes of flesh-eaters actually munching their way through the populace) but the majority are – and that leads me to a question I was asked the other day: “Does airsoft make people think twice about going to war or, because of the “play” element, does it make [us] blasé about the real thing?”

To be honest, I was not sure how to answer – maybe it should be the subject of a future Airsoft Action debate – but I was interested to learn the reason behind the question. It turned out that the person had recently played for the first time (at a very large airsoft event) and was surprised at the number of people “just standing out in the open firing thousands of bbs without making any attempt to protect themselves”. I explained that there are many different forms of airsoft, that was just how they liked to play and at the other end of the scale there are players who are quite happy to take part in events lasting a couple of days and be content to use less than one magazine.

Which brings me right back to the point I made at the start of this piece. Everyone has the right to determine what they do and how they do it (so long as it is legal) and that includes how they play airsoft. You may not like a certain format of the game but that doesn’t make it any less relevant than any other, just different.

See you out there.

Nige.

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CONTENTS NOVEMBER MARCH 2014

CONTENTS

AIRSOFT ACTION – NOVEMBER 2014 6 AIRSOFT NEWS The latest developments in the world of airsoft.

8 READERS’ GALLERY Cool photos taken by Airsoft Action readers.

12 ARMOURY: UMAREX HK417 GBB Scott Allan comes over all “unnecessary” as he gets his hands on the much-anticipated HK417 GBB from Umarex.

16 ARMOURY: S-T-T-S SENTINEL IV Jay Slater gets his hands on the latest offering from S-T-T-S, the creators of the Celcius - but how will is stack up in a market already loaded with M4s?

20 ARMOURY: ARES HONEY BADGER The Honey Badger has a ferocious reputation and Scott Allan finds out if its airsoft namesake has the same qualities.

24 KIT: FBA ROUNDUP FireBaseAlpha takes a quick look at some of the gear that’s caught his eye over the last few months.

26 EVENT REPORT: OPERATION BLUE FOX Billy G takes time out from his in-game shop to report from RedWolf Airsoft’s take on Black Hawk Down.

32 INSIDE AIRSOFT: UKMCPRO They don’t sell AEGs but this is still one of Les Lee’s all-time favourite shops. Read his report to find out why.

36 EVENT REPORT: GUNMAN WEEKENDER Up to his neck in Government Forces and Separatists, Nige reports from one half of the RedWolf Airsoft - Gunman International weekender.

42 COLD WAR WARRIORS: BORDER GUARDS OFFICER, BERLIN WALL, 1980 In the first part in a short series, Gareth “Gadge” Harvey focusses on Berlin during the Cold War and the soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

47 EVENT REPORT: INFILTRATION AIRSOFT: OPERATION UNCHARTED Kris Roberts gets adrenalised as he jumps feet first (quite literally) into his first Infiltration Airsoft event.

52 SITE REVIEW: GUNMAN AIRSOFT TUDDENHAM With new sites opening all the time, Oscar P visits an old airsoft stalwart – still going strong after 12 years of play.

57 INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT: CZECH REPUBLIC OPERATION PROTECTOR XI They take their airsoft very seriously in Eastern Europe, as James Williams found out when he took part in Protector XI, in the Czech Republic.

63 A SQUADRON: IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE “The 7 Ps” serve the military well and are equally important to airsofters, as A Squadron Ltd’s Bob Podesta and Faith Cowling write….

67 A SQUADRON COMPETITION: OPERATION INTRADON Money can’t buy tickets and bribes simply won’t work but two lucky Airsoft Action readers can win the chance to play airsoft alongside ex-22 SAS soldier Bob Podesta, as he hosts his first airsoft event.

68 KIT REVIEW: BOLLE RUSH Les Lee takes a close look at Bollé’s range of budget eyepro and asks “Can something that cheap be any good?”

72 DEBATE: THE BIGGER PICTURE In this month’s Airsoft Debate Gadge Harvey asks one simple question: “Can airsoft ever be a ‘sport’?”

76 WORLD WAR ONE: THE SOMME Sniper One, Dan Mills, continues his look at one of the bloodiest battles of The Great War, in which more than 1 million men were either killed or wounded.

78 COMPETITION: WIN £860-WORTH OF S-T-T-S SENTINEL IV In his review, Jay Slater says “this is without a doubt one of the very best AEGs on the market – period!!” Now you have the chance to win the very gun he was writing about, curtesy of JD Airsoft.

80 WW2 SNIPERS: OBERGEFREITER BRUNO SUTKUS As Dan Mills reaches the conclusion of this series, he introduces us to a Lithuanian who became one of Germany’s most successful snipers.

83 FEATURE: LOADED OR UNLOADED? Jerry Noone comes out of the woodland as he takes a look at something just a little bit different… and a just a little bit “dark”.

88 BILLY BASICS: HOW TO WIN A FIREFIGHT Suitably suntanned and refreshed, Billy gives us some pointers on something important to all airsofters – winning!

93 FEATURE: SURVIVAL – THE WILL TO LIVE As an avid airsofter, Paul Yelland shares some basics of survival he has learned from over 20 years of experience in practising field craft.

101 BOOK REVIEW: SAFE AREA GORAŽDE Graphic novels are more usually associated with cartoon heroes but Kris Roberts found nothing heroic in Joe Sacco’s story of a people’s survival.

102 SITE DIRECTORY If you’re looking for somewhere to play, you’re sure to find it here.

106 DEALER LISTING: Find who you are looking for in our listing of all the adverts that appear in this issue.

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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AIRSOFT NEWS Winners!

Back in our 3rd Birthday Issue we ran three awesome competitions to win three brilliant guns and I am delighted to announce the winners.

The Specna Arms SA-03 was won by Alan “You’ve made my weekend!” Fraser, from Glasgow.

The ICS Transform4 was won by (a very excited “I never win anything!”)

Katrina Dolton, from Reading.

The simply stunning ASG EVO3 was won by a very chuffed (and extremely happy) Nigel Evers, from Doncaster.

All the winners should have received their prizes by the time you read this, so if you play in any of the locations above and happen to notice a player with a particularly wide grin on their face, it could be one of our lucky winners!

If you fancy trying to win a simply brilliant AEG, turn to page 78 and enter our competition to win £860-worth of S-T-T-S Sentinel IV, kindly provided by JD Airsoft.

RIFTS: Realistic Imitation Firearms Training System Here at BadgerTac have we been exceptionally busy, both in what the public see and more importantly with what has been going on behind closed doors.

Although many of you will recognise the name “BadgerTac” and associate us with Airsoft, Hawaiian shirts and a no-nonsense attitude, what you may not know is that we work closely with real-world end users in the police, the military and the private security industry on many different projects.

Being on the Government “Preferred Suppliers” list for kit and equipment, we were approached two years ago by UK Police Senior Firearms Instructors to investigate if airsoft weapons could be a viable training tool for real world users, to fill the training gaps in scenarios they could not achieve with blank ammunition, simunition or marker rounds. It was at this point the project was given the working title of Realistic Imitation Firearms Training System or RIFTS©.

(Not to be confused with the awesome RIFT Airsoft run by Tony “The Cake” Whitmarsh – check them out for excellent game days plus more! www.riftairsoft.com) Most of you will be aware of the Systema “training weapon” and its clones – but aside from their name, they offer nothing in terms of realistic training. As with all training, it needs to be as close to the real thing as is possible and with so much emphasis put on muscle memory “skills and drills” to ensure “2nd nature” weapon handling, the obvious choice for us was to develop the gas gun platform to its true potential.

In direct consultation with UK police firearms instructors, we had to establish what their criteria was for their end product – after all, any old airsoft retailer is able to sell them off the shelf gas guns. This project ran considerably deeper than that. We were to help develop a complete system of training. This would involve making the weapon platforms comply with their strict specifications, health and safety, risk assessments, platform capabilities, maintenance program

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and a continuous input into evolving the program as future technology allows.

Firstly we needed to find out what weapons they wanted to train with. This in itself was not an easy task and if this was going to roll out as a national program we had to identify each “load out” the 40+ Police Forces use. All with their own budgets and free reign to buy what equipment they want, filtering all the way down to holsters, slings, tac-lights, magazines, pouches etc., etc., there were countless combinations of kit we needed to work with. Forces provided samples of their kit so we could ensure a correct fit, as one of the requirements was that any training weapons would fit directly into operational equipment.

Many things have changed since the initial testing period. Manufacturers have bought out weapons that were not previously available and technology has moved on. There is still hundreds of man hours of bespoke builds and customisation that goes into building the guns to spec and without going into details or giving away trade secrets, we now have an extensive suite of accurate analogue training weapons to cover the UK armed police needs and we are continually adding to the suite as new weapon platforms enter the Police armoury. There is some compromise needed however as not all current issue live rifles have a suitable GBBR counterpart.

The jungle drums have beaten loudly around those that know and the RIFTS package has already evolved to the point where we currently have contracts with various police forces, military units and private sector companies.

This is a perfect example of what can be achieved when airsoft meets the real world.

Ratty and Billy - BadgerTac.

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NEWS THE LATEST AIRSOFT HEADLINES

Sleep in Comfort Leading British sleeping bag manufacturer, Snugpak, unveiled a range of new products at this year’s Outdoor Trade Show which are suitable for outdoors, bushcraft and military markets and complement Snugpak’s existing range of sleeping bags, clothing and travel products.

kept dry if the weather is bad. Lightweight with a low pack size, the Softie 3 sleeping bag enjoys a combination of high tech Paratex fabrics and Softie® Premier Insulation to provide outstanding warmth and comfort; reflecting and trapping heat.

Perfect for use in any weather, the Quart sleep system allows purchasers to take advantage of the reduced price than if they were to purchase the items separately. RRP: £179.95

Quart System The new all-weather Quart System is made in the UK at Snugpak’s Yorkshire based factory and includes a Softie 3 sleeping bag, a TS1 Liner and a Bivvi bag. A waterproof housing is built into the stuff sack to keep the bivvi separate after use, which ensures the liner and sleeping bag will be

Craghoppers Launches New Range of Light Weight Clothing For the Spring/Summer 2015 season, leading travel and outdoor brand Craghoppers has further developed its best-selling Outdoor range, segmenting its clothing into Pro-Lite and Originals to offer outdoor enthusiasts a collection of protective yet stylish and comfortable garments perfectly suited to their activity level.

The Pro-Lite collection has been especially designed to be lightweight and packable, offering streamlined protection when outdoors.

Part of the Pro-Lite collection, Craghoppers are launching for the Spring/Summer 2015 a complete outfit weighing under 1kg, which is ideal when weight and space are at a premium.

The men’s outfit comprises: The Craghoppers Pro-Lite Softshell, which is water resistant and windproof, is the ideal extra layer needed when protection from the elements is needed. The Softshell packs away into its own pocket, weighs 355grams and is available in Black and Royal Navy in sizes S-XXL. The Pro-Lite Half-Zip is a microfleece which provides instant insulation when the weather turns cool. It weighs 240grams and is available in four colourways.

The new lightweight Kiwi Pro Lite Trousers complete the outfit and are packed with features, including three zipped pockets, heel tape and SolarShield sun protection up to UPF 40+. They are available in Dark Lead and Taupe colourways and sizes R30 – 42 and weigh just 190 grams.

For more information and to see the entire Craghoppers range, visit: www.craghoppers.com

Real Steel Training Company Moves Into Airsoft CONTEGO-TACTICAL AIRSOFT - LONE SURVIVOR: OPERATION BREAK OUT – 27/28 SEPT 2014 The team at Contego Officium Ltd, providers of global security consultancy and training, are delighted to announce that Contego-Tactical Airsoft is now operational at the superb new site at Bentwaters Park in Suffolk and our first event is 27th/28th September 2014, players can arrive and camp on Friday 26th Sept or arrive Saturday morning. The mission has been carefully designed to do justice to the outstanding location and give all participants an experience which will be second to none.

Lone Survivor - Operation Break Out Location: Slavyansk, Orikhuvatka (DC1) East Ukraine (Bentwaters Park) Situation: Ukrainian Separatists known as the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) have attacked and taken a classified ‘secret’ military bunker installation in the small town of Orikhuvatka (DC1) The bunker is believed to contain a stockpile of the nerve agent Sarin.

Russian sources have leaked this information to US authorities as they are gravely concerned about the intentions of the DPR whom have taken over with the force the installation.

The Russians and Ukrainian governments had agreed in 1991 when Ukraine became independent it was too risky to move this stock pile from its current location. The Ukrainians agreed to sign over total control of the installation from Russia.

Ukraine are adamant that under no circumstances are Russia to enter its sovereign territory of Ukraine and re-take control of the installation.

Obama and his aids are sceptical about the leaked information from Russia, but if true this could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Russian sources have intelligence that batches of Sarin will be moved from the installation at 1900hrs on the 26th September 2014 Probable Mission: US Navy Seals to deploy to Ukrainian Forward Operating Base (FOB) within Green Zone of DC1. From DC1 covert reconnaissance teams are to deploy on intelligence gathering missions to confirm DPR numbers, intentions and the nerve agent Sarin is located within the bunkers.

Navy Seals will be split into two groups, OP teams and Fighting Patrols in reserve securing the FOB on Movement state RED (5mins notice to move) mission if deployed search and destroy DPR units and secure OP teams.

Please visit our website for further details and how to book: http://www.contego-tactical.com/ We look forward to you joining our mission.

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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AA GALLERY READERS PHOTOS

ROGUE’S GALLERY

Dog Tag Airsoft

of the Euro Matt Furey-King (President or two guns.... one has Airsoft Association)

INFORMATION Fancy seeing yourself in Airsoft Action?

Send in your photos via email (nige@airsoft-action.co.uk) or share on our Facebook page (/AirsoftAction), plus a few words describing what’s going on in the image.

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Me and my step daughter playing airsoft at matlock combat games.

Lee Shipstone and Asia Bates SWAT F

ortress

Liverpo

ol Team

SWAT

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AA GALLERY READERS PHOTOS

ROGUE’S GALLERY n Martin Johnso Matt Butler and

Matt Butler and Martin Joh

nson

Team Wyvern at NAE

Team Wyvern at NAE

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FULL METAL MAYHEM

SCOTT ALLAN COMES OVER ALL “UNNECESSARY” AS HE GETS HIS HANDS ON THE MUCHANTICIPATED HK417 GBB FROM UMAREX CAN ALL 7.62MM RIFLES GAS BLOW BACKS leave the room, oh wait they already have.....

The big beastly brother of the 5.56mm Heckler & Koch 416 has finally arrived. The heavy 7.62mm slinging monster this time is Gas Blow Back and I am positively moist at the prospect of testing it.

Built under license by Vega Force Company in Taiwan for Umarex in Germany, this has been long awaited by many collectors and players alike. VFC, has long been known for making great Airsoft replicas, top end designs both internally and externally. This is always reflected in price too but it is very much a case of what you pay for is what you get and with VFC you always get uncompromising quality. Gas is always a fickle thing and the manufacturers walk a wobbly tight rope between quality and garbage. VFC have always made fantastic looking rifles, although not always the best working. In recent years they have definitely improved and while I would never have considered a VFC gas rifle (purely after being burned so badly by their Barrett all those years ago), the VFC MP7 definitely rebuilt some of my confidence in their gas products more recently.

The HK 417 is effectively the big brother of the HK416; the 416 being a 5.56mm assault rifle and the 417 being the 7.62mm NATO rifle. Full metal, heavy weight construction, realistic markings and the near perfect finish this is looking to be something special. Externally there seems to be no difference between the previously released electric version and this Gas Blow Back type.

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THE REAL STEEL In the real world the HK 417 is seen more of a Designated Marksman rather than an Assault Rifle. I could go into explicit detail about the key differences between the HK system and the standard M4 system but, at the end of the day, it is claimed to be superior due to the different gas system. Now I cannot say for sure that it is better overall as I do not use either on a day to day basis, so rather than give you some broad-stroked regurgitated sales pitch, we will leave it at that.

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THE ARMOURY UMAREX HK417

“Externally the finish is brilliant, one of those “identical to the real steel versions”, which I had the joy of seeing at the 2014 Shot Show.”

These are now used by a multitude of services around the world including the British Special Forces. The real version sports a variety of barrel lengths, 20”, 16.5” and a crazy 13”. Having fired the SCAR H on full auto with a 16 inch barrel I can only imagine the savagery of the 13” on fully automatic. I am unsure who’d be at more risk, the target or the people around the operator.

you can buy a WE 1911 magazine for less than £20 and yet most larger gas magazines cost £50? Surely a little more metal material doesn’t cost that much more? At the end of the day this always hampers the sales of gas rifles, as who wants to spend £200 on magazines once you’ve spent £300-400 on the rifle? You could baulk but then it is the reality and there seems to be no way around it at the moment.

BACK TO THE VFC Externally the finish is brilliant, one of those “identical to the real steel versions”, which I had the joy of seeing at the 2014 Shot Show. The stock is fully adjustable, as you would expect with HK markings. The pistol grip, again, is accurate to the real version. It is a strange feel at first because it is larger than a standard M4 type but I am sure before long I will not think twice about it. The receiver is obviously full cast aluminium construction, all correct markings and a black satin finish.

The cocking handle, when pulled, pulls the bolt assembly back as per the real version, which is then released by the bolt release and is, again, identical to the real version.

The front monolithic rail is a hulking CNC aluminium chunk of metal, it is also quick release – well after two screws are removed that is. Once the rail is removed it reveals the realistic 12 inch outer barrel that I could happily use to beat a tank to death with. The sights are the standard HK type, good to use and easy to remove if you wish to attach optics to the ludicrous amount of 20mm rails available. It really does look much like the AEG version that I’ve used from the day of its release - apart from the magazine. Being a gas magazine there are no fake rounds but it is a polymer magazine. The only other magazine I’ve seen similar is the WE gas G36 which works great. I have firmly believed for some time that the polymer covered magazines help maintain gas temperature which is vital for optimum operation.

Out of the box performance is not to be sniffed at, in fact quite the opposite as each rifle we tested provided 370 feet per second with Blaster 0.20g BBs and WE Nuprol 3.0. The accuracy wasn’t great with that so I opted for Blaster 0.28 which increased the accuracy well but still gave a couple of fliers. The barrel provides a great grouping due to the 6.04mm inner barrel. The hop adjusts through a grub screw, which is a faff but generally means it doesn’t shift. All the trigger mechanism and hammer system appear to be steel, which means you should not run into any major issues from that area. The bolt, while needing greased and working-in from new, looks and feels brilliant. There is a lot of weight in there that will need a lot of gas to move it.

The magazines, as with all the gas rifles from high-end manufacturers, are expensive. Often I feel they are overpriced. How

IN THE FIELD The hard kick recoil is much higher than your standard recoil.

The magazine holding a “as per the real version” 20 BBs may not seem much (and it isn’t) but if you are looking for endless shooting fun you should be considering the electric version of the 417 and not the GBB version. Storage of the magazines is a faff - and that is being nice. One of your best bets is some kind of M14 double pouch by Flyye, the Blue Force Gear 417 pouches or something similar. Every magazine storage pouch I have used is an effort to get the magazine back into place.

I end up dumping them into a dump pouch, this means you need a BIG dump pouch. It’s like dumping VHS video tapes in there so you run out of space quickly.

Unlike when the electric version was released, I have many spare magazines to test the gas 417 out with. Which is fun but also slow going. Gassing each of the magazines then loading 20 rounds in each does seem a little labour intensive.

The good side is each mag holds a few magazines-worth of shooting. www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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The recoil is excellent and I do not want to underestimate the level of excellent! Okay it’s not the same as the real thing but you’ll probably end up a lot sorer after the first 15 minute game.

DURING THE GAME The range and accuracy are decent, shots flew out to 50 metres with ease using the Blaster 0.28s and that gave consistent results. Probably above average for a GBB rifle in all fairness. The magazine changes are a little slow and effort filled which irritates me slightly and like the electric version the front end is a hell of a weight putting most of the weight into your weaker arm. They are definitely not for younger or smaller players.

CONCLUSION I hate this part normally; I have to weigh up everything from performance to cost.

The HK 417 is front heavy, a bit long, a little unwieldy for the average skirmisher, magazines are expensive and difficult to store during games.

So would I buy one?

If I didn’t own the electric version already – yes! It has real markings, full metal construction, it is a true replica of the original and it feels brilliant. Most importantly, and this is what I judge all rifles by these days, it works well and it will last. I have no time for expensive Airsoft replicas that deliver a below par performance.

The HK 417 will not disappoint you, only your wallet - and maybe your wife.

features REAL DIMENSIONS, FROM THE BUFFER TUBE WITH THE OUTER BARREL FULL METAL, MOSTLY ALUMINIUM REAL TRADEMARKS & FULLY LICENSED BY H&K WORKING, REALISTIC BOLT WITH HK MARKINGS MULTI POSITION STOCK WITH HK MARKINGS 13” BARREL REAL STYLE GRIP STATISTICS 370 FEET PER SECOND ON BLASTER 0.20G BB WEIGHT 3.70 KILOS LENGTH 808 – 888MM RRP £450 SPARE MAGAZINE - AROUND £55

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S-T-T-S SENTINEL IV TO STAND OUT IN A CROWD YOU HAVE TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL. JAY SLATER FINDS OUT IF THE NEW OFFERING FROM S-T-T-S DESERVES YOUR ATTENTION. THE SPEEDLOADER IS USELESS – THROW IT AWAY! The same goes for the tacky US themed-ID tags engraved with custom Sentinel IV markings; it is most doubtful that you will ever use them – destroy them immediately. The battery compartment for the 11.1V Li-Po is extremely tight – the stock had to be removed to field test - and lastly, the Tier 1 Sentinel IV package will set you back an eye-watering, soul-destroying and walletemptying £859.00!

So, this was far from an ideal start to summarise the Sentinel IV however…. with that being said, this is without a doubt one of the very best AEGs on the market – period!!

This is truly a remarkable platform that spits a powerful and highly accurate spray of fire downrange with sheer and utter lunacy, a joyous and delightful performance and devilish glee… and that crack, wallop and bang! This stubby and vicious rifle is a perverted and deranged monstrosity and every airsofter should have one. Well, size is not everything (or so the ladies tell me).

It is yet another M4 incarnation and what would the point be of recycling a basic history lesson except that the carbine was derived from the legendary M16, a Vietnam War 16

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workhorse? This iconic firearm has been featured in a plethora of television, film and videogames and the real steel packs quite a punch, although a mercenary friend prefers the AK-47 and SAW for operations - the former for its punch, range and manstopping power and the latter for the machine-gun cha-chacha. What remains is an airsoft favourite and the Sentinel IV has entered the arena fighting fit, for this is one hell of a fantastic platform.

So what does £859.00 of the folding green stuff get you?

First of all, the rifle is protected within a lockable and hard rifle case. Inside are the ghastly speedloader, horrid dog tags and superb two 11.1V Li-Po batteries. The M4 is heavily mutated, customised and all-round moody. The inner barrel is an S-T-T-S Hyperion 6.05-mm brass-inner barrel with porting; the hop unit is a MDD Version II; RIS rails are fitted on all four sides to fit lasers, torches, launchers, etc.; a rear sling plate is fitted; it comes complete with three Vanaras/DTW 120-round magazines; a M.O.E pistol grip; Seemore Railway Reflex red dot open sight; Night Evolution Inforce weapon light (flashes and very vibrant; we like); a CAA Tactical MGRIP 1; and a twelvemonth warranty. Also, the E-Tiny electronic upgrade includes a

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THE ARMOURY S-T-T-S SENTINEL IV

“Crack! Crack! Crack! The uproar and racket that this mini-rifle produces, thanks to its laddish sound amplifier, is phenomenal and will put a cheeky smile on your face.” mini-MOSFET in the stock tube, a high-grade selector switch for reliability and a selectable ECU for three-round bursts or fully automatic gunfire (we preferred the former for ammunition conversation). It reeks of expense, high-end quality and überperfection – indeed, this is a most impressive package and the competition had better take note.

Negatives are very hard to find. What was immediately confusing, as stated earlier, is the battery compartment.

Housed in the stock, access is made available by unscrewing an Allen key in the rear rubber shoulder pad.

On removing the pad, the battery slots inside the tube – simplez. Nonetheless, room for manoeuvre is virtually impossible with the battery stuffed inside the tube and leads exposed, making a secure installation next to impossible. For sure, a head scratcher and perhaps this is an issue reflected in the sample review gun (or it might be me; chances are it is the latter).

With that being said, the Sentinel IV is tight, compact and very small; yet is light, manoeuvrable and easy to yield in the field. Superbly made with no wobbles, creaks or defects, this short-fry weapon of mass destruction only has 19-cm of inner barrelling and on paper, the CQB format might be ideal with a presumed degrading of performance at a longer range. The three magazines with a useful lower hand grip are very sturdy and fit tight and snug into the rifle.

Also, the red dot with nine-power settings is wondrous, each BB hitting where the laser predicted and the extremely powerful light with its strobe effect, within close proximity to the other hand, is, well, blinding. Expect to flood a room or outdoor area with ease at some 300 feet and this is an extremely ferocious and highly effective tool in defensive and offensive operations. No, really, it really is remarkable.

On loading magazines with .20 and .25 ammunition, the Sentinel IV came into its own, not only punching the stuffing out of many low-, medium- and high-priced AEGs, but socking it big time to the overpriced Systemas and Masadas with glee and assured aplomb.

Cocking the arming handle to charge the rifle, it was time to put this sweet lady through her paces. The noise that resonated from this unhinged firecracker is, well, as if a hoard of flesh-eating demons were unleashed. Crack! Crack! Crack! The uproar and racket that this mini-rifle produces, thanks to its laddish sound amplifier, is phenomenal and will put a cheeky smile on your face. Its audio performance is akin to gas-powered weapons while benefiting from the many advantages of constant FPS, range, power and no need for gas refills, said magazines proving to be unreliable and expensive. Not an ideal platform for snipers and DMR players due to its machine-gun rumpus that advertises your location, the kickback of the Sentinel IV

is slight and not in the same class as a GBB, but that sound is wildly addictive for an AEG. At 330 FPS, the range, power and penetration are remarkable –what the red dot sees is where you hit. However, this airsoft beauty is truly astonishing and every technical and performance specification is hands above every other AEG on the market. Not only is this a compact weapon, it can be used at long range and hit the target repeatedly and with utter efficiency over sniper and DMR weapon platforms, giving the player assurance that they have the best airsoft rifle currently on the market.

Designed as a training weapon by JD Airsoft and S-T-T-S and inspired by Systema, the Sentinel IV was intended to be a leading high-grade CQB platform. Customised and bastardised heavily from other CQB M4s so that it was unique, the internal and external parts were sourced from the world’s leading thirdparty manufacturers such as Concept Tactical who designed the stock tube and short barrel. As a consequence and with an eagle eye for design, performance and eyeball candy, there is no reduction in performance and clearly illustrates that the Sentinel IV’s superior engineering and design has revolutionised the game, for this airsoft CQB baby beats all – the Systemas, Masadas, sniper rifles and DMRs. In other words, think if Airwolf, Knight Rider, Street Hawk and Blue Thunder all kicked off at once. Seriously, there is no contest and it will be interesting to see how the game, players and manufacturers react to this perfect creation as a CQB weapon and one that can and will dictate how we play our sport. www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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Built to order and only fifty to be sold worldwide, JD Airsoft have confirmed to Airsoft Action that more will be available to order if the initial batch sell out. And sell out they should. An absolute belter of an AEG, the Sentinel IV is the best airsoft weapon in 2014 and has dictated the future of the game we play and love.

I have seen the future of airsoft: it is the Sentinel IV and not only does this marvellous creation roundhouse kick paintball into a very cocked hat, it redefines as to what is to be expected from our sport and how it can further push the boundaries. Indeed, sometimes very good things do come in small packages.

SO YOU’VE READ THE REPORT AND REALLY, REALLY WANT TO GET YOUR HANDS ON THIS SIMPLY STUNNING PIECE OF AIRSOFT WEAPONRY BUT HAVEN’T GOT THE MONEY SLOSHING AROUND IN YOUR BANK RIGHT NOW? FEAR NOT ‘COZ WITH AWESOME GENEROSITY, JD AIRSOFT HAVE SAID WE CAN GIVE THE REVIEW GUN AWAY TO ONE LUCKY AIRSOFT ACTION READER – AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ENTER THE COMPETITION ON PAGE 78.

YOU CAN ALSO ENTER VIA THE AIRSOFT ACTION WEBSITE: WWW.AIRSOFTACTION.CO.UK. TO SEE THE SENTINEL IV IN THE FLESH, GET YOURSELF ALONG TO JD AIRSOFT IN CANNOCK BUT MAKE SURE YOU TAKE YOUR WALLET WITH YOU AS I PROMISE YOU WILL NOT WANT TO LEAVE THE SHOP WITHOUT ONE.

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ARES BARES ITS CLAWS THE HONEY BADGER HAS A FEROCIOUS REPUTATION AND SCOTT ALLAN FINDS OUT IF ITS AIRSOFT NAMESAKE HAS THE SAME QUALITIES WHEN CALL OF DUTY GHOSTS has a jazzy looking AAC rifle, it’s almost a certainty that an Airsoft manufacturer would rush to lay one out for us all to drool over. So, aside from looking like you ran into a wall with it barrel first, is it any good?

Ares aren’t really a manufacturer I hold in high regard normally. They aren’t necessarily bad, I just feel they occasionally cut an important corner which means a decent rifle instantly turns into a pile of rubbish. I won’t go into specific examples but safe to say, other than this being pretty looking I wasn’t particularly excited by reviewing and testing the “Amoeba Honey Badger”. Amoeba? What, who actually names these things…

So you want to increase your survivability in the area of operations with dealing with a threat the standard kinetic response is not yielding a positive response your standard operating procedures should be to sweep the leg, you need a Honey Badger.

What is the point of this as a rifle? The idea of the Honey Badger is to replace the MP5 and the M4 platform all in one go. Size-wise it’s doable for Airsoft. The collapsible stock makes it very short. The integrated suppressor is unfortunately only a barrel extension but it shouldn’t be difficult to change this to a proper suppressed rifle. The whole thing reeks of design and Gucci styling but we have been here before so often before. So what is the drawback?

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THE REAL DEAL Advanced Armament Company, or AAC, in the USA developed this fantastic looking rifle to replace the M4 and MP5 in a single platform. Yawn… “This has been done before!” I hear you cry and, yes it has but not quite the same way; this platform has been designed to use the excellent and versatile 300 Blackout that is a fantastic calibre.

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THE ARMOURY ARES HONEY BADGER

“What is odd is the internal system is probably one of the best available on the market today and by that I mean out of every single manufacturer.”

300 BLK is a 7.62mm x 35mm round and that makes it smaller than the AK47 and NATO 7.62mm round. The ammunition is then available in sub sonic and supersonic variants and this gives you uber-quiet, or a powerful backhand slap type round quickly and easily. No change or modification to the rifle and that is key for rifles in the modern world.

With it being an M4-styled platform, function and drills will all be common and therefore training is near seamless for the users.

THE AIRSOFT VERSION This version sports a nylon fibre body and a CNC front rail that is all very solid. The pop-out stock is very similar to the MP5 style and is simple and effective. The 300-round polymer magazine is suspiciously like the Magpul style - it’s definitely not a poor man’s copy and it does look good.

The pistol grip also feels and looks like the Magpul MOE style grip and that again is a good thing because it’s a great grip. The “Toys Industries” sights are a blatant nylon fibre copy of Troy sights, the rear sight is moulded solid and not adjustable (which seems like the typically bizarre corner for Ares to cut). The “artistic” fore-grip, as Ares calls it, seems way too much for me. By all means use a hand stop but do you really, really need two? It simply screams excess to me but it is always removable.

So it is kind of a Sportline rifle, which is to say more of a budget rifle than a high end rifle. One of the contradictions is the 3rd Generation Firing Control System that is an electronic fire selector and trigger system. This is a pretty advanced bit of Airsoft manufacturing to have in a nylon fibre entry level rifle. It’s almost like this rifle can’t decide if it is high-end or budget!

There are always annoying niggles, the receiver says “5.56mm” and the Honey Badger isn’t. There is a silencer, but the inner barrel runs to the end of it making it useless. The flip up sights are not adjustable and are moulded solid. These of course are not incredibly bad things, as Zoolander says “there’s more to life than being ridiculously good looking”, the performance of a rifle is the most important factor.

Nothing on the features list seems bad and once we get into the guts of the Amoeba another contradiction arises…

There is a “fairly quick” quick spring change that involves removing the stock, but still that’s easier than taking the whole thing apart.

Using PEQ 15 style batteries with the mini Tamiya connectors, it is a bit of a squeeze and you might not have the capacity for a regular battery. The wiring is all high grade silver wiring and sits external to the gearbox, which means less hassle if you ever need to work on

that. The pistol grip screws into the gearbox are probably one of the cleverest innovations in gearbox designs I’ve seen in recent years. Normally, through time, the threads in the gearbox case get worn and threaded and you are generally stuffed. The Ares version has replaceable bolts! Simple and brilliant. The selector plate relies on a magnet pick-up rather than a physical connection. The gears are all steel and there is a magnet on the sector gear for the semi auto cut off. The polycarb piston has a set of full teeth and that is good news too. The trigger uses a micro-switch, which is quite common

for Ares these days and is always thought to be reliable. The aluminium inner barrel that is common on S&T, Ares and ICS Sportline rifles may be light but they seem to work very well.

The oddest thing is the hop unit, it is literally an identical copy of the Madbull 3 in 1 - only moulded in plastic.

All of that may fly over the head of some people but running over those internal features that are of note paints a good picture. What is odd is the internal system is probably one of the best available on the market today and by that I mean out of every single manufacturer. Where it slips for me is the small things like the nylon body and the very cheap-feeling sights. There is nothing wrong with them, but then why not spend that extra few dollars in construction to do it better and right? So the Honey Badger is a bit of a hit on paper and build quality but is it good on the skirmish field?

Being a M4-ish platform it is instantly usable by most players with ease and it takes all the standard M4 magazines www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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features LIST OF FEATURES MATERIAL: NYLON FIBRE BODY / CNC FRONT END too, which is a big bonus. The lightweight, albeit a bit too light for my liking, design makes it very quick and easy to manipulate and being one of the lightest rifles on the market means that it’s great for all ages too. Both outdoor and indoor will be great for the Honey Badger with the snappy trigger you will always been on the winning edge of engagements with the opposing team.

CONCLUSION The Ares Honey Badger is a great rifle. There is no denying the design genius in some parts but then they always seem to have a Quality Assurance Manager who stops production to change

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something so it’s just shy of being a fantastic rifle.

These bothersome parts are always very small and I am being very picky, as the overall function, range, accuracy and design is all great. At the price too it’s very reasonable although I’d have much preferred a metal body to get an even finish and a little bit more weight.

You won’t be disappointed with the Honey Badger but your enemies might get disheartened pretty quickly!

FIRING: SAFE / SEMI / FULL AUTO BATTERY: LIPO 70X42X17MM MAGAZINE: 300 ROUND M4 HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINE MOTOR: STANDARD M4 TYPE LENGTH: 630 – 735MM WEIGHT 2.5 KILOS POWER: 330FPS WITH BLASTER 0.20G BBS PRICE £260

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s ES Y/ ND TO M GH NE PE M OS ER BS 60

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Gear Overview KIT AND CABOODLE

KIT AND CABOODLE FIREBASEALPHA TAKES HIS REGULAR LOOK AT THINGS THAT HAVE CAUGHT HIS EYE OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. FOBUS HOLSTER FOBUS are an Israeli Military and Special security services manufacturer of combatproven holsters and pouches and have been growing from strength to strength over the years. The combination of modern materials and state of the art design has allowed them to produce a variety of systems designed to carry most of the world’s sidearms.

The complete range includes variations for lights, lasers, rails with both fixed and rotating paddles (the paddles are very comfortable). Land Warrior Airsoft are now stocking a selection of these lightweight, low profile, hardwearing, secure and comfortable systems and with starting prices of £20 are a must for anyone carrying a pistol.

Retailer: www.landwarriorairsoft.com

FLIMMUUR TACTICAL Flimmuur Tactical is a small but very proficient tactical kit design and manufacturer that has a growing name within the airsoft industry. Focusing on LBE and pouches, historically he did garments; you will start to see more and more of his products on the skirmish field. There are several airsoft ‘public figures’ running a variety of his builds and I was fortunate enough to run this prototype ‘dump pouch’. Although this is not the place to go into the full details I was incredibly impressed across the board with this pouch. The combination of high end materials, stitching and design put a lot of the larger manufacturers products to shame and this is only the prototype. I can predict big things coming from Flimmuur Tactical in the future.

Contact via FaceBook: Flimmuur Tactical

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INTELLIGENT ARMOUR This has to be one of the more interesting bits of kit I have ever run. When I received the ‘Universal Covert Shoulder Holster’ I had multiple movies flash through my head, sadly I did not live up to the characters in those movies but the holster did empower me to think like them. This is one of two shoulder holster systems, the other being specifically designed for the H&K Kurtz. Both were designed and manufactured in the UK by Intelligent Armour. It is a solid construction, top end hardware, lightweight, very adjustable and able to carry a variety of systems. I could certainly see the benefits of this for those that skirmish within a CQB environment or players that go for a more PMC/CP load out wanting to ‘stand out’ from the rest. Price: £78.00 Manufacturer & Retailer: www.body-armour-protection. co.uk

LONDON BRIDGE TRADING The LBT ‘6094A’ SLICK plate Carrier should need no introduction.

This is the lightweight version of the 6094 series and is available in a variety of sizes as well as solid colours. I have been running this extensively for the past 2 months and it has been outstanding. It has a number of features you would expect, including hydration/ communications routing straps, internal admin pouch and a large front Velcro panel. It is lightweight and constructed out of 1000D. The extra pouches I have with mine are the QRAP (Quick Release Assault Panel) that allows me to switch between 5.56mm (x4 magazine carry capacity) and 7.62mm (x3 magazine carry capacity) very quickly thanks to industrial Velcro points and the 6142B Hydration bladder. With so many plate carriers on the market all vying for your £££ this should certainly be worth a consideration.

Manufacturer & Retailer: London Bridge Trading

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OPERATION BLUE FOX

THE REDWOLF WEEKENDER BILLY G REPORTS FROM REDWOLF AIRSOFT’S FIRST THEMED WEEKENDER, WHICH TOOK PLACE AT MOD RYPE VILLAGE OVER THE AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY OPERATION BLUE FOX WAS THE FIRST in what is expected to be a series of themed events sponsored by Redwolf Airsoft UK. Based on the 1993 Battle for Mogadishu made infamous by the film Black Hawk Down, running at the purpose-built British Army training ground of Rype Village in Lydd - a mere stone’s throw from Dover.

Originally built as an urban training ground for past conflicts, the site has evolved over the years as the military moved from one campaign or theatre of operations to the next and with its mix of shops, homes, street scenes and woodland it doesn’t take much imagination to place yourself in a Mogadishu village. A big “well done!” to Lyle Berends of HaloSoft for securing the site for the event, I cannot think of a more fitting or suitable area for such a story line.

The initial plan was to billet all players in the onsite accommodation but for a fathomless reason the MoD pulled the plug on this at the 11th hour, meaning it was down to individuals to organise their own camping arrangements. Mercifully, they did still allow access to the fully functioning ablution block with porcelain thrones and hot showers. Although there was a plentiful supply of portaloos in and on the outskirts of the gaming area, in case you got caught short, there was absolutely no reason why you couldn’t have your home comforts.

Arriving on the Friday afternoon players were security cleared by the MoD security detail and moved into a holding area. From the holding area players were escorted in convoy to their respective safe zones and camping areas. This was their opportunity to get their gear in order and make themselves comfortable prior to the welcome briefing on the Friday night. Along with the usual “meet the staff” and an overview of how the weekend was going to flow there also had to be the less glamorous “house keeping” briefing.

Being an active MoD site means there are health and safety criteria that must be met and a certain amount of dancing to the MoD tune. What to do in the event of fire, out of bounds areas, what is and is not acceptable behaviour when on site – that sort of thing, after which it was free time for the players until the morning safety brief.

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Game Review OPERATION BLUE FOX

“Regrettably, nobody could be found willing to crash two helicopters into a British Army training camp so the next best thing was used – copious amounts of pyrotechnics.”

Unlike the historical weekender recipe of overcrowding, chaos and poor sportsmanship this event was kept clean and simple – with the odd twist thrown in for game play. The ammo count was strictly limited and varied from role to role but the result of this was that more emphasis had to be placed on tactics, rather than relying on superior firepower. A timetable of key events meant that players knew where they needed to be and at what time, this ensured the opposing teams would bump into each other regularly and have the maximum amount of trigger time whilst retaining the freedom of movement to apply your own strategy and tactics.

Another nice feature to the command and control element was along with briefings on each stage, the marshalling team kindly provided by 258 Company and the event organisers, Gaz Perkins and the H.T.I.S would get into character and help guide the game flow from within the teams.

The morning safety brief started at 10:00hrs in the Auditorium and was delivered by event organiser Gaz Perkins and covered all the salient points you would expect, as well as some rules specific to the site and game. A first for me (and one little twist I was particularly fond of) was that the villagers could roam around unarmed and be nothing more than a nuisance or concern to the US forces. If they did go out armed, it was in their best interest to cover up their face as if they went out with their face on show with a weapon, they could legally be lifted by US forces if seen unarmed as they would be a recognised enemy combatant.

Another first for me in 20+ years of airsofting was the onsite retailers of Flektarn, Army Surplus and Toys and Badger Tac were set up inside the actual game zone. Having the “Market Place” within the Somali area was in keeping with real life events so added to the ambiance of the story line. It meant the Somali forces had free reign to browse the friendly markets throughout the whole event, whereas the US forces needed to be clearly identified as out of game play to visit and it was quite the talking point for many of the players I spoke with.

After the brief people were clearly eager to get going and the atmosphere was great with all the laughter and chatting I could hear as players moved to their initial starting positions and made final preparations to their kit while waiting for it all to kick off.

The Somali militia and villagers were busying themselves in the market place, checking out the wares at the local bazaars whist the US force moved to its holding area prior to executing their snatch mission for two High Value Targets (HVT).

During the late morning the village came alive with hurried activity as information came in from the street lookouts. Gun

fire could be heard nearby and a call to arms ran through the local community. Apparently the US snatch team had been compromised. All the locals reacted by grabbing whatever fire power was available and headed off into the village to see what all the fuss was about.

Many sprinted off on foot where as others took a leisurely drive out in one of the several vehicles doing the rounds. News came back to the village as fighters returned to re-arm (or in most cases, re-gen). US Special Forces had attempted a snatch operation on key figures. It had failed due to being seen by a lookout and they were now compromised and holed up. Sitting tight, out-numbered and surrounded they needed to defend their position from an aggressive local militia whilst awaiting extraction.

Regrettably, nobody could be found willing to crash two helicopters into a British Army training camp so the next best thing was used – copious amounts of pyrotechnics. Clearly there was an inherent danger when using large amounts of pyrotechnic in an airsoft scenario, so the risk was mitigated by clever use of the timetable and in-game scenarios, such as a “call to prayer” for the Somali players.

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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It was during these periods where all the players were accounted for, Lyle had the pleasure of setting off some pretty impressive bangs to simulate the falling of the two Blackhawk helicopters.

With their exact location unknown, the US forces needed to sweep the streets and look for the wreckage. Smoke grenades were used to simulate the burning wreckage and could be seen over the roof tops but for any of you have played or trained at Lydd, you will be all too aware of the dead ends and nooks and crannies - perfect for defending forces to surprise you from. The second bang was of sufficient magnitude that the MoD security team called the game organisers to confirm it was them and not “other” more malicious sources responsible for the noise and material was heard to be raining down over two streets away.

As darkness fell on the Saturday night, the Somali forces set themselves up in ambush positions to take on the incoming US rescue force. I took the rare opportunity to leave the market place (with the relative safety of a high-vis vest) to walk the site and chat with players in the lull before the battle. The feedback was very positive (and having no affiliation to the event organisers, marshals or sponsors the players could be brutally honest to me).

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Game Review OPERATION BLUE FOX

They loved the site but were surprised at some of the strict MoD rules such as the “No pyro after 21:00hrs” rule. With the camp being on the outskirts of a small village in the back of nowhere though, I suppose the bangs would carry some distance in the quiet nights and be quite annoying to the locals. With 21:00hrs fast approaching and the US forces soon to be arriving, it looked like both teams were going to have to do this the hard way. Sadly I didn’t get to witness the actual ambush or resulting fire-fight as I needed to get back to the market place and relieve the kind chap from 258 company from his guard duty of the shops – besides, he was needed to marshal the ambush in the dark and that was far too risky for me!

With the arrival of midnight came EndEx for the day and the sweet relief of removing eye protection. It also meant the opportunity to start packing the shop away as in the morning I was going to be Somali militiaman trying to shoot Americans.

Sunday morning was a nice relaxed affair as guys prepped for the finale of the event… what has since become known as “The Mogadishu Mile”. All the US forces converged on “Crash Site 2” for their start point. Following the vehicles on foot the Americans needed only to get down the street to their extraction. The Somali Militia however had taken up positions between Crash Site 2 and the final extraction point and we readied ourselves for what was going to be the inevitable bloodbath of US forces.

There was a fierce initial battle and as the US went back to regen and gain composure, the battle lulled. There were several skirmishes between sneaky US players who had gotten quite far before being spotted and then there was the ultimate brainwave…

The toe-rags started going down parallel streets! Now this may not have been what happened in the film but the tactic did add an amount of confusion to the Somali forces and as it removed the certainty and it added to the excitement, as hide and seek through Rype Village is lots of fun. Eventually a sufficient amount of US forces made it to the safety of extraction and EndEx was called for the Black Hawk Down part of the weekend.

Many players were in no rush to get home. They had plenty of ammo. They stood in one of the greatest places to play airsoft…..

The event organisers and marshals quickly came up with a couple of short scenarios for those who wanted in. With a quick re-jig of the teams a HVT needed rescuing from within the village area.

A simple HIT – MEDIC – HIT – OUT structure was levied at the

defenders whilst the rescue team had HIT – MEDIC – HIT – REGEN. This was a timed event as it would be reversed. It was after these games that goodbyes were said and so began the fun and games of breaking camp and returning home.

The highlight of the weekend for me was the general buzz.

The site, the rules, the game play but most importantly the player’s attitude was a great mix and that was a recipe for a great weekend. I now have a serious dilemma: for future events like this do I try and get there as an onsite retailer in a bid to pay the mortgage, or do I get involved as a player and get the full experience from a well orchestrated themed event?

I know which I would like to do!

Credits and thanks: • Redwolf Airsoft UK for sponsoring this and allowing Gaz and the team time put it all together • Gaz Perkins and his H.T.I.S. group for writing the game plan and managing it all.

• 258 Company for giving up their free time to marshal the event • Benjamin Deakin at Ben Deakin Creative for the photography • Lyle Berends for securing the site and scaring the crap out of MoD security (Slightly off topic, but say Lyle “Berends” with an oriental accent see what it sounds like out loud. ) RedWolf Airsoft are planning to run a similar event next year, possibly towards the end of September that will again coincide with Gunman International Airsoft.

Airsoft Action will be supporting both events and will bring you more details as soon as we have them.

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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UKMCPRO PORTSMOUTH

T A V

ROVING REPORTER, LES LEE, FINALLY GETS TO WRITE ABOUT ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE SHOPS – AND THEY DON’T EVEN SELL RIFS! “PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS USMCPRO UK, UkmcPro is a company dedicated to supplying the best quality Police and Military Equipment where it’s needed most, without breaking the bank.

With almost 20 years of experience, from procurement of Military Equipment to dealing with individuals, we pride ourselves on our customer service and knowledge of the brands we sell. UkmcPro has grown over the years from a small mail order catalogue handling Army Surplus to one of Europe’s most prominent retailers and a leading force in offering bespoke tactical Kit.” The above paragraph, taken from the UkmcPro website says it all really.

If you ever find yourself in a little town called Portsmouth (you may have heard of it), you might want to drive a couple of miles East to a place called Southsea where, nestled amongst a variety of diverse shops, is a dedicated military retail outlet called UkmcPro. This isn’t an Airsoft specific shop, they don’t sell RIFs, IFs or even the little round projectiles that we shoot at other people dressed in military gear however, what this shop does sell is just about every other item that you would need to build the best quality load out to enhance your already established arsenal of guns - and they are very good at what they do.

Located just down the road from probably our most famous Naval Dockyard and some of our most prestigious military establishments, is the perfect location for our brothers in arms to buy the gear they need, that just isn’t issued by the forces. Why shouldn’t our military have the best if they are prepared to give up their lives in the name of peacekeeping around the world?

Parking is free and available either right outside or very close by, so there is no need to worry about a long haul back to the car laden with goodies and Elm Grove is also on a main bus route, with a bus stop just yards away.

UkmcPro was founded some twenty years ago, November 1994 to be more precise, by Franck Douville under its original name “USMC PRO” (Uncle Sams Military Catalogue), so that just about anything our serving warriors wanted or needed could

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inside airsoft UKMCPRO

THIS STORE IS AN AIRSOFTERS DREAM AND I DARE ANYONE TO VISIT AND NOT BE WOWED BY THE SHEER VOLUME AND VARIETY OF GEAR ON SALE.”

be purchased quickly, locally and at prices that even the humble squaddie could afford. Franck also operates a sister shop in France which still holds the USMC PRO name ...and then along came Airsoft and the need for camo, combat gear, protective equipment and almost every accessory available to be found under one roof.

They don’t only cater to ‘Softers though. Clients from the Police, Prison Service, Military (obviously), Security, Close Protection, Bushcraft and the outdoors, film companies and reenactors both foreign and domestic all find their way here. The kit here is the real McCoy, not just wannabe replicas or generic gear of lesser quality, everything at this unique establishment is the real deal and there is one hell of a lot of it under one roof!

The shop floor itself is bright and well laid out so whatever you are looking for isn’t tucked away, or up high and out of reach. Jim and the team want you to feel completely comfortable during your shopping adventure and certainly free to try stuff on without any pressure and, of course, the super-friendly staff are on hand to help with any questions if you need answers or advice. I was informed that the shop is due to have a re-fit in the near future, which will include a new shop front sign and a bigger and better changing room, amongst other improvements. Honestly guys, I won’t be missing the old nano changing room.

As well as popular and well known product names, UkmcPro have helped develop the “BULLDOG” brand, due to the high demand for quality gear but at prices Joe Bloggs can afford and that are not going to fall apart any time soon. I am happy to verify

this as I have a pair of their high-end Bulldog MTP combats and they are seriously good quality; withstanding the test of time in woodland and urban without any worrying signs of wear and tear that one might expect after a couple of years of ‘softing.

Other brands which are favourably stocked include the FAB Defense range of grips and attachments (this range really needs to be seen to be appreciated), Tru-Spec, Under Armour, Lowa, Webtex, Smith Optics, Blackhawk, Haix, Bates, Maxpedition, Kombat UK and Defcon 5 - and that is just a very small chunk of the brands stocked (and well stocked they are indeed).

This store is an Airsofters dream and I dare anyone to visit and not be wowed by the sheer volume and variety of gear on sale. I would estimate on average a first visit would take a good hour of your lifetime just shuffling around the shop floor looking, touching, feeling, dribbling and making funny “Ooh... Ahh…” noises. That unique smell of new fabric plays with your senses and very quickly connects with your urge to pick up, try on and buy something... anything! Just the thought of leaving emptyhanded is beyond any Airsofters ability I’m sure. Just one of their massive range of morale and authentic military patches is better than nothing, even if you have nowhere left to stick it and if that is the case, then simply buy something else to stick it on because at UkmcPro you can do just that.

The staff are a great bunch of guys and are all very, very knowledgeable and fluent in our sport-specific tactical world as they either do, or have played, to a high standard themselves and they know their products inside out as they have been around for a very long time. The credibility of UkmcPro is up there with the best of them and as I said earlier, they have been around for a couple of decades which verifies their commitment to what they do.

On a personal note, I have been buying from these guys for many, many years, mostly for my Section One/Real Steel days but also to buy outdoor and bushcraft kit for my many hikes up mountains. More recently I was buying gear for my former career (of over 18 years) in a “challenging” Government Agency, where the issued uniform was typically c*** and certainly not fit for any purpose so we had little option than to buy our own upgraded gear if we were to be effective whilst on duty.

UkmcPro serves players from all over the country. Their turnaround time for mail and web orders is astonishingly fast and it is highly unlikely that they are out of stock of any particular item, as the shop floor holds just a small percentage of their inventory.

The majority of kit is kept on-site in their warehouse, so that there is no delay in processing your order or simply making the much preferred physical purchase. www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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inside airsoft UKMCPRO

Their catalogue is free, all you have to do is ask and they will send you this yummy book of goodies so you will always have their stocked item list at hand.

As the saying goes “the best things in life are free” and this is no exception and if you are as sad as me, you will have a spare copy in the bog for those long drawn out occasions where you need some time alone… Just you, your ‘special’ seat, a roll of toilet paper and good stuff to read. Don’t deny it guys, it’s what we do isn’t it? It’s our chance to immerse ourselves in a book of gear and gadgets until our legs go numb.

The website is equally as impressive and is kept current so what you see, products and prices, is what you get and on a fairly regular basis you will find that these guys have a Discount Weekend, so it’s worth checking in regularly or better still, get yourself on their mailing list so that you don’t miss out on some good deals.

For me, every trip to the Portsmouth area is enhanced by a visit to UkmcPro even if it is just for a look around and some social banter. To date I have never been able to leave the shop without buying something, anything just to satisfy my tactical lust (and usually upset the missus in the process) but this place really just has that magical “buy something” feel about it as the prices are so damn good and the selection of unusual and unique goodies is just too much to resist. I would challenge anyone to visit and spend half hour or so and not buy anything! “Kid in a sweet shop” or “’Softer in a tactical gear shop” I really can’t see a difference but don’t take my word for it, find out for yourself. However, take some good advice and leave the missus at home, otherwise you might find yourself on the receiving end of a tactical handbag travelling way past the permitted FPS for a handbag in a CQB environment!

Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Les OUT! 34

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information UKMCPRO 69 ELM GROVE SOUTHSEA PORTSMOUTH HANTS PO15 1JF TEL: 02392 838 800 WEB: WWW.UKMCPRO.CO.UK

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n O E A H S F 0 K

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LET THE WAR BEGIN! UP TO HIS NECK IN GOVERNMENT FORCES AND SEPARATISTS, NIGE REPORTS FROM ONE HALF OF THE REDWOLF AIRSOFT - GUNMAN INTERNATIONAL WEEKENDER “INCOMING! INCO….” THE SHOUTED WARNING cut off abruptly as a mortar round detonated in the FOB, blowing those within its blast radius to bits and wounding many others. I was lucky.

Standing in a hardened room I felt the percussive blast and my ears were ringing but I was still in one piece. As the dust settled and Quasimodo stopped banging the bells in my head I stepped outside, soldiers were running to fill the gaps left by those that had fallen and Medics were tending the wounded. This was a good sign as it meant the FOB wasn’t taking direct fire and the mortar must have just been a lucky strike – lucky for those that fired it that is!

Looking over the outer walls I could just make out shadowy figures moving through the heavily wooded area to our front and it wasn’t long before others could be seen attempting to round the flank to our right. Why weren’t they coming through the trees to our rear? That would seem to be far more logical, rather than trying to move across open fields in broad daylight. I guess the lack of training and discipline amongst the Separatist forces was staring to show.

The Government forces I was with moved to cut them off and an intense fire-fight quickly developed. Accurate and sustained fire soon had the Separatists pinned down and then falling back behind a wall of smoke grenades, as the Government troops pushed out in both directions.

Over the noise of rapid fire and grenades exploding another sound could be heard; a loud regular beeping signalled that the Government FOB had been penetrated and the alarm on their M-Com Station had been triggered! This meant the FOB was now completely out of action! No re-spawn… No Medical help… No re-supply… Nothing until the alarm ceased its incessant beeping – and that was five minutes away. Five minutes doesn’t sound very long but when you are under sustained attack it’s a lifetime! If the attacking forces managed to whittle the defenders down to the point where the FOB was over-run, it would be a disaster…

It was Day One of the Gunman International Weekender, one half of a joint promotion with RedWolf Airsoft, who were running

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event report GUNMAN INTERNATIONAL

“Cutting through the forest, I could clearly hear the staccato chatter of rifles and the occasional “crump” of an exploding thermobaric”

Operation: Blue Fox (reviewed on page 26-29 of this issue) and the eventual outcome of which would be woven into a future event – but more on that later.

I arrived at the venue bright and early, a 120-acre ex-Equestrian centre alongside the M25 not far from Watford and drove past the tents of those who arrived the day before. The smell of frying bacon reminded me that an 04:30 start and no breakfast needed to be sorted! I didn’t have to wait long because as I walked into the Admin area Marie asked if I could make use of a sausage bap and cup of coffee – now that’s the kind of “good morning” I really like!

The event had been conceived nearly twelve months earlier, when Gunman International (an amalgamation of Jim Sephton’s Gunman Midlands and Josh Smith’s Gunman Airsoft) came together with RedWolf Airsoft to create a “different” kind of airsoft event, an event that would appeal to airsofters no matter what genre of the game they played. They wanted to create something that would satisfy a wide range of players and give them the opportunity to play the type of game they wanted to play, in an evolving scenario where “cause and effect” would play an equal part on the dynamics of the eventual outcome.

However the game would be just one part of the overall event, as they wanted to create a “Festival atmosphere” where the social side of airsoft was not forgotten either. I have been to many weekend events where, at end-ex, players melt away to their individual tents and sit with their mates for a few beers and some grub – and there’s nothing wrong with that but these guys wanted to do something different. So a stage had been built, where three live bands would be playing that evening, while a well-stocked bar would provide liquid refreshment of both the alcoholic and nonalcoholic kind and the caterers would be busy preparing some of the biggest steaks I’ve seen in a long time!

I spotted Jim over in the Grange shop (both The Grange and Gunman had set up on-site shops and there were plenty of gunsmiths on hand) and managed to grab a few words with him before the off, to get a flavour of what to expect.

Both Jim and Josh are hugely experienced in creating and running dynamic scenarios and have been doing so for many years (if you have ever been to one of Josh’s FilmSim events, you’ll know just how immersive they are), so when you put those two together you can bet it will be something very special. I’m not going to give too much away here but to say the event was multi-layered is a bit of an under-statement.

In brief, the encounter would involve three distinctly different factions, each with their own aims and objectives but

all inter-woven into the overall storyline. The three factions were Government, Separatist and PMC and each would comprise three squads; Assault, Tactical and Recon again, with differing roles and Rules of Engagement (RoE) etc. Each Faction would have their own FOB (Forward Operating Base) and, to keep things interesting and players on their toes, the FOBs were under NATO satellite surveillance but as the cover was limited, only two FOBs could be covered (protected) at one time so the other would be open to attack. The satellites moved every two hours, during which time there was a fifteen-minute window where all bases were covered before the next one went “dark”.

Just to spice things up even more a totally unpredictable element had been added, in the form of a group of allegiancefree, heavily armed and mobile Mercenaries. These guys were in it for only one thing – to make profit for themselves and so could

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event report GUNMAN INTERNATIONAL

GUNMAN INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT GUNMAN MIDLANDS TEL: 01676 532384 WWW.SUSPENSIONOFDISBELIEF. CO.UK GUNMAN AIRSOFT TEL: 07854 277264 WWW.GUNMANAIRSOFT.CO.UK

be bought, bribed or otherwise suitably persuaded to act on any group’s behalf, just don’t expect their loyalty to remain beyond the next better offer they received.

The objective for the weekend was to recover secret documents from electronically locked safes held at two different locations. The documents showed that Government forces has been working on WMDs and while one safe was in Government hands and the other with the Separatists, the codes to open the safes were at the Uranium mine, which was under PMC protection.

To complete the objective, the codes, documents and Uranium would need to be collected and retained by one side at end-ex.

As a secondary objective, at game on each M-Con Station timer was set to 10 minutes and time points would be deducted for successful task completion, such as retrieving targets of opportunity, whilst time would be added when things go didn’t go so well (such as having your FOB over-run). The team with the lowest time on their Station at end-ex would be the winners of this particular objective.

So the scene was set and as 130+ airsofters made their way out onto the site, there was already much talking and planning going on but nothing quite prepared me for the machinations that were to take place over the next 48 hours.

I started the weekend as a Journalist embedded with the Government Tactical Squad. Their objective was to go out and make contact with the other Factions on a “Hearts and Minds” mission and see whether the Mercenaries were amenable towards a pact with the Government. Over the next few hours we moved as openly and non-aggressively as possible around the entire area, adopting a completely “weapons down – hands visible” approach whenever another Faction was seen and, in this respect we were supremely successful. Many of the Factions, even the Mercs, were more than happy to be photographed and have their side of the story recorded, although the PMC were extremely on-edge. Only I, along with the Squad Leader were allowed to approach and we were both thoroughly searched before gaining entry to their FOB. It was only later that I discovered there had been plans for me to be “snatched” but the opportunity never clearly presented itself and I was allowed to move on – although being with a heavilyarmed group of highly-trained soldiers might have had something to do with it…

Later on that day the Separatist FOB came under heavy and

sustained attack from a combined Government and PMC offensive, which eventually broke through and the Government Forces hit the button on the M-Com Station. However in a display that loyalty is sometimes only skin deep, the PMC Recon Squad, using disguises and cover stories, talked their way into the Government base twice and the Separatist base once and sabotaged both of them!

The day went on and as one base went dark it would soon come under attack. This simple device to ensure the action was continually evolving worked, with teams having to plan carefully to ensure they were not left stranded.

As Saturday drew to a close and players started to filter back to the Safe Zone, it was clear that it had been a good day and some of those I spoke to were already planning their moves for tomorrow but, for now, it would be a quick change before getting into a juicy steak, listening to some live music and maybe having a couple of cold ones.

Sunday morning and the bright sunshine brought advice from Josh to the assembled players to make sure they were carrying plenty of water, along with food for the day, as it promised to be hot one.

The scenario had also been updated and it appeared that plenty had been going on during the night, so much so that each of the Factions had attacked a different FOB en-masse and, discovering no opposition had simply taken up residence. This meant that each would be operating from a different base for the remainder of the weekend. The other, vitally important, factor was that the NATO satellites had been tasked to a different area and now that no FOB was under surveillance, could be attacked with impunity at any time.

Leaving the comfort and relative safety of the Government Tactical Squad I decided to venture out on my own, relying on the introductions made yesterday to keep me safe. My first objective was to get over to where the PMC Faction were now based, which was the Government FOB of yesterday but I was almost immediately distracted by the sounds of a fire-fight going on away over to my right.

Cutting through the forest, I could clearly hear the staccato chatter of rifles and the occasional “crump” of an exploding thermobaric and, as I drew close, the instantly recognisable smell of smoke grenades. Pushing through a bramble and nettle patch I emerged onto an open field and caught sight of cam-clad figures

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event report GUNMAN INTERNATIONAL

moving slowly away from me, along the tree line. Moving with such purpose could only mean they were onto an objective and so I followed, only to have to dive for cover as they were met by a hail of bbs. As I scuttled back out of the direct line of fire I could see fighters moving all around me but couldn’t make out whether they were Government or Separatist but either way I was taking no chances and made a “tactical withdrawal” through the nearest bushes into the next field – straight into the middle of another fire-fight!

Coming out of the tree line I had to immediately hit the dirt as bbs whistled past my head. Cries of “Hit!” told me they had found their target and as I lifted myself cautiously back up and signalled to the shooters that I was just a harmless Journo, I saw a PMC Squad moving in close formation as they pepper-potted across the field, pushing their opposition back as they went. In the distance I could see their intended objective; a mortar pit with boxes of ammo just lying there waiting for someone to “repatriate” them.

But their opponents, who I think were Separatist fighters, weren’t giving up without a fight and the battle raged back and forth for a good 30 minutes before the PMC’s tighter tactical control (and a faulty Separatist grenade that took out a portion of their own squad) gave them the upper hand.

As an observer I have to say that this was one of the most amazing airsoft fire-fights I had ever seen. Both teams employed a variety of tactics and skills, along with good communication and (mostly) accurate fire as the advantage swung one way then the other. It was also great to hear players calling “Good shot mate!” and acknowledging their shooter’s skill.

With that particular battle over I made my way back through the trees and thought about what I’d just seen. At the time I didn’t know it was just a prelude to what would happen later.

For much of the rest of the morning I moved from FOB to FOB, catching up on the state of play and trying to keep a handle on everything that was going on around me – an impossibility as it turned out, there was just so much happening.

I mentioned earlier that the guys from Gunman are well-versed in this type of event and know exactly when to add a little spice to keep the momentum going. “Supply Drops” suddenly started appearing in the form of cylinders on parachutes caught up in trees at designated co-ordinates, or ammo crates laden with ammunition for the mortars would be reported. Then, to top it all off, intel came through that said a Scientist was in the vicinity with a CP detail, who was scheduled to inspect the Uranium mine before being escorted to the PMC FOB for extraction. Not good news for the PMC as they returned from their defence of the mortar pit to find their FOB being hit from all sides by a combined force of Government and Separatist fighters – and then the Mercs (having had been paid for their “assistance”) drove up in their heavilyarmed WMIK and started to pour massive suppression fire into the FOB. It was only quick thinking on the part of the PMC, who used a vehicle to block the road and then flanked the WMIK to take it out that saw them through – but it was a very close call.

I never actually found out what happened to the Scientist and can only assume he made it out OK, as nobody reported actually seeing, or capturing him.

At around 1:30 I heard rumours of some pending action over at the Separatist FOB and, having not spent much time there, decided to go and check it out. I can only say that I am so pleased that I did as what I witnessed must have been one of the longest, if not THE longest, most intense airsoft battle ever… Period!

It all began quietly enough (don’t they always!), so much so 40

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that I took the opportunity to enjoy handfuls of blackberries for lunch as we chatted and relaxed in the sun.

There was the occasional sighting of figures moving in the distance but nobody paid much attention as they were crossing and made no attempt to advance on the FOB. A flurry of activity to our right brought everyone back to a ready position, as a patrol returned with opposition hard on their heels. The opposition were quickly seen off and things settled down again. Twenty minutes later all hell broke loose!

Government troops had quietly worked their way up both flanks and were now pouring fire directly into the Separatist FOB from both sides. Men were going down all over the place but somehow the FOB held and the attack died away almost as quickly as it started, giving the defenders the chance to re-group and re-arm. Five minutes later it all kicked off again but this time the attackers managed to push even closer and it was only with some brilliant defensive organisation that they were again pushed back. No sooner had they melted away into the trees, when another group started up from a different position and again the Separatists held on.

This was rapidly turning into a Battle of Attrition and went on incessantly. I don’t think there was ever more than five minutes between the bouts of fire. The FOB was hit time after time, as Government forces were relentless in their quest to crush their opposition and the Separatists were equally determined not to be beaten – and then the inevitable happened.

Seeing that their resistance could not be broken, the Government enlisted the help of the Mercenaries, who appeared on the scene all guns blazing and tore towards the FOB – but still they couldn’t punch through and the rounds pouring into the WIMK quickly silenced both gunners and took out the driver. It was obvious that frontal assaults would never work so the next attack was devised to split up the defender’s fire, giving the attackers chance to pick them off and providing the perfect opportunity for the WMIK to move in – and this time it worked! After nearly two and a half hours of continual assault, during which time they were under almost continual fire, the Separatist FOB was finally breached and the last defender fell to a burst from a Government weapon.

Knowing that reinforcements were probably not far away, the Government troops moved quickly through the FOB as the Mercs stood guard. Having gathered all the intelligence they could and activating the Separatist’s M-Com Station, they quickly withdrew with their spoils and end-ex was called.

Without a doubt, that was the longest, most intense and well-fought airsoft fire-fight I have ever witnessed - and I have seen my fair share! However I feel something else should also be recognised; the level of sportsmanship with which the fight took place. Yes, there was the odd moment in the heat of the fight that maybe someone held a trigger on for a second or two longer than necessary but an apology always followed immediately. There were also plenty of examples where a player might have been well and truly lit up but just a single shot was used and throughout it all, players from all sides were taking and calling their hits – but the burning question was “Who won?”

It takes a while to bring over 130 players back from across a 120-acre site but by the time they had all assembled back in the Safe Zone, Josh and Jim had brought it all together and after thanking everyone for such an outstanding weekend of airsoft, announced the results.

After two days of fighting, the PMC team’s clock read five minutes, the Government’s had got down to seven, while the Separatists had only managed to shave a minute off and were at nine.

The all-important documents were captured by Government forces on Saturday, after they recovered the codes from the mine.

However they were taken from the Government FOB on Sunday before being re-acquired by the Government when they over-ran the Separatist’s. All sides needed the details in the documents on Sunday to complete their end-game objective with the Uranium. No Faction completed this task, leaving the battle won by the PMC – but the war undecided.

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BERLIN – ON THE FRONTLINE OF THE COLD WAR IN THE FIRST PART IN A SHORT SERIES, GARETH “GADGE” HARVEY FOCUSSES ON BERLIN DURING THE COLD WAR AND THE SOLDIERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CONFLICT. PICTURES: ELLIE WAKE 68

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feature COLD WAR WARRIORS

IN THIS MONTH’S COLD WAR WARRIORS we take a look at the once-divided city of Berlin and, in particular its formidable socialist border sentinels – The Grenztruppen.

For over 40 years the city of Berlin was the centre point of East West tensions. At times a tinderbox ready to explode into full blown war and at times besieged but perhaps best known for playing host to the icon of the Cold War… the “Berlin Wall”.

Victory over the Nazis in 1945 left the uneasy alliance of WWII with a tricky situation. Agreements between the French, British, Americans and Russians made well in advance of their final victory had already outlined plans for the German capital to be jointly controlled by the victorious powers. Germany itself would also be split into zones of control governed by the four allied powers and therein lay a problem. Russia had bled itself dry in the attempt to defeat the Nazis; the red Army had advanced almost halfway across Germany and the allies had agreed that as the Russians had made such great sacrifices they were entitled to the Lion’s share of Germany… and Berlin lay well within their sphere of occupation.

Despite being “allies” in war, immediately after WWII, relationships between the western nations and the Soviet Union soured. Stalin was adamant that Russia would never be invaded again and determined to strip Germany of its ability to wage war.

All the countries occupied by the Soviet Union were garrisoned

by Russian troops and socialist “puppet” governments obedient to Moscow installed to lead them. Civil liberties in the “satellite” states bordering Russia were curtailed harshly and border controls to stop their citizens escaping to the free world in the West were stepped up to more militant levels. In the words of Winston Churchill, an “Iron Curtain has descended over the continent”.

While the Soviets seemed content to take the East of Germany and strip it bare of machinery, armaments industries and skilled personnel, the question of Berlin plagued the Kremlin. Stalin desperately wanted the allies out of the German capital but at the same time had no desire to start WWIII with the West; at least not while they had quantities of atomic weapons!

Military action thinly veiled as diplomacy ensued. Berlin itself lay over 100 kilometres inside Soviet territory but was accessible to both military and civilians alike by river, by motorway or by one of the cities three major airports.

those dissatisfied with the socialist/communist government led

by Moscow defected to the West. Most notably, thousands of the East’s best scientists, intellectuals and engineers. The East German government responded to this by making escape to the West illegal in 1957 but still thousands of young men and women every year crossed over to the west creating a “brain drain” that threatened to cripple the DDR before it was even a decade old.

The Berlin Airlift

“Der Mauer!”

In 1948 the Western powers found that Soviet forces had blocked off road and river access to the city in an attempt to force the west to abandon their half of Berlin – or let the population starve and freeze from lack of food and fuel. The allies, however, rather than surrender the citizens of Berlin to communist threats and posturing undertook a massive effort to supply the city using a single route the Soviets could not stop – the air. By means of air transport around 5,000 tons of supplies were lifted to the citizens of West Berlin per day for over a year (and a good four months after the Soviets lifted the blockade).

Shortly after the airlift the new state of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was formed, its border guard armed and equipped by the West and all the trappings of a modern nation state were slowly introduced by their former enemies who were now their strongest allies. At around the same time the Soviet’s created the Deutsche Democratic Republik or DDR (East Germany), although many Western states refused to recognise the government as legitimate.

The Soviets had been thwarted but they were now facing an even bigger threat to the fledging state of the DDR. In the early days of the separated city many Berliners could live in the East and work in the West with little difficulty providing they had the right paperwork. In the early 50s, however, the borders between both Germanys were firmly sealed (for a better description of the formidable border defences along the Inner German Border see part three of this series) and Berlin became the only valid crossing point. In 1952 demonstrations against hard working and poor living conditions in East Germany erupted in Berlin. These demonstrations were put down with usual Soviet efficiency by the garrisoned Russian troops while East German police and militia units remained at barracks.

By this point the scene was set. Over the following years

The communist response to the Brain Drain staggered even the most cynical of observers.

Berlin citizens woke up on the morning of August 13th 1961 to find thousands of engineers, construction workers and labourers erecting a wall across the city. Armed police, army and militia units stood guard and deterred all but the bravest citizen from objecting. This massive workforce and mountain of material had been stockpiled in secret by the German government. Few of the workforce or the guarding soldiers knew their orders until that fateful morning and western military forces watched impotent as the first generation of the “Berlin Wall” (known officially as the “Anti-Fascist Protection Barrier”) was erected.

Had the west reacted to this development the course of history could well have been different as the construction teams and soldiers had orders to withdraw if challenged by the western powers; but alas, non intervened and within days a low wall topped with barbed wire and broken glass bisected the city, split families in half and even in some cases divided people’s homes!

Where houses bordered the west, ground floor window and doors were bricked up and after several escapes were made by people leaping from upper stories into the west, these windows were either bricked up or the entire building demolished.

Over the next 30 years “Der Mauer”, as the Berlin wall was known, became one of the most formidable military barriers in history, however unlike most fortifications this one was designed to keep its citizens in, rather than to “protect” them. By the 1980s “Der Mauer” was in its third generation and almost “escape proof”. The earlier low rubble and brick wall was now made out of interlocking concrete and steel ‘Grenzmauer 75’ (border wall 1975) sections that were strong enough to stop a bulldozer. Around this formidable 3.6 metre high smooth wall (with a rounded top to prevent grip or grappling hooks) was a control zone of dead www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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ground, patrolled by guard dogs, antipersonnel mines (in places) and the fearsome Border Guards themselves.

The Border Guard service was formed in 1946 to guard the frontier and while initially under control of the National Volks Armee (NVA and the regular army), it had been moved to the “Ministry of the Interior” (Mdi) to avoid having to reduce its strength to comply with “force reduction” agreements between NATO and the Warsaw Pact in 1974. The border guards or “Grenztruppen” were often the first thing that a westerner saw of East Germany and, as a result, the DDR tried to make their “grenzers” in Berlin look both smart and formidable. While the guards along most of the frontier looked very much like the combat infantry of the NVA, those in “East Berlin” wore more formal uniforms, which were (oddly given their socialist alignment) akin to those worn by Germany’s police units in the 40s.

Death Shooters Our Cold War Warrior this month is a Lieutenant of the Grenztruppen and represents a typical officer commanding the men garrisoned to a section of “Der Mauer”.

Superficially, as mentioned, his uniform is classically “Prussian” (despite the Russian’s attempts to essentially erase Prussia as a state).

His uniform is of the gabardine type fabric worn by both officers and career NCOs of the NVA, in a light slate grey and classically German cut. Consisting of riding breeches and tunic worn over a blue grey shirt, this officer’s uniform is distinguishable from his army counterparts by the generous use of the border guard’s vivid green arm of service colour. The tunic is piped, the epaulettes edged and his cap band marked with this distinctive border guards green; should anyone be in doubt of his role his “cufftitle” proclaims him to be “Grenztruppen Der DDR”. His traditional Prussian breeches mark him out as an officer although in some dress states he could also

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wear more conventional trousers (again piped with a green stripe on the leg) and black shoes.

Most importantly his officer status is defined by his shoulder rank, collar insignia and lastly the cockade and “chin strap” on his visor cap. As aforementioned the DDR knew that the border guards would be under scrutiny from the West and so made sure that even the private soldiers wore smart gabardine uniforms, visor caps and other trappings commonly only seen on army officers.

Other accoutrements that complete our officer’s uniform include a dark grey tie, tall boots and an officer’s belt with a holster for his East German variant of the Makarov pistol. As we have touched upon in previous editions of Cold War Warriors, the DDR on the whole tended to wear their jackboots inside the trouser as the “tucked-in look” was deemed “fascist” but exceptions seem to have been made for parade units and berlin border guards. Here our lieutenant’s boots are of a higher quality than those made for enlisted men with smooth, rather than pebbled leather. His brown pistol belt and holster are of equally similar quality and adequate for the job at hand. It is also interesting to note that his tie is not fastened in the traditional way and is instead attached by weak cords under the collar to prevent a detainee attempting to use his tie to injure or strangle him in a struggle.

While most duties only required the Grenzer to carry his Makarov pistol, for some duties AK variant assault rifles were issued and incongruously the camouflaged “Strictarn” pattern pouch to carry the magazines for it and often a bayonet. Archive pictures show smartly dressed grenzers in immaculate grey service dress with camouflage ammo pouches on their belts and an AKM slung over their shoulder!

This latter look is a godsend for airsofters who want something a little more “stylish” in their cold war warriors look on the skirmish

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feature COLD WAR WARRIORS

field but fancy packing more than a pistol in the woods and makes the “Berlin Grenzer” look ideal for those wanting a classically German look, without adopting a WWII style.

Grenzetruppen were bright and well trained troops. Expected to be able to hit two moving targets with just four shots from their AK in both night and day conditions, only those politically reliable and with good school grades were selected but for many of these bright men it would be a tiresome 18 month tour of duty.

To close, it’s worth remembering that the men of the Grenztruppen had an arduous, often boring and thankless task.

Hated by many of the population, many were stunned to find themselves charged with murder when Germany was reunified! To prevent defection grenzer patrols often contained two men, one of whom would always be a family man (with threats made against his family should he allow an escape). Coupling him for duty with a single man made defections a poor proposition for either of them. Grenzers were also posted away from their home areas and applicants with relatives on the border areas were rarely successful.

Between 1961 and 1990, 255 people were killed attempting to cross the Berlin Wall by border forces and when Stasi (State Security) records were checked after re-unification, those border guards who had fired killing shots were charged with murder as Todesschutzen (death shooters). While this number is in itself tragic, it’s worth noting that some sources claim an “unofficial” number of 85 border guards were killed while attempting to defect!

As with all impressions and loadouts there will always be some that take offence at the “edgier” impressions. The political nature of the Grenztruppen may mean you might be better off leaving this loadout for Cold War and themed events (you can guarantee someone on an open day will mistake you for a “Nazi”) but if you’re willing to take the plunge it’s a fairly easy to acquire ensemble.

While it’s true DDR kit is beginning to dry up in the UK this entire outfit, excluding weapons, was compiled by trawling eBay, charity shops and car boot sales for less than £70!

So if you fancy flirting with the sinister side of socialism this could be the look for you.

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Event REPORT OPERATION UNCHARTED

OPERATION UNCHARTED

INFILTRATION AIRSOFT KRIS ROBERTS GETS ADRENALISED AS HE JUMPS FEET FIRST (QUITE LITERALLY) INTO HIS FIRST INFILTRATION AIRSOFT EVENT. 10:52pm FROM THE MOMENT OUR POINT MAN was hit the whole patrol fell apart. We had been skirting the edge of the tree line, clinging to the false reassurance that the moonlight fighting through the clouds would help guide our way. But the light was weak, and as I brought up the tail of our four man squad I could only hear and not see the rounds impact on our leader’s chest.

Instantly the rest of us dived for cover inside the woods, sinking further into an inky blackness with every step we made.

Everything became silent as we waited as still as possible. The enemy knew we were there, they just couldn’t see us. We had to spread out and try and get around them before they came in after us.

They had taken up position at a road junction behind some vehicles and thankfully for us, there was a small amount of light being cast from the buildings beyond that allowed us to see the shapes and outlines in the gloom.

We made our way to the left to cut off the corner of the junction and attack from the flank but within moments we had lost sight of each other as we slipped further into the darkness of the trees. I felt my way forward, gently placing each footstep down so as not to snap any twigs or crunch any leaves. Looking down it seemed as though the red dot sight on my M4 was glowing brighter than the sun, so in my paranoia I quickly turned it off thinking it might give me away.

As I neared the road I could see three figures in the open. I stepped forward quickly to get a better line of sight but my foot found nothing but empty space. I fell feet first into a hole four feet deep and landed with a crash. I felt a wave of pain ride up my legs and into my spine and as I tried to regain my breath I waited for the enemy rounds to pour in on my head. But nothing happened. I couldn’t quite believe that they hadn’t heard me, so I pulled myself out and took up a prone position on the small bank that ran along the road.

I waited…

After a few minutes I heard a small rustling a little further along the bank from me. It had to be one of my team mates and I felt

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TEL: 07540 388641 WEB: HTTP://INFILTRATIONOPS.COM

a bit more confident knowing that I had some help in the inevitable gunfight that was to come. On the road the three figures had begun talking louder and although I couldn’t make out exactly what they were saying I knew that the time had come to act. I raised my M4 and switched on the red dot again. With my targets in sight I squeezed the trigger and in that instant fire seemed to erupt from all around me. With hits being called out from the junction the fire seemed to drop off as quickly as it had begun.

I waited a little while in silence for any enemy that may have taken cover and now lay in wait for me to make a mistake but after ten minutes there wasn’t a single sound, so I slipped away to try and find some of my team mates.

As I made my way back to base I was buzzing. From the moment our point-man had been hit my body had flooded with adrenaline as it reacted to the darkness and excitement of the unknown. The very brief exchange of gunfire had been more intense than most pitched battles I’ve been involved with on open days. But as the adrenaline faded and the pain in my legs and back returned I knew I had to try and get some rest before the next day, so I retired to my basha and hoped that our camp wouldn’t get hit by an attack during the night.

Newbie Operation Uncharted took place on the 9th and 10th of August at the Battle Lakes woodland site in Kent. This was to be my first time attending one of Infiltration Airsoft’s events so I was very eager to see what it was all about. I had heard a lot of good things about Infiltration’s previous operations and was advised to take some time to read up a little history on their website before the weekend away. What I found was a back story unlike anything I have ever encountered in Airsoft before, with an entire dystopian world planned out with various factions and characters which would evolve with each operation. To try and cover the well-planned and painstakingly detailed back story here would not do it justice but I would strongly recommend that you take a look at their website at infiltrationops.com and see for yourself what’s on offer.

Mama is hungry...

This operation would see the story step away from the urban arenas of before and into a woodland setting. Once again players would be 48

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fighting for the new government forces known as “The Flame” or the rebel faction known, quite cleverly, as “The Rain”.

This new environment would see the introduction of a third group. A gathering of wild men, made desperate and hungry by the new government’s harsh laws and brought together under the leadership of the mysterious “Mama”. This band of Marauders had no political or moral interests and cared only for themselves and as the information was slowly leaked onto the internet in the weeks leading up to the game, both teams considered how to deal with this potential threat.

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Event REPORT OPERATION UNCHARTED

First Impressions On arriving at the site I introduced myself to Harry Ford, the mastermind behind Infiltration Airsoft and was immediately impressed by how calm and organised he appeared to be. In what seemed like no time at all the players had been gathered together inside a somewhat swanky briefing room to go over the basic safety rules and to cover the expectations for the next 24 hours. Harry kept things to the point, delivering a detailed yet concise briefing. As the players were ushered back outside I had a private chuckle at my notebook, which had only one line added to it: “This guy knows what he’s doing!”

Each player had been issued with an electronic wristband which would be tagged and scanned at the designated regen point. The computer would log the player’s regen and points would be scored against that team. A simple yet ingenious method that not only helped to tally the overall result but would influence the ongoing story in future games.

The weather had forecast rain for that night and the following morning, so I decided to get as much use with the camera as I could before night fell. Both of the Flame and Rain groups had been divided into two teams, each to set up camp at a predetermined grid reference on the map. I tagged on to one of the Flame teams and marched with them deep into the woods. On arrival the team split into sections. One to put up the tents and shelters, one to provide protective cover and another to push out to the edges of camp to set up traps and claymore mines. No sooner had they set up than a patrol of Rain players arrived to test the defences.

Being the height of summer the undergrowth was thick and visibility limited. Individual fights were breaking out from every direction as the Flame players pushed out to meet the threat. But this was little more than a recon patrol and after a tense exchange the Rain seemed to disappear back the way they came. Warnings started coming through of strange characters at the camp perimeter and at one point there seemed to be a fire fight between the returning Rain patrol and these new additions. With things quieting down for the moment I decided to move on and explore the site.

Battle Lakes This was my first time at the Battle Lakes site so I spent a few hours wandering around to get a feel. I got lost once or twice as I tried to navigate my way around the many lakes and by chance I found myself stumbling across the other camps and inadvertently getting into the middle of several fire fights that were springing up all over the place.

Each of the four camps had set up their defences and were by now patrolling aggressively and going for their objectives. I continued on my exploration and that’s when I ran into the Marauders. Armed to the teeth and dressed up like something out of Mad Max, these guys were having a whale of a time causing chaos and confusion. I followed on foot as their Jeep roared off back to camp and I found their home pitched in an open field and surrounded by blood splattered warning signs. Severed limbs and anti government flags

hung from the fences and the Marauders themselves paraded around with full theatrics and hurled abuse at anyone who drew near.

The Flame decided to flex some muscle and I was forced to lay flat to the ground inside the Marauders’ camp as government rounds zipped through the air inches above our heads. The Marauders were loving it, hollering and screaming insults and throwing back twice as much firepower as they were receiving.

Later on, The Rain tried a different tactic altogether when two of their number surrendered to the Marauders in an attempt to buy their services in the fight against The Flame. After some arseclenching negotiations, all conducted at the business end of a gun, an agreement was made and more of The Rain players came to reenforce the Marauders camp and to make plans for an offensive.

Twilight was upon us. The camp fire crackled as the last stages of a plan were being created. I caught sight of Mama sat by the fire, her legs stretched out and a rifle cradled in her lap. She looked on as her boys planned a night of wanton destruction and I couldn’t help but wonder what was on her mind. It had been a good day for her posse.

They had killed plenty of The Flame and now her coffers were filled with money from The Rain.

I managed one last picture before the light was lost to me, then returned to the safe zone to trade out my camera kit for an AEG and a Rain uniform.

Gentleman Caller After the fight at the junction (and my fall down the hole), I found myself retiring to my basha in an attempt to get recharged before dawn. The raindrops were hammering down on the canopy just above my head and getting comfortable was an impossible task. I still wore my safety goggles as I was technically still in play and the night was punctuated by the sounds of sporadic gunfire echoing through the trees. Half asleep, I sat up to try and form a headrest from my bag. When I turned back there was a dark figure at the end of cot whispering to me. I couldn’t make out what he was saying, but when I noticed the pistol and rubber bayonet in his hands I soon woke up.

“Flame or Rain?” he asked in a hiss.

“Rain.” I mumbled in reply.

Thankfully he was part of a patrol from the other Rain camp, so I didn’t have to suffer the indignity of being assaulted by a rubber object in the night. After a brief chat he went on his merry way, and I went back to sleep.

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Day Two At dawn I was woken and sent immediately on patrol, the plan being to assault one of the Flame camps before they had a chance to properly prepare themselves for the day. The rainfall had eased off but without my morning coffee I was like a drunken bear stumbling through the woods and I was quickly sent to respawn from a three round burst to the top of my head.

After sneaking off to the safe zone to down a couple of coffees, I rejoined my unit to learn that during the morning members of the Flame had bought off the Marauders and had now turned them against us. Mama, it would seem, was a two-faced b***h and The Rain wanted payback.

By now our forces were scattered everywhere. As the Marauders were out causing havoc, some of the Rain players slipped into their camp and stole back all the money that Mama had made in her negotiations. I caught up with them as they fled the scene and we managed to organise a quick ambush for the returning Marauders just to rub salt in their wounds.

Going for the win Time was running out, so we made our way to the other Rain camp to consolidate our forces and concentrate on our final tasks. Radio transmissions were sent back and forth across the site to confirm what objectives had been taken and what had been lost. At 10am a message would be sent out containing the final location for exfil, the team then had to get there with all of their gains in hand. With only 15mins left until this transmission we learnt that one of the objectives needed to be recaptured.

I joined up with four others in a last-ditch attempt to regain these points. Moving swiftly and trying to avoid detection we headed towards our goal hidden in the woods that ran near to the Marauders’ camp. Locating the case, one of our number set about commencing the download and the rest of us moved out to secure a perimeter. The download would take a few minutes and every few seconds we were checking our watches.

Just then members of The Flame launched an all out attack on the Marauders’ camp. Our team had received their radio message and

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were now waiting for us to join them at exfil. It was all kicking off, so three of us took up positions near the tree line to ensure that we didn’t get flanked. The download completed, the other two took off while we covered their retreat. In that moment I saw Mama, taking cover from the incoming Flame rounds, but completely exposed to my position. I moved right to the edge of the tree line and took aim.

It was a long shot at max range but I was confident of a hit, she still hadn’t seen me so I took up the pressure on the trigger...

Game Over!

Damn! I’ll get you next time Mama, next time...

Conclusions The end of the day turned into a confusing mass exodus as the heavens opened and it appeared as though a monsoon had arrived.

I’ve never seen rainfall like it and the mad dash to pack up and find somewhere to get dry meant that we missed the chance for any real debrief or wind down period. So back at home that evening Facebook chat was alive with positive experiences and questions about who had won.

At the time of writing the official post-op write up hasn’t been released but from early reports it would appear that The Rain won the day by a single point – and that was won in the closing minute of the day. Talk about taking things right to the wire!

What I’ve discussed here are my experiences on the day but I have no doubt that every player there could have provided a rich and exciting assortment of battle stories. We were all cogs in a big machine, each doing our bit to win objectives and round out the story for everyone there. I did question whether a woodland venue would be suitable for such an involving and complex story line, thinking that the logistics and communication would prove to be a nightmare.

But the preparation beforehand paid dividends on the day, and any confusion was overcome by team work and a little extra effort.

Harry and his team have created something special with Infiltration Airsoft. Their attention to detail and commitment to their customers is nothing short of outstanding and it all worked to provide a very special event. I will certainly be looking to attend their future operations.

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TUDDERS LOVE WITH NEW SITES OPENING ALL THE TIME, OSCAR P VISITS AN OLD AIRSOFT STALWART – STILL GOING STRONG AFTER 12 YEARS OF PLAY ONE OF THE BRILLIANT THINGS about the growth of Airsoft in the UK is the increasing numbers of sites to try out. CQB, FIBUA, Woodland – sometimes it seems that there’s new tasty dish on the menu every single week for the aspiring Airsoft Foodie to sample.

But I got to thinking the other day… what about the old favourites; the sites that are getting on with putting games on the table year in, year out and fundamentally are just getting it right? The sites that have been around for a while, doing what they do best and winning a place in players’ hearts but maybe that don’t get the profile they deserve because the new kids get all the limelight.

Wondering how many of that sort of site there might be, I decided to do a bit of uber-scientific research and asked Facebook for ideas; what sites have been around for a long time, but perhaps fly a bit under the radar? Straight away, someone came back and suggested Gunman’s Tuddenham site, up in deepest darkest Suffolk – it’s been in action for 12 years. I’d never been there (or even to Suffolk, full stop) and crucially, more than one person said that they “love Tudders”. Hell, if it’s got a nickname, I’m gonna take a look.

So, with a firm nomination, I picked up the phone to Josh at Gunman and asked if it would be Ok for Airsoft

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Action to pop up the A1 and have a squizz at the site. Josh was more than happy and suggested an idea – he wouldn’t tell the team running the site that weekend that I was coming – a proper blind test! Without further ado, I sorted out a date, packed my kit and practiced my rendition of “Surprise! Surprise!” Look out, Cilla.

You’ve got competition, pet.

A bit about the site’s history. It’s just outside the village of Tuddenham (no surprise there!) and is on the site of a former RAF Base. Although the site is now mainly used for farming, during WW2 it served as an airbase from October 1943, first for Stirling then subsequently Lancaster Bombers. After the war, it was used as part of the network of USAF airbases in the area, then finally as a base for intermediate-range Thor nuclear missiles from 1959-1963.

Today, the area of the site used by Gunman is an interesting mix. On one hand there’s the Village – a group of twelve buildings of differing sizes, in varying states of repair. On the other, there’s a sizable woodland area – though that’s a bit of a simple description as it includes a meadow, scrub, wood, an area of heavy rhodendendron-type shrubs and a man-made “fort” area. Lots of variety to be had and, depending on the time of the farming season, some of the surrounding fields and patches of woodland can be brought into play for recon purposes.

It’s straightforward to find, as well. Even though I’d never been to the area before, Gunman’s website is well set up with info and

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site Review GUNMAN TUDDENHAM

directions and it’s only a few minutes away from a main road.

The only hiccough was missing the track leading up to the barn which serves as a safe-zone – but due to the flat terrain in that part of the world, I was able to spot it and back-track to correct my mistake. Oh… and the lack of hills, whilst disconcerting to a West-Country lad loike Oi, means that there’re no inclines to run up. Bonus!

First impressions of the safe zone and facilities were good and worked well. The main barn has plenty of tables and charging is available, though power runs from a gennie rather than the mains.

Although there’re no plumbed-in lavs, the portaloo facilities were nice and clean. Also, as Gunman tend to run two-day events there’s space for camping and although you’ll need to bring all your supplies (including water) with you, it’s a well organised setup. Game fees vary depending on the type of event – MilSim, FilmSim or straightforward skirmish but are more than reasonable £25/day Walkon, £40 for a weekend skirmish, for example.

Parking’s also easy; On the day I played, about 40 or 50 players had pitched up. Without wanting to sound too hippie-crustie, I was struck by the atmosphere. There was a good vibe and plenty of banter as the guys sorted out their kit; it was clear to me that there was a good bunch of regulars in play – a good thing, in my book. The other thing that struck me was the sight of a dirty great military plane coming into land at one of the nearby USAF bases that are still in operation. Funnily enough, there were some distinctly American accents to be heard amongst the players!

Having taken a quick look at the well-stocked shop (which sold more than just the usual consumables, RIFs, kit and snacks – there were also some splendidly weird and wonderful bits of Militaria to be had!) I joined the queue to check in. I got another good impression in that check in was moving along quickly and rapidly reached the front of the queue. There I met Helena, who was running the show and mentioned that I was there to write a review for AA and that Josh probably hadn’t mentioned it – which he hadn’t!

So, surprise out of the way, I got my kit policed up and headed to get my guns checked. A nice touch was that the chrono was open all morning, so no need to stand in a queue waiting to play!

Briefing was similarly slick – and the group of players did their part, with no stragglers or chatterers. As I was playing a skirmish day, there were no particularly different rules – FPS limits were bog standard, no restrictions on mags, with players able to medic

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teammates on a ten-count, for a maximum of two hits, before needing to head back to spawn.

The only two things that Helena particularly stressed were the need to keep plenty of fluids flowing into us (the day was proper Scorchio!), and to minimize the headshots.

One thing that was nice to note, though, was that the marshalls mentioned some problems that had cropped up at a previous game – I won’t go into details, but suffice to say it involved a stag group. The important thing was that they made a point of saying that the problem hadn’t gone unnoticed and how they would deal with it if that sort of issue reoccurred. For my part, it’s really reassuring to hear marshalls being up front on things like that, especially for someone like me, playing a site for the first time and not knowing what to expect.

So, with no further ado, we were into the morning’s games – a phased building clearance through the village.

Played both ways against the clock, teams took turns to sweep the village from one end to another. The village’s 12 buildings are pretty much laid out in a grid pattern, two by two, so the attacking team would need to clear pairs of buildings in turn. Getting 5 live players into a building would serve to clear it and when a pair of structures were both done, the defending team would have to fall back to the next, repeating the process until they were forced out of the final pair.

The village itself is a few minutes walk from safe – so it’s worth bunging reloads and water into a small pack to take down with you. I do have to admit, though, that my first sight of the buildings wasn’t massively awe-inspiring; the structure I saw looked a bit like a pre-fab classroom from my school-days – but appearances can and will deceive! As I got closer, I realized that the twelve buildings in the village are a real mix of styles and shapes and the open areas between them have a real variety of angles, obstacles and pathways. What’s more, there are hiding spots, ambush points and hidden corners EVERYWHERE! It’s a right rabbit-warren, to be frank …and it plays brilliantly!

The next couple of hours were spent running, tumbling, ducking, diving and giggling like a loon as the fight worked its way through the village. This isn’t a site where either side can rest on their laurels – more than once I bushwhacked an unsuspecting player, only to be similarly boolaxed myself a couple of seconds later. The pathways and vegetation throughout the village mean that there’re always opportunities to box around a hard point and also the sheer number of windows meant that it was perfectly possible to get tagged by a sniper shooting through two buildings to get to you!

All in all, the morning spent in the village was great fun.

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site Review GUNMAN TUDDENHAM

“There are hiding spots, ambush points and hidden corners EVERYWHERE! It’s a right rabbitwarren, to be frank …and it plays brilliantly!”

INFORMATION GUNMAN AIRSOFT ALSO HAVE SITES IN NORWICH AND EVERSLEY, AS WELL AS GUNMAN MIDLANDS AT THE GRANGE. CONTACT JOSH FOR MORE DETAILS. TEL: 07854 277264 WWW.GUNMANAIRSOFT.CO.UK

It’s a bit of a Tardis actually – it’s a lot bigger in there than it looks from the outside – and at no point did I feel like being in a pointless, attritional meat-grinder. With about 50 players on site there was plenty of movement and always an alternative path to take. I had to stay switched on and on my toes – and even when reduced to just a sidearm, I didn’t feel that I was gunned out of the game. All in all, the village part of the site gets a big thumbs up!

The afternoon saw us switch to the woodland area, but unfortunately a fairly catastrophic Rif-failure meant that I couldn’t play it myself. However, I could get a good feel for the area by watching the other players. First up, this part of the site is also a bit of a trot from the safe zone, so again, taking reloads and fluids out with you is a sensible thing. It’s also quite a long area, which suits an attack/defend phased game – in this case, the attacking team needed to locate a set of objectives then fight them into a fort area at the rear of the site.

That’s not to say that there’s no room for maneuver. Again, once you get into the area you realize it’s a lot bigger than it seems from a distance! It’s also almost split into four zones – a more open, scrubland section; a wooded area; a section which is pathways cut through heavy bushes, and finally the fort. Overall, I think it favours players who like to manouvre in small groups.

Opportunities for flanking are aplenty and I saw more than one example of sneaky players bypassing firefights to push through!

It does, though, favour long guns. I think snipers could have a lot of fun here but to me it’s primarily an AEG area. There’s enough cover and space that it feels like playing a fast moving, pistolbased loadout would be a courageous decision. AEGs provide the flexibility and weight of fire, too – in this part of the site it’s easy to go from wide open spaces to tight-in pathways in only a few yards.

So that’s my take on the two parts of the site in play. The village is a brilliant, complex CQB area that keeps you on your toes.

The Woodland is similarly complex, but in a different way; it felt like an adaptive style was needed to take advantage of the various different areas within in it.

There were two things, though, that were constant throughout the day; the marshalling and the players. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I think, all things considered, that this was the friendliest airsoft site I’ve ever visited. That’s a big statement, but bear with me.

First off, the players. I didn’t see or hear a single episode of Timmy Temper-Tantrum, or bad sportsmanship all day. I think that’s a first – especially when you consider it was baking hot!

They were also obviously a tight bunch of regulars, which says two things to me; one, the site keeps people coming back. Two, as a completely unannounced outsider, I was made to feel utterly welcome. Airsofters are generally a friendly bunch but this lot were exceptionally so.

Secondly, the Marshalling. Two guys in Hi-vis, the others as Player-Marshalls. The team struck exactly the right tone, friendly, firm, and fair (fluffy, as Helena put it!) and the day ran like clockwork. Good humour, but no messing and firm on the rules but not uber-lawyers in the application. Common sense and a sense of humour. Spot on. Put those two things together and maybe that’s why Tuddenham is still going strong after 12 years!

I left Tuddenham with a bit of a warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s a great site, well run and on the day I was there had the added X-factor of lovely, lovely people playing as well. I had a whale of a time – and even a locked gearbox and a two-hour drive home couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. All in all, definitely worth putting it on your to-play lists! www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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INTERNATIONAL

Event REPORT PROTECTOR XI

INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT

CZECH REPUBLIC THEY TAKE THEIR AIRSOFT VERY SERIOUSLY IN EASTERN EUROPE, AS JAMES WILLIAMS FOUND OUT WHEN HE TOOK PART IN PROTECTOR XI, IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. WE’D BEEN SITTING IN AMBUSH for just over two hours, waiting for the Afghan National Army patrol to return to base after fixing their vehicle… Two hours of 30 degree heat, insects and the occasional camera UAV to cope with. Intelligence finally came in from the village that the patrol might have moved on and abandoned the truck, so I called in our driver and spotter in the village of Al-Seram and told our German comrades to wind in the IED and prepare to move.

Mike moved our transport off down the road to give us any early warning of enemy and had only just turned the corner before the frantic message of “ISAF” came across the mic. We didn’t quite have time to scramble for cover before the SUV convoy came round the same corner and a brutal prolonged firefight broke out.

This was 36 hours (or just over halfway) into the most in-depth and engaging airsoft event I have ever attended. An attitude held by most of the people we met.

The Protector series of games are held in the Czech Republic, roughly an hour north of Prague and this was the 11th game in the series portraying the conflict between the Taliban, ISAF and the local population caught in between. The event is on a completely different level from anything else I have played. UK games just don’t come close to either the scale or commitment of players to the theme and role-play needed. The other European games such as Berget and Borderwar, whilst being similar size, just seem to have some of the “sparkle” missing and despite them having a more combat-orientated focus, just didn’t provide the overall satisfaction of Protector.

From the moment the game starts at midnight on Thursday, until the time it stops 60 hours later at Sunday lunchtime, its ingame everywhere and for everything.

Long walk to town...then take a taxi.

Getting hungry...cook your own or find a food stall/travelling vendor.

All of this can be in either the Afghani game currency or actual money. Everyone you see about is dressed in suitable clothing for their role and having a damn good attempt at the local language.

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“THE BORDER WAS INDEED DESERTED WITH THE 25 GUARDS ALL DEAD AND SPREAD AROUND THEIR FIRE. WE PUSHED ON AND AFTER 100M OR SO THE AMBUSH WAS TRIGGERED WITH TRACER RATTLING OFF THE VEHICLE.”

It’s not just a two-horse race with ISAF and civilians, there is also the National Army, National Police force, various PMC outfits and all of these factions have different looks and loyalties. Not once did this ever degenerate into the confusing mess so often seen with multiple factions and the “kill ‘em all” attitude many players turn to.

The trip started in June of 2013 when we met some of the organisers of Protector leading our team at Berget, the large milsim game in Sweden. After experiencing their leadership and being shown a bit about their game we decided that next year’s trip would be to the Czech Republic.

We figured that how the game would play out for us would very much depend on the faction we chose. Having been on the national army and taskforce style sides previously we went with the Taliban for a crack at guerrilla warfare and a less rigid structure to abide by.

The emails that were then bounced between myself and our leader, Gom, set the tone and let us know that this was something beyond what we had done before. Did we speak Farsi and have knowledge of local customs? Could we grow beards? Do we have traditional dress and have experience of playing a civilian in an Afghanistan scenario? We felt like we could be miles outside our comfort zone but “in for a penny in for a pound”, either way this trip would be one to remember!

Having learned that an early morning start from Hereford is never the best way to begin a road trip, we stopped overnight a couple of hours closer to the ferry before loading up our little donkey (Suzuki Vitara) in the morning with the 4 of us inside and our kit strapped to the roof. 24hrs later, after surviving the non-stop trip through a Continental heat wave, we arrived at the co-ordinates provided. We knew we were in the right spot as there were plenty of parked cars and signs in Farsi and Czech.

Following the road we came to a Police checkpoint (game Police that is), who pointed us to where we needed to go to register. This was a smooth as any game registration I’ve been through and within 10 minutes we were signed in, had our fancy game maps and any other items we had preordered. A brief pause for food and then it was on to our village over the border in “Pakistan”, passing several other villages and even the fully manned and operational Pakistan border station!

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Upon reaching our village we were greeted by our fellow Taliban and shown where to camp. People were already in character and it certainly felt like the role-play side of things was fully on despite it being 12hrs until game on.

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Event REPORT PROTECTOR XI

Game Start: Thursday, 23:59hrs The first mission was simple and designed to ease us into things; a recon patrol to the ISAF outpost just over the border. We were to test the defences and push an attack if possible, though all action was to cease by 2am to be alive and ready the next morning. A mile and a half or so to get to the ISAF base along tracks and through forest, then a tricky last 200m approach picking a careful line to avoid the base spotlights.

Other cells started their attacks as the base went onto full alert with the alarms sounding but after a few pot-shots from range, our side seemed to be too tough a nut to crack and our Czech guide led us back to base.

Friday AM The morning started in true insurgent fashion, making IED’s for the game to come and laying a base perimeter of trip mines. This left us with a taste for breakfast, so wanting to get a feel for the area we loaded the car with all our guns and IED’s (hidden the best we could under seats) and went for a drive into town.

Several ISAF checkpoints were negotiated safely with no suspicions raised, or so we thought. When Monty went back in the car to pick up a couple of Germans we’d hooked up with, who went recruiting at the village of Sarkani, they told us that the guards were speaking German and had thought they should search our vehicle on the way back through. This meant we had to find an alternative route back and so we forged a path through the hills, passing some smugglers and dodging small ISAF patrols.

Friday PM Our return to base saw us rest and reorg for the evening. We were asked to replace the Gate Guard and took to the job with a zeal that wasn’t expected. We were told that nobody comes in unless they are searched for weapons or contraband and that’s exactly what happened. A growing pile of guns, rubber knives and sharp sticks was soon forming at the barrier, as even people from the village were being stopped unless someone could vouch for them. Some thought us too rigorous but our leader was assassinated the next night, an inside job we thought and we were left to wonder if the same would have happened if we’d been on guard then?

Our night’s mission was a repeat of the last but with the knowledge we had gained were able to move into position quicker and with more ease. The ISAF troops had also learned, with large patrols sweeping the areas around the base. We slowly crawled into position whilst trying to avoid the troopers and torchlight and when we judged the time was right we initiated the contact - only for my gun to fail! Nothing else for it but to lay smoke and run a distraction.

Despite our surprise advantage the numbers were vastly in their favour and once the tower lights were sweeping our position and reinforcements were moving out we were either killed or sent running with our tails firmly between our legs.

Saturday AM After a morning IED planting and breakfast run, the Saturday saw us escorting a patron Sheik to make a glorious video of him killing the infidels, ensuring that he stayed alive in the process. This is what I opened the review with and was one of the more thrilling exploits, nothing quite got the adrenaline going more than when you wonder what the noise is and suddenly realise it’s a camera drone scanning the area. Move to better cover or stay still and pray the resolution isn’t that good? Tough choice!

After regrouping and heading back to base we had several hours before we’d be back in the game so took the opportunity to get some sleep.

Saturday PM It was dark by the time we headed back out and rumours had surfaced of a total massacre at the Pakistan border checkpoint. We took point in our little donkey Vitara as the bait and let the foot troops come behind.

The border was indeed deserted with the 25 guards all dead and spread around their fire. We pushed on and after 100m or so the ambush was triggered with tracer rattling off the vehicle. A couple of guys were hit and once I made it back inside the truck (after diving off the back) we decided to just drive through, distracting the ambushers and letting our foot troops get a hold in the forest and eventually drive them away.

We met with our leader who was co-ordinating huge numbers of fresh recruits from the villages to attack the ISAF outposts. He needed to get to Pakistan so the little donkey, by now the definite fifth member of our group, was called to run the gauntlet of tracer once more back to the safety of our village.

Sunday AM Sunday was the final day and despite many people packing to leave, the bases were all still fully manned. We felt it would be our best chance to take the fight to the main ISAF base next to the capital of the province and so that’s exactly what we did.

We gained intel on the layout of the base and a diversionary attack was made from dead ground on the weakest guard tower.

Once I had moved into position I used as much smoke and noise as possible to convince them of a much stronger attack. The panicked shouts when the IED I carried was hoisted over the wall was music to my ears! The rest of the group used this as the signal to assault from other directions, and though it soon became a fighting retreat through the scrub and woods around the base, it was still a hell of a way to finish the game... Defeated but unbroken!

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PROTECTOR XI WAS RUN BY TEAM RIGGOR IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN EUROPEAN MILSIM FOR MANY YEARS AND TAKE PART IN BOTH BORDER WARS AND BERGET, WHERE THEY RECENTLY WERE GIVEN COMMEND OF A TASK FORCE BATTALION – SO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THEIR NEXT EVENT “DARK DAWN – THE NEW BEGINNING” RUNS FROM 26TH – 28TH OF SEPTEMBER, SO IS PROBABLY TOO LATE TO GET INTO HOWEVER, THE FOLLOWON EVENT “DARK DAWN – FUTURE FORCES” TAKES PLACE FROM 17TH – 19TH OF OCTOBER. SO, IF YOU FANCY HAVING A CRACK AT SOMETHING THAT COULD TAKE YOUR PLAY TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL, CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO: HTTP://WWW.AIRSOFTWARS.CZ IT’LL COST YOU A FEW QUID TO GET THERE BUT WITH JUST A 12 EURO ENTRY FEE, WHICH INCLUDES A FRIDAY-NIGHT PARTY, WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE?

My summary is that for anyone who is serious about airsoft and wants to take it to another level, they need to try European airsoft and Protector would be an ideal place to start.

The scale of the game is hard to understand for people who haven’t experienced its like before. The Taliban number about 30 at the start of the game and needed to bolster that number from more than 600 civilian players living amongst the 6 villages and 1 town, in the roughly 2 by 4 mile game area. You then had 600 ISAF troops, 20 ANA and 60 ANP to contend with or, indeed, make deals with.

Myself and the group I go with have tried most of the large MilSim games run in the UK and they pale by comparison - and they cost almost the same to go to!

Each year we have driven and the monetary cost is far less than what many people might expect. Even Berget in Sweden, with the high ticket price and monstrous journey, never cost more than £300.

Protector was a fraction of even that cost with the game ticket costing a measly 12 Euros. Our fixed cost of travel and game ticket was £130, which is a bargain for what must be one of the best examples of a modern day combat airsoft experience in Europe.

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A SQUADRON PATROL PREPAREDNESS

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PATROL PREPAREDNESS “THE 7 PS” SERVE THE MILITARY WELL AND ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO AIRSOFTERS, AS A SQUADRON LTD’S BOB PODESTA AND FAITH COWLING WRITE… AFTER ITS INCEPTION AND SUBSEQUENT SUCCESSES in World War II, the SAS was disbanded in October 1945 as superfluous to the British Army’s requirements in a world at peace. David Stirling and Mike Calvert had attempted to pre-empt this by approaching Winston Churchill to suggest the use of the SAS in China, where they would work to sever the Japanese supply line to Malaya. But the sudden end to the conflict prompted by the atomic bombs dropped on Japan by the U.S. sealed the Regiment’s fate and 1SAS paraded for the last time on 1st October 1945.

A welcome reformation of the SAS Regiment came in July 1947 when they were reconstituted into the Army Air Corps. The Regiment was finally given its own status as a separate Corps on 13th May 1950. Growing unrest in the Far East and a threat to Colonial interests lead to the Regiment going into action to assist with the “Malayan Emergency” against the Communist Terrorist guerrillas. A, B and C Squadrons came under the command of World War II veteran Brigadier Mike Calvert.

It was during this time, in the jungles of Malaya, that the SAS learnt and developed the operational skills that would cement their permanent place in the British Army and earn them their reputation around the world as the formidable force they continue to be.

Traditional army doctrine said that a typical patrol could not remain in the jungle for more than 7 days at a time. Calvert and his men would prove that their 14-man patrols could, in fact, remain for up to 3 months (air drops for resupply would be scheduled only fortnightly). Once in situ an operational headquarters was established and from there 4-man patrols would fan out and penetrate deep into the jungle.

We were fortunate to speak with an A Squadron Malay veteran this month who, at 18 years old, came under Calvert’s command in 1950. He explained to us that a “rotation system” was in operation; 3 patrols would be out while the fourth remained at the jungle basecamp, to recover, reorganise and restock. It is recorded that one of Calvert’s groups remained in the jungle for an incredible stretch of 103 days and our veteran friend remembers that he once laid up in an ambush position for seven weeks. For all the hardships of this type of warfare our friend enjoyed his

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experiences and stated, “When you get to understand it you can make the jungle work for you”.

The success of these patrols came from painstaking movement through the jungle and the discipline of the men in silent communications, hard routine (no fires, hot food/drink etc.) and team work. These are the skills that we explore and teach on our Patrol courses and which spill into many of our other training days as they play such a crucial and foundational part in so many aspects of military operations.

So why the 4-man patrol? A 4-man team proved a small enough group to penetrate deep into enemy territory without being compromised; but a large enough group to carry all the required equipment and to have at their disposal all necessary skills between

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the small party – i.e. a medic, linguist, signaller etc. 3 men would also be enough to get a wounded man to safety – two carrying with a third to lay down cover.

The 4-man patrol stood the test of time as future generations of SAS men were introduced to the concepts. Bob explains. “The old SAS tactics came in handy and we were taught and practised them on Selection. The SAS four man patrol is different to normal infantry patrolling as we operate behind the lines and need to be difficult to find. That was why we cut down the numbers in a patrol in order to carry out our missions successfully. It does also mean that we have to be prepared to carry huge amounts of kit and that is why the early stages of Selection are so important. If you’re not fit enough in England to carry 120lbs on your back then with the added pressure of the jungle climate you will be completely overcome.

“I always enjoyed the jungle environment. I know a lot of people really hated it and would do anything to leave as quickly as they could. But as any jungle veteran will tell you the key is to work with the environment and not against it. You have to relax and become part of it. Admittedly it isn’t easy in the heat and the constant damp, especially when you’re not used to that kind of climate, but it is possible.

“I would be in the jungle for up to 4 months at a time. Laying caches, patrolling and carrying out recces. The jungle is a beautiful place, another world and full of life. I loved it.”

When understood and mastered these patrol skills can really come into their own within the theatre of an airsoft skirmish. A team trained in these tactics will have a distinct advantage over their opposition in a green site environment and combined with the skills learnt on our Counter Terror programme can be assimilated, adapted and exploited to work for a team in an urban situation just as effectively. Here’s why...

Our training will teach each individual proper communication skills. When in the jungle, or airsoft battle, you do not want the enemy to know you’re coming. All communications should therefore be kept as quiet and low-key as possible. As well as standard communication systems and signals, teams can begin to develop their own personal signals. You may find you only use a particular signal once as it pertains to a given unique objective.

A strong and dependable command structure is paramount.

There is no use going into a skirmish as a team without setting up a definite order of command and rough plan for the engagement.

Everyone should then stick to the agreed strategy. The heat of battle, when your team are depending on you operating in a certain

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way, is not the time to expound your flight of fancy or bemoan your role in the proceedings.

The old, but true, tried and tested, army adage, “prior preparation and planning prevents piss poor performance”; is integral to any competent individual and team. Attending a course run by someone who is an expert in the field you wish to master is a fast track way of achieving results.

Practising realistic battle scenarios and contact drills as a team will develop your individual reactions and will also help you to work efficiently as a team. Theoretical and board work can only take you so far. Counter-attack concepts are usually not too difficult to understand but when surprised and up against an enemy force chaos can ensue if drills have not been repeatedly tried and tested. Under the watchful eye of an instructor valuable lessons will be learnt and feedback given.

As we discussed last month the skills of the regular infantryman are of equal importance in becoming the “complete soldier” and are not to be ignored. As Bob explains “A large proportion of SAS men have come from infantry regiments and so of course they would be experienced in normal infantry tactics and battle planning. Those that weren’t infantry trained were sent to the Para Regiment Patrol Skills School to learn their regular infantry patrol skills. From there we would all progress to our specialisation – the 4-man patrol.”

With this brief glimpse into some of the areas that we cover on our patrol courses you have already gained some very useful insight into ways that you personally, and as a member of a team, can work on making improvements. If you would like to develop this further and be taught by a professional please contact us.

‘A’ Squadron are available for private, individual and group bookings.

Our next public training days are: Saturday 11th October 2014 – CTT1: Pistol Sunday 12th October 2014 – CTT2: Primary Weapon Saturday 1st November 2014 – Navigation : Map & Compass Saturday 22nd November 2014 – SF Patrolling Skill For more information or to book your place please contact us by email trainingwing@a-sqn.com or phone 07762 507 146. You can also follow our day-to-day news on www.facebook.com/asquadron Until next time this is ‘A’ Squadron signing out.

“Fantastic day today. Our team will be back again for another go. Thank you all, you have given us the building blocks to organise our team.”

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OPERATION INTRADON COMPETITION On the 9th of November, at a location somewhere in the middle of England a totally unique airsoft event will be taking place.

As a newly badged member of 22 SAS, Intradon was the first operational tour of duty for a young Bob Podesta with the Regiment and in honour of their first real airsoft skirmish, A Squadron Ltd are proud to present Operation Intradon, in association with RedWolf Airsoft.

This is an Invitation Only event; you cannot buy a ticket, you can’t talk your way in and even bribes of the latest Gucci kit won’t get you through the door! The only way to be part of Operation Intradon is to be personally invited by Bob Podesta…. Or maybe not….

Bob is looking for two additional Squad members and has asked Airsoft Action to find them for him and so, as has become our custom, when we are given something fabulous we don’t keep it for ourselves, we offer it to our readers as our way of giving back to the Airsoft Community.

COMPETITION COMPETITION SQUADRON:OPERATION OPERATIONINTRADON INTRADON AASQUADRON:

So if you fancy joining Bob Podesta and playing airsoft alongside a living SAS legend, you’ll need to be over 18, have all your own kit to play in a CQB environment and be able to travel to a location in the middle of England for the event.

In return Bob promises you’ll have a day of airsoft you won’t forget in a long time, up against a multi-facetted enemy, in a dynamically evolving scenario that is being especially created for the event. There will probably also be one or two surprises along the way and you’ll also get the opportunity to practice and enhance your skills under Bob’s watchful eye – not to mention the kudos of being able to say “You’ll never guess who I played airsoft with today….”

Bob never takes the easy route, so to be in with a chance of joining Bob’s 22 Squad, you’ll have to do some research to answer the following questions, set by the man himself:

These are the three questions:

1) IN WHAT COUNTRY DID OPERATION INTRADON TAKE PLACE? 2) BOB IS FEATURED IN A CHAPTER OF THE BOOK "SAS HEROES" BY PETE SCHOLEY (OSPREY PUBLISHING); IN WHICH CHAPTER SPECIFICALLY? 3) ON WHAT DATE WAS BOB'S MID ANNOUNCED IN THE LONDON GAZETTE? To be in with a chance of winning, simply send your answer in before the closing date, either by completing and returning the Entry Form, or sending in your answers by email (details below). Don’t forget to include your contact details so we can get back to you if you’re lucky enough to win.

This competition is only open to readers of the magazine and so is not on the Airsoft Action website.

Answers 1...................................................

2...................................................

3...................................................

Name __________________________________________________

Postcode ________________________________________________

Address_________________________________________________

Telephone _______________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Email ___________________________________________________

Post your entries to: Operation Intradon Competition, Airsoft Action, Calibre Publishing, Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Malvern, Worcs, WR13 6PL, or email to: competition@airsoft-action.co.uk with “Operation Intradon Competition” in the subject line.

Entries received after 25th October 2014 will not be valid. One entry per person. The winners will be the first two names chosen at random from all the correct entries.

Calibre Publishing would like to keep you informed of other offers and publications. Please tick here if you would NOT like to be contacted by post or email

Q

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BOLLÉ SAFETY PLATINUM RANGE LES LEE TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT BOLLÉ’S RANGE OF BUDGET EYEPRO AND ASKS “CAN SOMETHING THAT CHEAP BE ANY GOOD?” AROUND ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, I was shopping (no surprise there) in a well-known surf shop in Cocoa Beach, Florida when I found myself dribbling over an uber-cool pair of the most wickedlooking sunglasses I had ever seen. So I parted with around $120 and was soon looking the coolest guy in town (well I thought so).

They were an unknown brand to me called Bollé.

Not only did these shades become my most absolute favourites, I wore them day after day, so unsurprisingly after several years of loyal service they finally died simply of old age; yes they were gone but never forgotten. Which brings us up to the present day.

Over the years I have seen more Bollé eyewear springing up in the fashion market but more so in the commercial and industrial market and one thing that did catch my eye (pun intended) was the price. I knew that my Bollés had served me well all those years ago and were worth every buck that I paid for them. I had my money’s worth but I was quite surprised to see that today’s prices were a fraction of the original, which raised a question; were they still as good as they once were?

When the Bollé Safety Platinum Range started appearing in Airsoft, the curiosity got the better of me and I needed to know for sure, so let the research begin!

The Platinum Range consists of nine different styles of eyewear, including The Tracker, Cobra, Contour and the Rush + which has upper protection, co-injected and ultra-flex temples, non-slip bridge and bi-colour temples (depending on version) and the allimportant anti-scratch and anti-fog platinum coating on both sides of the lens, plus a sporty, stylish design.

But at around just a tenner or less in price, surely they can’t be all that good... Can they?

These entry price but high end level safety goggles come with a safety rating of EN166 1F, which means they can withstand up to a low powered airgun and, as such, are perfect for Airsoft.

My first port of call was Neville at Pro Airsoft Supplies as he is a primary retailer in the UK and nobody would have a better angle on these. I know Neville well enough that he’s a straight talker, he

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kit review BOLLÉ SAFETY PLATINUM RANGE

“NOT SURPRISINGLY EVEN THE BIG GUY (WHO HAPPENS TO MAKE MR T LOOK LIKE A MATCHSTICK WITH THE WOOD SHAVED OFF) COULD NOT MAKE THEM FOG AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT US BIGGER GUYS SWEAT LIKE A SUMO WRESTLER IN A SAUNA!”

doesn’t do “BS” and his opinion would be spot on and so I asked; “Nev, can you tell me a little about the Bollé Platinum range of eye pro, please?”

“In my humble opinion the Bollé glasses (and now goggles), with this fantastic new coating are probably the most useful bit of kit that has entered the market for years. A big claim, but for many, I’m certain it’s true. I’m sure I’m not alone, having spent more money than they’d like to admit, buying glasses and goggles that claim they have fantastic anti fogging technology, only to be disappointed on the 1st outing and getting the mesh back out.

These things really don’t fog. In fact if you can come into the store, get a new pair out of the box and get them to fog, you can have a pair free on us. We’ll even lend you a kettle”!

Okay, so if Neville says they are awesome then it’s time to take it to the next level and contact Nick Hyman at Bollé UK for a more detailed description and ask the most frequently asked question that everyone seems to want to know which is: If this eye pro is so good, why are they so cheap?

“Even though Bollé have such a wide range of eyewear, the Platinum range was originally designed and created for the commercial and industrial market with safety in mind and because of this, we kept the prices competitive without compromising on quality. However it was quickly discovered that there was a place within the shooting fraternity, which includes (and to a degree, dominates this field) Airsoft, as they not only have to protect the eyes from indirect projectiles, they need to completely withstand a direct hit with a solid object at a considerable FPS with the possibility of a point blank hit during a CQB game and not forgetting other dangers such as running into a low branch of a tree.

So Airsofter’s are now reaping the rewards of being able to purchase premium quality eye pro at a fraction of the price due to its competitive place amongst other safety glasses in the industrial market place. It’s as simple as that”.

Neville and I share the view that had these been manufactured purely for recreational or fashion use then without a doubt they would have most likely been retailing at around the £60-£80 mark, which reinforces my intent and the primary reason for this product report; to dispel the myth which many people have that as they are so cheap, they must be crap and, had I not found out for myself, then I too would most probably be thinking along the same lines.

Hopefully this review, based on a practical field test, may be considered when making an informed decision about what eye pro we should be using, to weigh up the pros and cons and enable us

to choose wisely. I am Health and Safety mad, especially when it comes to a critical body part (no not that) - our one and only pair of eyeballs.

Okay, so far so good, but now to the ultimate make or break part of this review, the field test.

I chose one of the hottest of our “summer” days to try a pair of Bollé Rush+ in “Twilight”, which would give me the best of both worlds in terms of sunlight reduction and clarity, as there are three styles available in the Bollé Rush+ range: “Clear”, “Twilight” and “Smoke”.

I decided before getting out of my car that these were being worn from start to finish, so I reached into my bottomless pit of a gear bag, rested the Twilights on my beak, mirror... check (looked cool), proceeded to the safe zone and started to kit up, which for me is normally a sweaty time anyway. A few of the guys asked questions and I explained what I was doing and why and the general consensus was that they were inquisitive and would be interested in my findings - but all of them said how good they looked regardless.

After the safety briefing, the battles got underway and as the minutes passed, I actually felt that I wasn’t wearing any eye pro, almost to the point where I had to feel if they were still in place as they are so light - and not a smidgen of mist anywhere. I was also aware that these were such a close fit to my big ugly mug there was no chance of a BB finding its way through any gap around the rim.

So here endeth the morning games and guess what? Yep, there was zero fog on the lens and just a little condensation on the lower rim which is to be expected.

After more interest over lunch, with the Twilights still firmly in place, the sweat was rolling off my face (and that was just during the PM briefing) the afternoon games got underway. By now the temperature in the direct sunlight was not dissimilar to the surface of the sun and to add a little extra, the woodland was humid so if these were going to fog it would be now.

As the afternoon really kicked off, guess what? NOTHING! Just a little condensation along the bottom of the lens’s which in fairness, had been picked up by my forehead and travelled around the edge (remember how close fitting these are) to the lower rims – but nothing which affected the clarity of the lens.

So after wearing these during one of the hottest days of the year (even in the safe zone as it was part of the test) no matter what I was doing, no matter how much I was sweating, they simply did not fog! I even asked my buddy and fellow bodybuilder www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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Big Pete if he would, at a later date, get hold of a pair and try his hardest to make them fog up for a second opinion. Not surprisingly even the big guy (who happens to make Mr T look like a matchstick with the wood shaved off) could not make them fog and I know for a fact that us bigger guys sweat like a Sumo wrestler in a sauna!

Therefore, my conclusion? THESE PUPPIES SIMPLY DO NOT FOG UP! I have already covered the comfort, style, safety from stray BBs and price by comparison which leaves just one final test: Direct shooting at the lens which, irrespective of previous comments, is THE single most important part of the test. If these (so far) remarkable eye pro failed here, then this would make the review very worthwhile but at the same time very disappointing, as this is the final hurdle.

So now for the physical test and be assured I will only report on EXACTLY how these stand up to anything that could happen during a fire fight, including the very up close and personal CQB. I started at around 20 metres, using .20’s on semi and gradually closed in to around 3 metres. So far so good. Time for full auto at 20 metres and again, as I got closer the BBs just bounced off.

So this progressive test of .25, .30 and .43s at varying distances was becoming more of a challenge and I became more determined as this was now getting personal! So whilst being peppered with ricochets I closed in to about 1 metre and let ‘em have it until my mid cap ran out… With my only option left being to fix a bayonet, I took one final close up inspection and there it was; I noticed an almost invisible hair line fracture about 7mm long on the upper edge of the Bollé Rush+.

In fairness, I completely and brutally mullered these poor innocent specs from every angle – and then some. So was I surprised to find this ultimately irrelevant and almost invisible flaw?

Not really, as full auto from a metre out is an unrealistic occurrence and I reckon (and I’m not an expert) that a lot of eye pro would have simply disintegrated into many pieces under such extreme circumstances. In any event, this would be a circumstance that just wouldn’t happen in the field, not even CQB, as I cannot imagine anyone emptying a mid-cap in someone’s face from a metre out with .43s and walking away unscathed from one very upset victim and a bunch of angry Marshalls. Hell No! I also must point out that this fracture was on the plastic rim, not the lens.

So that about wraps it up. My conclusion through hard evidence proves to me that this is one very impressive piece of face furniture and what makes this an attractive investment is, apart from the sheer strength against incoming hard hitting meteoric balls of plastic, that they are not going to break the bank (or your eyes), which to many is a significant factor.

My regular eye pro has now set up home in a box under my bed with other remnants from the past as I cannot think of a single reason why I would wear anything else, now that I know just how good these are and, purely on personal note, I have chosen the Bollé Rush+ as my preferred style but there is a model that should suit everyone.

I would just like to say a quick thank you to Neville at Pro Airsoft Supplies and Nick at Bollé UK for their support and supplying this extraordinary eye protection.

It truly does tick all the boxes... and then some!

Les OUT!!

COMPETITION TIME!!

Nick at Bollé UK is giving away a set of Bollé Rush+ to a team of around 8 players. All you have to do is send in your best team photo to my adorable and surfing legend Editor, Nige (nige@airsoft-action.co.uk), so that your team will look even more cool (if that’s possible) sporting this unique and advanced state-of-the-art eye protection.

Nick Hyman, head of Bollé UK will be the judge of the best presented team and his decision is final.

Don’t forget to include the name of your team and contact details.

Good luck!

All entries must be via email, with “Bolle Competition” in the subject line. The competition closes at midnight on 25th October 2014 and entries received after this date will not be valid. Only one entry per team will be allowed.

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THE BIGGER PICTURE IN THIS MONTH’S AIRSOFT DEBATE GADGE HARVEY ASKS ONE SIMPLE QUESTION: “CAN AIRSOFT EVER BE A ‘SPORT’?”

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RIGHT IT’S DEBATE TIME AGAIN and this month, after seeing paintball supremoes “Tippmann” enter the airsoft arena it got us wondering in the office if we’ll ever see Airsoft get “competitive” like paintball did in the 90s.

Before you bite our heads off, consider this. Paintball went from a “playing army in the woods” stag do event to a sponsored international tournament “sport” with big prizes, sponsorship and a totally new style of play purposely designed to make it fun to watch and rapid, called “Speedball”.

As a paintball player playing on a site team in the early 90s, I saw paintball embrace speedball and move away from the “woodland warrior” look - and for good reasons.

Politically, running around with guns “looked bad” after some appalling gun-related crimes committed by very disturbed individuals; wearing camo and carrying around military kit and any form of a “gun” was a dodgy move and some of the more forward-thinking paintball sites saw that calling a paintball gun a “marker” and attempting to create a fast moving “sport” was the way ahead.

And it did become a big thing. Top teams could earn thousands of pounds and all their kit and ammo for the year, plus a brand new top of the range gun if they ranked in the top three of the big tournaments. Paintball made itself a “legitimate sport” with a “clean” image and thrived.

But there was a knock on effect. The weekend skirmish woodland game enjoyed by many was often dominated by the occasional “tournament player”, with better kit than your average Joe and employing the tactic of “wang £70 of paint at a bunker and the odds are you’ll get a hit!” Many players like myself missed the “playing army” element of paintball and left the sport - only to later discover airsoft.

But are we missing a trick here for airsoft, is there not actually a place for ultra-competitive “Speedsoft” arenas? While many of us like to kit out like a Navy Seal or a Vietnam grunt, there are as many players who like to run high performance guns and their goal is not to pretend to be in Apocalypse Now but simply to shoot out the opposition as soon as they can. There is no denying the “speedsofter” as a player type already exists – so why not allow him his own facet to the hobby?

In an ideal world, televised and sponsored airsoft events could educate the public to the fun and healthy elements of the hobby and help nullify some of the bad press and “gun nut” preconceptions we’re forced to deal with.

So would a £10,000 prize for the winning international “seven man Speedsoft” tourney bring the worst out in people, or raise the bar for the hobby? Would you play? Would you want a “timed assault” against a marshal/referee defence or trust the other team to play fair?

How would you feel about swapping the “MilSim field” for purpose-built symmetrical arenas with marshals in each area and an observation area? Filmed games for tricky judgement calls and on the spot “out for good” for cheats?

So is it an impossible goal or can you see a sponsored international big money tournament working?

We asked you your opinions and this… this is your say!

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debate THE BIGGER PICTURE

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debate THE BIGGER PICTURE

Gaz Perkins: “Airsoft is NOT paintball, let’s keep it that way. DAS , IPSC etc. would be the only types of “competitive airsoft” I can see succeeding.”

Martin Squirrell: “Paintball nowadays is a soul sucking bland experience with a load of strangers not talking to each other all day and nobody giving a damn. All the vaguely interested people have gone off to the semi and professional leagues. Airsoft still has those people playing every week at your local site.”

Joshua Tbc: “Competition (with prize money) won’t work with a game that relies on fairplay.”

Glenn McKnight: “I’ve been working on the idea of an Airsoft competition for a while! I think it would be a great idea and there is a lot of potential there.”

Julian Wilson: “Having inter-site wars for a laugh is fine, if it becomes a sport I’m jacking it in. I even avoid sites that run like paintball/skirmish stuff and if that’s what you want (speedballing) then that’s what paintball is for.”

James W: “I am an ex-tournament paintball player. I loved the game.

Loved it. But the minute it became sponsor-orientated it became “you can’t use x here because this site is sponsored by y... then the cheating… the trigger systems like turbo mode that changed the face of it… the increasing prices because it’s a sport now... the elitism… No. Let us leave it as it is. Enjoy the game and keep it a distinctly geeky and eccentric hobby.”

Sean ‘TheBeard’ Waller: “If that’s an airsoft competition then it needs to die! I do not want to see games days turn into the blind firing hi cap full auto squad. Airsoft is a hobby....it needs to stay that way.”

John Wierzbicki: “I’m working on a competitive style game for the site where I’m staff, but it will be a far cry from the paintball model.

The big problem(?) is, as has been mentioned, that airsoft works on an honour system. Well, the solution I’ve come up with is zero tolerance of cheating, coupled with if one person on the team offends, the whole team will be disqualified.”

Darren Holden: “As far as I’m concerned you can have as many different game types as you want, sport or none sport. I’m not going to bitch about the other sorts just play the ones I want to how can anyone moan if the hobby/sport gets better coverage, better venues, more players better, value equipment and say they want airsoft to continue for the future?”

Alex Roberts Christie: “I thought it already was a sport! None the less, there is huge potential for this to grow as an idea. I can foresee sponsored Milsim events with cameras etc. no reason why it couldn’t develop this way.”

Phil Reilly: “The day it becomes a competition based sport is the day airsoft dies.”

Mike Roberts: “Every time I hear people refer to airsoft as a sport I wince. For me it is a good laugh. A pastime. A hobby. Running round the woods playing silly buggers does not a sport make. Like others above I was an 80’s paintballer. Tourney paintball was the death of the woodland games I enjoyed. I have no interest in seeing airsoft as a competitive “sport”. One of the things which attracted me to airsoft instead of back in to paintball was the lack of the competition side.”

Billy Gumbrell: “Providing the correct safeguards are put in place to ensure fair play both on the field and off, it can be another avenue to explore. As with all facets of airsoft, you will have those that want in and those that want nothing to do with it. I have ZERO interest in participating in serious IPSC but that is not to say those that do like it are “wrong”.”

Brendan Robb: “It would be good to raise the profile of the game, but full on sponsored game with big money prizes could kill it. I would like to see an event that pits teams against each other, with bits such as timed building clearings, pistol and sniper shooting events, sniper hunts.

Events that don’t rely on the honesty of players, only the skill involved in playing.”

G.S.X.: “We play both styles and also a mix of the styles called “open play” here in California. Many of us (but not all) in our club enjoy all three. Speedsoft can be fun if you understand that going into a game.

The amount of athletic ability to play also makes Speedsoft a great workout. Many of our indoor fields cater to this type of play and it can be exciting. One chain of fields out here has Refs in towers checking people by shooting them with pistols to make sure they call their hits…

We have had ACA tournaments out here. That isn’t for everyone but if it helps the sport and promotes fire arm safety then it’s a good thing. We need all the positive press we can.”

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Jester Lestat Edge-cash Draven: “I don’t understand how “running around the woods with guns” can’t be a sport but running around a field kicking a bit of cowskin and calling it football makes that a sport. It’s all about your attitude. I for one would love to compete on a sporting/sponsor level if I had time.”

Jewel Ciappio: “It already is a sport in the Philippines. A very successful thing too. I’m in favour... I vote aye.”

Kieran Byrne: “Everyone’s perception on whether this is a good idea or bad idea will boil down to the type of player and mindset you have.

If you are a player who enjoys the milsim/experience days/events then I am sure that the idea of a competitive league is not something you will see any use coming from. Then on the other side if you are the type of player who when attending his local skirmish gauges his day on the number of scenarios his team won and how many kills he got during the day, then I believe you think there is no better idea. I mean who wouldn’t want to get sponsored to do that?”

David Puddefoot: “I must say the biggest thing in airsoft is hit taking and if you compare it to football it’s just the same as calling someone offside, or that should have been a red card. If that can be as big as it has got I’m sure airsoft can do the same. It’s if it is appreciated by everyone that it boils down to it. But primary it’s about promoting good sportsmanship that can help to making a fair and more enjoyable game.”

Joshua James Smith (Gunman Airsoft): “We used to run the very successful 8-Man competition and it was epic fun. Teams pitching themselves against a Marshall team to get points. The winners got a huge cup, medals and everything. One thing really important here though is it wasn’t for money and everyone played in a festival spirit as much as a competitive one.”

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BATTLE OF THE SOMME 1ST JULY- 18TH NOVEMBER 1916 DAN MILLS CONTINUES HIS LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC BATTLES OF THE GREAT WAR AND SO THE BATTLE RAGED for a further four and a half months during which the combatants would witness a vast change in warfare, new ways of helping the fight appeared in the shape of tanks, aircraft and the first use of combined operations.

Though the British Army had its worst casualty figures ever on the first day, many hard learnt lessons were taken on board. In the coming battles at Albert, Bazentin Ridge and Fromelles, some of these were played out.

For example at Bazentin Ridge the Allies used a “creeping barrage”. Instead of the artillery pieces bombarding the German trenches for a set period before the battle then ceasing fire, this time they fired for several minutes at one set of coordinates, then altered and switched fire by a hundred metres deeper, this they then repeated, again and again. This created a battle space in which the advancing infantry could move forward into the enemy line under cover of the barrage, whilst German heads were kept down by the exploding munitions.

This method became the norm, it seemed to work well in some areas and not so in others, soldiers still fighting in trenches would be left behind whilst the barrage slowly crept forward and in some cases this let the enemy repopulate their positions to engage our troops who had not yet passed by. But by trial and error we were learning.

Aircraft now not only spotted for enemy positions, movements, strengths and weaknesses but also dropped bombs by hand onto unsuspecting enemy soldiers exposed below. Many photographs were taken and on landing the pilots would pass them on quickly to the intelligence. Air to air battles were now much more common, as was ground to air combat and guns of all magnitudes were set up to knock the planes out of the sky.

The tank first appeared on the field of battle at FlersCourcellete, on September the 15th 1916. It was brought in to help break the deadlock from the static trench warfare that was so horribly eating up men. The tank’s first appearance saw forty nine of them sent forward into battle, thirteen were quickly bogged or broke down but the tank had arrived and it was here to stay.

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World War 1 THE SOMME

“BY THE END OF IT THE BRITISH AND FRENCH ARM IES HAD ADVANCED ALL OF AP P ROX 6 M ILES (UNDER TEN KILOM ETRES) ON THE SOM M E, ON A FRONT OF 16 M ILES (26 KM ). IT HAD COST 419,654 BRITISH AND 202,567 FRENCH CASUALTIES, AGAINST 465,181 GERM AN CASUALTIES.”

From then onwards they were developed by both Britain and France. Germany however, thought they would have little part to play and barely touched the subject, making only twenty during the hostilities - an attitude they changed with devastating effect during the Second World War. Surprisingly maybe, it was the Royal Navy who first saw the value in tanks. They had been using armoured cars on the Western Front and approached the subject of an armoured tractor-type vehicle for housing or towing guns. Initially the “Land Ship” idea was brushed aside, until Winston Churchill jumped on board that is and whilst making the first prototypes it was suggested they “looked like water tanks” - and the name stuck.

As the new tactics began to work, slowly the Germans were either pushed backwards or withdrew to fallback positions. After hearing about the Allied preparation for the battle the Germans had already strengthened their original line of defences. Barbed wire obstacles had doubled in size and were more numerous, the single trench line at the front was altered to three separate lines, with distance between them. These could then be used as and when fall back positions were needed. Once the threat had passed they simply re-occupied the forward line again, though it was now more lightly defended, the second line became the better defence with strong points built from concrete now appearing to the rear.

The third line would hold the reserves.

Within the trenches themselves concrete sentry bays appeared, along with machine guns which were more numerous than those in Allied hands. Bunkers and dug outs were built much deeper, negating the effect of most of the bombardments by the British and French artillery.

Still the war of attrition went on and as you will see in later articles about individual battles, the Somme became the burial ground of the Imperial German Army. No longer could they replace

those killed with new men, reinforcements were now proving harder to find, just as more and more of the Commonwealth soldiers began to arrive and take part. The Battle of Fromelles would see the debut of the Australian Imperial Forces on the Western Front too, though they would take casualties of over five and a half thousand.

Progress over the weeks was painfully slow; it was costing 3,600 lives a day! But push onwards they did and slowly the Allies got the upper hand, gaining town after town. In reality we are still only talking about several miles and by now Germany was constructing the next large fallback position, “The Hindenburg Line”. Life amongst the German Generals was fraught; some favoured a pull back to the Hindenburg Line sooner rather than later whilst Falkenhayn wanted to continue to fight it out on The Somme.

As the year’s end closed in the final battles of The Somme were being played out; the Heights at Ancre were fought over, attack and counter attack, with the weather getting ever more atrocious too. Reserves fresh from other areas were thrown in but to little effect, the front line was shifting, the balance of power had finally been wrestled from German hands and the momentum now lay with the Allies.

The last major fight of the year was at Ancre where once again mine warfare was used at Beaumont Hamel, a day one objective still un-captured and fresh assaults around the Schwaben Redoubt, the stronghold that the gallant Irish had fought so hard for seemingly way back on that first fateful day.

The Germans were reluctant to withdraw but Joffre persuaded Haig to keep the pressure on and not wanting the Germans to get away or reinforce elsewhere, he demanded the pressure be applied still further. The Germans were left with no option, needing to rest weary troops and in great need of reinforcements Falkenhayn was sacked and the withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line started.

By the end of it the British and French armies had advanced all of approx 6 miles (under ten kilometres) on the Somme, on a front of 16 miles (26 km). It had cost 419,654 British and 202,567 French casualties, against 465,181 German casualties. Many of the objectives before the opening battles had still not been reached though the stalemate was broken at last.

You can see from the map that very little ground was gained at all and the names appearing to the West were not captured when it was planned. The advance had shrunk to areas of success leaving the outline targets from the original day one objectives in enemy hands until much later. www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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OBERGEFREITER BRUNO SUTKUS DAN MILLS WRITES ABOUT A LITHUANIAN WHO BECAME ONE OF GERMANY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL SNIPERS. Part One BRUNO SUTKUS WAS BORN in Tannenwald East Prussia in May 1924 and had a modest upbringing with his field labourer parents.

Growing up in the nearby village of Fichtenhohe, on the border of Lithuania and Germany he had a hard childhood, spending much of his time helping out in the fields or with farm animals. Putting his imagination and field skills to good use he made money one way or the other and was apt at saving. At the age of ten he (as was the norm) had to join the Jungvolk (Young Folk), where he was to wear his first uniform.

When the war came to the village and the young men were all drafted one after the other, Bruno often answered the call to help out on the lands left vacant by the men folk, where he would carry out various jobs for the women left behind. He was growing up fast and these long days where work continued into the early hours regularly, would leave him in good stead for what was yet to come.

Working throughout his school years to the age of fourteen, Bruno left both the classroom and the Jungvolk behind him and progressed to the Hitler Jugend (Hitler Youth) where he would adopt a different uniform. It was here that he first started to clash with his mother and some of his work commitments due to the requirement to carry out various duties for the Reich, where he was soon recognised as a hard worker and promoted to Squad Leader.

When Hitler turned his attention to the East in June 1941, Bruno watched as the Wehrmacht (German Army) crossed by over the lands on which he was serving his farming apprenticeship, then on over the border and into Lithuania to fight the Soviet occupiers.

Again he showed an aptitude for creating money and for field craft, as he would smuggle hard to come by goods wanted by the enemy side in exchange for produce now rationed on the German side. Often in the dark he would stalk over the border passing the soldiers manning check points, using the ground by memory, a skill which snipers have to master very quickly if they want to stay alive.

On the occasion of becoming eighteen years of age in 1942 Bruno and his fellow ‘men folk’ celebrated the coming of age by transferring (as was customary) to the SA, the paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party. Since the country was at war all members would receive military training and be liable for call up papers, though after a bad dose of pneumonia Bruno’s call up was postponed for a year at his employer’s request.

Bruno Sutkus was finally called up sometime in July 1943. He was working the fields when the postman casually walked up to 80

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feature BRUNO SUTKUS

him and delivered him by hand his call up papers. On receipt he immediately stopped his work, unhitched the team of horses he was using and rode back to his parents farmhouse to break the news.

Bruno said goodbye to his parents at the train station, like many families they wondered if they would see each other again.

Arriving at the 22 Fusilier – Ersatz Battalion based in Gumbinnen on the 22nd July 1943, Bruno quickly settled into training. It did not take long before his skill with the rifle was noticed and Bruno was sent on an extra weeks leave for being so good.

Shortly afterwards the battalion was sent to Russia for field training. There they lived in the field and again his shooting skills were soon noticed and this time Bruno was sent off to Sniper School at Vilnius in Lithuania for five months. He and the rest of the course learnt all the skills needed to be mastered to become a proficient sniper.

Bruno passed the course and was issued with the most modern sniper rifle fitted with a scope, a camouflage jacket and his certificate of sniper qualification and was then sent back to the field training battalion - this time though there was much excitement for the soldiers because the news had come through that they were being assigned to their units far away on the other side of Poland. Bruno Sutkus was assigned to the Berlin Brandenburgische Infantry Regiment in Grenadier Regiment no.

196, as a sniper.

The journey was hazardous, with Partisans continuously blowing up the railway lines along the route but before the train could reach its intended destination it was forced to stop.

The Russians had advanced and tanks had probed, then broken through the German front lines. After more reforming of battalions and locations, 196 were sent to relieve a badly beaten up Hungarian unit in the West of Ukraine, where 196 became part of the 1st Hungarian Army and set about preparing to fight.

For Bruno, finally this was to be his blooding, his first taste of what combat was like. Initially Bruno would shake with fear and the unknown but he soon settled his nerves and set about killing the enemy. After his first taste of artillery bombardment Bruno had his first sight of corpses; blackened and burnt littering the position… Lots of firsts to deal with!

After the bombardment had stopped the it was the turn of the infantry to advance, probing the positions to find weak spots, Bruno noticed a pistol wielding officer who stood out and immediately shot him dead, a typical target of value to a sniper.

Bruno kept on firing, round after round, he scored a hit with every round he fired and those around him soon became aware of the value of having a sniper around - as did the enemy.

Bruno soon worked out that many such infantry advances had Commissars forcing the men forward, often shooting the soldiers themselves at any sign of faltering or panic and he quickly discovered that if he shot down the Commissars first, the infantry would retreat without fear of being shot by their own side.

Bruno and his company held the front line at all costs, losing many comrades. By observation he could see that the Russians had one soldier to every fifteen metres, compared to his own side’s one to every fifty to seventy metres dependent on the ground. Vastly uneven odds stacked against them.

In May 1944 Bruno found himself dug in near Slobodka Lesna.

He was scanning the area to his front, observing for any sign of enemy movement when he noticed a Russian sniper in his lair.

He had clumsily located himself by some rubble where a house once stood which poked out from the green surroundings as a likely enemy position. On further investigation, sure enough Bruno spotted several slight movements in the still intact cellar of the rubbleised property.

He focussed his scope and observed two enemy officers clearly feeling quite safe in their surroundings because of their body language. Bruno shot one dead as he began to observe through a pair of tripod mounted scissor binoculars, he then shot the second officer who now had a look of complete shock on his face!

The enemy sniper in his role spotted this action, being only yards away from the rubble and fired at Bruno narrowly missing his head. He did not have chance to get off a second round because Bruno shot him dead just as the bullet whistled past.

To be continued…

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WWW.ENOLAGAYE.COM

division : Airsoft

Call for dealership enquiries TEL 01189 714470 or e-mail jim@enolagaye.com

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Flash grenade 1.0

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IPAS IPAS LOADED OROR UNLOADED LOADED UNLOADED PRACTICAL SHOOTING BLACK KIT KIT PRACTICAL SHOOTING BLACK

GOING “DARKSIDE”

JERRY NOONE COMES OUT OF THE WOODLAND AS HE TAKES A LOOK AT SOMETHING JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT… Pictures: NETEE

com

ALTHOUGH I’VE CONCENTRATED ON CAMOUFLAGE setups in my first two articles I’m going to approach the urban environment this month. I do like a good woodland skirmish as much as anyone but it’s themed games on specialist CQB sites like Longmoor, Copehill or STANTA that really get my pulse racing when it comes to airsoft!

When a really good game organiser gets hold of one of these unique sites and sets up an involved Mil or Battle Sim scenario, they make use more and more of Non-Player Characters, or NPCs, to help increase the immersion of the game and really drive it forward. When, as a player, you not only need to act in a tactical manner but to interact with characters that are potentially going to provide you with information or supplies, it really does help to give that little bit extra to a game.

You may need to carry out different roles within the game scenario and that’s what this month’s two sets of gear reflect. It may be that you need to mingle with the “civilian populace” right under the very noses of the opposing team to gain information and intelligence, or you may need to put in a lightning “direct action” strike to capture a high value target, rescue hostages, or retrieve some vital piece of equipment. That’s where properly reading the game brief and a bit of prior planning and imagination comes in.

At the moment many of the bigger tactical manufacturers are spending a lot of money advertising the fact that “Grey is the New Black” and (having had a play around with some of the excellent gear available from Arc’teryx and 5:11) I would agree that being the “Grey Man”, especially in twilight or low light conditions, certainly does work. Given the theme of this column though I always try to look at options that are affordable and some of the big brands out there are sadly far from that!

I’ve taken my cue for the look and feel of these loadouts from two real world sources that still very much make use of the “black gear”; look them up and you’ll see what I mean! Batalhao de Operacoes Policiais Especiais, or BOPE, are a specialist Brazilian police unit that operate in the harsh urban environment of the Rio favelas; probably one of the most extreme and dangerous places in the world.

Each and every day, especially recently with the World Cup, these guys are out on the ground, doing the business. They are controversial in many ways but they make use of equipment and weapons not usually available to their regular police counterparts and they specialise in Direct Action.

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The other source of inspiration is the Special Activities Division of the CIA. These individuals, often drawn from the cream of the US Special Forces community are absolute experts at mingling with the civilian population to gather intelligence and carry out clandestine operations.

Often dressing in civilian or quasi-civilian gear, these guys get into places that most main force troops fear to tread. It’s not unknown for them to take the “direct action” route if necessary either, as their tasking may also involve them with sabotage, personnel and material recovery, kidnapping, bomb damage assessment, hostage rescue and general counter terrorism roles. Their state-of-the-art equipment makes them a rich source of inspiration for any “Darkside Ops” loadout.

RECCE Normally when I look at loadouts I try to make the RECCE alternative the cheaper of the two but given some of the excellent reproduction kit that’s out there for the “DA”, this time I’m going to invest in the unorthodox version. This actually isn’t a bad thing as much of the gear I’ll look at can happily be used on an every day basis and not just for airsoft scenarios.

Multi purpose to me means “good value” and if I can make something work for me both on and off the airsoft field that’s a bonus!

What I’m aiming to achieve for the RECCE loadout is a set of gear that is low profile, with easily concealable equipment and clothing that will let me blend in if I have to make a move “behind the lines”; I need to be able to just blend in with the NPCs and not attract the attention of the opposing team. To this end I’ve chosen a mix of tactical and outdoor pursuit brands that will stand up well to a CQB environment but not look overtly “military”.

Although there are numerous brands out there that produce great trousers I’m going to keep things really simple, cheap and hardwearing here by just opting for jeans. You do need to be a little cautious with this in the UK though given our weather as once jeans are wet, they STAY WET! You can help with this by treating them with something like Nikwax Cotton Proof which will at least give them some water repellentcy. I chose some cheap, non-branded jeans from the local supermarket here, let them get a bit worn and added a knee patch to make them look a little “beat up”; this though hides a bit of protection as the patch actually lets me incorporate a foam pad for the times I need to “take a knee”. See what I mean? Use your imagination!

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Given the harsh nature underfoot on most urban sites choice of footwear is of the utmost importance. These days it’s not unusual to see the “guys at the sharp end” wearing civilian mountaineering boots so here I’ve chosen some great mid range boots from La Sportiva which I already owned; these give superb support both around the ankle and underfoot. The outsole is a super grippy Vibram unit which will stand up to much abuse and let you keep your footing in all conditions; add a decent pair of walking socks and you’re good to go all day.

A simple polo shirt can be worn on top and I have to say I love the “Warrior Wear” versions from Blackhawk! as they wear well and offer some technicality in the fabric allowing moisture to be transferred away from your skin and helping with the breathability of your overall clothing system. Over this I’ve chosen a Tactical Full Zip Sweater from 5:11. This is actually a very technical piece of gear as it’s made from brushed polyester but it looks and feels almost like wool. It’s not overtly tactical although it does have some great features like a poacher pocket on the rear, welded reinforcements on the shoulders and elbows and some neat concealed carry touches; the lower zip pockets are “reach through” for instance so that you can get to gear carried under the sweater without undoing the main zip. Worn slightly oversized it completely hides my belt rig.

The choice of the 5:11 sweater is really down to the fact that I want to carry some basic kit underneath it without shouting “I’m wearing belt kit!” Again, I’ve spent a little here by getting hold of one of the superb Low Profile CTR belts from my good buddy Ben at CROPSurveillance. The belt features a fully adjustable waist belt with quick release buckle, fully adjustable yoke with elastic suspenders, 4X 5.56mm magazine pouches (single or double resistance) which will accommodate carbine or SMG magazines, an essential medical pack pouch, personal roll radio pouch and a self-restricting strap for a pistol paddle holster. Ben has used the best hard wearing elastic, heavy duty webbing straps and military grade mesh in the construction and the combination of these materials means that not only is it lightweight and highly concealable but will stand the test of time. It’s a bomber tough bit of kit for sure and having been tested operationally comes with some serious recommendations behind it!

Dependant on how you want to move, and what primary you wish to carry, the choice of other equipment you might consider is down to you.

If you’re just wanting to carry a PDW or SMG like an MP7 or MP5K, then a small sling pack like a 5:11 Triab or Hazard4 Sherman Messenger Bag might be just the ticket. Not only can you carry your primary concealed but also the other bits and bobs needed for a recce like tablet, compass/ GPS, notebook and pencil, magnifier/monocular, camera, and possibly

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IPAS LOADED OR UNLOADED PRACTICAL BLACK SHOOTING KIT

some form of night vision. If you want to take on a more aggressive role which requires a mid length carbine with attached optics then something a bit larger will be needed and for this role I picked up a Hazard4 Smuggler, which although expensive is a truly excellent piece of gear.

The Smuggler is specifically designed to accommodate carbines up to AK47 length, and you can transport your rifle with magazine in and optics mounted. If you need more space the Smuggler will give you just that! It features one large main compartment and three external zipped pockets for additional accessories. The heavily padded main compartment comes with two-way lockable 10RC YKK zipper, compression straps with buckles, soft plush inner lining, two long 2” wide inner Nylon straps with rifle tie-downs, removable padded sleeve divider with Velcro, tough movable polymer Velcro patch for muzzle protection, and bottom vent grille for easy ventilation and drying. A 3D thermoformed moulded back panel allows for easy air-circulation and comfortable wear even when bag is fully loaded. Behind the padded back is a separate laptop/hydration bladder compartment, lined with extra soft material, with nylon loops for securing hydration bladders and two separate entrances equipped with two-way YKK zippers. A comfortable wide and padded shoulder strap comes with breathable air mesh, large lockable quick release buckle and multiple MOLLE straps. The shoulder strap can be placed at either the right or left lower corner, so the case aligns ergonomically in the correct body hugging direction. It’s an awesome piece of kit, that’s for sure!

To finish things off I’ve chosen a grey 5:11 Shemagh and a suitably themed ball cap. Comms are finished off with a simple throat mic setup which is easily concealed beneath the shemagh and some of the new Mechanix Original 0.5mm High Dexterity Covert Gloves as I’ll need to be working with cameras, gadgets and gizmos.

DIRECT ACTION Like all airsofters I know, I’ve delved into the world of “black kit” over

the years; be honest, we’ve all got some black gear laying around haven’t we? Also, like most of my friends I spend a fair bit of time trawling the internet for good gear and often when my budget has been limited I’ve taken the option of choosing replica or reproduction bits for a loadout.

This is where you can really keep the cost down. As much as we’d all like the “Gucci” gear there are two considerations here. 1) Have you REALLY got the money to spend on the real deal, and 2) Is your life going to depend on what you use? The simple answer to both questions is “No”.

The only genuine item in my “Direct Action” loadout this month is the boots I chose; going back to my comment earlier about the nature of CQB sites you really shouldn’t scrimp on footwear so I chose to invest in a pair of the new AKU Pilgrim High Legs in black. These are top quality boots; AKU have a fine mountaineering heritage but the Spider and Pilgrim models have been made specifically with the military and police in mind. Available in Gore Tex lined, unlined, desert and black variants they really are worth a very serious look. Again, these are good looking boots which I certainly won’t restrict to airsoft use!

The uniform choice here is a “CRYE” style setup in black which I found online. As I’ve said before I do like the incorporated kneepads (these come with the uniform set) and the copious stretch panels for ease of movement. The fabric is a reasonably lightweight cotton ripstop, with a nice soft fabric in the under armour section of the shirt. This uniform set should only cost you about 50 quid if you search it out as well!

The “961A” style chest rig was again sourced online and for another £50 you get a great bit of kit which allows you to carry seven “5.56” magazines, pistol mags, snacks, pyro, radio and in my case, my secondary. I took the lead here from BOPE as many of the guys seem not to favour the ubiquitous “leg rig” as they operate a lot from vehicles such as the “Skull” APC and seem to keep kit very “lo drag”.

The “961A”, although a replica is still made from 1000D Cordura and after nearly six years of use is still standing up very well. www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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INFORMATION MANUFACTURER INFO FOR LA SPORTIVA BOOTS (OR SIMILAR), AND HYDRATION SYSTEMS VISIT YOUR LOCAL OUTDOOR PURSUITS STORE! FOR BLACKHAWK WARRIOR WEAR JUST CHECK ONLINE FOR THE BEST DEALS, OR VISIT YOUR LOCAL TACTICAL STORE. FOR 5:11 CLOTHING AND GEAR, ALONG WITH MECHANIX GLOVES PLEASE VISIT: WWW.TACTICAL-KIT.CO.UK Underneath the rig I have some repro “SEAL” low volume body armour which fits the “feel” of the overall loadout well.

As the “DA” loadout is very much set up for use in buildings I’ve opted once again for a helmet; in this case one of the new “FAST” replicas from Viper. It’s a great fitting helmet, not too expensive and offers at least some protection from overhead hazards. Due to the fact that pyro is almost always used in building/room clearance I’ve incorporated some real sound deadening electronic ear defenders from US brand Walkers; I value my hearing as much as my eyesight so these are “money well spent” to me. It’s also easy enough to run the throat mic set up here and a simple “Ghost” balaclava completes the headwear. Gloves are replicas of the “Oakley” models which offer GREAT knuckle protection.

One thing to take into account when you’re running about in black kit, especially a “DA” loadout like this with armour and headgear is that you’re going to need to keep regularly hydrated; a simple Camelbak bladder pack is used here as I already had it for outdoor pursuits but there are many similar yet cheaper alternatives that you can find easily by visiting your local outdoor shop.

Summing Up Airsoft can be as cheap or as expensive as you wish to make it but having the right kit for the right game scenario can make all the difference to both your own and others enjoyment.

Whatever role you play, or want to play, you can spend the earth or you can follow the repro route that still looks great and gives you all the functionality you need.

If, having properly read the game brief and uniform requirements, you turn up in the right gear both the game organisers and your fellow players will thank you for it. As I always say, research your loadout thoroughly and look for gear that has multiple applications both on and off the airsoft field if you can. This to me is a much a part of airsoft as actually playing.

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FOR HAZARD4 CLOTHING AND GEAR: WWW.THOMASJACKS.CO.UK TO SEE THE WHOLE RANGE AND FOR STOCKIST DETAILS. MY THANKS AGAIN THOUGH TO TACTICAL KIT FOR PROVIDING THE SMUGGLER THAT APPEARS HERE. FOR THE AKU PILGRIM HIGH LEG BOOTS, AND TO SEE THE REST OF THE AKU RANGE, VISIT: WWW.TREKITT.CO.UK FOR THE NEW “FAST” HELMET REPLICA IN BLACK OR TAN AND STOCKIST DETAILS HEAD TO: WWW.VIPERKIT.CO.UK DO REMEMBER THAT WHEN IT COMES TO REPLICA OR REPRODUCTION GEAR, TRY AND SOURCE REPUTABLE MANUFACTURERS. ONLINE SEARCH HERE IS YOUR FRIEND, BUT A GREAT DEAL OF REPLICA GEAR IS NOW STOCKED BY YOUR LOCAL AIRSOFT STORE, OR THEY CAN SOURCE IT FOR YOU, SO ALWAYS MAKE THAT YOUR FIRST PORT OF CALL!

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TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS SUITABLY SUNTANNED AND REFRESHED, BILLY GIVES US SOME POINTERS ON SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO ALL AIRSOFTERS – WINNING! HI ALL! I HOPE YOU’RE ALL WELL and have had a successful summer of yelling, running, crawling, shooting, picking up new and colourful bruises on all your limbs and generally having a great time. Airsoft is really great fun, good for the soul and for the lungs too. But do you know what’s really good for the ego (adds that all important bit of spice to life) and for your pride – winning! So in this month’s article we’re going to look at some of the ingredients of winning that all important fire fight.

Now when I talk about ingredients, it’s a little like a cake (do you like what I did there? Ingredients… cake!! Pearls to swine eh?)

The list below is a stream of consciousness, you probably won’t need them all, but the more ingredients you have from the list the more assured you’ll be of success. You’ll get a cake whatever happens, but it might just taste like dirt.

1. The Will to win – this might seem obvious but just because you look the part and can “talk the talk” doesn’t necessarily mean you have that caged tiger determination to succeed and to smash the opposition into teeny weeny pieces, burn their bodies, enslave their relatives… Actually, hang on, that sounds a bit like those maniacs in Iraq. So let’s wind it back a bit eh?

A powerful will to win that drives you on to succeed takes a certain amount of self-belief, some might say arrogance, in that you are certain you are better and more capable than your opposition. You’re going to beat them no matter what because you want it really badly and will to go to great lengths to achieve victory, as Lofty Wiseman (who is a very Wise man) said about Survival “It’s 5% kit and 95% attitude and will power”. Nail the will power piece and you’re on the right track.

2. Fitness – “Fitness Wins Fellas!” I think some aggravating gym queen PTI yelled that at me on Day One, Week 1 (man that was a long time ago, I daren’t tell you what week I am on now and I regularly forget what day it is. I have said enough already!!).

But he was right, fitness is something that none of us pay enough attention to. If you think you’re fit enough you aren’t,

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billy basics HOW TO WIN A FIRE FIGHT

“Units like the SAS and other Special Forces are comprised of intelligent, motivated men that take an active interest in the very latest training, techniques and procedures to accomplish their missions.”

none of us are really, we just go as far as we are capable of and sometimes way below that level. But one of the ways that we can be certain of taking the fight to the enemy and succeeding is to be as “fit as a fiddle”. One of the principles of war is maintaining momentum. You must have an assaulting section which is readily replaced by a fresh section on its heels to keep the pressure on the enemy to drive, drive, drive him back.

3. Having the right kit – In the immortal words of Sean Connery “You wouldn’t bring a knife to a gunfight would you?” You need to ensure you have the right kit, weapons, munitions and support systems in place for the specifics of what you’re attempting.

Soldiers as well as Airsofters get loaded down by stuff that have to carry. Soldiers have to carry it but I remember when I was in Afghanistan a few chums of mine and I chatting over a brew that we’d rather risk injury and fight in light body armour with a rifle, radio, trainers and satchel of ammunition than carting around all this other stuff. But policy is rarely written by the likes of me and it would only take a story in a red top for blame to start to fly around eh?

4. The right attitude – With this bad boy addressed you’re really going to be a force to be reckoned with and I don’t just mean that single minded will to win, but also to be magnanimous in defeat, after all you can’t win ‘em all.

If you are able (during your after action review over a brew) to look at areas where you’re not too strong and areas where you could improve then you’ll be on the path to constant improvement and that’s a great path to be on, isn’t it?

5. The right team – teamwork – You can’t choose your family (more’s the pity sometimes) but you can chose your friends and your team. A wise old owl once said to me “Techniques can be taught but qualities are born into us”. How you select your team will be up to your particular circumstances, if you’re a large club you might just naturally arrange yourselves into likeminded groups.

Or you might run a selection process but it’s important that you get team players and try and avoid the lone wolves who are hell bent on personal glory and not the honour of the team.

Sometimes it’s surprisingly easy to spot guys that you wouldn’t want on your team in a social setting, people who are tight with their rounds (drinks), chuck fag ends out of the car and who generally have little consideration for others are the ones I’d avoid.

6. Preparation – Do you remember what the Seven P’s are? “Prior Preparation and Planning Prevent Piss Poor Performance” and how very true! This could be as straight forward as getting someone to write a joining instruction for the weekend so that everyone knows what to bring, where to be and at what time, so that you’re not madly texting and phoning people to find out where they are.

Having a kit check before you load up so that if any of the team are diffy kit you can sort it, to keeping a list of what you’ve lent people so that you know you’ll get it back. It will focus the mind if you’ve written it down.

And if one individual is always late, missing kit, losing kit and the team are perpetually waiting for him before you leave for the event, then please refer to the previous gem and cut him from the gang as he’s bad news.

7. Practice, practice and more practice – Here’s the fun bit, in the Army we call it “Check – Test –Check – Test” and the process just never ended, it went on and on and is still rolling as we speak, even as we sleep it’s rolling away. As new bits of kit come into service try and integrate them into your tactics and if they don’t work then sack them off, or park them until the right time.

You can view games as practice, just because it’s an event it doesn’t mean that you stop practicing, it can be seen as the ongoing process of checking and testing. When you have your after action review or “hot debrief” which should be as soon afterwards as possible let each person have their say, not just the bloke with the most important civvy job, or the guy that lends the most kit, or who drives the biggest car. Open the floor up to everybody so that you can all contribute in an open and fair forum, this way you’ll improve as a team, it’s inevitable.

8. Tactics and knowledge – There’s no substitute for knowing your tactics and being aware of the best tools for the job.

Knowledge is power, after all Dr Hannibal Lecter was not built like Garth but holy cow he was one clever dude - totally nuts but clever! He used his brain to outwit (and to then eat parts of) his enemies. So do yourself a huge favour before you go out and get all the latest kit and caboodle, get your swede into your tactics and do some reading/research and get clued up.

Units like the SAS and other Special Forces are comprised of intelligent, motivated men that take an active interest in the very latest training, techniques and procedures to accomplish their missions, they are referred to as “TTPs” and are ever-changing. So stay up to date, adapt and overcome as they say. www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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9. Courage – It takes courage to rush an enemy even if he’s only firing pellets at you. I was a little dismissive of it until I got 10 pellets in my jaw on my first event, which still makes me giggle thinking about it now. Which was a little foolish as I had had a similar experience with my one and only foray into paintball (hisssssss!!!) when I received a precisely aimed shot directly between my two longest bones which completely floored me for a good minute or so.

But there are other types of courage, moral courage for one.

You might have the best fire position on God’s Green Earth and can take the bad guys no problem but the rest of your boys are out on a flank and are in the open. Without your help they’re finished, think about the rest of the team and the objective as a whole, leadership is all about “Doing the right thing on a difficult day”.

10. Keeping your cool under pressure – “When pressure increases volume decreases” yeah you got it, it’s that wise old owl again talking! When things get difficult and confusing, the gob-shites and cock-sure guys are nowhere to be seen because in general they suck at this stuff.

As Rudyard Kipling once wrote in his poem IF (he wrote some cracking stuff) “If you can keep your head while others about

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you are losing theirs you’re a man my son” either that or you’ve missed a really important detail. But the important thing to consider is that this stuff can be practiced, you can get better at reacting to pressure and stress by putting yourself into more and more testing conditions. Try it, you might find you actually thrive on it and it will increase your confidence.

11. Loving it – Hey come on, don’t take it personally if you screw up, have a bad day and get a pasting by a rival team, tomorrow’s a brand new day boyo and you’ve got one of the coolest hobbies ever, so chin up and crack on!

Every dog has his day and new blood, new techniques and just a new diet can change the fortunes of a team and their performance.

In Summary I have as usual (Ed’s going to have words as I have had too many) run out of room, but to end it’s all about getting out of the door with the right gear, the right attitude, team, giving it your all, keep smiling and shake hands when “End Ex” has been called.

Take Care Y’all, Billy Out.

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feature SURVIVAL

THE WILL TO LIVE AS AN AVID AIRSOFTER, PAUL YELLAND SHARES SOME BASICS OF SURVIVAL HE HAS LEARNED FROM OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PRACTISING FIELD CRAFT. SURVIVAL IN ITS MOST BASIC FORM means maintaining the will to live. Once you have the basic will to live, there are then the fundamental elements to address which will keep you alive. These are building a shelter, creating a fire, collecting water and hunting.

As humans, we have been surviving for millions of years, so these skills are nothing new.

As a young lad, I was lucky enough to grow up in the countryside. Many people don’t get this opportunity, so I feel very privileged to have done so. Over the years, I have learnt about my natural surroundings and have had the opportunity to master a range of survival skills. You are always learning with this subject, but as long as you know enough to get yourself out of trouble, then that’s fine.

In airsoft, there are numerous scenarios which could involve utilising survival skills. These could include skirmishes with an escape and evasion element, or undertaking team training in your own time. Of course, also having a knowledge of survival will help you to deal with any real life survival emergency you may face.

THE SURVIVAL KIT Just as you carry (or should do anyway) a basic first aid kit as part of your equipment, a survival kit can also be carried. The kit is normally contained inside a tobacco tin which is small enough to fit inside a smock pocket. The contents of the survival kit will enable you to cut, make fire, purify water, trap food and signal for help. There are various types of pre-made kits available commercially from companies such as BCB, Highlander, Web-tex and numerous others. Serious enthusiasts and professionals tend to build their own survival kits, selecting each individual item to suit their needs. Just remember though, keep it small as the larger the kit, the less likely you will carry it on you all the time.

If captured as part of an escape and evasion scenario, you will lose all of your equipment – including your survival kit. This is when you find out that less is certainly more, as survival items can be concealed in all kinds of imaginative places on your person.

Fishing line used to sew on buttons, and fishing hooks sewn inside seams of clothing may go undetected during a search (be

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very careful not to get a hook stuck into you – cover in cardboard first). A small button compass, some tinder material (waterproofed) and perhaps a small piece of flint from a fire steel set, can all be cunningly hidden somewhere. However, I do not advise anybody trying to conceal items of kit inside their body, either by swallowing or inserting as it could lead to serious injury and will certainly raise a few eyebrows when you end up in A&E!

THE PRIORITIES OF SURVIVAL Whether simulated or real, all survival situations should be approached in the same methodical way. This is achieved by having tasks prioritised in order of importance. So, the priorities of survival are: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Shelter Fire Water Food

SHELTER Protection from the elements is your first priority. When choosing a location for a shelter, find somewhere safe and out of the wind.

Your shelter should be near to a water source but far enough away from any risk of flooding. So, firstly look around to see what natural shelter is available. This could range from a low overhanging branch thick with foliage, to an earth bank with some overhead cover. Once a natural shelter has been found, it can be improved by adding extra found materials to keep the weather out and to provide ground insulation. Avoid sheltering at the bottom of cliffs due to the risk of rock falls. Also, don’t decide to settle down on an animal trail, otherwise you may get an unexpected visitor during the night.

Man-made structures will also provide you with shelter. Buildings, underneath bridges and abandoned vehicles can all offer protection from the elements. However, if you are on the run from a hunter force, then obvious places such as these will be searched. In this case, these locations should be avoided.

If no pre-existing form of shelter is available and if time and resources allow, consider constructing a basic shelter. Again, think about the chosen location in relation to wind direction, signalling for help (or avoiding detection if evading) and natural resources such as building materials, fire wood and water sources.

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There are many choices of shelter design, ranging from a basic structure to more elaborate types. Factors influencing what type of shelter to build include climate, terrain, materials available, any tactical considerations, personnel numbers and injuries/physical state. For a short term survival situation, a basic shelter will be adequate.

By simply leaning lots of fallen branches angled against features such as standing or fallen tree trunks, or walls and hedges will start to provide you with shelter. As I have mentioned, you do need to select your shelter site so that it is out of the wind. Also consider rain water drain off, to ensure that your shelter does not flood. In addition to the roof, the floor inside the shelter needs to be covered with leaves or other found materials for insulation against the cold and damp ground.

A more involved shelter to build is the lean-to. A two person sized lean-to can take several hours to prepare and construct. However, your efforts will be worth it as the shelter will last you longer if required. A lean-to is constructed by securing a strong cross bar horizontally between two trees. Then a slopping roof is built on the

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feature SURVIVAL

side facing the prevailing weather, by placing solid poles at an angle on the chosen side between the cross bar and the ground. Just make sure the wood used for the cross bar and roof is not rotten and will support the weight. Once the roof is on, cover with leaves and other thatching material to help keep the weather out. As with the other types of shelter, insulate yourself from the ground.

FIRE Now you are inside your nice and cosy shelter, your situation can be further improved by lighting a fire. Building a fire brings the following benefits.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Provides warmth A means to cook food Boil collected water Signal to rescuers Detracts animals and insects Used to construct tools and weapons Drying out your soaked kit

A fire is great for improving moral. There is something magical about sitting around a fire, watching the flames dance around. It also helps you to relax and unwind. But before building a fire, you need to consider a few things. When not in a genuine survival emergency, always get permission from the land owner before you light one. Also be aware of the risk of causing a wild fire. Lighting a fire on a forest floor covered in a thick layer of pine needles is an inferno waiting to happen. So is fire lighting during very hot and dry weather when everything around is tinder dry. Don’t light a fire on uneven ground and don’t light one too close to the shelter entrance. Also be aware of the dangers of smoke inhalation, so do not light fires in confined spaces. The fumes given off from burning plastics and other manmade materials can be toxic, so be warned. And one last caution, never leave a fire unattended.

Fire lighting is an art form which takes a considerable amount of practice to master. The skill of lighting a fire seems to be disappearing.

In days gone by, the open fire used to be the hub of every household.

Providing heating, hot water and a means to cook, it was an essential skill for everybody to learn. But with the development of modern housing and central heating, new houses often don’t have open fire places and chimneys, so not as many people need to light fires in their homes. As a result, I feel that the number of people who are equipped with this skill is on the decline.

METHOD To successfully light a fire, you need three things; • Fuel • Oxygen • Heat If any one of these elements are absent, then the fire will not light, so it is all down to the initial preparation. I have managed to light fires

in the most appalling weather, using just a spark from my steel and flint but it does take quite a bit of practice, so you need patience. First of all, select dead standing wood rather than branches lying on the saturated ground. The wood should be graded into different sizes, from small to large. Collect all of your wood BEFORE you attempt to light the fire. Start with your tinder material which is fine, dry and fibrous such as the cotton wool contained in your survival kit. Next collect at least two hands full of dry, dead small twigs which are about the thickness of a match. Then continue to gather bundles of twigs roughly of a pencil thickness, then finger thickness, thumb size and then larger fuel.

Once all the fire lighting material has been gathered, clear the ground on and around your chosen spot of all leaf litter. Also make sure that you are not lighting the fire next to trees, on top of exposed tree roots, peat, beds of pine needles or anything else that could ignite. Lay some sticks down on the ground as a base for the initial fire. Remember, one of the three elements needed to create fire is heat, so just like humans, a fire needs to be insulated from the cold and wet ground. By lighting the fire on a wooden base, it insulates the early flame from the cold surface and reflects the needed heat back into the fire.

When ready, get the tinder material, fluff it up and place onto the wooden base. Now with your steel and flint, lighter or match, light the tinder. Once the tinder is burning, start to add the smallest size of the kindling – the match thick twigs. Carefully place pieces of the small kindling over the burning tinder, making sure that the flame is not smothered by adding too much small kindling too soon. So, now the fire has heat, fuel to burn and by not smothering the flame, an adequate oxygen supply. Continue to add the kindling, working the way up through to the largest size. A successful fire will soon consume all of the kindling, so make sure that you have enough.

WATER With the issues of shelter and fire addressed, the next priority is water collection. I have learned over the years that any water source other than rain water which you have collected, should be considered contaminated and treated as such. The last thing that you need when out in the wilderness is diarrhoea and vomiting caused by drinking untreated water. Even the water collected from the apparently fresh moorland stream will need treating. You may think that you are collecting fresh drinking water from the stream but have possibly failed to notice that just up the stream is a dead sheep carcass lying in the water. Further up the stream from the carcass, is an area where cattle have been grazing, with the resulting urine and faeces ending www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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up in the water that you are just about to collect and drink! Try to select a water source that is fast flowing but easy and safe to reach.

If possible, collect white water that is flowing over rocks. Making the water safe to drink involves two processes – filtering followed by purification.

FILTERING This is the process of removing large objects such as grit, plant debris and insects or bugs from the water which has been collected. The basic method to achieve this is by pouring the water through a piece of tightly woven material. The foreign objects are then caught by the material, allowing the filtered water to flow through into a clean container. Another method is to use a purpose-made filter, such as the military Milbank bag. Shaped like a sock, the Milbank bag is soaked in water and then suspended. Fill the bag with the unfiltered water and allow the water level to drain down to the black line that is printed on the side of the bag. Then place a container underneath to collect the filtered water.

PURIFICATION Once filtered of large particles, the water then needs to be purified.

Purification helps to kill any nasty bacteria and diseases that are present in your collected water. There are two methods of purifying water – by boiling and with chemicals. To boil water, simply pour into a mess tin or similar, place the mess tin on a stove or open fire and bring to the boil. Once boiling with big bubbles, the water is then safe to drink.

Chemical purification is used in place of boiling, as it may not always be possible to light a fire. The water still needs to be filtered first.

The chemical is then added to the water in its container. The most common form of chemical used is the good old chlorine water purification tablet (also known as “puri-tabs”). As a general rule, one tablet is placed into one litre of water and left for thirty minutes before drinking. Two tablets are used to treat one litre of heavily contaminated water but always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

As a final word of warning – do not drink sea water or urine.

FOOD Dehydration kills long before starvation will, so the last item on the list to address is food. I am no nutritionist, but you need nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and protein to stay fit and active.

These are found in food. The kinds of food available to you during a survival situation can vary greatly in relation to where you are, the time of year and the weather. The easiest sources of food

are the food items that you are carrying. Take stock of any food supplies and ration them. I do not wish to encourage theft or trespass but in a real life situation, foods can be found in buildings and in fields growing as crops. As a caution though, if escaping from a hunter force, people will notice any slight disturbances to their own surroundings and they could alert the local authorities.

Another way to get food is by hunting and trapping animals.

Rabbits are always a good start, as they can be snared. Pigeon is also on the menu, as are squirrels. Fish can be caught with improvised hooks and lines (some fishing methods are illegal in the UK, so check first). Weapons can be improvised for hunting such as bows and arrows (illegal to hunt with in the UK).

Foraging for wild foods is another option. Meadows and hedgerows can be a rich source of food, but what is available does depend on the time of year. Winter months can be restrictive on what is growing but the months of spring, summer and autumn will give you a good harvest. Having an existing knowledge on what wild foods are edible would be an advantage. As well as edible plants, there are many plants, or parts of plants that are extremely poisonous in the UK, so learn which is which and don’t take risks. As for mushrooms, unless you know what you are doing, then leave well alone. There are some deadly ones growing here in Britain, so the mushroom needs to be positively identified before eating. I would advise anybody serious about foraging for wild foods, to purchase some good field guides on the subject, and then get out into the country side and start learning.

To get you going, I have listed a few edible and poisonous plants.

Edible 1. Dandelion 2. Stinging nettle 3. Blackberry Poisonous 1. Foxglove 2. Hemlock water dropwort 3. Ragwort I hope this has given you a useful insight into the topic of survival. If you practice and develop the survival skills which I have talked about, then, when the situation gets tough, you can live off the land.

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AA41_Layout 1 15/09/2014 16:05 Page 101

BOOK REVIEW SAFE AREA GORAŽDE

‘SAFE AREA GORAZDE’

BY JOE SACCO

GRAPHIC NOVELS ARE MORE USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH CARTOON HEROES BUT KRIS ROBERTS FOUND NOTHING HEROIC IN JOE SACCO’S STORY OF A PEOPLE’S SURVIVAL.

‘WHY DID YOU COME TO GORAŽDE?’ ‘WHY? BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL HERE... NOT RAPED AND SCATTERED... NOT ENTANGLED IN THE LIMBS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS AT THE BOTTOM OF A PIT. BECAUSE GORAŽDE HAD LIVED, AND – HOW?’ During late 1995 and early 1996 reporter/cartoonist Joe Sacco made four visits to the town of Goražde. Besieged and surrounded on all sides by Serbian controlled territory, the town was situated within the boundaries of a U.N. designated “Safe Zone”. For years the mostly Muslim citizens hung on through violent attacks and starvation while the surrounding areas suffered an ethnic cleansing of all non-Serbs.

Sacco arrived in the closing stages of the war to find a people daring to hope that peace was coming, yet were still living through the immediate aftermath of personal and collective suffering. With limited access open to western journalists Sacco and his colleagues were welcomed like minor celebrities and became a window for the people to the outside world.

Sacco befriended a local guide named Edin and through him was able to hear the history of the conflict and gather individual stories from the citizens themselves. He immersed

himself in their daily lives, shared in moments of laughter and levity and documented their will to survive.

Impressions It’s rare to find a graphic novel that works as a documentary to war and it’s rarer still to find one that delivers such a fascinating and gripping insight into a conflict that is all too often overlooked.

The use of a comic book format to convey such a terrible subject is a huge gamble but one which Sacco manages to pull off by balancing his subject alongside vivid imagery without being clichéd or sensationalist.

It is the attention to detail that is most captivating and harrowing. Within the artwork you can find the scars in the concrete that were left behind by mortar blasts, the bloody footprints that mark the scale of the slaughter, the terror in the victim’s eyes.

Sacco takes his time, allowing us to learn as he did the nature of people’s lifestyles and giving them space to open up. Each character is introduced and methods of survival are explained to give the reader a better connection to the people of Goražde.

And then the horror is unveiled.

One by one the stories are delivered of execution, starvation, deprivation.

Of indiscriminate shelling and families forced to watch helplessly as their children are massacred.

Sacco pulls no punches and uses the strength of the victim’s personal accounts to highlight that this was a war where neighbour fought against neighbour.

Homes became frontlines. Average citizens became soldiers in defence of their families.

The book jabs a big finger of accusation towards the international community and its lack of intervention during the genocide. Questions are raised by the people of Goražde

themselves and this makes their isolation even more apparent. These events took place only two decades ago and the message echoes with chilling familiarity even today.

But this isn’t a book demanding answers, nor is it an example of good prevailing against evil. This is a story of people living through the unimaginable.

Of humanity surviving - but only just.

A remarkable piece of work and one I highly recommend.

‘We were silent. We didn’t shoot too much. We didn’t have enough ammunition. You can imagine how awful it was for us. They were enjoying themselves. They had everything. Power.

Tanks. Ever coming. I thought if I can just kill three of them before I die.

I wouldn’t allow myself to be captured. I saw what happened to my friends who were captured in the first attack. Our only hope was the support of the world. We’d expected that for months and years. We thought they would stop it... But they didn’t do anything.’ - Edin. School teacher.

INFORMATION SAFE AREA GORAŽDE

BY JOE SACCO. PUBLISHED BY JONATHAN CAPE. RRP £14.99

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SYMBOL KEY IS IT WOODLAND OR URBAN? CHECK THE KEY! UKARA

UKARA MEMBER UKASGB MEMBER WOODLAND

£

SHOP ONSITE BATTERY CHARGING URBAN PYROS ALLOWED REPAIR SERVICE

DESERT

Email nige@airsoft-action.co.uk to add or change a site listing

ATROOP AIRSOFT

ACE COMBAT

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB

Clocaenog Forest, LL16 4SP 07967 394976 www.atroop.co.uk

Kent, TN12 7DG 01303 814803 www.acecombat.co.uk

Studley, B80 7LY 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

ABER AIRSOFT – THE BUNKER

AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB

ALL ARMS AIRSOFT

Allt-lywd Wood Farm, outside Llanrhystud, nr. Aberystwyth, Wales.

07511554740 www.aberairsoft.co.uk

Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 07718 032541 robinsonm24@btinternet.com

Near Trawden, BB8 8SN 07909 683464 www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk

AIRSOFT ASYLUM

ALPHA 55

North Lanarksire, ML7 5 www.airsoftasylum.webs.com

Halkyn wood, North Wales CH8 8DF 0845 257 6937 www.alpha55.co.uk

ARENA AIRSOFT

ALPHA ELITE GAMING

AWA HERTS

Le Mont de Rozel, Jersey, JE3 5 01534 733697 www.aegairsoft.je

Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ 07732 184957 www.awaherts.com

AMAZON EVENTS

BARNSLEY AIRSOFT

Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL 0844 2570433 www.amazonoutdoorevents.co.uk

Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE 07779 236166 www.barnsleypaintball.co.uk

AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM

BATTLETEC AIRSOFT

ABSOLUTE AIRSOFT Maidenhead, SL6 3SS 07871 314951 www.absolute-airsoft.co.uk

AMBUSH ADVENTURES SOUTHAMPTON New Forest National Park, SP5 2DW 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk

APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP 07872 348 576 www.apocalypseairsoft.com

Grimsby, DN31 3JD 07752 404060 www.arenaairsoft.com

AIRSOFT COMMANDOS ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES Holbrook Coppice, Buidwas Bank (A4169), Buildwas, Telford, Shropshire, TF8 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk

Sutton, near Ferrybridge 07723 061386 andyace@ntlworld.com

AIRSOFT KGB

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES

Porkellis Moor near Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0 Chef1322@hotmail.com www.kgbairsoft.com

Tong Wood, Newport Road Wolverhampton TF11 8PN 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH

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Stoulton, WR7 4QW 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk

La Couture, Guernsey, GY1 2 07781 104068 www.battletec.co.uk

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SITE DIRECTORY

Huge thanks to our friends at Airbana (www.airsoftmap.net) for supplying data

FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

BETTER BATTLES Ravenshead, Notts, NG15 9DH 07967 940043 www.better-battles.com

BLACKDAGGER AIRSOFT Grasscroft Wood, Barlow Lees Lane, Dronfield, S18 7UR www.blackdagger-airsoft.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT - RIVOCK EDGE Keighley, BD20 0LS 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT SHEFFIELD WOODLAND Sheffield, S6 6JE 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

BLUESTREAK AIRSOFT Westcott Venture Park, Westcott, Aylesbury, HP18 0XB 01296 658600 www.bluestreak-airsoft.co.uk

BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT

CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT

COMBAT ACTION GAMES

Bristol, BS1 2HQ 07776 288826 www.bristolairsoft.com

Maryland, Norfolk, NR10 4 01328 711867 www.combatactiongames.co.uk

BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT

COMBAT SOUTH URBAN

Sheffield, S2 5TR 07795 631331 www.brittacairsoft.com

Portsmouth, PO6 3LS 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk

Corby, NN17 3BB 07740 165787 www.close-action.co.uk

BUNKER 51

COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND

Charlton, SE7 8NJ 0870 7549653 www.wolfarmouries.co.uk

Fareham, PO17 5ND 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk

C3 TACTICAL

CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL

Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH 07597 938011 www.c3tactical.co.uk

Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 5 01438 368177 www.thefightschool.demon.co.uk

COOL UNDER FIRE Doddington, Kent, ME9 0JS 07960 532613 www.coolunderfire.co.uk

Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA 07703 530189 www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk

Truro, Cornwall, TR2 07837 475012 www.cornwallairsoftassault.co.uk

Dumfries, DG12 cumbria.airsoft@virgin.net www.cumbria-airsoft.com

Lewisham, SE13 5SU 07973 240177 www.firefight.co.uk

FIFE WARGAMES St Andrews, KY10 3XL info@fifewargames.co.uk www.fifewargames.com

FINMERE AIRSOFT Buckingham, MK18 4JT 07976 184897 www.finmereairsoft.com

FIREBALL SQUADRON

ELITE ACTION GAMES – GATWICK

FIRST AND ONLY – ANZIO CAMP

Holmbush Farm, Crawley Road, Faygate, Nr. Horsham, W. Sussex, RH12 4SE 07882 686242 www.eliteactiongames.com

Leek, ST13 8 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

ELITE ACTION GAMES – DORKING Dorking, Surrey, RH5 5AB 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE ACTION GAMES – EPSOM Epsom, Surrey, KT18 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE ACTION GAMES – WORTHING Worthing, BN13 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com

Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA 07582 684533 www.fireballsquadron.com

FIRST AND ONLY – BUNKER WOOD Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 5SA 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – KHE SANH WOODS Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 2NA 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – MANCHESTER WOODLAND Bolton, BL7 9TS 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – ASYLUM Bexley, Greater London, DA5 1NX 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

Kidderminster, DY10 3PT 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST & ONLY: THE HIVE EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT

CUMBRIA AIRSOFT

FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONS

Caerwent Training Area, South Wales, NP26 5XL 07921 336360 www.dragonvalley.co.uk

ELITE BATTLEZONE CORNWALL AIRSOFT ASSAULT

Bradford, BD2 1BQ 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

Houston, Renfrewshire, PA6 7BP 07853 195290 www.dow-airsoft.co.uk

DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT

BRISTOL AIRSOFT

CERBERUS AIRSOFT - THE SANDPIT

DOGS OF WAR

Brimington, Chesterfield, S43 1DQ www.cia-airsoft.co.uk

CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT

Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8UT 07986 053076 www.deltateam3.co.uk

DRAGON’S LAIR

Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport. PR46JX 07790 715059 www.bravo22airsoft.com

CERBERUS AIRSOFT - THE COMPLEX

DELTA TEAM 3

Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AN 01380 728982 www.experienceairsoft.co.uk

Middleton, Manchester, M24 1AZ0161 727 8863

FIRST & ONLY: THE ARMOURY Wrexham, Denbighshire, LL13 9RG 07554 800040

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INVICTA AIRSOFT – RAINDEN WOODS

MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Folkestone, Kent, CT18 7AY 01227 763335 www.invictaairsoft.co.uz

Wrightington, WN6 9PL 01942 514724 www.militaryoutdooradventure.co.uk

ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT

MILSIM UK

Near Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO30 07964 751047 www.islandrecon.co.uk

FIRST & ONLY: THE ACADEMY

GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 6QF 07779 157440

Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com

FIRST & ONLY: THE ASYLUM

LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT

NCIS AIRSOFT

Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG 0131 654 2452 www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk

Edinburgh, EH14 4 nick@ncis-airsoft.co.uk www.ncis-airsoft.co.uk

LAC SITE 1

NOMAD AIRSOFT Fenwick, Ayrshire, KA3 6AY 07904 998250 www.nomadairsoft.com

GREENZONE COMBAT

Kidderminster, DY10 3PT 07779 157440

Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE 07772 919974 www.greenzonecombat.com

FIRST & ONLY: THE OUTPOST

GUN HO AIRSOFT

Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

Kidderminster, DY11 5SA 07779 157440

Guisborough, TS7 0PG 07525 435696 www.gunhoairsoft.co.uk

LAC SITE 2

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – CAMBRIDGE

Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

FIRST & ONLY: SLEEPY HOLLOW Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 5LS 07880 316716

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

LAC SITE 3

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – MIDLANDS

Saxillby, LN1 2JW 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

FIRST & ONLY: THE DEPOT Glasgow, G45 9SB 0161 727 8863

GROUND ZERO WOODLAND Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2DF www.groundzerowoodland.com

FREE FIRE ZONE Farcet, Peterborough, PE7 3DH 01733 247171 www.freefirezone.co.uk

FRV AIRSOFT Annacloy, Downpatrick, BT30 8JJ 07730 586926 www.frvairsoft.com

GASS AIRSOFT – PENN Penn Bottom, Bucks, HP10 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk

GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk

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Checkley, Staffordshire, ST10 4NS 07523 916607 www.milsimuk.co.uk

RAF Honiley/The Grange Frogmore Grange, Frog Lane, Balsall Common, West Mids CV7 7FP Tel: 01676 532 384 info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk www.shop. suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – NORWICH Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

HILTON PARK AIRSOFT Wolverhampton, WV10 7HU 08000 354490 www.paintballuk.com

HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT Spanby, Lincs, NG34 0AT 07971 560249 facebook.com/HomelandTacticalAirsoft

HUMBER AIRSOFT North Lincolnshire, DN21 www.humberairsoft.co.uk 07792 680297

NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3LQ 01845 565465 www.northernallianceairsoft.co.uk

NORTHFLEET CQB Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9AA 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

NSC AIRSOFT LAC SITE 5 Kirton Rd, North Lincs, DN16 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LINDSEY AIRSOFT Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE 07955 487983 www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk

MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW 07974 507166 www.matlockcombatgames.com

MAW Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 07562 479966 maw.airsoft@hotmail.com

MIA Cornwall, EX23 9JL 01288 331748 www.airsoftsouthwest.co.uk

Hetton, Sunderland, DH5 0 07983 333521 www.nscairsoft.co.uk

NTAC Durham, DL4 2ER 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk

OBAN AIRSOFT – HILL ARGYLL Argyll and Bute, PA37 1 07967 710185 www.argyllsurplus.com

OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT 07964 990831 www.op-tac.co.uk

OVER THE TOP AIRSOFT CLUB Anglesey, LL71 www.ottairsoft.co.uk 07731 744471

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Huge thanks to our friends at Airbana (www.airsoftmap.net) for supplying data

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION Former RAF Camp Sopley/ Merryfield Park, Hants, BH23 02380 899369

PHOENIX AIRSOFT Welbeck Airsoft, Academy, Budby Road, Notts NG20 9JX 07956 587213/01623 812483 www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk

PLATOON 1HQ Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ 01634 829063 www.ptt-1hq.co.uk

SG1 COMBAT GAMES

TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT

UCAP GREEN OPS

Co. Londonderry, BT45 8NA 07713 273102 www.sg1combatgames.co.uk

Reynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS 01792 473336 www.tacticalwales.co.uk

Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY

TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT

Billericay, Essex, CM11 2TX 01277 657777 www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk

Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL 020 8665 1299 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk

SKIRMISH EXETER

TECH BRIGADE

Exeter, Devon, EX4 5 01548 580025 www.airsoftexeter.co.uk

Newgate Street, Hertfordshire.

SG13 8NH 07841 713356 www.techbrigade.org

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT PLAYERS OF WAR High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD 07767 203979 www.playersofwar.co.uk

PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES Ballynahinch, BT24 8NF 02897565651 / 07825169631 www.predatorcombat.com

RAVEN’S NEST Suffolk, IP8 4 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk

RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk

RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3 Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM) Cambridge, CB24 8RL 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT

Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR 07766 770830 www.southdownairsoft.com

TASK FORCE SKIRMISH Cowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF71 02920 593900 www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk

UCAP SANDPIT Bean, Kent, DA2 8 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

URBAN6AIRSOFT – ZONE 13

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH

THE BUNKER

Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

Aberystwyth, www.aberairsoft.co.uk 07841 462806

Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0QN 07432 291729 www.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN6AIRSOFT – THE BLOCK SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – THE ROCK

THE DESERTERS AIRSOFT

Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

Redford, DD11 07751 878175 www.thedeserters.co.uk

Wood Street, Butron-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 £AB www.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN ASSAULT STIRLING AIRSOFT

THE EX SITE

Coventry, CV3 6NX 07831 429407 www.stirlingairsoft.com

Mold, CH7 4 07840 001975 www.theexsitewales.co.uk

Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1 01733 247171 www.urbanassault.org.uk

VIKING AIRSOFT STORMFORCE AIRSOFT

THE WARGAMES CENTRE

Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD 07515 937633 www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk

Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN 08456 434326 www.scottishadventurecentre.co.uk

SUSSEX AIRSOFT

TROJAN AIRSOFT

Slinfold, RH12 020 8150 9284 www.sussexairsoft.co.uk

Macclesfield, SK10 4SZ 07428 024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com

S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT

TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB

Shotts, N Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com

Boathouse lane, South Wirral, Cheshire, CH64 3TB www.swatairsoft.eu 07703 177756

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT

TA EVENTS

UCAP AIRSOFT

Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com

Hemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB 07894 059794 www.ta-events.co.uk

Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

Weir Mill, Viaduct Street, Chestergate, Stockport, Cheshire, SK5 7JP

Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN www.vikingairsoft.co.uk

WARMINSTER AIRSOFT Warminster, BA12 7RZ www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk

XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOST Dunstable, LU6 2EE 01494 881430 www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk

XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END High Wycombe, HP14 3NP 01494 881430

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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DEALER LISTINGS

ADVERTISERS INDEX Land Warrior Airsoft RedWolf Airsoft Airsoft Zone JD Airsoft Airsoft World BadgerTac Wolf Armouries Airsoft Armoury SWAT Gunman Airsoft Leeds Airsoft Military 1st Beltec eHobbyAsia ActionSportGames Enola Gaye Patrol Store E-W Trading Eton Guns Airsoft Action Digital Editions BagerTac2 Airsoft TV Crawley Surplus Store NoVAT Dragon Valley Military Outdoor Bookshop Pro Airsoft Supplies

106

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2 + 75 3 + 41 + 66 9 + 71 11 + 19 + 79 15 + 107 23 25 30 + 31 35 38 46 51 56 61 62 82 87 91 91 92 96 98 99 99 99 99 100 108

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IMAGES FROM ‘THE FORT’ AIRSOFT SITE

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