Airsoft Action - June 2017

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C H O I C E

B E S T

A I R S O F T

M A G A Z I N E

AIRSOFT ACTION

GEAR

BATTLE BELTS AZY’S TACTICAL SLINGS HELIKON-TEX RANGE LINE

ARMOURY

ASG DAN WESSON 715 TOKYO MARUI 416 CUSTOM ARMORER WORKS “BLACK ACE” ASG B&T GRENADE LAUNCHER TOKYO MARUI P90 AND FIVE-SEVEN

EVENTS

MILITARY 1ST

JUNE 2017

WARRIORS

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INTERNATIONAL

GIVE IT TO A GEEK

FEMME FATALE IN THE USA

REA L S T EEL

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‘A’ S QUA D R O N

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PROJECT RASMUSSEN RIFLE

W O L F PAC K

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I T ’ S A C L ASSI C

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M A G A Z I N E

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AIRSOFT ACTION

ARMOURY: ASG B&T GRENADE LAUNCHER

GEAR

BATTLE BELTS AZY’S TACTICAL SLINGS HELIKON-TEX RANGE LINE

ARMOURY

ASG DAN WESSON 715 TOKYO MARUI 416 CUSTOM ARMORER WORKS “BLACK ACE” ASG B&T GRENADE LAUNCHER TOKYO MARUI P90 AND FIVE-SEVEN

EVENTS

JUNE 2017

|

INTERNATIONAL

GIVE IT TO A GEEK

FEMME FATALE IN THE USA

R EA L S T EEL

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‘A’ S Q UA D R O N

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PROJECT RASMUSSEN RIFLE

W O LF PAC K

|

I T’S A C L A SSI C

9 772047 348032

MILITARY 1ST

WA R R I O R S

06

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PRYPYAT WARS AIRSOFT BOOT FAIR OPERATION NEWLIFE

ARMOURY:: TM 416 CUSTOM

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Editor: Nigel Streeter Assistant Editor: Gareth “Gadge” Harvey Graphic Design: Havoc Design Ad Design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter Cover Image: Axle Ethington UK 13-issue subscription rate: £46.50 UK 6-issue subscription rate: £24.00 For overseas prices email: subs@airsoft-action.co.uk

EVENT: OPERATION NEWLIFE

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Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL Tel: 01684 878 003 Web: www.airsoft-action.online ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2017 Distribution: Distributed to the newstrade by Comag Magazine Marketing, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7QE T: 01895 433 800 Copyright © Calibre Publishing Limited 2017. 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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KIT: SITE REPORT: 1066 CQB AIRSOFT LOAD BEARING GEAR

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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.

INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT: NORWAY

TEAM PROFILE: THE WOLFPACK

CONTENTS MARCH JUNE 2017 2014

CONTENTS JUNE 2017 6

NEWS

8 ROGUE’S GALLERY Cool photos of Airsoft Action’ readers.

11 HOW TO AIRSOFT Airsoft Action’s new exclusive cartoon.

12 ARMOURY: TM 416 CUSTOM Scott Allan is surprised by TM’s latest incarnation of the HK416 – but is it as good as their others?

16 ARMOURY: ARMORER WORKS “BLACK ACE” Self-confessed pistol-nut, Les Lee, checks out Armorer Works’ stunning black GBB pistol.

20 ARMOURY: ASG B&T GRENADE LAUNCHER When it comes to room clearance in a CQB setting then there’s one airsoft tool that is worth its weight in gold and that’s the grenade launcher! It’s an intimidating bit of kit to say the least and Jerry Noone takes a close look at a model that’s compact enough to carry in any scenario!

24 EVENT: OPERATION NEWLIFE When Airsoft Action was contacted about supporting this event, we were only too pleased to be able to help and asked Frenchie to head on over to cover it.

28 INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT: USA It’s not often that someone asks “Do you fancy coming to the USA to travel and play airsoft?” so when Kelly “Femme Fatale” Hardwick got the call she didn’t hesitate!

32 INSIDE AIRSOFT: MILITARY 1ST Les Lee returns to a company that is probably UK airsoft’s foremost online gear supplier, to see how they’ve grown since his last visit.

36 LUL: HELIKON-TEX In the last issue Bill Thomas brought us an overview of the updates in the general line of clothing and gear from Helikon-Tex and this time looks in depth at the area of most change, their Range Line.

40 EVENT: PRYPYAT WARS We all love to play airsoft in “different” venues but the one that Gadge Harvey ended up in was very, very different!

44 SITE REPORT: 1066 CQB AIRSOFT “CQB airsoft” is not just a “buzz-phrase”, it is a rapidly expanding airsoft genre and Les Lee takes a trip along the coast to visit a recently opened site looking for its own place in history.

48 KIT: LOAD BEARING GEAR New Airsoft Action Contributor, Tom Hibberd, shares 15 years of playing experience as he looks at the pros and cons of different load bearing equipment types.

52 KIT: AZY’S TACTICAL SLINGS What happens when you want a custombuilt tactical sling and your mum is a dressmaker? Les Lee found out when he discovered the background to Azy’s Tactical Slings.

54 INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT: NORWAY Bill Thomas talks to Espen Dahl to get a perspective on how airsoft has evolved in Norway and what goes on there in relation to our beloved game.

56 TRAINING: A SQUADRON Faith Cowling, Director with Bob Podesta’s ‘A’ Squadron Ltd, takes us behind the scenes at Warzone Military Simulation to look at the training they undertake to make their events as real as possible.

74 ARMOURY: POCKET ROCKETS Jerry Noone takes a look at an AEG that divides opinion throughout the airsoft community worldwide and the pistol that was developed alongside it; the FN Herstal P90 and Five-seveN. 78 WWII: OPERATION HUSKY Having been kept busy with tours and working away, Sniper One, Dan Mills, starts a series of articles focussed on the use of airborne forces.

80 TEAM PROFILE: THE WOLFPACK Hailing from the North-West of England, The Wolfpack are a great bunch of guys, so we thought we’d ask them to let us know a little more about themselves.

82 BOOK REVIEW: CRAWLING OUT OF HELL Nige read this book some months ago but had been struggling to put his feelings about it into words. He hopes this does it justice…

60 REAL STEEL: M4 CARBINE Probably the most prolific rifle seen in airsoft, the M4’s popularity remains rocksteady but it may not be the same in the real world, as Gadge explains.

84 GEAR: BATTLE BELTS – GEARING UP In the last issue Andy Nightingale wrote about how battle belts can help your loadbearing problems, now he looks at different ways of setting them up.

62 GITAG: PROJECT RAMUSSEN RIFLE Our sadly departed friend, Mark Rasmussen, was honoured at IWA this year. This time in “Geek” we follow a build that we sincerely hope will let his online legacy be an enduring one. Bill Thomas tells the story.

87 IT’S A CLASSIC: PASGT HELMET Call it a “Fritz” or a “K Pot”, or just a “Kevlar”, without a shadow of a doubt the US Army’s PASGT Kevlar helmet changed the style of personal protection forever, as Gadge Harvey explains.

66 REVOLVERS: DAN WESSON 715 Seen in just about every “Western” film, revolvers have always had a fascination for many and Andy Nightingale is no exception, as he starts a short series with a look at ASG’s Dan Wesson 715.

88 FEATURE: P-38 If someone asked you what the greatest ever army invention was, it is very doubtful you would choose this humble piece of equipment. Over to Military Historian, Will Fowler…

68 EVENT: AIRSOFT BOOT FAIR Bill Thomas took some time away from building guns and breaking gear to pay a visit to a twice-yearly airsoft event in Bexley, Kent that this year was bigger than ever before: the Airsoft Bootfair.

92 SITE DIRECTORY & PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUBS Looking for a skirmish site, or your local Airsoft Practical Pistol Club? Then we may have the answer, with over four pages of sites and clubs throughout the UK.

70 WARRIORS: RUSSIAN PEACEMAKER Gareth “Gadge” Harvey turns his attention to 1999 and an event that nearly started World War III.

98 DEALER LISTING: AIRSOFT ACTION’S ADVERTISER INDEX Find who you are looking for in our listing of all the adverts that appear in this issue.

s w e N t f o s Air

Team GB heading for G&G’s CQB World Cup IT’S NOT OFTEN SOMEONE says to you “Do you fancy an all-expenses paid trip to Taiwan to take part in the G&G CQB World Cup?” Well that is the prize that awaits the lucky pair that makes up Zero One Airsoft’s Team GB Finalists, Ian and Gavin (looking resplendent in their customised Viper Tactical Titanium gear)!

Not only that but they will be competing for a cash first prize of $10,000.

Taking place from the 9th to 11th June, competitors from around the World will be flown to Taipei to compete in the 2017 competition – and, of course, Airsoft Action will also be there to bring you a blow-by-blow account of all the airsoft action!

For more information on how you can get involved in future events, head over to Zero One (www.zerooneairsoft.com).

Umarex reinforce team IN ORDER TO DO JUSTICE to the huge significance of the markets in the UK and Ireland, Umarex have decided to provide improved support by means of a special Area Sales Manager. They have been able to gain Bevin Lesueur for the newly created position. Bevin already cooperated closely and confidently with Umarex while he was working with another Umarex distributor before accepting a new challenge in the year 2013. He is already familiar with the Umarex products and during his previous work he has gathered wide experience in the UK market.

An extensive training programme will be held in the headquarters in Arnsberg in the course of the next weeks.

The key task of Bevin Lesueur is to support the market directly on-site and to assume an advisory and supporting function for the distributors who for their part support the specialized trade. He will also be the point of contact for the authorized specialist dealers for any problems, questions or suggestions they might have regarding the Umarex range of products. The direct support of the specialized trade still rests solely with the official distributors and their respective sales-teams. One of the first steps will be restructuring the Airsoft distribution in the UK, after Armex and Umarex agreed to discontinue the distribution of Airsoft products through Armex to the specialist trade. The distribution of airguns and other product lines will currently continue unchanged through the two distributors Armex and John Rothery/Bisley Wholesale.

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JUNE 2017

DEPSOC 360 On the cover this month we’re delighted and privileged to show one of the very latest images of one of the new DEPSOC 360 camouflage patterns and its full spectrum gear solution. We first saw DEPSOC 360 courtesy of a prior-service USMC friend and were taken aback thinking what is this pattern? Real Tree? Tigerstripe? Both? It wasn’t; it was so much more!

It’s a more complex and more effective pattern given its three dimensional look. The more we looked at DEPSOC, the more we saw its effectiveness. DEPSOC is available in a variety of patterns for different environments. DEPSOC has created an All-Terrain Camouflage (ATC), Desert, and an Arctic pattern with military users in mind. DEPSOC camouflage patterns are feasible for military worldwide use versus patterns specialised to one geographic location.

In Airsoft Action next month we’ll bring the complete lowdown on this dramatic new pattern thanks to 0241 Tactical (www.0241tactical.com), with a superb picture set courtesy of Axle Ethington in the USA; you saw it here first!

AA GALLERY

SPONSORED BY

READERS’ PHOTOS

ROGUE’S GALLERY

IT WAS WITH SHOCK AND huge disappointment that we learned that BadgerTac’s new site “Phoenix College” was to close so soon after opening its gates.

Ratty is a close personal friend and a tremendous supporter of all things airsoft and we know just how much time and effort he, “Pumped Up” and “Banzai” put into this awesome location – but it was not to be. Despite the fact that they (and all the other companies on the site) had a contract, they have been unceremoniously bundled off the site, just three days after Airsoft Action visited to do the first full review.

We hope “The Phoenix” will rise again but until then, all we can do is leave you with some pictures of the day and thoughts of what might have been…

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JUNE 2017

AA GALLERY READERS’ PHOTOS

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June 2017

AA GALLERY A FEW ISSUES AGO WE gave away the superb gas-powered ASG-Accuracy International AW.308 to prize-winner Rebecca Chadwick.

We asked her to send us a couple of photos of her with the rifle and let us know what she thinks of it, this is what she had to say: “The ASG AW.308, in my opinion, is brilliant!

“I have had a spring sniper in the past in the form of a JG Bar 10, that I had to spend a fair bit on to get it to shoot reliably but out of the box I found that the AW.308 was easily useable at my local sites, out-ranging most of the game areas.

“I need to do a little investigation into which gas I should use in the colder months (plus maybe a quick coat of Krylon) and this may just be my “go to gun” for lazier day’s skirmishing. I am very pleased to add this gun to my small but ever growing armoury, it will see a lot of use now and in the future.

“A big thanks to Airsoft Action and the ASG team for such a great give away.”

READERS’ PHOTOS

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.

CARTOON

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Armoury TM 416 CUSTOM

MAY THE DELTA FORCE BE WITH YOU SCOTT ALLAN IS SURPRISED BY TM’S LATEST INCARNATION OF THE HK416 – BUT IS IT AS GOOD AS THEIR OTHERS? IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO be a SEAL you may as well be Delta!

Tokyo Marui have once again jazzed up their ever popular 416 series, with the new Delta Force Custom. In some ways I am surprised, as I suspected the DEVGRU would be the last revisit to the model but I was wrong. Things don’t happen fast at Marui, the DEVGRU version of the 416 was released years ago and now we have their first desert coloured version, with the Delta Force Custom.

Tokyo Marui, despite what many people hilariously believe, is not in China - nor is any of their production. Marui are based in Japan and that is a huge difference; they have higher costs of living, wages and therefore the goods are more expensive but generally better too. Just think “Honda vs Great Wall Haval” (yes that’s a real Chinese car company). TM boast they have 80% of the Airsoft market share in Japan and to be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest. They make (by a sizeable margin) the most reliable, best all-round performing

Airsoft rifles on the planet today - but they are not infallible by any means. There have been a handful of companies who have come close to their quality testing, such as Real Sword and PTS Syndicate but TM are much bigger and more consistent that either of those organisations. A common illconceived downside of a Marui rifle is the lower FPS, generally they float around the 290-310fps but this doesn’t mean that they are short on range.

So if they are so good then why is there any competition?

Well, Tokyo Marui care very little about the market outside of Japan for some reason. I’ve heard from a reliable source that Umarex actually spoke to Marui a while back about selling direct to them (to get around the trademark infringement) but TM refused to put the extra marks, such a CE and the F in Pentagon mark they required. Crazy but there you go. Japanese law means they do not have to recognise trademarks in other countries, so all these H&K, Colt & Glocks that Tokyo Marui release are not licensed versions - which is a great shame but also why many retailers now have to cover over and paint them before selling. Is any of this likely to change? Not really no.

The HK416 Delta Force Custom is a variant of the standard TM 416D that has been out for a few years now. Utilising their excellent recoil shock system it offers stop on empty features much like a Systema PTW or PTS ERG. The Marui rifle achieves this mechanically instead of the electronic Systema cut off, which is better in my opinion. The magazines are the newer style that sport thicker walls at the top of the magazine to prevent the bending issue the older magazines could have. That aside, it’s pretty much just a dark earth version of the previous rifle.

THE REAL STEEL

The HK 416 is effectively a M4/AR15 design. But this is Heckler and Koch’s punt into the huge US market and oh my, did they do a good (albeit expensive) job!

Utilizing the NATO standard 5.56mm round it is an excellent performer and this may be why it ended up as a much 12

JUNE 2017

Armoury TM 416 CUSTOM

“WITH THEIR PROPITIATORY QUICK CHANGE BATTERY SYSTEM AND THE EVER-RELIABLE HOP SYSTEM THESE RIFLES SHOULD RUN ALMOST INDEFINITELY IF LEFT ALONE.” sought-after Special Forces rifle. While nothing in the 416 was desperately new in design, one of the key features was the gas system. Instead of using the fouled propellant gasses to cycle the weapon, H&K opted for a piston at the front sight post that performs the same job. Less fouling in the mechanism translates into a more reliable system. Through much hardship and testing the HK416 did score consistently well, yet there are still those who do not believe it is all they say it is. I suppose it would be like 1,000 joiners using the same set of tools; some would find fault and have a different opinion. Such is life. There will always be “ifs”, “buts” and “maybes” but the simple fact is the 416 does pretty much everything well and, as always, has a price tag to match – much like the Airsoft version!

THE AIRSOFT VERSION

The TM HK416 Delta comes nicely presented in the typical fashion from Marui, with a blue ribbon around the box.

It’s a nice touch you see on all Marui rifles but ultimately unnecessary. The colour of the TM has been criticised by many people as being inaccurate. “Tan colour of five colours” is what Marui call this, they are all a different shade of metallic tan and while it looks great and TM claim this is correct, I cannot find any example of a rifle this colour.

The markings are nice and clear and while they are unfortunately not official trademarks, they are there so selling these with trademarks intact in the UK is a big “no-no” and Umarex keep an ever-watchful eye over the market to make sure no one is infringing on them. The rifle includes a rail set to attach to the replica Geissele rail, adjustable Crane stock and removable flip up iron sights. It’s not the most startling effort ever from TM but then every M4 is the same as the last… 99% of the time anyway.

PERFORMANCE

At the heart of this rifle is Marui’s Version 2 Recoil Shock Gearbox, which is an absolutely brilliant bit of kit. While the new PTS ERG does provide more recoil the Marui is not to be sniffed at. With their propitiatory quick change battery system

and the ever-reliable hop system these rifles should run almost indefinitely if left alone. Players should easily expect to hit out to 50 metres maximum with the hop set and the accuracy of a TM is always very good.

SUMMARY OF THE FEATURES

So it is not going to split any trees at 310fps but then again that should not really affect your range either. The efficiency and quality of the hop up unit is equally important as the power of the rifle. So many times I have seen a poor 450 fps sniper rifle shoot nearly as far as a 350fps rifle with a good hop set up. Tinkering can often be the only way to maximise performance but TM do all of this for you. At 3.3 kilos it is hefty but not heavy compared to many other rifles on the market. I do like the fast change battery yet they are pricy, so it is equally loved and hated by players. I tend to use the same LiPos for everything so normally have it changed to a standardised connector.

The hop unit is styled much like the G36 design and has a noticeable click as it moves, which is a great feature. Also internally there is a guide that holds the hop unit and a brass barrel straight and true, another simple yet helpful design feature. The outer barrel appears to be bespoke, so in the unlikely event you want to change the outer barrel you might see some trouble there. The gearbox is entirely bespoke, as are the gears and piston, so those who like to tinker around may wish to leave the Delta well alone. All the parts internally are of a high quality and shouldn’t present any real problems. The bushings are 6mm nylon types, which is a strange thing to see these days but again, there is nothing wrong with this, it’s just that more companies are opting for 8mm bearings.

SO WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT THIS RIFLE?

The realism is the main factor in this rifle. It does everything a Systema PTW does - with added recoil and less than half the price. You the put a magazine into the rifle and begin your

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Armoury TM 416 CUSTOM

patrol. Upon contact with the enemy you fire your magazine off in short, controlled bursts, relishing in all 82 rounds recoiling into your shoulder until “thud”. The 416 stops... You drop the magazine to realise you’re empty.

Quickly grabbing a fresh magazine you launch it into the magazine well and hit the mechanical bolt release… “Thud!” back in the fight and ready to go.

You should never feel outmatched or outgunned with the Marui 416 rifles.

There may be faster rifles out there, as well as more powerful but this is a really, really nice rifle. The satisfaction of the game is key to your enjoyment as a player and I truly believe that systems like the Tokyo Marui are the future of Airsoft.

Recoil blowback, realistic action and operation with stop on empty systems are reaching the pinnacle of what Airsoft is meant to be.

“THE REALISM IS THE MAIN FACTOR IN THIS RIFLE. IT DOES EVERYTHING A SYSTEMA PTW DOES - WITH ADDED RECOIL AND LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE.”

But if realism is your bag and you want something reliable, then you can never go wrong with Tokyo Marui. Although this is double the price of a standard Airsoft rifle, at the same time it is something more than a standard Airsoft rifle. It is a great bit of design and engineering; much like a Systema PTW and yet the 416 Delta is less than half the cost of the PTW. It will boil down to the individual player and how far they are willing to stretch their wallet.

Is this the best value Airsoft rifle? No - but is this still one of the most reliable and the most fun?

Definitely!

USE IN THE GAME FIELD

Every M4 should be easy enough for your average player to use. The stop on empty feature does mean you have to use the specific Tokyo Marui magazine with the 416 Delta, which is a slight pain as the magazines are slightly more expensive than standard M4 magazines. That said, they are also higher quality than most other manufacturer’s magazines too.

The 3.3 kilos is around 400 grams more than your standard M4 which, by the time you add a red dot and battery, you are going to look at nearly 4 kilos. The quick change batteries are great but you are likely to need two for a game day and at over £40 a pop, it does suck a bit when you could have three regular LiPos for that money. As well as that, the batteries aren’t really pouch-friendly, unlike a standard battery. I did find the ambidextrous fire selector a little irritating as it caught on my glove enough for me to notice when changing, also on single shot it did get in the way of my grip whilst the right side was in a vertical position. Personally, I would either cut it down or remove it. If you are a lefty I’m sure it will be perfect, as few M4 platforms are ever helpful for you guys ‘n gals.

CONCLUSION

With a hefty £600 price tag the 416 Delta can be a bit hard to swallow. If all you want is something that looks a little bit like a 416 then you could consider the G&G T418, or the official Umarex HK416 (if you can find them in the UK at the moment).

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JUNE 2017

features Power: 310fps with Blaster 0.20g BB Weight: 3.3 kilos Length: 711 – 787mm Recoil blow back Ambidextrous fire selector 82 Round Magazine (for Stop on Empty system) Fast change battery system Quick change silencer Vertical grip Flip up sights Many bespoke internals RRP £600

armoury HX2003 “BLACK ACE” GBB PISTOL

SELF-CONFESSED PISTOL-NUT, LES LEE, CHECKS OUT ARMORER WORKS STUNNING BLACK GBB PISTOL.

BLACK ACE MY PISTOL PASSION STARTED AROUND 15 years ago when a good friend of mine and ex-Brit, Tony Fowler of Fowler Firearms in Fort Myers, Florida invited me to his indoor shooting range. I got to shoot a selection of pistols of varying calibres during my holiday and I soon became hooked. I have yet to shoot a .50 cal but I did have an “experience” with a .44 Magnum revolver, which immediately transformed me into Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry where he produced that monumental phrase: “But being

that this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question… Do I feel lucky? Well do ya’ punk?”

They say you never forget your first and that certainly applied to me!

I first set eyes on Armorer Works pistols a year ago when our good friends at iWholesales had a superb display at the 2015 IWA show and I realised that I fancied the pants off of these sexy sidearms. My desire became reality when the cabinet door was unlocked and I was invited to get up close and personal with them, which I most certainly did.

So by now I guess that you have a pretty good idea that I love pistols!

Anyway, I digress (as usual) but in a nutshell, that is how my love of pistols began and is now just as strong as it has always been.

ARMORER WORKS

Armorer Works joined the scene in January 2015 so they are not exactly “old school” but they seem to have made a great start and have produced some fine firearms of the holstered kind.

All their products are pistols and related AW accessories and the range is growing at a pretty fast rate. However, although AW pistols are quite exquisite, with Hi-Capas taking a strong lead, the various custom designs and finishes are possibly not going to be a huge hit with anyone looking for an authentic replica, with the exception of perhaps the NE models. Just how far can Armorer Works can go until they either run short on 16

JUNE 2017

armoury HX2003 “BLACK ACE” GBB PISTOL

new designs, or are finally forced to answer calls to produce more authentic RIFs remains to be seen.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see but be assured that the team here at Airsoft Action have eyes and ears everywhere and we will bring you up to the minute news on any developments.

One of my personal objectives is to further investigate Armorer Works’ future projects wherever possible because I am extremely curious as to what we can expect next.

Out of the 28 AW pistols currently available, 21 are in the “HX” stable and the HX2003 is preceded (unsurprisingly) by the HX2001 & HX2002. While AW are probably known more for their bright colours, this model is black, in fact it is very black… from muzzle to magwell, with the exception of the adjustable bi-coloured fibre optic sights and a single chrome dome hex screw at the top of the pistol grip, which makes this one seriously bad-ass looking handgun!

When I first set eyes on the Black Ace model, I started drooling (nothing new there really) and contacted our great friends at iWholesales to enquire about borrowing one for review. The first shipment of this model were not the all black model, being a mix of black and silver alloy, steel and polymer, however, the Black Ace finally arrived from Taiwan and it was indeed all black …and menacingly intimidating.

It’s also worth noting that for the more surgical ‘softers, the AW Custom™ tech team have announced that they have now launched a whole new “Maintenance Section” on their website. This section will mainly focus on video tutorials of basic Airsoft maintenance, pistol disassembly, and common problem solutions, etc. This offers a lot more in-depth info than can be said for the single sheet instruction guide found within the distinctive red and black cardboard box. The Maintenance Section is available on their Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as official website, starting with lubrication and maintenance of the HX range.

However, it would be irresponsible if I didn’t remind you that too much tinkering with any new airsoft gun will almost certainly wave bye-bye to your warranty!

Armorer Works pistols seem to have a lot of features that you’ll look for in a secondary, or competition gun right out of the box, so shooters not wishing to pay top dollar for a custom build can get going with some gas and plastic straight away and not be disappointed.

As I’m sure you know, the Hi-Capa (in this case, the 5.1 model) is loosely based on the legendary 1911 type of build but it takes on an appearance of a post-workout 1911 pistol because of its sizeable increase in stature. In other words, it’s bigger and meaner characteristics give it a whole different appeal and purpose and more often than not, a specific type of end user.

Unlike the aforementioned, it has more right angled edges and less curves and the weight is increased to a credible 715g without a magazine which, when coupled, raises it up by another 335g excluding ammo – and that takes you over a kilo (you can do the maths - I was off school the day they taught maths).

Front and rear slide grips are very user-friendly to say the least and faux venting is provided just behind the front sight on the slide, which is for aesthetics only - unlike the very prominent accessory rail which runs almost to the trigger guard. Markings on the entire gun are limited to a small AW hex logo and .45 ACP stamped on the ejector port housing and, other than that, it is unmarked but for the tiny adjustment arrow on the rear sight unit.

Safeties are in the shape of the Beavertail grip safety plus ambidextrous lever type which can be easily operated with

gloved hands. The polymer honeycomb grip pattern provides great purchase and sits above a flared magwell, which enhances the shooter’s fast reload ability and which leaves me to finally comment on the trigger.

A finely tuned trigger can make or break a shooter’s target acquisition and if there was one particular feature that I really loved about this pistol, it was its skeletonised, squared off competition style trigger with the most silky smooth operation, which bites after a mere couple of pounds of pull and no more than 3 mm of travel. This was “love at first bite” for me, as I have always been “trigger fussy” having had my Section One firearms modified whenever possible back in the day. Not such an issue during a skirmish but rather critical during the competitive target shooting these Hi-Capas are primarily built for. The only downside to this shape trigger is that there really isn’t much room for a gloved finger, which may be an issue during cold weather.

“WHILE AW ARE PROBABLY KNOWN MORE FOR THEIR BRIGHT COLOURS, THIS MODEL IS BLACK, IN FACT IT IS VERY BLACK… FROM MUZZLE TO MAGWELL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ADJUSTABLE BI-COLOURED FIBRE OPTIC SIGHTS AND A SINGLE CHROME DOME HEX SCREW AT THE TOP OF THE PISTOL GRIP, WHICH MAKES THIS ONE SERIOUSLY BAD-ASS LOOKING HANDGUN!” www.airsoft-action.online

17

armoury HX2003 “BLACK ACE” GBB PISTOL

features Full metal slide and upper frame Enlarged competition style grip with honeycomb grip pattern Ambidextrous safety Enlarged magwell flare enhances the shooters reloading ability It has an adjustable hop up system and claims to fire at an average of around 320fps in its standard out-of-the-box build. It comes with a 30-round, gas, brushed steel magazine, however, it is also compatible with AW CO2 magazines, plus those of TM and WE, including the 52 round extended WE mag, so getting replacement or spare magazines should not be a problem whatsoever.

PERFORMANCE

As usual, I set two distances, 10 metres and 30 metres, for the field test and it was a warm, sunny and wind-free day so perfect conditions.

Using tried and trusted .20 Blaster BBs and Nuprol Green Gas I began to squeeze the trigger and within .05 of a second, the little round round was flying towards the target. It felt subtle, bordering on delicate, unlike the definitive recoil that followed and I was soon asking “Have I found my perfect pistol?”

After squeezing off ten rounds at ten metres, a grouping the size of a chocolate digestive left me smiling and at 30 metres it would have quite easily struck your average torso at centre mass, so the accuracy of this pistol kinda’ gave me a 7-8 out of ten - but how much was down to this shooter’s error?

I guess we’ll never know but I was very happy with the results and overall performance!

CONCLUSION To summarise, this fearsome-looking (and performing) matt black, satin-finished demon, aka “The Black Ace” from Armorer Works has impressed me.

I would feel more comfortable in a controlled environment where, I think, it would find its purpose in life and I would happily and proudly shoot this puppy all day long at targets but would I take it out into a combat zone? Hell yeah!!

The sight of this beast would soon have white flags flying simply down to the intimidation factor alone. It is a formidable beast whichever way you look at it, or shoot it. I’m not saying it’s the best pistol I have ever shot (that’s my secret) but I will categorically say that it is one of the best, probably in my top five all-time favourites.

And I cannot wait to see what comes out next from the Armorer Works camp!

I would like to express my sincere thanks once again to the guys at iWholesales who continue to support Airsoft Action by kindly loaning us airsoft guns and gear to review.

Les OUT! 18

JUNE 2017

Functioning beavertail safety Exaggerated front and rear slide serrations make weapon manipulation easy on the run or with gloves Skeletonized, squared off, anodized black competition style trigger Under barrel rail for mounting weapon lights, LAM units or other accessories Realistic Blowback Action Front and rear fibre optics sights allow for quick target acquisition in low light conditions Ultra-light recoil, and crisp, agile blowback cycling Pistol Length : 223mm Pistol Height : 159mm Pistol Weight (No Mag) : 715g Magazine Weight : 335g Inner Barrell Length : 110mm Average 334 FPS/1.04J during test with .20 bbs and Nuprol green gas.

armoury B&T GL06 GRENADE LAUNCHER

WHEN IT COMES TO ROOM CLEARANCE IN A CQB SETTING THEN THERE’S ONE AIRSOFT TOOL THAT IS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD AND THAT’S THE GRENADE LAUNCHER! IT’S AN INTIMIDATING BIT OF KIT TO SAY THE LEAST AND JERRY NOONE TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT A MODEL THAT’S COMPACT ENOUGH TO CARRY IN ANY SCENARIO!

BOOM! BOOM! CLEAR!!

ALMOST SINCE THE BEGINNING of (what might be termed) “modern warfare”, the grenade launcher has been what many consider to be a real “force multiplier”.

Grenade launchers can either come in the form of standalone weapons (either single-shot or repeating) or attachments mounted to a rifle or even carbine. Larger crewserved automatic grenade launchers, such as the Mk19, are mounted on tripods or vehicles.

The “modern era” of underslung and/or highly portable grenade launchers was probably ushered in with the introduction of the venerable Vietnam era M79 40mm “Blooper” but things quickly moved on from a stand-alone system to one that could be incorporated even on a carbine like the XM177; the American XM148 is a great example of this.

Once the M203 came into service proper it became more and more common to see launcher-armed infantrymen and other countries moved on apace with the Russian GP-25, Heckler & Koch AG36, Beretta GLX 160 and various models from Bulgarian manufacturer Arsenal.

The next move forward, or indeed alongside the development of the under-barrel launcher were the newer “stand-alones”; like the M79 launchers the Heckler & Koch

20

JUNE 2017

armoury B&T GL06 GRENADE LAUNCHER

HK69A1and M320 Grenade Launcher Module, along with the Arsenal 40x46 mm UGGL-M1 were weapons in their own right and carried in addition to a primary. These started appearing in the hands not just of military users but also with police and law enforcement personnel where the “less lethal” solutions they offered became highly valued.

The Brügger & Thomet GL06 was designed as a dedicated stand-alone shoulder-fired 40×46mm grenade launcher intended for military and police applications. The GL06 was developed in response to requests from the police force of a leading European country which sought to obtain a less-lethal solution for anti-riot application, with the particular need for pin-point accuracy at mid-range (beyond 40 meters for such scenarios) when firing impact rounds.

THUN THUNDER!

Brugger & Thomet AG (B&T) was founded in Thun, Switzerland

by Karl Brugger and Heinrich Thomet in 1991. The core competence of B&T was (and still is) the integration of firearms expertise and state of the art engineering into practical solutions for special military and police users. These engineering standards enable B&T to create and produce the best possible tactical solutions for weapon systems. When B&T started, suppressors were the first product the company produced and they still do to this day. Users of suppressors very often needed special optical sights on their weapons, so optical sight mounts for tactical weapons soon became a second product line.

To complement this, B&T introduced a line of Tactical Rail Handguards (TRH), thus increasing the modularity of modern firearms, adapting them to accept laser sights, night vision devices, illumination systems, brass catchers and more. Many customers though also came to B&T asking for suitable weapon platforms that were not available from other manufacturers.

By the summer of 2004 B&T was starting to produce their own line of complete weapons, the MP9 9mm submachine gun, APR308/338 sniper rifle, APC9 submachine gun, APC556/ APC300 police carbine, APC223 sporting rifle, SPR300 urban sniping rifle and the GL06 40mm grenade launcher.

“I’VE LOOKED AT MANY ASG LICENCED REPLICAS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT TO DATE I’VE NOT BEEN DISAPPOINTED AND I’LL COME STRAIGHT OUT AND SAY THAT THE GL06 IS NO EXCEPTION TO THAT!”

A PROPER SWISS MISS! In many of the reviews I carry out on airsoft replicas I make use of the phrase “Fully Licenced” and it’s something that is very important to me - and it should be to you. Development of any “real steel” platform or system takes years and costs many

www.airsoft-action.online

21

armoury B&T GL06 GRENADE LAUNCHER

“ONCE THE GRENADE IS INSERTED IN THE LAUNCHER AND FIRED, IT SHOOTS ALL THE BB’S AT ONCE WITH A BIG BLAST, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS GREAT FOR ROOM CLEARING AND SUPPRESSIVE FIRE; I’VE SEEN “VC” FULL-FRONTAL ASSAULTS SERIOUSLY PUT TO BED BY A COUPLE OF GUYS WHO KNEW HOW TO DEPLOY THEIR M79 LAUNCHERS PROPERLY!” thousands of pounds; trademark infringement is a serious matter and failing to work with real world firearms manufacturers and proper licencing agreements could see them withdrawing their products altogether from the replica market.

ActionSportGames (ASG) are one of the best in the business at getting their licensing agreements right and ensuring that what we as buyers get is 100% correct, even down to trademarks. With the GL06 grenade launcher they’ve worked closely with B&T to provide a replica with a completely authentic look and feel. I’ve looked at many ASG licenced replicas over the last few years and I have to say that to date I’ve not been disappointed and I’ll come straight out and say that the GL06 is no exception to that! Weighing in at 2200gr/4.9lb and measuring just 385mm/15.4inches with the stock folded to the right hand side, the GL06 is absolutely perfect to carry alongside your primary AEG or GBBR and it gives you a whole heap more firepower when you need it!

Apart from the 279mm/11.2inch metal barrel the GL06 is constructed pretty much entirely from a high strength polymer, buy hey, guess what, so is the real thing! All four side rails are metal and will support any accessories you might deem essential. A quick-detach foregrip is supplied to make the GL06 just like the real thing and although there are perfectly adequate open sights the metal barrel features a full-length rail for optics; this is not strictly essential for “close up and personal” airsoft but in the real world the GL06 is often

22

JUNE 2017

mated to an Aimpoint T1 optic for those “standoff distance” encounters.

In terms of controls the GL06 is simplicity itself; there’s and oversized trigger and trigger guard; the guard also incorporates the barrel release catch, which is fully ambidextrous. The safety is a simple push-through affair; when the button is to the left you’ll see a white “safe” ring and when pushed to the right this becomes “red for dead”. The launcher takes any length of airsoft grenade; I tried it with models from various manufacturers and they all worked perfectly. ASG kindly supplied the test sample with two of their own grenades, 65 and 90 BB models and these functioned flawlessly time after time.

For ease of carriage the GL06 has numerous sling attachment points, both on the main body and on the folding stock. The stock is of very sturdy construction; when folded to the right hand side it stays securely in place and when open it’s as sturdy as a sturdy thing. Overall although there a few mould lines visible but the construction is incredibly solid and I honestly think you’d be hard pressed to break one of these.

On the range the GL06 is as you’d expect it to be and in general terms this is where the replica differs drastically from the real; at best you’re only going to get BBs out to around 10m but they do have a nice spread at that distance. Once the grenade is inserted in the launcher and fired, it shoots all the BBs at once with a big blast, which obviously is great for room clearing and suppressive fire; I’ve seen “VC” full-frontal assaults seriously put to bed by a couple of guys who knew how to deploy their M79 launchers properly!

I have to admit that I’ve had a few grenade launchers in my time and quickly moved them on; these days though with more effective gas “canister” shells and the likes of TAG rounds on the market (sadly I just ran out of “Reapers” before the GL06 arrived…) perhaps the time for the airsoft grenade launcher truly is “now” and I really will be disappointed to see the sample leave.

If you’re looking for a cracking, compact close-range tool, or perhaps even something that WILL be able to launch that elusive grenade bombardment at last, then I have to say that the GL06 is looking very good indeed. Priced at under £150 it’s a good price; it’s also a really solid performer and it appears that ASG have once again made the most of a licence agreement.

Please do go to www.actionsportgames. com and check out the GL06 more and to have a look at other great ASG models available!

ActionSportGamesŽ is a worldwide leader in the business of replica firearms and accessories manufacturing – including Airsoft guns, Airguns, CO2 guns and firearms replicas.

0021-0417_AirsoftAction_EVO-Carbine.indd 2

The new EVO Carbines feature the same high-end internals as the popular CZ EVO 3 A1 Airsoft AEGS. They have M-LOK attachment points and full-length picatinny rail on the upper receiver. As with the game-proven CZ EVO 3 A1 models, the new carbines are produced and manufactured in Denmark by ActionSportGames. Contact your local dealer for more information about the new CZ Carbines from ASG.

0021-0417_April2017

CZ EVO Carbines X2

> CZ EVO 3 A1 Carbine > CZ EVO 3 A1 B.E.T. Carbine

19-04-2017 08:40:45

Charity Event OPERATION NEWLIFE

OPERATION WHEN AIRSOFT ACTION WAS CONTACTED ABOUT SUPPORTING THIS EVENT, WE WERE ONLY TOO PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO HELP AND ASKED FRENCHIE TO HEAD ON OVER TO COVER IT. OPERATION NEWLIFE WAS THE BRAINCHILD of Michael Mertins, of West Coast Airsoft. It was held at the Scottish Airsoft Centre on Sunday the 9th of April and astonishingly it didn’t rain (much). Not only that but it raised a very healthy sum of cash for a very worthwhile charity and all of this was achieved while a bunch of airsofters shot lumps out of each other. That’s a result whichever way you look at it! However, let me expand a bit on all of this otherwise this will be a short and mightily boring review of a fine day.

I’ll start with the site, because it has been a feature of Scottish airsofting for many years. Like many sites, the personnel who run it have changed over time but the site itself just keeps going. Scottish Airsoft Centre (SAC) sits equidistant from Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland’s central belt. Unlike nearly every other outdoor site in Scotland it isn’t basically a woodland site, in fact some trees might occasionally be welcome!

Spread over approximately 500 acres, the site used to be a munitions manufacturing site.

As a result it has a scattering of buildings and a number of secure, reinforced bunkers.

For many years the buildings themselves could be played

24

JUNE 2017

but I discovered during my visit that as a result of a revision to the rates rules, the site has had to sadly demolish them or face having to pay full rates on what are roofless shells. Makes sense to me…

As a consequence, SAC is a site in a state of “becoming”.

Having not visited in quite a while it was genuinely interesting to take a wander and to see what has changed. I hope the guys won’t take offence if I describe SAC as barren, let’s be honest, it’s notorious for it. This and the fact that it sits atop a hill means that if the weather is poor you need an especially hardy breed of airsofter to thrive here! As the buildings are cleared new areas for play are being developed and most excellent fun they are too. Much of the morning’s play occurred around the “Police Station” but there is a much larger area, discreetly surrounded by high berms near the safezone which has all manner of obstacles and cover and which, I must confess, got my trigger finger twitching. In short, I like what I see and I liked what I heard about the plans for the site. It will always be windy but it would be an epic setting for a weekend of post-apocalyptic airsofting.

Charity Event OPERATION NEWLIFE

N NEWLIFE The staff were their usual friendly selves and it was great to catch up with Russ Bate who is running the airsoft side of things these days. Having run sites and organised games for well over a decade myself, I tend to cast a critical eye over how things are done whenever I visit airsoft venues. It is with genuine pleasure that I can report that during my visit I saw nothing but quiet, friendly, professional behaviour from all of the staff on site. All the marshals were where they could see and be seen and it was obvious that they had complete oversight of the game and players at all times. I never heard a single voice raised, let alone raised in anger. It no doubt happens (no one is that angelic) but it was a fine thing to observe.

And so to the game – and the reason behind it.

Operation Newlife was the brainchild of Michael Mertins of West Coast Airsoft (WCA). WCA is a relative newcomer to the world of airsoft retailing and is still fairly small. It serves the airsofting community on the west coast of Scotland, being based in Stevenson. I had several opportunities to chat with Mike during the day and he’s an affable bear with a fondness for emitting clouds of custard-flavoured vape – a man after my own heart. WCA is still establishing itself and I was interested and indeed a little surprised, to learn that at present it has no significant online presence - there

is a Facebook page if you’re interested but Michael’s aim at present is, I suppose, best expressed as a desire to sell himself as someone who can be trusted to deliver decent quality gear at a reasonable price to his customers. It’s a different approach to the vast majority of new retailers, who tend to announce themselves with massive promises and a shiny website but you know, he may have a point. Although airsofters are consummate bargain hunters, they do also appreciate the personal touch and that can sometimes win out over the brutal arithmetic of pricing. Regardless, this is a man who is quite happy to put himself front and centre and to say “try me” and I see nothing wrong in that.

Newlife is a charity and I’ll quote Michael himself about its aims and its importance to him personally: “One of my priorities when I started West Coast Airsoft back in October was to establish a relationship with Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children. Newlife is a charity designed who help disabled children and their families by providing them with the

www.airsoft-action.online

25

Charity Event OPERATION NEWLIFE

specialist equipment they need to help make life easier. It’s a charity who are close to my family’s hearts – having a child with disabilities is challenging at the best of times but having the support of Newlife helps to alleviate some of the challenges we face as parents. Last year Newlife provided my son, who is non-mobile, non-verbal and has severe developmental delay owing to his cerebral palsy, with a new specialist car seat and a “P-Pod” bean bag chair worth £1,900, all to make Liam more comfortable at home and in the car.

“Having the shop and being active within the airsoft community has provided me with the means to give something back to Newlife and help other families in a similar position to our own, all whilst bringing people together to do what we all enjoy, and also help to promote both airsoft and Newlife to a wider audience.”

With this aim in mind, Michael approached SAC’s Russ Bate back in November 2016 to see if they could get their heads together and arrange the event that would ultimately become “Operation: Newlife”. Five months later he had filled his selfimposed cap of 90 players and was one very happy camper.

On the day there were 82 paying players and between them, the site, the caterers and the raffle held at lunchtime the event raised just short of £2,000 for Newlife. That’s a decent chunk of change in anyone’s book and when I left Michael he was one very happy man.

The gaming itself was divided into two distinct sessions.

In the morning it was concentrated around a feature the site What did I take from the day? Shooting people with plastic calls the “Police Station”. This comprises two containers with balls is still a whole load of fun. Airsofters are fun people to multiple entrances and internal dividing walls surrounded by be around. SAC is as open as I remember but it’s well-run by what amounts to a compound wall constructed from 50 gallon friendly people and is developing into a site with potentially oil drums welded together. Nothing overly fancy but airsofters more to offer players than it had before. don’t need anything fancy, they just need something to fight Finally, if you have an idea and especially if that idea is over – and their imaginations. As the scenario demanded about helping others, people will generally respond positively attack, possession and defence, it ebbed and flowed for all of the morning with a short break for those who hadn’t brought nearly enough “[THE POLICE STATION] COMPRISES TWO CONTAINERS WITH ammo with them! It was airsoft at its most MULTIPLE ENTRANCES AND INTERNAL DIVIDING WALLS SURROUNDED fundamental and it was pleasure to watch.

As mentioned earlier I heard no angry

BY WHAT AMOUNTS TO A COMPOUND WALL CONSTRUCTED FROM words, no cheat calls nothing but the 50 GALLON OIL DRUMS WELDED TOGETHER. NOTHING OVERLY FANCY sound of BBs rattling off steel and other players.

BUT AIRSOFTERS DON’T NEED ANYTHING FANCY, THEY JUST NEED After lunch (burgers of course …great SOMETHING TO FIGHT OVER - AND THEIR IMAGINATIONS.” big juicy burgers on toasted pretzel buns with melted cheese and ketchup) and the raffle, a full afternoon’s gaming ensued for those that could still as the money raised for Newlife attests. There are much worse walk. Using far more of the site the teams were set a variety of things that you could waste a Sunday on. tasks – at least one of which involved a singularly heavy dummy My thanks to Russ and the team at SAC, Nuprol and Enola strapped to a stretcher and a couple of laptops. I left the Gaye for being on site all day and for contributing to the raffle. players disappearing into the distance envying their youthful To all the players who chatted and played so well and finally to enthusiasm!

Michael, who made it all happen.

www.airsoft-action.online

27

International FEMME FATALE IN THE USA

FEMME FATALE…

STATESIDE! IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT SOMEONE ASKS “DO YOU FANCY COMING TO THE USA TO TRAVEL AND PLAY AIRSOFT?” SO WHEN KELLY “FEMME FATALE” HARDWICK GOT THE CALL SHE DIDN’T HESITATE! ON THURSDAY 23RD MARCH 2017, I boarded a plane at London Gatwick bound for Los Angeles to begin the biggest adventure I have ever embarked on. As someone who has never really travelled and for the most part of my life not wanting to travel, boarding an 11 hour flight on my own to fly almost 5,500 miles and spend almost 7 weeks away from home is by far the craziest thing I have ever done! I had already planned this trip for 2 weeks during April 2017 but in January 2017 I made the monumental decision to quit my full time job to become a full time blogger/ writer (bold move I know!) and decided to make the trip sooner and extend it!

Why the trip? As the Femme Fatale Airsoft blog has grown I have been lucky enough to connect with members of the Airsoft community from all walks of life all over the globe, from your regular Sunday skirmishers, to site and shop owners, to people who work in Airsoft media. Amongst these people is an Airsoft YouTuber that I have looked up to since I started playing Airsoft back in 2014 – Unicorn Leah. Leah is the creator of one of the US’s most popular Airsoft YouTube channels and 28

JUNE 2017

has the biggest following out of all the current Slaydies in the world! I’m not quite sure when/how we became friends but here I am spending 7 weeks with her and her husband, Jet Desertfox, at their home in California to travel the US with them and experience American Airsoft at its finest.

What’s on the agenda? Whilst I’m in the US, Leah and Jet are taking me on an American Airsoft tour – from skirmishes to a MilSim West Op, I’ll be experiencing all aspects of Airsoft in the US. So far we have planned a game at Wildlands Airsoft in Lake Elsinore, CA, SS Airsoft’s 7 year anniversary game in Atlanta, Georgia, a skirmish at SC village in CA, visiting Evike. com, taking a trip to meet up with the Enola Gaye team in Las Vegas, Nevada, Uprising 3 at Hill 559 in CA, Operation Takedown at Hollywood Sports Park, CA and finally MilSim West: Starvopol in Washington State. We’ll be driving and flying all over the United States to experience the different aspects of American Airsoft – which will be reported back to you guys through Airsoft Action, my blog and social media feeds. (Which you can find at www.femmefataleairsoft. co.uk, instagram.com/femmefataleairsoft, facebook.com/ femmefataleairsoftblog).

When I touched down at LAX, I whizzed through security and baggage collection to get the adventure started and was met at the arrivals door by Leah and Jet. We then went straight to Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles and then nipped off to a Korean BBQ restaurant with D from the YouTube channel NODE. Then it was off to Victorville, where I’d be spending most of my time in the US. Victorville is around an hour from Los Angeles and is in the Californian desert, to me it is roasting

International FEMME FATALE IN THE USA

styles and whilst the site itself is aimed at CQB players, the shop stocks products that are suitable for outdoor players too. The shop stocks a wide range of well-known brands including: King Arms, WE Tech, A&K, Condor, Socom Gear, Madbull, ECHO1, KWA, ICS, Elite Force, Voodoo Tactical, CYMA, Javelin, H&K, G&G, Dye Precision and more, plus has a tech service and offers an upgrade service too.

The Airsoft site is pretty impressive, being a 24,000 square feet themed CQB battlefield and what I think is particularly special about this field, is that it has some of the most elaborate props and cover that I have seen at any Airsoft site in my 3 years of playing.

It is meant to replicate a “realistic themed warfare scenario” that has a large number of buildings (including jails, banks and shops) and vehicles (including tanks, cars and others) for players to fight over, on and around. The site even has fog machines and working lights on most of the buildings to make the games more immersive. The games include: Capture the Flag, Terminator, Money in the Bank, Team Death-matches and Deactivate the Bomb. The site boats a huge safe zone with tables, charging stations and a seating area for families and parents to wait and hang out during the gameplay – they also have a “party room” which has a huge Perspex window where you can watch the action.

SS Airsoft’s player base includes a large amount of under18s and “speedsofters” so the gameplay is very different to what I’m used to in the UK. Whilst it was still enjoyable, I much preferred our private games as having 80+ people on the field did make it quite hard to progress and advance. Playing with speedsofters is also quite difficult because by the time you’ve advanced enough to get to where the enemy are, they’ve pretty much cleaned house. Note to self – run faster!

On the anniversary day itself, there were around 500 people in attendance and most of them were players so, as you can imagine, the games were intense and were limited (after a fashion) later in the day due to the sheer amount of people in attendance. The vendors present to support the day included: Wolverine Airsoft, Elite Force, ASG, Tippmann, Dye

hot (the heat in Costa Del Derby doesn’t quite compare!) and because of the elevation the air is a lot thinner!

On Saturday we drove through the mountains to Lake Elsinore, which is around an hour and a half drive from Victorville, to play at the new Airsoft fields at Jungle Island called Wildlands for their opening game day.

We pulled up into the carpark and started to set up our gazebo and tables. The safe zone was packed out with almost 170 players (at the outdoor fields here you definitely need a gazebo as it’s so hot) and set about gearing up ready for the day’s activities. The site itself has about 5-6 sandy paintball fields that are full of built up plywood structures and cover.

These fields are also utilised for Airsoft games but the main field is a huge hill with a few structures dotted around and natural cover in the manner of rock formations and trees. I was still jetlagged on Sunday so unfortunately I had to take a nap during the day and miss a couple of games!

On Thurday we flew to Atlanta, Georgia to attend SS Airsoft’s 7 year Anniversary game. It took us almost an entire day of travelling to get to the East Coast – from leaving the house at 7.30am, taking 2 planes totalling around 6 hours of flight time and eventually arriving at our hotel around 11pm after a 40 minute detour around the city due to part of the i85 freeway collapsing and catching fire! This is one of the things that surprised me the most – just how big the USA actually is!

On Friday morning we made our way to SS Airsoft in Sugar Hill for their media and meet/greet day. This gives all the vendors and Airsoft media individuals time to meet and check out the shop/site and we also managed to get a few sneaky private games in before everyone turned up later that day for “Kids Night”.

Let’s talk a little about SS Airsoft…

Their on-site shop caters to players of all ages and gameplay

Precision, G&G Armament, SpeedQB and Airsoft C3. One of the highlights of the weekend was that I got to meet so many of the people who follow me on Instagram and international friends that I’d only spoken to online. The day was a huge success with loads of interaction from the community and giveaways!

This has just been the very start of our American adventure.

We still have 4 more weeks to go so keep your eyes peeled over the next issues for player/team spotlights, trip updates, site reviews, event reviews and more!

www.airsoft-action.online

29

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23/03/2017 12:06

Inside Airsoft MILITARY 1ST REVISITED

LES LEE RETURNS TO A COMPANY THAT IS PROBABLY UK AIRSOFT’S FOREMOST ONLINE GEAR SUPPLIER, TO SEE HOW THEY’VE GROWN SINCE HIS LAST VISIT.

MILITARY 1ST: REVISITED BEING (EVER SO SLIGHTLY) OLD SCHOOL, I’m one of those people that when I find something that I like and trust, I stick with it and that is how I found Military 1st several years ago when I started playing airsoft.

I must confess that my first few purchases were prior to when I “signed up” to airsoft war and simply bought trendy(ish) combats, cargo pants and military style jackets etc. because it was how I liked to dress. That and as my 20 plus years of competitive bodybuilding had me grown out of “regular” sizes, I had to adapt and in doing so I found military wear did the job quite nicely.

This lead to me writing an article about Military 1st a few years ago, when I realised that their merchandise was becoming more and more tactical and, of course, was perfect for airsoft - especially with the huge range of different camo that they were now selling. I also like to “drop-in” from time to time to see if the upsurge in airsoft has had any effect on related sales and, as I suspected, the airsoft market for these guys has increased significantly. As a consequence Military 1st now offer more choice for their airsoft customers - a lot more choice in fact, so when I caught up with Lukas I decided to “gather intel” on their supply and demand status.

So it was time to embark on a fact finding mission with Lukas and collate some information by way of a Q&A 32

JUNE 2017

interrogation …sorry, I mean interview and ask some fact finding questions: Les: Hello once again Lukas. As some time has gone by since our last chat, I would like to start by reminding our readers about how and when did it all begin and by whom?

Lukas: “Our story started about eight years ago when Michael, the founder and owner of the company, recognised the potential of military and outdoor apparel and gear offered by several Polish and German labels. He knew them from his own experience and thought there was a niche for those manufacturers, which were previously hardly known to the UK customer. What followed was our own website, military1st. co.uk which currently offers products from nearly 60 brands, from the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States alike.”

Les: Since our first feature in Airsoft Action, has your demand for airsoft related products increased and if so, approximately by how much?

Lukas: “Without a doubt! The market for airsoft related products and the sport itself are growing fast in the UK. As a retailer, we can see it first-hand. A good indication of this growth is our assortment. Since we’ve started, it has expanded significantly, both in quantity and when it comes to the number of brands we now have to offer.

Inside Airsoft MILITARY 1ST REVISITED

“I believe there are two contributing factors. First of all, there are more active players becoming paying customers, so we had to increase our stock to respond to the demand.

Furthermore, over the years, the market grew, becoming more complex and competitive as the sport matured. Therefore, we had to increase what we offer by introducing new brands and products and better services too to stay ahead of the competition.”

Les: Have you found a heightened demand for certain products and/or brands and if so would you like to elaborate on this?

Lukas: “Several brands have been with us from the very start.

They grew and evolved along with our store. Helikon-Tex is a good example. Without a doubt, every airsoft enthusiast in the country knows this name well. Naturally, as the biggest dealer of Helikon-Tex products in Europe, we aim to stock every new item from their catalogue as soon as it’s possible. We are aware the company has a significant following and a big fan base, so we know there will be a demand for whichever new design.

“There is also a matter of fashion. Like any sport, airsoft is affected by changing trends. Over the last few years social media channels, like Instagram or YouTube, have had a significant influence. Of course, there is an evergreen gear you just have to have to play the game but players are also constantly in search for new products, new camo patterns and new designs. And manufacturers, like Condor Outdoor or Viper Tactical, respond by launching new products and lines. We are reacting too by including those collections to our stock and adding new brands like Pentagon Tactical, with a wide range of tactical sportswear, or Wisport with military grade packs and backpacks.

“Last but not least, there is always a need for gear that is simply affordable and I think we’re ticking that box too.”

Les: What can you offer a customer which makes buying from you a better option to buying from a retail outlet?

Lukas: “First of all, it’s convenience. We are open virtually 24/7 and our customers can shop from any computer or mobile device with an Internet connection, anytime and anywhere.

Even during an airsoft game! There’s no need to travel, paying the parking fee, queuing, etc. and no disappointment when the product you’re after is not there.

“Moreover, as an online store, we offer a greater variety of goods than bricks and mortar businesses and what’s even better, in some cases much better, prices. Our website is easy to navigate, giving customers instant access to over 9,000 items and the possibility to search for products, comparing prices and product details. The checkout process is straightforward, we accept both cards and PayPal payments and most importantly, it is safe.

“Then there is the accessibility factor. We deliver our goods directly to the customer, fast and free of charge. Regardless of the price and size of the order, we offer free Standard 2-4 days delivery and tracked Expedited next day delivery (for just £2.50).

In most cases, purchased goods are with our customers in less than 24 hours from the moment of purchase. Furthermore, we want our customers to be completely satisfied, so if the product doesn’t meet the expectations, it can be easily returned for free within 30 days of receipt through any local Royal Mail post office in over 11,500 locations.”

Les: It appears to me that Military 1st are now a very well respected and recognised name amongst airsofters, why do you think that this is?

Lukas: “We invest a lot of time and hard work to provide the best possible service. We offer a wide range of products at good prices, fast and trouble-free delivery with free returns.

We also run promotions on a regular basis and really listen to what our customers have to say. It all matters to the airsoft community members and we are happy about all the positive feedback and the huge following we are getting in return.

The culmination of those efforts was the title of the Best Gear Retailer for Europe that we won earlier this year in the 7th Popular Airsoft Players Choice Awards. We couldn’t do it without our loyal customers and fans.”

Les: What are your contact details, website and the typical or average order turnaround times, etc.?

Lukas: “All our contact details are available for everybody to see on our website. For enquiries regarding products, orders, refunds, etc. it’s always best to email us at info@military1st. co.uk. Our Customer Service team aims to reply within 24 hours and in most cases sooner.

www.airsoft-action.online

33

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Inside Airsoft MILITARY 1ST REVISITED

We are also very active on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for anyone who prefers to use these channels to stay in touch.

“Orders are usually dispatched on the same or next business day, soon after the payment is cleared. We use both Royal Mail and DPD to send our products; shipment is free within the UK regardless of the value and size of the package and we always confirm via email that the item has been shipped.

As for returns, we’re following our No Hassle Policy. It’s quite straightforward: our customers are welcome to return unwanted goods for a refund or exchange within 30 days of receipt. The best way to do this is to use a pre-paid label on the return note that we attach to every parcel and send it back to us through the local Royal Mail post office.”

Les: Can you give our readers an insight into what the future might hold for those looking to buy new airsoft gear from Military 1st?

Lukas: “As always, we’re planning to expand our tactical and survival assortment. There is plenty of interesting new items waiting in our warehouse. Moreover, every year, brands we already have, like Helikon, Pentagon or Maxpedition, have introduced a plethora of exciting new products, so there’s a lot to look forward to. Hopefully, we will be able to add few new labels to our offer too. However, we don’t want to reveal too much.

“Furthermore, we’re currently working to improve our website to make it even more user-friendly. We’ve recently launched a page for customers in the United States (www. military1st.com) and are preparing to open stores dedicated to European clients.

“We are also planning new promotions and special offers that our customers will be able to enjoy throughout the year.”

Les: Can you cater for “other” requirements, such as a weekender event, etc.?

Lukas: “We are focusing solely on our online presence and are very busy doing so. Therefore there are no plans to cover any events. Military 1st is an online store and will remain as such.”

Les: How do your prices compare to other mail/web order companies, or do you excel in any particular area/s?

Lukas: “The market is very competitive these days and the price seems to be the main factor that attracts customers. We regularly revise our prices to meet expectations and, hopefully, we are doing a good job. However, it’s not just that that matters. What sets us apart is the quality of service we provide.

Our Customer Service team receives regular recognition from our clients, praising the professionalism and response time. Furthermore, they are very positive about our delivery methods and time, with the majority of parcels reaching their destinations within 24 hours. Customers are also taking advantage of our free returns service, which was welcomed from the very start.”

Les: Finally Lukas, anything else that you would like to say to our readers and your potential new customers?

Lukas: “We’d like to thank all airsoft players and Airsoft Action readers, our customers and fans, for all the trust and support they have given us over the years. We invite those who have not yet heard about us yet to visit our website. Also a big Thank You to Airsoft Action magazine for giving us the opportunity to highlight and tell the readers something about our company.”

So there we have it ladies and gents, a pretty thorough “behind the scenes” insight into what makes Military 1st such a highly respected company. I can personally vouch for everything that Lukas has stated because I’ve lost count of the items that I have bought from Military 1st over the last several years, every single purchase has been based on variety and choice, value for money, free and speedy delivery, reliability and quality, (and we like free delivery!!).

And finally, I must add that whilst out visiting the scores of airsoft sites on my patch, I can say with hand on heart, I have only ever heard positive, very positive feedback and comments from players about this highly respected company, so next time you are surfing the web for some new combats or that elusive camouflage pattern, you would do well to check out Military 1st. military1st.co.uk Les OUT! info@military1st.co.uk

Contact Details:

www.airsoft-action.online

35

Loaded or Unloaded HELIKON-TEX

HELIKON-TEX NEW LINES IN THE LAST ISSUE OF AIRSOFT ACTION BILL THOMAS BROUGHT US AN OVERVIEW OF THE UPDATES IN THE GENERAL LINE OF CLOTHING AND GEAR FROM HELIKON-TEX AND, AS PROMISED, THIS TIME LOOKS IN DEPTH AT THE AREA OF MOST CHANGE, THEIR RANGE LINE. AS I TOLD YOU IN the last issue, I was seriously gobsmacked at the advances Helikon-Tex have made in their offering for 2017 and as I write this time they have just announced that their gear is now going to be made thoroughly available in North America, as well as in Europe. This fact alone could go some way to explaining why they have put so much effort into the forward development of their Range Line as obviously the US market for this type of gear, in demand by both “real steel” shooters and airsofters alike, is absolutely huge!

And what a development it is; with all the other wonderful new gear I had to break this report down into two as you’ll see.

To recap… Last year Helikon-Tex introduced their new categorisations for their HTX “Range Line, Medical Line, Outback Line and Urban Line” and 2017 has seen them really add some “meat” to all areas. The HTX Lines Project was a whole new concept of product development within Helikon-Tex. Everything went according to a plan and they have obviously entered the second year of the roll-out with new energy and new ideas.

They have the right people, combining to

36

JUNE 2017

create one of the most innovative design teams in the industry.

Their new approach has revolutionised the R&D division, enabling them to present several dozen entirely new, original products throughout the Range, Urban, Bushcraft and Medical product lines.

Their products are no longer only used by the uniformed services, which have known and appreciated Helikon-Tex kit for years but also shooters, Militaria aficionados, rescue team members and a wide circle of outdoorsmen. Their designers

Loaded or Unloaded HELIKON-TEX

endeavour to make the gear more and more versatile, to meet the ever-changing and growing requirements of the customer.

As I stated before, they cooperate with the best specialists, not only in their native Poland but beyond the borders as well. They use the comments and exchange experiences with Khyber Interactive Associates and its lead instructor Dr Wes Doss. Training Squad is one of the most experienced firearms instruction companies, offering firearms and combat shooting training for the Polish and international markets; Helikon-Tex have been able to harness the considerable experience of their instructors, to assist in co-designing the new products in the Range Series and this has led to some particularly exciting developments!

NEW VISIONS, NEW PRODUCTS!

The Urban Line is the Helikon-Tex “take” on both the challenges and routines of a modern world, merging tactical, sporting and EDC elements into one. I’ll mention briefly again the Patrol Line as there are two main areas of interest this year; this is a very, very strong category for Helikon-Tex that crosses over with and complements the Range Line with some wellestablished and thoroughly tried and tested designs, there’s been a fabulous addition in the form of the GUARDIAN CHEST RIG. This is a universal carry platform specifically designed to accommodate a basic ammunition load and personal equipment. It’s designed to work along with a backpack and belt kit, to optimise the configuration of your combat gear. Depending on the number and size of magazines the height of the fixed pouch flaps can be adjusted and exchangeable magazine/handgun inserts can be arranged accordingly.

When it comes to range gear, in my opinion everyone should be carrying their own “IFAK” and in the Medical Line there is a great new AUTOMOTIVE MED KIT which has been designed as a main vehicular first aid kit. Its compact, flat form allows it to be fitted under car seats or be attached to car upholstery, inside door or seat pockets, while the lack of sharp edges prevents snagging.

The Automotive Med Kit is ideal for shooting range training session medical support and fits perfectly in the Helikon-Tex Range Line Rangemaster kit bag side pocket. The new MICRO MED KIT is the smallest of their medical inserts, holding bare essentials like examination gloves and plasters, plus a simple resuscitation mask.

A rubber-covered handle assists in drawing it from the pouch or pocket, while a reflective paramedic cross provides easy identification amongst other kit.

GETTING IT RIGHT!

The RANGE LINE though, really got a very serious upgrade this year with a whole range of new, innovative products. The TRAINING MINI RIG has been designed for people who spend much time at the shooting range, such as instructors, shooting aficionados, competitive shooters and training nuts like me. The minimalistic, symmetrical layout of the TMR was inspired by one of the most famous tactical shooting instructors. The rig can accommodate a basic load of magazines, some additional ammunition in bulk, multitool, flashlight and range cards; in fact it will swallow all you need for an advanced, serious training session. I have a TMR inbound for full evaluation so I’ll update this more fully over time.

In relation to new clothing the RANGE POLO SHIRT was designed by professional shooters and is dedicated for shooting range use. The fabric is nice to touch and quickdrying; the sides are covered with VersaStrech covers, protecting the areas vulnerable to wear and tear from a pistol belt and belt-mounted equipment and the elbow area has internal pockets for Low Profile Protection Pads. Mesh lining in the shoulder area enhances the functionality. Two velcro panels on the upper sleeves allow easy personalisation and there are there are two upper sleeve pockets and a sunglasses loop.

The RANGEMASTER GEAR BAG and RANGE BAG are designed for dedicated shooting range use, where you need to grab a whole bunch of stuff real quick. The bag is designed to facilitate and promote

www.airsoft-action.online

37

CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW, BLACK

SFU NEXT #Airsoft Acion, april 2017

PATROL LINE

THE SPECIAL FORCES UNIFORM™ NEXT® The Special Forces Uniform™ Next® combines traditional cut with practical, modern solutions. Straight collar, button closure, six pockets with velcro-closed flaps to protect the contents from dirt and water - these are SFU™ Next® Shirt’s main features. The SFU Next® pants combine classic look, bespoke anatomic cut and a system of nine pockets to carry essential equipment. Our SFU™ Next® set gives you the freedom to work in countless variety of situations. Try it now and remember to choose your preferred camouflage!

WWW.HELIKON-TEX.COM

Loaded or Unloaded HELIKON-TEX

compartmentalisation of the contents. Some of the pockets feature inner specialised organisers for maintenance tools and compounds; in fact both bags work with the new Versatile Insert System.

The DOUBLE UPPER RIFLE BAG 18, as the name implies, has been put together to safely and comfortably carry a scoped AR-style rifle with extra scoped upper, or two AR-style SBRs or two AKs in basic configuration. There are three external pockets, velcro panels (Versatile Insert System®-compatible), velcro restrains for weapons and elastic loops for cleaning accessories. The bag has integral carrying handles and stowable carrying straps. There’s also two new pistol options in the shape of the SINGLE PISTOL WALLET and the DOUBLE PISTOL WALLET. The SERVICE CASE is for cleaning items and was designed to conform the larger range bags. No matter, at home or on the range, this is a dedicated cleaning kit pocket with a bespoke organiser for cleaning rod, tips, cleaning rags, oil bottle, tools, spares and all essential youname-its. The main space has been separated into two organisers: one fixed (zippered mesh pockets and elastic loops) and one customisable.

The stiffened bottom of the Service Case is covered in contrast-coloured fabric. The MINI SERVICE POCKET is a more compact pouch containing firearms essential cleaning kit and internal organisers keep your tools, rods, brushes and oil bottles in tidy order. It also has a so called “dirty” pocket sewn-in for used cleaning items.

Good bean bags are one of the basic precision shooter’s tools. When it comes to weapon zeroing, long range competition or tactical shooting, properly matched shooting bags make each of these tasks a whole lot easier. The four bag family (Cube/ Pillow/Roller Large/Roller Small sold separately) of the ACCURACY SHOOTING BAG with synthetic filler is compatible both for use with a precision rifle or tactical carbine. Helikon-Tex have really pushed things further with their SRT-ALPHA TARGET STANDS and PXQT/RXQTPISTOL/RIFLE EXCERCISE/QUALIFICATION TARGETS but these deserve some serious copy space of their own so I’ll report on these in detail when I’ve had a chance to use them in earnest on the range.

This is a serious update to the already extensive range of top-quality products offered by Helikon-Tex and I am really looking forward to getting “hands-on” with some of the latest gear; rest assured that as I do I’ll recap on all of them all over time once the Airsoft Action team have a had a chance to use

them fully.

All the new designs are available online to look at in the new Helikon-Tex catalogue so for more information on the individual pieces please do visit https://issuu.com/helikon-tex/docs/helikontex_2017_master_catalog. If any of the gear featured in the article is of interest, then simply head to www.military1st.co.uk who will be stocking up on the new lines just as fast as the products are released!

www.airsoft-action.online

39

event PRYPYAT WARS

WE ALL LOVE TO PLAY AIRSOFT IN “DIFFERENT” VENUES BUT THE ONE THAT GADGE HARVEY ENDED UP IN WAS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT!

PRYPY T W RS AS A REPORTER FOR Airsoft Action one of the great things about the job is you get to play airsoft in some incredibly unusual places. I’ve played in prisons, asylums, and shopping centres… on airfields, military training sites and beaches. So when the editor asked if I fancied covering a game held at a fully functional theme park all I could really say was “Hell yeah!”

40

JUNE 2017

To be fair, when I agreed to cover ACE AIRSOFT‘s event “The Prypyat Wars” at a “fairground” I was expecting to find a run down or disused venue, not an up and running amusement park with a “zoo” making good use of its “down season” by hosting an airsoft event!

But that is exactly what Ace Airsoft had done. Teaming up with Southport’s “Pleasure Land” site, the guys had set up a three day event combining airsoft gaming with some fun evening activities and a full on bar. The weekend was set up thus; Friday would be an arrivals day with entertainers and comedians at the “social”, so players could get to know each other before shooting the hell out of each other on the Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately I was unable to attend on the Friday night (but I’m really sure that you don’t want to read about drinking and partying) but made sure I was up super early on the Saturday for the lengthy drive from Nottingham to Merseyside in time for game-on.

At arrival at Pleasure land it was clear to see that the park was merely “out of season” and it was an odd sight to see dozens of airsofters kitted up and with their AEGs in such a “civilian” environment.

The setting for the event was a battle for control of the town of Prypyat, made famous by the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster on the 1980s. Those who remember the reactor meltdown will also recall the eerie images of the local funfair, deserted and contaminated by radiation and so Pleasure Land

event PRYPYAT WARS

made a perfect and atmospheric setting. As Pleasure Land is, during the holiday season, a tourist attraction it’s safe to say the facilities were excellent with decent clean toilet blocks, power points all round, battery charging facilities and a shop for snacks and drinks.

After a games rules and safety brief by head marshal Carl we were divided into our respective teams and began to bomb up before playing a couple of “orientation” games to get us used to the site. At this point it’s probably worth explaining the background to “The Prypyat wars”. While myself and all the other players had followed the story so far on Facebook it’s probably fair to assume that you, the reader, haven’t so here it is in a nutshell…

Pripyat, (or Prypiat depending on your spelling) is an abandoned town in northern Ukraine that was founded to house the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant workers and promptly abandoned following the disaster. Its population had been around 50,000 and former residents have formed a paramilitary organisation (the Pripyat Peoples Paramilitary) with funding from the unethical gains of the infamous Ukrainian Odessa Crime Syndicate and are now rebuilding with the aim of completely repopulating the area and gaining independence as a separate city state. With the Ukrainian government refusing to recognise Pripyat as an independent state, a coalition with former Soviet Union forces has been forged and plans to take back Pripyat are well under way. The paramilitaries have been busy maintaining and rebuilding the water supply network, while the crime lords have occupied the old chemical factory and supposedly started manufacturing fertiliser for farming.

However, intel suggests that it is in fact narcotics for export being produced there instead. Meanwhile, the Ukranian government forces have intercepted and arrested the daughter of the leader of the crime syndicate and are holding her in a secure Prison Unit until helicopter extraction. If it sounds a little complicated it’s because it was. But in fairness, this was billed as a MilSim event and players turning up expecting capture the flag were bound to be confused.

We got set up into our four teams (which in reality tended to play as two Ukranian Rebels Vs Government Forces) with a dress code for each team. While there were subtle differences, as a rule the criminal and rebel separatists dressed in civilian clothes and black combat gear, while the more militaristic Russian spetsnaz and Ukranian troops dressed in camo patterns. I always feel that at these events a strict dress code is the way to go. Not only does it set the scene but it also creates an instant “friend or foe” identifier which can be vital in CQB gaming where you often have to make a snap decision and can’t immediately see an armband. At Prypyat Wars, because of the really diverse amount of loadouts armbands were also used as well, although I hope at future events Carl and the guys streamline the camo allowed for each faction and are able to do away with armbands.

Once allocated to our teams we got stuck in with the orientation games, which took up much of the morning’s play but also allowed us to get to grips with the unique site layout (playing around a rollercoaster was a new one on me) and more importantly, work out the best routes through the site’s former zoo which was now re-tasked (in holiday times) as a zombie scare experience area. The orientation games were quite simple. Each team had a turn to try and collect ten sacks of “Prypyat Pounds” and get to the end zone. These games were fast, furious and fun but by the end of the second round the dreaded (but expected) rain began to fall.

Once we’d warmed up we prepared to take part in the “event proper” and made our way to our staging areas. As with the orientation games, the main focus of the play would be securing cash in order to buy some serious military hardware from the arms dealer but we would also be tasked to rescue VIPS, intercept enemy deals “IN THIS GAME YOU and other “side missions” as the day went COULDN’T JUST on. Cash at all times was King… not least because it was a principle way of getting REGEN… NO, YOU HAD back in the game after an “injury”!

TO PAY A DOCTOR TO In this game you couldn’t just regen… no, you had to pay a doctor to get you back GET YOU BACK IN THE in the fight and herein lay a nice mechanic.

FIGHT AND HEREIN LAY Unlike many games with a “medic system”, A NICE MECHANIC.” the Ace Airsoft guys utilised a system in which a shot player could be brought by teammates to a squad medic and take a chit out of a bag (or pocket). A green chit meant you were back in play while red meant you were “dead”, well to be honest “seriously injured” and due a trip to hospital. A “hospitalised” player went to the gory first aid station and had to part with some of their hard earned “Prypyat Pounds” to get healed… if you couldn’t afford to be healed from your own personal stash then the team captain could dip into the bank account, or a loan could be taken out. Players had to be careful, however, as www.airsoft-action.online

41

event PRYPYAT WARS

the loans interest rates were steep and went up for every hour they were not paid back. Dipping into the team kitty made our team leader frustrated as the funds for a weapon of mass destruction were dwindled away on keeping the guys “combat ready”.

It’s fair to say that the military maxim of “no plan survives contact with the enemy” is applicable to airsoft. Quite often involved plotlines and complex game mechanics “go south” when introduced to the lovable blend of individuality and daftness that most airsofters seem blessed with, to coin a phrase, running an airsoft game is often like herding cats. Here at Prypyat Wars the scenario was great but there was a LOT of different things going on for a lot of players to get their heads around. A little extra frustration was generated as quite early on the Soviet/Russian/Ukrainian forces found it almost impossible to break out of their drop zone as the nature of the site’s entrances and paths had created two “bottlenecks” that even the most determined assaults could not push out of. To me, the hallmark of a good game and good organising team, however, is not in running a game where everything is “all right” but in actually addressing things that have “gone wrong” quickly and fairly.

I know personally I’d been fortunate enough to team up with the motivated and dynamic “Gravy Seals” team on the Russian forces side. The Gravy Seals guys, like me, play in a fast moving and aggressive style, constantly pushing enemy weak points and using weight of numbers to carry an opening in the enemy battle line. But, even with loads of get up and go we just could not get out of that bloody zoo!

Here I have to give credit to Carl and his team who after a few hours of play in the soaking rain with little forwards movement from the “soviet” side, decided to call a short break and get some player feedback. Despite some frustration and being soaked to the bone, pretty much all the players agreed the game was fun but that it might be fairer if we rotated the play 90 degrees to play the length of the site rather than across is (so for example the zoo area would now be a “flank” rather than an “endzone”) and perhaps made the “hospital” nearer the centre of the play area.

So with player feedback under their belt the guys took a quick break to restructure and then we were back in - and man what a difference that feedback made! Both teams could now freely move around the amusement park area of the site (to be honest what we were all there for) and got stuck in to some frantic firefights as the sun began to set and the parks neon lights came on, creating an atmosphere like the psychedelic

bridge attack in “Apocalypse Now”.

As play drew to a close on the first day I regrettably had to head back to the safe area and pack up as I’d had some awful family news earlier in the day and needed to get back to my loved ones, as it would be unfair to judge an event on one day I asked my Gravy Seals comrade John Wilson to fill you all in on day two: “As the day wore on the rain continued to hammer down but that didn’t put a dampener on the game play, players from both sides battled relentlessly to get their tasks completed.

As day turned to dusk, the Odessa Crime Syndicate/Peoples Paramilitary Coalition, or “PPC”, pegged back the Soviet/ Ukrainian forces in an attempt to secure all Intel and cash from their designated FOB/HQ. I was on the receiving end of the attack and it was a long hard firefight which was tiring but great fun! As the night drew to a close, the final Soviet stronghold was under constant attack but we were fortunately able to hold this position until the game ended for the evening, we had won the battle, but not the war!

“The Sunday kicked off in prompt fashion with both sides in a relentless chase to obtain the in-game cash, which I’d like to say was a really good prop to have incorporated into the scenario. This gave players an unusual and interesting challenge of deciding whether or not to purchase supply drops to aid your team, or to Bank that cash in case you or your comrades need stitching up by the MilSim surgeon! Awesome! Anyway, back to the game…

“After another day of good shooting and sportsmanship (heard no shouting or moaning about non-hit taking) the PPC managed to obtain enough funds to purchase a nuclear device from the arms dealer and detonate it, resulting in a mass retreat from the Soviet/Ukrainian Forces and inevitably, the PPC emerged victorious after a long, wet weekend of fun.

“Considering it was the first event at the site, I thought the marshals and other staff put on a good show. Thank you and I will definitely return!”

I think it’s safe to say that both John and I felt Carl and the guys had done an excellent job and chatting to Pleasure Lands’ owner, it seemed he was really pleased too and wanted to put on more events at the site in the “off season”.

I’d certainly recommend taking part in a future Ace Airsoft event to Airsoft Action readers! www.airsoft-action.online

43

Site Report 1066 CQB AIRSOFT

“CQB AIRSOFT” IS NOT JUST A “BUZZPHRASE”, IT IS A RAPIDLY EXPANDING AIRSOFT GENRE AND LES LEE TAKES A TRIP ALONG THE COAST TO VISIT A RECENTLY OPENED SITE LOOKING FOR ITS OWN PLACE IN HISTORY.

1066 CQB UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN SHIPWRECKED on a desert island or, even more distressing, hiding out in the woods from people in boiler suits trying to shoot little balls of paint at you, then you have surely noticed the increasing amount of airsoft clubs that are opening up indoor CQB sites, typically in a “past its sell by date” warehouse or some other similar facility. So I was pleasantly, in fact VERY pleasantly surprised when I made one of my road trips along the south coast to the lively seaside town

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BRINGING THE BATTLE BACK TO 1066 COUNTRY!

of Hastings to meet up with Brent Cooper, the founder/owner of 1066 Airsoft.

Brent began hosting woodland games around 2 years ago after falling in love with airsoft some 18 years prior, which was soon followed by his opening of a shop in the same 1066 Airsoft name. The next step was to listen to players and meet the demands of his members and visitors and thus he set out to acquire an indoor premises big enough to cater for the building plans he had in mind. Brent also surrendered his significant day job so that he could dedicate all his time and resources and focus on this now flourishing enterprise.

Brent and the 1066 team are passionate about Airsoft and very early on they recognised the lack of a local indoor facility where they could play and practice during the winter months and where specific indoor events and activities could be held.

He wanted to be able to provide a chance for everyone, young or old, to experience this amazing and challenging activity and so the CQB facility idea was born - and the hunt for suitable premises was initiated.

The site was eventually located in the summer of 2016.

Work started in October and the site as you see it now was completed in just three weeks, with Brent and many members of the 1066 team working into the night to bring their vision to life. Fortunately, a huge part of a multi-activity centre (just outside Hastings on an industrial site) was standing empty but the centre, of the same 1066 name coincidently (but not connected with 1066 Airsoft), was already a fully functioning, fit for purpose premises that plays host to activities such as archery, shooting, crossbow and axe throwing. Within that,

Site Report 1066 CQB AIRSOFT

1066 CQB are a separate entity and completely self-managed by a very competent team of marshals, family and staff. One major plus point when using this type of premises is that free car parking is available and customers don’t have to do what bears do in the woods (yes, I’m saying it has shiny clean toilets) and last but not least, the right amount of heating and ventilation needed to ensure your visit is as comfortable as can be.

As you enter the CQB section of the building, you will initially find yourself in the rest/social area, which also houses the on-site shop, where you will be greeted by Brent who will happily relieve you of your game fee and give you the warmest welcome, offer you free tea or coffee and of course, book you in and escort you to the kit-up and briefing area which is located adjacent to the combat zone. All these relevant areas are in close proximity, which is both convenient and socially rewarding. Cold snacks and drinks are also available but you will have to pay for your snacks or arm wrestle Brent (and good luck with that)!

Anyway, back on point, the arena was designed to be challenging for even the most experienced ‘softers and developed in such a way as to put everyone’s skills and strategies to the test in a multi-level, maze-like theatre for battles which are guaranteed to wake up all of your senses and put them to full use. The CQB Maze and Plant Rooms are divided into corridors and alcoves to provide an interesting and challenging Close Quarters Battle environment.

Every area has something different; some areas are dark with flashing lights, while others are well-lit but full of confusing corners and turns. All provide cover and plenty of tactical shot opportunities in a robustly built battle arena.

If you ain’t got stealth and cunning, you ain’t gonna last too long in this twisty, turny simulation of tunnels and rat runs, where a blast of BBs could be round any corner. The whole area has a man-made concoction of “special effects” to enhance conditions and “some” pyros are permitted but only those that have been thoroughly risk assessed and concluded safe for use in a confined area, even over an area of over 9,000 square feet!

Just off the reception area is the classroom and safe zone, where players can prep their kit before entering the Maze.

This is also where the team deliver their unique courses; Introduction to Airsoft and Practical Pistol.

In addition, 1066 Airsoft can offer and arrange events and activities for private groups, as well as for those who just want to come and play. They can cater for private parties, such as Birthday, Stag or Hen parties and also for corporate groups and team building or team training sessions. Private parties can opt to have food and themed decorations in addition to the exclusive use of the facility.

Players just wanting to join a game will find a full Close Quarters Battle environment with themed areas and a complex maze of corridors and rooms. The Maze is always staffed by helpful and supportive Marshalls ensuring everyone has a great time.

Starting on May 7th, they will also be hosting Practical Pistol events at the CQB. With its wealth of corridors and rooms, the CQB provides ample opportunity for some varied and challenging courses of fire for all shooters, from beginner to professional.

Safety is taken very seriously at 1066 Airsoft and all visitors

“THE ARENA WAS DESIGNED TO BE CHALLENGING FOR EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED ‘SOFTERS AND DEVELOPED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PUT EVERYONE’S SKILLS AND STRATEGIES TO THE TEST IN A MULTILEVEL, MAZE-LIKE THEATRE FOR BATTLES WHICH ARE GUARANTEED TO WAKE UP ALL OF YOUR SENSES AND PUT THEM TO FULL USE.”

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Site Report 1066 CQB AIRSOFT

to the site can be assured that their wellbeing is as (actually, make that MORE) important to the team as it is to them, meaning that they can relax and enjoy the experience. I will add that even for a family day out, a trip to the complex means that if one or more of your party doesn’t want to play airsoft then there is always the option to have a go at one of the other activities on-site, for example axe throwing ...a useful skill for when a partner forgets your birthday!

To give you some idea of the prices, private events can vary, depending on whether teams have their own equipment and whether food, etc. is required, so anyone interested in booking a private session needs to contact 1066 for details. For anyone joining one of the regular CQB battle events, £18 will get those with their own equipment four hours of close quarter action.

For those without their own equipment, a rental package will cost you £30, which gives the player four hours in the facility, plus a rental weapon, a full-face mask and 2,000 bbs.

The minimum age is 10-12 years when accompanied by an adult and those 12 years and up can play unaccompanied.

Full face protection is of course mandatory for young guns but anyone would be nuts playing up this close and personal without this because eating without teeth is a pain in the butt apparently (think about it).

I have known Brent for some time now and can assure you that one of his primary goals is to introduce airsoft and safe use of firearms to our younger community. 1066 are currently working with local schools to introduce young players to various aspects of this exciting and challenging sport, where they work closely with school staff to ensure that all pupils’ needs are catered for. The pupils’ safety remains the No1

priority throughout any event or activity. The players are first introduced to the rules, safety pointers and equipment through the course “Introduction to Airsoft”. This gives the players the basic knowledge to be able to play safely and to learn to be responsible when operating the equipment. As well as the theory aspect, there is, of course, plenty of practical time to put that knowledge into practice. Observed by trained Marshals, the players take part in a number of game types and activities designed to encourage participation and teamwork.

As I mentioned earlier, they will shortly be adding “The Practical Pistol Course” to their educational curriculum, which is ideal for those who prefer a non-combative approach as Practical Pistol is all about speed, accuracy and, of course, safety!

From my point of view and being a former “naughty teenager-from-hell” back in the day, I can see a huge benefit here as it gives youngsters and youths the chance to avoid the boredom of an evening, often of mischief or stuck indoors gaming and meet up with their mates ...and shoot them (in a controlled environment of course).

Before I conclude this article, I asked Brent for a brief summary in his words: “The 1066 CQB facility is based in a wing of a huge exgovernment building, offering massive amounts of space in a solid, well-built environment. We share the block with 1066 Target Sports and 1066 Cross Fit, amongst others.

“The “1066” prefix is prominent across most of Hastings, referring as it does to a huge part of our local heritage; the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This heritage is something that we are immensely proud of and the reason that it had to feature strongly in our company’s identity. We pride ourselves on being a family friendly environment and will always welcome new and experienced players to the sport. We sell a wide range of airsoft equipment and accessories and offer help and guidance with any issues people may have. We are all passionate about airsoft and it is so important to the whole team to represent airsoft as a legitimate, fun, well-organised sport and not just about “a bunch of guys running around with toy guns”!

“We have 2 Facebook pages; the Events page and the 1066 Airsoft page which we monitor 24/7. This is where we promote our events and keep the players up to date with products, shop hours and pictures of our player of the day, etc.”

So there we have it fellow ‘softers, a fairly detailed and hopefully informative summary of what is awaiting you in this popular coastal town. An established woodland site, a well-stocked shop (soon to be reviewed for an “Inside Airsoft” feature) and the topical new enterprise, 1066 CQB. I think this now categorically confirms why these guys value and are proud to lay claim to their slogan “BRINGING THE BATTLE BACK TO 1066 COUNTRY!” Les OUT!

Contact Details: Website: www.1066airsoft.com Facebook: 1066 Airsoft and 1066 Airsoft Events Shop Address: 111 Sedlescombe Road North St Leonards On Sea East Sussex TN37 7EJ Tel: 01424 440211

CQB Address: 1066 Airsoft 1066 Target Sports Ashdown House Sedlescombe Road North Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4NN

Shop Opening Hours: Tuesday 10.00 – 15.00 Wednesday 10.00 – 15.00 Thursday 10.00 – 18.00 Friday 10.00 – 18.00 Saturday 10.00 – 18.00

CQB Opening Times: every Wednesday – 18.00 – 22.00 Every other Saturday 13.00 – 17.00 session 18.00 – 22.00 available for private hire

Woodland Site Address: Adams Fruit Farm Ivyhouse Lane Hastings, East Sussex TN354NN Woodland Site Opening Times: Every other Sunday 10.00 – 16.00

www.airsoft-action.online

47

Kit LOAD BEARING EQUIPMENT

NEW AIRSOFT ACTION CONTRIBUTOR, TOM HIBBERD, SHARES 15 YEARS OF PLAYING EXPERIENCE AS HE LOOKS AT THE PROS AND CONS OF DIFFERENT LOAD BEARING EQUIPMENT TYPES.

ASSAULT VEST, PLATE CARRIER, battle belt, webbing, belt kit and chest rig are all names for Load Bearing Equipment, i.e. the set of pouches that you use to carry your gear onto the skirmish field. It can be a bewildering (and financial) minefield!

Turning up for my first game 15 years ago, I was very jealous of all the players standing around in their fancy gear looking all scary and experienced. I didn’t need any LBE as just had the one magazine and a bag of spare BBs - but it got my mind racing.

ASSAULT VEST

Assault vests distribute the player's equipment over the body. As the name suggests they are typically worn by soldiers involved in offensive or direct action operations. Typically the pouches were sewn to the vest directly and couldn’t be moved around.

Talking to my fellow LFO (Lenton First and Only) teammates after a few games, I ordered a Flecktarn camo SAAV (South African Assault Vest). Very proud of my new purchase I quickly developed “pouch disorder” (aka the propensity to fill every pocket, just because it was there).

This was a great first vest; reasonably cheap, tough and adjustable to my large frame. Into it went everything vaguely military I had in the house… Radio, the one spare mag I had for my new TM G36c, spare battery, spare BBs, multi tool, water bottles, pyro, camo net, assorted chocolate bars, the list went on and on!

CHEST RIG

These have been a favourite of vehicleborne soldiers for many years. The majority of the soldier’s equipment is carried on the front of the torso especially, as the name suggests, on the chest. Having the pouches here allows easy access to vehicles and buildings. If a lot of equipment is carried the player can get front heavy. They can impede going prone and moving in the crawl.

GOOD FOR: Vehicles and CQB BAD FOR: Heavy loads, woodland.

After having played for a year or so, I’d bought more magazines than the SAAV could handle.

As well as that we had started playing in some different camouflage, so a Flecktarn assault vest didn’t match and I picked an OD Arktis NL rig instead.

This was a great bit of kit that could be worn high up the torso as a chest rig, or lower down around the waist as a set of webbing. It served me well. At this time we were playing a lot of CQB and urban airsoft so having the pouches on my chest meant that navigating tight spaces and corridors was a lot easier.

In addition it had a lot less potential for “pouch

E B L 1 0 1

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Kit LOAD BEARING EQUIPMENT

disorder” making my loadout a lot lighter.

If you are on a budget and run an AK variant have a look at a Chi-Com chest rig, these are made of canvas, date back to the 1960s and carry three AK mags plus a grenade or two.

Returning to airsoft, I wanted to give Russian kit a go. I didn’t want to look like most of the players in MTP/Multicam and some form of plate carrier. My (sadly now passed away) teammate, Chris, had a Russian chest rig that I always coveted and I set out to find one of my own.

Several EBay searches later I tracked down the very thing.

It’s a SPLAV M23 Pioneer. I’m extremely happy with it and it often gets a comment in the safe zone.

When the original First & Only woodland site opened in Matlock I used my faithful NL Rig. Being a player that is happy to crawl around on the forest floor, I found that having pouches on my front raised me up and made it difficult to move around prone. Looking around in the local Army Surplus store I found a basic set of German Army webbing. I got some extra pouches and found a new joy - endlessly moving and swapping them to try and create the perfect set up!

This process, of course, never ends and many a pre-game evening was spent re-arranging my set up. I found being low on the ground was quite an advantage when playing woodland. It often gave me the edge on those players who were more cautious about getting their gear dirty and “hid” behind the nearest tree instead.

My latest belt kit is a set of Russian SSO/SPOSN SMERSH AK webbing in OD and this is the gear I currently use for playing in woodland. It’s a relatively lightweight set that includes a comfort pad onto which two sets of double magazine pouches and a shoulder harness are attached. It is semi-customisable as there is a lot of spare belt space but the position of the ammo pouches are fixed.

“I ORDERED A FLECKTARN CAMO SAAV (SOUTH AFRICAN ASSAULT VEST). VERY PROUD OF MY NEW PURCHASE I QUICKLY DEVELOPED “POUCH DISORDER” (AKA THE PROPENSITY TO FILL EVERY POCKET, JUST BECAUSE IT WAS THERE).”

SPLAV M23 Pioneer.

A lightweight, comfortable LBE that can hold an awful lot of gear.

BELT KIT

The traditional way for soldiers to carry their equipment. A harness is attached to a stiff belt and various pouches are attached. This has the advantage of carrying the weight on the hips. In addition it allows the owner to get close to the ground and crawl without any obstruction. As more armies were mechanised and wore more and more armour it gave way to plate carriers. It can get in the way when dismounting from a vehicle or moving in buildings.

GOOD FOR: Woodland, Heavy Loads BAD FOR: CQB, vehicle operations.

RADIO To complement his helmet-mounted ear phones Tom has mounted a PTT and is using the medical pouch to hold his radio.

SSO/SPOSN AK SMERSH Four double AK mag pouches, a large rear-mounted sustainment ‘butt’ pack.

Additionally Tom has added a double pistol mag pouch and a radio pouch which is being used as a holster.

PLATE CARRIER

Plate carriers are basically systems to hold personal armour and commonly a facility to carry gear on the carrier itself. At their very basic level they just carry hard ballistic plates (slick carriers).

The more complicated ones may have MOLLE loops and can also contain soft armour sections. The traditional soft bulletproof vest was intended to stop shrapnel and pistol caliber bullets. Material technology has progressed now that plates can be added that protect the vital organs from high velocity rifle rounds without adding too much weight. Hence “plate carrier”. They can restrict mobility and the armour can add a lot of weight.

GOOD FOR: CQB, vehicles, short operations.

BAD FOR: long operations. Recce operations.

I had a break from airsoft for a few year whilst I concentrated on skydiving instead. To fund those adventures I

www.airsoft-action.online

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Kit LOAD BEARING EQUIPMENT

HOLSTER POSITIONING It’s a good idea to keep your sides free of pouches on your holster side.

This makes it easier to draw your pistol.

RELOADS Tom keeps two rifle magazines and a spare pistol mag on his left hip.

This allows him to make a fast reload for either his rifle or pistol.

sold all my kit so on my return to airsoft I had a blank canvas.

I had long wanted some Russian gear but previously it had very hard to find, however, I found a picture online of some Russian Spetsnaz and set about trying to recreate it.

I bought a Gorka suit, a set of SSO SMERSH AK belt Belt Kit and a replica FORT Defender II plate carrier. This was very pretty but a bit floppy, having no soft armour or hard plates in it. Having been to a few game days were other players were wearing plate carriers with no plates, I was determined to fill my rig. After a quick trip to IKEA for some plastic cutting trays and a camping shop for a sleeping mat, I had the materials needed. Now my plate carrier looked great but restricted mobility. Clearly I had not remembered my last experiences…

BATTLE BELT

Usually paired with a plate carrier, a battle belt is a padded belt often complete with MOLLE loops. It often is loaded with enough equipment to fight if you are not wearing your plate carrier, as well as the essentials for survival. If a pistol is carried it is usually attached to the battle belt. Suitable gear would be one or two mags for your long gun and pistol as well as water, food, a dump pouch, first aid kit and perhaps a multi-tool or knife. They can also carry soft armour to cover the lower back and waist area.

GOOD FOR: Recce Ops, When wearing a plate carrier, mobility.

BAD FOR: very tight areas.

After a trip to Anzio for a LFO team day out I wanted to add a pistol to my inventory. Of course, with a pistol you need somewhere to holster it, so I bought a Warrior Assault Systems belt, a tactical G-Code kydex holster and some extra molle pouches to carry a rifle and pistol magazine. Finding that it had a propensity to slide down to my knees, I got some low profile suspenders to hold it up. This proved perfect and I once again discovered my joy of re-arranging and adding pouches. It’s brilliant for light loads and running around at my local CQB site, Combat Ready in Derby. If I need more equipment for longer CQB/Urban games I add a chest rig with extra magazines and supplies.

Warrior Assault Systems Belt & Low Profile Suspenders with ESSTAC 5.56 mag pouches, Viper dump pouch, 5.11 water bottle pouch, HW Holsters Grenade Holder (Dynatec), HW Holsters G17 Kydex Holster & Leatherman Multi-Tool.

SUMMARY

Before buying a set of LBE have a think about what it is you are trying to achieve, it’s all too easy to find a picture on the internet or be inspired by the latest movie. Consider where you play and what role you intend to take. Trying to crawl around in a plate carrier with front-mounted mag pouches – it is difficult and gets messy quick! Conversely, fighting in someone’s house can be tough with a myriad of pouches around your waist.

Oh and if you use a plate carrier, put some plates in it... www.airsoft-action.online

51

kit AZY’S TACTICAL SLINGS

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WANT A CUSTOM-BUILT TACTICAL SLING AND YOUR MUM IS A DRESSMAKER? LES LEE FOUND OUT WHEN HE DISCOVERED THE BACKGROUND TO AZY’S TACTICAL SLINGS.

AZY’S TACTICAL SLINGS THERE ARE MANY, MANY DIFFERENT rifles, scores of various tac vests and plate carriers and a great deal of preferred ways to carry a primary weapon, so it was a no brainer to one gentleman who had the skills to use a sewing machine, to create a sling to suit his own needs - a custom built to coin a phrase.

Aaron McLaren, based in Bellshill, Scotland, has a mum who is a dressmaker so he had access to a sewing machine (and no doubt a good person on hand to teach him the skills that were needed)! After a fair bit of training and practice, Aaron, or “Azy” as he is known, not only built his own rifle sling but started getting asked by his airsoft buddies if he could make “this style of sling, in this size and that colour with their choice clips”. It wasn’t too long before Aaron realised there was a gap in the market and after many hours of Googling his instinct was indeed proved correct. Not wishing to be unemployed anymore, Azy sought, found and purchased a semi-industrial sewing machine and from that moment in 2012, “AZY’S TACTICAL SLINGS SCOTLAND” was up and running.

Azy started advertising and selling on good old eBay and pretty much straight away the orders started rolling in. It didn’t take long before money was reinvested in materials of just about every fabric, colour, size and hardware which, in turn, made the wheels turn faster and business began to flourish.

Word of mouth was also reaping rewards but he chose to put in the hours himself because 1) he wanted to be sure that every single item produced was of the highest standard of build quality (being an 52

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airsofter himself, he knows only too well just what would be up to the job and stand up to the hours of stresses that slings are often subjected to) and 2) how on earth would he find someone that had the skills of a commercial machinist and the experience and understanding of what airsoft actually entails.

So it was a no-brainer really that he needed to keep hold of the reins himself.

After a couple of years of successfully manufacturing single point, two point, three point and four point Y and multi slings, Azy took a leap of faith and offered the production of custom slings of virtually any type, which promptly took the business to another level.

His regular stock of 25mm polypropylene webbing in the standard range of solid colours, weights and the more common camos with basic buckles and clips became a lot more challenging. Now Azy was sourcing a whole new variation

Kit

AZY’S TACTICAL SLINGS AZY’S TACTICAL SLINGS

of materials so that he could nearly always say to a potential customer “Yes, I can do that, no problem” and in the process (and thanks to careful buying of quality basic raw materials) he was able to keep prices down to compete with what is available off the shelf.

A basic sling will cost from as little as £4.99 up to £34.99 in the standard range, which having seen and used one of his multi-slings myself, is excellent value but of course, custom slings can cost a bit more depending on the customer’s requirements. For example, if a customer wanted a unique camo. pattern in an unusual design and perhaps a heavier duty with a host of extras such as multiple buckles, straps and high quality clips, then this would incur extra costs depending on what was wanted, however, Azy is determined to build every sling to the customers exact specifications and keep costs as minimal as possible.

Ultimately a sling is only as strong as its weakest link, so good quality buckles, hooks and clips are vital and these have to be to each individual customer’s requirements, for example I always prefer to use “lobster clips” whenever possible because of their strength and ease of use - one hand and squeeze and it is open, ideal for fast weapon change. However, this is purely down to personal preference and this is a perfect example of why custom slings are becoming more and more popular.

If you order a “standard” style sling, it can be sent (or made) in 1 to 2 days and sent 1st class delivery so you won’t have to wait too long but custom slings can take a little longer, perhaps 7-10 days depending on availability of the basic materials.

Just to give you some idea of the type of quality and craftsmanship, how’s this for an endorsement?

Previous customers include members of the Belgian, UK and US forces, American Government Border Agency and Drug Enforcement Agency, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. all without

negative feedback. A little closer to home, a British Police Firearms Officer asked for a custom made sniper cuff sling for personal use during marksman target shooting competitions! So as you can see, of the 2,000 plus slings already sold across the world, this kind of accreditation speaks for itself.

I can see why these slings are so popular because I lost count of the types of configurations that I was able to create on my tac vest as the variations seemed endless.

I found the actual strap fabric perfectly adequate, the stitching was very strong and reinforced in places that needed reinforcing and the design was superb and suitably adjustable to fit most.

I did specifically ask for a lobster clasp (which was fitted) but if I was to make one minor constructive criticism, the two clips on my set-up which would typically fix to the top of the vest were polymer. Had I have known, I would have asked for a metal fixing, however, I have no doubt that these are perfectly adequate for the type of use my rifle will be getting and let’s be honest, it was my fault for not asking for what I would have preferred during the order/ purchase process. This is just me being picky as overall, in my opinion, the quality, style, materials and adjustability of fitting are superb and I have no doubt that this is certainly built to last and there will be no need to use the one year guarantee that

“PREVIOUS CUSTOMERS INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE BELGIAN, UK AND US FORCES, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT BORDER AGENCY AND DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, LOS ANGELES SHERIFF’S DEPT. ALL WITHOUT NEGATIVE FEEDBACK. A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME, A BRITISH POLICE FIREARMS OFFICER ASKED FOR A CUSTOM MADE SNIPER CUFF SLING FOR PERSONAL USE DURING MARKSMAN TARGET SHOOTING COMPETITIONS!” comes with every sling. (I actually bought the sling without knowing that I would be carrying out a product review but I was so impressed, I felt a review was well and truly justified!)

If you are North of the border, you can find the slings on sale at West Coast Airsoft in Stevenston, Ayrshire, who are the first retail stockist. I get the impression that this could be the first of many and the way things are going, I reckon Aaron’s plan to keep it a one person operation might start feeling the strain. Personally I think the easiest and most practical move would be for Aaron to start taking his mum airsofting, so that when he simply cannot keep up with demand and risk failing to maintain his high standards and fast turnover, he can keep it in the family.

I’m sure his Mum would love to start playing airsoft instead of making dresses - I know I would!

Les OUT!

Contact Details: Email: azystacticalslingsscotland@gmail.com Telephone: 07596 072237 eBay username: (azy1970) Search “Azy’s Tactical Slings Scotland” on Facebook and Instagram

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53

international NORWAY

AIRSOFT IN “ THE BEST COUNTRY ” TO LIVE IN AT IWA THIS YEAR BILL THOMAS HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING ESPEN DAHL, FROM WWW. AIRSOFTBODEN.NO AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE GREAT TO GET A PERSPECTIVE ON HOW AIRSOFT HAS EVOLVED IN NORWAY AND WHAT GOES ON THERE IN RELATION TO OUR BELOVED GAME. IN RECENT YEARS, NORWAY HAS repeatedly been ranked as “The Best Country To Live In” by the United Nations Human Development Report. Norway is a long country with borders to Sweden, Finland and Russia on the east side and an extensive coastline facing the North Atlantic Ocean to the west. Here the climate is wet and mild compared to the east and the north, where winters are colder and longer.

Norwegians hold nature in high esteem; they love nature and are proud of their fabulous landscapes. Outdoor life is a fundamental part of Norwegian culture and time is spent in the mountains in spring, summer, autumn and winter. In summer Norwegians like to hike from cabin to cabin and in winter they indulge in all types of winter sports.

A Norwegian proverb claims that “Norwegians are born with skis on their feet.” and Norway is undoubtedly a winter sports nation, with skiing in general and crosscountry in particular amongst the most important sports.

With fantastic natural resources to play in and with an adventurous 54

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outlook to life in general, it’s hardly surprising that airsoft has taken off extremely well in Norway and although the history of the game there does not have the longevity it does in the UK, our culture has been enthusiastically adopted by many.

Espen Dahl, from my conversations with him, is most definitely such an individual and this is what he had to tell me about airsoft in Norway.

AA: Hi Espen! Please can you tell me a little about how airsoft has developed in Norway?

ED: “Hi Bill. Thank you for interviewing me. Airsoft in Norway first became legal in 2001, after hard work from the Norwegian Airsoft Association; this is the only airsoft association in Norway and it is run by the players.

“In the last 10 years there has been a large focus on the MilSim perspective in Norway, with more and more players doing more and more impressions from real units from over the world but mainly Norwegian, US and Russian kits.

“We do have speedball but a normal Sunday Skirmish does include some type of mission.”

AA: Do you have many established sites? Could you tell me a little more about them?

ED: “It’s a bit different from the UK. We do have some sites but they are run by the local club. Some of these areas have some sort of structures but mainly it’s just forest areas.”

AA: Do sites and players have any legal restrictions to contend with?

international NORWAY

ED: “We have some rules but it’s made by the Norwegian Airsoft Association and every club that’s a member follows these rules. Indoor/CBQ is played with single shot and 300fps.

Full auto is limited to 350fps. Semi/sniper limited to 450fps with a 20m safety distance. Bolt action rifles (either spring or gas operated) can go up to 550fps but with a 30m safety distance.

Clubs that are not with the Norwegian Airsoft Association may play with different rules.”

AA: What is the situation with airsoft and tactical gear in Norway; is it easy to get hold of?

AA: What’s a normal game day like for you?

AA: Are there particular brands and models of airsoft replica that are important to you?

ED: “A normal game day for me? Well, those are getting fewer since I started www.airsoftboden.no but now and then I get to play some. I go through my gear the evening before, check that I have everything that I need. Charge batteries and load magazines. On the game day, we kit up, talk a bit.

Check that things are working. We divide up the teams based on camo and go through the rules and the mission. Everyone loves missions, even if they are simple. We play rounds that last about one hour and have some small breaks in between and one large one on the middle of the day for eating.”

AA: What is a popular style of play in Norway, regular skirmish, MilSim or both?

ED: “MilSim is very popular but regular skirmish with MilSim elements is the most played.”

AA: Do airsofters in Norway train either as individuals or teams?

ED: “Both. In recent years there have been more and more groups of people coming together from different clubs to form a unit with similar kits. Many of them spend time together to train.”

AA: You have a very specific climate to deal with, especially in the winter; what’s important to you in relation to loadouts?

ED: “For me it’s to have some good and warm layers of clothing. Loadout doesn’t change that much. But if I have some winter camo, I will use that.”

ED: “Yes, actually. There are some stores in Norway that sell airsoft guns and equipment. My store is just accessories and gear but airsoft guns will available later on. There are also stores that sell Norwegian gear. In general, gear and tactical stuff is not hard to find. But there are many players who shop abroad.”

ED: “I have a soft spot for G&G. I own several models from the cheap, to intermediate to high end models. This is one of the perks of having a shop. I have also taken a liking to NUPROL’s new range of airsoft rifles. But for models I really like the M4/ M16 and AK.” AA: Do sites have rental facilities if someone were visiting from overseas?

ED: “As mentioned earlier, we don’t have sites like you have in the UK. But if you visit a club someone will usually have a spare gun for loan. Maybe some gear as well. If you have spoken with them before you arrive, they can hook you up with guns and gear.”

AA: If anyone is visiting Norway and is interested in visiting a site for a game day, where should they head for information?

ED: “If people are interesting in playing in Norway, they can make contact with the Facebook group “Norsk Airsoft” they will redirect you to the nearest club for more contact.”

AA: Many thanks for your time talking to me Espen and I wish you all the very best with your store www.airsoftboden.no.

Espen has kindly laid down the gauntlet by inviting a few of us to visit him in Norway and experience their local brand of airsoft, so I think it’s time to speak to “The Man in the Red Van” and arrange a roadtrip.

Watch this space!

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training A SQUADRON

WARZONE TAC-OPS FAITH COWLING, DIRECTOR WITH BOB PODESTA’S ‘A’ SQUADRON LTD, TAKES US BEHIND THE SCENES AT WARZONE MILITARY SIMULATION TO LOOK AT THE TRAINING THEY UNDERTAKE TO MAKE THEIR EVENTS AS REAL AS POSSIBLE. In association with Invasion Airsoft and ‘A’ Squadron Ltd WE FIRST MET DAVE PULLEN in 2015 when he, along with members of his team from Warzone Military Simulation, attended our CTT3 Room Combat course in Hereford.

Having remained in contact since then, we were delighted when Dave asked if we could assist as instructors on his forthcoming tactical training course, TAC-OPS. As the name suggests, Warzone Military Simulation specialise in 24hr+ MilSim events. These events involve detailed, realistic, non-stop rolling scenarios. TAC-OPS was born from Dave’s realisation of the need for basic military training that would ensure a standardised level of understanding across players wishing to participate in Warzone events. This would prevent the immersive experience being disrupted and avoid simple mistakes from occurring and ultimately spoiling the experience; a problem often identified when those unfamiliar with MilSim enter the arena for the first time. At the same time Dave wanted to provide a professional level of training that would appeal equally to those with more experience and would offer an opportunity to both develop existing and learn new skills.

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As Dave himself explains, “During our battle simulation events in 2016 we had been asked by our customers for more Tactical Operations. Understanding that not all of our customers may have the necessary skills to confidently complete such missions, we have, on a number of events, given some sections training on how to complete specific missions and run through the assault sequence time and time again until it ran like clockwork. I can safely say that all the missions that were approached in this way didn’t fail.

“So this year we are running mission-based exercises and over the next few months we will be hosting TAC-OPS events to provide players, from the newcomer to ex-service personnel, with new or renewed skills that will be required for our future events. TACOPS will be based on modern warfare driven by some awesome airsoft training personnel”.

We joined Dave at Invasion Airsoft in Stockport to begin set-up for the weekend. It is an impressive sight as you enter the well-signposted premises and see the imposing walls of the old cotton mill sweeping up and away from you on either side. A tour of the building showed us the impressive scope we had here for multi-room, multi-floor close quarter combat scenarios and we could see why Dave was excited to use the venue.

A shared affinity between ‘A’ Squadron and Warzone for realistic military training meant that we quickly grasped what Dave wanted to achieve at TAC-OPS and we adapted ourselves

training A SQUADRON

to his brief. Dave had devised a training programme for the weekend based upon a round-robin that began by divided the group into three sub teams, Red, Gold and Green. The smaller group sizes this format afforded meant more one-to-one time with each instructor, with 3 lessons running concurrently.

On Saturday morning we were introduced to Invasion Airsoft owner Ben Franklin, who greeted us with bacon rolls.

This was the first of many personal touches made by Ben which made us feel very welcome. The friendly and relaxed atmosphere at Invasion Airsoft certainly left us with a great impression of the site and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend attending any games there.

After a relaxed safety briefing and introduction to the weekend by host Dave Pullen we dispersed through the site in our respective teams to begin the day’s work. Dave himself supervised one team; our own Director Bob Podesta, ex22 SAS, another and finally, guest instructor and ex-Welsh Guardsman, Ian Edward-Jones, led the final group.

Dave’s first lesson covered all important communications, beginning with hand-signals and moving on to a comprehensive introduction to radio comms.

Ian, who served in the British Army for 23 years, took his team to the top level of the mill which offered an open plan environment, perfect for his fire and movement and section attacks lesson.

Myself and Bob took our team through the duties of a sentry, a vital and responsible role, fire-control orders and target identification before Bob began his weapons handling lecture.

We reconvened for an impromptu Q&A session with Bob in the mess-cum-barrack room before breaking up for an evening meal. This is a good time to mention a couple of nice touches that Dave had taken the trouble of arranging; everyone was gifted a 24 hour ration pack and a CD containing the “Warzone Battle Manual”, a 108 page document that provides a snapshot of the roles, responsibilities and tactics used by an infantryman.

As Dave explains, “I have decided to take the lessons and training I have given and received over the last fourteen years and put it down to paper to be used as a “live” training manual. This entire manual is a standardised point of reference for you to dip into as required.” I was impressed with the effort that Dave had gone to, to organise this and it really emphasises what he is trying to accomplish at Warzone and shows a great enthusiasm for encouraging an inclusive MilSim playing platform and esprit de corp.

With everyone fed and watered we began the evening lessons and re-arranged the teams into two groups. Ian built on his morning lecture by explaining contact drills before introducing room entry, stairway, corridor and building clearance which proved to be a highlight of the weekend. Bob introduced some basic surveillance and counter-surveillance techniques and explained the basics of security formations for VIP protection; a specialist skill that Dave explained to us would be of great use in his future events.

It was then time to regroup, debrief, complete personal

“WITH BOB ON SITE IT WAS ONLY FITTING THAT THE MEN SHOULD BE AWAKENED IN STYLE – SO FLASH-BANGS AND TRACER WERE UNLEASHED ON THE UNSUSPECTING SLEEPERS WHO COPED WITH THIS DYNAMIC WAKE-UP CALL ADMIRABLY AND WERE SOON STOOD-TO AND READY FOR ACTION AGAIN (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE MAN THAT SOMEHOW MANAGED TO SLEEP THROUGH THE CHAOS!).“

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admin before turning in for the night. Everyone slept on site in two rooms designated respectively as a main bunk-room and officer’s quarters.

Dave woke us in the officer’s quarters in the small hours, ready to prepare for a very unexpected early morning lesson.

With Bob on site it was only fitting that the men should be awakened in style – so flash-bangs and tracer were unleashed on the unsuspecting sleepers who coped with this dynamic wake-up call admirably and were soon stood-to and ready for action again (with the exception of one man that somehow managed to sleep through the chaos!).

The team moved to one of the upper ranges where Dave, with the assistance of Bob, introduced a surprise lesson on the use of night vision and the PSV14. This proved to be another highlight as, for most, it was the first time they had used the monocular night vision aid.

It was now time to return to bed but not before a sentry had been posted and a rota agreed for the remainder of the night. Thankfully the rest of the night passed by without event but that didn’t stop the sentry record from containing some entertaining entries for us to read through in the morning.

Sunday morning. Beds and personal kit were packed and stowed away before Ian took the whole team through a revision of room and building clearance. When completed the team were called to stand-to and entered the briefing room to receive the breaking news (which I won’t spoil in case Dave runs this again) and latest intelligence calling them to arms.

Culminating in an immersive tasking, Dave ensured that the mission was such that it allowed the team to implement all of the skills leant throughout the weekend. As is inevitable when implementing new skills for the first time some mistakes were made but quickly recognised and rectified and the team went on to complete their mission successfully.

Rounding the weekend off, a thorough debrief gave opportunity for everyone to feedback on both the final mission and the weekend as a whole. We wrapped up around midday, to allow everyone time to drive home and recover from their exertions.

Down to a man everyone who took part was very keen to listen, learn and try out everything that was asked of them. It is always a privilege to work with an enthusiastic group and that is exactly what we had at TAC-OPS. As an airsoft event, Dave has directly addressed the need for tactical training in preparation for his detailed and involving games and anyone who is unsure of whether or not they are ready for a full-on Warzone Battle Simulation event would be very well advised to attend one of Dave’s future TAC-OPS weekends. Likewise, more seasoned players will benefit from the real world experience of the instructors and from refreshing and learning new skills. It was a pleasure to work with Dave and Ian and we look forward to any future involvement we may

have at Warzone.

Future Warzone Battle Simulation dates, venue TBC but these will all be woodland-based MilSim weekends: 13th/14th May 10th/11th June 26th/27th August 23rd/24th September 14th/15th October As for ‘A’ Squadron, we’ll be back in future issues with details of our airsoft-related courses, all of which can be booked on a private basis.

We have the following public courses scheduled and we’re ready to welcome you to the Training Wing, Hereford: 6th/7th May : CCT5 Sniper weekend TBC July : CTT3 Room Combat & CTT4 Room Combat Continuation weekend Contact us for more info.

Until next time, this is ‘A’ Squadron signing out.

Contact Details: Warzone Battle Simulation Contact: Dave Pullen Web: www.war-zone.co.uk Phone: 07967 394 976 Facebook: www.facebook.com/warzone.uk Invasion Airsoft (formally Trojan) Contact: Ben Franklin Web: www.trojan-airsoft.com Phone: 07428 024 874 Facebook: www.facebook.com/invasionairsoftsite ‘A’ Squadron Ltd Contact: Faith Cowling / Bob Podesta Web: www.a-sqn.com Phone: 07762 507 146 Facebook: www.facebook.com/asquadron

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59

REAL STEEL THE M4 CARBINE

PROBABLY THE MOST PROLIFIC RIFLE SEEN IN AIRSOFT, THE M4’S POPULARITY REMAINS ROCK-STEADY BUT IT MAY NOT BE THE SAME IN THE REAL WORLD, AS GADGE EXPLAINS.

M4 CARBINE THERE IS NO DISPUTING IT, the M4 Carbine is clearly the airsofters “weapon of choice” but the real world model may be falling out of favour with the US military after an impressive couple of decades of front line service.

The M4 was introduced by the US military in the mid1990s to replace the M16 in those units requiring a more compact assault rifle. While originally intended to be a short scale order to provide a compact assault carbine to units who would otherwise adopt a 9mm SMG, the M4 would eventually become standard issue with most US Army units and even some USMC trades and ranks.

The M4 carbine is, essentially, a cut down M16A2 assault rifle. In fact, early M4s even had the same trigger group settings as the M6A2 (safe, single shot and three round burst) while later M4A1 models reverted to a more conventional

“safe, single, full auto” trigger group. Although the three round burst setting was initially implemented as a measure to prevent soldiers from wasting ammunition, it was found through after-action reports that full auto capability was much more useful in close quarter battle.

Attempts to make a shorter-barrelled, more compact M16 variant had been made since the Vietnam War, with the short, 10” barrelled, Colt Commando. The XM177, as the Colt Commando is also known, had sub-optimal performance due to its incredibly short barrel and Colt opted to redesign a short, compact SMG-style carbine which utilised the best elements of the M16 and the Colt Commando. This was largely done by adopting a longer 14.5” barrel but retaining the rifling ratio of the M16A2 rifle. The new model was trialled as the “XM4” and once adopted into service in the early 90s, known as the M4 Carbine.

One of the many compatible parts with the M16 series is the magazine. The M4, like the M16 uses NATO “STANAG” (standardisation agreement) magazines. These 30-round magazines are also compatible with the UK’s SA80 family of weapons and several other NATO rifles. While the magazines are interchangeable, however, it was soon found that the ammunition was not. After trials in the 1960s (see last issue) NATO had agreed to use the 5.56mm round calibre recommended by the US. As a group though, NATO had elected to use Belgian made 5.56mm ammunition and the tight rifling on the M16 and M4 was unable to fire this round without seriously damaging the weapon. To solve this problem thousands of M16s and M4s were retooled to have compatible rifling.

SPECIAL OPS MODIFICATIONS

As with the M16A2 (of which it shares around 85 per cent parts commonality) the M4 can mount under-barrel grenade launchers such, as the M203 and M320. While early M4s had a conventional M16-style heatshield and foregrip, later models were adapted to include rail-mounting systems.

Many of these rail modifications were required by the US Special Operations Command who requested modular accessory mounts as part of the SOPMOD (Special Operations Peculiar Modification) upgrade kits known as “Blocks”.

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REAL STEEL THE M4 CARBINE

Block 1 upgrades included 20mm railed RIS mounts to replace the front heatshield/foregrip, a quick change M203 launcher, a sound suppressor, a KAC back-up rear sight, an Insight Technologies AN/PEQ-2A visible laser/infrared designator, back up rear sights separate from the removable carry handle and a full range of optics including 4x red dot scopes, night vision and a laser designator. The Block 1 Modifications allow a user to quickly tailor the M4A1 carbine to fit their mission specifications. A second set of Block 2 modifications were later introduced and included the addition of improved rails and newer generation optics like the Elcan Specter DR and Eotech 553.

Despite its compact weight and convenient modular build, however, the M4A1 has come under criticism from soldiers using it in modern counter insurgency warfare. Many patrols have found the 5.56 round in such a compact platform lacks the range to engage enemies attacking them with larger calibre (and often older) battle rifles. Combat “after action reports” often mention this disparity in range (sometimes called “the 300 metre gap”) and while many patrols now have an integral marksman or sniper alongside the squad light machine gunner to engage in long range firefights, clearly most of the rifle group being out of range is undesirable.

What’s more, the M4 series has received extensive criticism from users in Iraq and Afghanistan over its high “stoppage” rate in areas with fine dust, grit and sand. Much of this is because the M4, like the UK’s SA80 family, was designed for a tropical or European battlefield and not the hot and arid environments it has recently served in. Combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have found many soldiers finding it excessively prone to stoppages and almost impossible to keep free of dust and sand while at the same time being adequately lubricated (a problem encountered with the British L85a1 in its first Middle Eastern deployment in 1991). Much of this is caused by the M4’s “direct impingement” bolt operating system (in which the hot gasses of a fired round jet directly onto the bolt’s face to propel the bolt rewards and rechamber

another round) which has a tendency to burn off lubricant around the bolt.

However, the US Army still feels that the M4A1 is “fit for purpose”, despite trialling several options to replace it in future years. A US army press release of 2007 claimed: “The M4 Carbine is the Army’s primary individual combat rifle for Infantry, Ranger, and Special Operations forces. Since its introduction in 1991, the M4 carbine has proven its worth on the battlefield because it is accurate, easy to shoot and maintain. The M4’s collapsible stock and shortened barrel make it ideal for Soldiers operating in vehicles or within the confines associated with urban terrain. The M4 has been improved numerous times and employs the most current technology available on any rifle/carbine in general use today.”

And it’s fair to say that much of this is true. If well maintained and cleaned (and in fairness many combat veterans admit they are too busy and committed to combat to be able to effectively keep their weapons clean) is a joy to shoot. Despite being a long time SA80 family shooter, I had the opportunity to fire an M4 on a recent trip to Canada and found it to be an excellent and accurate carbine with minimal recoil and excellent grouping at “battle ranges” of up to 200 metres. Whether I would still feel the same if being engaged by an insurgent with a Soviet SVD rifle at 600 metres and one who outranged me totally is a different matter!

The M4 is, however, not only one of the most widely used carbines in the real world, it’s also the “gold standard” of airsoft design. It seems that almost every company makes at least one M4 variant and many firms rely solely on nifty black carbines and this is clearly for a reason. They make so many M4s because of their popularity and much of this popularity is for the same reason real world soldiers and operations love the M4 – it is easy to modify, it is compact and it is well-designed ergonomically.

One thing we can be sure of is that whatever direction the US Army decides to go in… the M4A1 will be seen on our skirmish sites for a long time to come.

“I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIRE AN M4 ON A RECENT TRIP TO CANADA AND FOUND IT TO BE AN EXCELLENT AND ACCURATE CARBINE WITH MINIMAL RECOIL AND EXCELLENT GROUPING AT “BATTLE RANGES” OF UP TO 200 METRES. WHETHER I WOULD STILL FEEL THE SAME IF BEING ENGAGED BY AN INSURGENT WITH A SOVIET SVD RIFLE AT 600 METRES AND ONE WHO OUTRANGED ME TOTALLY IS A DIFFERENT MATTER!”

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61

GITAG PROJECT RASMUSSEN RIFLE

PROJECT RASMUSS E THE AIRSOFT ACTION TEAM WERE OVERJOYED TO RECEIVE THE “PLAYERS CHOICE AWARD” AT IWA THIS YEAR AND, AS MANY OF YOU WILL KNOW, OUR SADLY DEPARTED FRIEND MARK RASMUSSEN WAS ALSO HONOURED. THIS TIME IN “GEEK” WE FOLLOW A BUILD THAT WE SINCERELY HOPE WILL LET HIS ONLINE LEGACY BE AN ENDURING ONE. BILL THOMAS TELLS US THE STORY.

FOLLOWING IWA EARLIER THIS YEAR some astounding footage of Paul from ASG appeared online as he received the posthumous award for my friend Mark, of Airsoft Denmark.

Like many of us, Paul had a very hard time keeping his emotions in check at the time and it’s the mettle of the man that he managed to actually make it all the way through the emotive letter that Mark’s Mum, Lone, had sent for him to read out to us.

When I returned home from Germany I was telling my mate John at J-Tac Custom all about it and it was he that put a seed into my mind about creating something that would both

honour Mark and raise some funds to send to his family, so that his online presence might be maintained in perpetuity.

Thus, the “Rasmussen Rifle” build was conceived. We would recreate Mark’s personal carbine and auction it off online, with all the funds going direct to his family so that they might keep his website live for us to enjoy again and again.

When I spoke to Paul about the idea he was on it immediately. Paul and Mark had developed a “special relationship” over the time they had known one another; who better an “ambassador” for ASG than a Danish airsofter in the UK? I’ll come back to this later but, suffice to say, Paul immediately committed to the project, arranging a licenced LMT Defender (Mark’s RIF) of choice and accompanying accessories to be sent direct from Denmark.

THE CHOICE OF RIF

I’d spoken to Mark on numerous occasions about his choice of the LMT Defender AEG as his primary and it was a combination of “Real World” bona-fides and airsoft performance that swung it for him. Although Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT) sounds more like something you’d come across in the construction industry, it was founded by Karl Lewis in 1980 and started out by providing law enforcement and government agencies with military-type firearms and accessories. Today, LMT still provides law enforcement and government agencies with firearms but they have now also expanded their services to foreign military and commercial retailers.

All of LMT’s engineering and manufacturing is done in-house at the Milan, Illinois, facility in the USA. LMT manufactures complete weapon systems such as the M4/AR-15 and the M203 grenade launcher. Today, the Ministry of Defence of both the United Kingdom and New Zealand, plus the US military utilise many of the products that LMT produces, such as the L129A1.

In airsoft guise, the Next Generation Proline LMT Defender

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GITAG PROJECT RASMUSSEN RIFLE

S EN RIFLE

“WE RELAYED THIS STORY TO HIS MUM SHE TOLD US THAT THE STORY HAD BOTH HER AND HER HUSBAND IN TEARS BUT TEARS OF LAUGHTER! SHE SIMPLY TOLD US “YES, THAT SOUNDS JUST LIKE MARK, ALWAYS TINKERING!” AND ONCE AGAIN THIS PROVES THE POWER OF SOME POSITIVE THOUGHTS AND THE SHARING OF EXPERIENCES AND STORIES… ANOTHER POWERFUL ELEMENT OF AIRSOFT IN MY BOOK.” from ASG has been developed to meet the requirements of experienced users that demand a lot from their RIF and has been extensively updated. By using enhanced parts, redesigned outer components and high-quality internals the Next Generation Proline series offers quality, accuracy and upgrade possibilities, which means they are good to go right out of the box.

One of the innovative design features of the Proline series is the reinforced gearbox packed with enhanced components, all powered by an ULTIMATE basic motor. The entire package is designed to be compatible with ULTIMATE Upgrade parts, ensuring any future upgrade to the RIF will have an exact fit and can be done without special modification to the individual components. The high performance piston is made of reinforced nylon with the addition of 4 steel teeth embedded at the peak stress point. The sectional view of the piston is teardrop-shaped, adding strength to the areas most vulnerable to mechanical fractures. The piston head itself is an innovative design, with large, conical-shaped air inlets and flared outlets allowing more air to flow through, reducing resistance and increasing rate of fire, while providing optimal compression.

The barrel features an inner diameter of only 6.04mm for optimal compression and performance, whilst the enhanced outer barrel is made from a strong aluminium alloy. The upgraded gearbox shell is made with special compound alloy casting materials and has been designed with reinforcements at critical stress points, to ensure the box is able to endure the extra stress any potential upgrade will put on it. The combination of taps along the lining and high-strength hexscrews prevents the box from twisting under the stress. 8mm steel double-bushings reduce friction when the gears are under maximum stress, providing smooth running and minimum wear on the gearbox components and to further ensure long lasting and dependable performance, the gearbox has been fitted with an anti-reversal latch made from high-density steel.

Built for increased durability, high power and reduced

energy consumption, the ULTIMATE basic series motor uses ball bearings and a high density steel pinion gear supported in an aluminium cage to ensure it will endure the extreme pressures and high rotations in both high-speed or high- torque set ups. The combination of heat resistant enamelled wire and a high durability nylon cover built to withstand wear and high temperature, prevents short-circuits due to excessive heat and carbon dust.

Great care has been taken in designing the receiver, barrel and stock resulting in components that fit together perfectly, making the individual RIFs sturdy and strong; the solid build quality along with the POM hop-up and precision barrel helps ensure accuracy making all Next Generation Proline models a

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63

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sure hit on the range or on the skirmish field.

The Defender Carbine has authentic markings fully licensed

by LMT and it’s a superb base for any project. This solidly constructed Proline AEG, with full metal barrel and receiver, together with a six position collapsible stock and a full metal Rail Interface System (RIS), really is a durable and dependable AEG. It features a removable top handle with integrated metal sights, mounted on a picatinny style top rail on the upper receiver allowing easy mounting of optics. Pulling the charging handle opens the dust cover while pulling back and locking the simulated bolt reveals the adjustable hop-up dial. To release the bolt, you press the bolt release catch just like on the real firearm. The battery can be housed in the 6-position collapsible SOPMOD stock made from heavy-duty polymer.

Although not a true “recoil” model, the Defender has a spring-loaded weight in the buffer tube which gives some kinetic feedback and this is a very nice touch; overall the LMT Defender is a super replica which is superbly put together, well priced and is ideal whatever your style of airsoft play may be.

GETTING IT RIGHT

All of the detail above explains to me why Mark had chosen the LMT carbine and, with the base AEG in hand courtesy of the generosity of ASG, it was time to get to work on putting it together just as Mark had. First off was simply to add a HERA Arms HFG foregrip, again supplied by ASG. I already had a tan PEQ box in hand which I was more than happy to donate to the build.

Next came the optics package and although I usually know exactly where to go to find parts, I have to admit that getting this right had me scratching my (already bald) head for a while.

Mark had used an EoTECH combo, comprising the XPS Holo Sight and G33.STS Magnifier. Although there are many replica sights and magnifiers out there, getting the exact combo proved challenging until I came across a relative newcomer online, “Battlestore”. I duly emailed them detailing the project, asking if they might do me “a bit of a deal” on the price of the optics and after a little back and forth, I received a mail back from Alistair simply saying “We have one combination set of the sight and magnifier left in stock at the moment so it must be destined for this project. Let me have your address…”

This is truly what I love about our great community; as much as there is much negativity online there are also some superb individuals out there who make airsoft in the UK and even further afield, a great thing and all of us were taken aback by the generosity of the guys at Battlestore. Thank you!

With all the parts now in hand there was one thing that was niggling me slightly; when I looked back at a picture taken of Mark and I at “Blue Fox” I noticed that the CRANE stock on his LMT was tan rather than the standard black. I said I’d come back to Marks relationship with Paul, so I went to Paul in order

to clarify this and he told me; “Oh yes! Mark was trying to fit as big a battery into the stock as he could, to last him the entirety of the Op! On the drive to Gloucestershire the ASG “battlewagon” looked like a combination between a battery store and a workshop; the tan stock was the one that allowed him to crowbar in the battery he wanted!”

When we relayed this story to his Mum she told us that the story had both her and her husband in tears but tears of laughter! She simply told us “Yes, that sounds just like Mark, always tinkering!” and once again this proves the power of some positive thoughts and the sharing of experiences and stories… another powerful element of airsoft in my book.

With the final piece of the puzzle solved, all that was required was for me to ship the AEG to John at J-Tac Custom to have the “Airsoft Denmark” logo laser-etched onto the lower receiver, courtesy of Keith at Airsoft Machine Shop. John also kindly offered to provide a locking hard case to hold this special build and to change out the spring to a UK compliant power level.

Very soon now we’ll be posting the details of the auction on the Airsoft Action Facebook page and my thanks already go out to those who have already committed to sharing this out via their social media pages, blog and vlogs. ASG have also kindly supplied BBs and a battery to the project, so the winner will receive one very special, skirmish-ready AEG. Whilst this is not a true “GEEK” build, I hope you will pardon me for using these pages to highlight this story.

This build, of all I have undertaken over the years, has been a very personal journey for me. Although I sadly only had Mark’s friendship for a short while I felt that at every stage of the build, with every small step achieved, that my friend was looking over my shoulder and nodding approvingly. Time is not necessarily important in relationships it’s the intensity, the raw emotion and the passion for a shared thing and that Mark had these in all their wonderful fullness.

I miss you mate and I hope that this build will help to keep your memory alive forever.

My sincere thanks go to ASG (http://actionsportgames. com), J-Tac Custom (http://www.jtac-custom.co.uk), Battlestore (http://battlestore.co.uk) and Airsoft Machine Shop (http://www.airsoftmachineshop.co.uk) for their generous participation in this project.

Please keep an eye on your social media feeds for details of the online auction in due course.

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65

armoury DAN WESSON 715

SEEN IN JUST ABOUT EVERY “WESTERN” FILM, REVOLVERS HAVE ALWAYS HAD A FASCINATION FOR MANY AND ANDY NIGHTINGALE IS NO EXCEPTION, AS HE STARTS A SHORT SERIES WITH A LOOK AT ASG’S DAN WESSON 715.

REVOLVERS PART 1

REVOLVERS HAVE, AND ALWAYS WILL, play a big part in my shooting interest. Not only were they the first ever reliable multi-shot, repeating handgun but they have also been the most simplest in modern design.

Unlike the modern semi-auto, the revolver has far fewer components, thus meaning fewer things to go wrong.

Stoppages, or malfunctions, are virtually unheard of in a modern revolver. For those of you that can remember prehandgun ban, you’ll know exactly what I mean. The first handgun I ever shot was the good old wheel gun and that’s probably why I hold them so dear to my heart. The memories of shooting revolvers as a kid come flooding back every time I hold a revolver in my hand.

After the handgun ban there wasn’t much chance of ever

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shooting a revolver again, not in the UK anyway. There was very little on the market in the Airgun realm and as for Airsoft, the modern revolver simply didn’t exist - not until ASG brought out the reliable and solid Dan Wesson series in CO2. These were (and still are) a bench mark that other companies had to work to. Sadly the existence of modern airsoft revolvers stayed with the ASG brand, as other airsoft companies seem to have stayed away from the wheel gun market. A little competition with manufacturing wouldn’t have gone a miss. However ASG saw that there is still a market for the revolver and added another iconic weapon to its arsenal; the Dan Wesson 715.

ASG first brought out the 6” version of this legendary weapon and you can find a great report written by our very own Leslie Lee in March 2016’s Issue of Airsoft Action. Then news came of a 4” and 2.5” snub nose model and I can’t tell you how excited I was to hear that ASG wanted me to review them. When Paul from ASG emailed me to tell me I had a parcel inbound I knew I wasn’t going to be disappointed with its contents. Amongst the fully licensed 1:1 scale of the real steel revolver, the box contained other items that I will include in next month’s issue.

The build quality, as you would expect from such a reputable company as ASG, is like the other Dan Wesson revolvers; solid. The revolvers that were sent for review are silver and silver grey. The silver revolvers are finished in a high mirror gloss finish that really reflects the light. So if you’re after a bit of bling, then silver is the one for you. The silver grey is a darker, smoky grey with a very high gloss mirror finish. This really is a great colour and sets the gun’s looks off beautifully.

armoury DAN WESSON 715

The machining of the revolver too is of a very high standard with no visible machining marks. All the surfaces and edges are smooth and there is no wobble at any of the joints or moving parts. This is a very well-built revolver of the highest quality.

Powered by a 12g CO2 cartridge, the 715 operates just like the real thing, just without the bang. The CO2 is placed into the grip and then is secured in place by a screw in the bottom of the grip. The screw is tightened and released by an Alan key that is an integral part of the grip. A great idea as you will never lose or forget the only tool you’ll ever need for the 715 when out shooting. Once the CO2 is inserted and screwed down, replace the grip, load up the shells with bbs and you are good to go.

Unlike the other Dan Wesson revolvers, whose safety catch

small screw holes that are the fixing points for a sight rail (sold separately). With an overall length of 298mm, the 715 weighs in at 1.225Kg. This is a big gun, yet it is finely balanced and not too front heavy as you might expect it to be. The grip is made of a rubber compound that sits very comfortably in the hand, in fact this is one of the most ergonomic and comfortable grips I have ever used on a revolver. The muzzle velocity in Feet Per Second for full power shells is an average of 397fps and for the Power down shells an average of 187fps (on test).

The 4” version is pretty much the same as its bigger brother, with the exception of a 4” barrel. The sight radius is 150mm and the barrel has a two-hole, vented rib on top. Underneath you will find a small integral rail system that is ideal for adding a white light or a laser should you feel the need. The overall length of the 4” 715 is 242mm and has a weight of 1.060Kg. This has good balance in the hand and is a good size and weight revolver for the average person. The muzzle velocity in Feet Per Second for full power shells is an average of 345fps and for the Power down shells an average of 179fps (on test).

Like the 6” and 4”, the 2.5” is virtually the same with the exception of a 2.5” Snub Nose barrel and a sight radius of only 120mm. On top of the barrel you will find a single hole vented rib, however under the barrel there is no attachment points for any type of rail due to the reduced size of the barrel. This little snub nose weighs in at 1Kg, with a length of 210mm. A hefty little revolver with a muzzle velocity in Feet Per Second for full

“AFTER THE HANDGUN BAN THERE WASN’T MUCH CHANCE OF EVER SHOOTING A REVOLVER AGAIN, NOT IN THE UK ANYWAY. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE ON THE MARKET IN THE AIRGUN REALM AND AS FOR AIRSOFT, THE MODERN REVOLVER SIMPLY DIDN’T EXIST - NOT UNTIL ASG BROUGHT OUT THE RELIABLE AND SOLID DAN WESSON SERIES IN CO2. THESE WERE (AND STILL ARE) A BENCH MARK THAT OTHER COMPANIES HAD TO WORK TO.” is part of the cylinder release catch, the 715 comes with a manual safety that is housed at the top of the grip, behind the hammer and is very discreet. Also the grip is a soft to the touch rubber textured grip. Each 715 comes with a unique serial number and a full instruction manual.

As the 715 is chambered for 6mm bbs, ASG have added a hop system to the revolver. So far as I am aware, the 715’s are the only airsoft revolvers in the world to have a Hop unit and this makes a great difference over the other Dan Wessons.

The hop is easily adjusted with a small Alan key, (provided) via a small hole in the top of the barrel above the ejector rod.

Once adjusted to the right position, you should never need to readjust the hop again. ASG like to innovate and push the boundaries and this is what make them an industry leader.

The real steel Dan Wesson 715 comes with detachable barrels, moving from 6” to 4” etc, but with airsoft, ASG couldn’t do that and re-designed the barrel configuration in the new handguns. The Dan Wesson 715 revolver truly is ground breaking in Airsoft.

Loading the 715 is the same as any other cartridge-fed airsoft revolver, by inserting a single bb into the nose cone of each cartridge. The 715 comes with 6 cartridges and a speed loader to get you going. Spare cartridges and speed loaders can be purchased separately from all ASG stockists.

As I was sent all three revolvers I’ll look at them here separately.

The 6” version comes with a fixed front sight blade and an adjustable rear sight, for windage and elevation, with a 200mm sight radius. You will find a three-hole, vented rib that runs the length of the barrel that adds a nice touch to the revolver’s looks, while underneath the barrel you will find two

power shells at an average of 307fps and for the Power down shells an average of 156fps (on test).

As the sight radius differs on all 3 revolvers the accuracy will also differ between each one but I did manage to get groupings of 50mm At 10 meters with all 3 guns.

If like me, you’re into your wheel guns, then the Dan Wesson 715 from ASG is a must for your collection. This is a superb handgun that will be very hard to beat in terms of quality, looks and performance.

Has ASG got anything else revolver related in store for us?

Yep you bet they have - and you can find out what they have to offer in next month’s issue of Airsoft Action magazine.

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Event AIRSOFT BOOT FAIR

AIRSOFT BOOT FAIR SPRING 2017 IN EARLY APRIL BILL THOMAS TOOK SOME TIME AWAY FROM BUILDING GUNS AND BREAKING GEAR TO PAY A VISIT TO A TWICE-YEARLY AIRSOFT EVENT IN BEXLEY, KENT THAT THIS YEAR WAS BIGGER THAN EVER BEFORE: THE AIRSOFT BOOTFAIR. I FIRST ATTENDED THE AIRSOFT Bootfair back in March 2012 and it’s an event that’s been running twice a year since then.

The events are run early in the year, around late March or early April and again later in the year around the end of September.

Entry to this event is just £2 per person, which includes a free Raffle ticket. A Seller’s pitch is only £10 and includes entry for two people and pre-Booking guarantees a covered pitch in the main arena, which is roughly three metres long. Children of 11 years or under, OAPs, serving members of the Armed forces and Emergency Services get in for free.

The event was the first of its kind and was designed to be a place that both players and trade could meet on an equal footing to buy and sell new and used goods. Obviously (as the event name implies) the day is centred around players setting up stalls and selling their used or unwanted kit but there are now a number of trade sellers who bring lots of new kit for players to buy and look at and is a great way for those traders to get a sense of what their customers want in a less hurried environment than in the hustle of a game day safe zone.

The main covered central area is devoted to the player’s pitches whilst the trade stands have dedicated space on the adjoining courtyard; it was great this year to see trade friends like Darkwater Airsoft who were selling badges in support of the Spartan Warrior PTSD Charity, South Eastern Airsoft Supplies (nice “Skorpion” Mr P!), Dave’s Custom Airsoft and Adriano and his merry crew from RDX Tactical with their tactical

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store. “Stretch” from Super Mega Tactical Airsoft News put in his usual “celebrity” appearance, this time with extra-snacky goodness! It was also great to see a newest arrival at the bootfair, the team from 308 Tactical who had a great range of “shiny things” to tempt me with.

Anyone can attend the event, regardless of age or experience so new players can mix and mingle with the more experienced. The organisers have very few restrictions on what may be sold at the event, although the venue have asked them that they do not allow the sale or display of any “Nazi” memorabilia (still a touchy subject even after all these years ) and they also restrict the sale of bladed instruments to those with a military theme only. Apart from that, if it has a military or Airsoft theme and is legal to sell in the UK then bring you can take it along and place it up for sale!

Event AIRSOFT BOOT FAIR

As well as the buying and selling aspect there are always some competitions running throughout the day. First and foremost is the Big Raffle, which is self-funding with the proceeds from one allowing some swish new prizes to be bought for the next. Everyone who visits the event gets a free raffle ticket upon arrival. The Raffle prizes are donated by the event organisers and in the past additional prizes have been kindly donated by the Trade attendee’s as well. These prizes are mostly made up of new guns and tactical equipment with a few surprises thrown in along the way.

The organisers also run the “Best Loadout” Competition for those people who attend the event in full tactical gear, or their favourite “character” kit. It’s a very simple concept, just turn up in your skirmish gear and around 12 noon all contestants will be gathered in the trade square and the judges (who are picked from attending sellers and customers who are known skirmishers themselves) will look at and ask questions about your kit and why you have decided on what you have. A single winner is picked by majority vote and announced later in the afternoon. The winner is presented with a bag of Airsoft goodies usually worth around £200 so it’s well worth getting stuck in. I had the honour of being appointed Head Judge this year and I have to say that the standard was as good as I’ve ever seen it, with a righteous WWII “Fury” loadout and an impeccable “Lone Survivor”. First place though went to a young man, the smallest and youngest of the competitors, whose sniper loadout and enthusiasm for the role took the prize; this will be one young man to watch out for on the skirmish field in years to come, take my word for it! There are also small games running like guess the BBs in a jar, just to add a little fun to the day. At the next event in September they will also be hosting a live auction in addition to the raffle where anyone can place an item to be auctioned off there and then on the day.

The event organisers, fronted by my old mate Phil Bromley, are all long time proponents of Airsoft as trade suppliers, shop and site owners and as players themselves, so the event has a real feel of “for the players, by the players”. The venue itself is excellent, being held in school grounds with excellent facilities.

Parking is free all day, the main sales area is covered and there are excellent toilet facilities - so no muddy fields at this event!

There is a snack shack where caterers prepare food fresh and have the bacon and burgers on from the get go; the bacon bap especially is always high on my personal list of purchases for the day!

The event has gone from strength to strength, this year

topping 500 attendees for the first time and has inspired other events around the county. The organisers really do have a passion for the sport and the players and try to make the whole day about Airsoft, not just how much they can charge for coffee. In the words of Phil Bromley; “We are always looking for new trade customers who would like to show off their latest wares and all groups or teams are welcome.”

He also stresses, however, that they could not host the event without the amazing support of the volunteers who man the gates, direct parking and sell raffle tickets throughout the day, or the players who support the event and make the day what it is.

If you’re looking for a bargain, or just fancy a cracking day out in the company of fellow airsofters then you really should put the Airsoft Bootfair on your calendar. The next event will be in September 2017 and more information along with booking forms can be found on the www.airsoftbootfair.com website or on the Airsoftbootfair Facebook page.

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Warriors RUSSIAN PEACEMAKER

GARETH “GADGE” HARVEY TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO 1999 AND AN EVENT THAT NEARLY STARTED WORLD WAR III.

RUSSIAN PEACEMAKER

PRISTINA AIRPORT 1999

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Warriors RUSSIAN PEACEMAKER

WHILE MOST OF US ARE lucky enough to have known “peace in our time”, ironically it was the “peace makers” of the Russian Federation who nearly set off World War Three!

By the end of the 1990s the fighting in the region of the Balkans had become even more confused and bloody and had spread to the province of Kosovo. In early 1999 a ceasefire in the area had been implemented and this was in no small way due to Russian influence on the Serbian President, Slobodan Milosevic, to end the bloody and internecine war in the region. Due to their crucial role in the peace process, the Russian Federation, still reeling from a savage mauling in the 1st Chechen War, sought international recognition for their efforts and a boost in morale by being given their own sector of Kosovo to patrol and police. NATO chiefs, however, had concerns that a “Russian Sector” would simply create a division of Kosovo into a “Serbian North” and an “Albanian South” and blocked Russian efforts to take part in the peacekeeping exercise. A large contingent of NATO troops (as part of the allied rapid reaction force) had arrived in Macedonia in the March of 1999 and after being renamed KFOR (Kosovo Force), were preparing to move out to secure areas of the region. As the armoured vehicles of KFOR began to roll out they received worrying news that the Russians has “beaten them to it”!

On the 11th of June, the Russians, feeling double-crossed

by NATO, had hastily painted “KFOR” insignia on their armoured vehicles and rolled a column of some 30 armoured vehicles, carrying around 250 of their best troops, through Bosnia to secure the airport at Pristina in Kosovo.

WORLD WAR THREE

General Wesley Clark, NATO’s American Supreme Commander, immediately ordered 500 British and French paratroopers to be put on standby to occupy the airport but the plan was halted

by General Sir Mike Jackson, KFOR’s British commander, who refused to antagonise the Russians. While the NATO paras stood ready to move next to their helos in the baking Balkan summer, General Jackson stalled for time. Knowing that he might have to potentially command the troops occupying the airport and that the Russians were not in the mood to take things lightly, he told his American CO, “I’m not going to start the Third World War for you!”

Unopposed, the Russian advance party took the airport as the world waited. While the Russians planned to reinforce the soldiers at Pristina with airlifted troops flying over eastern European airspace, the British forces were told to use outlandish tactics to block the airport’s runways.

Pop star James Blunt, who at the time was an armoured recce officer in the Blues and Royals UK cavalry regiment, recalls how NATO initially planned to prevent the Russians flying in thousands of men by landing the UK’s helicopters on the runways. When this plan was refused by the Brits they were told by the Americans they would have to block the runways with their tanks… an order he says he would have risked court martial to disobey, as it would have severely provoked the already annoyed Russians.

Luckily the standoff was diffused by NATO requesting the countries of Romania and Hungary not to allow Russian aircraft to fly reinforcements through their airspace but, for many tense hours, East and West stood toe to toe.

The Romanian and Hungarian governments (who for historical reasons were no great friends of the Russians who had occupied their countries for decades) agreed and, knowing they were isolated from easy resupply of men and materiel, the Russian forces began to back down. Eventually a peaceful resolution was achieved through negotiation that the Russians would operate as part of KFOR but under Russian, rather than NATO, command. The Pristina Incident would make a fantastic “low intensity” airsoft skirmish in a “what if it went wrong” scenario as Russian special forces face NATO paras. Luckily in our “real world”, common sense by the men on the ground prevailed but for one awful moment the belligerence and arrogance of Russian and American senior military minds had nearly caused an international conflict!

PEACE MAKERS

Our “Peacemaker” this month wears the standard Russian federation woodland battle dress uniform, in a camouflage scheme known to collectors as “VSR93”, or Vooruzhennie Sili Rossiia 93 (Russian Armed Forces [pattern of 19]93). While VSR93 was designed and trialled during the last years of the Soviet Union, it would not see general issue until the first years of the Russian Federation. This field uniform is the lightweight “summer” version in the M88 “Afghanka” cut popularised during the Afghan War of the 1980s. The jacket consists of a simple button-fronted, six pocket garment while the trousers also have a button fly, small patch pockets on the rear, cargo pockets on the thigh and hand warmer pockets to the front.

As with most Soviet and Russian uniforms of the 1980s and early 90s, the trousers have an adjustment “blousing” cord and also a cloth “stirrup” to make the trousers easier to put on with low ankle boots, or jackboots respectively. The uniform jacket bears an interesting mix of insignia. For some years Russian Federation forces used up surplus communist stocks of cloth and metal badges and so our airborne soldier wears a relatively modern (at this point in time) “Armed Forces of Russia” sleeve patch on his left arm, alongside a much older Soviet-era Airborne Forces “VDV” patch on his right. Although this anachronistic mix was much more common in the early years of the federation, it could still be seen on some uniforms for many years. Lastly, above his VDV insignia are the two cyrillic characters “MC” (in English “MS”). The characters “MC”, are an abbreviation of the Russian words “mirotvorcheskiye cily” or “peacemaking force.” It’s often interesting to note the subtle but important difference in language. While UN forces are often “peace keepers”, the Russians see intervention forces as a more direct tool and prefer to “make the peace” before trying to keep it! Often these characters can be seen on other insignia, painted onto helmets (either blue helmets or helmets with a blue band), or vehicles assigned to peacemaking duties. A final “give away” of our warrior’s affiliation to the elite Russian air landing troops, is his striped blue and white “telnyashka” vest, the edge of which can just be seen poking out from under his body armour.

Traditional Russian load bearing systems of belt and Y straps or the airborne RD54 system are eschewed in favour of the integral pouches of the 6B3 armour vest and an additional selection of belt-mounted pouches. The 6B3 vest was developed for the war in Afghanistan in the 1980s and consists

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Warriors RUSSIAN PEACEMAKER

of a soft fragmentation proof “waistcoat” lined with titanium interlocking plates, under a cloth or nylon cover and is able to defeat small arms fire at the expense of its immense weight of around 8Kg. Built into the vest are several cloth pockets and pouches. The front of the vest has four single mag pouches with Velcro closures for the AK assault rifle and a single large utility pouch across the chest, while the back has four small grenade pouches and a larger utility pouch.

While the vest can be worn on its own, many soldiers utilised a standard Soviet-era belt to carry additional equipment, in this case an late Soviet pattern plastic water bottle in its khaki carrier (often called an “airborne” water bottle, this is in fact just a design intended to replace the metal and rather small canteen of WWII vintage that was showing its age by the 1980s). Attached to the vest is our soldier’s 6H4 (6X4 in cyrillic) bayonet. This unconventional carrying style saw popularity during the Chechen war as it allowed easier access to the weapon than the traditional “Soviet” belt-based carry, particularly when wearing bulky body armour like the 6B3.

The bayonet is affixed simply by wedging the blade’s scabbard into the retaining straps for the vest adjusters (an alternative shoulder carry was to affix the bayonets belt loops to the adjusters). A final addition to the vest is a Russian “Adrianov Compass” secured to the other shoulder. This simple model of compass has been in use with the Soviet Army since its inception in the post WWI years and while crude, is perfectly functional.

Other personal protection comes in the form of our soldier’s helmet and boots. Again (and unsurprisingly for the cashstrapped Russian Federation), these are both from Soviet-era stocks.

The helmet is a modernised version of the WWII M40 pattern helmet that by this time was beginning to be phased out by the M68 pattern helmet in airborne forces. However, even as late as the Pristina Airport Incident, both models could be seen worn side by side in some units. Airborne pattern lace up low boots complete the uniform and are indistinguishable from Soviet-made ones, as Russian and Ukrainian factories continued to make these boots to the “1989 standard” well into the 2000s.

Personal weaponry is typically basic and consists of just the standard airborne forces AK74S folding stock 5.45mm assault rifle. This model however is the “N” variant, with a sidemounted attachment for affixing a night vision scope. Here as a combat veteran of Chechnya, our “peacemaker” has adopted the common veteran’s practice of securing an immediate first field dressing inside the skeleton stock with a brown rubber tourniquet. Not only does this provide an immediate “bullet trauma kit” but the rubber strapping of the tourniquet provides a much more comfortable “cheek weld” when aiming the metal-stocked AK74.

Once again we’ve decided to look at the “intervention forces” which are less commonly seen in airsoft in this month’s “Warriors” (see UN Peace Keepers in last month’s issue for more details). This month, however, the loadout is a little more practical and combatbased, as befits Russian doctrine and what’s more, most of this kit is very easy to source. While you may have to order on eBay from Russia and Ukraine to get your hands on a 6B3 vest, sets of VSR93 are now becoming quite common in the Uk after years of relative scarcity.

So what are you waiting for Comrades? Don’t “keep the peace”, get out there and make it!

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73

pocket rockets TM P90 AND FIVE-SEVEN

JERRY NOONE TAKES A LOOK AT AN AEG THAT DIVIDES OPINION THROUGHOUT THE AIRSOFT COMMUNITY WORLDWIDE AND THE PISTOL THAT WAS DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE IT; THE FN HERSTAL P90 AND FIVE-SEVEN.

FN BROTHERS IN ARMS

IT’S OFTEN THE CASE IN our big wide world of airsoft that we encounter, what many players will refer to as, a “marmite gun” and the diminutive P90 Personal Defence Weapon, or PDW, is most definitely one of those! Although it has been a top performer in many movies and TV series, most notably the “Stargate” franchise and is a highly dependable “real steel” firearm, many airsofters turn their noses up at the replica and I have to admit to being amongst this number in the past.

That said, I do know a lot of airsofters who absolutely swear by their P90 and with its inclusion into the most up to date computer games such as “Wildlands”, I believe that it is about to have a resurgence, so although it’s not a “new” model by any means, I thought it worthy of a revisit.

Although a number of airsoft manufacturers have produced a P90 RIF I’ve chosen the Tokyo Marui (TM) version as a) they’ve been around for a good while and have shown great reliability and b) because TM also produce the Five-seveN handgun that shares the same cutting-edge 5.7x28mm cartridge.

INNOVATION AT THE VERY HEART OF THINGS

FN Herstal has a long history of weapon manufacturing excellence, dating back to 1889. From the very start, FN Herstal has focused on innovation and product improvement, resulting 74

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POCKET ROCKETS TM P90 AND FIVE-SEVEN

in the development and production of a large number of stateof-the-art weapons and associated products that have been (and still are) used by military and law enforcement personnel around the globe. This accounts for FN Herstal establishing a position of worldwide leadership in the small arms market over the last fifty years.

Founded in Herstal, Belgium, the Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre (FN) was launched by the region’s most highly respected gunmakers from the Liege area that already had a five century old tradition of designing and manufacturing firearms. FN’s first mission was no small matter; to manufacture 150,000 Mauser rifles for the Belgian government!

Any firearm, though, is useless without reliable ammunition and two years later the FN cartridge factory was established in Belgium to manufacture ammunition for the Mauser rifle and to provide Belgium’s military forces with the firepower they needed; this would prove to be an important step for FN that would pay dividends in the years to come.

In the 1920s the partnership between the legendary John Moses Browning and FN bore fruit in one of its signature firearms, the Browning Automatic Rifle, or BAR. This was followed in the 1930s by the legendary .50 calibre (12.7mm) M2HB heavy machine gun, still widely used today. Mounted on either a tripod or a wide variety of vehicles, boats and ships, the M2HB continues to be regarded as one of the finest firearms ever made.

But things didn’t stop there!

The Browning Hi Power 9mm pistol had already become the preferred sidearm of many modern NATO forces. When NATO decided to adopt the 7.62x51mm cartridge FN then designed, developed and manufactured what would become the most successful rifle in this calibre, the FN FAL. Alongside this came the belt-fed FN MAG General Purpose Machine Gun (the “Gimpy” to us Brits) which, since its launch, has been adopted by over 90 countries!

Coming back to their own cartridge development, in the seventies, FN developed the 5.56x45mm SS109 round. This was also later adopted by NATO as its second official calibre in 1981 and deployed along with the FN MINIMI light machine gun. As time moved on inexorably towards the end of the twentieth century though, new needs and requirements were identified and both the cartridge and weapon designers at FN went back to the drawing board to find solutions to new challenges!

NEW ERA, FRESH SOLUTIONS

In 1989, NATO published document D/296, outlining a number of specifications for a family of revolutionary new firearms.

NATO called for two types of weapons chambered for a new cartridge, one a shoulder-fired weapon and the other a handheld weapon. According to NATO, these new weapons, termed Personal Defence Weapons (PDWs), were to provide “personal protection in last-resort situations when the user is directly endangered by the enemy”.

The specifications were: The new cartridge was to have greater range, accuracy and terminal performance than the 9×19mm cartridge. Additionally, it was to be capable of penetrating body armour.

The shoulder-fired personal defence weapon (basically an SMG) was to weigh less than 3 kg (6.6 lb), with a magazine capacity of at least 20 rounds.

The handheld personal defence weapon (pistol) was to weigh less than 1 kg (2.2 lb), although a weight of 700 g (1.5 lb) was deemed desirable; it was to have a magazine capacity of at least 20 rounds.

Both weapons were to be sufficiently compact to be carried hands-free on the user’s person at all times, whether in the cab of a vehicle or the cockpit of an aircraft and were to perform effectively in all environments and weather conditions.

The P90 and its 5.7×28mm ammunition were developed

by FN Herstal in response to these NATO requests. The original 5.7×28mm cartridge, called the SS90, went into production with the P90 in 1990. Shortly after its introduction, the P90 was adopted and used in service with the Belgian Special Forces

Group in the 1991 Gulf War. Following the P90’s introduction, FN revised the 5.7×28mm ammunition; the new variation, designated the SS190, used a projectile 2.7 mm (0.11 in) shorter in length than that of the SS90. This allowed it to be used more conveniently in the 5.7×28mm FN Five-seveN pistol, which was also under development at that time.

With its unique horizontally mounted feeding system and semi-transparent 50 round polymer magazine, the P90 was issued as standard with the Ring Sights MC-10-80 sight, which was specifically designed for it. The P90 also had provisions for mounting a number of different types of accessories, including tactical lights and laser aiming devices and it could be fitted with various sound suppressors such as the Gemtech SP90, which was designed specifically for the weapon in cooperation with FN Herstal.

Despite being originally intended as a defensive weapon for military personnel whose primary role is not fighting with small arms (such as vehicle drivers), most sales of the P90 have been to special forces and counter-terrorist groups who use it for offensive and close-protection roles and by 2009 the P90 was in service with military and police forces in over 40 countries!

RIGHTEOUS REPLICAS

A very close friend of mine, who until relatively recently was

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POCKET ROCKETS TM P90 AND FIVE-SEVEN

involved with close-protection work overseas, once told me that he was issued with the FN Five-seveN handgun and that with its 20 round magazine it was actually one of the most impressive and more importantly, most accurate handguns that he’d ever used. This is a man who owns more real handguns than I do airsoft replicas, so I’m inclined to take his word for it!

What I really like about the P90 and Five-seveN combo from TM, is that you can have replicas of both models produced in 5.7×28mm in the real world. As both replicas in airsoft guise use the same 6mm BBs that all airsoft guns use, that’s no so important for us as players but I do love the synergy that you can follow real shooting doctrine staying with the same “calibre” across your primary and secondary!

The TM P90 could have been purpose-made for CQB use as, at only 504 mm/19.8inches long and weighing in at just 2200g/4.85lbs, it’s a model that even the smallest player can carry all day long. Externally, as with most TM RIFs, the P90 is impeccable with all the features, including the dot-

sight and the semi-transparent 68BB magazine (hi-caps are easily sourced for this model), being faithfully reproduced.

Internally things are just as good as it benefits from a Version 6 gearbox and an EG1000 Hi-Torque, trans-mounted motor.

A threaded barrel with metal flash hider allows quick installation of a suppressor and the integrated red-dot scope is great for quick aiming in CQB situations. The magazine has convincingly real looking rounds within it, which doesn’t really add anything other than a good handful of “cool factor”. A RIS rail is included on the right side for attaching accessories like flashlights and lasers and a swiftly detached buttplate reveals the battery compartment which easily stores a PEQ style 7.4 LiPo. The Five-seveN is equally impressive. The pistol is constructed externally from polymer, while the internal parts are constructed from alloy. This pistol benefits from TM’s legendary high-standard build quality, putting it “right up there” when it comes to accuracy and efficiency. As a GBB the Five-seveN is highly efficient, allowing multiple reloads before having to re-gas the 27BB magazine. The pistol features multiple modern features, such as a front 20mm rail for attaching taclites and lasers, as well as highlighted, easily acquired front and rear iron sights.

The Five-seveN features TM’s renowned pistol hop-up system which can be adjusted for varying weights of BB and this is accessed by first splitting the slide from the frame using the slide pin located on the left of the pistol; having to remove the slide to adjust the hop is a bit of a “faff” but luckily once it’s set you’re not going to have to return to it very often!

Taking both the P90 and the Five-seveN to the range I was unsurprised by the power outputs of both; using .20g NUPROL RZR BBs the P90 chugged in at 0.73Joule/281fps, with the pistol at 0.65Joule/265fps, both highly acceptable for all UK sites.

Somehow though, TM have always managed to shake a

“DESPITE BEING ORIGINALLY INTENDED AS A DEFENSIVE WEAPON FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL WHOSE PRIMARY ROLE IS NOT FIGHTING WITH SMALL ARMS, MOST SALES OF THE P90 HAVE BEEN TO SPECIAL FORCES AND COUNTER-TERRORIST GROUPS WHO USE IT FOR OFFENSIVE AND CLOSEPROTECTION ROLES AND BY 2009 THE P90 WAS IN SERVICE WITH MILITARY AND POLICE FORCES IN OVER 40 COUNTRIES!” little “fairy dust” over their AEGs and GBBs and whilst the power levels are lower than we see from most manufacturers these days, the range and accuracy of both replicas is absolutely stunning. As I was looking at both the PDW and the pistol for predominantly CQB use, I tested initially at 10m and both were absolute tackdrivers. Moving out to 25m the P90 was easily hitting sandbags and the odd shape of it suddenly seemed to make a lot of sense, as it nestled nicely and extremely comfortably into the shoulder. For a “marmite gun” I came away very, very impressed.

Once again returning to two well established Tokyo Marui RIFs, I’m reminded of why most of us used to favour the brand “back in the day”. We’re now spoilt for choice in a marketplace where a new model seems to appear on an almost daily basis but if you’re looking for highly accurate and efficient airsoft replicas, the TMs still take a LOT of beating and are 100% worth a look at!

My thanks go to the team at Fire Support for the loan of the test samples. The Five-seveN pistol costs £142.00 and the P90 £225.00 and more details of all Tokyo Marui models can be found by visiting www.fire-support.co.uk

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77

WW2 OPERATION HUSKY

THE ALLIED INVASION OF SICILY 1943 HAVING BEEN KEPT BUSY WITH TOURS AND WORKING AWAY, SNIPER ONE, DAN MILLS, STARTS A SERIES OF ARTICLES FOCUSSED ON THE USE OF AIRBORNE FORCES. THE SEA AND AIRBORNE INVASION of the island of Sicily marked the start of the Italian campaign, its effects would have far reaching consequences and help shape the outcome of the war.

This major campaign started overnight on the ninth of July 1943 and would continue for six long arduous weeks of fighting. The end would see Italian and German forces evicted from the island, critical waterways denied to the allies for several years being reopened, the toppling of The Italian President Benito Mussolini and German reinforcements being withdrawn from the Eastern Front.

In general, the basic outline of the plan was for seaborne

invasions to take place on several landing beaches along the southern coast of Sicily, prior to those landings an airborne force was flown in by glider or dropped by parachute to capture and hold vitally important locations that would help the allied advance, such as bridges, airfields and runways, typical airborne targets.

As I am concentrating this series on Airborne operations I will leave the landing force there and concentrate on the glider force and paratroopers of the 1st Airborne Brigade, during Operations Ladbroke (Glider) and Fustian (Parachute).

OP LADBROKE

Supply problems meant that there were not enough serviceable gliders available to carry out all the different elements of the operation at the same time, add to that the lack of trained pilots, many without combat experience and the reality that things can go wrong …and they did.

The 1st Air landing Brigade, led by Brigadier Hicks, was tasked with the capture of The Ponte Grande Bridge, additional tasks included taking control of the harbour at Syracuse, vital to allow logistics and follow up troops to land, and the town around it along with a coastal battery that could have caused problems for the beach landings.

The operation went ahead on night of the 9th of July, just hours ahead of the amphibious invasion. The 1st Air landing Brigade was made up of 2 South Stafford’s, tasked with the capture of the bridge and surrounding areas, 1 Border Regiment, tasked with the capture of Syracuse, with 181 Field Ambulance and 9 Field Company RE in support. Elsewhere Para troops from the US 82nd would also drop behind the beachhead to capture vital installations and block enemy movement heading south.

The plan was to stage a “Coup de Main” landing at the bridge at 23.15hrs, with a follow up force arriving at 01.15hrs to reinforce the defenders, these would arrive from several 78

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to a very wide scattering of the LZ locations from 1.5 to 3 miles away from the bridge. These assaulting troops parachuting in. It forces were then to hold until relieved by elements of the land was said that trigger-happy gunners forces after breaking out from the beachhead. on board the ships of the sea borne Prior to the jump air assets carried out diversionary air element were even responsible for raids in the North, these were successful in causing numerous shooting down several of our own casualties, including one of the Italian commanders. aircraft!

It was vitally important that speed was adhered to, as Some parachutists were also soon as the allies landed it was expected that the German dropped into the sea, drowning and Italians would consolidate together and in a pincer type instantly, while others were movement, strike those landing on the beaches in order to dropped in and around Mount push them back into the sea. The glider and airborne troops Etna, the volcano. Only one must push on and capture key bridges, port and infrastructure quarter of the parachute troops to keep the enemy from gaining momentum. were dropped on the intended However, as is always the risk with these operations, things drop zone and to make matters went wrong from the start. Firstly the weather broke, the 1st worse, the Germans sent in 30,000 Air Landing Brigades gliders were towed into a storm which elite Fallschirmjager from its First would batter them. 2,000 men were sent up in over 130 tugs Fallschirmjager Division, veterans of Crete and the Russian and Dakota C-47s, add to this the gliders being towed flew Front. Not troops expected to put up a little fight, like the into a hail storm of anti-aircraft fire from the defenders, many Italians located on the high ground nearby, these were tough, of the inexperienced American air crews panicked and released experienced fighters. their glider too soon so they could escape the danger. Many of A battle for the bridge lasted for three days and nights with these gliders had nowhere to go but the sea. 78 of the gliders varying success. German tanks were brought up in support released early crashed into the sea losing many lives, a disaster. and Italian artillery positions had to be destroyed by hardOthers, were spread out and crash-landed over miles and miles of the rugged, mountainous countryside, far away from “THE GLIDERS BEING TOWED FLEW INTO A HAIL STORM OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE their targets.

Those who were on FROM THE DEFENDERS, MANY OF THE INEXPERIENCED AMERICAN AIR CREWS target continued with the PANICKED AND RELEASED THEIR GLIDER TOO SOON SO THEY COULD ESCAPE mission. Of the 2,000 who THE DANGER. MANY OF THESE GLIDERS HAD NOWHERE TO GO BUT THE SEA.” flew, one platoon of the South Stafford’s with steely determination headed to fighting patrols led by fearsome paratroopers. It was not until and captured the bridge at Ponte Grande. The German troops Montgomery’s advanced units from The Eighth Army arrived counter-attacked and pushed them back off the bridge but was the bridge captured and fully secured. the determination of the Stafford’s grew as more and more The airborne soldiers, even though they were dropped too stragglers arrived to take the fight back to the enemy into the far away from their objective to be involved, did not sit on their night. laurels. They caused utter mayhem all over the island by cutting Even though the glider force had been scattered far and telephone wires and attacking any soft target they came across wide, the task of diversion was a success and shortly after in a bid to hamper the enemy war effort. There were Italian landing virtually unopposed on the beaches the day after, the Airfields, defensive positions sighted high and low in areas of sea borne element arrived within an hour and recaptured the tactical importance dotted about the island, these all became bridge. targets to be harassed and if possible, captured. Many of the It was to be a similar story for the men of the 1st parachute Para troops and glider troops were themselves captured.

Brigade.

With the vital bridges captured, break out from the beach head and the clearing of the pockets of enemy on the OP FUSTIAN dominant high ground, the position for the Axis forces was This operation was to capture and hold the only bridge able untenable and they hastily withdrew. It was all over by the to allow the forward momentum of the armour and troops 17th of August 1943, just over one month of hard fighting had from the sea borne landings and therefore vital to take. It was pushed the Axis troops off the Island of Sicily. planned again, for a “Coup de Main” to be carried out, with a It also proved that Glider and Airborne operations could DZ for the paras either side of the river, taking both ends of the succeed in protecting a seaborne invasion and though all did bridge simultaneously. not go to plan, important lessons were learned and put into As with Op Ladbroke, the inexperienced aircrew reacted practice for future combined operations later the war. to hostile (and in some cases friendly) fire very badly, this led

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79

Team Profile THE WOLFPACK

HAILING FROM THE NORTH-WEST OF ENGLAND, THE WOLFPACK ARE A GREAT BUNCH OF GUYS, SO WE THOUGHT WE’D ASK THEM TO LET US KNOW A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES.

THE WOLFPACK THE WOLFPACK IS A TIGHTKNIT, fourteen-man Airsoft team based in the North-west of England. The team is an eclectic mix of individuals from all different walks of life and our day jobs are just as varied - from paralegals to paramedics, from mechanical engineers to mixed-media designers. We’re also lucky enough to have members from Bomb Up Airsoft amongst our ranks. We all knew one another long before the days of The Wolfpack, so when we decided to officially form the team we already had deep-rooted friendships that are continually strengthened on a daily basis.

The Wolfpack’s primary objective is to enjoy the sport that we are all so passionate about. We purposely keep our team numbers low to ensure we can maintain a smooth-flowing democracy, the comradery experienced in a compact fighting force, both on and off the field. Our small family understands the fundamentals of operating as an effective squad but also what it takes to care for and support each other, whatever the situation may be.

What makes the Wolfpack formidable is our ability to harness fourteen different personalities and a range of skills and experiences into a single unit that intuitively knows what each player is thinking in battle. We instinctively move as one, we always have each other’s back and have a combined determination to win.

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THE FIRETEAMS

Operating with two fireteams – Blackbeard Actual and Hunter Actual – allows us to evenly structure the team, enabling each member to embrace their strengths and preferred styles of play, whilst at the same time maintaining small, manageable crack teams in battle. Blackbeard Actual typically focuses on over-watch, recon tasks, and other supporting tactics and manoeuvres, with Hunter Actual deploying a more direct and aggressive approach, utilising every window of opportunity to advance on the opposing side.

EVENTS AND TRAINING

We have participated in numerous Military Simulation events (MilSims) hosted by our good friends at Warzone Battle Simulations, providing us with the opportunity to use a selection of M.O.D training areas, including Sennybridge FIBUA and Caerwent Training Base. Thanks to the staff of Warzone and some close friends of the team, we have had the good fortune to benefit from invaluable training provided by exmilitary and Special Forces.

We have enjoyed the experience of fighting at numerous Airsoft venues up and down the country, with our regular sites including Anzio, Alpha 55, and Invasion Airsoft (formally Trojan Airsoft). With some members of the team preferring outdoor/ woodland gameplay, and others favouring Close Quarter Battles, these sites give us the perfect balance of gameplay styles and allow us to expand and improve our skillsets.

TEAM KIT

As a team, we respect and encourage our members’ individuality and preferences when it comes to the type of kit we run with. We have no set uniform or style, but instead allow each other to develop our own style as we feel restrictions and requirements can take out the fun of expressing and building your own personality in the sport.

Mulitcam and MTP are unsurprising favourites amongst the team but some members often opt for less common

Team Profile THE WOLFPACK

camouflages, such as AOR1 and AOR2. PMC loadouts are also frequently used by the team and we even have a few members with excellent ghillie suits, perfect for our trips to woodland sites.

As with uniform, our weapons are our own. We have a collection of M4-based rifles along with several AK platforms and a handful of support weapons and sniper rifles. We are lucky enough to have some technical minds on the team, meaning many of the weapons we use have been endlessly upgraded and customised, we even have a couple of talented painters to cover the cosmetic aspect of our rifles.

THE AIRSOFT COMMUNITY

The majority of members within The Wolfpack have been undertaking the sport since 2014, we have always had a solid interest in the sport and community, in which we have made fantastic friends and connection along the way. We have covered numerous airsoft sites over the years, across the entire country where we have formed extremely strong relationships with the site owners and their fantastic marshalling staff. We would like to give a few honourable mentions to these airsoft organisations for the brilliant support they have handed us throughout our time in the sport.

Our first statement goes to Ben franklin of Invasion Airsoft, for giving his time and knowledge of the sport to guide us in the correct direction, when most of us began our airsoft journeys. He has also provided us with brilliant training facilities both Close Quarter Battle and woodland locations, where we have trained limitless hours, honing our tactics and skills ready for upcoming operations.

Ben is and always will be a valuable friend of ours and is a highly thought of member with in the airsoft community.

Additionally, we would like to mention the fantastic site holders with whom we have great relationships with, such as Gaz Holmes of Alpha 55. Gaz has continuously provided us with brilliant support over the past year with game events. The same applies to the Warzone Battle Simulation team, who have hosted phenomenal events at official M.O.D bases throughout the country. They have all given so much support and respect at the events we have attended and offered us the opportunity to partake in additional one to one training with ex-military members after the main operations have been completed.

a store support opportunity which was gratefully received. Bomb Up Airsoft are highly respected and we have the greatest appreciation of their support and the relationships we hold with them.

The Wolfpack airsoft team would also like to extend our gratitude to Airsoft Action magazine for the opportunity to share our story.

Please check out our social media streams on Facebook and Instagram for updates and events, you can also visit our website at www.thewolfpackairsoft.com Thomas Weedon and Jack Rumley.

AIRSOFT SUPPLIERS

Through our time in the airsoft world we have hooked up with a number of airsoft suppliers and stores across the entire country but none have been as supportive as Bomb Up Airsoft.

The Bomb Up Team really make sure we have the right advice to select the right equipment necessary to get the job done and they are always willing to go the extra mile for their customers.

As testament to the strength of the relationship with Bomb Up Airsoft, we decided to recruit two Bomb Up staff members on to The Wolfpack team, which Bomb Up reciprocated with www.airsoft-action.online

81

Book Review CRAWLING OUT OF HELL

CRAWLING OUT OF HELL THE TRUE STORY OF A BRITISH SNIPER’S GREATEST BATTLE

BY DEAN BAILEY NIGE READ THIS BOOK SOME MONTHS AGO BUT HAD BEEN STRUGGLING TO PUT HIS FEELINGS ABOUT IT INTO WORDS. HE HOPES THIS DOES IT JUSTICE… NEVER HAVING BEEN A SERVING member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, I count myself immensely lucky to have many friends that have served and who have shared their stories and encounters with me. I consider it a privilege and honour that they feel comfortable enough in our friendship that some have even shared their most personal and intimate feelings.

It was with that in mind that I was eager to read “Crawling Out Of Hell”, by Dean Bailey, however, having read the book nearly three months ago, I still find myself struggling to put into words what I feel about the book.

On the face of it, it would seem to be the story of a guy who had had a good military career, only to be dreadfully wounded, repatriated and trying to rebuild both his shattered body and life. As “cold” as that might sound, over the past few years it is something that we have seen time and again

and, rightly or wrongly, have started to become de-sensitised towards. This book, though, has left me feeling (what I can only describe as) “unsettled”.

In the Acknowledgements at the very beginning of the book, Dean himself mentions that it took him nearly four years to write, that he quit three times, wrote 30 drafts and was only with the help and love of those around him that it was finally completed.

I can never do the book justice in this small space and

“THE BULKY RECOIL KICKED MY SHOULDER BACK AS THE ROUND FLEW FROM THE MUZZLE, KICKING UP DUST ALL AROUND ME. I FOLLOWED THROUGH, PLACING THE CROSS HAIRS BACK ONTO THE TARGET. THE DUST SETTLED ENOUGH FOR ME TO SEE HIS LIFELESS BODY FOLD AND FLOP TO THE FLOOR. A WAVE OF EXHILARATION FLOODED THROUGH ME, FOLLOWED BY A TINY ELEMENT OF GUILT, WHICH QUICKLY FADED INTO THE BACKGROUND.” 82

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Book Review CRAWLING OUT OF HELL

can only say that if you find the following paragraphs stir something within you, then you should buy a copy and read it for yourself.

The first half of Dean’s book charts his entry into the Army at Catterick and into Basic Training. The book quickly becomes a brilliant glimpse into Army life and is full of “squaddie humour”. Things that you could only know about if you had been there litter the pages, such as his first experience of CS gas: “I ran straight over to the fence and leaned over it. Stuff was coming from every orifice, it was not very pleasant. I could not breathe or see and my hearing was fuzzy but after a few minutes it wore off. I turned around and the rest of the guys were taking the piss and laughing.

“You all right Deano? Do you want a tissue?”

“You wait until you go in there, you f*ckers” I replied, smiling back at them.”

It turned out that Dean Bailey had an aptitude for sniping and it was a path that would eventually lead him to Camp Bastion and Afghanistan, where his skills as a sniper were in demand.

“I adjusted the range accordingly, placing the rifle back into my shoulder. There was no wind, so I guesstimated with three clicks left, giving him 0.75 mil lead. Everything went into slow motion as I focused, controlling my breathing. I took a breath and held it there, my cross hairs drifted down and froze just in front of him. I squeezed the trigger. The bulky recoil kicked my shoulder back as the round flew from the muzzle, kicking up dust all around me. I followed through, placing the cross hairs back onto the target. The dust settled enough for me to see his lifeless body fold and flop to the floor. A wave of exhilaration flooded through me, followed by a tiny element of guilt, which quickly faded into the background.”

Through this first part of the book he often makes mention of “what was to happen later” and it is probably this aspect that leaves the reader unsure of what is meant, however, there can be no doubt as to the fact that Dean Bailey is extremely lucky to be alive, having taken a direct hit from a Taliban RPG. The damage to his body was extensive but help was at hand, first from his colleagues who pulled him from the blazing wreck of a Viking and then from the casevac team who got him straight back to the UK for treatment. (The casevac video was subsequently used to train medics in casevac drills, at Keogh Barracks, Deepcut.)

What follows is a record of a man’s fight both with himself and the system, in which he finds himself hating the military for what it has done to him and yet missing the control and direction that it provided him. It is written in an almost “matter of fact” way, almost like it simply didn’t matter – or that he simply didn’t care – as he fought his way back to some semblance of “normality” and on onto marriage and fatherhood.

In the very final chapter, which is less than a page long and entitled “Never Give Up”, Dean sums up what I believe is the strength of this book. Yes, it is a story of survival but it is more than that, it is a cathartic exercise, one that has allowed a wounded hero to fight back – and win.

I am still unsure as to why “Crawling Out Of Hell” has left me feeling unsettled but I am glad “Crawling Out Of Hell” to have read it.

by Dean Bailey is published I don’t know what the future holds for Dean

by Fonthill Media and is Bailey and I am not sure he does either, which is available from Amazon and why I will end with a quote from him: other book shops.

“To my little boy, Oliver. When you are older ISBN: 978-1-78155-536-9 and you read this, remember your daddy loves www.fonthillmedia.com you no matter what happens, ok little man.“

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83

Kit BATTLE BELTS

BATTLE BELTS: GEARING UP IN THE LAST ISSUE ANDY NIGHTINGALE WROTE ABOUT HOW BATTLE BELTS CAN HELP YOUR LOAD-BEARING PROBLEMS, NOW HE LOOKS AT DIFFERENT WAYS OF SETTING THEM UP. RIGGING THE BATTLE BELT NEEDS to be done right in order for it to work for you.

As a rule you should try to locate your pouches in the same location every time. If your handgun magazine pouches are usually on your weak side hip during every day use, then endeavour to locate them in the same place on your battle belt.

The same goes for the rest of the pouches you may use. I once tried to wear my handgun on the front of my plate carrier after carrying strong side hip for over fourteen years. Transitioning from primary weapon to secondary went drastically wrong when I reached down to my strong side hip and found there was no handgun. My training and muscle memory kicked in and for a moment I was stunned and confused. I soon

relocated my handgun back to my strong side hip!

The way in which you rig your battle belt usually falls into one of three categories. Just remember that your battle belt is a supplement to your vest and an aid to carry more of what you already carry on your armour.

MINIMALIST

A minimalist battle belt can usually be found on the range.

Consisting of a belt, holster, three magazine pouches (1 rifle, 2 handgun) and PFAK, this belt is the bare minimum. There is no need for all the bells and whistles on this type of belt. Of course you can add the extra ammo pouch or utility pouch but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel the need to add pouches just because there is room to fit them. The only extra pouches I would consider are a dump pouch for my magazines and a utility pouch for my ear defenders. If you are going down the range road then choose the same type of hardware as your duty battle belt but in a more civilian-friendly tone. Try to stay away from the camouflage/military look on civilian ranges.

FIGHTING LOADS

If you are going to use your battle belt in the field then you will probably want to customise your belt for your job.

The addition of extra magazine pouches will be the first on your list. A minimum of two handgun magazines and a minimum of one rifle magazine should be carried on the battle belt. Maybe a utility pouch to carry extra ammunition and grenades and not forgetting food and water. Think of your battle belt as a survival kit - ammunition to carry on the fight and that little extra for when the fight is over, just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t over-do it.

Whatever you decide to take, the battle belt will free up space on your vest and help spread the weight load.

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Kit BATTLE BELTS

MISSION SPECIFIC

This is usually ammo, ammo, ammo and more ammo! Stack as much on the belt as possible. This will free up copious amounts of room on your vest, allowing you to add all those missionspecific extras like NVG, Communication sets, GPS, Breaching tools etc. Consideration must be taken into account when placing items on the vest, making sure that they don’t hinder the function of the kit on the battle belt. I have found in the past that I have been unable to retrieve certain items from the belt because items stowed in my vest have prevented me from doing so. Plan the layout of your belt then throw all your kit on to see if it is compatible and works well with your vest and other kit.

MEDICAL

Personal First Aid Kits (or PFAK) are exactly what they mean; a first aid kit for you.

PFAKs are intended for personal use only and are not to be used for the treatment of others. On the one way range the RO should have access to a range first aid kit, on the two-way range individuals should carry their own PFAK. If you use your PFAK on someone else and then something happens to you, your first responder may not have a medical kit to hand and all you can give them is an empty PFAK. There are plenty of commercial PFAKs on the market to choose from but you may want to ditch the contents and add your own. Dressings, FFD, Israeli dressing, sheers, tourniquet and personal drugs are a good start. Of course you will need to know how to apply treatment, so a certification in first aid is needed. The PFAK should ideally be positioned in the middle of the belt at the back so it is out of the way but easily accessible by both hands. The contents need to be kept in a waterproof bag or container and stowed in the PFAK pouch. The PFAK pouch should also be clearly marked and also include your blood type.

DUMP POUCH

Dump pouches are nothing more than a bag to drop or dump your spent magazines into. Most dump pouches roll up out of the way when not being used. Dumping your spent magazines into a separate pouch ensures you don’t replace them in pouches alongside full magazines. Once empty the spent magazines are simply dumped into the bag and forgotten about until you need to recharge them. The top of the pouch usually has a stiffened neck to hold the mouth open for easily dumping the magazines. Since the magazines are empty and of no further use until recharged, both rifle and handgun magazines can be placed in the dump pouch together.

It’s not essential for you to carry a dump pouch on your battle belt but it can make life a little easier when you need to make an emergency or combat reload when the situation gets a little hot. I spent many years throwing spent magazines down the inside of my jacket (this was known as a Brecon pouch) but that, however, was in the days when I didn’t wear ballistic protection. Now I wear a ballistic plate carrier of some description it’s near impossible to use the good old Brecon pouch. Alas I have found space for a dump pouch and I must say that it’s easy and quick to use. I’ve not included a

dump pouch on my civilian belt as I don’t go through tonnes of ammunition and if I did, I would have the luxury of time to change magazines.

ANCILLARIES AND TOOLS

Apart from the basic and essential items to carry on your battle belt, there may be other tools you may want to consider adding. Multi-tools can be a god-send at times, especially if it is a weapons tool. A small knife won’t go a miss either. White light (flash light) can also be an asset.

These extra items can be added to the battle belt and, if they don’t come with their own pouch, most small items will fit into handgun magazine retention pouches. The use of a small to medium utility or GP (general purpose) pouch is often a help. Items such as notebook and pencil, snap-caps, weapons cleaning kit etc. can be placed in here. You can even use one as a caddy to collect spent brass off the range. Personally I use mine to carry my ear defenders in.

Battle belts can be customised to suit any need just remember not to over load them with things you don’t want or need.

Keep it simple.

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85

airsoft action stockists Airsoft Zone Unit 2, Detection House Brooklands Approach Romford, Essex.

01708 733275 www.airsoftzone.co.uk

Land warrior Airsoft 44/1 Hardengreen Bus. Prk Hardengreen Lane Dalkeith, EH22 3NX 0131 654 2452 www.landwarriorairsoft.com

Airsoft Sniper Parts UK Unit 2, Old Station Drive Sheffield S7 2PY www.airsofsniperparts.com

Xsite Airsoft Fryers Farm Lane High Wycombe Bucks, HP14 3NP 01494 881430 www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk

Bomb Up Airsoft 22-23 Arkwright Court Arkwright Road Runcorn, WA7 1NX 0800 131 3012 www.bombupairsoft.co.uk

DTW Airsoft B23 Moorside Business Prk Colchester Essex, CO1 2ZF 01206 790046

Surplus Store Unit 2, Access House Stephenson Way Three Bridges, RH10 1TN 01293 525880 www.surplusstore.co.uk

The Gaol Events Oakham Enterprise Park Ashwell Road, Oakham Leics, LE15 7TU 07976 457602

JD Airsoft Unit 5, Virage Park Green Lane, Cannock WS11 0NH 0845 600 5144 www.jdairsoft.net

Invicta Battlefield Airsoft Pook Hill Wood Farm Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst, TN12 0HP 07876 263290

Johnsons of Leeds 2, Vulcan Foundry Haigh Park Road Leeds, LS10 1RT 0113 277 5237 www.johnsonsofleeds.co.uk Leicestershire Airsoft Unit 3, Industrial Estate Melton Road Queniborough, LE7 3FP 07526 372108

www.leicestershireairsoft.co.uk

If you would like to stock Airsoft Action in your shop or on your site and get a FREE ADVERT on this page at the same time, contact Nige on 01684 878003 or by email: nige@airsoft-action.co.uk for details.

It’s A Classic THE PASGT KEVLAR HELMET

THE PASGT HELMET

CALL IT A “FRITZ” OR A “K POT”, OR JUST A “KEVLAR”, WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THE US ARMY’S PASGT KEVLAR HELMET CHANGED THE STYLE OF PERSONAL PROTECTION FOREVER, AS GADGE HARVEY EXPLAINS.

SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, soldiers have relied on weighty head protection to avoid debilitating head wounds in combat. For years these were usually heavy steel (or other metal) items, cumbersome, uncomfortable and unpleasant to wear in hot and cold conditions, where the metal would either leach body heat or absorb the baking rays of the sun. Even by WWII little had changed. The “tommy helmet” of WWII still resembled those worn by some medieval men at arms with only improvements in the padding, liners and chin straps - but all of this would change in the 1980s.

The US army took the lead in experimenting with nylon fibre and Kevlar (Kevlar is in fact the trade name by Dupont for “aramid” but universally used by almost everybody to refer to aramid nylon fibre) weave helmets in the 1960s and 1970s. Utilising durable plastic fibres and advanced moulding techniques the army could eliminate two of the major problems of steel helmets – weight and heat absorption. The actual helmet itself is made from 19 layers of ballistic aramid fabric treated with a phenolic resin system as a shell, which is supported by a nylon and plastic suspension and chinstrap system. By the start of the 1980s the US Department of Defence had pretty much finalised their prototypes of the Personal Armour System Ground Troops (PASGT) body armour project. PASGT would incorporate a kevlar protective vest, eye protection glasses and of course the PASGT helmet.

REDUCED BATTLE CASUALTIES

On general issue from 1985 but first seen trialled in combat in the Grenada campaign of 1983, the PASGT helmet soon earned the nickname “Fritz Helmet” from the troops, due to its uncanny similarity to the style and shape of the WWII German “Stalhelm”. The stalhelm itself is a variation of the medieval

sallet helmet, in much the same way the Brits made their Mk1 Brodie helmet in the image of the medieval “kettle” helm.

While the styling of the PASGT was slightly uncomfortable to look at for old veterans, with its instant connections to the armies of Nazi Germany, the design itself was simply a classic and historically proven to be more effective than the M1 NATO helmet and British MKV helmet in service at the time.

As far back as WWII the allies had discovered that adopting the “German” style of helmet could have reduced battle casualties by up to 30 per cent but it would have been seen as “awkward” to have copied the German model at that time.

In the post war years the design clearly had a stigma attached to it due to the excesses of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen SS but by the 1980s enough water had gone under the bridge for practicality to trump politics.

While the UK developed its own lightweight ballistic nylon helmet (the British MK6 of around 1984) most other NATO countries quickly adopted the PASGT, or made their own domestic copies causing the Fritz to almost become the iconic military helmet of the western world. As of the present day over 30 nations use the US-made PASGT helmet and dozens of others (including the design’s originator, Germany) use very close copies.

It’s fair to say the PASGT helmet is still a firm favourite with many airsofters due to the large amount of high quality, nonballistic copies available at sensible prices (and even genuine military surplus models won’t break the Bank).

On the modern battlefield, next generation helmets with integrated communications and rail adaptions for lights, IR strobes and Night Vision Equipment are becoming more and more prevalent but all of these “Tier 1” helmets are essentially cut down PASGT and owe their existence to the classic design of the humble and classic “K Pot”! www.airsoft-action.online

87

feature P-38 CAN OPENER

THE GREATEST ARMY ” INVENTION EVER

“

IF SOMEONE ASKED YOU WHAT THE GREATEST EVER ARMY INVENTION WAS, IT IS VERY DOUBTFUL YOU WOULD CHOOSE THIS HUMBLE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. OVER TO MILITARY HISTORIAN, WILL FOWLER…

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IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAVE WON a design award in World War II it is the little can opener that, back in the summer of 1942, was the brainchild of Major. Thomas Dennehy, at the U.S. Army Subsistence Research Laboratory in Chicago.

Such was the impact created by this little, almost insignificant piece of army equipment, it was acclaimed in The Pentagram (the Pentagon’s newspaper) as “The Greatest Army Invention Ever”, a claim backed up by the fact that it had never been known to “break, rust, need sharpening or polishing”.

Not bad for two little bits of metal held together by a folded hinge!

The P-38 can opener, or to give it it’s official designation “US ARMY POCKET CAN OPENER” or “OPENER, CAN, HAND, FOLDING, TYPE I”, is pocket-sized, approximately 1.5 inches (38mm) long, and consists of a short metal blade, with a single corrugation ridge for added strength that serves as a handle, to which is attached a small hinged curved metal tooth that folds out to pierce the can lid. A notch just under the hinge point keeps the opener hooked around the rim of the can as the device is “walked” around to cut the lid out.

It is not entirely clear where the figure “38” came from – yes, the little opener is 38mm long but conventionally the Americans favour Imperial measurement. Some soldiers say that it came from the 38 punctures around the C-ration can required for opening, or the boast that it performed with the speed of the World War II P-38 fighter plane. Whatever the

Feature P-38 CAN OPENER

He put his first P-38 on his dog tags over 25 years ago and it’s still there. ”The P-38 was part of my youth when I was learning all about discipline, accomplishment and self-worth as a soldier with the 101st Airborne Division”.

American veterans would almost certainly challenge the assertion that good things can be improved but in 1942 the Australians took the P-38 design and produced the F.R.E.D., or Field Ration Eating Device. FRED is a 9 cm long by 2 cm wide pressed steel tool with one end shaped for use as a spoon and the other incorporating a bottle opener. Like the P-38, a 2 cm long fold out can opener blade is fitted to the side and a 3 mm hole is drilled through the device at the can opener end.

The first FRED I met was produced by a young Australian reservist attached to my platoon of 4th Royal Green Jackets.

The Rifleman gathered around to admire the elegance of the design – particularly because it incorporated a bottle opener as well as a spoon shape at the end of the main blade! Of course, soldiers being soldiers, the Aussie Diggers maintain that FRED stood for “F*ckin’ Ridiculous Eating Device”!!

Despite this, the FRED enjoyed as much a place with both

origins of the name “Soldiers just took to the P-38 naturally,” said World War II veteran Master Sergeant John Bandola, who served in the 30th Signal Construction Battalion in North Africa. Bandola began his acquaintance with the P-38 in 1943.

“The P-38 was our means for eating 90 percent of the time but the next thing I knew we were using it for cleaning boots, fingernails, screwdrivers, you name it.”

During the Korean War millions of P-38s were distributed by the US Army and it found another use with the 24th Infantry Division during fighting for a feature nicknamed “Papasan Mountain” as veteran Jay Welsh recalls: “A clean weapon is your immediate priority because a dirty one is not going to work. The P-38 was the ideal tool to field strip and clean the finer components of the M-1 rifle. I believe that two-piece hinged device saved my life. It assured me I had a rifle that would fire.”

Writing in an article in 1986 “MAJ. RENITA FOSTER SAID THE P-38 COULD CLEAN MUDDY BOOTS, SCREW for the Pentagon’s newspaper Maj. SCREWS, OPEN LETTERS, STRIP WIRES, TRIM THREADS ON UNIFORMS Renita Foster said the P-38 could clean muddy boots, screw screws, AND SHARPEN PENCILS. THE P-38, SHE ADDED, COULD BE USED TO OPEN open letters, strip wires, trim CARDBOARD BOXES, INCLUDING THE CARTONS CONTAINING “MEALS READY threads on uniforms and sharpen pencils. The P-38, she added, could TO EAT”. SOME CLAIM THAT THE P-38 COULD EVEN BE USED TO SET THE be used to open cardboard boxes, POINTS ON A CAR ENGINE BECAUSE THE THICKNESS OF THE STEEL WAS including the cartons containing JUST RIGHT FOR THE POINT GAP!” “Meals Ready to Eat”. Some claim that the P-38 could even be used to set the points on a car engine Aussies and Kiwis as the P-38 with GIs and Marines. because the thickness of the steel was just right for the point Similarly, it was used for a variety of tasks besides gap! opening tins, bottles and as a spoon. Being A larger version of the can opener, known as the P-51, is bigger than a P-38 or P-51 it was easier somewhat easier to operate since (as the name suggests) it to use in its primary function but is 2 inches, or 51mm long and is also slightly stronger with was also invaluable as a multitwo corrugations. It was often used by US Army mess hall tool. cooks to open the big trays and large cans of food. The added Just as the C Ration length gives more leverage and did not require as much thumb was replaced by the pressure to use.

Meals Ready to Eat (or MRE) It was the P-51 – or its equivalent that - I first encountered in American service, so too in the as I opened the slim paper envelop that contained matches, British and ANZAC service cans were toilet paper and chewing gum in my British Army 24 Hour replaced by pouches and the FRED, Ration Pack. It was essential for opening the small tins of like the P-38 was doomed.

“Breakfast” and “Main Meal” that, along with the “Snack” However, it is hard to keep a pack made up the rations. Later, I discovered the P-38 in the good idea down and the 1970s as the market was flooded with surplus US Army C P-38 lives on. There are Rations after the Vietnam War. numerous variants Both the P-38 and P-51 openers have a small hole in the in NATO combat main blade – this was intended for a string or wire so that rations, some the openers could be immersed in boiling water to sterilise slightly larger them after use. The hole, however, allowed the opener to be and many attached to key rings, or the chain on Identity ID or Dog Tags. with rounded To be honest, while there is a wealth of accounts of the P-38 on corners which ID chains and key rings, it is a slightly impractical way to carry reduce wear one around. The P-38 has sharp corners and though the curved and tear on fingers and in pockets. Moreover, commercial blade clips shut it can open with disastrous results for skin or copies of both the P-38 and the FRED have been produced for pockets! However, for many the P-38 is more than a tool and the back packing and camping market. can opener, it is an icon.

We have not seen the end of FRED, or the P-38 and P-51 Vietnam veteran John Koehler asserts that the P-38 ”ranks just yet! with your first girl and your first car.”

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ATROOP AIRSOFT

AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB

ALL ARMS AIRSOFT

ARENA AIRSOFT

ABER AIRSOFT – THE BUNKER

AIRSOFT ASYLUM

ALPHA 55

AWA HERTS

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

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

Tel: 07511554740 www.aberairsoft.co.uk

ABSOLUTE AIRSOFT

Maidenhead, SL6 3SS Tel: 07871 314951 www.absolute-airsoft.co.uk

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES

Holbrook Coppice, Buidwas Bank (A4169), Buildwas, Telford, Shropshire, TF8 Tel: 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES

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

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

AIRSOFT COMMANDOS Sutton, near Ferrybridge Tel: 07723 061386 andyace@ntlworld.com

AIRSOFT KGB

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

AIRSOFT PLANTATION

Goatsmoore Lane, Billericay, CM4 9RS Tel: 07534 636289 / 07771 556395 www.theofficialairsoftplantation.co.uk theofficialairsoftplantation@gmail.com

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

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH

ACE COMBAT

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB

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

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

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

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

Halkyn Wood, North Wales CH8 8DF Tel: 0845 257 6937 www.alpha55.co.uk

ALPHA ELITE GAMING

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

AMAZON EVENTS

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

AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL Tel: 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk

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

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

BADLANDS AIRSOFT

Rowlands Castle, Hamps PO9 6DP Tel: 07534 465589 www.badlandsairsoft.co.uk

BARNSLEY AIRSOFT

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

BATTLETEC AIRSOFT

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

AMBUSH ADVENTURES SOUTHAMPTON

BETTER BATTLES

New Forest National Park, SP5 2DW Tel: 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk

Ravenshead, Notts, NG15 9DH Tel: 07967 940043 www.better-battles.com

APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT

BLACKDAGGER AIRSOFT

Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP Tel: 07872 348 576 www.apocalypseairsoft.com

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

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BLUESTREAK AIRSOFT

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

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE SANDPIT (DESERT)

Bolton Wood Quarry, Bolton Hall Road Bradford, West Yorkshire BD2 1BQ Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 5 Tel: 01438 368177 www.thefightschool.demon.co.uk

COOL UNDER FIRE BORDERLINE AIRSOFT

51 Green Road, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim Northern Ireland, BT39 9PH Tel: 028 9303 7030 or 07729219341 www.borderlinecombat.com

BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport. PR46JX Tel: 07790 715059 www.bravo22airsoft.com

BRISTOL AIRSOFT Bristol, BS1 2HQ Tel: 07776 288826 www.bristolairsoft.com

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

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

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE WORKS (URBAN)

Off Badger Lane, Hipperholme, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX3 8PL Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT Sheffield, S2 5TR Tel: 07795 631331 www.brittacairsoft.com

CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT

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

Doddington, Kent, ME9 0JS Tel: 07960 532613 www.coolunderfire.co.uk

CORNWALLS ELITE AIRSOFT

Truro, Cornwall, TR2. Tel: 07863 240153 www.cornwallseliteairsoft.co.uk

COTSWOLD AIRSOFT

CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT Corby, NN17 3BB Tel: 07740 165787 www.close-action.co.uk

BUSH VALLEY AIRSOFT

Runham Woods, Lenham ME17 1NQ Tel: 07786 448608 Email: bushvalairsoft@gmail.com

COMBAT ACTION GAMES

Combat Street, Felthorpe, Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 4DR. Tel: 07748 023832 www.facebook.com/combatactiongames

C3 TACTICAL

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

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE OUTPOST (WOODLAND) HPC, York Road, Flaxby, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG5 0XJ Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

DOG TAG AIRSOFT

Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4SE TEL 01293 852 314 www.holmbushpaintball.co.uk/airsoft

ELITE ACTION GAMES – WORTHING

Worthing, BN13 Tel: 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE BATTLEZONE

CUMBRIA AIRSOFT

EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT

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

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

DANGER CLOSE AIRSOFT

FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONS

Ellough Lark Raceway, Benacre Road, Ellough, Norfolk . Tel: 07455 906132

Bexley, Greater London, DA5 1NX Tel: 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

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

DARKWATER AIRSOFT LTD.

Mobile: 07947 558433 www.darkwaterairsoft.co.uk Email: darwaterairsofthythe@gmail.com DARKWATER AFTER DARK C.Q.B, (Battlezone Building), Britannia Lane, Kingsnorth, Ashford, TN23 3NA facebook.com/afterdarkcqb DARKWATER SITE, Dering Wood, Church Lane, Shadoxhurst, Ashford.

TN26 1LZ facebook.com/darkwaterairsoftdarkwater

FIFE WARGAMES

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

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

COMBAT AIRSOFT

Just off the A11 outside Thetford Norfolk follow signs for Combat Paintball Tel: 07703 045849 www.combatairsoftgames.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE COMPLEX Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

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

Bourton Woods, On the B4479, Blockley Near Bourton-on-the-hill www.cotswoldairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07724629140

BUNKER 51

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

DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT

COMBAT SOUTH URBAN Portsmouth, PO6 3LS Tel: 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk

COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND

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

DELTA TEAM 3

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

FIREBALL SQUADRON Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA Tel: 07582 684533 www.fireballsquadron.com

DOGS OF WAR

FIRST & ONLY: ANZIO CAMP

DRAGON’S LAIR

FIRST & ONLY: BUNKER WOOD

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

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

Leek, ST13 8 Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 5SA Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

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FIRST & ONLY: KHE SANH

WOODS

Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 2NA Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST & ONLY: MANCHESTER

WOODLAND

Bolton, BL7 9TS Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST & ONLY: THE HIVE

Middleton, Manchester, M24 1AZ Tel: 0161 727 8863

FIRST & ONLY: THE ARMOURY

GASS AIRSOFT – PENN Penn Bottom, Bucks, HP10 Tel: 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk

GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 Tel: 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk

Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com

GREENZONE COMBAT Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE Tel: 07772 919974 www.greenzonecombat.com

FIRST & ONLY: THE ACADEMY

GUN HO AIRSOFT

FIRST & ONLY: THE ASYLUM Kidderminster, DY10 3PT Tel: 0161 727 8863

FIRST & ONLY: THE OUTPOST Kidderminster, DY11 5SA Tel: 0161 727 8863

FIRST & ONLY: SLEEPY HOLLOW Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 5LS Tel: 0161 727 8863

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

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – CAMBRIDGE

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

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – MIDLANDS

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

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

FREE FIRE ZONE

Farcet, Peterborough, PE7 3DH Tel: 01733 247171 www.freefirezone.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT– NORWICH Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 Tel: 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

HILTON PARK AIRSOFT Wolverhampton, WV10 7HU Tel: 08000 354490 www.paintballuk.com

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

LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG Tel: 0131 654 2452 www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk

LAC SITE 1

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

LAC SITE 2

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

LAC SITE 3

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

LAC SITE 5

HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT Spanby, Lincs, NG34 0AT Tel: 07971 560249 facebook.com/HomelandTacticalAirsoft

North Lincolnshire, DN21 www.humberairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07792 680297

Abbey Cwm-hir, Midwales, LD1 6PG Tel: 07497 480243 www.facebook.com/Midwales-airsoft

MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

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

MILSIM UK

Checkley, Staffordshire, ST10 4NS Tel: 07523 916607 www.milsimuk.co.uk

NCIS AIRSOFT

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

NOMAD AIRSOFT

Fenwick, Ayrshire, KA3 6AY Tel: 07904 998250 www.nomadairsoft.com

NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT

Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3LQ Tel: 01845 565465 www.northernallianceairsoft.co.uk

NORTHFLEET CQB

Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9AA Tel: 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

LINDSEY AIRSOFT

NSC AIRSOFT

Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE Tel: 07955 487983 www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk

Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW Tel: 07974 507166 www.matlockcombatgames.com

Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 Tel: 07793 404346 1midaw@gmail.com

MIA HUMBER AIRSOFT

MIDWALES AIRSOFT

Kirton Rd, North Lincs, DN16 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

MAW

FULL METAL AIRSOFT

Cilyrychen Quarry, Llandybie, Ammanford, Camarthenshire, SA18 3JG Tel: 01269 850404 www.fullmetalairsoft.co.uk

ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT

MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES

FRV AIRSOFT

Annacloy, Downpatrick, BT30 8JJ Tel: 07730 586926 www.frvairsoft.com

Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst, Kent TN12 0HP Tel: 01622 831788 / 07876 263290 www.invictabattlefield.co.uk

GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT

Wrexham, Denbighshire, LL13 9RG Tel: 0161 727 8863

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 6QF Tel: 0161 727 8863

INVICTA BATTLEFIELD

Cornwall, EX23 9JL Tel: 01288 331748 www.airsoftsouthwest.co.uk

Hetton, Sunderland, DH5 0 Tel: 07983 333521 www.nscairsoft.co.uk

NTAC

Durham, DL4 2ER Tel: 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk

OBAN AIRSOFT – ILL ARGYLL Argyll and Bute, PA37 1 Tel: 07967 710185 www.argyllsurplus.com

OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT Tel: 07964 990831 www.op-tac.co.uk

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OVER THE TOP AIRSOFT CLUB

RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM)

PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT

Anglesey, LL71 www.ottairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07731 744471

Former RAF Camp Sopley/Merryfield Park, Hants, BH23 Tel: 02380 899369

PHOENIX AIRSOFT

Welbeck Airsoft, Academy, Budby Road, Notts NG20 9JX Tel: 07956 587213/01623 812483 www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk

PLATOON 1HQ

Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ Tel: 01634 829063 www.ptt-1hq.co.uk

PLAYERS OF WAR

High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD Tel: 07767 203979 www.playersofwar.co.uk

PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES Ballynahinch, BT24 8NF Tel: 02897565651 / 07825169631 www.predatorcombat.com

RAVEN’S NEST

Suffolk, IP8 4 Tel: 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk

RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ Tel: 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk

RED1AIRSOFT

Chislehurst, Bromley BR7 6SD Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk

RED1AIRSOFT CQB

Red1 CQB. Kings Langley, WD4 8RN Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk

RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3 Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ Tel: 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

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Cambridge, CB24 8RL Tel: 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB Tel: 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com

SG1 COMBAT GAMES Co. Londonderry, BT45 8NA Tel: 07713 273102 www.sg1combatgames.co.uk

SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY

Billericay, Essex, CM11 2TX Tel: 01277 657777 www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk

SKIRMISH EXETER Exeter, Devon, EX4 5 Tel: 01548 580025 www.airsoftexeter.co.uk

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT

Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR Tel: 07766 770830 www.southdownairsoft.com

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH

Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU Tel: 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT– THE ROCK Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG Tel: 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

STIRLING AIRSOFT

S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT

THUNDER PARK AIRSOFT

TA EVENTS

TORRENT WARFARE

TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT

TROJAN AIRSOFT

TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT

TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB

Boathouse lane, South Wirral, Cheshire, CH64 3TB www.swatairsoft.eu Tel: 07703 177756

Hemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB Tel: 07894 059794 www.ta-events.co.uk

Reynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS Tel: 01792 473336 www.tacticalwales.co.uk

Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL Tel: 020 8665 1299 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk

Co Tyrone, BT71 4DY Tel: 07922 377131 Facebook: search ‘Torrent Warfare’

Macclesfield, SK10 4SZ Tel: 07428 024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com

Weir Mill, Viaduct Street, Chestergate, Stockport, Cheshire, SK5 7JP Tel: 07428 024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com

TECH BRIGADE

Newgate Street, Hertfordshire.

SG13 8NH Tel: 07841 713356 www.techbrigade.org

UCAP AIRSOFT

Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR Tel: 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

TASK FORCE SKIRMISH Cowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF71 Tel: 02920 593900 www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk

UCAP GREEN OPS

Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 Tel: 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

THE BUNKER

Aberystwyth www.aberairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07841 462806

THE DEPOT

Glasgow, G45 9SB Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.thedepotglasgow.com

UCAP SANDPIT

Bean, Kent, DA2 8 Tel: 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY Tel: 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

THE DESERTERS AIRSOFT

Coventry, CV3 6NX Tel: 07831 429407 www.stirlingairsoft.com

Redford, DD11 Tel: 07751 878175 www.thedeserters.co.uk

STORMFORCE AIRSOFT

THE EX SITE

Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD Tel: 07515 937633 www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk

Mold, CH7 4 Tel:07840 001975 www.theexsitewales.co.uk

SUSSEX AIRSOFT

THE WARGAMES CENTRE

Slinfold, RH12 Tel: 020 8150 9284 www.sussexairsoft.co.uk

Luxulyan, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL305FA Tel: 07751808055 www.thunderparkpaintball.co.uk Food & drinks available on site.

Lundholm Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN www.thewargamescentre.com wargamescentre@gmail.com

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

URBAN6AIRSOFT – ZONE 13 Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0QN Tel: 07432 291729 www.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN6AIRSOFT– THE BLOCK Wood Street, Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 3AB www.urban6airsoft.com

SITE DIRECTORY

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

FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

URBAN ASSAULT

Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1 Tel: 01733 247171 www.urbanassault.org.uk

VIKING AIRSOFT

Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN www.vikingairsoft.co.uk

WARMINSTER AIRSOFT Warminster, BA12 7RZ www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk

XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOST Dunstable, LU6 2EE Tel: 01494 881430 www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk

PRACTICAL PISTOL DIRECTORY AIPSC

The Grange, Frog Lane, Balsall Common, West Midlands, CV7 7FP Tel: 01676 532384 www.aipsc.co.uk Facebook: A.I.P.S.C info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk.

Every Monday night 7pm– 9pm (except bank holidays). £5 or £10 with pistol and shooting rig hire. UKPSA-qualified coaches. UKPSA-qualified Range Officers.

COBRA ONE ZERO AIRSOFT Unit 9 Imperial Buisness Centre Mortimer Road, Hereford, HR4 9SP www.cobraonezero.co.uk Facebook: cobra one zero Airsoft

WATFORD PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB WatfordPPC@gmail.com

DOUBLE TAP PSC XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END High Wycombe, HP14 3NP Tel: 01494 881430

StrikeForce CQB, Morelands Trading Estate, Bristol Road, Gloucester GL1 5RZ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Double-Tap-Practical-Shooting-Club979585958732937/?ref=hl doubletappsc@gmail.com

EBSC

MOD-approved gun club PP, IDPA, IPAS, IPSC, 3GUN UKPSA Coaches UKPSA-qualified Range Officers Equipment hire available www.ebsc.co.uk ebpracticalpistol@gmail.com 07752 713 970

HALO MILL

The Penthouse, Colne Valley Business Park, Manchester Road, Linthwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5QG Tel: 01484 840554 www.halomill.com

NORTHERN PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB (NPPC)

Tanner Street, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 1NA Tel: 07816 992417 www.northernpracticalpistol.co.uk 4 indoor ranges

XSITE PRACTICAL SHOOTING

Fryers Farm Lane, High Wycombe, Bucks HP14 3NP Tel: 01494 881430

SOUTH WEST PRACTICAL SHOOTERS (SWPS)

Action Air IPSC Club Based at The Tunnel Target Sports Centre near Charmouth The Tunnel, Axminster Road, Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6BY Contact: SWPSClub@Outlook.com

WETHERSFIELD AIRSOFT TARGET SHOOTING CLUB (WAT SIC)

Wethersfield Village Hall, Braintree Rd (B1053), Wethersfield, Braintree CM7 4EB. https://www.facebook.com/WATSiC/ Open Thursday & Friday evenings.

Set-up from 6:30pm.

Club shooting commences by 7:30pm.

Pack-up starts at 9:30pm if you can stay to help.

Contact via FB or 07939557029.

Indoors.

Club offers Action Air plus 2 & 3 Gun training and events.

www.airsoft-action.online

97

DEALER LISTINGS

ADVERTISERS INDEX Land Warrior Airsoft

Inside Front Cover

NUPROL

3

RedWolf

7

JD Airsoft Pro Airsoft Supplies iWholesales

9 + 76 + 94 15 19 + 46

ActionSportGames

23

Enola Gaye

26

Fire Support

30 + 31

Viper Tactical

34 + 64

Helikon-Tex

38

Skirmish Cup

42

TacTree

50

ASPUK

58

Northern Shooting Show

72

Crawley Surplus Store

83

Airsoft Action Stockists

86

Airsoft Surgeon Championship

90

Airsoft Action Subs

91

Dragon Valley Airsoft

97

Military Outdoor

97

NoVAT Airsoft

97

Airsoft Zone

99

Military 1st

Outside Back Cover