Cold USHWar Warriors B RHODESIAN AFRICAN RIFLES 1969 TO 1979
ammunition pouches. His personal weapon is a 7.62mm German G3 rifle, also supplied via Portugal. In our second interpretation of an RAR rifleman, our soldier represents a support gunner equipped for standard patrols of the bush. His uniform consists again of the standard issue Rhodesian cap and combat shirt, with plain green shorts intended for physical training sessions rather than the rigours of combat. Equally “causal” is his footwear; in this case black hockey boots known as “Bata Takkies” by the troops. Webbing for the patrol is minimal; a Rhodesian 64 pattern belt with a privately purchased “Fereday & Sons” general purpose pouch containing 100rds of 7.62mm non-disintegrating link ammunition, two British 44 pattern water pouches with Rhodesian 64 pattern water bottles and a FN Browning Hi-Power in a webbing holster (as close range back up should his MG suffer a stoppage). Lastly, our man would carry his combat rations and basic kit in a “Fereday & Sons” backpack with the lightweight sleeping bag rolled and tied underneath.
BRITISH INSPIRED EQUIPMENT
Our final interpretation of a Rhodesian soldier takes us back almost a decade to 1969 and here we have a Rhodesian Regiment rifleman from an independent company. Once again the ever-popular patrol cap is worn but this time longer standard issue camo trousers in the same pattern are worn with a green bush shirt akin to those worn by British troops of the period. Footwear in this case is far more sturdy and consists of brown leather lace up boots with attached buckled anklets (a popular style originating with the US army in WWII and filtering into many post-war armies). Weaponry at this point was the South African made Vektor R1 rifle (with a full synthetic stock and grenade sight), or the Belgian FN FAL (wooden butt, synthetic hand guard and no grenade sight) and ammunition for the personal weapon (as well as other essential kit) is carried in his Rhodesian 64 pattern webbing. The 64 pattern system followed the style of most NATO webbing of the time and was an almost identical copy of the South African 61/64 webbing, which in itself was a lightweight and lighter coloured copy of British 58 pattern webbing. For close combat an R1 bayonet is attached to the loops of the right hand ammunition pouch. So there you have it. Three very unique “Bush War” loadouts, showing how you can utilise a lot of the same core items to create interesting airsoft or re-enacting impressions without having to splash out on entirely new kit each time. At Airsoft Action we felt that these impressions were among the most “skirmishable” we’ve shown for UK summer gaming, as many of our Cold War impressions feature quite heavy insulated clothing… ideal for surviving in North West Europe but inviting heat stroke on the skirmish field. Where we have shown “lightweight” impressions in the past, it’s often been of an “arid” nature and in sand and cream tones but with Rhodesian camo, you can see that it’s a good match for UK woodland. Not only is the kit really cool but the ability to use a variety of weapons (including captured rebel AKs if you fancied it) is too good to turn down. So if you fancy something a bit different this summer (when it eventually arrives) why not lace up your takkies, grab your G3 and go on a bush patrol! www.airsoft-action.online
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