issue 15 - nov 2012

ACT

ION

NOV

EMB

ER 2012

THE Airsoft Magazine

cold war warriors ❱ G&P m870 review ❱ generation gap ❱ new england airsoft

NOVE

MBE

R 20

12 -

£4.2

5EVENT REVIEWEXTRAVAGANZAWe've got reports from eight events – where were you?

ELITE PISTOLSBaz C gets hands-on with some stunning airsoft pistols

DEFENCEPHOTOGRAPHYWho's taking the incredible photos on the frontline?

AIR

SOFT A

CTION

WINVFC/UMAREX HK417DWORTH

£450!

WEEKENDERSPECIALOPERATION: GREENBACKWWII MEETS

SCI-FI

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02 November 2012

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03www.airsoftactionmagazine.com

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CONTENTSAIRSOFT ACTION – NOVEMBER 2012

6 READERS’ GALLERY YOUR CHANCE TO GET YOUR

FACE IN THE MAGAZINE

9 AIRSOFT NEWS SILVERBACK BIZON, DRAGON’S

LAIR AIRSOFT AND NEW ICS PROMOTION – AND MORE!

12 REVIEW: ELITE PISTOLS BAZ COLLINS INTRODUCES THE

ELITE SHOOTING CENTRE

16 EVENT: STIRLING AIRSOFT DAN MILLS SWAPPED RIFLE

FOR CAMERA TO REPORT FROM OPERATION HURRICANE

20 AIRSOFT ABROAD ANDREW BAGG HIGHLIGHTS

AIRSOFT IN NEW ENGLAND

25 COMPETITION ONE VFC/UMAREX HK417D UP

FOR GRABS THIS ISSUE!

26 COLD WAR WARRIORS THIS MONTH GADGE HARVEY

RECREATES A LOAD-OUT OF THE SOVIET VDV

Editor: Nigel Streeter

Assistant editor: Anthony Platt

Graphic Design: Steve Dawson

Art director: Chris Sweeney

Ad design: Anna Makwana

Advertising: Toni Cole

Operations director: James Folkard

Assistant publisher: Ruth Burgess

Publisher: Wesley Stanton

Full UK 12-issue subscription rate: £59.40For overseas prices visit:www.airsoftactionmagazine.com

Cover photograph: H Photography

Tel: 07979 912146 W: www.hphotography.me.uk

Blaze Publishing, Lawrence House, Morrell Street

Leamington Spa.Warwickshire. CV32 5SZ

Tel: 01926 339808 Fax: 01926 470400

E: [email protected]

W: www.blazepublishing.co.uk

© Blaze Publishing Limited, 2012

Distribution: Distributed to the newstrade by Comag Magazine Marketing, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE T: 01895 433 800

Copyright © Blaze Publishing Limited 2012. 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 publishers in writing. The opinions of the writers do not necessarily refl ect those of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print.

32 REVIEW: G&P M870 SCOTT ALLAN JUMPS ON G&P’S

REWORKED M870

37 GENERATION GAME KARL ASTON ON AIRSOFT AS

FAMILY TIME

40 DRAGON’S LAIR H4H GAME NIGE WENT ALONG TO

DRAGON’S LAIR’S CHARITY GAME IN AID OF H4H

44 DEBATE: CODSOFT GARETH HARVEY PONDERS

THE IDEA OF CODSOFT

46 SOCOM TACTICAL OSCAR PLUMMER CHECKED

OUT SOCOM TACTICAL’S BRAND NEW RETAIL SHOP

48 GRANGE BIRTHDAY BASH GUNMAN AIRSOFT MIDLANDS

CELEBRATES ITS FIFTH BIRTHDAY IN STLYE

52 DEFENCE PHOTOGRAPHERS LA(PHOT) IGGY ROBERTS ON

THE ROLE OF MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHERS

55 NATIONAL AIRSOFT EVENT INSPECTOR DUVAL REPORTS

FROM THE UK’S BIGGEST GAME

004 November 2012

AA_004-005_Contents_Rev5APNS NEW.indd 4 18/9/12 09:45:34

I guess that’s summer over and done with for another year. Although not much was happening on the new gun front there were loads of events around the country – so this issue we’ve got after-action reports from some of the best,

along with one or two surprises.In my editor’s letter last month I mentioned that I have been trying to fi nd out what

effect, if any, the VCR Act has had on the number of offences committed using an airsoft weapon. I also mentioned that I had not received any information from the Freedom of Information requests I had made to various Police Forces. Well now I have – all one of them – so a big thanks to Essex Police.

I won’t bore you with the minutiae but this is what it boils down to.Since the introduction of the VCRA to present day there have been 359 offences

recorded involving imitation fi rearms in Essex. Of those, just one was recorded as being an ‘imitation – soft airweapon’ and was described as ‘a replica M9 imitation fi rearm’.

This does not necessarily mean that was the only offence committed with an airsoft gun, as there were 287 offences committed using an ‘imitation – ball bearing gun’, which might (or might not) be an airsoft weapon, as there are plenty of other types that fi t this description.

Bottom line? Huge grey area, so no further forwards I’m afraid!I would love to believe that there was only one offence using an airsoft weapon

committed in Essex over the course of fi ve years but, sadly, I very much doubt that was the case.

All we can collectively do is make sure we keep getting our message out there: that airsoft is played by responsible people, not gun-toting lunatics screaming round the streets frightening old ladies and robbing banks (pity there isn’t a law to stop the banks robbing us)!Until next time – play well, play safe, play fair!See you out there.Nige

Search ‘Airsoft Action’

Letter, idea or question?Got something to say? A question for our experts? Or an article, or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the assistant editor ([email protected]), send us a letter at the Blaze Publishing address on the previous page – or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

58 KIT TEST: 5.11 RUSH WE’VE BEEN USING 5.11’S

RUSH 12 BACKPACK – HERE’S THE LOWDOWN

60 OPERATION: GREENBACK GARETH HARVEY REPORTS

FROM GUNMAN MIDLANDS’ WWII(ISH) WEEKENDER

65 MONEY MATTERS WHAT’S WITH THE AIRSOFT

OBSESSION WITH TINKERING?

68 SNIPER INSTRUCTOR THIS MONTH DAN MILLS TALKS

ABOUT THE SNIPER INSTRUCTOR’S COURSE

71 REVIEW: FCS ACADEMY WE’VE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT

FCS’ NEW CQB VENUE

74 SPEC OPS AIRSOFT: BADLANDS TOLD YOU WE HAD A FEW

EVENT REPORTS THIS MONTH...

78 VEHICLE CHECKPOINTS BILLY BASICS BRINGS REAL-

WORLD SKILLS TO AIRSOFT

80 YOUNG GUN KIT CHOICES MIKE BUTTRICK FINDS OUT

WHICH EQUIPMENT SUITS YOUNGER PLAYERS

82 MEDIA REVIEW ALEX WHARTON GETS STUCK

INTO THE PLANETSIDE 2 BETA

84 SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE NEXT

WEEKEND...

facebook.com/AirsoftAction

Find us on…


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006 November 2012

Send your pics into [email protected] and see yourself in the mag – the more the merrier!

READERS’ GALLERY

John Cass’ fi rst time at UCAP Green Ops

Mark Warrier at Urban 6, Staffs

Sent in by Michael Wilkes – that’s all we know!

Johnny Eaves’ team at the NAE – complete with Alien sentry guns!

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08 November 2012

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AIRSOFT | NEWS


AIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFT NEWSThe UK’s longest established independent

paintball site has seen the light. After 28

years Dragon’s Lair (as featured on page 40

of this month’s issue) has decided to stop

holding paintball events to focus exclusively

on airsoft.

The site is situated at Kelvedon Hatch in

Essex, right alongside The Secret Nuclear

Bunker and has been the location of some

truly epic games and tournaments but,

as the popularity of paintball continues to

decline owners and operators Ray and Jean

Cain have made the decision to put those

28 years behind them and concentrate

solely on airsoft.

Speaking exclusively to Airsoft Action,

Ray said: “Paintball has been my life for

nearly 30 years. It has been very good to

me but, in all honesty, I’d been considering

the future of Dragon’s Lair for some time

although I didn’t want to just walk away

from it.

“I have known Nige for longer than I care

to remember and when he took me down

to Ground Zero’s National Event last year I

was completely blown away. I simply didn’t

realise just how good the game could be

and on the journey home made the decision

to switch Dragon’s Lair to airsoft.

“A year (and a lot of hard work on the

site) later and I know it was absolutely the

right decision.”

For more information about Dragon’s Lair

check the article on page 40, or contact Ray

and Jean: 01708 764036 / 07703 530189,

www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk.

DRAGON’S LAIR CONVERTS

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010 November 2012

Airsoft manufacturer ICS has launched a new ‘fi rst come, fi rst

served’ promotion offering upgrade parts free with its M4

series of rifl es. These give new buyers a free kit of parts to

immediately upgrade their rifl e on purchase.

The ICS M4A1, CXP.08 and M4 RIS Crane Stock are eligible

for upgrade kits A-E – including the ‘Unleash Fury’ upgrade kit

containing steel gear set, high-torque piston set, CXP tactical

sling ring and ‘special upgrade gearbox package D’.

The Sportline versions of each of the above rifl es are

eligible for upgrade package F, containing: tappet plate, hop

bucking, second gen metal spring guide, POM piston set,

piston head and 7mm metal bushings.

Offi cial ICS distributors in the UK are Firesupport and Elite

Airsoft; at the time of print neither has confi rmed how many

of the various upgrade kits will be available. ICS has stated

this is a ‘fi rst come fi rst served’ promotion with limited kits

available, so be sure to get in early so you don’t miss out.

Queries can be emailed to [email protected].

In other ICS news, the company has confi rmed its long-

awaited M1 Garand is currently being fi eld tested “and

shouldn’t be too far from production.” ICS’ G33 should also

begin shipping to distributors by the time this magazine hits

the shelves.

ICS: www.icsbb.com

ICS UPGRADE PROMOTION

Airsoft Action is the fi rst airsoft magazine to be granted offi cial permission by Landmarc to photograph airsoft events held at Copehill Down Village MOD training area at Salisbury Plain. Fortunately the licence has come through in time to cover Tier 1 Military Simulation’s October event Operation: White Knight.

Operation: White Knight, 12-14 October, will be the fi rst airsoft event held at Copehill Down to be covered journalistically by a consumer magazine. While it has involved a few months of discussions and more than one headache, obtaining the licence means we will be able to provide good quality coverage of events held there in future.

Operation: White Knight is

a 36-hour combat operation which sees special forces units clash with Afghan insurgents and a small band of Al-Qaeda terrorists. As with all Tier 1 MilSim events players will be expected to supply and carry everything they will need for the weekend (Saturday morning through Sunday lunchtime).

The cost to play for the weekend is currently discounted and just £75 (those willing to pitch in afterwards to help clear up can knock a further £10 off their ticket fee). To read the event background or book a place visit Tier 1’s website – www.tier1militarysimulation.com.

For more information contact: [email protected], 07967 225739.

LANDMARC VICTORY


AIRSOFT | NEWS


Body Armour & Tactical now stocks a complete range of night vision (NV) products.

With everything from Gen1 rifle scopes up to Gen3 goggles, and a host of digital NV devices, Body Armour & Tactical has a

dedicated range of NV products at every price point.

While use of NV is limited in airsoft – it is mainly used in bigger MilSim events – we have seen more and more NV devices in play

in the last 12 months. In layman’s terms, the higher the ‘Generation’ of a device the better the

clarity of the images it gives. Digital devices use different technology, but are often

comparable to Gen1+ or Gen2 devices.

Body Armour & Tactical’s offerings begin with the Pulsar Recon 325 Digital

Monocular, which will set you back £340. A Cobra Optics Gen1 weapon

scope costs £450, while a top-of-the-range Gen3 set of goggles costs nearly

£8,000.

Body Armour & Tactical: 01223 502133, www.bodyarmourtactical.co.uk.

NIGHT VISION INCOMING

Just Cause Airsoft has been appointed UK distributor for Silverback Airsoft’s PP-19 Bizon. The first shipment should be in the UK by the time this issue has been printed.

Silverback states that the PP-19 Bizon is a full steel AEG and 100 per cent original in design (rather than a clone of an existing replica).

Just Cause Airsoft has confirmed that the retail price of the PP-19 Bizon will be £350. A package deal including a total of five magazines will be offered at £430. In the future the company plans to sell pre-upgraded ‘high cycle’ style set ups.

Guns headed for the UK will have a muzzle energy of 1.1J

out the box. Less powerful versions are designated for Italy and France, and a more powerful version initially designated for Canada may follow.

It features a V3 gearbox with 7mm bearings. Each weapon has an individual serial number. The magazine supplied is a 160-round mid-cap.

Just Cause has already taken a good number of pre-orders for the PP-19 Bizon. Watch out for a full review in Airsoft Action in the very near future.

Just Cause Airsoft: www.justcauseairsoft.co.uk, 07901 648952, [email protected].

SILVERBACK BIZON DISTRIBUTOR APPOINTED


012 November 2012

Most airsofters will end up getting a

pistol. It’s just the natural order of

things: get a primary, must have

a secondary! After a while, though, stock

guns just don’t cut it and you might want

something a little better. This is where Mike

Cripps and Elite Shooting Centre come in.

I fi rst contacted Mike around three years

ago, to buy a simple Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa.

After a year or so I sent it back and got some

upgrade work done to it, which is the best

thing I have spent money on in airsoft to date.

The pistol is still with me, all this time later.

It was clear Mike knew his stuff, and with

this article coming up I got speaking to him

and was amazed at his background. Mike

started shooting at the age of four as he was

brought up on army camps and such, and has

been shooting competitively for around 40

years. He has shot all over the world and was

even a member of the UK national squad in

World Shoot X.

After the pistol ban in 1997 Mike gave up,

until a conversation in 2002 led him to airsoft.

He has been hooked ever since. Mike quit

his job and started Elite Shooting Centre,

which specialises in pistols, equipment and

upgrades. Mike has entered most practical

airsoft pistol competitions – winning the UK

PP Open fi ve times between 2003 and 2009!

So obviously the guy is mega-qualifi ed –

but what are his custom pistols like? Well, I

asked Mike to send me down a couple of his

fi nest examples to try out.

The pistolsUpon opening the package I was greeted

with a Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa and a Tokyo Marui

Night Warrior. I must point out that Mike only

really works with TM pistols as they are the

most reliable and there’s a wide range of

readily-available parts for them.

I opened the Night Warrior fi rst, expecting

some souped-up MEU, but instead found a

gorgeous full metal Kimber – probably the

best pistol I have ever seen (though I am a

sucker for 1911 pistols). It weighed a ton,

featured genuine markings and was upgraded

to the max; what more could you ask for?

It’s made up of a full Hurricane kit with

alloy frame and slide, steel outer barrel and

magwell, uprated recoil spring, Nineball

THEPISTOLBaz Collins checks out some incrediblecustom Tokyo Marui pistols built byMike Cripps of the Elite Shooting Centre

AA_012-014 Elite pistols - Baz C_rev2APNS.indd 12 17/9/12 12:03:52


THE ARMOURY | ELITE PISTOLS

6.03mm tightbore barrel and a Nineball

hop rubber. All said this will set you back

£365 delivered, but for the cash you get an

absolute monster of a pistol. I took this out on

the range and was hitting man-sized targets

at 40m. with 80 per cent of shots on target.

Now for a pistol that is simply unreal – I have

never shot anything like this, it just reeks of

quality.

After getting to know the Kimber I opened

the Hi-Capa, and saw one of Elite Shooting

Centre’s own creations – the Elite Perses.

Again this was sheer quality, weighed what

a pistol should and looked top-notch. This

isn’t a kit set-up like the Kimber but is made

from parts of several different brands. The

grip is made by Tanio Koba and has a very

“The Perses also performed way beyond expectations, reaching targets further than any stock pistol could – but again you pay for this quality and ability”


014 November 2012

THE ARMOURY | ELITE PISTOLS

Mike Cripps, one of the UK’s most accomplished shooters, runs the Elite Shooting Centre which exclusively sells Tokyo Marui gas blowback pistols including his own custom work. The two pistols featured here The Elite Shooting Centre does not sell any products online; you will need to call Mike, who will work with you to meet your requirements.PRICE: Both featured pistols cost £365CONTACT: 07816 992417, www.eliteshootingcentre.co.uk

ELITE SHOOTING CENTRE

cool tactical look and feel; the alloy slide is

by Guarder and has ST markings; and again

this has steel barrel, magwell and a Nineball

tightbore and hop rubber. The magazine has

been fi tted with Nineball gas routers, only

available for the TM Hi-Capa and Sig 226 (a

real pity as they are incredible for getting the

most out of your gas).

The Perses also performed way beyond

expectations, reaching targets further than

any stock pistol could – but again you pay for

this quality and ability. The Perses is around

the same price as the Kimber.

Of the two the Kimber is my defi nite

favourite, but I am very partial to that gun.

That doesn’t detract from the Perses,

which is clearly a fantastic gun. They may

seem expensive but the pictures speak for

themselves. These are the PTW of pistols!

If anyone is interested in something of this

calibre but unsure of parts, model or cost give

Mike a shout – he is one of the most down to

earth guys around and really is a master in his

fi eld. Now, it’s time to go and sell my other

pistol and get that Kimber! Any takers?



015.indd 15 14/9/12 17:05:26

016 November 2012

Old memories resurface as Dan Millsreports on the latest instalment ofStirling Airsoft’s rolling scenario

OPERATION:

“The patrol took hits

(lots of them) while the remainder

scattered itself into the background to lick

their wounds. And yes, they were shooting

at me too – I was an observer!

Perhaps they didn’t like journos?”

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MILSIM | STIRLING AIRSOFT

So there I was, talking to myself

while halfway through digging

a fi re trench to stage two in my

back garden, when the phone went.

It was Nige, telling me he was jetting

off somewhere much nicer than my

overcast position and asking if I wouldn’t

mind covering a task for him over in

Herefordshire.

It would be with Matt at Stirling Airsoft,

he said. I wondered if I’d need a balaclava!

I found myself loading my truck

with what amounted to a CQMS store

deploying on ops for a month, and driving

myself to the Pilgrims Lair in deepest

darkest Herefordshire hill country.

As I drove into the hills I wondered what

lay in store for me. It had been overcast

all week but someone had promised to

deliver some sun during the weekend’s

activities. I’d already spoken to Matt on the

phone and he had agreed to sort a map

and directions by email – but when he said

the phone and email would self-destruct in

60 seconds I knew I was in for some fun

times!

In the shadows of Offa’s Dyke I drove

uphill until I arrived at the Safe Zone

car park at the grid directed and was

immediately welcomed by a smiling Matt.

As I chatted to Matt cars continued to

arrive, bringing shooters from afar. I also

met Ben who, along with Matt and Dave,

runs Stirling Airsoft Group.

As we walked over to the CP I saw a

nice little set-up displaying two armoured

Snatch vehicles from Northern Ireland/Iraq

operations. The last time I was in one was

not good, having had many of them blown

up in my time in Iraq. I was hoping for

something less strenuous this time! Laid

up beside these was a Pinzgauer and a

WMIK, looking like they had been dropped

in from Afghans BRF. This was setting itself

up to be a nice weekend.

Ben gave me the current operational

scenario about recent activity and what I

could expect to see during the next day or

so. There were no shops or anything on

site so ammo, food and water was to be

supplied and carried by the individual.

Stirling Airsoft was set up back in 2001

and was intended to create the realistic

o there I was, talking to myself In the shadows of Offa’s Dyke I drove

uphill until I arrived at the Safe Zone

HURRICANE

immediately welcomed by a smiling Matt.

met Ben who, along with Matt and Dave,

nice little set-up displaying two armoured

Snatch vehicles from Northern Ireland/Iraq

operations. The last time I was in one was

not good, having had many of them blown

something less strenuous this time! Laid

up beside these was a Pinzgauer and a

WMIK, looking like they had been dropped

in from Afghans BRF. This was setting itself

Ben gave me the current operational

scenario about recent activity and what I

could expect to see during the next day or

so. There were no shops or anything on

site so ammo, food and water was to be

supplied and carried by the individual.

Stirling Airsoft was set up back in 2001

and was intended to create the realistic

operational tempo found on current

operations. This weekend was all about

MilSim and a continuous rolling series of

events, much more like modern warfare.

Stirling prides itself on its Hereford

links and the great man John McAleese

himself set up the group’s selection course

weekend back in 2003, which potential

recruits had to pass before they became

badged members. In a nutshell this

involved starting on the Friday night with

physical training, survival, night navigation,

battle PT, team training to test your

fi eldcraft skills, mission specifi c training,

RTI – oh, and a point-to-point over 17 miles

of the Black Mountains!

The group ran a series of weekends

with a theme running from one to the

other. The current scenario has been

twisting and turning and acting out a mirror

of current ops since 2005 – therefore

regular attendees had a knowledge and

experience going back several years.

Something I found interesting was

that the Opfor patrol for this weekend

was comprised fully of Polish airsofters.

They had been drawn together from clubs

all over the UK after joining the Polish

Airsofters UK group online. These Poles

met, trained and attended different events

regularly. I thought it a nice touch that the

enemy would only be speaking a different

tongue, adding to the realism immensely.

At 09:30 all participants gathered at

the CP for the safety brief given by Ben,

who explained the scenario, the area to

be used, the out of bounds areas (where

real people lived and didn’t want a stack

outside their front door unexpectedly on

a Sunday morning!), the fps limits for

each weapon type, the zero tolerance

‘hit’ expectations and all the details of the

exercise.

One of the fi rst things to hit me was

the size of the area involved – several

kilometres of a farmer’s land with its

various outbuildings and paddocks spread

all over. There were streams and public


018 November 2012018 November 2012

roads to navigate, hills and valleys to climb up and go through, plenty of barbed wire fences to rip your combats on… Just like old times, I thought to myself!The Poles were briefed and sent off to their start points while the friendly forces prepped for their early patrols. The Polish had captured a team member from Stirling while out driving back in June and primarily FF had to clear the valley of any enemy activity and hopefully pick up the poor POW along the way. The setup, as I saw it, was that the enemy would start at one end of the valley infi ltrating back down towards the FF, who would largely carry out mobile ops with patrols deployed on foot from the other side.

The start time was set for 11:00, which came and went with a light splattering of rain. C/S 22 set off uphill after sighting the enemy forces – fi rst stop Target HB. I tagged onto the rear of the patrol and soon found myself recounting training days gone by and making mental notes of points to work on for the debrief such as spacing, hand signals, arcs, observation and radio procedure.The lead scout seemed the most switched on and guided the patrol right on target; the commander briefed his troops and then led a downhill assault. ‘Great!’ I thought, expecting to hear the sounds of battle erupt from all sides.

roads to navigate, hills and valleys to climb up and go through, plenty of barbed wire fences to rip your combats on… Just like

The Poles were briefed and sent off to their start points while the friendly forces prepped for their early patrols. The Polish had captured a team member from Stirling while out driving back in June and primarily

enemy would start at one end of the valley

Nothing. The enemy had eluded us, nowhere to be seen. C/S 24 had sped along the lane carrying a contingent of hoodies from up North somewhere. They arrived in a white pick-up to cut off the retreating enemy, but found nothing. These boys were bouncing, larger than life and disappointed by the disgraceful conduct of the Poles. As soon as they realised there was to be no action they went back to chatting themselves to death!

Subsequent patrols and ground holding tasks were ordered to fl ush out the enemy from wherever they were hiding. At 18:30 an attack is launched on Aubrey’s – but no one is home.A half hour later we attack Firs – no one at home here either! Where were they? There was only one place they could be now, the fi nal building left on the area of operations: Upper Blean.The easterly approach was taken by 22 while 24 went in excitedly from the west. Smoke was seen rising from the trees. At last, somebody was home! While FF had tactically patrolled endlessly up and downhill, through stream and fi eld, the enemy had stayed put for the main part and… barbecued chicken!

They were not found wanting though; as soon as they caught wind of the patrols approaching they were hotfooting it after them – 24 had been seen on overwatch

and were followed up to their fallback position. An old stonehouse would become the fi rst battleground of the weekend. As the enemy patrol commander led his way in front on the heels of those hiding he was caught fair and square by a squirt of rounds from the tail-end Charlie. Nice one.

The Poles had certainly been saving their energy for the encounter as they soon outfl anked the patrol on two sides and chased them from the area. Not only that, they followed up aggressively which caught out the chatting lads.The fi rst counterstrike came while the callsign was crossing a river obstacle. Perfect… Some over, some uphill and some on the enemy bank! They were found because they were still chatting away like mice and the patrol took hits (lots of them), while the remainder scattered itself into the background to lick their wounds. And yes, they were shooting at me too – I was just an observer! Perhaps they didn’t like journos?The surrounding hills and dead ground were used to great effect by the Opfor and patrol heads seemed to pop out everywhere in the hunt for the ‘friendlies’. They certainly showed a keenness for the fi ght now they’d decided to show up!It was getting dark and the aggressive patrolling and counterattack pushed the



MILSIM | STIRLING AIRSOFT

FF back down the valley for a regroup and rethink of how to tackle the problem. The head shed decided to use one item that they knew the enemy did not possess – night vision.Time was set aside for planning and eating; the attack would go in at 23:00, straight back down the centre of the valley in force to give them what for.At the due hour the patrols lined up ready for action, vehicles were primed to be called in as back up should they be required, mags were charged, fi nal briefs given, and we launched towards the target.Contact front!

The enemy had their own ideas clearly. The forward callsigns were bumped at the crossroads; though the enemy came off worse, through sheer weight of numbers they had certainly upset the plan. The use of night viz was great on route but the Poles had brought along a much cheaper version – shark’s eye torches!The attack was called off after killing three and all patrols were briefed and sent off on tasks. There would be harassing patrols at various times through the night leading to a re-run of the night attack by force, this time at fi rst light.When all patrols had been safely settled back in camp admin was the order of the day until the next prep for battle period. I quickly got my bivi bag out and crashed in a heap by the side of the road and waited for reveille at 05:00.

I was awakened by the bustle of soldiers getting ready to deploy and quickly stowed my kit away and steadied myself for the battle I was about to observe.The troops were set out in formation and at the given hour set off at a fast pace towards the target. We passed by the crossroads, this time devoid of enemies, and quickly marched into the morning mist.At set points just short of the stone buildings looming out from the trees the various battle groups peeled off into planned attacking formations. Standing out against the brown and green backdrop were the white and red stripes of Poland hanging from a large tree at the front gate.Go! Go! Go!In went the assaulting forces, a silent approach. The outer perimeter was breached, no shooting. The outbuildings were breached – nothing, unless you count the bloated dead sheep.

patrols at various times through the night leading to a re-run of the night attack by

When all patrols had been safely settled back in camp admin was the order of the

quickly got my bivi bag out and crashed in a heap by the side of the road and waited

soldiers getting ready to deploy and quickly

Main house go! In the troops went quickly securing the building; no shots fi red. What? Not again?They were all caught asleep in their beds – two in a little tent out front and 14, including the commander, inside. The probing attacks all night had the effect Matt and Ben wanted. Very tired, the Poles had drunk some slivo, had a fry-up and gone to bed in the early hours. Not two hours later Stirling came knocking and captured the lot. Result!

It was quickly established that the POW and two guards were missing and after a fruitless search it was decided to interrogate the enemy commander ‘Red’.Red gave nothing away at all and, sticking to the rules of having to release any captured after 30 minutes, the Stirling head shed had to watch them fi le out grinning, knowing they would soon regen in a nearby building and hastily set about to counterattack.Endex at 11:00 was fast approaching and, wanting to set them up in a strong position for the next instalment in the scenario, Stirling sent out fi ghting patrols to secure as much property as possible. Initial probes led to attack after attack on Target UB, each one repelled by an ever-smaller perimeter of men not yet shot or

medic’d back in. At this stage someone caught a fl eeting sighting of the prisoner, way up on the hills held by his two guards. It was far too late to despatch a patrol to capture them and Stirling had other problems closer to home anyway.Wave after wave came upon the new defenders of UB. Even the mortar and heavy weapons mounted on the vehicles could not hold back the attacking Poles, spirited by some success. The fi nal whistle was blown with casualties mounted on both sides. The remainder would have to settle to live to fi ght another day.All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my fi rst time out with Stirling Airsoft (and the sun did make an appearance eventually). Anyone thinking of giving it a go should look on their website and arrange a visit. Take it from me, you will not regret it. Remember though: joining this group and being ‘badged’ takes more than the average – so come prepared!The cost of a weekend in Herefordshire (Friday to Sunday) is £60. Stirling also operates on the big sites (which cost more rent), mainly holding MilSim or training days, but it’s worth the outlay as many of them are big military sites.Okay, that’s enough from me. I am off to sandbag my sleeping bay!

FF back down the valley for a regroup and

Main house go! In the troops went

Stirling Airsoft runs a range of MilSim events and training days. The next event – Operation: Inceptor – takes place at Catterick on 13 October 2012.CONTACT: 07831 429407,www.stirlingairsoft.com

STIRLING AIRSOFT


020 November 2012

AIRSOFTABROAD

Over here in the US airsoft isn’t as popular or mainstream as it seems to be in the UK. Our small airsoft

community of New England still manages to get by though.

In the US airsoft is legal in the vast majority of cities and towns, but there are some states and cities with different restrictions laws. In a future issue we’ll cover it in detail as part of our Airsoft Abroad series, but for now here’s an inside look into what a small, perhaps even ‘elite’ force of airsoft players can do.

Game onFriday: My squad and I are gathering our gear together for a privately-held 24 hour game. Guns and gear loaded up, we travel west a short distance before leaving the car and moving down a trail toward the

Connecticut River. Arriving at the riverbank I make a call to the ‘enemy’, who is in position approximately a mile upriver. Our five-man squad doesn’t know where the opposing team is starting, what guns or gear they have, or how many participants for that matter. The only thing certain is uncertainty!

We start moving up river with a single scout up front and two teams of two following at 15m intervals. After cautiously moving forward for an hour we had our first sign of the enemy. The sun was setting behind us and a glint of light caught the eye of the scout. When he signalled with a hand motion we split to the left into the woods.

I swapped my Masada for my L96 and crouched down low. A good look at the glint 100m ahead showed it was a wireless infrared camera. We carefully flanked the camera, making sure no enemy were

NEW ENGLANDAIRSOFTAndrew Bagg gives us an insight intowhat a typical weekend of airsofting is like inNew England, on the other side of the pond

AA_020-022 Airsoft Abroad_rev2APNS.indd 20 17/9/12 10:02:14

INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT | NEW ENGLAND


watching us. It was a good trick – if not for the sun giving away its location.

I sent my team back downriver 100m, lightly tapped the camera so it fell over and then hastily took up a sniper position 40m away. Several minutes went by and, sure enough, a team of two enemy players arrived to investigate. As soon as one knelt down to fix the camera I squeezed off a single round to his chest, sending him back to base to respawn. The other grabbed his radio as he ran back for cover and I knew a firefight was fast approaching.

Leaving my position I regrouped with my team and we set up a small ‘killing ground’ between the river and a steep embankment.

WHERE IN THE WORLD?New England is the northeastern corner of the United States. It consists of the states Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New

Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont (everything east of

New York state). It is bordered on the north by Canada and on the south and east by the Atlantic Ocean.


Pic caption if needed

“A glint of light caught the scout’seye. It was a wireless infraredcamera which we carefully flanked.It was a good trick – if not for the sungiving away its location”

As we knew nothing about the opposing force we decided to play it safe and hold our position. Still holding my L96 and with my scout sniper wielding a Dragunov rifle, we kept our eyes peeled, scanning the trees for movement. After a bit of quiet I sent a two-man team leapfrog-style up towards the enemy. Once they got well ahead they radioed in and the rest of our team moved up.

I pulled out my phone and checked Google Earth to devise a plan. Just beyond the trees was a 60m expanse of sand (no cover, just sand); myself and the other sniper donned our ghillie suits and set up near the edge of the sand. Through my scope I saw four


022 November 2012

As we regrouped we could see the opposing team’s camp fire flickering just beyond a camo net. Now we knew where they were located we moved away from the water and set up our camp spot. We do not attack each other’s campsite as it is a Safe Zone, so after our camp was set up I went on a recon mission with a digital camera to gather intel on the enemy. I crept to a spot on a hill above their position, pointed the camera and snapped a few photos. I quietly retreated back to camp where the SD card from the camera went into a laptop and we reviewed the intelligence before turning in for the night at 1am.

Sweep and clearSaturday, 5am: I toss my L96 over my shoulder and switch back to my Masada. Our team splits up into a group of three (Team A) and a group of two (Team B, which I was in).

Team A is sent to flank the left side and Team B to go head-on. We double-checked our comms and separated. Within

enemy posted up on guard detail… Now what?

The sun was setting behind the trees and within half an hour we would be in total blackness. Staying hidden and keeping an eye on the opposing force we grabbed a quick bite to eat and rehydrated. Now it was properly dark. The other sniper and I removed our gear and handed it to the rest of the team – it was time for us to get wet!

Our teammates held their position as we took to the water. About 5m out we were up to our necks so, with rifles held over our heads we slowly waded upriver, passing the opposition by about 50m before heading back to shore. In knee-deep water we took aim; we needed to take out four people with two shots each, and fast!

My sniper quietly said “Three… two… one,” and we squeezed our triggers together before rapidly reloading and firing again. Success! They never expected that. With four (silent) dead men returning to base we radioed our team to move up. That’s how you get people across open ground without being detected!

INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT | NEW ENGLAND

10 minutes Team A radioed to say we had lost a guy to an enemy scout sniper. They eliminated the sniper and we continued onward, watching as the eliminated player returned to camp (as there was no respawn after 5am). From the intel we acquired on the recon mission we knew five enemies remained.

With visual contact established between our teams we began an area sweep and within 15 minutes had eliminated three more enemy players. The odds were in our favour, four to two.

We heard a firefight between Team A and the opposing force. I heard two people call “Hit!” and radioed Team A for a sitrep. After five long seconds of silence I hear: “We’re all here and they’re all gone!” Good work team!

Saturday, 11am: We meet with the opposing force and all agree it was a great game – and we have to try and top it next weekend. Each time we play it gets more unique and challenging.

I cannot wait to see what happens out there next time!



023.indd 23 14/9/12 17:07:58

024 November 2012

024.indd 24 17/9/12 18:13:53

THE ARMOURY | M2000 SNIPER RIFLE


QUESTION: How many rounds does the HK417 mid-cap hold?

A 80 ■ B 100 ■ C 120 ■ D 140 ■

Post your entry to: VFC HK417D Competition, Airsoft Action, Blaze Publishing, Lawrence House, Morrell Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 5SZ. Or, email your entries to [email protected], quoting ‘VFC HK417D Competition’ in the headline. Entries received after 23 October will not be valid. One entry per household. Winner will be fi rst correct entry pulled from the editor's hat.

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

w

WIN...WIN...WIN...WIN...WIN...WIN...WIN...

VFC HK417License to use offi cial trademarks held by Umarex

Reviewed in Airsoft Action September 2012!

Thanks to our friends at Armex we have one VFC HK417 AEG up for grabs – worth a stonking £425!

A VFC creation featuring accurate HK trademarks (license held by Umarex), the HK417 is an extremely true replica. Full-metal construction and solid build quality make it a beast physically and out-the-box performance is not to be sniffed at.

For your chance to add this awesome rifl e to your airsoft collection, answer the question below (check the full review in the September issue of Airsoft Action if you don’t know the answer!)


WORTH OVER£400!

License to use offi cial trademarks held by Umarex

Reviewed in Airsoft Action September 2012!

Thanks to our friends at Armex we have one VFC HK417 AEG up for grabs – worth a stonking £425!

A VFC creation featuring accurate HK trademarks (license held by Umarex), the HK417 is an extremely true replica. Full-metal construction and solid build quality make it a beast physically and out-the-box

WORTH OVER£400!

AA_025_Camo Comp_Rev2APNS.indd 25 17/9/12 10:27:59

SOVIET AIRBORNE SOLDIER,AFGHANISTAN 1988

One place the Soviet Union really played its hand during the Cold War was the

mountainous battlefi eld of AfghanistanThis month Gareth ‘Gadge’ Harvey takes a

look at Russia’s elite airborne troops

The Soviet Union held a special regard for its airborne forces, and rightly so. Russia had fi elded the world’s fi rst

parachute troops back in the 1930s and so it should come as no surprise that these elite shock troops would become their mainstay in the battle for Afghanistan.

Unlike many nations that keep their paratroopers as a sub-section of the army or air force, the Russians think so highly of their airmobile troops that they are an entirely separate arm of service. Russian airborne formations are almost entirely self-suffi cient, with their own APCs, self-propelled artillery and helicopter air support.

The Russians had in fact been one of the fi rst nations to explore the concept of airborne assault in the dark days before WWII. They dropped small units of men from bombers (pioneering ‘paras’ actually had to slide down the wings of the aircraft on exit as no suitable

drop hatch was available on planes used!) which could then create diversions behind the frontline. This innovative tactic was not properly explored and developed by the USSR though; it would take the German blitzkrieg seizure of the Low Countries in 1940 to show the Soviets how effective paratroopers could be.

A crippling lack of suitable air assets saw the WWII soviet paratrooper fi ght mainly as elite infantry. Immediately after WWII the Russians took the lessons learnt to heart though. In particular they were keen to regain their innovative stance and, rather than rely on the conventional parachute deployment of airborne forces, looked to new technology instead.

The perfect technology was evidently the helicopter, and the Soviet Vozdushno-Desantnaya Voyska (VDV), or ‘air assault force’, quickly learnt to use the parachute and aeroplane alongside this new machine. It’s also worth noting here that the VDV is proud

to boast that there is no ‘parachute’ in its title; they consider the parachute just one option in an airborne assault, something that will become more evident later in this article.

Russia’s VietnamSoviet ‘paratroopers’ were selected from among the very best of the youth of Russia. In each year’s intake of conscripts only the ‘Strategic Rocket Services’ could take its pick of young men before the VDV. While a typical Soviet 18-year-old had no say whatsoever in which arm of service he served, he would be able to signifi cantly increase his chances of selection for the VDV by joining a youth parachute club before conscription!

Training was long, brutal and arduous, even by soviet standards, resulting in hardy, self-suffi cient young men capable of operating in adverse conditions with little to no support. The force’s motto is in fact: ‘Nobody but us!’

026 November 2012

AA_026-028 CWW_rev3APNS.indd 26 13/9/12 14:40:09

COLD WAR WARRIOR | SOVIET VDV


A behind the lines ‘diversionary force’ was not the concept the USSR had in mind though (that would be the role of ‘Spetsnaz’ raiders). Soviet doctrine was for mass airborne assaults; in one 1970s exercise an entire division of 8,000 men and 160 vehicles was able to land in just 20 minutes.

The VDV saw action in the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 but received their harshest test in the 1979-1989 occupation of Afghanistan, a war that would become known as ‘Russia’s Vietnam’.

Russia had been increasingly supportive of Marxist elements in the Afghan military and in a move that shocked the world fi nally invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to support a pro-Soviet puppet government. The VDV were among the fi rst troops into Afghanistan and in keeping with their ethos arrived by transport plane. Light resistance (including some battles between Afghan tanks and Soviet air portable

assault guns) was soon overcome and with the VDV in control of the capital, key towns and airports, the Soviet ground units moved in.

Afghan resistance would continue until the eventual Soviet withdrawal in 1989, but through the efforts of the CIA- and MI6-sponsored Mujahedeen (Cold War Warriors, Airsoft Action September 2012) rather than the regular Afghan army. This dogged rebellion would eventually force the Soviet Union to withdraw, but in the bloody decade of occupation the Soviet Union relied heavily on the VDV to take the fi ght to the Mujahedeen, often using helicopter assault tactics to drop VDV companies directly onto enemy strongpoints (similar to American ‘airmobile’ operations of the Vietnam War).

‘Flying tanks’The VDV had a slight advantage over the US in this respect: its helicopters were quite

literally fl ying tanks. While the US favoured light troop-carrying helicopters, unarmed and unarmoured, the VDV’s preferred warhorse was the Mil Mi24 helicopter gunship. This massive beast was capable of carrying a fully-equipped squad in addition to its tank-busting missiles, anti-infantry rockets and lethal chin-mounted cannon.

Our Cold War Warrior this month is a desantnik (literally ‘descender’ or ‘those who land’) from the last years of the war, wearing a combination of equipment modifi ed after years of combat experience.

His basic uniform is the summer weight ‘afghanka’ uniform brought into service during the war. This lightweight khaki uniform proved far more practical than the usual M69 service uniform and even found its way into units other than the VDV. It’s worth noting that these are now very hard to fi nd and many suppliers falsely list utility work uniforms and chemical


028 November 2012

undersuits as ‘afghankas’ – so if you’re looking to recreate this look take care when buying.

Under the Afghanka is the ubiquitous airborne ‘telnyashka’ striped blue and white vest, an item (like the parade blue beret) of great pride to VDV soldiers and which came in both long-sleeved and sleeveless versions. The latter was more popular in Afghanistan for obvious reasons. Despite being quite conspicuous the vest was often worn as outer wear in combat (unlike the blue beret, which was only worn on base and never in the fi eld).

On our soldier’s head is an army pattern M68 steel helmet – earlier patterns were worn interchangeably though, and without any apparent distinction. Equally common was a wide brimmed ‘Panama’ bush hat, often worn underneath the helmet to absorb sweat and provide a little cushioning. It may look impractical but was a very common sight among VDV soldiers.

One of the biggest departures from many of the Soviet load-outs we’ve seen to date in Airsoft Action is our desantnik’s footwear. While the majority of Soviet soldiers wore the calf high ‘jackboot’ in service since Napoleonic times, the airborne forces favoured a more conventional lace up combat boot of the type shown here.

Heavy duty combat kitVDV patrols would often require a lot of ammunition. They could fi nd themselves in contact with the enemy for lengthy periods of time and the standard airborne ‘RD54’ combination backpack and pouches were found inadequate.

Our soldier here takes no chances with a mix of body armour, belt kit and chest rig. The Soviet Union had traditionally held little regard for combat casualties but during the Afghan occupation began to issue body armour to protect its soldiers. The 6B3 armour vest show here was worn to protect against fragmentation and had many built-in pockets and pouches for ammunition and kit. Like all soldiers before him though, our trooper needs more ammo and so has added a ‘trophy bra’ chest rig captured from a Mujahidin warrior (other chest rigs were fi eld-made by cutting ammo pouches from RD54 webbing and sewing them together). This chest rig holds several magazines for his folding stock AK74 5.45mm assault rifl e (as well as having his bayonet and some grenades wedged into it!).

For more immediate ammo supply he has also taped two magazines together; this practice tends to be frowned upon in western armies as it can lead to the second magazine

becoming easily fouled but for the increase in fi repower is worth the risk. Essential survival supplies are carried on the soldier’s belt kit and include the essential water bottle in its carrier, a respirator in a lightweight cloth case and, unsurprisingly, even more ammunition!

Here at Airsoft Action we’re usually surprised (and pleased) at how quickly and cheaply a Cold War load-out can be assembled – but this is one impression where that is defi nitely not the case. Soviet kit from the Afghanistan era has become highly-collectable and there are a lot of bad copies and fake kit being passed off as genuine.

To that end we’re eternally grateful to Tom of the Red Alliance, who has modelled his own ‘re-enactment quality’ kit for this article – even with our collective knowledge and experience it’s a tough impression to put together well. Don’t be dismayed though: if you’re prepared to put the effort in it’s a fantastic, practical and fun load-out for Cold War FilmSims that looks awesome and sets you apart from the crowd at regular airsoft events.

One word of warning though: as with many ‘elite’ units, veterans of the VDV can be touchy about their kit being worn for a ‘game’, so it’s a good idea to leave the prized blue beret out of your collection!

COLD WAR WARRIOR | SOVIET VDV



029.indd 29 14/9/12 17:09:17

030 November 2012

030.indd 30 17/9/12 09:59:13

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AA A4 November 12.indd 106 18/9/12 10:01:11

032 November 2012

It is based on the Remington Model 870

Wingmaster, a US-made pump-action shotgun

that was used by law enforcement teams all

over the country. Available in many different

bore sizes (shotgun speak for calibres) this was

an extremely versatile and popular system and

has sold millions of units worldwide, proof its

design is as good today as it was 20 years

ago.

Shotguns have always been great

law enforcement weapons due

to their versatility; different

cartridges cater for different

scenarios but when you

want a big hit at close

range few weapons

can match it.

Shotguns? You mean, like, guns that

fi re shot?

The G&P M870 shotgun series has

been gone for many years but is now back

with a vengeance

G&P is (and always has been) rated as a top

manufacturer. Back in the day it only made

accessories and replacement parts for the

Tokyo Marui dominated market. Eventually

G&P started to sell complete out-of-the-box

models. The M870, a direct copy of the

Maruzen version, was a big hit. For some

reason the parts went out of production for

many years – until a few months ago, that is.

If you want a full-metal heavy-weight

shotgun with a great look and feel that doesn’t

have an outrageous price tag, you’ve found it.








SShotguns? You mean, like, guns that

fi re shot?

The G&P M870 shotgun series has

been gone for many years but is now back

with a vengeance

G&P is (and always has been) rated as a top

manufacturer. Back in the day it only made

G&P M870G&P M870G&P M870G&P M870G&P M870

design is as good today as it was 20 years

ago.

Shotguns have always been great

law enforcement weapons due

to their versatility; different

cartridges cater for different

scenarios but when you

want a big hit at close

range few weapons

can match it.








Scott Allan’s been playing with G&P’s revitalisedRemington replica – here’s the verdict...

AA_032-034 Scott Rifle_rev3APNSSD.indd 32 17/9/12 18:07:48


THE ARMOURY | G&P M870

First impressionsA full-metal shotgun is a rare thing in airsoft but this is what G&P has very kindly delivered. Die-cast and machined aluminium, as well as polymer parts, add up to a rock-solid system that sees the models starting just over the 2kg mark. They can be kitted out with fl ashlights and steel stocks (which weigh an extra 1.2kg!), and with a variety of RIS rails and different pistol grips, not to mention stocks rearing their heads, it will not be long before we start seeing outrageous custom Magpul shotguns sporting Eo-Techs and torches with a billion lumens!

Performance is not to be sniffed at either – starting at 350fps with a Blaster 0.2 is pretty darn good. There is even an upgrade set available, but I suspect this puts it right over the limits for almost every UK site. The hop unit is a fi ddle: two screws are removed, so you can remove the outer barrel to access the grub screw. You could drill a small hole in the outer barrel to allow any time access instead though. Once the hop is set I would not expect it to go anywhere so option one is viable for most players.

The magazines are a nice touch – they show a fake shotgun gate on the bottom and hold 22 rounds, plenty for most engagements. The only gripe I have is the single-shot action; triple-shot seems to be more desired these days. So long as you can live with that these are brilliant in every department.



034 November 2012

THE ARMOURY | G&P M870

CONSTRUCTION: Aluminium; polymer grip and pump handleWEIGHT: From 2,000gPOWER SOURCE: SpringMAGAZINE CAPACITY: 22 roundVELOCITY: 350fpsPRICE: From £135CONTACT: Landwarrior Airsoft0131 654 2452www.landwarriorairsoft.com

G&P M870

Practical shotgun Woodland sites are always going be a struggle

with a single-shot, but it’s not impossible. It

would not be the fi rst time I heard ‘you and

that bloody shotgun’ at the end of a game

as someone quietly clears an area of enemy

players. In my experience, weight of fi re often

wins in woodland games – not that high-cap

junkies do much better than mid-cap monkeys!

Indoor sites are defi nitely going to be a more

even playing fi eld for these weapons – the

short versions with torches especially. As it’s

made of metal you are not going to be overly

worried that every knock or bang is going to

cause it to fall apart in your hands.

With retail prices starting at £135 it is hard

to fi nd anything wrong with the M870. They

are good value, excellent build quality and a

great primary or back up weapon. They’re also

customisable to suit each players needs – it is

hard to think of a good reason not to have one.

This is great for people who have large

collections. What to buy the man who has a

dozen M4 variants? The G&P M870 full-metal

shotgun! You will not be disappointed.

034 November 2012

“It will not be long before we start

seeing outrageouscustom Magpul

shotguns sportingEo-Techs andtorches with a

billion lumens!”



SUBSCRIBENOW!CALL

01926 339808

035.indd 35 17/9/12 15:15:14

036 November 2012

036.indd 36 17/9/12 16:22:06

FEATURE | FAMILY MATTERS


I raced across the gap and pressed

myself against a fence for cover.

Incoming rounds beat a dangerous

rhythm against the taut steel fence and

I quickly realised that my eagerness had

put me in a precarious position. I couldn’t

move anywhere without being an easy

target for the enemy. I wondered if

anyone could fi re on me where I was and

had that question swiftly answered when

a burst of automatic fi re hit me on the

head, arm and chest.

“Hit!” I shouted and raised my hand

into the air. Being trapped in that position

was bad, being dead in that position was

worse. It was virtually impossible for

anyone to come and ‘medic’ me without

being hit. A slow fi ve-minute bleed out

and the walk to regen seemed inevitable.

I looked back towards my teammates

and saw that my son, Nat, was among

them. I thought that he would see my

situation and rush to my aid, but he

seemed to have no desire to sacrifi ce

himself to rescue me. It would be a

suicidal endeavour to rescue me, but

hadn’t I treated him to KFC only a few

days ago? Does a Boneless Banquet

count for nothing on the battelfi eld?

Time was short and I had no choice, so

I shouted, “Nat, come and medic me or

I won’t give you your pocket money!” It

was a command unlikely to fi nd its way

into the annals of military history, but it

did guarantee a roll of the eyes from Nat

and laughs from everyone else.

GENERATIONSIN CONFLICT

Karl Aston took up airsoft as a way to spend more time withson Nat – and found it ideal for bridging the gap that separates

parents from teenagers


AA_037-039 Family - Karl A_rev2 APNS.indd 37 17/9/12 12:59:57

038 November 2012

Teenagers are funny things, especially

your own. Sometimes it’s funny in a

good way – other times it’s funny in

an ‘I’m beginning to wish they were

someone else’s children’ way. We watch

nervously as our children enter those

tricky years of confusion, mood swings

and lack of confi dence. We wonder just

how that lovely child, who happily held

our hand to cross the road, changed

into something so spiky, ill-tempered

and impatient. As parents the words we

need are understanding, empathy and

communication; they can be elusive.

One of the best ways to spend time

with your son or daughter through their

teenage years is sharing an interest with

them. Something you can do and enjoy

together without it feeling forced. For me

and my son that shared interest is airsoft.

My son has had an interest in guns

since he was a small child and it’s an

interest I did not discourage. Some

people wonder whether it is healthy for

children to have an interest in guns, or

even to play with toy guns. I answered

those questions years ago, but the

question I now had to ask myself was

whether airsoft would be a suitable hobby

for a 14 year old.

I concluded that the benefi ts

outweighed any negatives. My own

experiences have convinced me that

playing combat games does not make

you more violent a person. In fact, I

would argue that playing airsoft can

give you a much better understanding

of how truly horrendous war is. The

vulnerability you can feel when facing

BBs emphasises how perilous your

existence would be on a battlefi eld facing

real bullets.

Once we had decided to try airsoft, we

found a site only 15 miles from where

we live. Checking that my son was old

enough to play we signed up for our fi rst

game, an open day event at First and

Only’s Asylum site.

I have to be honest: the fi rst time we

went neither of us was sure if it was the

right hobby for us. We enjoyed it, but

there was much that had to be learned –

the conventions, rules and unwritten rules

that can mean so much to how a game is

played. But when we went back a second

time the interest suddenly exploded

within us, and as most readers of this

magazine will understand we were soon

indulged in making lists of all the guns we

would get when our skirmishers’ defence

was attained.

From playing airsoft with my son I not

only discovered a shared interest, but a

hobby that we could both play as equals.

Nat wasn’t just a child following his parent

around, I didn’t have to make allowances

for him; he could play the game as well as

me. Also, being a lot, erm, slimmer than

his father meant he was a much harder

target to hit than I was. I felt my son

benefi tted in lots of ways from playing

the game. There was social interaction

(often with people older than himself),

exercise (a day’s gaming can give you

a very good physical workout), taking

responsibility (for your weapons and your

Nat and Karl take a mid-game pause for a photograph



039www.airsoftactionmagazine.com 039www.airsoftactionmagazine.com

the game for its combination of military

tactics, exercise and handling realistic-

looking weaponry. I could remember

enthusiastically playing ‘war’ as a child,

but airsoft has taken that childhood game

and given it an adult edge.

Now all I need to fi nd is an airsoft

equivalent of the Johnny Seven ‘One Man

Army’ gun (ask Google if you aren’t old

enough to remember it!).

We both derived pleasure not only

from playing the game, but also from

discussing tactics, reading airsoft

magazines and debating new gear. After

registering with UKARA I have been

able to take the next step of having my

own weapons – and of course buying a

weapon for my son to use is perfectly

legal. Slowly we are fi nding our feet in the

hobby and losing the label of ‘newbies’

– even if I do still get hit far too often.

But as Nat says: “Just because you have

some experience doesn’t mean you aren’t

rubbish!”

‘Quality time’ has become a

catchphrase attached to the interaction

of parents and their children. Well,

airsoft has given me a lot of quality time

with my son.

If your son or daughter shows any

interest in playing and they are old

enough to get involved, encourage

them to come along with you to try a

skirmish. Airsoft can help build a bridge

spanning the chasm that can exist

between parent and teenager.


on-fi eld conduct) and a duty of honesty

(the cornerstone of our hobby whatever

your age).

As for any negatives for young people

playing the game, the only one that

stands out is the salty language that

can come with mixing with adults in

this environment. Maybe I shouldn’t

expect people to change their behaviour,

but perhaps it is okay to ask players to

modify their language if they see young

teenagers are playing the game.

Nat relished the visits to The Asylum

site. His confi dence grew and he was

soon happily talking to people he had only

just met. On the battlefi eld he enjoyed

racing to aid people who were shouting

for a medic. After only a few games he

was keen to move around the battle

unencumbered by his dad. I enjoyed


040 November 2012

More than 100 players joined forces at Dragon’s Lair to raisefunds for Help for Heroes. Nige reports

R egular readers of Airsoft Action may

well remember that I covered the

opening of a new airsoft site in Essex

(back in our very fi rst issue), called Dragon’s

Lair.

For those of you that haven’t seen the

article: Dragon’s Lair is run by husband and

wife team Ray and Jean Cain, who had been

running the site as a paintball operation for

well over 20 years (making it the longest

established independent paintball site in

the UK).

Ray has been a good friend of mine since

the early days of paintball and in the run up to

the launch of AA he came with me down to

Ground Zero to see what airsoft is all about.

DRAGON’S LAIRCHARITY SHOOT

He was so excited by what he saw that on

the journey home he made the decision to

introduce airsoft at Dragon’s Lair. Immediately

he set about organising his fi rst ever airsoft

event – a free day for players to try the site and

give some feedback.

A year on and it was great to be back at ‘The

Lair’ to see what’s changed and cover the site’s

biggest airsoft game to date.

I don’t think there can be a person in the

UK that hasn’t heard of Help for Heroes but,

just in case you’ve been living on a different

planet for the past few years, Help for Heroes

raises money to support members of the

Armed Forces who have been wounded in the

service of their country. They ask supporters

to ‘do their bit’ to show these extraordinary

young men and women that they are cared

for. Over a million people have responded to

date and millions of pounds have been raised

to buy much-needed services that will aid their

recovery – but more is always needed!

Ray was over at BadgerTac2 chatting to

the guys about all sorts of things when,

according to JB (owner of B-Tac2), the idea of

doing a charity game just “sort of came up in

conversation”. As long-time supporters of H4H

the charity was chosen as the benefi ciary.

The date was set and the call went out for

support, sponsors and players – and, in true

airsoft fashion, the response was excellent.

Many companies offered raffl e prizes or

AA_040-042 Dragons lair rev2APNS.indd 40 17/9/12 14:02:42


EVENT REPORT | DRAGON’S LAIR

THANK YOU!More than £2,100 was raised for Help for Heroes and Ray has asked us to pass on a huge thanks to all the people, players and companies that helped support the event or donated prizes for the raffl e.In no particular order, thanks to:BadgerTac2Elite Shooting CentreViking Airsoft ArmouryBadgerTacSkirmish Airsoft BillericayBig Mac ModelsMad Badger AirsoftThe Essex RangeArmex LimitedDB Custom GunsRAW AirsoftAirsoft ActionRay also put up Dragon’s Lair walk-on day prizes

I can only think of one word to describe them

– impressive!

The original fort is still there but it’s

now surrounded with defensive positions,

machinegun nests and trenches. It also

features a brand new three-storey wooden

watchtower that wouldn’t look out of place on

a fi lm-set – which is where the site’s pub came

from!

On the opposite side of the valley to the fort,

in the middle of a village, stands The Firetrap

Lock-Inn. Rescued from destruction after use

on a fi lm-set this now forms the centrepiece of

another excellent location from which to launch

attacks, or to defend when necessary.

Elsewhere around the site Ray has

constructed loads of new positions, including

slit-trenches, machinegun pits and defensive

positions. These haven’t just been thrown

up (or dug) in any old location though; much

thought has gone into the siting of each one

to make sure they retain that all-important

playability factor.

support in other ways. One of BadgetTac2’s

regular visitors even offered to hand-build a

totally unique, one-off custom rifl e that would

be auctioned off on the day.

I arrived well early on 2 September to be

there as players arrived, but the car park was

already half full! Players had been arriving

from before 7am. By 9am the line of vehicles

stretched right back along the site approach

road and the smell of cooking bacon wafted

around the Safe Zone as players relaxed in the

sunshine and got some breakfast down their

necks. Ray told me he was hoping to have

about 70-80 players turn up – by game on 115

had arrived, a brilliant turnout.

It was really good to catch up with some of

the guys who were there last time I visited and

all of them said the same thing: that Ray had

been doing an amazing job with the site and it

was now a truly excellent place to play airsoft.

While waiting for everyone to fi nish getting

prepped Ray took the opportunity to show me

the additions and alterations he had made and

“Suicide runners, grenades and smoke in hand, almost broke through before being picked off. Total mayhem ensued but above it all was the unmistakeable sound of laughter!”


042 November 2012

With all players signed in, every gun

chronoed (and tagged), safety briefi ng

done and teams selected, everyone made

their way out for game briefi ng from head

marshal, Ray Jnr (Ray’s son). Incidentally,

three generations of the Cain family are

involved with Dragons Lair: Ray, Ray Jnr, and

Ray Jnr’s son, Jnr Ray Jnr (only joking, his

name is Nathan!).

Anyway, with the game briefi ng done

in Ray Jnr’s inimitable style (and which I

Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5TLPRICESWalk-on: £20Rental: £45 (including gun, mask and 3,000 BBs)CONTACT: www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk, 01708 765036 / 07703 530189

DRAGON’S LAIR AIRSOFT

EVENT REPORT | DRAGON’S LAIR

couldn’t possibly repeat here!) one team

headed into the village while the other made

for the fort. Warm up took the shape of an

‘attack and defend’ game against the fort.

This game seemed to set the tone for the

rest of the day and is best described as

‘all-out airsoft fun’. With medic and regen

rules kept as simple as possible to ensure

continuous play it was inevitable that there

would be some epic moments, and in both

the fi rst and second games (a reverse of

the fi rst), the word ‘epic’ probably wasn’t

enough!

Mass attacking charges were met by

barrages of return fi re, with defenders

putting up seemingly impenetrable walls of

BBs. Sneaky-beaky attackers crept around

the back and took out lines of defenders

before being despatched. Suicide runners,

grenades and smoke in hand, almost broke

through before being picked off. Total

mayhem ensued but above it all was the

unmistakeable sound of laughter!

With that amount of fi re going on you

would think it inevitable that at least one

player would suffer a ‘sense of humour

failure’, but not today. I didn’t see or hear

anyone bitching, moaning or whining – but

did hear plenty of calls of “Good shot” and

“Nice one player” throughout the day. I

guess uppermost in players’ minds was

that today was all about raising money for

wounded soldiers, not shouting the odds or

pampering egos.

Lunch was followed by a ‘who can get a

smoke, grenade or body into the pub the

quickest’ game, before the raffl e and auction.

As I mentioned earlier, loads of companies

had generously donated prizes for the raffl e

but the centrepiece was the custom-built

rifl e to be auctioned fi rst.

Bidding started at £250 and my bid of

£300 was quickly left behind. Two players

slugged it out until one made the winning

bid of £580 – a great sum of money that won

a very appreciative round of applause from

everyone.

The raffl e quickly followed, with prizes

ranging from rifl es, game days, kit, BBs and

even a remote-controlled helicopter chosen

by the lucky winners before the Help for

Heroes cake was cut and players headed out

for the fi nal game.

Unfortunately, yours truly had to head off

to a family engagement before it fi nished but

I did see Ray Jnr making his way out onto

the site clutching a handful of helium-fi lled

party balloons…

I didn’t ask – I wasn’t sure I wanted to

know the answer!



043.indd 43 17/9/12 18:14:39

044 November 2012

A irsoft is a diverse hobby, but a recent online discussion about the influence of

computer games on the sport really got us fired up. Is ‘roleplaying’ a computer game

in real life the peak of excitement, or just a cash-in by lazy game planners?

For many ‘softers the chance to play a ‘real life’ game of Call of Duty or Battlefield is a dream

come true. Others despair at the growing number of ‘computer clone’ game plots. Does airsoft

need to borrow plots and storylines from the console generation? It’s probably fair to say that

some sites see an easy option in running a game based on a best-selling console creation, but

is this giving the playing public what they want or just a stunning lack of creativity?

The phrase ‘codsofter’ is used as a term of derision for this sort of thing and if this style

of play is taken to extremes on a fun Sunday open day – especially if this impacts on your

own style – then perhaps it is right to deride it. (Equally, I can’t fail but see a certain irony in

simulating a simulation!)

I may be dedicated FilmSim player but I can empathise with those that cringe every time

they see a Captain Price clone on the pitch. I appreciate that airsoft is a ‘sport’ for many, and

that the aim is to complete the objectives, shoot out the opposition and have fun. So if your

take on the sport is relatively laidback and focussed on playing well, I can believe that having

orders shouted at you by some guy lugging aaround two tons of real-steel military hardware is

really going to get your goat!

Among the team, the general consensus was (unsurprisingly) that it’s not such a bad thing,

as long as it’s in moderation. No one wants to be railroaded along a ‘scripted’ story where your

playing skill makes little difference if the next scenario has you forced into a desperate defence

despite wiping the floor with the other team in the last game!

Is it too hard for site owners to come up with original plots or is it simply a case of wasting

their time if they do? If most of your players want to ‘capture the flag’ or be ‘king of the hill’ is

there much point inventing an exciting set of missions or linked campaign scenarios?

On the flipside, immersing yourself in a weekend of utter fantasy at a game based on, for

example, the Resident Evil games can be simply brilliant; but for me part of that experience

relies on being with a host of likeminded players. You all have to be into it or the ‘suspension of

disbelief’ is easily shattered.

Furthermore it’s a lot easier to ‘get’ the idea behind said Resident Evil game, than to have to

listen to an hour-long story brief or read a 30 page backstory epic on a website before you can

understand what’s going on and get stuck in.

So to close I’d leave you with this, put to me by my friend Andrew: “It might be a bit

annoying to have a generation of new airsofters running around like they’re playing Call

of Duty, but surely anything that gets them actually out there running about and playing

is a good thing?”

Gareth Harvey asks if basing airsoft games on popular videogames is lazy planning, or givingthe players what they want

JUST AGAME?

DEBATE | CODSOFT

HAVE YOUR SAYWe want to hear what our readers think about the topic highlighted in this article – or anything else airsoft-related that you have an opinion on, for that matter.

We may publish responses or use them as a starting point for future articles, so please include your name and location so we can name and shame you – sorry, credit you for your contribution.

Letters can be sent to the address at the front of the magazine or emailed to [email protected].

AA_044 Opinion_rev2APNS.indd 44 17/9/12 10:34:04


045.indd 45 17/9/12 10:00:51

046 November 2012

Socom Tactical has opened a new

airsoft shop in Fleet, Hampshire.

After trading online for four years,

Laurence Kay and Melissa Evans-Prosser

have taken the jump and opened their retail

shop, with 1,100sq/ft of space.

Socom sells a wide range of kit – from

rigs to RIFs –that you might need for a

skirmish. Its opening event was brilliantly

attended with nearly 300 people streaming

through the doors to check out the

merchandise, chat to staff and customers

and take advantage of some excellent

opening-day discounts.

What’s more, Socom Tactical has

integrated a social area with big-screen TV,

refreshments and sofas so that visitors can

discuss their purchases and recount stories

from their last game – or just park their

partners while they browse the shelves!

There’s also a notice board for customers

with surplus kit to trade.

The Socom guys are really keen to help

players, old and new, get in touch with

Oscar Plummer reports from a successful first day at Socom Tactical in Hampshire

SOCOM TACTICALShOp LAunCh

AA_046-047 Socom Opening_rev2APNS.indd 46 13/9/12 11:45:58

FEATURE | DEFENCE PHOTOGRAPHERS


Socom Tactical’s new shop is located on: Reading Road South, Fleet, Hampshire, GU52 7SD.Customers can still place orders on Socom’s website or by giving them a call.CONTACT: 01252 616868,www.socomtactical.net

SOCOM TACTICAL

“The Socom guys are setting up asocial club to give local players aplace to meet and make teammates”

other skirmishers in their area. They are

setting up a social club to give local players

a place to meet and make teammates. They

are planning regular events on and off the

skirmish fi eld and got off to a great start

with an afternoon barbeque.

Plans for the future include new products

on the horizon – the company is working

with a UK manufacturer on a new range of

pyro which should be on the shelves soon.

Easy to fi nd, with plenty of parking and

shelf-loads of airsoft kit, you’ve no excuse

not to check it out!

BUSINESS MATTERS | SOCOM TACTICAL

AA_046-047 Socom Opening_rev2APNS.indd 47 13/9/12 11:46:03

048 November 2012

On a warm Saturday morning

I made the trip to Gunman

Midlands’ site at The Grange.

The weekender was an event

celebrating its fifth birthday and as

such I was told there was something

special in store.

Since I fi rst passed through those

gates several years ago a hell of a lot

has changed – buildings, the carpark and

most importantly the game zone. On

their fi rst ever game the fi eld had been

covered with just stalks and the main

compound. Now the trees dominate

much of the landscape and there are

more structures, bunkers and a CQB

area to boot.

After the usual safety brief and

chrono check on the purpose-built

range, site owner Jim Sefton began the

specifi c event brief. It transpired that

we would be split into two teams – the

Golden Monkey Drug Cartel and Griffi n

International Tactical Service (or GITS,

for short).

Within the two teams we were split

further into specifi c squads: assault,

support and assassins, each with a

squad leader and their own set of

objectives. I joined the Monkeys on the

assault squad as we made our way out

to our command position.

Instead of a ‘return-to-Safe Zone’ type

of day we were encouraged to take our

essentials out with us to store in our

own undercover CP. After settling in we

readied our weapons and gathered for

the squad brief, paying extra attention

to the little gem of intel regarding the

fl oating minefi eld that occupied the

bridges in the centre. The whistle blew

and we were off.

Michael Jones joined in the celebrations at GunmanAirsoft Midlands’ fi fth birthday bash

AA_048-050 Grange event_rev2APNS.indd 48 17/9/12 17:38:45


EVENT REPORT | GUNMAN MIDLANDS

remaining GITS, leaving no stone or

grassy root unturned until all the ghillies

were accounted for.

And that’s when it happened.

A marshal approached. Immediately

I’d wondered what I’d done wrong.

But that wasn’t it. “You’re a sleeper

spy working for the GITS,” he said.

“Respawn from their CP and retake the

farm.” Oh crap!

I took one fi nal look at my fellow team

and headed off. I knew they would be a

little confused at fi rst but it wouldn’t last

long. Actually, it took only a matter of

seconds for them to fi gure it out and in

return light me up like a Christmas tree

while laughing their bloody heads off!

Personally, I don’t blame them.

The battles were fi erce, with neither

side wishing to give any ground or

resource away. At one point in the

morning we were tasked with taking

the farm from the GITS assassins, who

were dug in like part of the scenery. Our

only glimpse was when the heavyweight

sniper rounds struck us. With a little (OK,

lots) of luck we managed to eliminate

their forward defence, giving us a much-

needed buffer of hard cover.

I wasn’t so lucky and had been

standing in the medic position for some

time. After bleeding out and walking

back I saw my team charging the

Day one ended on a particular high as

we all returned to the Safe Zone weary and

battle bruised. On a normal day I would be

straight in the car on my way home for a

hot bath but there was still another day to

get through. Fortunately help was on hand,

and it’s worth pointing out now what sets

The Grange apart from the pack.

When I fi rst visited in 2007 there was

a very clear understanding of what they

wanted the site to be: the ‘country club’

of airsoft. This doesn’t just mean the

amazing facilities like fi tted showers/toilet

block, food area, gun workshop and so on

– there’s all the extra-curricular activities

they run on-site too. From martial arts

to swordplay and, erm, Zumba through

practical shooting, literally every niche

seems catered for. Most importantly,

though, is the way it’s run: everyone’s

helpful, friendly and more than willing to

help.

Anyway, back to business. After a hot

shower I made my way to the après airsoft

taking place in the food marque with


050 November 2012

Frog Lane, Balsall Common, Coventry CV7 7FPGunman Airsoft Midlands operates two skirmish sites in Balsall Common, Coventry: The Grange and the nearby Proving Ground (RAF Honiley CQB site). It also hosts its regular WarDogs FilmSim campaign.PRICESWALK-ON: £30RIFLE HIRE: £20 CONTACT01676 532384, www.suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT

EVENT REPORT | GUNMAN MIDLANDS

MIDLANDS

The GITS started well, pushing the cartel

right back to their main CP, but it didn’t take

long before King Kong was going bananas

at his troops to get back the ground they

had lost.

The weekend was a success, the

airsofting excellent and the evening’s social

even better. I must admit that The Grange

was never my favourite site in the early

days. But these last few years the site has

exploded with foliage like a forest: cover

geometry is as close to perfect as I’ve

ever seen. These things don’t come from

nature – it’s the persistent hard work and

dedication from the team, always striving to

improve the player experience, that makes

the Grange what it is.

Here’s looking forwards to the next fi ve

years!

licensed bar. It didn’t take long before old

stories and even some pictures from the

last fi ve years surfaced. The night was a

much-needed rest from the day and was

everything I had hoped for.

The next morning started the second

leg with the bright sunlight stinging a few

of the more party-orientated eyes, myself

included. After a coffee and another hot

shower – don’t mind if I do – we got our

heads in the game for another day of play.

As we gathered for the brief it became

apparent that all the efforts of the previous

day played a part in this. Another ‘out all

day’ style was ahead, and a very interesting

game with a supply-chain theme was in

store. Each team had to expand its CP to

satellite CPs, pushing their boundaries to

control more of the map and the resources.



051.indd 51 17/9/12 18:15:53

052 November 2012

R eports from various confl ict zones

involving the UK feature many images

captured by military photographers.

The Royal Navy, Army and Air Force all have

their own in-house photographers who

take stunning pictures and video footage

of everything from war zones to the Royal

wedding, and every sort of job in between.

Each of the three forces has slightly

different requirements for its photographers,

but the basics are the same. All photographers

go through the same course to qualify as a

defence photographer before being assigned

to their fi rst job in the service they joined.

The main role of defence photographers

in the RN and RAF is public relations (PR)

photography. Other requirements are news

gathering, technical photography for defects

and damages, crime scene photography,

intelligence gathering, portraiture, recruiting,

group photographs, event photography,

sports photography – the list goes on. The

Army photographers have two main roles:

Media Ops (PR) and Operational Stream

(surveillance).

PR boosts recognition for the armed forces

and lets the public know what their nations’

armed forces are doing and where they are all

deployed.

During training, defence photographers learn

the basics of photography and the skills they

will need for a varied career. Filming and video

editing are learnt later in their career.

One of the jobs available to photographers

from all three forces is the Defence Media

Operations Centre (DMOC). Here the focus is

on active operations such as Afghanistan. The

team of photographers consist predominantly

of army photographers with a small contingent

from the RAF and RN. All are deployable, and

there is a team of personnel from DMOC

that is ready to move anywhere in the

world. This readiness is rotated between the

photographers at DMOC to allow individuals

off-duty time. The team consists of two

photographers (one stills camera operator, one

video camera operator) and an offi cer that acts

as a team leader/writer/interviewer.

RN photographers work on various ships

while they conduct anti-piracy patrols or

offshore security patrols. They also work with

the Royal Marine Commandos on the frontline

in places such as Afghanistan.

RAF photographers deploy with their

squadrons or as a small team to Afghanistan

or wherever the RAF is operating, be it

surveillance or air defence.

Iggy Roberts explains the role of defence photographers, and the danger they put themselvesin to bring home images from the frontline

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AA_052-054 Defence Photographers_rev2APNS.indd 52 17/9/12 14:45:11



Army photographers will deploy with

a brigade or as a small team called the

Combat Camera Team (CCT). The CCT is

made up of the same layout as the teams

sent from DMOC, but solely compromises

army personnel. All army photographers are

individually called upon at times within their

career to make up and rotate the team every

six months. Currently the CCT spends the

entire six months covering frontline operations

in Afghanistan. They are often embedded with

the forward units all over Afghanistan and

cover the various operations from the front.

Defence photographers of all services

find themselves on the frontline. All defence

photographers that deploy to Afghanistan

or any conflict zone are armed. The weapon

systems used are the L85A2 (SA80) Carbine

and Browning or SIG 9mm pistol.

When photographers from DMOC deploy,

we carry either our two professional Nikon

cameras or P2 video camera, attached to our

body armour so they can be quickly swapped

to our weapon systems as required for force

protection or personal protection.

While patrolling we also wear a helmet;

eye and ear protection; gloves; desert boots;

MTP uniform; kneepads; a daysack or Bergen

containing food, water and extra ammunition

for ourselves and link-ammunition for the

squad automatic weapon (SAW) or general

purpose machine gun (GPMG), extra batteries,

extra lenses, flash for the stills camera,

laptop and BGAN to transmit the video and

images back to the UK; and a sleeping system

depending on the length of the operation being

covered. We tend to leave the laptop and

BGAN transmitter back at the patrol base (PB)

if we are returning there.

All photographers on the frontline must

maintain their fitness and soldiering skills so

they are not a burden to the section or unit

they are attached to while covering the story.

This allows them to get to the sharp end

where the fighting takes place and give you all

at home a glimpse of what it’s really like on the

frontline.

The imagery produced by defence

photographers is used by regional and

national papers, internet pages and magazine

publications the world over. Video footage is

used in news and documentaries by BBC, Sky,

ITV and channels from other nations.

During one operation in the scorching

Afghan summer of 2007, an army


054 November 2012

as an enemy opened up with a machinegun.

The lead section closed in and destroyed

the enemy position. As the fi rst bullets went

down range the photographer got used to

the situation unravelling around him and felt

able to do his job. He advanced with the

section he was attached to. At this point he

had one hand carrying his camera and the

other his weapon. That’s when the platoon

commander shouted the order to fi x bayonets.

The photographer took the decision to carry on

taking photographs because that was what he

was there to do. He maintained a situational

awareness and made snap decisions when it

was safe to photograph.

The unsightly scenes of dead enemies

around him were stomach churning, but in

situations like that there is no time to dwell on

the horrors of war.

As a result of his courageous decision the

army photographer had fantastic imagery of

historic interest and his photos were published

in The Telegraph over the next few days,

showing the world what being on the frontline

in Afghanistan was really like.

“The unsightly scenes of dead enemies around him were stomachchurning, but in situations like that

there is no time to dwell on thehorrors of war”


photographer got so close to the enemy that

the order ‘fi x bayonets’ was shouted over the

radio by the platoon commander.

The photographer had been in Afghanistan

for just 10 days before he went to cover an

Infantry Company attack to clear compounds

containing known enemy positions.

Before he embarked on his fi rst

photographic tasking he tried to exchange

his cameras for the newer Nikon D2

cameras. However he was left to struggle

with two Nikon D1s which have a poor

battery life. As a result he had to carry 12

batteries in two large pouches on a belt

around his waist – one for charged batteries,

the other for dead batteries.

The kit he was carrying consisted of all his

personal soldiering kit, including his Browning

and L85A2 (SA80 A2), a long, cumbersome

weapon compared to the A2 Carbine that

defence photographers now use.

It was his fi rst time into battle. As the

Company advanced he could see the artillery

fi re bombarding the compounds ahead.

They drew closer to the fi rst compound

For RN photographers working with Royal

Marine Commando units or as part of the

Mobile News Team it can get equally heated.

At the beginning of the Second Gulf War

one RN photographer was part of the fi rst push

into Iraq with the United States Marines. He

arrived just behind the initial wave advancing

through to Baghdad. In order to catch up with

the guys at the front engaging the enemy, he

had to walk through clouds of smoke drifting

from the burnt out vehicles of the Iraqi Army.

As he advanced he noticed there was an eerie

silence in the air and through the smoke he

could see the dead Iraqi soldiers littering the

scorched earth.

The silence was broken by the sound

of an approaching truck cab, which came

to a halt 200m in front of him. One of the

two Iraqi soldiers in the cab jumped out

brandishing an RPG. Just as he brought it

to aim at the RN photographer, an American

Hummvee roared out of nowhere, squealed

to a halt just feet behind the photographer

and let rip with a .50 calibre machine gun.

The soft body of the Iraqi truck cab didn’t

stand a chance and immediately blew up.

The Hummvee just drove off in a cloud of

thick dust, leaving the RN photographer to

continue his walk to the frontline.

Every piece of military news or print that

appears in the papers is enhanced by the

images from a photographer, more often than

not a defence photographer. They are your

eyes into the military and can take you to the

harshest combat environments, from the

comfort of your homes.

Our thanks to the following for the images supplied with this article: Staff Sergeant Will Craig, Corporal Barry Lloyd, Sergeant Tom Robinson, Corporal Tim Hammond, Leading Airman (Photographer) ‘JJ’ Massey, Leading Airman (Photographer) ‘Iggy’ Roberts, Corporal ‘Wez’ Calder, Corporal Paul Randall and MOD Crown media

IMAGE CREDITS



EVENT REPORT | NAE

Airsoft Action’s French correspondent, Charles Duval, reportsfrom the UK’s biggest airsoft event

This might be my fi fth year at

the NAE. Neil, Pam, H, Rich and

everyone I know there always

seem pleased to see me and spend some

moments chatting. I must thank them for

their time and hospitality.

It is now like a second home. Yes, my tent

will give me grief as usual and will be more

like a swimming pool than anything else. Yes,

most of my batteries will be fl at before the

game even starts. Yes, I will lose my car keys

a thousand times and yes, the charcoal will

undercook or burn the meat.

But I believe the game and the players are

getting more and more ready for those two

days each year. The site is usually open from

Friday morning until Monday lunchtime. By

Friday lunchtime everybody is there ready to

play. This is impressive.

EVENT REPORT | NAE

As soon as you have paid your fee you

will have the security procedure, game map,

game schedule, two plaques and the patch.

I spend my Friday night in my personal

swimming pool of a tent. I shall burn it.

It’s 10am on Saturday morning. I am not

ready. Howard is ready; the 1,650-ish other

players are ready; all the marshals are ready.

Let’s play!

Well, after the safety speech. It is always

too long or too short and most of us should

have read the security process anyway. What

I do like is to see and hear the ‘old’ players

teaching the new guys. “Put your goggles

on, mate!” This is a basic need and needs to

be dealt with. I am pleased to see that this

is working.

As in previous years there are three

teams: Bravo with orange tags, Delta with

white tags and the Others in blue. Each

team will have one main offi cer – my team

(Delta) has Woody for the second time. On

arrival to our base his game plan pleases

me a lot. “Play well, don’t cheat, try to get

objectives… But mainly, enjoy yourself.”

Thinking of it, he did not mention the BBQ

which is without doubt the main objective.

Maybe I should talk to him about that.

Here, when you are dead you have to

fi nd a dead zone (which hopefully contains

more of your team members than those of

other teams). What I usually do, in order to

avoid the start of a bad game, is search for a

dead zone. Yes, there is a 30m no-shoot area

around the ‘main’ dead zone. Thanks and all,

but I’d rather walk the extra 20 minutes to

start from a proper dead zone.

It still amazes me to see a group of 50 or

Airsoft Action’s French correspondent, Charles Duval, reportsAirsoft Action’s French correspondent, Charles Duval, reportsAirsoft Action

AA_055-057 NAE Rev rev2APNS.indd 55 17/9/12 17:41:30

056 November 2012

60 guys obeying a chief. In France this would

never happen, never. But here, when the

attack order is given, it is done!

In the village I saw an incredible scene –

80 guys against 80 guys, maybe even more!

The corridor is only 20m long but 5m wide

and it is raining BBs! Some don’t even reach

their target, meeting another in mid-air. Delta

is trying to get in but with no success. While

some are trying to recover from this action, I

am looking for my shoes. Both of them. They

are in the mud – I have walked a few meters

before noticing.

At the end of a day’s play the main

objective is food and drinks. I have been

waiting for this moment. Start the BBQ

“It still amazes me to see a groupof 50 or 60 guys obeying a chief. In

France this would never happen,never. But here, when the attack

order is given, it is done!”



EVENT REPORT | NAE

before the raffle – 16 AEGs are up for grabs

but I never win… But it’s not all bad news,

the BBQ is in full swing at least! We meet

people, drink a few brews, try a few weird

recipes.

I will give a miss to the night game this

year – and for the second year in a row the

Saturday night is quiet. It is 11.30pm and not

a noise. Unbelievable!

Tonight I think I’ll sleep in the car.

After a better night’s sleep it is Sunday. I

have been racing after my sleeping bag all

night, and my air mattress – well, let’s not

talk about it. I’m still emotional.

This morning, however, I am ready: I have

my XM177E2 Tokyo Marui with no strap, only

two hi-caps, two grenades and the map.

Let’s go!

A few missions were selected; we are

ready to maintain the pressure. Some of the

French wanted to have a little revenge on a

marshal (they have been chasing each other

for the past three years).

I have killed a little tree. I was trying

to follow the young ‘uns when they all

jumped over a fallen tree. It was probably

about 1m high, and I did jump over – but

the landing was not expected. The face

went first and the beer tummy followed

with both feet close behind. Both heels

landed on my back. The noise woke up the

enemy and I got shot.

The whole day was a succession of

mishaps; my two grenades decided to

explode into pieces. My shoes went AWOL

(again). I did not even fire a single round.

Sometimes I wonder if I ought to just stay

in bed!

Was it a good day for airsofting?

Absolutely yes. Airsoft is not just firing

BBs. It is an open window into others

people’s lives. I made new friends, and

got to meet up with friends made in past

years. Here you can meet a GP without

having to make an appointment, or talk to

a police constable without having to drive

like a maniac. I do love this world! I will be

back next year.


058 November 2012

The 5.11 RUSH series of backpacks

was designed in conjunction

with SGM Kyle Lamb, who

was decorated for valour for actions in

Mogadishu, Somalia (made famous by

the fi lm Blackhawk Down). That tells you

a little something about the heritage

of the RUSH backpacks, and the

thought that has gone into the

design.

The RUSH 12 is the smallest

of the family, the ideal go-bag size

and perfect for stuffi ng with kit for a

one- or two-day event. It might be the

smallest of the range but that doesn’t

mean it’s small; with a 22-liter capacity

and a main compartment big enough

for a laptop and a pair of boots with

plenty of space to spare, the RUSH 12

is deceptive.

So far the backpack on test has

seen action in two countries at various

events. Filled with spare batteries, food,

hydration bladder (it can take up to a

60oz bladder), lenses, gadgets, spare

socks and a jacket it lasted out an

entire two-day event without feeling

uncomfortable.

That’s partly due to the ample padding

in the shoulder straps, and partly to the

almost obscene amount of adjustments

you can do to get it sitting just right

on your shoulders. There’s also a rigid,

removable back plate to keep it fi rm and

straight, avoiding any long-term back pain.

With 16 pockets and compartments to

organise it is extremely suited to accessing

kit rapidly – so long as you can remember

5.11 RUSH 12 MULTICAMAirsoft Action gets hands-on with 5.11’sRUSH 12 Multicam backpack

organise it is extremely suited to accessing

AA_058-059 Rush_rev2APNS.indd 58 17/9/12 17:43:52


KIT TEST | 5.11 RUSH


which pocket things are in. Big zipper tabs

allow easy access when wearing gloves,

and fi ve separate zipper compartments

mean you can store things logically for

those under-pressure kit changes.

Of course, if 16 compartments isn’t

enough there’s a host of webbing on the

front and sides to allow for some modular

customisation – along with a Velcro fl ag

patch to show your colours!

One thing I’ve never worried about when

using 5.11 kit is construction quality. Made

of water-resistant nylon the backpack feels

rugged and durable; the zips are clearly

designed to withstand some rough usage

and there’s no signs of any wear or tear

on any strap or seam. If it’s reasonably

looked-after I can see this surviving several

years of weekly use. Practical touches like

drainage holes in the bottom and elastic

keepers for excess webbing show the

level of attention that has gone into the

design, and while it comes at some

cost it is more than worth it.

And of course, we’d be remiss if

we didn’t point out the authentic,

all-over Multicam pattern (though it is

also available in black, for £80). That,

combined with its smallish size and

excellent design, mean this isn’t

limited to the skirmish fi eld; this

is a true bag for all occasions,

equally suited to the festival or

fairground as it is the battlefi eld.

I should know – mine is a veteran

of both!

If you reckon you’ll still need more

storage space, the RUSH series

is completed by the RUSH 24 and

RUSH 72, which are essentially the

same beast but a little bigger.

“Big zipper tabs allow easy access when wearing gloves, and fi ve separate zipper compartments mean you can store things logically for those under-pressure kit changes”

MAIN COMPARTMENT: 18in x 11in x 6inCAPACITY: 21.2 litres

CONSTRUCTION: Water-resistant 1050D nylon

COMPARTMENTS: 16FEATURES: Fully adjustable; web platform on front and sides;

padded shoulder straps; glove friendly zipper tabsPRICE: Around £115Our thanks to 5.11 Tactical for providing products for review5.11 TACTICAL: www.511tactical.com

SPECIFICATIONS

AA_058-059 Rush_rev2APNS.indd 59 17/9/12 17:44:10

060 November 2012

Gareth ‘Gadge’ Harvey may be a veteran of theWWII FilmSim, but Gunman Airsoft’slatest ‘secret mission’ put his puristsensibilities to the test

In the last 10 years we’ve seen

WWII airsoft come on in leaps and

bounds, from early ‘open days’ in

1940s kit to full-on re-enactment events

that make Saving Private Ryan look like

a side show. Over the years I thought

I’d seen it all, so was completely

unprepared for Operation Greenback, a

‘secret mission of WWII’.

Now I’m usually something of a WWII

purist and was expecting, if anything,

a bit of cloak and dagger sneaky-beaky

operations from this one. Maybe

raiding a German base for secret plans,

assassinating a General, you know the

sort of thing.

What I wasn’t expecting was

something that resembled the bastard

child of Band of Brothers and The

X-Files!

Once again I’d been recruited by

Gunman Airsoft to lead the allied

contingent in this WWII adventure.

Like all the players I was completely in

the dark about the true nature of the

event and its utter weirdness until the

day. So, in the interest of suspense I’ll

explain how events unfolded as the

players encountered them. If I told

you the mission brief I was given by

Gunman head honcho Josh at the start

of the game you’d accuse me of making

it up.

Strange and sinister…So here’s what my team of plucky US

and Brit commandos knew: somewhere

outside of Salerno in Italy, a renegade

Italian offi cer codenamed ‘Greenback’

was looking to defect and had

information vital to the Axis defences

of Italy. Our mission was to infi ltrate

the German lines, locate Greenback and

then get the hell out of Dodge. So far

so good.

We lost no time setting up a

command post (I won’t bore you with

the details of the usual safety briefs)

and tasking recce patrols to try and

fi nd where the Germans were, what

they were up to and exactly where

codename Greenback was. For once

things went really well; regular readers

will no doubt be aware of my legendary

lack of success as a commander but

within the hour I had accurate reports of

German positions, strongpoints, patrol

routes – and more importantly two

strange and sinister reports.

Firstly it transpired that the Germans

were not just fortifying their positions

but were up to some no-good scientifi c

investigations, a nefarious Indiana

OPERATIONGREENBACKOPERATIONOPERATION

AA_060-064 Greenback_rev2APNS.indd 60 17/9/12 17:52:16


FILMSIM | GUNMAN AIRSOFT

“So with a Faustian pact made we decided to form a renegade unit in true pulp fi ction bad guy style and execute all the grunts (I told you I was pretty villainous)!”


Jones style archaeological dig… and in

more chilling news one of our squads

had found the remains of some hastily

covered mass graves. All intriguing

stuff.

After sending out a few patrols to

fi nd out more I received the inevitable

contact reports as the Germans fi nally

spotted our scout groups (our lads were

not that good by the way – the German

team were under orders to deliberately

ignore anyone making a half-decent

effort to hide!) and sporadic fi refi ghts

broke out. Just as I was getting an after-

action report form one of my Sgts a

second group brought in the mysterious

Greenback.

They had found him wandering

about in civilian clothes and managed

to escort him back to our lines to

safety. And around here everything



came under the control of the psychic

alien.

Enough was enough and, under a

white fl ag of truce, my commando

group approached the German

positions. I had a brief in-character chat

with the German leader Herr Bauer

(actually my mate Rich) and in our best

‘Allo ‘Allo accents agreed to have an

hour’s truce to wipe out the mind-slaves

and defeat Moriarty and Greenback.

Here I did something less than

honourable: while the truce was in full

swing I detailed two of my commandos

to steal and hide vital components of

the German dig site and sabotage their

work (just in case we were betrayed).

That wasn’t the end of my villainy... oh

no... but more of that in a minute.

A brutal battle on the hilltop dig site

eventually saw us destroy the alien

forces. Our technicians looked into the

life support systems of Greenback’s

metallic tomb; Moriarty had escaped

and we were in the dark as to what

to do. The boffi ns worked out that the

counter rapidly ticking down would

almost certainly release Greenback (and

doom the world) when it reached zero.

The battle was now truly on, as the

allies battled in the mistaken belief they

were trying to foil a German secret

science plan but in reality were just

helping Moriarty free Greenback and

harness his mind control powers.

As part of the game mechanic, even

while imprisoned in his underground

machine Greenback was able to

harness his mind control powers and

do a ‘body snatcher’ job on any one his

controlled minions killed. This meant

that, as the game wore on, both Axis

and Allies found themselves confronted

by zombie-like mind-slaves loyal to

the alien. This, however, was still

unknown to us until more graves were

found (including one ‘occupied’ by a

real buried crew member) which gave

diary snippets, paperwork and clues to

Moriarty’s true identity and plan.

Scum and villainySoon a vicious three-way fi refi ght was

under way with each faction desperate

to control the dig site. As the game

wore on both the Germans and Allies

began to fi nd themselves hard-pressed

as more and more of their number

went a bit Twilight Zone. Greenback

(as we believed him to be) showed us

paperwork that convinced us he was

actually a British Secret Service agent

and explained that we had to stop the

German archaeological dig as it was of

vital importance to the allies. The details

were top secret, but orders are orders

and reluctantly I decided to send out

squads to act on his information.

Absolutely bonkersNow, Josh had pre-warned me about

what was really happening and it was

pretty convoluted and mind blowing.

Unknown to all the other players,

this new agent was actually the evil

Professor Moriarty (we’re still not sure

if he was the Moriarty) and was playing

each side off each other – pretending

to be a German agent to the Axis lads –

but his real aim was to secure the dig.

Why did he want it? Because it was

the site of a crashed spaceship escape

pod occupied by the powerful psychic

alien who was the real Greenback.

Obvious when you put it like that, isn’t

it? No, actually, it’s ruddy bonkers – but

trust me it was great fun!

062 November 2012




The final countdownWe were presented with two possible

buttons to stop the countdown: one

was sure to activate the life giving

machinery. Without any indication as

to which button was which, we were

forced to use the highly scientifi c theory

of ‘eeny meeny miney mo’. I opted for

the red button, and was relieved to see

the countdown stop – and then reset to

30 minutes!

In a situation reminiscent of TV series

Lost it transpired that for the time being

we would have to stay united and press

the red button once every 30 minutes

until our respective main forces could

join us.

Taking Bauer to one side we had a

confl ab… our characters were both

part of top secret science research

commando units and we knew we were

in posession of the galactic equivalent

of dynamite here; together we could be

very powerful, with Greenback’s powers

under our control. So with a Faustian pact

made we decided to form a renegade

unit in true pulp fi ction bad guy style and

execute all the grunts (I told you I was

pretty villainous)!

063


064


064 November 2012

“I’m sure the WWII puristwill be frothing at the mouth

with outrage at Operation Greenback – but it was epic!”

Still, you can’t do war crimes on your

own, so we proposed our plan to some of

the dodgier members of our teams who

decided that potential world domination

alongside us was better than a life in the

army. Hired thugs by our sides we lined

up our respective force in parade ground

style and explained that we needed to

join force to monitor this new power –

and if anyone would like to volunteer

to join our force the rewards would be

immense… Predictably a fair few guys

broke ranks to join us but the loyal and

brave (and honest) solider stood fi rm,

vowing to report us as soon as they got

back to friendly lines – which Is exactly

why Rich and I then gave the order to

open fi re and massacre the lot of them!

(For safety purposes we ‘dry fi red’ the

guys at close range with no ammo in the

thugs’ guns).

So perhaps the weirdest WWII game

I’ve ever been part of ended with two

crazed megalomaniacs and a band of

murderous henchmen camped out atop

a forested hill, trying to work out how to

enslave an omnipotent alien for their own

ill-gotten gains. Totally ludicrous I grant

you, but in everyone’s opinion brilliant fun

(even the gunned-down grunts loved it!).

As I’ve said already this wasn’t a

normal WWII game and if you’ve not

played a WWII FilmSim please don’t

be put off – this was an exceptional,

fun game. Part of Gunman’s ‘secret

missions’ series, which are always

a little bit oddball and mildly sci-fi or

horror-based, its strength lies in it being

a secret from the players until the plot

becomes public. Sure, you know you’re

not going to be in a stand-up WWII fi ght

but you never know exactly what is

going to happen.

I’m sure the WWII purist out there will

be frothing at the mouth with outrage

over ‘Operation Greenback’ but honestly

– you weren’t there man, you weren’t

there… and it was epic!


MONEY MATTERS | UPGRADES


I have played for a great many years

now and I know there are all types of

players out there. You have tinkerers,

geardos, high-cap bangers, chairsofters,

MilSim junkies and newbies, to name just

a few. Each group stereotypically has its

pros and its cons and while I probably

cross into a few of these groups, I have

always believed one thing fi rmly – that I

am not a tinkerer.

One of the LWA technicians (both of

them, in fact) love tinkering. But why?

“Here’s my £400 Mr. Retailer – now pass

those screwdrivers.”

You buy a car, fi ll it with petrol, wash it

and keep the service regular and it serves

you well (unless it is a Land Rover, but

that’s another story). But customisation

has long been a big thing with airsoft and it

wasn’t so many years ago that if you went

to 350fps with a 9.6v NiCad

battery you were pretty

crazy. Now, instead

of running

upgrades for rifl es out of the box retailers

have to run downgrades! This is possibly

due to the shift in the manufacturer’s

demographics, away from Japan and more

into Europe, the US and other areas in Asia

where power limits are higher. In the UK

most sites run around 330-350fps and this

works well in my experience.

One thing I do not really understand

is why a rifl e needs upgrades at all. You

have paid your money and bought a

stunning little machine, but the barrel is

not always the best quality. The same is

true of hop rubbers and often the wiring

is a little poor, and why do they

still have a fuse? I am not

knocking any one

GUNNING FORPERFECTION

Are manufacturers giving you yourmoney’s worth? Scott Allan ponders what

qualities he wants from his perfect rifl e

manufacturer in particular and all have their

little niggles – some are very constant

while others appear and disappear from

batch to batch. I will not start listing these

issues for each manufacturer for fear it will

be taken as gospel and by the time you

have read this a different batch can have a

different series of issues.

A perfect rifle?One thing I have found is that there is

no perfect manufacturer,

AA_65-67 Scot A Value_rev2APNS.indd 65 17/9/12 17:46:23

066 November 2012

no perfect rifl e and defi nitely no perfect

owner!

So why is there fantastic packaging,

beautifully sculpted externals, free BBs

and a spare magazine, yet poor wiring?

Why not ditch those sub-standard BBs

and spend the extra pennies on silver

plated wiring? Scrap the standard 6.08mm

brass barrels altogether, and the free

spare magazine, and make a quality 6.04

tightbore that will suit most players.

One of my original thoughts for this

was to sell upgrades, but it simply does

not make sense. Companies such as G&P

do not sell tightbore barrels and while

its rifl es are one of the best all round,

in my experience they have one of the

worst standard barrels if you compare all

manufacturers side by side. I change the

inner barrel to either an Ultimate tightbore

or (preferably) a Prometheus tightbore in

most rifl es I own as standard, regardless

of manufacturer. Recently I have been

putting on Deans connectors and changing

to Ultimate Silver Plated wiring as well.

Generally that is all I change and I feel that

this gives a good improvement for about

the £50 in parts.

So if these parts are not massively

expensive why are they not in our AEGs as

standard?

Some companies offer ‘Budget’ and

‘Professional’ rifl es; G&G and ICS are

at the forefront with this. In the test

between the Pro Line G&G and ICS Sig in

Airsoft Action August 2012, you could see

where each company had concentrated

its efforts. Neither was terrible but there

were noticeable different pricing strategies

for various parts inside the rifl e. Some

parts were good, others were average or

disappointing.

Quality as standardG&G has just announced that it will be

adapting its Top Tech professional range to

a higher spec with the following extras:

* 6.03mm nickel plated barrel – good

news!

no perfect rifl e and defi nitely no perfect

owner!

So why is there fantastic packaging,

beautifully sculpted externals, free BBs

and a spare magazine, yet poor wiring?

Why not ditch those sub-standard BBs

and spend the extra pennies on silver

plated wiring? Scrap the standard 6.08mm

brass barrels altogether, and the free

spare magazine, and make a quality 6.04

tightbore that will suit most players.

One of my original thoughts for this

was to sell upgrades, but it simply does

not make sense. Companies such as G&P

do not sell tightbore barrels and while

its rifl es are one of the best all round,

in my experience they have one of the

worst standard barrels if you compare all





* 16 AWG wire set – higher rates of fi re

and less resistance

* Stronger motors capable of running

4,500 rounds per minute with a M150

spring (this should be circa 500fps) – one

can only presume that this is some form of

high-cycle set up

* Zinc alloy hop-up chambers – hopefully

this means consistent fps

So this is all good news for the

consumer. Although metal hop-up

chambers are good the quality can vary; so

far the best we have seen is the Madbull

M4 chamber. I have seen these add 40fps

to a rifl e due to the quality of the air seal

alone. A good quality inner barrel is one of

the best upgrades any gun can have.

So is it laziness from the manufacturers,

or do they believe they are giving us

what we want? I reckon some may just

be victim to the ‘this is the way we have

always done it’ syndrome. Some, like

G&G, do listen to their customers – ever

since its disastrous launch many years ago

G&G went back to the drawing board and

sorted everything out. Then players said

they want more for less and the Combat

Machines were born. The Raiders are fully

plastic (even the RIS rail) but are tough,

cost £140 and come in either tan or black

and two different barrel lengths. The

internals are okay and the barrel is not the

best, but it fi lls a gap in the market. When

a manufacturer sells us a model for £300-

£400 I believe they should be all-singing

and all-dancing on the specifi cation sheet.

So why not drop your manufacturer an

email saying, ‘Hey, I bought your rifl e and I

really like it but haven’t you thought about

doing this?’

Who knows – it might just work…


068 November 2012

I n 1994 I passed the Sniper Instructor

Course held at the School of Infantry,

Warminster. Passing this course

enabled me to go back to my battalion,

then stationed in Omagh, Northern Ireland

and select, teach and train potential snipers

and ‘badged’ members of the battalion. It

also allowed me to test and qualify snipers

from other units in the fi eld army.

Over the years the doctrine has changed

and altered to suit the current trend of

thinking in the Infantry but I will concentrate

this article on the course of training I

undertook.

Students on the course (me included)

had to arrive with a ‘Method of Instruction’

course under their belts, which meant they

were qualifi ed to teach. There was no time

on this course to train you to stand up and

instruct; it was all about learning the skills

of the trade while demonstrating that you

could plan and conduct lessons, training

and ranges.

In 1994 the course instructors passed

on the valuable skills that would create a

successful sniper instructor and ‘badged’

sniper.

Map reading: Teaching and testing the

sniper’s understanding of map reading, use

of air photographs and his ability to navigate

by day and night.

A sniper’s navigation and map reading

needs to be well above-average. Many

tasks involve fi nding, locating and fi xing the

enemy, often behind enemy lines.

Training spanned everything from basic

symbols, grid references, measuring

distance, compass use, bearings, resection,

intersection and intervisibility, to the

more diffi cult air photography scaling and

gridding, stereoscope use and day and

night practical and written navigation tests.

Dan Mills, author of Sniper One, looks back at thegruelling task of becoming a sniper instructor

Observation: Teaching and testing the

sniper’s ability to observe and accurately

report the results of his observations.

Lessons included the introduction and

use of binoculars, scout regiment telescope

and the CWS, the common weapon (night)

sight of the period. Tasks, techniques and

indication of targets, observation logs

and fi eld sketching were also involved.

Practical tests often involved observing

a given ‘arc’ for a period of time before

moving to observe the same ground from a

second arc for a further period of time, after

making a fi eld sketch of the given piece of

ground. Students would locate, identify and

describe each item found in the given arcs

on his sketch.

Cam and con: Teaching and testing the

student’s method for hasty concealment,

subsequent observation and defensive fi re

positions.

AA_068-070 Sniperrev4APNS.indd 68 18/9/12 09:15:12


Each student had to complete three

hasty arcs on which they would have

several minutes to sprint to a position of

cover, adopt a concealed fire position,

correctly set range to target and remain

concealed while an observer led an

impartial ‘walker’ onto your position.

This is one of the most difficult skills

to master. It represents a meeting

engagement on patrol and is a good test of

competence in selection and use of cover.

Shooting: The aim of the shooting phase

is to teach and test the student’s ability to

shoot accurately by day and night.

Sniping’s end product is the ability to

shoot the target, putting as much distance

between the firer and target as possible.

Long-range shooting must be mastered

after the basic ranges.

Firers need to be an above-average

shot when arriving on the course; the test

demands high standards to pass. Once

the basics are mastered you will group

and zero iron sights, telescopic sight and

common weapon sight allocated to the

rifle. Students will then go on to different

levels of the application of fire using iron

and telescopic sights, snap-shooting,

shooting in NBC conditions and firing at

moving targets.

Judging distance: Teaching and testing

the student’s ability to judge distance with

and without aids. This is one of the hardest

skills to get right.

During lessons you will learn the basic

methods and techniques for judging

distance and be taught to use optics to

measure distance. Other lessons include

the appearance method and unit of

measure, halving, bracketing, key ranges,

squad average and use of air-photo and

map.

Stalking: This is what it’s all about. The

aim here is to teach and test the sniper’s

ability to use the ground by approaching,

selecting and occupying a fire position,

engaging a target and withdrawing without

being observed. This test involves all the

skills that are required to carry out a basic

sniping task.

Map reading is used to plan, then to

navigate in and out of the target area.

Camouflage and concealment is required,

once you have stalked into a fire position;

distance to target is judged during

observation of the target and set onto the

rifle sights. The target is then shot before

stalking back out of the area to safety.

REAL-STEEL | TRAINING


070 November 2012

The test involves the student being dropped

off in a holding area where he is sent to

prepare himself. Here he confirms his location

and identifies his position on map and/or air

photographs. He then cams up to blend into

his surroundings before receiving a brief.

In the brief he will be given a target

description and location. Stalking towards the

target he must select a fire position no nearer

than 300m to the target. The most important

thing to do at this stage is to ID the enemy

location as soon as possible. After careful

study of map and air photo, plan and use a

route in (and later out) of the target area using

as much dead ground as possible to avoid

being seen.

The course staff will be sat in the enemy

location watching the ground around them

with binoculars. Any movement to their front

and a walker is despatched immediately to the

location. If you are spotted you will be pointed

out (using a fair and accurate walking system)

and you will fail the stalk; in real life you would

be captured and likely killed.

Once you have stalked in, confirm the

location of the target and select and occupy

a defensive fire position. Here you use the

cam and con tips learnt on the course to hide

yourself – but remember you will need to keep

the ability to shoot the target, so the weapon

must be in a fire position (pointing at the

target!).

The student then fires a shot (blank) at the

enemy position. The staff check if they can

see the firing position – if they can you fail. If

not they send the walker to within 10m of your

position where they will again look for you. If

spotted, again you fail.

Here you will fire a second shot at the

target, with the staff watching to find you –

through binos at an area where you are known

to be within 10m. It is difficult! If you are good

(or lucky) and still hidden to the staff they then

instruct the walker to point at you.

You get the picture – if spotted you fail. To

assess your cam and so on they tell the walker

to touch you, to see if the cam you have used

has done the job it is intended for. If that’s all

good they will tell you what they can see and

points to work on.

Finally the walker will check your sight

settings to see if you can judge distance – and

if it’s out, guess what? Fail! You will then be

given a timed aperture of a number board,

usually a Huns head target with a letter or

number displayed; finally, you need to ID the

symbol accurately to pass the test. Phew!

Sniper knowledge: Teaching each student

sniper the history and tactical employment

of snipers and general knowledge of sniping

and associated skills. This takes the form of

continuous information overload and testing

throughout the course – you will need to know

your subject matter thoroughly to pass the

written sniper badge test.

Soak up everything taught on the course

and you won’t go far wrong. You don’t want to

be the poor individual who passes everything

in the field only to fail back in the classroom –

do the revision!

REAL-STEEL | TRAINING

KIM’S GAMESaid to be based on the hero from a Rudyard Kipling novel, Kim’s Game involves placing a number of different objects on a tray before covering them up. Players sit round the tray and it is uncovered for one minute and they have to remember what is on the tray. The items are then covered again and each player writes down what they can remember seeing.

The game promotes the development of observation and memory skills and is known to have been used by both British and American Sniper Training Schools.



Oscar Plummer learns a valuablelesson at Firefi ght Combat

Simulations’ new CQB site, TheAcademy in Essex

Things we enjoy: Successful pistol shots from a second-storey window onto a rooftop sniper.

Things we do not enjoy: The target standing up to reveal he is on your own team.

Moral of the story: Think before we fi re. That’s just one of the lessons I took away after a day at Firefi ght

Combat Simulations’ (FCS) new site, the Academy. A disused conference centre near Chelmsford, Essex, it contains more than 100 rooms, open areas, stairwells and rooftops to skirmish across. Just to top it off, there is a sizable patch of ground around the buildings which is also in play.

First impressions are great. Admin-wise it’s in a good location for transport, the parking is convenient and the Safe Zone is dead comfy.

The site itself looks amazing: from the outside it’s clear that the multiple levels offer a lot of ground to control and considering the orientation of the site – a slightly curved main block with an outlying annex – there are an awful lot of angles to consider. A quick mooch around the perimeter underlines this; there are a lot of vantage and entry points, both horizontal and vertical. Even before we were briefed into the fi rst game I knew this was not going to be a simple site to play!

The whole site has a great atmosphere to it, pervaded by that fantastic sense of decay you get from a building that’s seen better days. That means variety – and realism. Every room is different – kitchens, conference rooms, dorms, a bar (including tactical wine rack), many with tattered remnants of their former occupants. Frankly, if there was a fairground out back I would have believed I was in Pripyat 20 years after Chernobyl!

FCSACADEMYACADEMYFCSACADEMYFCS

071 October 2012

SITE REVIEW | FCS ACADEMY


AA_071-073 Site rev2APNS.indd 71 17/9/12 18:25:24

072 October 2012

This is my first time at an FCS event, but its reputation precedes it. I knew to expect something more than the usual, straightforward head-to-heads, and did not leave disappointed. Andy Janson and his team run a set-up that rewards planning, staying on objectives and sticking with your team. Also, ‘spray-and-pray’ is actively discouraged: AEGs are on a 300-round limit per game, but gas and spring are unlimited (common sense required).

On the other hand, there is no minimum engagement distance, and full-auto is allowed. The message is clear: this is grown-up airsoft. We are free to play as we wish but will have to live with the tactical consequences we make for ourselves. Empty your mags in the first 30 seconds and you are going to have a hard time making objectives. The overall rule from the briefing sums it up perfectly: DBAD. Don’t be a dick!

The other key message – teamwork – is hammered home in the Safe Zone. Games are briefed with reference to excellent maps, and each team is split into squads. Over the course of the day squads are often given specific roles and objectives. If they go off-task they will seriously damage chances of overall success.

One touch I particularly like was a variant on the medic rule: each squad has a dedicated medic, who has to return to their respawn point to return players to game. That helps reinforce squad communication – if the medic isn’t kept abreast of the overall situation they can’t make the judgement whether to make (often essential) contributions to an ongoing firefight, or whether to disengage and head back to respawn to bring players back in.

So how does it play? In short, very well.The first couple of warm-up games introduce us to the site. I go in

to the game thinking that I’m going to be on classic CQB sweep and

clear tactics. Instinct dictates that a fair amount of assertiveness and full mags should get us through the complex and onto objectives effectively.

Oh no! I soon learn that there are multiple stairwells and entry points to pretty much every area of the site and I really need my wits about me. The warm-up game is a domination set-up, with a number of points to capture. The team with the most at the end of the game wins.

Straight away it’s clear that the multiple routes through the site means that nowhere is totally secure. The points change hands plenty of times in the course of the game, meaning no dull stalemate and plenty of action.

It’s also very rare that you can consider yourself forted up; there are always too many angles to cover to be able to do it on your own, so movement means a series of short dashes from point to point with at least one other member of your squad – no bimbling or lone wolves here!

I was also struck by the amount of vertical awareness needed – all those windows mean you can quite often find yourself overlooked and pinged out by a sniper.

The opposite is true, though – I managed at least one cheeky shot up into a player with his back to an open window, and rooftop snipers aren’t so high up that they are invulnerable.

The variety of rooms is great, too. You push through a big, open room punctuated by waist-level cover, out into a heavily overgrown courtyard, then up stairs into narrow, crowded, gloomy passageways with dozens of doors leading off. Some of the corridors are very tight – so much so that we found it most effective to break into pairs to make ground.

072 November 2012



Danbury, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 4ATFirefight Combat Simulations runs open skirmish days at The Academy on the first and third Sunday each month. PRICESWALK-ON: £40 (discounts available for early or team bookings)RIFLE HIRE: £25CONTACT: 07973 240177 (Andy); www.firefight.co.uk

FCS ESSEX ACADEMY

But as always, it’s not just the site that makes the skirmish. The FCS style really sets the tone. FCS is applying its own brand of airsoft to the Academy – planning, preparation and above all high levels of awareness pay massive dividends here.

This comes to the fore in a series of tac-op games. These are a number of short, swift and sharp scenarios, where each team is briefed separately on the overall mission and a number of secondary objectives, then given 10 minutes to plan their execution. Over the afternoon we found ourselves conducting vehicle-borne raids, covert extractions, search and rescue games and hostage rescue. Oh, and being initiated into the Church of Top Gun. Yes, you heard me right!

What really made these ops for me was the way the FCS approach led the teams to work up their own approach, and then carry it through in the face of changing objectives and last-minute curveballs thrown in by the briefi ng teams. I will never again assume that the agent we are extracting won’t have changed sides…

I also liked the way that the FCS gameplans sometimes took players out of conventional shooting, assault/defend roles and wrote them in as unarmed civilians,

So overall I think the Academy is a superb site for teams and individuals who want something more than an everyday blat-around skirmish. It really rewards players who want to get stuck in, to immerse themselves in a way of thinking and playing that’s as much about planning and execution as trigger time.

The day didn’t feel like a full-blown MilSim. While it had elements of that sort of game there was a level of creativity and the unexpected running throughout – all of which was governed by the overall rule of Don’t Be A Dick, making for some good-natured and extremely fun games.Well worth a visit!

covert-carry agents, casevac teams or stood-down OPFOR who couldn’t enter play until alerted. Not knowing the trigger that would awaken the other team (or indeed whether the group of civvies in front of were hiding any sidearms) meant that tension was up the moment you entered play. One note, though: dropping an impact grenade while sneaking up on sleeping OPFOR is generally a bad idea!

So what’s the conclusion? The site has tons of potential and the FCS team has put a huge amount of effort into making it a great place to play. The day I attended was only the second skirmish at the Academy, and although you should always expect a certain amount of bedding in with new sites I came away with a big smile on my face. A big part of that was down to friendly and helpful marshals and players, who really bought into the day and made it work.

But the really big thing for me was that many of the games were as much about assessing your own performance as they were about overall objectives. There was just as much satisfaction in being the guy that got the casualties evac’d as there was in being the team that grabbed the OPFOR leader.

SITE REVIEW | FCS ACADEMY



074 November 2012

T hree things come from Portland

Bill, Dorset: Portland cement

and stone, staples of the

building trade; a thriving windsurfi ng and

watersports community tucked in behind

Chesil Beach; and a hotbed of anarchist

nutjob Raiders.

Residents of this picturesque south

coast landmark, which sticks out into the

channel like a hitchhiker’s thumb, don’t

know that if British society collapses their

rocky outcrop will be a key battleground

between the remnants of the old British

government and Socialist rebels.

In the dying days of 2012, fuel riots

lead to the collapse of Parliament and the

fracturing of society. Two main factions

form amid the rubble; the British Union

Forces (BUF) struggle to retain the

vestiges of Queen and country, while

the Free Peoples’ Movement (FPM) have

stuck two fi ngers up at the old order and

are fi ghting for freedom and a new way

of living.

The battle has raged back and forth

across the country, but the eventual

victory will go to whichever side can take

control of a strategically crucial supply

dump nestled in the rocky sides of the Bill.

The two factions mass for a fi nal weekend

of confl ict which will decide the future of

the British Isles. Unfortunately, a small

group of renegades who spurn both the

BUF and FPM are also on the ground and

ready to stick their oar in. Typical!

This is the storyline for the Badlands

Weekender, hosted by Spec Ops Airsoft

and Redwolf Airsoft at The Rock, a series

of quarries cut into Portland. As it’s a

weekender I’ve joined about 100 other

players camping up above the quarries.

We’ve got spectacular views; on one side

the English Channel and on the other,

acres of battlefi eld cut down into the earth.

Game onThis really is a special site; the quarries are

still active, meaning that the battleground

can change dramatically every week.

We actually descended from the Safe

Zone into a massive bowl formed by the

quarrying! Once you hit the fl oor of the

site there are tracks, gorges, blockhouses,

machinery and everywhere great piles of

rubble and giant stone boulders. I don’t

think I’ve ever had a similar sense that I

was entering a confl ict zone.

I’ve plumped to join the FPM for the

weekend. This isn’t a political choice – it’s

purely fashion. The BUF are kitted out in

full camo, as befi ts dull and conventional

government forces. The FPM is free to

cut loose with their gear, and take the

With the future of the British Isles at stake, Oscar Plummer joins the FreePeoples’ Movement to report on the fi nal battle, organised by Spec Ops

Airsoft and Redwolf Airsoft

BADLANDS: THE ROCKBADLANDS: BADLANDS: BADLANDS: BADLANDS: THE ROCKTHE ROCK

AA_074-077 badlands_rev2APNS.indd 74 17/9/12 16:23:16



fi eld in a ragamuffi n style – there is some

fantastic clobber in circulation! Both sides,

though, are armed to the teeth and ready

for a fi ght.

We start off with a good briefi ng from

the Spec Ops Team – we’re under usual

rules, with one really crucial exception:

an absolute ban on coloured smokes.

This close to the channel they could well

alert the coastguard helicopters, which is

something to avoid. We’re then divided

into our respective sides, with each team

allocated a player marshal to maintain the

fl ow of the narrative and objectives as

well as help out players who are new to

the site.

We are entirely free to play as we wish

though and the teams soon organise

themselves into squads. For once I’m glad

I’ve brought comms – we are defi nitely

going to get spread out over a distance.

Fortunately, the nature of the site means

that reception is really rather good.

The fi rst day is about taking and holding

ground; there are a number of objectives

spread out around the site and we have

to take and hold as many as possible.

Secondary objectives are dropped in every

now and then. The team that captures

them gets bonus resources, such as

mortar rounds and airstrikes.

Both teams took off and got stuck in,

with hostilities triggered by a truly titanic

pyro. Some fi erce fi refi ghts kicked off

immediately, and then coalesced into a

series of running battles for two major

points – a crossroads and a ridge towering

over the site.

EVENT REVIEW | SPEC OPS AIRSOFT

fantastic clobber in circulation! Both sides,


the ridge changing hands several times,

and ended with a fairly even score

between the teams. Back at the campsite

we compared notes on the day’s play

and the site. There was a really good

atmosphere between the teams – helped

along by great facilities at the campsite. As

well as Spec Ops providing lovely catering

and good, clean loos (very much a plus…)

Redwolf had brought a shop with a brilliant

selection of custom kit to drool over.

Redwolf also provided goodie bags for

every player and brilliant prizes for a raffl e.

There is always the question of how to

fi ll the evenings at a weekender – and the

Spec Ops guys played a blinder by staging

a spring/gas zombie game. They took us

down to a different, much more open

quarry, and divided us into two teams.

We were briefed that we were trying

to escape a quarantine zone. Whichever

side controlled a central point at endex

would be able to board the last helicopter

out. The quarantine zone was in place

because the dead were rising, of course,

and seeking the brains of the living. This

meant that as players were picked off

in the battle for the central point, they

rose as undead and started harassing the

survivors.

mentalists. Then it cheerily brassed me

up with a roof-mounted .50cal and tore

off into the distance with only the echo of

Black Sabbath to mock me as I bimbled

back to spawn. Awesome!

These were, of course, the local

Raiders, who proceeded to rampage

back and forth across the site for the

whole weekend, giving the good news to

whoever got in their way. I had thought

the FPM were rather natty, but these guys

looked absolutely brilliant: this season’s

raiders were sporting a combination of

leather, rubber, steel and even fur. The

Raiders, who were there to prod the

storyline along and provide a technical-

borne PA for the event, had put just as

much effort into their style of play as their

kit. From my perspective, they were really

even-handed – not hindering either team

unfairly – and did a great job of popping up

in various places to throw a new objective

into the mix and add a real fl avour to the

struggle. At one point, both sides of a

BUF/FPM fi refi ght I was in looked up to

see Raiders massing on the skyline. I’m

pretty sure I wasn’t the only one that

panicked just a little when we saw that

one was lugging a minigun into the fi ght!

The fi rst day saw the crossroads and

The site really is a pleasure to fi ght

through. There’s a lot of high ground

to take and hold, which offers great

opportunities for Dickers who lurk up on

ridges and coordinate their teams. At the

same time, random features and channels

formed by stone and rubble develop into

fi ercely contested infi ltration routes and

strongpoints. The site certainly keeps you

on your toes! I spend the early part of the

day fi ghting around the crossroads, and

certainly hadn’t scratched the surface of

the site by lunchtime – and better still, I’d

never really been out of a contact for more

than half an hour.

It wasn’t long before the locals paid

us a visit though. I was bunkered down

behind a pile of stone, dodging some

very canny BUF snipers, when I heard an

engine in the distance. I didn’t pay it too

much attention, being slightly distracted

by rounds bouncing off the boulder above

my head, until some music started. Odd,

I thought, and continued cowering in the

dust.

But then it started to get closer, and

closer… until a battered, jury-rigged,

tattered and heavily armoured technical

roared around the corner, screeched to a

halt and disgorged a horde of screaming

076 November 2012


Portland, Dorset DT5 2EGSpec Ops also runs a woodland site at BloxworthPRICESWALK ON: £25RIFLE HIRE: From £15CONTACT: 07984 656947, www.specopsairsoft.co.ukRedwolf Airsoft www.redwolfairsoft.com

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT, THE ROCK

www.airsoftactionmagazine.com 077

I got pinged out early on, so got to

spend the next hour or so charging around

like an utter moron, trying to separate

survivors from their team and turn them

into a walking corpse with a judicious blow

from my foam baton. I can honestly say

this was some of the best fun I have had

at an airsoft game – ever! As the numbers

of undead increased it almost turned into a

sheepdog trial – moaning lurchers herded

the teams (many of whom were yelping

amusingly) around the site. Every time a

survivor was tagged there was a massive

cheer from both survivors and zombies.

Eventually, though, it had to end. While

the blue team (wusses!) hid in a pile of

boulders, the red team found themselves

surrounded in the centre of the site and

bunched up into a last redoubt, which held

out for a few desperate minutes until they

were swarmed under. It was absolutely

brilliant, and only the failing light stopped

us starting all over again.

Seek and destroyDay two picked up the storyline again,

with each team having to secure and

deploy components for a rocket system

which would enable them to destroy their

opponents’ base and seize control of the

EVENT REVIEW | SPEC OPS AIRSOFT

“It cheerily brassed me upwith a roof-mounted .50cal

and tore off into the distancewith only the echo of Black

Sabbath to mock me as Ibimbled back to spawn.

Awesome!”

supply dump. Objectives which had been

fought for the day before now became

targets to destroy and deny to the enemy.

The fi ght rolled from one end of the site to

the other, ensuring new areas for players

to discover – a nice touch which helped

avoid any repetition. Energy levels stayed

high across both teams and there was no

second-day lull. The Raiders kept up the

pressure, with some daring raids on key

points or simply loitering in a threatening

manner – not to mention challenging

people to pistol duels!

We enjoyed the sunshine for much of

the day, although the temperature meant

a lot of fl uids were needed. Portland

stone is white and refl ects sunlight very

effectively! Everything came to a head

with both teams battling to move rocket

components up to the highest point of

the site, where they could be assembled

and fi red. A Hamburger Hill struggle

developed, with the FPM and BUF fi ghting

toe-to-toe for the summit.

Here the Spec Ops team had prepared

a real treat. The FPM narrowly edged

the battle (despite harassment from the

pesky raiders) and secured the launch

site – a multiple launch rocket setup. The

victors triggered the launch and got the

satisfaction of massive blasts destroying

the BUF base.

Badlands was an absolutely brilliant

event. I normally come away from a

game thinking of a couple of things that I

would have liked to see done differently,

but on this occasion I can’t. The only

downside for me was that my knees took

a battering from clambering around rocks

all weekend!

The Spec Ops team, the site, the

scenario and most importantly, the players

were all fantastic. There was great play,

and atmosphere, and a healthy dose of

humour throughout. I’ve got my fi ngers

crossed for another Badlands soon!


078 November 2012

V ehicle checkpoints are used by armed

forces, terrorists, militias, guerrilla

groups and criminals throughout

the world. They are a method of controlling

movement of the opposition and access to a

specific area.

Sanctioned armed forces will use them to

deny terrorists and criminals the freedom of

movement along roads and highways, forcing

them to use harder, more arduous routes to ply

their deadly trade. This uses up their valuable

time, energy and resources. In a similar way,

law enforcement agencies deny criminals free

movement of drugs or trafficked people.

Vehicle checkpoints (VCPs) have several

things in common regardless of who’s

manning them. The one thing I am most aware

of (having driven through quite a few) is that

they are all dangerous – and I mean properly

dangerous, to everyone! You can’t fail to have

seen news footage of the twisted chassis of

cars in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Iraq,

or seen horrible YouTube clips of truck bombs

tearing through VCPs.

The danger doesn’t come just from this kind

of incident though: the guys manning them are

a real danger too. Imagine for a moment that

you are given the job of manning a VCP for

24 hours. Recently there have been drive-by

shootings from AK47-wielding motorcyclists,

drivers charging through not being able to

understand you and the threat of suicide

vehicle borne improvised explosive devices or

car bombs – and all you’re armed with is your

personal weapon, body armour and your wits.

You’ll be bricking it! You’ll be tired, scared,

apprehensive, nervous and looking for threats

everywhere and in everyone. The safety catch

will be off and your finger will be nervously

caressing that trigger. You’ll be wired. You can

imagine these are not ideal circumstances

for keeping a cool head while looking for the

combat indicators.

Combat indicatorsThese are things around you that will let

you know that something is not right.

They’re a big one for troops in Afghanistan

currently; ask any soldier recently returned

or just about to go (having completed his

pre-deployment training) and he’ll reel them

off like his mobile number or email address.

The absence of the normal; presence of the

abnormal; empty streets that are normally

buzzing; evidence of recent digging near

roads; wires, unusual items around, things

that don’t belong… Even just the hairs on

the back of your neck standing up.

Our brains are incredible processors of

information (well mine is anyway) and we are

aware of only a fraction of what we take in. If

your conscious self didn’t spot it, maybe some

other part of you did and is letting you know

that it ain’t happy however it can. It’s also called

intuition.

When you approach a VCP it’s likely that

you’ll be unaware what has taken place in the

past few hours, so you need to do as little

as possible to make them twitchy or to draw

attention to you and your vehicle.

It doesn’t matter what rank you are or what

task you’re on; sights may well be trained on

you from the time you enter the approaches

to the VCP until you pop out of the other side,

and until they identify you as a ‘friendly’ you’re

at risk. You’re under someone else’s control,

so for your own safety put your ego in the

glove compartment or it may be shot off!

A few years ago an Italian rescue mission

went badly wrong in Iraq at a VCP. The hostage

had been successfully liberated from captors

in a daring raid and the relieved team, high

on their success, sped towards a friendly

checkpoint straight into a twitchy soldier – who

mistook the speeding vehicle for a threat. I

believe both the team leader and the girl they

rescued were killed.

Whether in the war zonesor part of a roleplayingevent, vehicle checkpointsshould be handledcarefully. Billy Basics explains…

AA_078-079 Skills_rev3APNS.indd 78 17/9/12 11:08:41


SKILLS ROOM | BILLY BASICS

You can also never guess at the mental

state of the bloke who asks you to wind

down your window. Years ago I drove through

a VCP in Bosnia and shared some cheerful

banter with the bored-looking Canadian guard

in the hut with an M203 in his hands. I think

I commented that it was “another glorious

day in the Corps” and that we were all living

the dream (which I borrowed from James

Cameron’s Alien).

By the time I had parked up and had a

coffee in my hand in the camp cook house, the

poor guy had blown his head off in the guard

hut. It turned out that he was on his fourth

tour of the same area and he’d had a ‘Dear

John’ that week. Of course I felt dreadful, and

I still think about him occasionally but it’s a

frightening illustration of the potential dangers

that you can only avoid by being really careful.

Established, permanent VCPs are for all

intents and purposes static ambushes which

“Until they identify you as a ‘friendly’ you’re at risk. You under someone else’s control, so for your own safety put your ego in the glove compartment or it may be shot off!”

no longer rely on the element of surprise to be

effective. They have the same elements (if you

need a detailed reminder refer to the ambush

articles): left cut-off, main body, right cut-off.

The cut-offs front and rear will have some

stopping power, often in the form of caltrops

they can pull quickly across the road to pop

tyres; there will be somewhere for them to

take cover and there’ll be a few of them, to

search but also to cover the searchers while

they are about it.

You’ll then pass into some form of

chicane, which can be formed of either

vehicles or barriers. The point of this is to

slow you down so they can pull you over.

There will be some form of command

element here where the boss will be.

Somewhere close by will be the big guns

with overwatch of the whole scene and

will provide advance warning from both

directions.

Illegal or rural VCPs might be just a few

barrels and a hut manned by some ill-trained,

unmotivated guys that have been there for

weeks, so what’s the best way to get through

unmolested? I always think of these kind of

checkpoints like school bullies. They’re not

manned by the brains of the operation or the

high flyers; they’re bored, looking to wind you

up and get a reaction. You might be the only

interesting thing that’s come along all day.

So the way to get through is to just be the

most boring person you’ve ever met at a party.

Just think dull, dull, dull. Approach slowly, keep

your hands in sight, don’t do anything unless

they tell you to, do what they tell you, don’t

offer any information unless you’re asked for it

and if they want to see in the trunk, open it.

Don’t answer back or get annoyed. If you do

they’ll be laughing to themselves and will delay

you until they get bored, and they have all the

time in the world. When you’re on your way

they’ll go back to mulling over how crap life is.

A rather impetuous colleague of mine took

the same route day in, day out with his driver

down a road in Africa. Each day he’d roll up to a

VCP and go through a pantomime with a guard

who wanted a little bribe, but didn’t want to

make it too obvious. So they’d haggle a bit, play

out the mock surprise for the dozenth time,

and they both knew where it was going.

One day my colleague was in a hurry and

gruffly said he didn’t have time and offered him

some notes, and probably didn’t even bother

to lift his sunglasses (he was a bit of a muppet

to be honest). The guard had them all out,

stripped off and sitting in puddles by the side

of the road for hours – and made them eat the

money!

So be careful and patronise at your peril.

Take care out there. Billy out.

AA_078-079 Skills_rev3APNS.indd 79 17/9/12 11:08:48

080 November 2012

Younger players are an important

group of skirmishers that are regularly

overlooked in the airsoft community.

Thankfully Airsoft Action has begun to buck this

trend through its Young Guns articles which

gives a valuable perspective from the younger

player’s perspective, now Michael Buttrick and

Nick Lawrence look to continue this good work

by looking at a sample of the loadouts available

for younger players to use and what may be

the best option for smaller players.

At a recent game a young player complained

of a headache. It was one of the hottest days

of the year (around 25°C with no cloud cover)

KEEP COOL AND CARRY LOADS

Mike Buttrick and Nick Lawrence have been working outwhich kit works best for younger players

1. DPM CHEST RIGA more compact piece of equipment, due to its design the chest rig sits comfortably across the torso. We felt it would be easier for smaller players to access the pouches, too.

Kristian rated this kit as his favourite: “You can reach the pockets easier, it is light and comfortable, though it is awkward to get on and off.

“You don’t notice it is there until you need to get something out.”

2. PLATECARRIERThe platecarrier was included as it is such a common piece of kit in airsoft these days, though at £100 for an

average item it may well be out of the price range of younger

players. This was Kristian’s

second favourite: “It’s good for carrying things and

easy to get to the pockets; it is

difficult to get on but once on it feels heavy but fine.

“I like the style and the

amount of easy access pockets.”

and the player was carrying around an AEG

with full magazines and was wearing a full-face

mask and tac vest. Despite several warnings in

the safety brief he hadn’t thought to take out

any water. Mike gave the player a drink and

suggested he remove his vest at lunch to carry

less weight.

We rarely consider the weight we are

carrying around at games. Neither of us is a

shining example of masculine physicality, but

we are not particularly small. We found out a

long time ago what load-out suited us best and

what weight we can carry without straining

ourselves. A few days later we talked through

the issue; it was obvious to us both that

younger players, while vastly smaller than the

average adult, will still try to carry the same kit.

What is the best kit for a younger player to use

though?

We called upon the help of Kristian, 12

years old and a regular player at our local club.

He’s typical of the younger demographic that

we encounter as marshals and players, and

his opinion would be invaluable in finding out

which load-out is best for the smaller player.

We gave Kristian the opportunity to try on

all of the different pieces of equipment and to

get into shooting positions while wearing them

AA_80-81 Load Carrying equip_rev2APNS.indd 80 18/9/12 09:16:51


YOUNG GUNS | KIT CHOICES

so that he could get the feel of how each one

would restrict his movement.

We also asked him to access the different

pouches to find how easy it was to get to

magazines and equipment. This last point

was one of the most vital issues – after all it’s

equipment designed for an adult with longer

limbs.

For the purposes of this article we have

chosen: DPM Chest Rig, Tan Platecarrier with

MOLLE pouches, Personal Load Carrying

Equipment (PLCE), Olive Green Belt Rig with

pouches, and a DPM Tac Vest.

ConclusionWe were quite surprised by this result; we

thought Kristian would lean more towards

the lighter and compact equipment. The

plate carrier was his second favourite

and when we asked if his choice was

influenced by console games he stated

that it wasn’t – he simply liked the design.

On a very hot day it may be better for

younger players to choose the chest or

belt rig, or the PLCE, as the lack of weight

will cause less water loss and help avoid

dehydration.

The tac vest may be a better option than

the platecarrier as it is lighter weight and has

a vented back piece to stay cooler. For winter

conditions the platecarrier and tac vest could

be better, as the increased weight of the kit will

keep you warm when the temperature drops.

Younger players should think wisely about

what kit they want to buy – the kit that looks

the coolest may not be the best choice for you.

You may want to consider different load-outs

for winter and summer games, but whatever

you do choose get out there and have some

fun!

4. BELT RIGThe belt rig was chosen for similar reasons to the PLCE, but didn’t impress Kristian – the design doesn’t work so well for smaller players.

Kristian summed up the belt rig: “It is light, easy to get on and take off and the pockets are easy to get to.

“The straps didn’t give much support and felt loose, and it was obvious it is meant for someone bigger.”

3. PLCEThe PLCE was included as it is

a good piece of equipment that allows the player to balance the weight they are carrying

on their hips, rather the torso. Ranked behind

the chest rig and platecarrier, Kristian said: “It is quite light and easy on the shoulder; it’s fairly easy to get to the pockets and easy to

get on and off.”

5. TAC VESTThe tac vest ranked last in Kristian’s list, surprising as it is a lightweight design falling between the platecarrier and chest rig.

Kristian said: “It has loads of pockets and is fairly

light; the pockets are easy to reach and it is easy

to move when wearing it.”

AA_80-81 Load Carrying equip_rev2APNS.indd 81 18/9/12 09:16:55

Having managed to get an

invite to the PlanetSide 2 beta

I thought I’d write a preview to

get you all excited for it. I need more

players to shoot at after all! By the time

you read this it may well be out and

have changed greatly, but currently

there’s no offi cial release date so who

knows?

The original PlanetSide was released

in 2003, and while older PC gamers may

hold it dear it had some pretty serious

issues that made it a little frustrating

to play. That aside it broke ground that

even to this day no other game has

attempted. It is the original Massively

Multiplayer Online First-Person Shooter

and while others have popped up over

the years, none come close to the scale

of PlanetSide.

The game is based around the

planet of Auraxis and the three factions

fi ghting for control over it. The map

currently in the game is 64km/sq of

uninterrupted fi ghting ground. It’s truly

huge, and if the original is anything to

November 2012082

With a business model emphasising free content over paid-foradvantages, PlanetSide 2 could be a revolution in MMOs.

Alex Wharton gets in on the beta actionAlex Wharton gets in on the beta action

go by there will be multiple content

expansions too.

The land is broken up into areas with

small outposts to sneak in and take

or huge bases that will require some

serious force to out the opposition.

Picking the side you will fi ght for

quickly becomes a matter of pride.

Your faction becomes your home and

you will fi ght to the death for it (usually

many times over!).

The three races are: Terran

Republic, New Conglomerate and

Vanu Sovereignty. The Terrran are the

government-backed military force and

the powerhouse on the planet. Their

ideals are built around the premise of

peace through war. They are the red

team and usually the most populous as

newer players usually join in droves.

The New Conglomerate are the

rebels and freedom fi ghters. They fi ght

against the Terran Republic to gain their

freedom and are represented by blue

on the map.

The Vanu Sovereignty are the new

thinkers of the human race, believing

that humans need to evolve by

adopting alien technology. They are

represented by purple and have some

of the most powerful weaponry of all

the factions. They are built around

speed and stealth, so hit hard and fast,

utilising laser and plasma weaponry.

No matter which faction you choose

there are seven classes to pick from,

each with its own strengths and

weaknesses. Nothing is quite as simple

as it seems here though: even the Light

Assault class, the basic all-rounder,

comes equipped with a jetpack allowing

you to launch onto roofs and over walls.

Strike fast from the skies!

Through Medic, Infi ltrator and MAX

Suit, the classes are hugely varied and

the range of abilities and weaknesses

makes teamwork vital. Each class has

different weapons you can unlock and

extra abilities or equipment to lug

around.

You can also change the way the

class is played. For example, on my

AA_82-83 Media_rev2APNS.indd 82 13/9/12 16:24:38

MEDIA REVIEW | PLANETSIDE 2


PlanetSide 2 is set to challenge the ‘pay

to win’ model. The game’s ‘cash shop’

doesn’t sell guns and vehicles that

give players a clear advantage; instead

it sells equipment already obtainable

in the game, as well as exclusive

visual customisations and 24-hour

‘XP boosters’. There is a small amount

of exclusive paid-for content, players

unwilling to part with real money can

use in-game currency to unlock the

majority of the upgrades.

Hopefully we won’t have to wait too

long for PlanetSide 2. I would urge

everyone to give it a go. The fi rst time

you roll out of a base in a tank, with

Heavy Assault class I have unlocked a

foregrip and a 3.5x scope. This means

I can sit at range and suppress players

as they assault instead of getting right

up close. I’ve also unlocked a 10x sniper

scope for those extra-long range shots.

Next I’ll be looking to pick up some

explosive packs so I don’t need to waste

my rocket ammo on stationary items.

There are a number of different

vehicles you can purchase. From the

small one-man quad bike used to get

you into the action to the massive

Galaxy support craft which holds a

huge number of players and acts as a

resupply and respawn point. There are

also some light or heavy gunships, a

couple of tanks and a big APC. Vehicles

are customisable too.

The game is ultimately free-to-play.

You create an account, download the

game and you can get stuck straight

in – no initial outlay required. While

most games using this model require

players to sink real money into their

character in order to be competitive,

another 30 beside you, squads in APCs

behind with gunships and Galaxys

overhead, you will realise exactly what

PlanetSide 2 is about – combat on a

truly epic scale!

DEVELOPED BY: Sony Online Entertainment

PUBLISHED BY: Sony Online Entertainment

PLATFORMS: Microsoft WindowsRelease date unconfi rmed (2012)www.planetside2.com

PLANETSIDE 2

AA_82-83 Media_rev2APNS.indd 83 13/9/12 16:24:54

SITE DIRECTORYFind somewhere to be this weekend…

084 November 2012

SYMBOL KEY Is it woodland or urban? Check the key!

UKARA

£

UKARA MEMBER

UKASGB MEMBER

URBAN

WOODLAND

PYROS ALLOWED

SHOP ONSITE

BATTERY CHARGING

REPAIR SERVICE

DESERTDESERT

ATROOP AIRSOFTClocaenog Forest, LL16 4SP07967 394976www.atroop.co.uk

ABSOLUTE AIRSOFTMaidenhead, SL6 3SS07871 314951www.absolute-airsoft.co.uk

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMESPenkridge, ST19 5RE07786 192832www.aceairsoft.co.uk

ACE COMBATKent, TN12 7DG01303 814803www.acecombat.co.uk

AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUBDownpatrick, Co. Down, BT3007718 [email protected]

AIRSOFT ASYLUMNorth Lanarksire, ML7 [email protected]

AIRSOFT COMMANDOSSutton, near Ferrybridge07723 [email protected]

AIRSOFT KGBPorkellis Moor near Helston, Cornwall, TR13 [email protected].

AIRSOFT SKIRMISHStoulton, WR7 4QW07764 587410www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQBStudley, B80 7LY07764 587410www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

AIRSOFT XCALIBREMacclesfi eld, SK10 4SZ07921 837658www.airsoft-xcalibre.co.uk

ALL ARMS AIRSOFTNear Trawden, BB8 8SN07909 683464www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk

ALPHA ELITE GAMINGLe Mont de Rozel, Jersey, JE3 501534 733697www.aegairsoft.je

AMAZON EVENTSHellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL0844 2570433www.amazonoutdoorevents.co.uk

AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAMChobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL01252 315225www.ambushadventures.co.uk

AMBUSH ADVENTURES – SOUTHAMPTONNew Forest National Park, SP5 2DW01252 315225www.ambushadventures.co.uk

APOCALYPSE AIRSOFTSittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP07872 348 576www.apocalypseairsoft.com

ARENA AIRSOFTGrimsby, DN31 3JD07752 404060www.arenaairsoft.com

AA_084-087_Site Directory_Rev1AP.indd 84 17/9/12 18:47:50

AIRSOFT SITES | DIRECTORY


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

DOGS OF WARHouston, Renfrewshire, PA6 7BP07853 195290www.dow-airsoft.co.uk

DRAGON’S LAIRBrentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA07703 530189www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk

DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFTCaerwent Training Area, South Wales, NP26 5XL07921 336360www.dragonvalley.co.uk

EAST MIDLANDS AIRSOFTEarlswood, B94 6SF0844 870 9785www.sabreforce.co.uk

ELITE ACTION GAMES – DORKINGDorking, Surrey, RH5 5AB01784 433023www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE ACTION GAMES – EPSOMEpsom, Surrey, KT1801784 433023www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE ACTION GAMES – WORTHINGWorthing, BN1301784 433023www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE BATTLEZONEBexley, Greater London, DA5 1NX07968 448475www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

EXPERIENCE AIRSOFTSwindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AN01380 728982www.experienceairsoft.co.uk

FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONSLewisham, SE13 5SU07973 240177www.fi refi ght.co.uk

FIFE WARGAMESSt Andrews, KY10 3XLinfo@fi fewargames.co.ukwww.fi fewargames.com

FINMERE AIRSOFTBuckingham, MK18 4JT07976 184897www.fi nmereairsoft.com

FIREBALL SQUADRONSutton Coldfi eld, B75 5SA07582 684533www.fi reballsquadron.com

FIRST AND ONLY – ANZIO CAMPLeek, ST13 807862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY– BATTLE LAKESRoyal Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9AP07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – BUNKER WOODKidderminster, Worcs, DY11 5SA07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

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FIRST AND ONLY – THE ASYLUMKidderminster, DY10 3PT07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – THE EMBASSYLeicester, LE2 6EA07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – THE MALLReading, RG1 1NR07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

CERBERUS AIRSOFT - RIVOCK EDGEKeighley, BD20 0LS07891 469492www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT - SHEFFIELD WOODLAND Sheffi eld, S6 6JE07891 469492www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFTCorby, NN17 3BB07740 165787www.close-action.co.uk

COMBAT ACTION GAMESMaryland, Norfolk, NR10 401328 711867www.combatactiongames.co.uk

COMBAT SOUTH URBANPortsmouth, PO6 3LS02392 655636www.combatsouth.co.uk

COMBAT SOUTH WOODLANDFareham, PO17 5ND02392 655636www.combatsouth.co.uk

CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOLKelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 501438 368177www.thefi ghtschool.demon.co.uk

COOL UNDER FIREDoddington, Kent, ME9 0JS07960 532613www.coolunderfi re.co.uk

CORNWALL AIRSOFT ASSAULTTruro, Cornwall, TR207837 475012www.cornwallairsoftassault.co.uk

CUMBRIA AIRSOFTDumfries, [email protected]

DELTA TEAM 3Skelmersdale, Lancashire WN8 8UT07986 053076www.deltateam3.co.uk

AWA HERTSSawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ07732 184957www.awaherts.com

BARNSLEY AIRSOFTShafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE07779 236166www.barnsleypaintball.co.uk

BATTLETEC AIRSOFTLa Couture, Guernsey, GY1 207781 104068www.battletec.co.uk

BETTER BATTLESRavenshead, Notts, NG15 9DH07967 940043www.better-battles.com

BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport. PR46JX07790 715059www.bravo22airsoft.com

BRISTOL AIRSOFTBristol, BS1 2HQ07776 288826www.bristolairsoft.com

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C3 TACTICALLonghope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH07597 938011www.c3tactical.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT - THE COMPLEX Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP07891 469492www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT - THE SANDPITBradford, BD2 1BQ07891 469492www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk


SITE DIRECTORYFind somewhere to be this weekend…

086 November 2012

FREE FIRE ZONEFarcet, Peterborough, PE7 3DH01733 247171www.freefi rezone.co.uk

FRV AIRSOFTAnnacloy, Downpatrick, BT30 8JJ07730 586926www.frvairsoft.com

GASS AIRSOFT – PENNPenn Bottom, Bucks, HP1007907 788970www.gassairsoft.co.uk

GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTONPiddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 107907 788970www.gassairsoft.co.uk

GRANGE FARM AIRSOFTLeicester, LE9 9FPwww.gingerliberationfront.com

GREENZONE COMBATCo. Armagh, BT60 1NE07772 919974www.greenzonecombat.com

GUN HO AIRSOFTGuisborough, TS7 0PG07525 435696www.gunhoairsoft.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – CAMBRIDGEBury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP2807854 277264www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – NORWICHNorwich, Norfolk, NR1007854 277264www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

HIGHLAND TACTICAL AIRSOFTIV25 3PY07702 846090www.highlandtacticalairsoft.co.uk

HILTON PARK AIRSOFTWolverhampton, WV10 7HU08000 354490www.paintballuk.com

HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFTSpanby, Lincs, NG34 0AT07971 560249facebook.com/HomelandTacticalAirsoft

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ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBATNear Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO3007964 751047www.islandrecon.co.uk

LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFTGorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG0131 654 2452www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk

LAC SITE 1Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH07775 877057www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAC SITE 2Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH07775 877057www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAC SITE 3Saxillby, LN1 2JW07775 877057www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAC SITE 5Kirton Rd, North Lincs, DN1607775 877057www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LINDSEY AIRSOFTManby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE07955 487983www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk

MATLOCK COMBAT GAMESMatlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW07974 507166www.matlockcombatgames.com

MAWMelton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE1407562 [email protected]

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MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURESWrightington, WN6 9PL01942 514724www.*militaryoutdooradventure.co.uk

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NOMAD AIRSOFTFenwick, Ayrshire, KA3 6AY07904 998250www.nomadairsoft.com

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NTACDurham, DL4 2ER01642 281220www.ntac.co.uk

OBAN AIRSOFT – HILL ARGYLLArgyll and Bute, PA37 107967 710185www.argyllsurplus.com

OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPSTean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT07964 990831www.op-tac.co.uk

PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATIONFormer RAF Camp Sopley/Merryfi eld Park, Hants, BH2302380 899369

PHOENIX AIRSOFTBudby, Notts, NG22 9FG01623 812483www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk

PLATOON 1HQRochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ01634 829063www.ptt-1hq.co.uk

PLAYERS OF WARHigh Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD07767 203979www.playersofwar.co.uk

PREDATOR COMBAT GAMESBallynahinch, BT24 8NF028 4377 0566www.predatorcombat.com

RAVEN’S NESTSuffolk, IP8 401473 831563www.ravensairsoft.co.uk

RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIAWigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ01900 85645www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk


AIRSOFT SITES | DIRECTORY


Email [email protected] to add or change a site listing

RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ07751 586781www.riftairsoft.com

RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM)Cambridge, CB24 8RL07751 586781www.riftairsoft.com

SECTION 8 AIRSOFTShotts, N Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB07974 026517www.s8airsoft.com

SECTION 8 AIRSOFTShotts, N Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB07974 026517www.s8airsoft.com

SG1 COMBAT GAMESCo. Londonderry, BT45 8NA07713 273102www.sg1combatgames.co.uk

SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAYBillericay, Essex, CM11 2TX01277 657777www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk

SKIRMISH EXETERExeter, Devon, EX4 501548 580025www.airsoftexeter.co.uk

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFTPetworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR

07766 770830www.southdownairsoft.com

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTHWareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU07984 656947www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – THE ROCKPortland, Dorset, DT5 2EG07984 656947www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

STIRLING AIRSOFTCoventry, CV3 6NX07831 429407www.stirlingairsoft.com

STORMFORCE AIRSOFTRugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD07515 937633www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk

SUSSEX AIRSOFTSlinfold, RH12020 8150 9284www.sussexairsoft.co.uk

SW WAR GAMES – SCRAESDON FORTAntony, Cornwall, PL11 3AB08456 345011www.swwargames.co.uk

SW WAR GAMES – TREGANTLE FORTAntony, Cornwall, PL11 3AZ08456 345011www.swwargames.co.uk

TA EVENTSHemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB07894 059794www.ta-events.co.uk

TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFTReynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS01792 473336www.tacticalwales.co.uk

TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFTWarlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL020 8665 1299www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk

TASK FORCE SKIRMISHCowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF7102920 593900www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk

THE DESERTERS AIRSOFTRedford, DD1107751 878175www.thedeserters.co.uk

THE EX SITEMold, CH7 407840 001975www.theexsitewales.co.uk

THE WARGAMES CENTREStevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN08456 434326www.scottishadventurecentre.co.uk

UCAP AIRSOFTPortsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR07590 818881www.ucap.co.uk

UCAP GREEN OPSLinch, West Sussex, GU30 707590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

UCAP SANDPITBean, Kent, DA2 807590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAMFawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY01268 796130www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELDOxted, Surrey, RH8 0RHwww.ultimatewargames.co.uk

URBAN6AIRSOFT – ZONE 13Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0QN07432 291729www.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN6AIRSOFT – IVYWOODElmhurst, Lichfi eld WS13 8EUwww.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN6AIRSOFTStone, Staffordshire, ST15 0QNwww.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN ASSAULTRamsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 101733 247171www.urbanassault.org.uk

VIKING AIRSOFTWelwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UNwww.vikingairsoft.co.uk

WARMINSTER AIRSOFTWarminster, BA12 7RZwww.warminsterairsoft.co.uk

XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOSTDunstable, LU6 2EE01494 881430www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk

XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE ENDHigh Wycombe, HP14 3NP01494 881430

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


088 November 2012

DEALER LISTINGS

ADVERTISERS INDEXAction Hobbies .......................................................................29

Airsoft Innovations ................................................................35

BadgerTac .............................................................................36

Badger Tac 2 .........................................................................88

Combat Action Games ............................................................36

Dragon Valley Airsoft LTD .....................................................35

Edgar Brothers ......................................................................43

Enola Gaye ............................................................................30

First & Only Airsoft ...............................................................88

Gunman Airsoft .....................................................................30

JD Airsoft ........................................................................23, 88

Just BB Guns Ltd ...................................................................15

Land Warrier Airsoft ........................................................2, 88

Military 1st ......................................................................15, 88

Outdoor Pursuits / No VAT ....................................................30

Patrol Base ............................................................................24

Pro Airsoft Supplies .....................................................3, 88, 92

Redwolf ...................................................................................7

Shoot n’ Scoot ........................................................................88

Socom Tactical.........................................................................8

Surplus Store ...................................................................35, 88

Tactical Airsoft UK Ltd .........................................................36

Thatchreed ............................................................................91

TLSFx Ltd .............................................................................45

Wolf Armouries ...............................................................51, 88

Xsite Airsoft Ltd ....................................................................24

Action Hobbies ................................................................................................................. 29Airsoft Innovations .......................................................................................................... 35BadgerTac ....................................................................................................................... 36Badger Tac 2 ................................................................................................................... 88Combat Action Games ...................................................................................................... 36Dragon Valley Airsoft LTD ............................................................................................... 35Edgar Brothers ................................................................................................................ 43Enola Gaye ...................................................................................................................... 30First & Only Airsoft ......................................................................................................... 88Gunman Airsoft ............................................................................................................... 30JD Airsoft .................................................................................................................. 23, 88Just BB Guns Ltd ............................................................................................................. 15Land Warrier Airsoft .................................................................................................. 2, 88Military 1st ................................................................................................................ 15, 88Outdoor Pursuits / No VAT .............................................................................................. 30Patrol Base ...................................................................................................................... 24Pro Airsoft Supplies ............................................................................................... 3, 88, 92Redwolf ............................................................................................................................. 7Shoot n’ Scoot .................................................................................................................. 88Socom Tactical................................................................................................................... 8Surplus Store ............................................................................................................. 35, 88Tactical Airsoft UK Ltd ................................................................................................... 36Thatchreed ...................................................................................................................... 91TLSFx Ltd ....................................................................................................................... 45Wolf Armouries ......................................................................................................... 51, 88Xsite Airsoft Ltd .............................................................................................................. 24

088.indd 88 17/9/12 18:25:11


AIRSOFTACTIONBOOKSHOP

Total War - SRP £25.00AA Price £21.00

The Retreat - SRP £10.99AA Price £9.00

Cadet Pocket Book - SRP £8.00AA Price £7.50

Kill Switch - SRP £6.99AA Price £6.00

SAS Operation Storm - SRP £25.00AA Price £21.00

Soldiers Pocket Book - SRP £10.00AA Price £9.00

Killing for the Company (hdbk) - SRP £18.99 AA Price £16.00

The Kill Zone (hdbk) - SRP £18.99AA Price £16.00

The Kill Zone (pbk) - SRP £6.99AA Price £6.00

Never Surrender - SRP £8.99AA Price £7.50

Tank Men - SRP £8.99AA Price £7.50

Skill at Arms - SRP £6.50AA Price £5.00

Air Cadet Pocket Book - SRP £8.00AA Price £7.50

Army Cadet’s Log Book - SRP £4.00AA Price £3.50

AA_089-090_Bookshop_Rev2AP.indd 89 18/9/12 09:30:45

90 November 2012

Visit www.virtualnewsagent.com for these fantastic offers. Either fi ll in the form below – don’t forget to put a tick by the books you’re ordering – and post/fax to us, or call us on the number at the bottom

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Your credit card statement will read Blaze Publishing Ltd.

Please call +44 1926 339 808 for international postage costs.

Now fax or post this form to: Blaze Publishing Limited,

Lawrence House, Morrell Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5SZ England

T: 01926 339808 F: 01926 470400 E: [email protected]

Elite:163 Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan - SRP £11.99AA Price £8.50

Raid:11 Pegasus Bridge – Benouville D-Day 1944 - SRP £11.99AA Price £10

Weapon:2 The Rocket Propelled Grenade - SRP £9.99AA Price £8.50

Elite:170 Special Operations Forces in Iraq - SRP £11.99AA Price £8.50

Soldier I – The Story of an SAS Hero - SRP £8.99AA Price £7.50

Weapon:7 The Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger - SRP £9.99AA Price £8.50

Elite:160 World War II Infantry Assault Tactics - SRP £11.99AA Price £10

Elite:168 World War II Street Fighting Tactics SRP £11.99AA Price £10

Title Author Category Code SRP AA price

Tank Men Robert Kershaw Non-fi ction 1112-001 £8.99 £7.50

Never Surrender Robert Kershaw Non-fi ction 1112-002 £8.99 £7.50

Total War Michael Jones Non-fi ction 1112-003 £25.00 £21.00

The Retreat Michael Jones Non-fi ction 1112-004 £10.99 £9.00

SAS Operation Storm

Roger Cole & Richard Belfi eld Non-fi ction 1112-005 £18.99 £16.00

Kill Switch Bill Shaw Non-fi ction 1112-006 £6.99 £6.00

The Kill Zone Chris Ryan Fiction 1112-007 £18.99 £16.00

The Kill Zone Chris Ryan Fiction 1112-008 £6.99 £6.00

Killing for the Company Chris Ryan Fiction 1112-009 £18.99 £16.00

Soldiers Pocket Book Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd), Rupert Godeson and John H Harris Non-fi ction 1112-010 £10.00 £9.00

Cadet’s Pocket Book Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd) Non-fi ction 1112-011 £8.00 £7.50

Air Cadet Pocket Book Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd) Non-fi ction 1112-012 £8.00 £7.50

Army Cadet Log Book Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd) Non-fi ction 1112-013 £4.00 £3.50

Skill at Arms And Shooting Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd) Non-fi ction 1112-014 £6.50 £5.00

World War II Street-Fighting Tactics Stephen Bull Non-fi ction 1112-015 £11.99 £10.00

World War II Infantry Assault Tactics Gordon L Rottman Non-fi ction 1112-016 £11.99 £10.00

Pegasus Bridge Benouville 1944 Will Fowler Non-fi ction 1112-017 £11.99 £10.00

Soldier I – the Story of an SAS Hero Pete Winner Non-fi ction 1112-018 £8.99 £7.50

Special Operations Forces in Iraq Leigh Neville Non-fi ction 1112-019 £11.99 £8.50

Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan Leigh Neville Non-fi ction 1112-020 £11.99 £8.50

Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger Leroy Thompson Non-Fiction 1112-021 £9.99 £8.50

The Rocket Propelled Grenade Gordon L Rottman Non-Fiction 1112-022 £9.99 £8.50

Total

AA_089-090_Bookshop_Rev2AP.indd 90 18/9/12 09:30:50


099.indd 99 17/9/12 16:21:16

0100 November 2012

100.indd 100 17/9/12 10:03:43

issue 15 - nov 2012

Documents