Issue 49 - June 2015 by Airsoft Action

T H E

A I R S O F T E R ’ S

M A G A Z I N E

O F

C H O I C E

ARMOURY

UMAREX G28 CRB KRYTAC TRIDENT E&L AKS74N

FEATURES DMR FEVER AIRSOFT TECH

L A N O I T A N R E T IN BOSNIA USA

EXCLUSITHIVRUESTY FIRMIN INTERVIEW W

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IN THE VIPER’S NEST

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THE ART OF TRACKING | CUSTOM WORK | AIRSOFT SWAT | DEBATE

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A I R S O F T E R ’ S

M A G A Z I N E

O F

12 - ARMOURY: UMAREX HK G28

C H O I C E

AIRSOFT ACTION

ARMOURY

UMAREX G28 CRB KRYTAC TRIDENT E&L AKS74N

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Editor: Nigel Streeter Assistant editor: Gareth “Gadge” Harvey Graphic design: Havoc Design Ad design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter Cover Picture: H Photography www.hphotography.co.uk UK 12 - issue subscription rate: £43 UK 6 - issue subscription rate: £24 For overseas prices visit: www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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Copyright © Calibre Publishing Limited 2015. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print.

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december 2014

INTERVIEW: RUSTY FIRMIN

KIT: VIPER

CONTENTS MARCH JUNE 2015 2014

CONTENTS

AIRSOFT ACTION – JUNE 2015 6 NEWS What’s happening in the World of Airsoft 8 THE ADVENTURES OF MAG Mag continues his adventures in Airsoft Action’s exclusive cartoon. 10 ROGUE’S GALLERY Cool photos taken by Airsoft Action readers. 12 ARMOURY: UMAREX HK G28 Scott Allan gets up close and personal with the HK G28. OK, so it wasn’t the real thing but just how good is this airsoft version from Umarex? 16 ARMOURY: KRYTAC TRIDENT CRB Scott Allan gets his hands on the long-awaited Krytac AEGs and takes a close look at what is likely to be the most popular riﬂe in the range 20 ARMOURY: E&L AKS74N Gadge Harvey has a “Victor Kiam” moment as he reviews an AK from little-known brand, E&L. 24 SITE: URBAN 6 – THE PLANTATION Gareth “Gadge” Harvey is taken back 25 years as he visits an ex-paintball site he used to play at, which has now grown up and become an excellent place to sling plastic. 30 INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT: BOSNIA – INGLORIOUS BASTERDS Al Scribbler reports from Sarajevo and discovers there is more to watch out for than just bbs when playing airsoft in Bosnia. 33 KIT & KABOODLE Richard Bell returns with his latest roundup of kit that has caught his eye recently. 34 INTERVIEW: RUSTY FIRMIN - “THE MAN WITH NO GLOVES” In this exclusive Airsoft Action interview, Nige sits down with Rusty Firmin, a real-life SAS hero and veteran of the Iranian Embassy Siege in London. 39 INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT: USA – OPERATION VIPER STRIKE Javier Franco, of “One Grunt’s Opinion” on Facebook, reports from a MilSim event in the States where the play is as close to the real thing as possible. 43 COLD WAR WARRIORS: SOVIET ARMOURED VEHICLE COMMANDER Gareth “Gadge” Harvey continues his epic series with a look at what a Soviet AV Commander would wear as they faced the Mujahadin in Afghanistan, 1988. 49 EVENT: PRACTICAL PISTOL – “MADDERS ONE” Nige reports from Round 2 of the UKPSA Open League, which was held in memory of Malcolm Dowding, one of the UK’s top shooters who died recently. 53 CUSTOM WORK: THE AIRSOFT BANKSY? Iggy Roberts is a defence photographer and knows when he sees something good, which is what he saw when he bumped into Chris Hobbs. 54 FEATURE: DMR FEVER – PART TWO Kris Roberts picks up where he left off last issue and ﬁnds an answer to his question about DMRs in Airsoft.

58 DEBATE: LASERS – THE LIGHT FANTASTIC This month Gadge asked for your views on weapon mounted lasers in game. He wanted to know if you felt your RIS laser sight to be a real tactical boon, or was it just there for the looks? 62 THE PILGRIM BANDITS “Go as a pilgrim and seek out danger and seek stimulation in the company of the Brave.” 64 KIT: HELIKON-TEX – CAMO CHAMELIONS This month Jerry Noone casts his eye over a few choice bits of gear from Helikon-Tex and finds that they suit him very well! 67 SKILLS: THE ART OF TRACKING In the last issue Paul Yelland gave us some tips on how to evade capture but now the boot’s on the other foot and he writes about the art of tracking your enemy. 72 LOADED OR UNLOADED: VIPER’S NEST Jerry Noone has been getting to grips with the new range of clothing, footwear and tactical gear from VIPER; now he brings it all together with two complete loadouts that won’t break the bank! 76 ACTION PISTOL SHOOTING: AIPSC INTRODUCTION – PART TWO Championship shooter, Mark Hurding, gives us some basic information for attending your first AIPSC Competition. 80 FEATURE: GUN TECHNICIAN – JEZ “JEZASAURUS” ARMSTRONG Les Lee talks with one of the South’s best-known gun techs, Jez Armstrong from Pro Airsoft Supplies. 84 SKILLS: AIRSOFT SWAT – PART TWO In the second part of his series, Pro-Tact Shooting’s Andy Nightingale takes a look at the structure of a SWAT team and the tasks of each of the team members. 88 HEAD TO HEAD: VICKERS v BROWNING Military Historian, Will Fowler, compares two iconic machine guns to see which one really was the best. 92 BILLY BASICS: RESERVE FORCES – YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU! Billy writes on a subject that is close to his heart – the UK’s Reserve forces – and says “There’s never been a better time to be in the Reserves.” 96 FEATURE: ID TAGS The origins of these little pieces of metal go back much further than most people expect, as Military Historian, Will Fowler, explains. 101 BOOK REVIEW: WITH THE OLD BREED The capture of the Island of Peleliu was supposed to take four days – it took over two months of atrocity. Kris Roberts writes about a book from a soldier who was there. 102 SITE DIRECTORY If you’re looking for somewhere to play, you’re sure to find it here. 106 DEALER LISTING: AIRSOFT ACTION’S ADVERTISER INDEX Find who you are looking for in our listing of all the adverts that appear in this issue. www.airsoft-action.co.uk

AIRSOFT NEWS WARZONE AIRCON ALPHA

BADGERTAC Re-Launch Regular readers of Airsoft Action will know the name “Ratty”, either as a contributor to the magazine, or through his very successful airsoft shop BadgerTac and site Bluestreak Airsoft. BadgerTac is situated in Building 350 on Westcott Venture Park, just outside Aylesbury and after five years of operation, Ratty and his business partner, Billy Gumbrell, thought it was time to give the old place a bit of a spruce up and change it round a bit to reflect their very diverse customer base (which ranges from regular skirmishers, to real-world tactical teams). Walking through the front door now leads you into a veritable Aladdin’s Cave of camo, with a huge variety just hanging there waiting to be tried on. Moving further in, the old showroom has now become the guy’s office, complete with couches and coffee, beyond which are the gun rooms and workshop before entering the far room, which now houses a massive array of Tactical Kit. Outside, a new covered range has been created, where guns can be tried, tested and chronographed against a series of targets at set distances. The shop was officially re-launched on 4th April and, in true “BadgerTac style”, free beer and sandwiches greeted all those that turned up – and it was quite a crowd, BadgerTac so much so that at one point I had to go in Building 350 through the back door, as it was too crowded Westcott Venture Park to get in the front! Westcott BadgerTac is not the biggest airsoft shop Aylesbury but what it lacks in size, it more than makes HP18 0XB up for in personality and all of us at Airsoft Tel: 01296 658600 Action wish the guys the very best of luck for Web: www.badgertac.com the future.

June 2015

Billed as “Ireland’s Ultimate Family Fun Day”, on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June The Irish Military War Museum is the location for Ireland’s ﬁrst big airsoft show – but it’s not just about airsoft, the organisers have created a unique event for all the family. The Irish Military War Museum is a living history museum and family park and is a great place to visit in its own right but, when you add airsoft suppliers, retailers, sites and teams to the mix, then you really have an event worth visiting. The area is split into ﬁve distinct zones, with everything from Face Painting and Bouncy Castles for kids, to a fully licensed Bar for mum and dad. With live music throughout the weekend and a fantastic Artisan food court showcasing the best of locally produced food, drink and crafts AND entrance to the Museum, this really is an excellent value for money event. “Zone 4” is where the airsoft action takes place. The museum has its own airsoft site, “Hell Valley Airsoft”,

who will be offering games to anyone interested in experiencing airsoft for the ﬁrst time or, if you’re an existing player you can book a place for you and your team. If you want to compete against another team, let the organisers know and they will even arrange a prize for the winners. At the time of writing, these are some of the companies booked to attend: Hobby Airsoft, who stock a wide range from the likes of G&P, VFC, G&G, TM, KJW and KWC, etc. TaskForceX, a company created by ex-Police and ex-SF members, who provide equipment and gear to both realworld and airsoft customers. Main Irish Airsoft, who were the ﬁrst to bring airsoft to the Irish market, in 2006. Armex, the well-known UK distributor of a vast range of airsoft and other equipment. Airsoft Action – well how could we turn down the opportunity to sample a few glasses of the black stuff! For more information and all ticket prices (which start from just €10 for a pre-booked adult), visit www. warzonealpha.com Hope to see you there.

AIRSOFT NEWS Airsoft Surgeon European Championship 2015 Announced! The 2105 Airsoft Surgeon European Championship will take place over the weekend of 11th – 13th September and already entries for this prestigious tournament are being taken. This year’s event will also be at a different venue and will be held at StrikeForce in Gloucester, Swindon Airsoft’s new indoor CQB site. This will mean that no matter what the weather throws at the Tournament neither wind, nor rain will cause the issues it has in recent years, when the event has been (mostly) outdoors. The huge indoor area at StrikeForce will be transformed into a series of challenging Stages, all designed by Clarence Lai, Airsoft Surgeon, himself and if last year was anything to go by, we can expect one or two surprises along the way. The site is very close to the centre of Gloucester where there are plenty of hotels and restaurants in close proximity and the M5 Motorway is just a few minutes away. We understand from Chris Kong at RedWolf Airsoft, that upwards of 100 participants are expected at this year’s event, which is rapidly establishing itself as a “go-to” tournament for many of Europe’s top Practical Pistol shooters. There will also be plenty of space for spectators and even talk of a mezzanine viewing area. For more information, contact RedWolf Airsoft on: 01684 273070, or visit uk.redwolfairsoft.com

THE ADVENTURES OF MAG

June 2015

CARTOON

AA GALLERY READERS PHOTOS

ROGUE’S GALLERY

FROM ANDY CHARNEL

B OLNSHIRE AIRSOFT CLU ROY AND SAM AT LINC FROM ROY SHARPE –

NG K MANNERI FROM MAR

FROM NAT – SK IRMISH AT ACE COMBAT BRENCH LEY.

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

June 2015

FROM STUART JOHNSON (EASTER BUNNY) – RENEGADE TACTICAL AIRS OFT, BARNSLEY T COLEMAN FROM SCOT

FROM DAVIE

COMBAT BRENCHLEY. FROM NAT – SKIRMISH AT ACE

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

ACCURACY MEETS FIREPOWER

A DREAM COME TRUE (ALMOST) FOR SCOTT ALLAN AS HE FINALLY GETS HIS HANDS ON THE HK G28. OK, SO IT WASN’T THE REAL THING BUT JUST HOW GOOD IS THIS AIRSOFT VERSION FROM UMAREX?

IT IS ODD WHEN A CIVILIAN RIFLE IS SOUGHT after by the military - but that is just what happened to the MR308. It had one guideline and one only; to meet the highest standards of warranted and repeatable accuracy of 1.5 MOA maximum. Seems easy enough to me - Oh and it has be in Dark Earth (genuine joy ﬁlled squeaky noises)! Umarex are a massive German business in the shooting world. With licenses ranging from H&K to Walther they have the breeding to produce excellent goods. They tasked Vega Force Company to produce the very successful H&K 417 and after much badgering by the Airsoft community, they have now released the limited edition H&K G28. VFC are known

June 2015

for making some of the most beautiful looking Airsoft riﬂes the sport has ever seen but it doesn’t always mean that they work well. I owned their very ﬁrst effort, the 8mm Barrett and it sucked big time. Surely this can’t be another massive lemon. Please don’t let it be. I need this in my life! As soon as I heard about this at Shot Show 2015 I became very excited because I knew VFC would be manufacturing it. That would mean that it would be exactly the same as the real version in terms of looks and feel. I had long pawed the real G28 at various shows and was always deeply saddened to know I would most likely never pull the trigger on a real version. A boy can but dream and I will continue to search for

Armoury UMAREX HK G28

“BEFORE WE GET DOWN TO THE FINER DETAILS THERE IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT… THIS IS NOT A TAN 417. INTERNALLY IT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BUILD WITH PRETTY MUCH THE HIGHEST QUALITY PARTS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN A RIFLE AS STANDARD.” a place to try out the G28 in all its accurate glory. The only thing that worried me is the “Limited Edition” part. The VFC M27 in Dark Earth was here and gone before I even knew it was available due to the distribution methods, it would be a heinous crime if the G28 slipped by.

THE REAL STEEL So is it an H&K 417 in a Gucci tight dress and Sergio Rossi heels? Well yes, in a way but then in the same way the Spitfire was just a plane! H&K are icons of the modern firearm age, they are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end in quality and design. The G28 took everything the 417 was (and still is) and did it better… much better. The RAL8000 tone that dates back to World War 2 is a unique colouring used by H&K. The colour is, to put very politely, odd. But for me it is really cool due to the fact that it is so accurate but some players who are not in the know (as they say somewhat arrogantly) think it looks like baby barf. The G28 still fires the NATO 7.62mm round like the 417 but the G28 has a 16.5” (420mm) hammer forged chrome plated barrel. Then there are two variants, the “Patrol Configuration” that is more like a standard 417 in terms of looks and then the extremely unique “Standard Configuration”. Weighing in at 7 kilos with the Schmidt & Bender optic it is a beastly weight and I think few people would ever thank you for having to lug it around a battlefield and not use it. In the shortest and easiest sense it is a super accurate version of the 417.

BACK TO THE UMAREX VERSION Externally it is, without a word of a lie, utterly ﬂawless. This is a replica in every single sense of the word, down to the very foundations of excellence. Incorporated with the G28 is the scope mount that takes the optic and the T1 back up sight, sadly a replica of the scope and red dot is not included in the package. The adjustable Dark Earth stock is a unique type to the G28, is it very solid and offers a nice cheek weld with no wobbles or unwanted movement. The bodywork, for all it is essentially is the “same” as the regular 417, looks much better. It is worth noting here and now that this isn’t a 417 in a different colour and rail, this is a completely different build internally and externally. Things like the added realistic markings and the colour helps it all to look better, the only thing I hope is that it wears better than the 417’s paint job that scratched a little too easy for my liking. The front rail - oh that front rail! It is probably a little marmite for some people but personally I think it is utterly gorgeous and comfortable thanks to the included HK rail covers. Now, before we get down to the ﬁner details there is something you have to accept… this is not a tan 417. Internally it is a completely different build with pretty much the highest

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Armoury UMAREX HK G28

“EXTERNALLY IT IS, WITHOUT A WORD OF A LIE, UTTERLY FLAWLESS. THIS IS A REPLICA IN EVERY SINGLE SENSE OF THE WORD, DOWN TO THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF EXCELLENCE.” quality parts I have ever seen in a rifle as standard. In my opinion there are two things you could do to beneficially alter this rifle and these are only a “maybe”. Firstly you could lower the spring power or raise it depending on your end use. Secondly you could do something with the hop, it doesn’t need it out of the box but then some players just know best and need to “improve” it. Now, as you look down the list of features and you start talking like Treebeard, then you get to the price and next thing you know you are trashing Isengard. Yes, £900 is an insane price tag, utterly and ridiculously expensive – or is it? There are only 300 of these for the whole world and that makes it rarer than a Bugatti Veyron! Taking into account the limited production run costs, licensing, upgraded parts and the overall package this shapes up to be something of a winner. Okay it is never going to be brilliant value but it is always going to be rare - and “rare” Airsoft is a growing market these days. I have a mint condition, in box with three magazines KSC M93R Robocop GBB pistol. I was once offered £400 for it! Kinda’ makes you think doesn’t it. The upgraded internals include a MOSFET in the stock tube, steel gears, upgraded piston and tappet plate. Topping it all off with a Tienly motor means the absolute best parts available have been used. Those motors retail for around £80 on their own, so when nearly 10% for your rifle cost is in the motor you can start to see where I am heading. The scope mount is stunning, sad that they aren’t included in the set but the Strike Systems 50mm scope and a G&G T1 fitted in perfectly and didn’t look half bad. If I had to pick faults with the overall design the main one is the fire selector. This rifle, like the real version, is only capable of single shot. This made me a fairly sad panda but I can live with single shot at a push. Full auto would have been nice for those who wanted to run it at a lower FPS as a standard assault rifle. The next main gripe with the fire selector is the “ambidextrous” system – it’s not. The right side fire selector is there like the real G28, it just doesn’t do anything at all. It spins around a bit doing nothing useful like a fat politician on a swing. The HK 417 was a bit of a beast to use in games, its heavy weight and size meant as an assault platform it was cumbersome and tiring. Sure it looked amazing and you could fit a ton of stuff to it but pulling it up into the aim and playing with it for an extended period of time was tough going, I should know because I have one. The G28 is going to suffer the exact same problems. Smaller players may wish to try this or a 417 out before taking the plunge with a large amount of cash so they don’t find out the hard way that it is too big and heavy. The magazines have always been a pain to store, being the size 14

June 2015

of a Nintendo Entertainment System cartridge. Blue Force Gear probably make the best pouches for them but they are a little bit of a ﬁddle I’ll not lie. Being a large magazine means you struggle more to carry them on a rig too, normally you’ll only get two on the front of a plate carrier like a LBT 6094 or similar.

CONCLUSION I love the G28 I really do. I think it looks brilliant as a replica that is helped by the quality being so good. The package overall is impressive largely due to the scope mount being so accurate with markings, the bipod and those really nice HK rail panels. Internally it is a far tougher beast than the 417 and that means you can easily ramp it up to 500 fps with no other parts other than a £12 spring. I do wish it had fully automatic and I do wish the ambidextrous ﬁre selector worked fully but we cannot get everything we want clearly. A limited run of only 300 units worldwide for the price of £900? Is it too steep? Only you can decide that. Personally I think given players happily pay £1500 for a Systema and £190 for 5 magazines means the G28 is good value in a comparative way. Yes it’s not cheap but do I think it’s worth it? Maybe… Yeah… I do!

features LENGTH 965-1082MM WEIGHT (WITH T1 AND SCOPE) 6.1KG POWER 415FPS WITH BLASTER 0.20G BB ADJUSTABLE STOCK WITH CHEEK RISER AND ADJUSTABLE BUTT PLATE FULLY UPGRADED GEARBOX AS STANDARD WITH MOSFET UNIQUE LICENSED MARKINGS CNC FRONT RAIL 30MM SCOPE MOUNTS WITH REAL MARKINGS INCLUDED HK RAIL COVERS HARRIS BIPOD INCLUDED FLIP UP SIGHTS SEMI AUTO ONLY RRP £900

KRYTAC TRIDENT CRB SCOTT ALLAN GETS HIS HANDS ON THE LONG-AWAITED KRYTAC AEGS AND TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE THE MOST POPULAR RIFLE IN THE RANGE RUNNING A PRE-RELEASE RIFLE IS one of the genuine pleasures of writing for Airsoft Action. In the last year Airsoft Action has seen many worldwide first reviews for Airsoft; the ASG Evo, the Halo Assault Rifle and now the Krytac CRB rifle. This is the first in depth review in the UK to see what is what and if these are just a rehash and a rebrand or if they are actually something new and something great. Dubbed “the next evolution in Airsoft technology”, the guys at Krytac have raised the bar very high for themselves, so will this be just another range of M4 rifles or a genuinely new step forward for our beloved sport? With a logo that screams “Hail Hydra” they are definitely talking the talk.

SO WHO OR WHAT IS KRYTAC? Kraken Tactical (or Krytac) are a branch of Kriss Arms, the very same who make the innovative 45ACP Kriss Vector. Well these

guys now have their very own Airsoft factory in Taiwan - and that means complete production control. You remember the Airsoft Kriss Vector I’m sure, it is still knocking around. It was built in collaboration between Kriss Arms and KWA. Kriss decided to buy KWA, and then there was some kind of biblical fall out that I’m pretty sure involved a plague and the Nile running red – at least that is how it seemed. No ﬁrm details were ever released and very little has ever been heard publically, even in gossip. All of that aside, players still love the KWA and the Kriss products. Kriss decided to avoid any future issues working with a manufacturer; they would just become the manufacturer. Kriss headed to Taiwan to set up their very own plant to manufacture Airsoft products and Krytac was born. After a small-scale launch in the US their eyes have turned to the EU. With slightly different rules and legislation this wasn’t a straight just ship it somewhere else job unfortunately. So they are only a couple of months away, so they say.

ENTER THE TRIDENT CRB This will most likely be the all-round platform from Krytac, dubbed “The old school meets new school rifle”. Externally this rifle is hard to beat. From top to tail it is a stunning flat black that utterly reeks of quality. Being a CQB R length barrel it will have all the flexibility that a player could hope for, both indoor and outdoor, complete with a CNC 10”, free-floating, Defiance TR110, Keymod weapons grade, aluminium rail. Amusingly this is “for Airsoft use”, weapons grade for Airsoft seems an amusing claim and contradiction but there you go. The front of the rail sports three sharp protrusions that are designed to bite into a barricade for extra stability. Defiance, being a brand also owned by Kriss, it is understandable why they opted for this rail. The flash hider is removable and exposes a 14mm CCW thread which are the most common type for replacement 16

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Armoury KRYTAC TRIDENT CRB

“THERE IS LITTLE TO FAULT WITH THIS DESIGN EXTERNALLY, THERE ARE NO BLEMISHES IN THE FINISH, NO ROUGH PATCHES OR BURRS AND CERTAINLY NO CREAKS OR WOBBLES.” flash hiders and or suppressors. The receiver is an aluminium alloy stamped with the Krytac logo (Hail Hydra) and this is the chassis in which the CRB gets its ruggedness. The fire selector is ambidextrous and slightly shorter on the right side as to avoid it catching on your hands or gloves. The stock is a six point adjustable and will accept either nunchuck style-batteries or stock tube LiPo batteries. There are also QD points located on the stock as well as a sling plate being fitted to the back to receiver. To top all of that off there is a locking bolt catch which is one of the better designed types that I have used. There is little to fault with this design externally, there are no blemishes in the finish, no rough patches or burrs and certainly no creaks or wobbles. If I had to pick a single fault externally it would be the pistol grip; what’s wrong with it? Nothing, it is just a standard M4 grip when nothing else on the rifle is standard. If I had to gripe about the CRB that is the only thing I can think of externally. The externals of the Krytac Trident CRB do not leave much to be desired and the list of features it boasts is quite convincing for the price tag. Then you start to look inside and getting into the guts can really make or break a rifle. Where does the CRB fall in terms of quality? Is it a Dytac, G&P or a G&G? Dytacs are good but really basic in terms of quality, G&P is higher quality again but relatively old tech these days and G&G are constantly pushing the boundaries of what you can do. The gearbox Krytac have chosen is their very own design called the “Nautilus V2 Gearbox”. That is a cool name and in keeping with the Kraken/marine theme, although the word from the original Latin means Sailor – perhaps they meant Captain Nemo’s ship maybe? The gearbox can make or break a rifle brand long term as G&G found out many years ago, when they launched and spent a long time recovering from the mistake. I was fairly confident that the Nautilus V2 was going to be good, I just wasn’t sure how good. The Nautilus V2 is a reinforced 8mm ball bearing gearbox that boasts an integrated MOSFET inside the case to regulate

power and to protect the trigger contacts. The corners of the gearbox that surround the cylinder feature a smooth radius, as opposed to a 90° angle, to prevent fracture of the casing. We saw this design change also in the ASG EVO last year. There are many clever things such as gearbox shell features a small window on the left side where the lubrication can be applied directly to the gears or piston, this window is also convenient for inspecting the angle of engagement with the gearbox fully assembled. Additional gearbox features include a quick-change spring guide system that will allow the spring to be changed without completely disassembling the gearbox. Again this isn’t anything very new but it is helpful for long term usage of the system. The KRYTAC piston is made of a durable, lightweight polymer and features 4 metal teeth, with the 2nd to last tooth absent. The Cylinder head is padded with a rubber bumper to optimize the angle of engagement and to absorb energy form

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Armoury KRYTAC TRIDENT CRB

the impact of the piston assembly. The material for the gears have been especially formulated to be very strong, it is reported by Krytac that the Rockwell test ﬁgures on the gears are much higher than industry norms but unfortunately there were no actual stats given. The spur gear features a tension system built into its axis to keep the gear perfectly aligned while under load. Other features of the Nautilus gearbox include the anticorrosive coating that gives the gearbox its unique colouring. Each component on the KRYTAC Nautilus V2 Gearbox has been designed to perform at a high level and to be user friendly for the technician that repeatedly tunes their AEG. The KRYTAC rotary hop up unit is constructed of polymer and features many user friendly updates to the regular M4 hop up systems. The rotary adjustment wheel is precise and deﬁnitive, each click position is numbered and the hop up offers a tactile and audible feedback when adjusting. It looks a little like the G36/Madbull style which is a better and easier design to work with. The lever arm can be lifted upwards to give access to the hop up nub chamber for easy adjusting or cleaning. Also, the hop up nub is retained by the arm to prevent loss when changing barrels or hop up buckings and this should save those “uh oh” moments when it falls on your black shaggy rug as your mum is hoovering.

ON THE GAME SITE Luckily I got the chance to run this out with a few customers at Airsoft Edinburgh although the weather was utterly horrid – which would be a brilliant test for the CRB! Coming with a high capacity magazine holding 300 rounds, I padded around the game site picking targets and easily hit out to 45-50 metres. Quite astonishing truth be told but this is where another bit of Krytac simple know how has helped. The

end of the inner barrel is braced by an O ring and this reduces vibration and barrel wobble during operation which in turn increases the accuracy. Systema did this by making the brass barrel very thick and Krytac have made this the same way that H&K increased the accuracy of the MK23 SOCOM pistol. Every manipulation and movement with the CRB was effortless. The high quality construction keeps the weight down and the strength up. Lightweight means you can hold the aim for longer and you can point it at targets faster. I even loaned the riﬂe out to new hire players for a few games and I think they seemed genuinely confused that a riﬂe could be so much better than the G36s they used only 20 minutes before.

CONCLUSION All good things come to those who wait and the Krytac Trident CRB is definitely going to be worth the wait. The price is just about where it should be (although I had secretly hoped it would be slightly less). Functionality is key for any modern Airsoft rifle and the CRB ticks all of the boxes easily; the hop up is phenomenal and I do not doubt that they will be a long-lasting, rugged rifle that will stand the test of time. Some people would rather not have a MOSFET installed with the gearbox and I can see their point in some ways. But then there are plenty rifles out there with no MOSFET still to keep that base happy. The Krytac range will not be released into Asia anytime that I am aware of so the UK is going to be the place to grab one as prices will be set internationally. Be sure to grab yours while you can!

Features: POWER: 350FPS WITH BLASTER 0.20G RATE OF FIRE: 20 ROUNDS PER SECOND ON 11.1V LIPO OUTER BARREL 10.5” / 266MM INNER BARREL 280MM INNER BARREL DIAMETER 6.05MM HAND GUARD LENGTH 10” / 240MM LENGTH 675 – 787MM / 26.5 – 31” WEIGHT 2.5KG FULL METAL ALUMINIUM ALLOY CONSTRUCTION KRYTAC STAMPED RECEIVERS 8MM JAPANESE STEEL CAGED BEARINGS BEARING METAL SPRING GUIDE (QUICK CHANGE) AMBIDEXTROUS FIRE SELECTORS INTEGRATED MOSFET SWITCH 6 POINT ADJUSTABLE STOCK LOCKING BOLT CATCH ROTARY LOCKING HOP UNIT DEFIANCE ACCESSORIES NEODYMIUM MAGNET MOTOR RRP £300

“I EVEN LOANED THE RIFLE OUT TO NEW HIRE PLAYERS FOR A FEW GAMES AND I THINK THEY SEEMED GENUINELY CONFUSED THAT A RIFLE COULD BE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE G36S THEY USED ONLY 20 MINUTES BEFORE.” 18

June 2015

THE FEEL OF REAL STEEL

GADGE HARVEY HAS A “VICTOR KIAM” MOMENT AS HE REVIEWS AN AK FROM LITTLE-KNOWN BRAND, E&L AFTER 15 YEARS IN THE hobby there are not a lot of AEGs that I’ve not had my paws on at some point or other and, more to the point, fewer still that I feel I really need to own but I’d had the urge for an AK74 for a while... So much so that when I saw Redwolf Airsoft’s stand at the British Airsoft Show I just had to ask “Have you got any 74’s lads?” And they had, several in fact but my eye was drawn to a particularly sexy looking number on the racks, it was a name I wasn’t familiar with, E&L, but I thought “Hey, why not?” After asking if I could loan one to try out for a review and a few Cold War Warriors shoots, the guys were more than happy to sign one out to me to borrow but the second I got my hands on it… Well I just knew I’d probably be buying this one! For a start most airsoft guns, if we’re honest, get made on

June 2015

the cheap. They are expensive toy guns that, by and large, sort of feel like toy guns; but this AK, this was something else. Right from the off it had the weight, the feel and even the SMELL of a real ﬁrearm. I was intrigued, I had to know more, and I had to put this beauty through its paces…. Oh yes, it had to be mine! Before we get into the review proper, it’s probably best to give those not familiar with the achievements of the late Mikhael Kalashnikov a run down on his 2nd best known weapon of the 20th century, the AK74.

THE POISON BULLET In the late 60s the Soviet Union was coming to the same conclusion as NATO, namely that a big 7.62mm round was overkill in an assault rifle and pretty heavy to cart about to boot. The tried and tested AK47 and AKM mechanism, basic design and theories were ported almost directly over to a new generation of Soviet assault rifle in a lighter 5.45mm calibre. Made like later “47s” and the AKM out of stamped and pressed steel and laminated wood, the AK74 was lightweight, reasonably accurate and as reliable as its predecessor. Its high velocity 5.45mm round caused horrific wounds and in its “trial by fire” in the mountains of Afghanistan in the 1980s, the Mujahidin often believed the Soviets were using “poisoned bullets” as the Afghans’ rudimentary first aid was unable to cope with the massive internal damage the 5.45mm round did to unarmoured guerrilla fighters. While the regular infantry were armed with the full stock AK74, some units such as paratroopers, reconnaissance units, scouts, AFV crew and Special Forces were armed with the folding stock AKS74 – with a rigid and robust side folding mechanism replacing the weaker “under-folder” system used on earlier AKs. Later production runs of the AKS74 included the AKS74’N’ which incorporated a rail on the side (almost

Armoury E&L AKS74N

identical to that mounted on Dragunov SVD sniper rifles) to allow the bulky IPN58 night vision scope to be fitted and it’s this particular model that E&L have decided to replicate. So, with history out the way let’s look at the AEG. First impressions count and the E&L AKs74N screams “quality” at you before you’ve even opened the box. A smart black box with a minimalist logo and a subtle list of box contents in deep red is a far cry from the usual airsoft fare; I’m so used to boxes covered in images of the gun, the contents, endorsements etc. and here E&L treat you like an adult. You know what you’ve bought so let’s give you a discrete and tasteful package to keep it in! The box contents are somewhat Spartan compared to most AEGs on the market today. Aside from the rifle, you’re treated to a well-made midcap magazine and oddly, a small replica plastic soviet rifle oil bottle – a nice touch but perhaps nicer still if there had been a little lubricant in it suitable for AEG maintenance? Clearly not a “starter package” gun but to be fair, the chargers and batteries often lumped in with an AEG are not that great.

“MOST AIRSOFT GUNS, IF WE’RE HONEST, GET MADE ON THE CHEAP. THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TOY GUNS THAT, BY AND LARGE, SORT OF FEEL LIKE TOY GUNS; BUT THIS AK, THIS WAS SOMETHING ELSE. RIGHT FROM THE OFF IT HAD THE WEIGHT, THE FEEL AND EVEN THE SMELL OF A REAL FIREARM.” shall later see, were actually wrong in this case, as later ﬁeld tests showed the hop to be just short of excellent and I can’t see a replacement being necessary at all.. It just doesn’t look that substantial. Sitting alongside the battery compartment is the fuse unit which takes small box fuses rather than the earlier glass cylinder types found many AEGs and there is a good bit of room for manoeuvre with the wiring. The wiring however did turn out to be a minor hiccup with the model I had chosen to review but more of that later. With a battery ﬁtted and the top cover closed the E&L AKS74N once again looked more like a real steel bullet chucker than a toy gun and there would be a reason for that. Like many “licenced” AEGs, E&L have gone to a lot of trouble to make their contribution look the part; but more importantly E&L have used workshops and tooling usually used to make AKs and retooled them to make airsoft guns. With these babies you’re

THE FEEL OF REAL STEEL As I’ve mentioned previously, this AEG even smells like a real rifle; that unmistakeable blend of oil, wood and steel. The outer steel casing has a slightly oily feel to it and I found it hard to believe I was not holding a real Russian assault rifle. In my misspent youth I’d covered “foreign weapons” on a course in the infantry and having held a real AK (actually a Chinese type 56 if we’re going to be pedants), I can honestly say that I was expecting to remove the top cover and see a recoil spring and bolt! In fact though, lifting the top cover off (and it comes off like most AK based AEGS, the same way a real one does by depressing the release catch and gently lifting it off) reveals a capacious battery compartment that extends through the front handguard all the way to the gas parts. If you were so inclined you could easily put some seriously long custom batteries in there. The charging handle/dust cover connects to a spring rod (again built like a real AK rather than the way companies like Cyma spring their covers) and pulling this back reveals the hop unit. At first I thought this hop unit looked a little flimsy and might need replacing but I was still pleased to see increments marked on the hop to allow you to recall exactly how much you needed for a given weight of BB. First impressions, as we www.airsoft-action.co.uk

Armoury E&L AKS74N

getting as legally close to a real AK as you’re going to get in the UK… Everything about them is spot on and it’s not aluminium and pot metal, its real steel.

EXCEPTIONAL BUILD QUALITY Out of the box this rifle chronoed on .20 Blaster BBs at a blistering 395FPS (RedWolf usually downgrade these as part of their sales package to safe UK levels but as I picked mine straight up from the show, it was still rocking out at “continental” FPS levels) and so I had mine dropped down to a more moderate 350FPS before taking it to a local site for a field test. My friendly engineer, Phil at JD Airsoft, commented that he couldn’t believe how well put together they were inside and other than discovering that the battery clip wires had been poorly crimped in, internal build quality was exceptional. High praise indeed, it was now just case of seeing how it skirmished. While my pals assured me that the high torque motor, type 3 gearbox and tight bore barrel could easily handle any upgrades… well with all that in the receiver already, I didn’t feel it really needed them. The only upgrades I was interested in giving this AEG were purely cosmetic for that classic “Soviet” look and a quick bit of eBay shopping kitted me out with a Russian rifle sling, a Soviet era bandage wedged in the stock and a Russian army tourniquet wrapped over it to make a comfier cheek rest (bear in mind if you fit these “vanity” items you won’t be able to lock the stock in the folded position!) I was blown away… Actually the other team was blown away; time after time after time. Rate of fire with a 1500ma 8.4 volt battery was amazing and with a tight bore barrel fitted as standard by E&L, it was a case of, “if I pointed it at someone, well… they were getting hit”! I don’t think in all honesty I’ve ever fielded an AEG “out the box” (bar spring degrade) so accurate and so consistent. While my chrono tests were done with my standard .20 BBs I found that on the skirmish site this AEG was far happier with .25s and the resulting grouping at range was worth the FPS trade off. I also felt the hop would be capable of easily lifting even heavier shot.

“I DON’T THINK IN ALL HONESTY I’VE EVER FIELDED AN AEG “OUT THE BOX” SO ACCURATE AND SO CONSISTENT. ”

A MINOR NIGGLE As a woodland skirmish AEG this riﬂe excels and with its sturdy side folding stock it’s not bad in tight corners too and should delight the CQB gamer. While I’d love to say it’s the perfect AEG there are one or two niggles that I’m going to have to live with. Firstly I was somewhat disappointed by the battery wiring issue but Gaz from Redwolf assures me that in the 70 or so of these they have sold to date, only mine has had this issue 22

June 2015

so I can let that slide, but more importantly I think E&L have dropped the ball a little with the magwell.. It’s a tiny niggle but it’s still a bit irritating. The problem is, that while most AK AEGs have a plate inside the magwell to prevent you loading a mag in too deeply (and possibly damaging the feed tube) this one doesn’t. You have to really know your AKs to get a smooth reload and I can see someone unfamiliar with the “underhook” mechanism used to load an AK getting frustrated… all for the lack of a thin 30mm by 50mm steel plate and it’s something I might seriously try and have added to mine. Equally as annoying as the magwell issue is magazine compatibility. The supplied E&L mag, as you would expect, fits perfectly, Classic Army and Tokyo Marui mags fit well (with a little bit of wobble) but other AK mags I own, such a Cybergun and Cyma, needed trimming with a file and pair of clippers just to fit them into the magwell. All that’s fine if you know what you’re doing but frustrating if you are a Luddite like me and it takes you a day to work out why the mags won’t fit! For the price though, you’re looking at an outstanding AEG. A rock solid external build, excellent internals, fantastic accuracy and a blistering rate of fire. Its versatile, it’s got classic lines and won’t look out of place in a MilSim or an open day. Sure you’re going to need to have it serviced and downgraded to be able to use it out the box (and RedWolf do this to all their E&L sales as a matter of course) and that should hopefully spot any other possible issues. Yeah you’re going to have to be careful what mags you use and how you load ‘em but it’s a small price to pay – in every sense of the word - for such an excellent package. So what can I say other than, this one’s a keeper really and I had to say to the guys at RedWolf “send me the bill, I’m keeping this one!”

tech specs BRAND: E&L AIRSOFT HOP-UP: ADJUSTABLE BAR TYPE WEIGHT: 3.7KG LENGTH: 965 MM MAG CAPACITY: MID CAP 100 RDS POWER: AROUND 400FPS MOTOR: HIGH TORQUE BATTERY SIZE: AK STICK TYPE SHOOTING MODE: SEMI, FULL AUTO COST: AROUND £330

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‘THE PLANTATION’

GARETH “GADGE” HARVEY IS TAKEN BACK 25 YEARS AS HE VISITS AN EX-PAINTBALL SITE HE USED TO PLAY AT, WHICH HAS NOW GROWN UP AND BECOME AN EXCELLENT PLACE TO SLING PLASTIC EVER SINCE I’D HEARD THAT Tim, Mark and the team from Urban 6 were opening up a new woodland site, I was keen to give it a visit. I was keen for a couple of good reasons; for a start I’d only ever had a good time at Urban 6 sites in the past but, most importantly, this site was really on “home ground”. “The Plantation” is Urban 6’s new Staffordshire site deep in the Hollington Woodlands, a mere stone’s throw away from the Racecourse/Market town of Uttoxeter where I’d been bored stupid growing up as a teenager! To add more coincidence to this visit, The Plantation was originally a paintball site… the same paintball site I’d visited to escape that small town boredom 25 years ago; the same site that got me hooked on woodland skirmish gaming… So how had it changed? Well, overall for the better. Games that were once a case of simple woodland “capture the ﬂag” faded from memory as I battled across ammo boxes to assault a downed Lynx helicopter, desperately trying to blow it up before its defenders

June 2015

could secure it – but I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s start at the beginning… Local knowledge meant that my colleague James and I arrived well in time for the start of the event, which was a good thing as we’d been warned by the organisers that the car park wasn’t too big and the initial opening event was completely booked out. So after wedging the Saab tightly in between some other player’s motors, we headed to the safe zone to meet everyone. The Plantation’s safe zone is clean and well laid out, with plenty of space and even with a staggering 120 players booked on, there was plenty of room for everyone to lay out their kit and get set up under the covered bench areas. It was pleasing to see proper toilets (separate for “GI Janes” and “GI Joes”) rather than porta loos and the safe area shop was well stocked with everything you need to rain plastic death on your enemies, from smoke, to pyro, to a bewildering assortment of BBs in different weights, makes and colours.

Site Review THE PLANTATION

Grabbing a hot drink (tea, coffee and squash are free all day) we spent a few minutes talking to the players as we waited for the safety brief to start. The player base at the event was diverse and refreshing to see. The attendees covered the whole spectrum of airsoft from hire gun players in rental kit, casual players in combat trousers and hoodies (and even a pink tutu!), through to players tricked out in full on multicam loadouts - the main impression we got though was that everyone was here to have fun, rather than expecting some epically serious MilSim experience! Before long Mark stood upon the central “pulpit” and delivered the Urban 6 safety brief with a liberal salting of humour to keep the players engaged throughout. As with most good sites, Urban 6 have realised that you can’t subject players to 30 minutes of rules droned out in a monotone and expect them to take it all in and so have learnt to keep the rules to the point, clear and injected with enough jokes to keep people listening. Still chuckling from the safety brief, James and I chronoed our AEGS to check they conformed to site levels (350fps for AEGS, 450 for DMRs and 500 for bolt actions, with the latter two having a 30 metre minimum engagement distance) and found they luckily passed the test (if you’re wondering why I was a bit worried, check out my E&L AK74 review in this issue!) Badged up into “Yellow” and “Green” teams, we headed off for the ﬁrst mission - and what a doozie it was! The marshals explained to us on the green team that a friendly helicopter had been downed in a forest clearing and we had to protect it for 40 minutes until it could be secured. At the same time the opposing force were attempting to overrun us and blow the helo up. With our team allowed to respawn three times each during the game and the enemy being on a constant regen, it was already looking like a real meatgrinder before the game even started. James and I dug in and selected mutually supportive arcs as we hunkered behind an old RAF fuel drop pod (the scenery/ cover in this game zone was frankly amazing and made you

“WITH 120 PLAYERS ON THIS GAME ZONE IT WAS A TARGET RICH ENVIRONMENT AND AFTER A WHILE I DECIDED IT WAS UNSPORTING TO KEEP KNOCKING THEM DOWN FROM BEHIND COVER AND DECIDED TO GO “HUNTING”…

feel like you were in an action movie). The yellows came at us like a Viet Cong “human wave” and I’d racked up 10 kills before changing my mag! With 120 players on this game zone it was a target rich environment and after a while I decided it was unsporting to keep knocking them down from behind cover and decided to go “hunting”… Fatal mistake and before long my three lives were up. The game was quickly reversed and on the attacking side it was just as heavy going. I’m usually conservative with my ﬁre, using up a bottle of BBs over a whole day if I’m being heavy handed but I managed to burn through three and a half AK74 high caps in the ﬁrst mission alone! I swapped shooting people for shooting pics for the next two battles, which required the attacking team to take out two MILAN anti-tank posts (Deactivated real ones no less!) that were dug in around a castle-type structure in a bowl-like

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depression in the woods. Here the “paintball” origins of the site showed clearly and while “Medieval Castle” fortiﬁcations are not my thing, the players clearly loved it and it was a very tough game to complete as the attackers. Even though trenches had been cut into the “bowl” to supplement the spring foliage in the zone, it was still a tough position to assault but the lack of natural cover was neatly circumvented by the Urban 6 guys. Marshals accompanying both sides regularly popped dense smoke grenades to aid the assault and the defending team were assigned a marshal controlled pyrotechnic mortar, able to lob a pyro charge into the attacking troops (pyro “killed” outright within 5 metres unless you were behind hard cover). This castle game also demonstrated how this opening day was very much, in Mark’s words, “suck it and see” for Urban 6 (I once served in the same unit as Mark so I’m always worried when he says things like “suck it and see” !), as they saw games that looked sound on paper have a literal

June 2015

“trial by fire”. In this instance it was clear that the defenders regen might need relocating, as it was hard for them to safely get back into the fight once the enemy had closed in. The key to a good site in my opinion, however, is not always getting it perfect first time round but to be honest with players in incorporating feedback and adapting games from event to event. After a very welcome lunch (free as part of the walk on or rental fee) of hotdogs, crisps, doughnuts and fizzy pop we bombed up for the next game and I decided to switch to “sniper” role with my trusty Dragunov and see how the site plays from a “longball” perspective. I should probably have stuck to my AK as the next game was quite up close and persona! The first game after lunch involved a “meeting engagement” in a “shanty town” type village. While these sort of game arenas are nothing new in airsoft (or in paintball) the

Site Review THE PLANTATION

whole atmosphere was increased no end by liberal amounts of coloured smoke and it all felt a bit Apocalypse Now at times. We attacked first and were hampered by attacking into the wind (even with a scoped DMR I couldn’t land a shot on AEGs firing back downwind) and the incredibly dense rhododendron bushes. Of all the games of the day I think this one needed a real tweak, as both teams had one way into the game zone which caused a real bottleneck. Trying to flank through the bushes was almost impossible but with perseverance I was able to get round the sides of the encampment and snipe into the centre, taking out a few yellows unaware of why they were being shot in the back. Frustratingly I’d left my pistol at home and so was unable to press the advantage and at “end ex” we found that in both turn rounds of “the village” game the yellow team had the upper hand. During and after this game I heard a little bit of chuntering and the odd bit of cheat calling (from both sides) and in 15 years of playing airsoft I have to say this happens at nearly every event, particularly after lunch when players feel sluggish and the temptation not to trek back to the respawn is there for some. I was however pleased to see the Urban 6 marshals grip this quickly by placing a player marshal on each side in the village game and, at one point, even sending a player off for a short period in the day (something I’d like to see more sites stick to their guns on!). On the whole though, sportsmanship from the player base was good but more importantly, when it wasn’t, the marshals were on it. I always say that you can’t really prevent a poor player turning up - but you can prevent one staying! It had been a beautiful spring day so far, perhaps a little breezy in some areas but sunny and warm, until the last game when the heavens opened up. This finale involved the mother of all airsoft props, a high tech “bomb” with a series of keys and passcodes to activate it (and a belching cloud of “toxic gas” when it went off). The bomb was guarded in a wooden outpost by the green team and the yellow team had to first gain the bomb controls in the village, before moving on to assault the bomb’s guardians and set it off. I was back to shooting pictures not people and while I saw one or two players (who as veterans really should know better) get stroppy about hits, as an impartial observer I actually saw everyone playing fairly overall. One player who was “cheat calling” and getting het up was told to go back to the safe and cool off. This was a good call as I always feel that it’s not actually cheating that can change the atmosphere of the game, its people getting angry about it. Experienced players should really be telling marshals as, at Urban 6 they care and they WILL sort it. It’s probably worth saying at this point that the marshal team were incredibly professional (and easy to spot in their bright red tops) and always paying attention to the game, throwing smoke down to help open up bottlenecks, watching out for newer players or just encouraging a team for that extra push forwards.

At the end of the engagement thick smoke billowed out of the “bomb” and I was gutted that rain on my lens and spare lens had ruined pics of this excellent prop as it was demonstrative of the attention to detail and care that Urban 6 put into every aspect of their events! Overall Airsoft Action had a great day at The Plantation. It was a well marshalled event and the scenario design was well thought out and, even though the event was a “ﬁeld test”,

“GAMES THAT WERE ONCE A CASE OF SIMPLE WOODLAND “CAPTURE THE FLAG” FADED FROM MEMORY AS I BATTLED ACROSS AMMO BOXES TO ASSAULT A DOWNED LYNX HELICOPTER, DESPERATELY TRYING TO BLOW IT UP BEFORE ITS DEFENDERS COULD SECURE IT.”

most games held up to contact with the reality of playing them. Facilities and staff were excellent and if I were to offer any criticism it would only two things: Firstly that the site perhaps needs some game zones “opening up” by cutting routes and tunnels through the rhododendron bushes; although having a chat with Mark and Tim it was clear that this was high on their list of “things to do”. Secondly, we felt that perhaps even 100 players is a little more than some of the arenas can handle and either the arenas need to be enlarged, or the site capped to perhaps 80 players. Absolutely fantastic game areas can become frustrating if you can’t patrol more than a few feet without stumbling upon the If you’d like to play at The enemy! Plantation, the next game day On the way home James and I mulled is on 31st May and walk-on fees over our experiences at “The Plantation” are just £25. Places are limited and decided that while it might need some so visit www.urban6airsoft.com pruning, this plantation could only grow to book on. from strength to strength!

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AL SCRIBBLER REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO AND DISCOVERS THERE IS MORE TO WATCH OUT FOR THAN JUST BBS WHEN PLAYING AIRSOFT IN BOSNIA. Photos by Harry Imager

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS THE BOSNIAN CLIMATE HAS COMPLETED THE DESTRUCTION that the shelling started. Inside this abandoned textile factory on the outskirts of Sarajevo, the scars left by bullets and shrapnel are still visible – shattered windows, caved-in roofs and walls blackened with smoke. Twenty hard winters have left paint peeling and the factory’s cavernous halls partly flooded and the building, derelict since it was shelled during the war of 1992-95, is collapsing slowly into ruin. But, though derelict, the factory is far from deserted. I’m watching eight armed and camouflaged figures creeping warily through the labyrinth of debris and rubble. The factory, once on the front line between the Bosnian government forces and the besieging Bosnian Serb army, is now the scene of a more benign contest – it’s one of several areas regularly used for training and competitions by Bosnia’s growing airsoft community. 30

June 2015

Alan is a leading member of a Sarajevo airsoft club, “The Inglourious Basterds”. Though the country’s airsoft community is still small, with only a few hundred members nationwide, airsofters in Bosnia have some enviable advantages. The factory where I’ve met Alan and the Basterds today is the kind of close-quarter battle training environment that airsofters in the UK would be hard pressed to match – as well as the relatively open spaces of the factory halls, the workshops, stores and ofﬁce spaces are a maze of twisty passages, all alike, which offer tremendous opportunities for short-range ambush and counterattack. The Basterds run games outside the city as well. Overlooking the city is Mount Igman, a skiers’ mecca after the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo and the ﬁrebase for Serb artillery batteries shelling the city during its three-year siege in the 1990s. Now, its Alan’s preferred area for rural training

International BOSNIA

25-30 other airsoft teams) into a nation-wide airsoft association and contests – though, as elsewhere in Bosnia, the risk of along the lines of UKARA. Official recognition could smooth unexploded ordnance is always present; the siege was finally out a lot of obstacles for the Bosnian airsoft community and broken by NATO airstrikes on to the guns firing from Igman, in a country still awash with bona fide firearms from the civil and unexploded cluster bombs and shells still lurk in the woods war, airsofters face some unique challenges. At present, airsoft which cover the mountain’s slopes. guns are legally classed as “weapons”, which makes importing The club has also benefited from the sort of mentoring them tricky – mail order guns are likely to be seized by customs, that most UK airsofters could only dream of. International peacekeepers based near Sarajevo, including last “INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS BASED NEAR SARAJEVO, INCLUDING LAST YEAR year a contingent of British reconnaissance troops, have A CONTINGENT OF BRITISH RECONNAISSANCE TROOPS, HAVE PROVIDED THEM provided them with tactical WITH TACTICAL TRAINING AND ADVICE – AS HAS THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT’S training and advice – as has the Bosnian government’s OWN DOOR-KICKING HOSTAGE RESCUE TEAM, THE SPECIAL SUPPORT UNIT.” own door-kicking hostage rescue team, the Special Support Unit. More tangible support has come from SHOT, a and driving to neighbouring Croatia to buy airsoft equipment isn’t always practical. The country’s glacial and complex political police and military equipment wholesaler which has sponsored structure means that progress here won’t be easy or fast but the Basterds for the last year – meaning that even though the club may be small, it’s lavishly kitted out with drop leg holsters, a single voice for Bosnian airsofters will add momentum, Alan body armour and other assorted equipment. hopes. More official acknowledgement, however, is proving hard to Alan’s keen to make the case for airsoft as more than come by. Alan’s big project is to build the Basterds (and Bosnia’s simply battle re-enactment. The Basterds run outdoor survival and map-reading training as well as their tactical exercises, he points out, making the club a great way to get younger people interested in the outdoors – most of the club are in their thirties and they’re pushing hard to recruit younger members. Away from the front lines, Bosnia’s mountainous terrain makes it perfect for hiking and climbing, and skiing – temptingly cheap in winter – verges on a national obsession, with the Winter Olympics still regarded as one of the proudest moments in the country’s recent history. But there’s little structure for young Bosnians keen to get into outdoor activities, with the youth organisations of the Communist era now just a memory and the result is that a generation of Bosnians are growing up without much appreciation of their country’s wild places. Airsoft may seem an unusual gateway to the outdoors for many Brits but it could fill that need in Bosnia, Alan believes. Even if Alan’s plans for a national airsoft federation bear fruit, he’s very clear about how he wants the hobby to develop in Bosnia – staying true to its informal roots. “I don’t want it to become a competitive sport,” he says. “At the moment it is all about cooperation – there is no scoring of matches, it all depends on honesty, people admitting when they’ve been hit. It’s very important to me that we keep it this way.” If you’d like more information, Alan can be contacted in the first instance via hphotography@mac.com

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Kit & Kaboodle KIT AND KABOODLE

KIT AND KABOODLE RICHARD BELL RETURNS WITH HIS LATEST ROUNDUP OF KIT THAT HAS CAUGHT HIS EYE RECENTLY.

Claw Gear Jackets Claw Gear is a Swiss-based manufacturer, located at the foot of the Alps and has been around for some time, although what was around 5+ years ago has changed - quite considerably and for the better by the looks of it. The product range that they are now bringing to market is quite vast but the core focus is still on garments (base layers, jackets, tops and uniforms). They provide their different systems in a wide range of solid colours and camouﬂage patterns to ﬁt most user’s kit set ups. The jacket you see pictured is the “HARPAGUS” soft-shell in their grey colour, “Solid Rock”. Being a European-based company does help on the cost and the delivery time from the retailer “Armamat” is outstanding. Manufacturer: www.clawgear.com Retailer: www.armamat.com

“OPFOR MC-R” Magazine Carrier The OPFOR MC-R magazine carrier is a polymer constructed system designed and manufactured by the US-based company, Limitless Gear. It is designed to hold a single 5.56mm 30rnd-sized magazine and I have been comfortably using my PTS PMags with these for the past few months. It has two key features, the ﬁrst being that it can be run both in a normal position or inverted depending on user preference. The second is the attachment design which is referred to as RSEE (Rapidly Scalable Equipment Ensemble). This is the easiest, quickest and simplest MOLLE mounting system I personally have ever used and if you visit their website you can see this mechanism in action. Currently they are available in Coyote Brown but Black and OD versions should be available by the time you read this article. Manufacturer: http://www.limitlessgear.com/ Retailer: www.tactical-kit.co.uk

Wiley X “Ballistic Eye Wear” The model you see pictured here is the Advanced Ballistic Protection “PT-1” model with “smoke lens”, although Land Warrior Airsoft have a huge range from Wiley X. One of the primary features that attracted me to the Wiley X range was not only the quality and level of protection that all their tactical eye wear provided but what came as standard in the package: Reinforced zipper-topped hard case; spare Clear and Light Rust lenses; cleaning cloth and x1 instant “Anti-Fog” wipe and a sunglass leash cord. Compared to others on the market that is one very complete and versatile package for any user. Manufacture: https://www.wileyx.com Retailer: www.landwarriorairsoft.com www.airsoft-action.co.uk

THE MAN WITH NO GLOVES

NIGE SITS DOWN WITH RUSTY FIRMIN, A REAL-LIFE SAS HERO AND VETERAN OF THE IRANIAN EMBASSY SIEGE IN LONDON MY FIRST WORDS WERE, UNUSUALLY FOR ME, almost tentative; “Err… Hello… Is that Rusty Firmin?” The voice on the other end of the phone was clear and precise; “Yes, it is. Who’s calling?” So began a series of telephone conversations and meetings that would eventually ﬁnd me driving along country lanes in the South of England, on my way to meet a man who, over the intervening months, I had come to know and count as a friend; Mr. Rusty Firmin. For those of you who don’t know, or are not aware of it, on the 30th April 1980 a group of six armed terrorists stormed the Iranian Embassy in London, taking 26 people as hostages in the process, including the Police Ofﬁcer who had been on duty at the embassy that day. Over the next few days negotiations took place, as Police and other units tried to end the siege without bloodshed. Unfortunately the terrorists had other plans and, frustrated with the apparent lack of progress towards their freedom, shot and killed a hostage before throwing his body

June 2015

out of the embassy onto the pavement outside the front door. What happened next has gone down in both Regiment and Television history as, under the stare of massed news cameras and broadcast live, Operation Nimrod was given the go-ahead and the men of 22 SAS conducted an assault on the embassy to rescue the remaining hostages. Many books about the operation have been published but if you really want to know what happened, there is only one book worth reading: “Go! Go! Go! The SAS. The Iranian Embassy. The deﬁnitive Story the hardback edition.” Written by Rusty Firmin and Will Pearson. Rusty Firmin was a Blue Team Leader and 3rd in command at the rear of the Embassy. I am absolutely delighted that Rusty agreed to be interviewed and although I cannot print everything we spoke about, I hope you enjoy reading “The Rusty Firmin Interview”. Nige: What did you do before joining the Army and why did you join? Rusty: “Before joining the army I was a paper boy and a

AIRSOFT ACTION EXCLUSIVE

guy at school who didn’t like school, I always wanted to be a footballer but at five foot two and seven stone dripping wet, I was too little. My adoptive father could see I was heading for bad times - long hair, tight blue jeans, and Cuban heel boots and already in trouble with the Police. My father frightened me and said they would let me off if I joined the army. He took me to the Recruiting Office where I passed the physical side very easily, did the tests and somehow ended up in the Junior Leaders Regiment, Royal Artillery stationed at Bramcote, in September 1965.” Nige: What Regiments did you serve with before the SAS? Rusty: “I was with the Junior Leaders from ‘65 to ’67, then 49 Field Regiment Royal Artillery ’67 to ’73. 1973 to 1977 with 29 Commando Royal Artillery, then 1977 to 1992 with 22 SAS.” Nige: What was the Commando course like? I’ve never done anything like that, was it as tough as people say it is? Rusty: “I’ll be honest with you, I did mine with the likes of John McAleese, that’s how I met him. Ginge Johnson, another great guy who ended up on the same SAS selection as me. The commando course was quite tough but I was always fit anyway and I’m not being funny when I say I found the fitness side of it pretty much OK. It was the same with the SAS selection, it was hard but I never struggled.” Nige: How did you feel when you were accepted for selection? Rusty: “1977 I’d had enough of playing football for the army as my first career. As far as 29

Interview RUSTY FIRMIN

Commando went, I was always playing football and I decided that I needed another challenge, so I applied for the summer selection, 1977. It was very, very hot that year and once again it was six months of hard work, sweat, tears, pain and at the end I was told that I had passed selection and to “go and get [my] beige beret from the QM’s department” because I was going to B Squadron. I was told to report to the new B Squadron Sargent Major and be introduced to the Squadron along with some other good friends. “I’d already done the para course while in the Commandos, B Squadron were going to Northern Ireland and we went into B Squadron because we didn’t have to go and wait another month to six weeks to do the para course, we just went straight in, in early ‘78.” Nige: Where were you when they said to you “Rusty, you’ve got to go and do a job in London?” Rusty: “I was at home when the bleepers went off and, being on the Counter Terrorist Team, we were already due to go on an exercise that weekend. However, once I saw the operational digits on there, “9999”, I went over to get a briefing like everybody else and was told it was an incident and to wait out. “Eventually we were on the way to London, via The Army School of Languages, in Beaconsfield, down the M40 to Regents Park and that’s where we remained, between Regents Park and the Iranian Embassy at 16 Princes Gate, for the next six days. “Whilst there I was an assault team member, a Lance Corporal, with the Blue Team. As things progressed I was told that, as a Lance Corporal, I would be in charge of the Immediate Action Plan, which is a plan that you carry out if, in the event, you have to go in straight away and rescue the hostages. “During the third day there I was told by the officer that I would be taking command of the Blue Team so with that, having been woken up and told that, I was fairly much elated. It was real challenge and I had the whole of the Blue Team, who were great guys to work with and the rest is history. “We planned, prepared and rehearsed

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“WHEN I SAW THE FACE THAT I RECOGNISED – AND THE GRENADE IN HIS HAND - IS WHEN I TURNED HIM ROUND FULLY STILL AT ARM’S LENGTH AND FIRED TWO BURST OF MP5 AT HIM.” for the events that lay ahead, knowing at this stage that we were in support of the Metropolitan Police, it was their operation and we were supporting them - however, events changed on the 5th May. “That evening when the Press Attaché at the Iranian Embassy, Mr. Lavasani was dumped on the street, having been executed by the six brave Saddam Hussain backed terrorists. “My job, along with the rest of the Blue Team was an assault on the stronghold, where five terrorists were killed, one terrorist got out alive and the hostages were released.” Nige: I guess a lot of our readers are probably thinking: “What was it like to come face to face with Faisal and know you had no option but to shoot?” Rusty: “Faisal was the second in command of the terrorists, also by now known to us as really “the bully”. When the assault to rescue the hostages, which was the mission, went ahead, I went in the library window at the back, along with rest of Blue Team. The actual guys who went through there were the six of my team, with the four guys who were going to clear the cellar, who followed us in. “Gunfire inside the building… Flash bangs going off inside the building… Smoke… Gas that had come out from the flash bangs… Screaming… The loud bang that initiated it… Broken glass all over the stairwells inside and mad panic eventually by the hostages that were now being manhandled down the stairs by our red and blue teams. “Some shouting and pointing from the first floor by The Mink and John Mac. I didn’t have a clue what was being said but obviously there seemed to be a problem. 36

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“The problem was that the pointing was directed at a specific guy. He was trying to hide his face as he was coming down the stairs, whereas most people were trying to exit the building and just wanted to get out. “I took a step over from the stairwell, grabbed the guy who was trying to hide his face and spun him round using the green olive jacket that he was wearing and I’d grabbed hold of, to ID him. When I saw the face that I recognised - and the grenade in his hand - is when I turned him round fully still at arm’s length and fired two burst of MP5 at him. He fell lifeless to the bottom of the stairs. I went down. I had no gloves on. I checked the pulse in his neck. There was no pulse. That was mine and Faisal’s only meeting. “The last thing that I saw, when I was the last man out of that building on the exfiltration, was Faisal’s lifeless body at the bottom of the stairs.” Nige: When it was all over, did you head back to Hereford immediately, or was there more to be done before you could relax and maybe enjoy a celebratory beer (or two)? Rusty: “When it was all over we went back inside the Royal College of General Practitioners, which was the holding area for B Squadron, at 14 - 15 Princes Gate, right next to the Iranian Embassy. Packed our kit and changed into civilian clothes before being driven back to Regent Park barracks by the Police. There we were told we were going to have a meeting and eventually the Prime Minister, William Whitelaw and Dennis Thatcher came in to thank us all for what we’d done and a few crates of beer showed up, which those that weren’t driving helped themselves to. “The short briefing over, the guys got back into the Transit vans and Range Rovers and slowly made off in small packets of vehicles back to Hereford, stopping via The Greasy Spoon at Cirencester in the early hours of the morning. Then it was back to camp, lock the garages up, put your kit away and wait to be told what’s happening the following day.” Nige: Before we move away from the siege, just one last question about it: Why “the man with no gloves”? Rusty: “The man with no gloves… I’m ashamed! “Myself, John Mac and some other guys were watching the World Snooker Final between Alex Higgins and Cliff Thorburn. We’d stood to and stood down over six days as deadlines came and passed. Normally when we came back in from a stand to I’d take my gloves off and put them down the front of my body armour, ready for the next time. The one and only time I actually needed my gloves was the resolution to rescue the hostages. “Out I went with my team and once I got outside and realised I’d got no gloves, I wasn’t about to go back in and get them, that was for sure! A dead body had already appeared on the doorstep of the Iranian Embassy and this time we were going in to rescue the hostages. “The Police snipers took the pictures of me with no gloves at the back door (which is quite a prominent picture these days) and I had some copies sent to me after I got back to camp - only to find out… Yes, caught on camera! I eventually picked my gloves up when we went back to change into civilian clothes.” Nige: Although the siege is probably the most widely publicised SAS action, it was not the end of your time with The Regiment. Is there anything you can tell us about other operations you were involved in, such as Mikado? Rusty: “I am going to skimp a little on this, as it is going to be in my next book which, as an insider and from our side of it, hasn’t really been told. People have made wild guesses and you can read about it on the internet but most of it is just here say and speculation. “It’s quite an in-depth thing when you go into it. Mikado, along with Operation Plum Duff, both together and I’ve spent a lot of time making sure I’ve got our side of it right. Operation Mikado was during the Falkland Islands conflict, as was Plum Duff and there were lots of operations in Northern Ireland also. I don’t want to go into too much detail as that is what the next book is all about, along with others in Belize but briefly, Operation Mikado, which was an operation designed to attack

Interview RUSTY FIRMIN

the Falkland Islands airfield, with little or no intelligence and actually, I wouldn’t be here to tell this story had that operation gone ahead. It was a suicide mission - two C130s attacking with no air cover, do me a favour.” Nige: After fifteen years, what made you decide to leave not only the SAS but the Army as well? Rusty: “By the time I’d carried out 15 years in the SAS I was 42 years of age, so I decided to leave and collect my pension, well my army pension anyway. Some of the reasons for this decision are also in the next book but I had a great time in the army and met some very good friends. Some of them are still alive, some of them have unfortunately passed away but if I had my time again I wouldn’t change it.” Nige: I know there is probably quite a lot that has happened since then but I’d like to fast-forward to the present and talk about something I know is close to your heart. I recently had the privilege to attend your “Iranian Embassy Siege Presentation” a short while ago in Hereford, which was in aid of a charity called “Pilgrim Bandits” and for which you are an Ambassador. How did you become involved with the charity? Rusty: “While I was still living in Hereford I had an email, asking if I could do a talk for the Pilgrim Bandits, who I’d never heard of. I did a little research but things went quickly ahead and I ended up leaving Hereford whilst working for the Sultan of Brunei’s Security. A little bit later I found out more about the Pilgrim Bandits and had, by then moved twice more and was then living on Dartmoor when I was asked if I could do the odd talk for the charity. In those days it was a very young charity but I could actually see that they were trying to give a life back to those who had been severely injured in conflict. It wasn’t just “let’s go for a bike ride”, it was “let’s give the guys a life back; let them feel that life’s worth living” and how could I help. “I thought I could try to help motivate people like that and those that supported it but actually, I found out very quickly that there was so much to these injured personnel that had so much still to give, that I wanted to be part of it. So I did a number of talks, presentations, and book signings and stuff like that and have done so over the last three to four years. Eventually the CEO from Pilgrims asked if I could do a talk to the guys who were preparing to go on the “Cockleshell Hero” trip last year. “I went down and met up with a great group of guys who were doing tremendous training on the water and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I did the talk with them, had a meal with them and drove back home. I hadn’t been at home 15 minutes when I had a call from the CEO, who asked me “Rusty, the guys would like you to become an Ambassador for the charity, what you think?” I asked him to give me ten minutes so that I could talk it over with my wife, Torky and then called him back to say of course, I’d be delighted and asked him what he wanted me to do. “It started off all very low-key but has now got much bigger, with companies becoming involved and taking on Pilgrim Bandits. This year alone I have done a fair bit with Pilgrims but, with the book and the film coming out, the first part of the year has really been taken up with that however, I have made time to do what events I can and still have an awful lot to do this year. “”Always a little further” is a really good motto, we don’t do sympathy, there are no boundaries and we hope that people involved with the charity, for example the seriously injured in particular, have a life worth living again. I am proud to be an Ambassador for Pilgrim Bandits and if time permits, I have been asked to go on the Yukon Trip to Alaska later in the year.” Nige: You mentioned an upcoming book and film, can you tell us a little more about those? Rusty: “Having written “Go! Go! Go!” I have always tried to do a second book. That book is now ready, it will be published by Osprey and is called “The Regiment: 15 Years in The SAS”. It is an autobiography from when I was born, through to 1992 when I left The Regiment. It’s due out on 20th July in London and the 21st in New York and I am obviously

looking forward to the launch and all that goes with it (if anything). The main crux of it is everything from birth… adoption, the training, the ops, the good times, the bad times and the fuck ups! There will be lots of un-published material, some of which is possibly controversial but, when all said and done, you can’t please everybody and I never came into the world to please everybody. What you see is what you get I’m afraid, there is no bullshit!” Nige: So what about the film? Rusty: “If you look on my website, you will see a link to the film “6 Days” which Icon films have taken on and filming should start shortly, probably in the second quarter of this year. I am Technical Advisor on it as well as being a part of it. There is no exact release date yet but possibly as early as sometime in 2016. I am still waiting to see who will play the various parts but it is The New Zealand Film Corporation’s next film and part of it will be filmed here in the UK, as well as in New Zealand.” Nige: What can I say, except a huge thank you Rusty? It has been a massive privilege to sit a chew the fat with you for a few hours and I think I am speaking for all our readers when I say good luck with everything you are doing and I cannot wait to read your new book and see “6 Days”. Footnote: The name “Firmin” is derived (partly) from a pre-1066 French word meaning “steadfast and resolute” and I cannot think of a more fitting or apt name for Rusty!

For more information about what Rusty is up to, take a look at his website: www.rusty-firmin.com The book “Go! Go! Go! The Definitive Story” hardback Written by Rusty Firmin is available signed to individuals and despatched from his web site. His new book is called “THE REGIMENT: 15 YEARS IN THE SAS” written by Rusty Firmin, is available from Amazon or signed personally and despatched from Rusty’s web site. To find out more about the Pilgrim Bandits, visit their website: www. pilgrimbandits.org

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OPERATION VIPER STRIKE HOSTED BY RAPTAC JAVIER FRANCO, OF “ONE GRUNT’S OPINION” ON FACEBOOK, REPORTS FROM A MILSIM EVENT IN THE STATES WHERE THE PLAY IS AS CLOSE TO THE REAL THING AS POSSIBLE OVER THE HILLS AND THROUGH the forest moves the Ranger column into the valley. They are on their way through hostile territory with the goal of establishing a new FOB, in the hopes of taking the fight to the Taliban in a sector near the Pakistani border. The mission is no small task in a steep terrain environment, which is in firm command of the Taliban, who are watching from the high ground and waiting for the right moment to strike. What the Rangers don’t realize is that first contact is coming sooner than expected – and much more violently than they ever prepared for. The column clears the woods into an opening near the future site of their FOB, where they can see the surrounding area. So far, the column has encountered no resistance and the locals are elusive. It is this silence that unsettles many vets as they move in formation. It is in the eerily quiet moments that they know something is coming. First contact opens up suddenly, breaking the morning silence with an IED explosion hitting the lead element. Then gun fire erupts from 12 o’clock of the column, engaging right down the middle of those in the lead. The Rangers scramble to lay a base of fire as they are shaken by a hard first blow. As they try to shift on the enemy firing, a second line of gun fire opens up on those trying to manoeuvre. The leading portion of the column is caught in a textbook L-Shaped ambush with devastating gun fire cutting men down and creating a mass casualty scenario that no one saw coming. Two squads are down and in disarray. The Rangers fight to treat the wounded and regain control in a fire fight that claims casualties every second it continues. The harsh first lesson and first contact would not end until the Taliban fighters withdrew melting back

into the hills they clearly commanded. This is how Operation Viper Strike hosted by RAPTAC started, a metaphoric bucket of cold water to shock the players into realizing that this wasn’t just about slinging bbs. This wasn’t a weekend pickup game or the popular big ops one is used to seeing on YouTube! RAPTAC excels in simulations that put players into the role of combat, not just the look of a soldier down range. This makes them stand apart from the long time, big game template that most players are accustomed to. This was an immersive experience that needed players ready to dive into a role and be

“RAPTAC IS A CONSTANT PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL ASSAULT THAT DARES YOU TO QUIT BECAUSE IT’S JUST EASIER THEN HANGING IN THE FIGHT.” www.airsoft-action.co.uk

uncomfortable at times, to create a unique experience in the world of airsoft. RAPTAC is not the ﬁrst to go in this direction with MSW making a big slash out west… but, it is the only one in the East working to bring airsoft to a new level of immersive simulation. This is an organization in its infancy toward something new for most in the east.

WHO IS/ARE RAPTAC? They are veteran players comprising members of the wellknown Raptor1 MilSim team on the east coast. At least three-quarters of their roster is made of currently serving and retired Marines from a wide range of combat skills. These are experienced players of airsoft and veterans of the live combat

“THE LEADING PORTION OF THE COLUMN IS CAUGHT IN A TEXTBOOK L-SHAPED AMBUSH WITH DEVASTATING GUN FIRE CUTTING MEN DOWN AND CREATING A MASS CASUALTY SCENARIO THAT NO ONE SAW COMING.”

June 2015

that MilSim tries to achieve. This makes them ideal candidates for cadre and organizers of an immersive simulation like Op Viper Strike. Along with the task of cadre, the staff takes roles within the game to mentor the players experiencing the event and drive gameplay. With their background and experience players get ideal leaders that can relate real-world skills and tactics into implementation that the players can follow. As the event developed the leaders would have objectives and the mentors instilled their knowledge of the best tactics and procedures to execute their missions. But even with this guidance there were mistakes, which became learning opportunities in a constantly ﬂowing scenario. Everything the players did had consequences – both positive and negative putting the player ﬁrmly in the driver’s seat towards deciding the event’s fate. With this came frustration at times as the players learned the slowed down, often eerie anticipation that

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happens when you know there’s an enemy out there but the rules of engagement hold you back. Because the Taliban had no rules of engagement they could strike at random, at any time… and they did! It was 24 hours of harassment driving those young Rangers mad, unable to engage in a sustained engagement. Instead, they would face unarmed protesters at their gate; receive a crash course in diplomacy; and learn that just going for the kill would have greater consequences to the more important objective of making friends, not enemies. By the morning of the second day the Taliban were in firm control of the terrain surrounding the FOB. Patrols that left the Ranger position were quickly engaged by the hit and run fighters that defined the insurgency warfare the Rangers could not adapt to all weekend. The night hadn’t been any easier, with constant probing attacks and late night all out assaults on the U.S. position. It was in the final hours of the campaign that the order was given for an all-out assault on the Taliban stronghold near the Pakistani border. What the Rangers didn’t know was that a weekend of fortification on the high ground left an IED-riddled approach that would make them earn every inch or real estate. In the end the Rangers were pushed back into their FOB; forced to pull off the mountain that just kept claiming casualties as they tried to get up to the enemy position. The Rangers outnumbered the Taliban; they were better equipped; they had air support to call in on the Taliban positions. Yet the Taliban still remained a constant thorn in the side of the Rangers that simply could not be dislodged. This was an insurgency that proved an annoying flea could drive any big dog crazy to the point of withdrawing. So ended Operation Viper Strike as quickly as it began. With the Rangers still alive and the Taliban in control of the terrain, there would be no clear victor in a battle that taught a lot of lessons to the young players that experienced it. The staff learned their own lessons finding the weaknesses within their simulation. They wasted no time in asking the players for feedback that they wanted to hear while everything was fresh in player’s minds. This immediate feedback is what will continue to drive the growth and development of this new event producer, looking to put its mark on the bigger airsoft community. These kind of events are not for everyone and for a small few that was apparent. For

others it was a hard lesson learned. RAPTAC is not the airsoft you get from most op producers. RAPTAC is a challenge to the player to survive first contact and know how to recover from that first knockdown in the ring. RAPTAC is a constant psychological and physical assault that dares you to quit because it’s just easier then hanging in the fight. In this way it will never be for everyone. You have to “will” yourself to the experience in a way that you cannot just be the customer looking to be entertained. You have to be an immersed active part of the experience and an actor in the role you accept at sign up. Growing pains is what the player base and the staff of RAPTAC are going through right now. But it is to be expected in the infancy stage of any great new company. As long as the staff keeps listening to its customers and its customers bring up their game, then both will find themselves in a new class of airsoft and bring MilSim to a level many have craved for years. It will never be for everyone and many will never want to play on this stage. But for those looking to be pushed out of their comfort zone and more realism in their airsoft, RAPTAC is on the east coast waiting for you to sign up. Javier Franco, of “One Grunt’s Opinion”.

To ﬁnd out more about RAPTAC and the events they have planned, head on over to their website: www.raptac.org or ﬁnd them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ RaptorTacticalApplicationsandOperations One Grunts Opinion can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OneGruntsOpinion

Feature COLD WAR WARRIORS

SOVIET ARMOURED VEHICLE COMMANDER, AFGHANISTAN 1988 WORLD WAR TWO BROUGHT “ARMOUR” AND “MANOEUVRE WARFARE” TO THE CENTRE FRONT OF MODERN COMBAT, IN THE POST WAR YEARS ALL ARMIES SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF ARMOURED VEHICLES IN A FUTURE WAR – THE SOVIETS HOWEVER TOOK ARMOURED WARFARE ONE STEP FURTHER. Pictures: RAY WALL (L.R.P.S)

IN THE LATER PERIODS OF THE COLD WAR of the 1970s and 1980s the Soviet Union possessed a staggering amount of “heavy metal”; outnumbering NATO almost 10 to 1 in tanks, armoured personnel carriers and special purpose armoured vehicles. So incredible was the disparity of this build-up of armoured forces in Europe, that a friend of the author once explained that in his tank regiment’s training exercises, his entire unit’s armour piercing ammunition allocation would be used up before the Soviet reconnaissance advance units had passed them. He also claimed that his unit (stationed next to their wartime deployment zone) was expected to last less than 30 minutes against a Soviet tank army. Expecting to face off against NATO on the German plains, the Soviets built up huge tank armies with all supporting arms carried in their own tracked and armoured chassis. From antiaircraft tanks, to bridge layers to towing vehicles, if the Russians needed it they probably had an armoured version… They probably had a lot of them! www.airsoft-action.co.uk

“limited contingent” and it’s important to realise that the Russians deployed less than 2 per cent of their armed forces to Afghanistan and spent less than 4 per cent of their defence budget each year on the campaign. While, like the Americans, they lost a guerrilla war against a 3rd world country, they spent far less money getting kicked out of a hostile nation! Our Cold War Warrior this month represents a section commander of an infantry unit carried in a Soviet MTLB armoured vehicle. The Mnogotselevoy Tyagach Lekhko Bronirovannyi (Cyrillic: ɦɧɨɝɨɰɟɥɟɜɨɣ ɬɹɝɚɱ ɥɟɝɤɢɣ ɛɪɨɧɢɪɨɜɚɧɧɵɣ. English: multi-purpose light-armoured towing vehicle) was originally designed as an armoured towing vehicle for anti-tank, ﬁeld and AA guns but could be pressed into service as an 11-man amphibious APC when needed. “Mnogotselevoy Tyagach Lekhko Bronirovannyi” is a bit of a mouthful for those not well-versed in Russian and, as young squaddies, we were told in “armoured vehicle recognition” lessons that the key features that made this AFV distinctive made for a better English name. We called it the ‘Mini Turret – Long Body’ (the example pictured in this article is actually an Iraqi MTLB captured by the author’s regiment during Operation Granby in 1991). The commander of a Soviet APC, whether it was a BMP, BTR or MTLB would be responsible for the infantry section but also the vehicle’s commander, dismounting for the assault to co-ordinate the infantry section if required but otherwise co-ordinating the gunner and driver in an armoured battle. As an AFV commander his equipment, as we shall see, was an interesting mix of infantry and tank crew kit. Our squad leader has dismounted from his MTLB (pressed into service as an ersatz APC) to survey the terrain ahead of him and take a breather, free from the oppressive heat of riding inside nearly 12 tonnes of armoured steel under the Afghan sun. While many infantry squad leaders would carry the standard folding stock AK74, our Sgt here has opted to carry the AKSU (more commonly sported by drivers and gunners) but he clearly normally uses an AK74, as can be seen by the AK74 bayonet hanging off his belt. Not only is the 6Kh4 bayonet a practical addition to the standard riﬂe (it cannot be mounted on an AKSU) it also doubles as a pair of wire cutters and in an emergency, can aid in opening Soviet ammunition cases in a hurry – Russian small arms ammo cases are commonly constructed as metal tins, a little like oversized sardine tins.

EARLY SOVIET BODY ARMOUR

With a massive pool of manpower to draw on, Soviet armour was built small, with a low proﬁle and with conscripts of a smaller stature expected to crew them. Their vehicles were simple, robust and cheap. Inferior in quality to NATO equivalent but numerous; as Stalin famously stated “quantity has a quality all of its own”.

ARMOURED SUPERIORITY This massive armoured superiority would serve the Soviets little good in Afghanistan though. In their ten year war of occupation from 1979 to 1989, tanks and APCs were of little use in a mountainous country with a near non-existent road network. Many armoured vehicles saw little service outside of convoy protection or serving as “mobile roadblocks” near the populated cities and towns. Knowing that they could never dominate the countryside that was “owned” by the Mujahidin, the Soviets dominated the towns and sent overwhelming armoured forces to escort supply and troops convoys venturing through guerrilla territory. The Soviets referred to their forces in Afghanistan as a

June 2015

Like many soldiers serving in Afghanistan, his traditional “Y-strap” webbing and three cell ammunition pouch has been ”lost” and replaced with a more practical “chicom” chest rig, similar to those worn by the Viet Cong and able to carry three AK74 magazines and selection of smaller items like grenades or oil bottles. While many soviet troops built their own chest rigs by sewing together ammunition pouches, elements of RD54 paratrooper webbing and the like this example is captured from an Afghan guerrilla ﬁghter. In the conﬁnes of an AFV the chest rig is a more practical alternative to belted webbing and far more expedient should the crewmen need to bail out of a burning vehicle. This practicality however, is mitigated by the squad leader’s encumbering belt with the aforementioned

“KNOWING THAT THEY COULD NEVER DOMINATE THE COUNTRYSIDE THAT WAS “OWNED” BY THE MUJAHIDIN, THE SOVIETS DOMINATED THE TOWNS AND SENT OVERWHELMING ARMOURED FORCES TO ESCORT SUPPLY AND TROOPS CONVOYS VENTURING THROUGH GUERRILLA TERRITORY.”

Feature COLD WAR WARRIORS

around his neck. Returned messages are relayed via the built-in headphones that also serve to block out external sounds of battle and the clanking of the vehicle. While a tight fit anyway, adjustable straps allow the padded tank helmet to be adjusted to a perfect fit, essential to prevent the helmet slipping forwards when heavy night vision goggles are attached to it for combat after sundown. In winter and the colder mountainous regions of Afghanistan, a fur-lined winter version of the tank crew helmet was also on issue. When fighting dismounted our Cold War Warrior would swap his tank helmet for more regular infantry headdress, either a steel helmet of field cap but for operations within and around the vehicle the helmet’s link to the intercom was essential. While many of our Cold War Warriors Soviet impressions are cheap and easy to source, it’s fair to say that this is less so in this instance. Genuine “Afghanka” uniforms in “western” sizes are becoming harder to find (although still out there on some eBay stores). Likewise, 6b2vests can set the Soviet re-enactor back up to £100 and often have the armour plates removed. A decent AK bayonet is around the £30 mark and it all starts to mount up. On the plus side, however, chicom chest rigs are cheap as chips (although its best to lightly bleach the green ones to a khaki shade for a more authentic look) as are Soviet era water bottle sets and tank helmets. The one thing that’s really not cheap is the APC. Good luck finding one of those, my mates had to go to war to get theirs!

bayonet and his metal water bottle in its canvas pouch; and further compromised by his commander’s map case slung across his chest. By the later stages of the war in Afghanistan the Soviets had realised the importance of body armour and our squad commander wears the unpopular 6b2 body armour; consisting of titanium metal plates carried within a ballistic nylon vest. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this vest, hurriedly rushed into service, occasionally created worse wounds than it prevented as the metal plates could be pushed into wounds by the force of incoming projectiles and blasts. A further break from Soviet tradition is seen in his lace up combat boots, worn in place of the traditional “sapogi” jack boots (the two could be seen worn side by side by different units in Afghanistan) and the M88 “Afghanka” hot climates uniform (confusingly part of the 1988 dress regulations but seen in service some years earlier). This uniform is possibly a newly-issued replacement as veteran’s uniforms soon bleached to almost white and while no coloured arm of service or regimental insignia is worn, the commander’s assignment to “motor rifles” can be seen in the metal collar insignia. Just visible on the Afghanka’s jacket collar is the white “collar liner” stitched into the inside. Replaced daily, the collar liner was a chore for soviet soldiers but prolonged the life of the jacket and helped keep the collar clean and hygienic. Unlike many armies in which medals and decorations are reserved for ceremonial and dress uniforms, the Red Army encouraged its soldiers to display their proficiency awards, medals and party membership badges upon their combat uniforms. Concealed by his 6b2 vest, our soldier proudly wears a “Distinguished Infantryman” award, a “1st Class Armoured Soldier” qualification and a metal badge proudly displaying his attachment to a “guards” formation. More traditional (and classically “Soviet”) is our soldier’s tank crew helmet. In service since the “Great Patriotic War” (as Russians call World War 2), the padded tank helmet solved the issue of crew injuries in armour moving quickly over broken ground in true Soviet style, by padding the crewman rather than the insides of the tank! Worn here is the summer weight version of the tank helmet, which is able to plug directly into the tank’s intercom system and conveys the commander’s orders via the throat mike suspended from the leather straps www.airsoft-action.co.uk

Event UKPSA OPEN LEAGUE - ROUND 2

“MADDERS ONE”

NIGE REPORTS FROM ROUND 2 OF THE UKPSA OPEN LEAGUE, WHICH WAS HELD IN MEMORY OF MALCOLM DOWDING, ONE OF THE UK’S TOP SHOOTERS WHO DIED RECENTLY. Thanks to OB for some of the photos used in this article. WHEN I FIRST MET MALCOLM DOWDING I had no idea of just how much he meant to so many people. Sure, I had been briefed that he had a very “interesting” history, in that he’d spent many years as an armed officer in the Police and, now that he’d retired, he kept up his shooting skills at The East Barnet Shooting Club – and I have to tell you that his skills were pretty damn awesome! Over the next couple of years we bumped into each other at various events, primarily the Airsoft Surgeon European Championships held at The Grange, where Malcolm (or “Madders” as he was known to his friends) was one of the Range Officers. The respect that other shooters had for him and the esteem in which he was held was evident and his indepth knowledge and skills were an undoubted asset to every event at which he officiated. So it came as no real surprise that, following his recent sudden demise, those that knew him wanted to commemorate his memory and the “Malcolm Dowding Challenge Cup” was created. The first event, or “Madders One” as it rapidly became known, was the second round of the UKPSA (United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association) Open League, held at XSite’s “The Outpost” on April 5th and it attracted a large contingent of shooters from all over the UK, including Airsoft Action Contributor, Mark Hurding. This was the first time an event of this type has been staged at The Outpost and it seemed like Malcolm was up to some mischief… First the generator (which had been working flawlessly up to this point) decided to pack up at 10pm on www.airsoft-action.co.uk

Saturday night as the stages were being assembled and then, on Sunday morning after the necessary parts had been acquired and all seemed back on song, the ermmm… wrong type of fuel didn’t help the situation. The reason the gennie was so important is that The Outpost is sited on an ex-RAF Station, RAF Edlesborough, which used to be a listening post and had just one primary building in which the competition was being staged. With no power on site, the generator was powering all the internal lighting – no lighting, no competition! The time taken to get things up and running again meant that the start would be delayed and to compensate for this, two stages were dropped. It also meant I had time before proceedings commenced to have a wander round and take a look at the Courses of Fire. These were many and varied, with plenty of potential pitfalls for any shooter who lost concentration for even the briefest of moments however, nothing would prepare any of them for Stage 10, the aptly named “XSite World of Adventure” (unless they had been on a roller coaster at a theme park and shot at targets as they went along….) There, at the top of a steeply inclined track sat a trolley with two seats attached, complete with lap straps. The shooter would sit in front with the RO behind and, on the go signal, would release the handbrake, draw their weapon and as the trolley sped through a doorway and along a short length of track, try to hit targets on both sides – and if you think that doesn’t sound easy, you’d be dead right! I couldn’t wait to see it in action. On a personal note, I have to say that standing there was an odd sensation as my parents were stationed here, I was born on Camp and my dad used to work in this place – and I don’t just mean RAF Edlesborough, I mean this actual building. We left RAF Edlesborough for postings in Germany (and on around the World) and this was the ﬁrst time I had been back. I was too young when we left to have any memories of it but it still felt kind of strange.

“NOTHING WOULD PREPARE ANY OF THEM FOR STAGE 10, THE APTLY NAMED “XSITE WORLD OF ADVENTURE” (UNLESS THEY HAD BEEN ON A ROLLER COASTER AT A THEME PARK AND SHOT AT TARGETS AS THEY WENT ALONG…)”

June 2015

Anyway, enough reminiscing and back to the important stuff, the competition. Malcolm spent the last few weeks of his life in a Hospice and the proceeds of both the competition and a raffle that had been organised would be donated to the same Hospice. Loads of great prizes had been donated, including a £1,000 custom pistol built by none other than Mike Cripps, of Elite Shooting Centre, which would be raffled in a separate draw. With the lights back on and briefings out of the way, four groups of shooters lost no time in getting down to the serious business of Competition Shooting. There were four separate areas and the groups would rotate through each area in turn and so I tagged along with one to see how things would work out. Like every other tournament I have been to, the overriding feature that stands out above all others is safety and the rules reflect that, with even the most “minor” of safety infringements being severely punished - and that happened on the second stage I watched. The stage involved starting from a seated, relaxed position (reading a magazine actually). On the go signal the shooter

Event UKPSA OPEN LEAGUE - ROUND 2

would drop the magazine and engage the targets, two of which were to their right and two inside a room opposite, before moving to the left (without their muzzle breaking the 180 degree downrange arc) and turning right to engage a series of popper targets at different heights along a corridor. A number of shooters had been through with varying degrees of success and the next shooter up was fairly confident that he’d worked out a good way to move through the course and, as targets rapidly fell, it looked like he was on for a fast time. As he moved down the corridor it was shoot, hit, target down, move on except as he moved past one that looked like it wasn’t going to fall, he put a second round onto it – which meant he turned back, beyond the downrange arc. It was only a fractional mistake but the Range Officer (RO) didn’t hesitate; he stopped the shooter immediately and having made clear and safely holstered his pistol, the shooter was informed what the consequence would be. In this situation the rules are very clear: tournament disqualification (although he was allowed to shoot the rest of the courses, just not as part of the scoring). I think the shooter realised what he had done as soon as he did it and accepted his DQ with good grace and acknowledgement of his error. Now this may seem overly harsh to some airsofters but remember this, before handguns were banned in this country, real firearms were used and the rules were a rigid requirement for the sport to be safe. So in all forms of “airsoft practical shooting”, the weapons are treated as though they are real and the same set of rules apply. Although the tournament was seriously competitive, the courses had been designed to be both challenging and fun and it seemed that most shooters were enjoying the very different environment. It wasn’t long before we moved onto Stage 10 and faces first frowned, then broke into wide smiles as they realised what was about to happen. To be honest, I haven’t heard so much laughing at a tournament before, as shooter after shooter strapped themselves in and tried to shoot whilst speeding towards the wall at the other end of the track (did I forget to mention that…?) To be honest, I doubt we’ll see anything similar in the future but it seemed to fit the tone and mood of the day perfectly and everyone said how much fun it was to have a go (and it was great to watch). The afternoon seemed to fly by and with the lateness of the start, the final stages weren’t completed until well past 6:00pm but while the raffle took place the final batches of scores were pumped into the computer and the winners could be announced. In the Open Division, the overall winner was Paul Courtney (892.5648 points), with Jon Cull in second (795.5343 points) and Fred Meegan in third (739.8371 points). The Standard Division was won by Justin Coopper (857.0894 points), followed by Craig Meegan in second (803.5395 points) and Matt Wyborn in third place (779.8492 points). Many congratulations to the winners and all those to took part – and to Tim Wyborn and the folk at XSite for working through all the “challenges” their first tournament threw at them, well done guys.

However, the real winners of the day will be those that benefit from the fabulous amount raised for the Hospice and I’ll leave the man behind the event, Paul Courtney, to end this article with a few words about that. Over to Paul… “I wanted to say a massive thanks to everyone who attended and to the RO’s for guiding our fellow shooter around the stages; Eve for selling all the raffle tickets and taking your entrance fees; my mate Phil for the raffle prize and the help on the day doing a bit of everything - and to our sponsors/raffle prize suppliers for the event: RedWolf, Mike Cripps (Elite Shooting Centre), Simon (Patrol Base/Halo Mill), John (Elite Airsoft), Phil (Black Veil Pistol Club), Paul VDB, Guy De Backer, Ronnie Graham, Phil my mate and not forgetting me. So to the totals and how much we have raised for the Hospice that looked after mine and your friend Malcolm in the last few weeks of his life. TOTALS Entrance fee = £900 Raffle prizes = £1800 = Blue ticket Mike’s Open gun £1120 + Pink Ticket prizes £680 Gavin’s BBQ = £125 Running total = £2825 Minus the site rental fee paid to Tim of £675 (covering trophies, targets and patches) SO THE GRAND TOTAL RAISED IS… £2,150 to be paid to the Hospice in full. That’s a fantastic amount raised on the day! Well done everyone, great effort. Thank you from a very proud fellow shooter. Paul.”

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Feature GEARTECHCUSTOMPAINT

IGGY ROBERTS IS A DEFENCE PHOTOGRAPHER AND KNOWS WHEN HE SEES SOMETHING GOOD, WHICH IS WHAT HE SAW WHEN HE BUMPED INTO CHRIS HOBBS

THE AIRSOFT BANKSY? “GEARTECHCUSTOMPAINT” IS A NEW BUSINESS in the airsoft world with the aim of giving UK airsofters a customised painting service, be it refurbishing a piece of kit that has an existing paint scheme, or painting something to give it an eye catching and unique look. GearTechCustomPaint works closely with the customer to give them a finished piece that is personal to them and the man behind the company is Chris Hobbs. Chris has been painting various things professionally for over 20 years and having run his own china and ceramic restoration company for over 17 years, he is no stranger to an airbrush. In 2014 Chris noticed increasing numbers of people asking if he knew anyone that could custom paint the various bits of airsoft kit they had. Having done the usual “Google trawl” and with very little advice other than “have a go yourself”, Chris decided to post up some pictures of Nerf Blaster commissions he had completed over the previous 12 months. He thought it would be a long shot (no pun intended) and was expecting to be laughed at, given that he was posting pictures of toy plastic guns and saying to people this is what I can do to your rather expensive AEG. However the response was incredible and within a matter of hours, people and retail outlets were asking if they could send things for him to work on. The procedure he uses is quite straight forward. The customer sends the item with either a very specific finish and colour scheme in mind or in some cases, gives Chris more or less free reign. Together they discuss the various options and problems that may arise until both settle on how the finished piece will turn out. If the customer is able to supply an image for Chris to work from then that usually makes life a little easier and speeds the process up. Chris’ goal with each new commission is to use the techniques he has picked up over the years to produce a realistic-looking finish and where appropriate, to simulate wear and tear that an item would expect to pick up in the field. The prices are cheaper than most people expect, starting at around £30 for a pistol, £50 for a standard size assault rifle with one attachment to be painted in one of the more basic camo schemes. Prices then go up to £70 for the more complex patterns such as Kryptek and Digital. GearTechCustomPaint can also incorporate any team logos or other art work, as long as the customer is able to supply a good quality image. Along with the more conventional finishes people might

expect to see, GearTechCustomPaint is also able to offer themes of popular game and film genres such as Halo Titanfall and Aliens, with a “Colonial Marine” scheme. Chris said, “It has been surprising the number of people that have shown an interest in these sorts of finishes. There are already a couple of commissions on the bench to be sprayed in the previously mentioned themes”. Turnaround times currently are between 7 to 14 days for the majority of pieces, which allows for proper drying times between each coat or colour laid down. Once a piece is finished the customer is contacted and photographs of the product are sent to them to get their feedback, before courier delivery is arranged. Local pickups and deliveries are also possible if the distance is not too great. The response to this new venture of Chris’s has been incredible and he is very grateful to the airsoft community for

their support and words of encouragement. Setting up GearTechCustomPaint has given Chris the opportunity to try something he has wanted to try for a long time and, in return, give his customers something they are proud to own and will hopefully turn a few heads on game day. I look forward to seeing what happens with this small business in the rest of 2015. People can contact Chris directly via email at: GearTechCustomPaint@outlook.com Alternatively you can ask to join the GearTechCustomPaint Face book page by searching for “GearTechCustomPaint”, where you can see all the works completed so far and the new commissions as they leave the bench. The limit is your imagination; even then you can leave it to the expertise of Chris to give your AEG a custom look beyond even that! www.airsoft-action.co.uk

DMR FEVER: PART TWO KRIS ROBERTS PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF LAST ISSUE AND FINDS AN ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION ABOUT DMRS IN AIRSOFT SCHOOL IN SESSION Our task was simple; defend the village for as long as possible. Moments ago we had stormed these hooches ourselves in a race against the clock, now it was our turn to hold off the opposing team and fight hard for each second. I picked up my DMR and looked for a starting point. My plan was to set up near the edge of the village and pick off distant targets, but allow myself space to fall back deeper into the village centre should the need arise. I headed for the outermost hooch, but quickly noticed that it was quite isolated and any retreat would be across a wide area of open ground that would be saturated with enemy fire. Instead I opted to set up in an over-watch position, using that first hooch as bait and lure the enemy players into my kill zone. The game started with a high level of tension as the attacking players spread out across our front. They pushed forward with determined speed as the timer ticked away and I watched with growing excitement through my scope as the shadowy figures flitted between the trees. With the courage 54

June 2015

afforded to them with infinite lives they sped closer and closer, growing larger by the second in my crosshairs. My fellow defenders and I had only one life each with which to slow the assault, we had to make them count. My finger wrapped around the trigger and I fired. Shot after shot leapt from the barrel and soared across the fifty metre gap towards my targets with fantastic accuracy. One strike, two, then three... Cries of “Hit!” were called and hands were flung up in rapid succession. Four... five... Incoming fire was now slamming into the walls of my cover. I ducked, popped around the corner and quickly tagged a sixth player with a single shot to the belly. Adrenaline was flooding into my bloodstream as I noticed another target charging one of the hooches to my far left. I took aim but my hands were shaking and the scope swayed wildly. I leaned hard into the wall and took a breath. Three shots snapped into life and I took out the threat. This seemed to draw more enemy fire than ever and I tucked my arms in tight and searched for a target. A voice in

Feature DESIGNATED MARKSMAN RIFLE

my head was screaming to fall back; I had done all I could from here so I should start running. I edged around the corner; BBs flying all around me. I saw my target lying prone behind the outer hooch, looking at me and firing frantically with automatic bursts of fire. I fired... missed, fired again... missed. At this point I lost all thought of what was happening to the rest of my team, I had to get this guy. I shuffled position and popped up a few feet to my left. We fired in the same instant, our rounds passing in the air. As I watched my two rounds slam into him I felt a gentle tug at my sleeve. He’d clipped me. Sleeve or not, a hit is a hit, so I called myself out and took the short walk to the dead zone, chastising myself for not falling back and staying in the fight but also congratulating myself on eight kills that I doubt I could have got with any other AEG in my arsenal. A quick check of my ammo and I reckoned that I had only fired twenty rounds, a fantastic ratio considering not one of those shots was closer than forty metres. The game soon ended and a quick check of the timer showed that they had beaten our time by thirty seconds. A deserved victory but it was time I could have clawed back if I had fallen back to a better position. Still, for my first outing with my new DMR I was very pleased. A great achievement with lessons to learn, it was a result that left me hungry for more and eager to adapt.

BIRTH OF A FRANKENGUN Last month I spoke brieﬂy on the variety of options available to anyone looking to purchase or build their own DMR. Each of us

has our own personal situation to consider in terms of budget or where we intend to use our new toy, so my first step was to research what power restrictions were in place at my local sites, and what rifles were immediately available for sale in the area. It didn’t take long for me to find that the power limits ranges from 400fps to 450fps depending on where I went, so my first decision was to find or build a gun that would fire at 400fps to cover all instances. For the rifle itself, I had no interest in spending a ton of money on a new gun to then pull it apart and add expensive upgrades. I have always played Airsoft on a budget and I see no reason why a DMR cannot be built at minimal cost. If money is no object then great, you can save yourselves a lot of time by buying top end parts and off you go but if (like me) your playtime budget is minimal, don’t despair; with patience and research anything is possible. One thing that should never be underestimated - and it’s something that I think the Airsoft community has in spades - are good friends who are willing to share their skills and expertise. I had no clear idea of what model gun I wanted, I simply wanted something that was lightweight and did the job I was asking of it. One of my usual money saving suggestions is to

“WE FIRED IN THE SAME INSTANT, OUR ROUNDS PASSING IN THE AIR. AS I WATCHED MY TWO ROUNDS SLAM INTO HIM I FELT A GENTLE TUG AT MY SLEEVE. HE’D CLIPPED ME.”

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Feature DESIGNATED MARKSMAN RIFLE

buy a gun that can use the magazines from one of your existing guns. Seeing as I regularly use a short barrelled M4 and have plenty of magazines kicking about my first thought was to look at M16 style rifles. It seemed like a no-brainer to me as a platform on which to build, that was until I started reading horror stories about the Version 2 gearboxes they use cracking under the increased pressure of a high powered spring. Further research did nothing to build my confidence, so I began looking at other platforms on which to build, only to find that they had their own problems too. It seemed apparent that whatever road I took I would be faced with differing pros and cons and ultimately it was going to cost me far more than I wanted to overcome the issue. By sheer good fortune a team mate of mine was selling a rifle that could solve my problems. It had started life as a custom build using a real mixture of parts but the goal had always been to get as much power out of the gearbox as was reasonable without destroying it. So it was I was handed a customised M4 with a Magpul style tan and black receiver and a Noveske rail. Fitted with a 16” silver outer barrel and a G&P Marine stock it was just about the ugliest gun I had ever seen but, it was light as a feather and at its heart was a Modify reinforced gearbox casing designed to withstand the hammering of high power springs. All it needed was some TLC and finishing off. Beggars can’t be choosers so, despite the rising vomit in my throat, it was with a glad heart that I handed over my cash.

BRING FORTH THE WIZARD For me it’s all about how the gun feels in my hands and that it performs accordingly, how it does that though remains a mystical cocktail of science and magic that befuddles my mind, so knowing a good gun tech is an absolute necessity. Luke Harris is my go to guy here in Taunton, so it wasn’t long before I was in his workshop with my new rifle and a box of spare parts hoping that I hadn’t wasted my money. Only time would tell and I would have to wait a couple of weeks to see what the results would be. *For a more detailed description of the work carried out and the parts used please see the sidebar.* In the meantime I ordered a cheap scope from eBay. With a 2x to 6x adjustable magnification it was more than enough for Airsoft usage and it helped to keep the costs down so that I could buy a range of different ammo weights for testing. The gun came back tighter and running smoother than I had ever imagined and the results on the range exceeded expectations. With a skilful camouflage paint job by another friend to help with the looks and the addition of a simple fore-grip for comfortable shooting, I was left with a rifle that performed, looked and felt the part. Everyone has offered their own suggestions of course – add a silencer, a bipod etc. but I’ve been around long enough to know what I feel comfortable with. Bipods and the like add bulk and weight to the front of the gun and I’ll never use them. I’ve opted for a simple, lightweight rifle. Yes, there is always room for improvement but I can approach this as and when I feel it’s necessary. In short I’m very happy, and it didn’t cost me the earth to get here.

FILLING THE VOID So is there a place for DMRs on the skirmish field? In my opinion – Yes! My initial scepticism to the idea has been royally smashed. DMRs not only have a place but they can be a massive asset to a team game. But a word of caution, used incorrectly these guns can cause harm and a greater level of pain to your target than they may be used to. Used foolishly and tempers will flare quickly and you could find yourself on a banned list. Be civil, if you are unsure of a safe shot then don’t take it. Carry a sidearm for those targets that slip inside your minimum engagement range. Remember that if you choose to play as a Designated Marksman then you are the Marksman; the rifle is just the tool you use to help get the job done. Happy Hunting.

Techwork Carried Out By Luke Harris Parts selected from parts supplied: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Modify Torus 7mm V2 gearbox Modify 21.6:1 Modular Gear set G&G SNC Reinforced Piston Guarder V2 Steel Spring Guide Speed Adjustable Trigger G&P M170 Motor Systema M120S Spring Modify Torus Speciﬁc Tappet Plate Army Force One piece Cylinder assembly SHS Aluminium Nozzle ASCU V2 MOSFET SkyForce Aluminium Piston head Angle Of Engagement Correction though piston head spacing 16AWG MppE Wiring Loom throughout

Work carried out: • ASCU Control Unit Supplied • ASCU data cables soldered direct to trigger board • AoE correction to piston assembly • ASCU modified for 16awg wiring • 16AWG wiring throughout • Motor contacts soldered direct • Modification to selector plate to work with ASCU FET • ASCU V2 chosen as it utilises an electric trigger board which when used in a semi auto platform offers superior reliability since there is no mechanical switch assembly that can stall and need to be reset with a blast of full auto. • Angle of Engagement Correction – Involved using a Faucet washer between the Piston head and Piston Body to space the piston assembly back so that the sector gears pickup tooth engages the initial piston tooth on a face rather than an edge, prolonging the lifespan of the first piston tooth – the common piston fail. Future recommendations would be to switch to high output Lipo (7.4v only) for better trigger response (less voltage spike), along with a tougher piston and further attentions to hop – could simply be experimenting with Flat hop or R-Hop.

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June 2015

THE LIGHT FANTASTIC

Debate LASERS

IT’S DEBATE TIME AGAIN AND THIS MONTH GADGE ASKED FOR YOUR VIEWS ON WEAPON MOUNTED LASERS IN GAME. HE WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU FELT YOUR RIS LASER SIGHT TO BE A REAL TACTICAL BOON, OR WAS IT JUST THERE FOR THE LOOKS? FROM A PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW I’ve never quite seen the attraction of a laser sight (I owned one briefly but binned it as I only played daytime woodland games at the time), as to me they’ve always let me know when someone’s aiming at me and quite often they also tell me where the shooter is if there is any smoke on site... Like tracer rounds, lasers work both ways! But for others they not only complete the loadout but clearly help them with “rapid target acquisition” or we wouldn’t see so many on site - so maybe I’m just doing it wrong? Aside from the cosmetic and “tactical” elements of laser sights, we also asked our readers whether they felt that lasers posed a safety issue in game and whether they felt that (on the whole) laser sight users were responsible or on the flipside, had they ran into any really dangerous play? Many of you felt that a laser sight was an expensive indulgence and mild annoyance if anything but a few of you found they really helped, not only to mark out your own target but to point out targets to others. One player even finds his laser to be a “deterrent”, as the flickering beam of the laser across a doorway often makes the enemy think twice about storming in as they know the doorway is covered; in this case the laser giving away the user’s position is used as an advantage! This proved to be quite an interesting debate, so without further ado, I’ll let you have your say: Milsim Tim Cleverly: “I don’t see the point in them in my opinion. Had more than my fare share pointed at my eyes and it’s annoying to say the least.” Will Wilkes: “I see the benefits as well as the cons with them. You’ve got the obvious safety issues that everyone goes on about but for me, as long as no one is intentionally aiming for eyes, I’m all for them. At the end of the day, you’re being shot at with high speed projectiles in this game we play, what’s wrong with the use of lasers if they’re being used sensibly. “In terms of their practical usage, like you have said, they can work both ways much like a tracer can. I’ve used one in the past but don’t rely on one, nor do I need one to complete any loadout. They can give your position away in the dark or when there is smoke about but I can see their uses. Yes you may see that someone has a bead on you if you see their laser but likewise it can keep heads in at CQB sites when people can see a laser bouncing off the corner they’re standing on, which can give your team a tactical advantage. So really, when used intelligently and sensibly they can be a good addition to your kit on the field.” Dave Renniks: “Visible lasers aren’t all that easy to see in woodland and in CQB it usually doesn’t make too much difference in terms of visibility. They can work well for quick

target acquisition, but I’ll only use them really in IR form with night vision.” Muzz Frank Murray: “If you’re having to use a visible laser at the distances we engage at, then you need help in a far greater capacity to hit the target, maybe stick to a 120+ shell in a grenade launcher. If you’re using one just for the purpose of showing off or looking ally, thinking you’re Marion Cobretti... meh!” Jez Armstrong: “Personally, outside of marking targets for other people I really don’t like lasers in airsoft. There’s the eyesight issue when the users are irresponsible and they let people know you’re out there. Personally, I just opt for a red dot or point shooting in close quarters. I think it comes down to a question of trusting other people’s judgment. As this Airsoft, it doesn’t look like you can.” Andrew Lane: “I’ve seen people give away their position when they used lasers. I have also had them shone in my eyes before. The issue is that there are a lot of lasers available that are not safety rated and could cause damaged whether intentional or not.” Mark Law: “I have a green laser on my gun and played safely for many years. Now it still sits there with no batteries for the look as I am used to it.” Ryan Berry: “On a pistol or in CQB I could see it being useful, as you can fire without aiming, but any other time they scream ‘I’m here shoot me!!’” Dave McDermott: “Cannot see the use in them, even if you have the newest, shiniest hop system, own the tightest of tight bores, or any sort of fancy kit to gain the advantage, we are not exactly hitting things at vast distances now are we? Nor will a bbs trajectory ever follow an immaculately straight line even at closer ranges. All you’re going to do is risk dazzling others at best, or putting eyesight at risk at worst, without gaining any real benefit other than “looking the part” If you need tools to help, just invest in a decent sight of some sort only risk involved with those is a dent in your wallet.” Scott Scorch Chambers: “I have one on my sniper rifle for designating targets. It gets very tedious when you start trying to describe an enemy location without it. ‘Behind that tree, no not that tree the one to the left. No, the one on my 2 o’clock. My 2 o’clock, not yours!’” Chris Sinclair: “I never liked the look

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Debate LASERS

of peq2 boxes, too bulky looking. Although the idea of being able to guess your shot area is good so I got a peq10 for my M4. The problem with lasers is safety but you don’t just have to consider other players but aircraft when outdoors.” Glen Cheal: “I do not see the point of them in airsoft. I often use a CQB load out and never had the need to have anything like a laser. If I need to mark a target I do it by pointing with my hand then firing so others can see where I am shooting.” Tim Jacobs: “I find a laser very useful in CQB. Not necessarily for targeting, though. Pointing it across a doorway so people who want to come in can see it makes them more reluctant to try. I’ve found it VERY effective in that regard.” Alistair Cockeram: “IR Lasers - you don’t know it is on your face so no blink reaction to save your eyes, if someone deliberately wanted to target them. It’s down to the common sense of the operator. Might be ok at a MilSim but at your average skirmish I’d not be keen.” Alex Hunt: “For me it’s a little of both. I have 3 red lasers on my P90 Predator just for looks, I mean it’s called the Predator it would be silly not to have 3 lasers on it! Whereas on my Minigun I now have 6 green lasers, one attached to each barrel. This helps a lot with aiming as it’s essentially a fire from the hip gun I couldn’t always tell if it was level and pointing in the right direction. You may ask why 6? Because I couldn’t easily see one green laser in daylight and needed to make sure it was balanced as the barrels spin.” Derek MacLean: “Might be useful in CQB but elsewhere there’s no point. I think the power on these lasers is so low it wouldn’t cause damage if just passed over someone’s eyes. The only way it could do damage is held for a period of time. But to be honest a really good light does the same thing in CQB so don’t see the point in using them at all if there is the slightest risk to anyone’s eyesight.” Jai Fraser: “We’ve used them in night games where only a couple of people had night vision. They shone their visible laser

at targets and everyone opened ﬁre on the end of the beam.” Michael Mooney: “Most lasers are up to 5mW power but we would be safer if there was a limit of 1mW total. Also the eye is more sensitive to green light so using red light is probably better for safety and stealth but limiting teams to using red or green lights would help target ID. “Personally I don’t run lasers as they don’t give me a lot of gain for the extra weight but now with laser based infrared lights for civilian use is happening in the US and the fact Sony has descent night vision tech in its camcorder’s this might change in the future.”

We asked Airsoft Action’s resident eye expert, the “Tactical Optician” for his professional view. “Eyes discriminate shades of green better than other colours, but they are not more sensitive to one particular colour. In other words, the colour of the laser is essentially irrelevant to the amount of damage it could cause. Time of exposure & power are the two issues. Limiting laser power is very difﬁcult due to import of foreign made diodes without power ratings. It would be ideal, but realistically impossible.”

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CAMO CHAMELEONS

THIS MONTH JERRY NOONE CASTS HIS EYE OVER A FEW CHOICE BITS OF GEAR FROM HELIKON-TEX AND FINDS THAT THEY SUIT HIM VERY WELL! Pictures courtesy of Helikon-Tex IN THE PAST IF YOU HAVE WANTED either a hard wearing tactical fleece or soft shell garment, it was a case of looking at either dubious reproductions at a reasonable price, or the real deal which (sadly) was often a buck too much for most airsoft players. However, with the continued rollout of the Helikon-Tex Range of clothing and equipment from Poland, in my opinion there is now something which will benefit the general player who wants to replicate “The Look” without having to spend every penny in their pocket! Helikon-Tex was established in 1983 and has been producing clothing for the military, emergency services and the police since then. Trousers and shirts, waterproof and breathable jackets, fleece jackets and headgear are all available within their range. Although there is an extensive range on offer, the two

June 2015

items of clothing that initially gained my attention were the “Patriot” fleece and the “APCU Level V Soft Shell” jackets. Both garments were initially available in OD Green, Coyote Tan and Black, although that range has now broadened and are designed to work as part of a versatile, layered clothing system. Soft shell garments are becoming increasingly popular as they offer extremely light weight along with high levels of water/wind resistance and breathability and the “APCU Level V” jacket from Helikon conforms very well to these requirements. The face fabric of the garment is a 98% Nylon/2% Spandex mix and feels surprisingly solid given its light weight. The cut is reasonably generous as it is designed as a predominantly “shell” or outer layer to be worn over other insulating garments. There is no lining and the seams are not tape sealed so I would never describe it as waterproof, although the water repellancy applied to the outer face fabric worked well as new and has given consistently good performance to date. The jacket is well constructed and although the seams are not “flat locked”, they are very low profile. The main closure zip is a good quality YKK. In terms of features the jacket has a hood which rolls away into the collar, venting pit zips, two large venting pockets on the torso and a small pocket on the upper arm of both sleeves. Wrist closures are a simple, low volume fabric/”velcro” affair. There are drawstrings for the hood (including volume adjustment) and the hem. “Velcro” is used to good effect throughout, with space for your favourite unit patches and name tapes. RRP is £49.99. The tactical fleece jacket has always been a favourite item of mine and I’ve owned a few over the years. I’ve always had a hankering for the hooded version available from one of the leading manufacturers of tactical gear but never been able to

Kit HELIKON-TEX CLOTHING

justify the price tag of several hundred dollars! The “Patriot” fleece jacket from Helikon is 100% Polyester (like any fleece garment) and is exceptionally well put together. The outer is a very “soft touch” pile, whilst the inner lining has obviously been placed to assist with abrasion resistance against base layers. I have found the fleece quite highly wind resistant, so the lining adds to this aspect too. Once again, the outer has been treated with a water repellent. Construction is of a high quality throughout, and there are features aplenty! The hood is generous, certainly big enough to go over a Protec helmet or similar and has a small peak; ideally I would have liked to have seen this wired but then you can’t have everything. The fleece has venting pit zips that correspond nicely with those of the soft shell garment, although neither these nor the main closure zip are YKK. There are two deep pockets at mid height on the torso, one on either arm, one “pass pocket” on the lower left sleeve and also a good big “poacher pocket” on the lower back. Wrist closures are nicely achieved with dye cut tabs and “velcro” closures. Once again there are drawstrings for the hood and hem. There is a hard wearing fabric section on the elbow/lower of each arm, exactly where you rest when firing from the prone position, which will add to the overall durability of the garment. And you get all of this for under 40 quid! Both of these garments have been in my personal gear inventory now for the last four years and are still going strong. Helikon gear has proved to be great value for money and the jackets are still going strong even though I’ve given them some stick!

CAMO UP! To date I’ve avoided going down the “Multicam” route but with the continued adoption of the Multi Terrain Pattern (MTP) by UK Forces, I thought it was about time to look into “bargain” alternatives; I’ve been proud whilst overseas to have worn my DPM with pride and I see no good reason for me to be looking at the new pattern differently. I’ve recently received a number of Helikon “Camogrom” (quite obviously based on the CRYE pattern!) pieces from Military1st for evaluation; Combat Trousers, (£29.99), Combat Jacket (£69.99), Level 5 Soft Shell (£49.99), Waterproof Parka (£69.99) and a classic boonie hat (£12.99). Coming “out of the box” there are a couple of favourites already springing out; the Level 5 Soft Shell is the same design as my original Coyote Tan version, so that one I can already recommend to you. Next up, the Combat Trousers in a solid

NyCo mix fabric; these are fully featured given their price tag and I’m looking forward to putting these through their paces. The Waterproof Parka is a “must have” for the UK and it follows the “KISS” principle by having only the features necessary. I would have liked to see a hem draw cord and some wiring in the hood, although it will be simple to rectify these two small design omissions. Sadly at the time of going to print I’ve not received either RET (Breathability) and Hydrostatic Head (Waterproofness) ﬁgures, but I’ll update this in a review at a later date. The two remaining products I’m ambivalent about. The boonie hat is very well made, but just a boonie in another camo pattern. Military1st have now taken delivery of a lower volume, tailored boonie which I feel will be better. The Combat jacket is simply that; although solid as a rock I personally prefer the more technical lightweight garments. Whilst I’ve not had the chance to put “Camogrom” up against issued MTP yet, I have put it up against genuine CRYE Multicam and the colour/tone differences are negligible. CRYE work with premium brand manufacturing partners and their build quality is second to none. I would suggest that the “Camogrom” pieces I received are to this standard; they are certainly ruggedly and solidly put together and in my opinion will stand up well on the airsoft ﬁeld of combat. If “issue” style camo is not your thing though, Helikon-Tex produce all of their gear in multiple colours and patterns. They even have some of their excellent clothing in my favourite PenCott “GreenZone” pattern which is absolutely ideal for UK woodland sites in the summer so I’m looking forward to getting out to some games with this kit very, very soon! Are Helikon-Tex garments as good as the “big names”? Well, they certainly are a “name” themselves these days and time and wear will tell. On the surface there is no reason that with good maintenance they should not perform every bit as well as the big brands. I’ll bring updates as they get put through the wringer... Check out the range and other gear from the same manufacturer at www.helikon-tex.com. All Helikon-Tex products are available in the UK from www.military1st.com and most good tactical retailers. www.airsoft-action.co.uk

Read this!!!

Field Area Sales Manager UK If you enjoy the thrill of closing a sales deal and you are looking for the opportunity to join one of the best companies in the Airsoft business, then we want to hear from you! We want to strengthen our presence in the UK and are looking for an Area Sales Manager, UK to join our international sales force. We offer the successful candidate a job with great personal and professional challenges, backed up by our team in Denmark. We expect the succesful canditate to have a proven track record in ďŹ eld sales, to be self motivated and extrovert, to be able to manage time and accounts effectively and to have a clean driving license. For details about this newly created position please see our website: www.actionsportgames.com, or contact our International Sales Manager: Christian Kaae Olsen at +45 40 24 55 14 or by mail:cko@actionsportgames.com. Please send your application no later than June 15th.

Skills TRACKING

THE ART OF TRACKING IN THE LAST ISSUE PAUL YELLAND GAVE US SOME TIPS ON HOW TO EVADE CAPTURE BUT NOW THE BOOT’S ON THE OTHER FOOT AND HE WRITES ABOUT THE ART OF TRACKING YOUR ENEMY.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE TIMES when the enemy will seem elusive. Your team might have just been ambushed, with the opposing force disappearing just as quickly as they appeared, back into the depth of the countryside. It may seem as if the enemy has played its trump card and left your team licking its freshly inﬂicted wounds. However there is one weapon that you can draw from your armoury, a weapon that weighs nothing but has been used all over the world for thousands of years – tracking. Tracking is the primitive skill of hunting down prey. Native people from many countries still use tracking techniques, allowing them to hunt game which in turn provides food for their families. Many, many skills in ﬁeld craft and survival can be learnt from studying the methods of our primitive ancestors and also those of the modern day indigenous tribes from around the globe. The art of tracking is no exception to this. Tracking techniques are not exclusive to hunting animals. The same methods can be used to track down humans, in military/law enforcement and search and rescue applications. Many armies deploy combat tracking teams when searching for enemy troops and will also use local trackers because of their expertise on the subject. So after being ambushed, pick yourself up, brush yourself down, and get ready to go hunting… for the enemy.

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A TRACKER Tracking requires patience, a sharp eye for detail and a questioning mind. There is a need for the tracker to think like a detective who is studying a crime scene, piecing snippets of information together in order to form a bigger picture about the enemy which is being tracked. The ability to gather these pieces of information relies on the tracker noticing one thing: “sign”.

WHAT IS SIGN? No matter how careful a person tries to be, they will always leave some form of trail when walking across the ground. Sign forms that trail and can be visual, audible and scented. Visual Sign: Foot prints Litter Human waste Damaged grass, plants or branches Fire/smoke

Audible Sign: Talking / human noises Snapping branches / noisy movement Startled wildlife Vehicle noise Radio noise

Scented Sign: Fire smoke Deodorants Sewerage Food / cooking Smoking

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Grass which has been crushed by a boot, and inset, the damaged blades

An example of top sign with damaged vegetation

VISUAL SIGN Visual sign can be broken down into three elements; ground sign, top sign and transferred sign. Ground sign focuses on disturbances between ground level and ankle height. The most obvious example of ground sign is the impression of a boot print left on a soft surface. Details such as direction of travel, speed of movement, the target’s size and whether they are carrying heavy equipment can all be established by examining boot prints. The number of personnel in the group being tracked can also be worked out by noting the differences in boot sizes and tread patterns. Other examples of ground sign include crushed grass or plants, disturbed leaf litter and small stones or rocks which have been moved. There is no excuse for dropping litter. Not only does it say a considerable amount about the culprit’s regard for their surroundings but it will also give the tracking team valuable information about the person who dropped it. Food wrappers will indicate nationality and diet and will tell the tracker that the hunted enemy are able to replenish calories which are being burnt off by the ongoing pursuit. Dropped items of kit by a hastily retreating force can also give clues to armament and what capabilities and intentions the enemy troops have. For example, a dropped map could contain valuable intelligence on enemy positions and their planned targets, whilst a used ﬁeld dressing and discarded medical items which are covered in blood would suggest that the enemy unit have sustained a casualty. If there is a casualty within the unit, then there might also be a blood trail to follow. If the tracking operation brings you to a used enemy camp site, then study it intently. Take note of any shelter that has been constructed or signs of tents being used. Examine any remains of a camp ﬁre, paying attention to its size and any

debris which may remain in the ashes. If the ﬁre ash is still warm, then this would indicate recent activity at the camp site. However, if the ﬁre is covered with fallen tree debris and looks weathered, then this would tell you that the camp has not been used for some time. Look around the site for items of litter or dropped pieces of equipment. Take notice of any human excrement. The consistency of faeces will tell you lots about a person’s state of health and diet. The presence of vomit and blood at the site would indicate illness or injury in at least one individual. By putting all of this information together, you will have a better idea about the force which you are looking for including its health and strength in numbers. Top sign refers to a disturbance of vegetation from ankle height and above. Examples of top sign include swept grass, broken cobwebs and snapped branches. A person who is walking through long grass or undergrowth will leave a trail of moved and damaged foliage behind them. This interruption of the natural growth pattern of the foliage will show the tracker in which direction the target was travelling. The damage caused to the undergrowth will enable the tracker to work out how long ago the target passed through that A wet foot print is a classic example of transferred sign

area. Plants which have been damaged by being crushed or snapped will bruise and leak sap. The damaged part of the plant will start to discolour, slowly darkening and becoming more obvious as the time passes. Also, any sap that has leaked from a damaged plant stem will start to dry, again indicating that some time has passed since the damage was caused. Different environmental conditions will dictate how quickly a damaged plant starts to degrade. The tracker should attempt to learn these approximate times for the area of operations by experimentation. Transferred sign is material that has been moved from its place of origin onto a different surface. An example of this could be when a person has waded through a river and then walks over rocks after exiting the water, leaving wet boot prints on the surface of the rock. Another example could be mud, sand or gravel being carried by the sole of a boot and being deposited onto grass, leafs or plants.

SIGN THAT YOU CAN HEAR AND SMELL It is important to use all of your senses whilst tracking. Although a large part of following a track is based on visual sign, there could be other non-visual clues such as smells and noises being made by the target. Cigarette and camp ﬁre smoke can be carried along in the breeze, so a tracker might be able to smell these. You can sometimes hear a person who is moving through woodland and undergrowth before actually making visual contact with them. The snapping sound of someone standing on a fallen branch, or the rustling of people forcing their way through brambles are sounds that should prewarn you that the enemy is extremely close.

June 2015

Skills TRACKING

“LEARNING TO TRACK TAKES TIME, PATIENCE AND PRACTICE AND BECOMING SIGN AWARE IS THE BIGGEST LEARNING CURVE BUT ONCE YOU START TO BECOME MORE CONSCIOUS OF SIGN, YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT HOW MUCH DETAIL YOU USED TO BLANK OUT.”

THE TRACKING KIT Anybody can learn how to track. As a pastime, many people venture into the countryside to track animals so that the wildlife can be observed and photographed. When learning how to track you need start with really easy trails. Some surfaces are easier than others to follow sign on. Soft surfaces such as damp sand and muddy tracks will be better than trying to track over open moorland, a terrain which is difficult to follow sign over. It is also important to know that on more difficult tracks, there will not always be a long and obvious line of foot prints to follow. You might only have an occasional heel print, or a flattened patch of grass to work with. There are certain items of equipment that you can carry to assist you when tracking. This is called a tracking kit and can contain the following: • Tracking stick • Tape measure • Note pad and pencil • Markers • Map and compass • Binoculars • Camera • Torch The tracking stick is just over one metre in length and is used to measure foot prints and stride distance. The stick has adjustable rings along its length which are moved along the stick to record the measurements of the prints. Then, if you cannot find the next foot print, you can use the markings along the stick to help you. The tape measure is used to size the different dimension of the footprint. The measurements can be recorded in the note book and sketches can be drawn detailing the tread pattern. The camera can also be used to photograph foot prints. If different sizes of boot print and varying tread patterns are found, it could be possible to work out the numbers of personnel in the group which is being pursued. The markers are placed into the ground at the edge of the heel and tip of the toe of a boot print to give a clearer view of the prints position. The map and compass can be used to work out where a track could be leading to and the binoculars are useful for scanning the landscape for signs of the enemy. The torch can be used if you are required to track in poor light conditions, or at night.

HOW TO TRACK So, when you ﬁnd the ﬁrst piece of sign whether it is a foot print or damaged plant, stop and study it. Try to establish the target’s direction of travel and do not rush, as detail could be missed. If working with a foot print, note whether it is a left or right foot. Draw or photograph the tread pattern and measure the print. Place markers to identify the edge of the heel and the tip of the toe. When observing tracks, you should make sure that you are viewing it from the correct direction. By positioning yourself so that the print is between you and the sun will help to create more of a shadow within the print, showing up

This is what you are looking for. These spent cases would indicate that this location was used as a ﬁring position

The tracking kit

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Skills TRACKING

this could indicate an increase or decrease in the speed that the target is travelling at. Also, speedy travel through the undergrowth will cause more damage to the foliage then careful movement would. If the only print visible is a partial heel or toe print and you are struggling to locate the next impression, then use the tracking stick. Sometimes, there might not be any prints whatsoever. Instead, you will have to work with damaged vegetation and transferred sign with the occasional scuff mark on the ground until you come across more signiﬁcant disturbance. Also, be careful not to walk on any sign. Instead, keep to the side of the track as you follow it. Remember, every piece of sign that you ﬁnd will help to build more of the detail. The best time of day to track is in the early morning or evening when the sun is low. The high sun during midday will shine directly down onto a print and will not show as much detail. Slowly scan the area. Don’t just look at the ground for sign but pay attention to what is ahead of you and to the higher details. Try to put yourself into the mind of the target. Where would you be heading for if somebody was pursuing you? Check the map to try and identify likely locations that could be the target’s destination. As you work from sign to sign, be aware of any deception tactics that the enemy may attempt to employ and stay alert as there is a risk of being ambushed. You will need to work out how fast the enemy is travelling and the clue to this lays in the foot prints that they are leaving. A person who is running will have a longer stride length, so their boot prints will be further apart, with a deeper impression of the toes and ball of the feet. A person who is walking slowly will have a shorter stride length with a more complete foot print (depending on the surface). If the stride length and impression of the print changes part way along the track, then

June 2015

Mark the foot print with sticks to make it easier to see

up a bigger picture of the enemy and every boot print that you ﬁnd is one step closer to your target.

SUMMARY Learning to track takes time, patience and practice and becoming sign aware is the biggest learning curve but once you start to become more conscious of sign, you will be amazed at how much detail you used to blank out. The subject of tracking is huge, and I have really only scratched the surface here. There is some good literature available both in print and on the internet about tracking and there are also various companies who run tracking courses. Once the basics are learned, you will start to notice details that you would have otherwise missed - details that could be important when searching for an enemy force.

VIPER’S NEST OVER THE LAST FEW ISSUES OF AIRSOFT ACTION JERRY NOONE HAS BEEN GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE NEW RANGE OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND TACTICAL GEAR FROM VIPER; NOW HE BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER WITH TWO COMPLETE LOADOUTS THAT WON’T BREAK THE BANK! IT’S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE to start 2015 working closely with the great team from VIPER and they’ve given me pretty much unlimited access to their new range from word “go”. They’ve provided me not only with samples to look at and test but to all the technical information on fabrics and construction that goes behind the kit itself. I can tell you with hand on heart that VIPER now have a range of kit that will quite literally sort you from head to toe – and everything in between; not only that but their prices are sensible, meaning that you can build up a loadout piece by piece over time and still have pennies available to pay your skirmish fees. To conclude my overview of all that’s new and improved from VIPER I got together with my “White Horse One One” team mate “J” in order to get a different viewpoint than my own. I decided that we would look at the range and put together two different loadouts, one for general use and one for a bit more of a “special feel”. For the “infantry” version I wanted to put together a set of clothing and equipment similar to that you might see being worn by a current day soldier, so I needed to start with a bit of a plan! First I thought about what riﬂe I would be carrying and what ammunition load I would need for it; these days I try to play more with “realcaps” so would need to be able to carry a realistic “combat” load for my L85. My secondary in this case would be a Glock 17 Gen 4, so once again I would need a couple of spare magazines for that. As I got deeper into things it dawned on me that, in reality, what I was putting together was more “MilSim” than skirmish, although choices were made so that the setup would be applicable to any and all scenarios; for instance if I changed out 72

June 2015

the “realcaps” to “midcaps” I could be carrying a righteous amount of ammo! Ammo of course is not the only concern as for any game day you’re going to need water and some snacks along with some form of admin setup; all of this needed to be taken into account! At the same time that I was putting my own gear together I tasked “J” to have a look at a more “direct action” set of kit. Whilst my own gear would be quite generic I sent him off to look at a setup that would be ideal for an urban environment, taking into account protection, light weight and speciﬁc functionality. His brief was to create a set of kit that would be more at home in a “BHD” style scenario where, although he would be “running and gunning”, he’d need to carry all his gear with him, all day. His primary would be an L119 and his secondary a SIG P226. So, with criteria set for two very individual loadouts we dipped our heads into the sample box and got well and truly stuck in!

PBI… POOR BLOODY INFANTRY! Much as everyone these days seems to want to be a “hi speed, lo drag operator”, sometimes it’s good to start things from the basics just like the real world. There are a number of great teams around the UK like my good friends at C3 Tactical and the Combat Airsoft Group that take their training seriously, instilling sound tactical fundamentals in new players. They teach the basic skills of “soldiering” then build on these. Without being too weird about it, I really like this as I truly believe it helps new players to learn skills in a safe environment which they can then unleash on skirmish days. It instils good

Kit LOADED OR UNLOADED

safety habits, some self-worth in the learning process and really shines a spotlight on the “Honour System” we hold so dear in airsoft. And what equipment do you need for this? Just some good basics, nothing fancy required! My first consideration was clothing. I wanted a solid setup that would suit me for spring, summer and autumn play; winter play is a different deal altogether although certain elements in my clothing system could be carried through even into the colder and wetter months of the year. I started with the new Tactical BDU Trousers in V-Cam; these are a no nonsense BDU design made from a ripstop polycotton fabric, so they’re nice and tough for UK woodland. Next was a V-Cam Tactical T-Shirt which could be worn on its own in mid summer underneath a lightweight Tactical Elite Jacket. The soft shell jacket is a great piece of kit; even though it’s very light the micro shell fabric used is water and wind resistant so it will offer sufficient protection from the elements. In relation to footwear I thought about many of the woodland sites I have played over the years and the fact that whatever season you play in you will undoubtedly find some nice muddy, boggy and wet areas. This meant I wanted a high leg, waterproof boot so the choice of the Elite 5 boots in Multicam was an easy one, due to their rugged construction and the fact they have a Hydroguard waterproof membrane. For gloves I chose the Special Ops model in Coyote Tan as once again they are extremely tough and give great levels of protection. A simple Multicam ballcap and Coyote Neck Gaiter completed the clothing, although you could easily

substitute a helmet. For my load-bearing gear I wanted a “full” style plate carrier so I chose the Elite Platform which offers a lot of MOLLE real estate! I needed to be able to carry 300 rounds which meant pouching for 10 E-Mags; as usual VIPER had thought ahead on this one a pair of single Duo and one Treble Duo magazine pouch had me covered. I added a Modular Hydration Pack to the rear of the Elite Platform which allowed me to carry a 3L hydration bladder easily; alongside that on the rear left I mounted the all important First Aid Kit, whilst to the right I added an A6 Notebook Holder for my admin setup. A radio pouch was added next, easily accessible on the midright hand side and last but not least, I added a V-Pouch to hold snacks and my multi-tool. I thought about mounting my GPS on the L85 but in the end I just went with one of the Garmin Wrist Cases. This setup allows me a great level of functionality and comfort and simply adding or subtracting elements, such as changing the Tactical Elite Jacket for the heavier and more insulated Special Ops Soft Shell, means that it will serve well all year round.

GOING LOUD!!! Sticking entirely with V-Cam and Multicam it was time to change things up a gear to create a set of “direct action” gear for “J”. This needed to be more “pared down”, a lighter and more nimble loadout for use when things got a bit more fast-paced. As we were thinking about an urban environment this set of kit also needed to provide greater levels of protection. “J” stuck with the Tactical T and Tactical Elite Jacket for exactly the same reasons that I had but upped the ante by using the new Tactical Elite Trousers; I’d chosen to simply wear a kneepad when needed but the ﬁtted pads that come as standard with the Elite trousers mean that you can have full-time protection with additional comfort over longer periods of time. A V-Cam Snood was added to offer protection from BBs to the neck area, with a Multicam FAST Helmet replica topping things off and allowing sound deadening ear defenders with integrated comms to be comfortably worn. “J” chose to go for lighter weight footwear

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in the form of the side zip Multicam Special Ops boots and for gloves chose the SF model in V-Cam. For nylon gear the choice was a pretty obvious one as the “lo drag” Elite Carrier fitted the bill perfectly. This is a design that is more in keeping with the current “light is right” trend for more minimalist plate carriers, although it still offers more than enough space to carry your ammunition load, especially if you run “midcaps”. Adding a Treble Duo magazine pouch across the front of the rig allows six magazines to be carried comfortably, so with 75 round middies that will give you close to the 600 round limit for most “sims” if you’ve also got a mag in your rifle. If you were operating from a firm base then you could easily use the Hydration Pack to keep this really low profile and leave your pack safe and sound for when you needed it. “J”

“VIPER HAVE CREATED A HEAD TO TOE SOLUTION FOR AIRSOFTERS THAT REALLY, REALLY WORKS WELL AND I CAN ONLY APPLAUD THEM FOR A VERY BOLD MOVE.”

however wanted to be able to carry all the essentials such as food, water, pyro and additional ammo with him at all times so he chose to go for the One Day Modular Pack ﬁxed directly to the Elite Carrier. Once again a First Aid Kit was mounted to the rear left of this, with a V-Pouch on the right. A Roll-Up Dump Pouch rounded things out, with the chest mounted IMI Holster being the one and only part of both entire loadouts not coming from VIPER; I’m certain that they’ll rectify this soon though!

READY TO ROLL I have to say that this has been one of the most enjoyable articles to put together, working with a good friend and team mate, as well as having direct access to the manufacturer. VIPER have shown tremendous confidence in their new and updated range of clothing, footwear and gear and from what I, and we, have seen so far this is rightly justified. All of the gear is put together using solid, dependable fabrics and fittings and the standard of construction is, I believe, the best that I have ever seen from VIPER. They’ve thought from the user’s perspective, to make some innovative 74

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points and the quality of all the gear though, they are deﬁnitely onto a winning formula and I think that their investment of both time and money will pay off handsomely for them in the long run. If you’re new to airsoft, or just need to replace or add kit to an existing loadout, then I can only say that you need to give the new VIPER range some very, very serious consideration. Next month VIPER will be offering one lucky Airsoft Action reader the chance to win one of the featured loadouts complete, so make sure to check back for this competition! In the meantime to keep up to date with the new VIPER tactical products as they become available please visit www.viperkit.co.uk. You’ll also be able to ﬁnd full stockist details there too. You can also follow VIPER TACTICAL via their Facebook and Instagram pages which are regularly updated.

“Infantry” Loadout Tactical T Shirt V-Cam

“Direct Action” Loadout

Tactical BDU Trouser V-Cam Tactical Elite Jacket V-Cam Elite 5 Boots Multicam Special Ops Kneepads V-Cam Tactical Snood V-Cam Special Ops Gloves Coyote FAST Helmet Multicam Elite Platform V-Cam little design tweaks that really work and save money at the same time; if you take the Treble Duo magazine pouch for instance, these retail for £19.95 and allow you to carry six M4 style magazines. If you were buying these as individual pouches you could probably nearly treble that! As the only niggle from the whole review though, the Duo pouches are cut tight and you’ll need to work them in if you don’t want to be caught on the hop when reloading. That’s it, that’s the ONLY niggle that we had over the entire range, which I believe is pretty good going when you take into account the depth and breadth of it. VIPER have created a head to toe solution for airsofters that really, really works well and I can only applaud them for a very bold move. Given the price

Single Duo Magazine Pouches x 2 V-Cam Treble Duo Magazine Pouch V-Cam Modular Hydration Pack V-Can First Aid Kit V-Cam A6 Notebook Holder V-Cam Radio Pouch V-Cam

Tactical T-Shirt V-Cam Tactical Elite Jacket V-Cam Tactical Elite Trouser V-Cam Special Ops Boots Multicam Tactical Snood V-Cam SF Gloves V-Cam FAST Helmet Multicam Elite Carrier V-Cam Treble Duo Magazine Pouch V-Cam One Day Modular Pack V-Cam First Aid Kit V-Cam V-Pouch V-Cam

V-Pouch V-Cam Garmin Wrist Pouch V-Cam

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CHAMPIONSHIP SHOOTER, MARK HURDING, GIVES US SOME BASIC INFORMATION FOR ATTENDING YOUR FIRST AIPSC COMPETITION

AN INTRODUCTION TO AIPSC

PART 2

IN LAST MONTH’S ISSUE I gave you some background information and history regarding AIPSC Practical Pistol Shooting. This month I thought we would take a look at some basic information to help you for when you attend your ﬁrst AIPSC match. We’ll look at kit, basic safety, scoring, Courses of Fire, Range Ofﬁcials and their function and match etiquette. First let’s have a look at the essential kit required for the successful AIPSC shooter. In terms of clothing you can wear pretty much what you want as long as it’s not camo. Camo clothing is strictly forbidden in the world of Practical Shooting. Safety glasses are compulsory (or your normal glasses if, like me you’re getting on a bit and can’t see anything more than 10m away without them!) You’ll need some suitable non slippy footwear; a lot of competitions in the UK take place indoors so a decent pair of trainers are good, as are a sturdy non stretchy pair of trousers but they do need to have a belt loop. I always wear a pair of combats and a polo shirt (and maybe a long sleeved undershirt

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if it’s cold). It’s a good idea to always keep shirts tucked in, that way you will avoid any snagging on the holster or the gun. (Hats are, of course optional but can help with bright sunshine if you’re shooting outdoors). Last month I spent quite a bit of time harping on about the many rules in AIPSC, well here’s another one to be getting on with: You must wear a holster on your hip, on your “strong” side (no shoulder holsters, cross draw holsters and definitely no tucking the gun down the back of your trousers)! Your holster must cover the trigger of your pistol and must be able to retain your pistol when moving about. Remember, if you drop your pistol or it falls out of the holster during a match, you could be disqualified. So it’s wise to make sure you have a decent holster which has a locking mechanism and that you are familiar with the way it works, (I’ve been using the same “Ghost” race holster for almost 10 years now but there are several different types and brands to choose from and one to suit every budget). Magazine holders are very useful and must be worn on the opposite side to the holster. There are a couple of regulations about exactly where you can (and cannot) position your holster and magazine holders and this depends on which division you are shooting in. I won’t go into too much detail about that particular point right now but if you do want more details regarding the rules and regulations of shooting AIPSC, you can download a copy of the current rule book here www.ipsc.org. pdf/rulesair.pdf You can use any side arm you want but nearly every AIPSC shooter uses a Tokyo Marui 5.1 Hi Cappa, either in its original form or a modified version of it. There are two divisions you may choose to shoot in, the first is the “Open Class” division, which means that any amount of modification to the pistol is allowed including extended barrels, compensators, red dot sights and unlimited ammo (or as many as your magazine will take and you are allowed to have as many magazines as you want). The next is “Standard Class”, this class only allows the use of “iron sights” and although upgraded barrels are allowed (I always put a 6.02 barrel upgrade in any gun I build or shoot), extended, longer barrels are not and there are also limitations on round count per magazine. Other upgrades that will increase the power and accuracy of the pistol are acceptable.

AIPSC INTRODUCTION - PART 2

“IF YOU ARE NEW TO AIPSC SHOOTING YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN FOR NOT BEING THE FASTEST SHOOTER OR HAVING THE BEST SCORE AND YOU MAY COME LAST IN YOU FIRST COMPETITION AS I DID. WHAT YOU WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN FOR HOWEVER, IS A BREACH OF THE SAFETY RULES.”

SAFETY PROCEDURES FOR CLUB AND COMPETITION Practical Pistol is a very safe sport and there is a huge emphasis on safety. If you are new to AIPSC shooting you will be forgiven for not being the fastest shooter or having the best score and you may come last in you first competition as I did (but I still went home with a big smile on my face). What you will not be forgiven for however, is a breach of the safety rules, which in all fairness are mostly common sense. Under AIPSC rules there are only two occasions when you may handle your gun. In the “safe area” and when the RO (Range Officer) instructs you to do so. When you arrive at the competition you’ll have your gas, gun, ammo belt and holster etc. in some sort of range bag, be sure though to have your pistol in its own gun case or gun slip. Get your belt and holster on and when you are ready to put your gun on your belt, take your gun bag with your gun inside it to the “safe area”. Here you can take the (UNLOADED) gun out of its bag, perform any last minute checks on it, lube it etc. then put it in your holster, apply the holster locking mechanism and leave it there. No ammunition or loaded magazines must be taken into the safety area and failure to comply with this regulation will probably result in you being disqualified from the match before you’ve even started! Load your magazines with ammo and gas anywhere else, away from the safety area and of course when you are on the range, safety glasses are mandatory.

SCORING AIPSC competition uses a scoring system known as “Comstock”, essentially this is the score you achieve on each stage divided by the time it takes you to complete it. AIPSC use a dedicated buff coloured “classic” target that comes in two sizes, small and regular and each target consists of three scoring zones; “A” (Alpha), “C” (Charlie) and “D” (Delta). There may also be “no shoots” and these are white targets that will obscure, or make it more difﬁcult to engage the “shoot” targets and we also use “poppers”, steel targets that fall down when hit and “bobbers”, these are targets

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AIPSC INTRODUCTION - PART 2

attached to swinging target stands so are moving when you shoot at them. There is a point value assigned to each scoring zone and there are point deductions for misses and any penalties incurred during a course of ﬁre. Each target must be engaged with a minimum of two shots, you can engage it more than twice but only your best two shots will count. In AIPSC missing the target with one (or dare I say both) shots is not good! But shooting a target several times takes longer so that’s not good either! There are penalties applicable for hitting a “no shoot” or missing a target or “failing to engage” a target altogether, i.e. you lose out on the points because you missed the target and you get a further penalty because you didn’t shoot at it! The total points for a stage (after any deductions) is divided by the time it takes you to complete the course of ﬁre and this gives you your “hit factor” and the competitor with the highest “hit factor” at the end of the match wins, with all other competitors ranked relatively below the winner. Once you get you head around the scoring system Practical Pistol is a lot of fun, honest!

COURSES OF FIRE, OR “STAGES” An AIPSC competition will consist of a number of given stages and the stages maybe short, medium or long in the number of minimum shots required to complete the stage and any AIPSC match will contain a combination of all three. The general principle for an AIPSC course of ﬁre is that they must be safe; you cannot ask a competitor to do something that will put them (or any spectators) in harm’s way. The “quality” of the stages are paramount. A course of ﬁre must test and challenge a competitor’s shooting skills and there must also be a “balance” that challenges both the speed 78

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and accuracy of the shooter and of course, there must be “diversity”. There is no point in shooting the same stage over and over as this presents no real challenge or excitement for the competitor. Each stage will have what is known as a “moving 180” safety line. This is the angle within which you may move the gun from left to right or up and down and it moves along the course of fire with you, you can’t see it but you must know where it is. Break it (i.e. point the gun back up range) and you will be disqualified from the competition - and that’s really not good! All AIPSC matches are “Freestyle”. The idea of an AIPSC competition is to present the shooter with a course(s) of fire that will challenge his shooting ability and his logic. Each stage has its own “stage briefing”, this will give clear instructions to the shooter regarding starting positions of both the shooter and the required start “condition” of the gun (loaded, unloaded, in the holster, on a desk, in a box etc.). The shooter, when presented with a course of fire must then determine which is the fastest and or most effective way to shoot the stage and, as most stages can be shot more than one way, knowing the best way gives a clear advantage. Obviously experience plays a big part but it is one of the most interesting aspects of Practical Pistol.

SQUADDING, PATCHING & MATCH OFFICIALS Every match has a number of officials to ensure the match runs smoothly, there is usually a Match Director aided by a number of Range Officers. At the start of a match you will be put into a squad of shooters and issued with your competitor number and blank score sheets that you take with you. You will have one score sheet for each stage and you will be assigned to a Range Officer (RO) who may stay with you throughout the day. The RO has total jurisdiction over the shooters, he will give you the range brief, call you to the line, give you the make ready and start commands and the unload and finish commands at the end. He will follow behind you as you work your way through the course of fire and make sure you and everybody else are safe. He will also record your time and your score, calling out the results for each to the “scorer”, who is usually one of the other shooters in the squad. After the RO has checked all the targets on the course of fire and the score has been recorded , all the targets will need to be “patched” before the next shooter can take his turn. It is important that everybody helps to patch the targets and reset any falling targets prior to the next competitor taking his turn, it needs doing and if everybody gets on board it makes the day go a bit quicker! I haven’t covered every aspect of it detail but I think that should give you enough of an overview as to what to expect when you turn up at your first AIPSC competition If you have any questions please do feel free to drop me a line at info@ actionairuk.com Next month we will start to look at match pistol technique and I few basic drills to help you practise those skills.

JEZ “JEZASAURUS” ARMSTRONG – GUN TECHNICIAN LES LEE TALKS WITH ONE OF THE SOUTH’S BEST-KNOWN GUN TECHS, JEZ ARMSTRONG FROM PRO AIRSOFT SUPPLIES LAST SUMMER SOME OF YOU may recall my review on one of this country’s premier Airsoft shops, Pro Airsoft Supplies in North London and as usual, I try to cover every aspect of what’s on offer. During my shop tour, Neville introduced me to their gun technician Jez, who was tinkering away at his workbench in the basement fixing part A to part B (as gun techies do). Jez was a quietly spoken gentleman who gave me a brief on his role at PAS but little did I know at the time, that I would be following his work via Facebook and my curiosity was building with every project that came out of his workshop. I even tried to buy a couple of his guns but missed out because his reputation is so good that typically a few nano seconds after one of his custom builds is posted, it’s sold – even those built from the spare parts lying around his workshop (Jez always discloses the origins of parts used). So clearly, if you do want to become the proud owner of one of Jez’s creations then you need to be logged-in 24/7 or alternatively, contact the man, tell him what you want and he will make it happen. Simples! So being the inquisitive geezer that I am, I needed to know more and I had this idea that I’m probably not the only one and, in that case, why not share my findings with our readers so that we can all see for ourselves what makes Jez Armstrong, or “Jezasaurus” as he is known on Facebook, one of the UK’s most proficient and respected gun technicians out there. So I contacted Jez and he was happy for me to throw a bunch of questions at him, which will give us a rare insight

June 2015

into what inspires a gun techie to dedicate so much of his passion for life into our sport and why he is happy for others to benefit from his skills which, in turn enhances our games (if we are lucky enough to become the proud owner of one of Jez’s unique custom builds). So without further ado, let’s get to know this guy a little better. Les: Jez, when did you pick up your first Airsoft gun and start playing Airsoft? Jez: “Well this goes quite a way back, probably to around 2003, when my friends and I found Airsoft by some weird coincidence and we knew we needed to get in on the action. “We found a local-ish site to us, which was S.E.A.S (all the way down the A21) and we turned up with a bunch of £40 aegs that could barely reach 30ft but we were none the wiser and as we rocked up in our DPM it soon became clear that our guns sucked! So as soon as I got paid I bought a brand new G&P M4 Marine which back then was the dog’s danglies.” Les: What did you do with it... Take it straight into a game or tear it apart and upgrade? Jez: “Back then aegs to me were filled with fairy dust and dreams. I had no idea how they worked just that you put a battery in one and threw a mag in, back then stuff didn’t break as much. “I don’t think I ever had it serviced or it didn’t break in the two years I had it, which was lucky! But I did go changing the rails and putting a scope on it.” Les: What made you decide to become a professional gun technician? Jez: “Probably the many amounts of crap jobs I had since I left school. I’ve literally had 101 jobs and never stuck at them, I spent a lot of time in the bicycle industry because I rode BMX and had my own clothing brand. “But after a few years, working with bikes became more of a job and less of a hobby and I’d reached the maximum amount I could do with fixing and selling bikes, so after I jacked that in I got offered a temporary job with my dad’s friend doing some cleaning and what drew me in was a high wage (which didn’t happen) and I ended up spending 3 years doing the same old cleaning jobs and I just thought to myself I can’t be doing this forever, it isn’t fun, it isn’t what I want to do. “So I went to my tech Phil and he was doing a three day tech course so I thought, I’ll do that, gain experience and work for myself! Well after doing the course and doing some private work from home for people and doing well when I was speaking to Griff at Pro, one thing led to another and I’m having an interview and then becoming head of engineering.” Les: How long have you worked at Pro Airsoft Supplies?

Feature GUN TECHNICIAN

Jez: “I have been at Pro Airsoft since January 2014, so just over a year.” Les: What is your favourite type of work, is it upgrades, custom builds, repairs, or total builds? Jez: “I would have to say custom builds or total builds, upgrades and repairs are our bread and butter and keeps a very steady flow in the shop but it’s nice every now and then when someone comes in with a shopping list and you build something from nothing and spend a while sourcing the right parts from different suppliers. I think I get almost as excited as the customer does when their parts arrive but this can be costly and dangerous for me because I’ll finish their build and go “Ooh I really like this, I’m going to build one for myself as a backup backup to my backup!” Les: What is your best creation to date? Jez: “Can’t really say I have a best, there have been many builds that have stuck in my mind like the M249 and the chainsaw I married together, so you held it like a chainsaw and fired from the hip. That also included a DSG setup internally so it was churning out about 45rps which was fun. I do regularly enjoy DSG builds and have recently hit 55rps in my girlfriend Kayla’s gun. The fun thing about a DSG build is that it sounds so nasty that sometimes I don’t even have to put a mag in it, the sound alone makes people duck for cover then I can move into the next room or behind the next object giggling like a school boy. “But more recently I have been getting into my G3s a lot. Only yesterday I built another G3SBS because I regretted selling my last one, there is something about a big boy’s MP5 that just looks awesome so I might trick that out a bit, but I never reveal my mods and secrets to anyone. “I do like to build things that are a bit different like the MSG-90, a wood kitted G3, long-ass DMRs, fully Magpul’d shell ejecting Tanaka M870 etc. Just something a little bit different than your everyday M4 (but I still own an everyday M4!)” Les: What do you prefer, AEG or GBB and rifles or pistols? Jez: “I personally prefer GBB to play with. I absolutely love my G&P WOC, I’ll never sell it, it works in all weathers has a lovely kick to it and cycles so smoothly. “I do enjoy working on AEG’s more though, there are so many variables that come into building one like cylinder volumes and gear ratios that make you think more about what you are building.

“A common misconception is that it’s harder to maintain a GBBR, which is ridiculous! It takes me 25min to service a GBBR and around an hour for an AEG, I run a TM M&P as a sidearm, no mods or upgrades as out the box it shoots fine.” Les: What is the most common repair or rebuild that you do on a regular basis? Jez: “The most common is actually putting motor connectors back on motors, it’s a 2 second job and a lot of people don’t think to check. Past that it’s normally replacing pistons that have suffered premature engagement. More recently it’s been the high speed service we have been offering that’s left a lot of customers with a smile as they leave, it’s a pre-selected package that almost replaces all of the stock internals with upgraded ones and can transform most guns into beast machines!” Les: What is the most costly upgrade to date for a customer? “IT IS NICE TO SEE Jez: “That would be the Zero Dark Thirty THE SIGH OF RELIEF builds and BTC customs we did. The Zero Dark Thirty, as you can imagine, had a paint job done ON PEOPLE’S FACES on a G&G 416, pretty much all SHS internals and WHEN THEY PICK a ton of expensive externals. UP A WORKING GUN “The BTC customs was a good project. We had 5 BTC mosfets and each staff member FROM ME AFTER grabbed a gun each and customised them BRINGING IT IN externally with new rails, stocks and scopes whilst 1,000 PARTS IN AN I fitted them all with BTC mosfets and some other cheeky internal upgrades. Then we put bets down ASDA BAG!” on who’s sold first but I can’t remember whose did but they didn’t hang around!” Les: If money was no object, what would be your ultimate custom build? Jez: “Now that’s a tough one, I have photos of all my guns since I started playing Airsoft and when I counted them the other day and it was something like 190, so it’s safe to say I’ve had a variation of them all! But I’m probably nearly finished with one of my wish list builds. “It’s a Classic Army G3 with a real steel wood kit, I’m just trying to source a real steel mount and scope that won’t cost the same as a second hand car! “But I’ll always be building guns for myself and starting new projects.” Les: What drives you nuts about Airsoft? Jez: “Ahhh… What drives me nuts… Social media and

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Feature GUN TECHNICIAN

kind of not known. I would definitely like to see the market grow within it, more companies making more guns, more sites opening and more new players but definitely not an Olympic sport!” Les: Would you like to see Airsoft more formalised, say teams playing in a league or similar? Jez: “Definitely not! For me it’s a stress relief. Its fun and something I look forward to, to add competition to it would suck! Some people may want that and to those people I say go and play Paintball. Just keep it fun, you don’t need to play for a trophy or a medal and you certainly don’t want any more egoboosters within Airsoft, we already have too many players with big ‘flipping’ (word changed by author) heads!” Les: What is your view on UKARA Does it work in your opinion? Jez: “Ahh… back to UKARA! Personally I like it and I do not see what people’s problems with it are. People seem to forget that it’s mainly for retailers and lets you buy from shops, I don’t see any downside to having a free defence but there will always be someone to pick holes in it and again, its normally on Facebook! I’m happy with it and I hope it continues.” Les: Why do you enjoy doing what you do, what gives you that “buzz”? Is it the look on someone’s face when their gun suddenly performs like it’s been taking steroids? Jez: “Good feedback. I get a little tingle inside when someone tags me on Facebook, or asks to see me in the shop, or comes up to me at a site and praises me for my work I did on their gun. As I said about my work history, I was never really in charge or in a position where my work would be recognised and to be told I did a good job by a stranger, or a good friend is sometimes worth it more than the money they pay for the work to be done (but please carry on paying!). It is also nice to see the sigh of relief on people’s faces when they pick up a working gun from me after bringing it in 1,000 parts in an Asda bag!” Les: Where do you see your future? Where do you hope to be some day in Airsoft? Jez: “I’ve never been one to try and predict the future, I’m a sort of “let’s see what happens” kind of guy. Obviously I feel at home in the industry after bouncing off the walls in so many normal jobs, that this is where I would like to plant my feet, I mean isn’t it every guy’s dream to work in a gun shop?” So there we are fellow ‘softers, 12 years of Airsoft through the eyes of someone who, in my opinion, is one of the best Airsoft gun technicians South of John O’ Groats and who has seen more butts than a people watcher on the beach at Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro. Les OUT!

Airsoft! Anyone that knows me knows I love to troll a bit on the pages and it’s got me banned from a few groups by admins with sand in their vaginas. I don’t know why, I just love to try and kick the high and mighty off their pedestals! “Firing up the UKARA machine is another one and watching people give false tech advice because their friend’s uncle’s second removed cousin’s pet badger used to own one. so they know all about the subject and you read it and wonder how they could diagnose such a thing. There is probably a ton of other things that drive me nuts about Airsoft but sometimes people just need to realise we’re adults playing with expensive toys in the woods and to stop being buttheads online. “Oh… and underage kids trying to obtain RIFs via loopholes – stop it, just Contact Details: stop it!” JEZ ARMSTRONG Les: Where would you like to see Airsoft in the future? www.jezarmstrong.com Jez: “I kind of like it where it is. Not info@jezarmstrong.com many people know about it and it’s still 82

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AIRSOFT SWAT PART TWO

IN THE SECOND PART OF HIS SERIES, PRO-TACT SHOOTING’S ANDY NIGHTINGALE TAKES A LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF A SWAT TEAM AND THE TASKS OF EACH OF THE TEAM MEMBERS NOW THAT YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER your SWAT team we will look at the different jobs within the team and the roles that the individual operator plays. As I mentioned in last month’s issue of Airsoft Action, you should have a standard team load out to distinguish you from the rest of the skirmishers on the field. Don’t leave it at home on training days, wear the kit you intend to use during a skirmish and get used to its feel and its ability to function during moments of duress. The next thing we need to do is decide what role each of the team members will take up and at this point don’t just delegate specific tasks to just anyone. Find out what everyone prefers, all the team members must feel that they can fulfil their role as best possible. It is no good dishing out a sniper’s job to someone who feels they can be more suited to the role of Breacher, for example. As mentioned before, we will work on the assumption that we have a 4-man team and look at the roles of each operator.

The four man team, like all other sized teams has advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is that with the team being so small, the Team Leader can easily control the team, yet it is still large enough to support a variety of weapons and tools for a simple room entry. It does however, become vulnerable if the team has to operate independently from other sections. You must realise that a number of disadvantages exist if your ﬁghting force does not measure up to the enemy it faces. As a rule of thumb, the good guys should outnumber the bad guys by a minimum of 3 to 1. A four man team can only clear small structures or rooms such as domestic dwellings. A large

“YOU MUST REALISE THAT A NUMBER OF DISADVANTAGES EXIST IF YOUR FIGHTING FORCE DOES NOT MEASURE UP TO THE ENEMY IT FACES. AS A RULE OF THUMB, THE GOOD GUYS SHOULD OUTNUMBER THE BAD GUYS BY A MINIMUM OF 3 TO 1.” 84

June 2015

Airsoft Skills SWAT PART TWO

SNIPER The Sniper would carry a scoped rifle to enable more precise shots to be made if the need arises. There may not be any need for a sniper during an assault so the rifle would be substituted for a shotgun instead for the use of close quarter’s clearance and would fill the role as Security within the team. structure, such as a factory or warehouse, may need 2 four man teams (or more) to enable the SWAT team to clear the building with ease and safety. As a small team we also need to look at logistics. Now in airsoft we are fortunate enough to carry vast amounts of ammunition. It’s not uncommon, nor is it a burden, for each operator in the team to carry 5,000 rounds of ammunition into battle. In the real world this would be impossible. To add to the realism of training and skirmishing try to keep your ammunition amount to a realistic count, say 120 rounds for the rifle and 24 for the handgun. With this realistic amount of ammunition you will soon be counting the rounds as you send them down range - and you will also become aware of ammunition conservation (and you will also realise that a small team will be unable to sustain itself in a major fire fight). As a single four man team you also run the risk of mission failure if one man takes a hit and you go down to a three man team. Not good. A three man team would need to pull out of the assault immediately in order to survive, as you will not have the fire power and your individual areas of responsibility increase dramatically. The four man team is the very minimum you should start with and if it is at all possible, try to build a bigger team as possible and break it down into several four man teams. This will give each team the added security of making the numbers up if the job gets too big for the single four man team. Now we will look into the role of each of the individual team players. TEAM LEADER (TL) This is the most experienced SWAT operator on the team and will be responsible for leading the team during the planning and assault. Most of the decision making will be made by this operator and they will be the only one that would liaise with other team leaders and the Tactical Operations Centre (TOC). The primary weapon would consist of a semi-automatic rifle (this may also be full auto depending on the task) and a semi-automatic secondary weapon used as a backup weapon, or to clear extreme closed spaces. The amount of ammunition carried for each weapon depends on the task in hand, for example there would be no need to carry 10 magazines for the rifle if you were only tasked with clearing a stairwell and a small room. A two-way radio would also be carried by the team leader. In a four man team the TL would be the only one to carry the radio and this would be used to communicate with other TLs and the TOC. It has been found through research that if everyone on the team has a radio then everyone wants to use it! This jams up the net and causes vital information to be lost or not received at all. There may be some cases where every operator needs to have personal radio communications, such as stealth operations or in the event of wearing respirators but as a rule, only the TLs would carry them. There are times when a TL may not get directly involved with the operation on the ground but operate as a coordinator. As a coordinator the TL will shadow the team as they go about their work. Much like a platoon sergeant does in the army. In this case the 4 person team will become a 5 person team.

SECURITY The role of the security is to bring fire power to the team. A typical weapon would be a semi automatic rifle and secondary handgun. As well as team security other roles would be taken by these operators, such as Team Medic, Breacher, Runner, Distractions and Evac coordinator. REAR SECURITY This is probably the most un-requested position to be wanted. From an Airsoft skirmisher’s point of view it’s a boring position to be in because all the action is to the front and not within your area of responsibility but in the real world it’s a stress magnet. The advancing team has maximum fire power to the front yet the rear security has but one gun to cover a large area to the rear of the team. In the real world the role of the Rear Security is rotated during the operation to reduce the stress levels on individual team members. BREACHER If a 5-person operator team is active then the fifth person would be Breacher. Their job would be to open a door, window, or wall to enable the rest of the team to enter the area of operations. If only a 4 person team were active then the Breacher would be Breacher only and then become perimeter security once their job has been done. The jobs within the SWAT team are specialised per operator and each person should be fully conversant with the role they undertake. However it is the responsibility of each of the team members to be cross-trained in another area of expertise, just in case you get a man down situation. This ensures that the team can still operate on minimal personnel. Don’t try to be an expert at all the positions just concentrate on one area of expertise and master it. Have fun with this, stay safe and happy shooting.

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A Gurkha Vickers MMG team in Baluchistan in 1929. Stories that British crews would ﬁre off a belt of ammunition to produce enough hot water from the cooling jacket to make a brew are ﬁctional – the water would have been disgusting!

The Vickers MMG Platoon of the 5th Glosters TA at camp in 1954. The guns have a condenser can ﬁtted to the water cooling jacket around the barrel and the sight box can be seen by the belted ammunition.

Norwegian soldiers in training in Scotland during World War II sight their Vickers MMG by a massive granite rock. In the background the soldiers have American supplied M1917 riﬂes.

British Vickers crews in training at the beginning of World War II. The men are still equipped with the SMLE for local defence but have the ‘38 Pattern webbing.

A Vickers MMG crew is shirt sleeve order – on the left the loader’s hands can be seen guiding the belted ammunition into the gun.

MMG VETERANS MILITARY HISTORIAN, WILL FOWLER, COMPARES TWO ICONIC MACHINE GUNS TO SEE WHICH ONE REALLY WAS THE BEST

An interesting picture of a Vickers MMG and captured German Maxim MMG at Mouquet Farm on the Somme in September 1916. By this stage in the ﬁghting the front line trenches had been pulverised into a series of interlocking shell holes.

June 2015

THE FIRST VICKERS MACHINE GUN entered service in 1912 and soldiered on with the British Army until the mid-20th Century. It was based on the successful Maxim gun of the late 19th century. After purchasing the Maxim company outright in 1896, the Vickers engineers took the design of the Maxim gun and reduced its weight by lightening and simplifying the action and substituting components made with high strength alloys. A muzzle booster was also added. With water in the cooling jacket the gun weighed 40 lb and the tripod 48.5 lb. The Vickers machine gun had a muzzle velocity of 2,440 ft per second a rate of fire of 450 to 500 rpm and fired from a 250 round fabric belt. The introduction of the Mark 8z round added a further 1,000 yards to the 3,600 yard maximum range. Using a dial sight that was introduced in 1942, the gun could be used for indirect fire allowing gunners to engage targets that were concealed in dead ground. During World War I it gained a reputation as the “Queen of the battlefield”, with men of the British Machine Gun Corps founded in October 1915, which was a measure of the effectiveness and reliability of the weapon. During the British

attack upon High Wood, on 24th August 1916, ten Vickers using 100 new barrels, fired over a million rounds without a single malfunction! The gun required a six to eight-man team to operate: one fired, one fed the ammunition, the rest helped to carry the weapon, its ammunition and spare parts. In World War I machine guns were employed in three ways – Direct Fire, Indirect Fire and Firing from Fixed Points. In Direct Fire the gunner could see his target and he pressed the trigger, firing bursts of fire in the direction of the enemy infantry. Indirect Fire revolved around the idea of ‘dropping’ rounds over the battle lines, beyond the effective cone of fire for the weapon. The gunner would adjust the weapon to fire at a high angle and fire across the battlefield, leaving gravity to do the job of landing the bullets at the other end of the trajectory. Though random, rounds falling in this “beaten zone” would suppress the troops at the receiving end killing, injuring or simply dispersing them. Firing from Fixed Points worked by providing a dense, compact cone of fire at the enemy which could have an end result similar to that of indirect fire.

Head to Head VICKERS V BROWNING

A British liaison officer talks to his US Army counterpart. A Browning M1917A1 has been sited in a camouflaged weapons pit. The gun may be exposed but has a wider field of fire. During the battle of Albert in 1916 British motor machine gunners pose in captured German helmets and caps. The combination of a machine-gun and motor cycle would prove particularly potent in the opening years of World War II – though this time the crews were German.

A British, World War 2, Vickers MMG platoon typically had one officer in command of four guns, in two sections of two, each with a crew and a small team of riflemen whose job was to protect the gun and keep it supplied with ammunition. Old soldiers mourned the Vickers when it was officially replaced by the L7 GPMG on March 30, 1968. Calibre

.303 British (7.7x57R)

Weight

18.1 kg gun body + 4.1 kg water + 23 kg tripod

Length

1155 mm

Barrel length

723 mm

Feed

belt, 250 rounds

Rate of ﬁre

450 rounds per minute

M1917 BROWNING MMG Browning’s M1917 machine gun was adopted by the U.S. Army following the entry of the United States into World War I, in April 1917. Before the war ended on November 11, 1918 some 57,000 recoil operated, belt fed, water cooled M1917 machine guns had been manufactured for use by the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). Weighing some 24kg the Browning 0.30-inch was actually developed in 1910 from an 1890s design. The M1917 fired from a 250 round fabric belt and was capable of firing 450-600 rounds per minute. The basic Browning mechanism in the M1917 would remain virtually unchanged in all future Browning designs. Browning John Moses Browning, the son of a Mormon gunsmith, was born in Ogden, Utah in 1855. He produced his first gun from scrap metal when he was thirteen. He patented a breech-loading, single-shot rifle in 1879. Inspired by the work of Hiram Maxim, Browning began work on an automatic machine-gun in the 1890s. Browning looked at a new method of operation. He drilled a hole in the gun barrel to divert some of the gas behind the bullet into a cylinder to drive a piston, which performed the various tasks of extracting the cartridge case, reloading and firing. In 1895 the Browning machine-gun was purchased by the US Navy. Immediately following US entry into World War I, the M1917 (superficially similar to the Maxim and Vickers machine guns, although its pistol grip and internal mechanism differentiated it from both) was not initially available. In the interim, while production was ramped up, the American Expeditionary Force meanwhile deployed the French Chauchat LMG – arguably the worst machine gun ever designed and manufactured. The M1917A1 Browning produced in 1936 had changes to the feed, sights and tripod and would soldier on into World War II with US and Allied forces with a total of 53,854 guns being built. The .30 Browning M1919 machine gun was essentially an M1917 but with an air-cooled barrel. The M1919A4 was used on a ground mount by infantry, M1919A5 coaxially in tanks, M2 in aircraft and as an AA gun by US and Allied forces in World War II. Manufactured under licence in the UK, the air-cooled version armed the RAF Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes that fought in the skies during the Battle of Britain in 1940. The M1919A6 was fitted with a bipod, butt and carrying handle as an infantry squad weapon it looked a little odd but was very popular, with 43,479 being manufactured in World War II. The M1919 remained in service in the Korean War and even into Vietnam however by the later 1960s, it began

to be superseded by newer designs. Even so in the late 1990s as the 7.62mm NATO M2 it was still on the inventory of the armies of Canada, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Iran, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Liberia, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan and Vietnam. During the Vietnam War the U.S. Navy also converted Brownings to 7.62mm, designating them “Mk 21 Mod 0” and these guns were fitted to river patrol craft operating on the Mekong Delta. A reliable recoil-operated gun, it fired from a 250 round belt at between 400 and 600 rounds per minute. The maximum effective range was 1,500 yards. World War I proved to be the making of Browning as his machine guns were ordered by the US Army for their troops in France. Modified and improved these designs would be used through World War II and even into the 1960s in Vietnam. Brownings would also soldier on into the 1960s in the British Army, as the armament for vehicles like the Ferret Scout Car. M1917A1 Calibre

M1919A4

In the closing months of World War II a US Army man a Browning M1917A1 .30 water cooled machine gun in a heavily fortiﬁed building.

M1919A6

.30-06 / 7.62x63

Weight

14.8 kg gun body + 3.3 kg water + 24 kg M1917 tripod

14.1 kg gun body + 6.4 kgM2 tripod

14.7 kg gun with shoulder stock and bipod

Length

981 mm

1044 mm

826 mm

Barrel length

607 mm

610 mm

Feed Rate of ﬁre

Belt, 250 rounds 450-600 rounds per minute

400-500 rounds per minute

VICKERS VERSUS BROWNING It cannot be said that either gun is superior to the other; in their time both guns have given excellent service in conﬂicts across the world. Weight is the penalty paid when deploying the water cooled versions – however both deliver remarkable reliability. The Welch Regiment website has a droll take on the Vickers: “Vickers MMG instructors were a close knit group, jealous of their expertise, invariably holding the rank of sergeant, duty bound to teach those allocated to their charge the complexities, full range of uses, maintenance and effective application of the weapon, yet at the same time, holding back just enough of their know-how, in order to prevent those charges learning to the point where the mystique surrounding the weapon was penetrated and so rendering them mere mortals.” Arguably the Browning has been a more versatile design, as it morphed from a water-cooled into an air-cooled weapon.

In the winter of 1944-45 a US soldier waits at the wheel of a Jeep armed with an M1919 A4 air-cooled machine gun.

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YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU!

BILLY WRITES ON A SUBJECT THAT IS CLOSE TO HIS HEART – THE UK’S RESERVE FORCES – AND SAYS “THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BE IN THE RESERVES.”

June 2015

SPRING IS HERE AND THE COUNTRY IS BRIMMING with optimism, well it is down here on the South Coast anyway. We get all the best weather down here, that’s why we moved here (I did try very hard to persuade Ed, but he was having none of it). But there’s “trouble at mill” and that’s what I’d like to concentrate on in this issue, depressing I know especially with all the election stuff we’ve had to swallow over the last couple of months. The country needs your help (remember those Kitchener posters from WW1?) and it’s going to need it seriously if things go the way I think they’re going to go – but more of that later. You will no doubt be aware (unless you’ve had your head buried in the sand, or don’t watch TV, listen to the news, have any friends) that the British Army are in somewhat of a crisis at the moment. The Government are making cuts left, right and centre and despite the UK Armed Forces being one of the nation’s largest and best loved employers and one that we’re most proud of, it’s going to be touch and go in the years to come. The unescapable fact is that the Army, Air Force and Navy that we think we have (thanks partly to bluster by politicians, annual Air shows, history teachers, nostalgia and wishful thinking) is in danger of being reduced to a laughing stock. An expert at RUSI (The Royal United Services Institute) www.rusi.org a really terriﬁc website which will give you quite an insight into what the Govt. are doing/planning to do about overseas and with our Armed Forces, is well worth keeping a weather eye on. Anyway this expert, who is responsible for the American aspect of things, has been setting off all sorts of alarm bells about what the Americans think of our troop reductions.

Billy Basics RESERVE FORCES

“I HAVE TRAVELLED ALL OVER THE GLOBE WITH THE RESERVES MY FRIENDS AND I CAN’T RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY ENOUGH, IT QUITE LITERALLY ROCKS TO THE POWER OF 10.”

The clever RUSI bod reckons that the Yanks (if we deplete our stocks of fighting men and women further) will think we’re a spent force on the world stage and the Special Relationship will henceforth take a nose dive. But let’s not be naïve about this so-called “Special Relationship”, it’s got nothing to do with the fact that we speak the same lingo – because a lot of the time we really don’t – and it’s got sod all to do with fighting alongside us in WW2 to see off the Nazis. America sacrificed thousands of its valiant young men alongside ours but the wily politicians back in the US used the loans as an opportunity to bankrupt the British Empire (which they coveted) by lending us a tonne of Equipment and loans and wanting us to repay it. In much the same way that Europe bankrupted and dissembled the Ottoman Empire, so we haven’t got much to winge about I suppose. But that’s a huge simplification and I am sure if I were to attempt to defend that argument on News Night with Niall Ferguson (whose books I like very much) I am sure I would fare poorly.

As usual I have gone off piste, so back to the point of this rant/article. Politics aside, our Armed Forces are in trouble; as a member of NATO we are obliged to commit 2% of GDP to Defence each year and we’re not doing it. Our Prime Minister tore chunks off other members when we hosted a NATO junket in Cardiff for not putting their hands in their pockets for their 2% but can you blame him? I can’t, I wouldn’t begin to claim I know how to get the country out of the doldrums or to rebalance the books. At the end of the day running a country with manifest problems is extraordinarily difficult and it comes down to issues competing for attention and resources – and the last two are limited. Some Governments are obsessed with their militaries and will stop at nothing to use them to project a powerful, masculine presence on the world stage and to threaten others, as well as to convince their electorate that they’ve still got balls. While the reality is that back at home the country’s in an absolute shambles but the masses need “Bread and Circuses” as a distraction and our wily old Russian foe Putin is just so happy to provide them with a show. But our politicians of all colours aren’t really like that anymore, they have lost interest in intervention of any kind; the Foreign Office has been hit badly by the cutbacks and in some people’s opinion has been literally hollowed out. What our politicians are keen on though is the quick-fix of foreign aid, which is one of the ring-fenced priorities. DFiD’s budget has been left largely untouched, although UKIP will no doubt have an opinion on this if they are in a position of influence after the election.

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Defence, sadly, is NOT one of the three ring-fenced, protected areas like the NHS, Education or Foreign Aid and whoever gets in come the election, it looks like there are going to be further swingeing cuts to the Army’s pot of cash. So it looks like the shrink from 102,000 to 82,000, which has caused such great pain to the Army, might (in not too many years to come) go all the way down to 50,000. It might be that the Coalition get back in and that money is found (they often find ££££ when we kick up a stink) but I wouldn’t bet on it, after all defence money tends to be spent ten to fifteen years in advance so that they can build these huge ships. We are already committed to two new Aircraft carriers and the planes that will have to land on them as well as an upgrade to Trident. You may also recall that one of the sticking plasters that the UK Govt suggested to ease the pain of the Army’s huge reduction in numbers, was an increase in the number of TA soldiers to 30,000 and a change in what they offered those that chose to serve in the TA (because let’s face it what they used to offer was pretty crap). To start with they changed the name to the Reserves to reflect better what they would do ie: act as a pool of Reserves for the Army. Now at the time I was rather sceptical about this “If young people were going to join they’d have just done it surely” I thought and you can’t just legislate for thousands of extra boots on the parade square. Now the target of 30,000 Reservists by 2018 was always pretty ambitious, I for one didn’t think it would be achieved and I am still not sure. BUT what I am 100% sure of is that it’s a great time to be in the Reserves. I have been a Reservist since 1990, I had literally just joined the TA and passed off the parade square when we (not me personally I was still at College) went to war with Saddam and believe you me, what Reservist get now and can do bears no resemblance. So what would you get if you joined the Reserves today? Well, just for starters, you will get a Forces Rail card which

June 2015

knocks 35% off your train ticket. You will get an annual tax free bounty on April 1st which rises to £1,650 after about 5 years I think, so that’s an extra months wages every year just for staying in. You’ll get an extra day’s pay for every 10 you do (holiday pay basically), you’ll get a pension for all the work you do and the way the economy is going if you were to join the Reserves and stay in for as long as I have that could be definitely worth having. Nowadays in the Reserves when you do a specific course you can also get a civilian recognised qualification to go with it, so not only are you doing fun Army training but you’re enhancing your CV at the same time as getting paid for it – it just gets better and better eh? But I haven’t finished yet, I still have at least 200 words left (Ed is quite strict) – you also get Learning Credits that you can use to pursue learning that tickles your fancy, like the OU or such like and you can learn languages through regional courses that are run around the country. When I joined the TA back in 1990, I did it because I thought I might like to have a go at soldiering, it looked like fun but if they’d offered all the incentives that are on offer today I would have sprinted down there, it’s such a great offer. Army training draws people of all backgrounds and walks of life together and gives them fun, challenging things to do, you just can’t help but make lifelong friends and broaden your horizons. I have travelled all over the globe with the Reserves my friends and I can’t recommend it highly enough, it quite literally rocks to the power of 10. One last thing before I go, I am nervously glancing at the word count. The country (your home) faces threats from all sides, both home-grown and from without and all of our services from the Police, Ambulance to MI5 and all the other Govt. agencies are undermanned and under resourced. If something truly awful were to happen they would of course look to the Reserves to help, so if you want to enjoy a really awesome hobby that gets you fit, educates you and protects our home then I beseech you to join the Reserves, it’s changed my life – literally. See you all on the square. Billy Out.

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DOG TAGS

THE ORIGINS OF THESE LITTLE PIECES OF METAL GO BACK MUCH FURTHER THAN MOST PEOPLE EXPECT, AS MILITARY HISTORIAN, WILL FOWLER, EXPLAINS

Late WW1 and WW2 ID Discs in use up to the 1950s. Red disc detached from body if owner killed.

IT WOULD BE EASY TO ASSUME THAT the identity discs worn by service men and women in the armed forces and the name “Dog Tags” by which they are universally known, were both adopted in the 20th Century. Wrong and wrong again. The first recorded issuing of dog tags to soldiers as we know them today, was in the Prussian Army in the 1870s. Since they were worn around the neck the soldiers knew them as Hundfemarken – Dog Tags. However identification devices for soldiers had existed before the 1870s, notably in the American Civil War. The first ID discs to be introduced into service with the British Army were in 1907 and consisted of a single aluminium US Army ID discs aka “Dog Tags”.

June 2015

disc that listed the soldier’s number, rank, name, regiment and religious denomination. With time the regiment would be removed from the disc and the blood group added. However it was the First World War, with the warring nations fielding huge armies in Europe and the Middle East, that saw the ID tag become a significant part of a soldier’s kit. In essence an ID disc has core information about the owner – his or her name and initials, their unique service number, blood group and religion. The discs of some national armies have nationality, while others have no reference to religion. The disc allows a serviceman or women to be identified if they have been killed or if they are seriously wounded, or unconscious. The blood type is essential if a transfusion is required. Some national armies have one disc with perforations that allow it to be snapped off, with the lower half going back to HQ to confirm that a man has been killed and the top half on the cord or chain remaining with the body for subsequent identification and burial. US, British and Commonwealth armed forces have two discs – though the principle of one remaining with the body and one being sent to the unit HQ remains the same. Generally speaking ID discs have the bare minimum of information – too much may give away information of intelligence value – so the details of rank or unit are not included. It was said, rather macabrely, that the discs issued to US servicemen personnel in World War II had a small notch in the edge – if a soldier was killed the disc would be inserted into his mouth with the notch slotted into the teeth keeping his jaw open. This meant that any internal gasses would escape rather than bloating the stomach and causing the body to burst open. Today, soldiers may also include on their kit patches with the letters NKA and No Pen. The former standing for “No Known Allergies” and the latter for “No Penicillin”. It was in the Vietnam War that Grunts and Marines began attaching an extra ID disc in the laces of their jungle boots – the grim reason

Feature ID TAGS

being that if a man was traumatically beheaded in an explosion his body could still be identified. Through both World Wars and the Korean War British and Commonwealth soldiers had two discs made from a tough vulcanised fibre material. One was red and one blue or green – the popular myth was that the red would survive fire and the blue/green sustained submersion in water. The discs were threaded through butcher’s twine, though many men replaced this with a leather bootlace. In reality the red disc would be removed from the body while the blue remained to assist in identification prior to burial. Visitors to one of the many Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries on the Western Front in France and Belgium are always struck by the number of graves with the sad words “A Soldier known to God” – in other words an unidentified body recovered after the war. This has arisen in part because the discs did not survive in the damp ground, or the twine or leather bootlace rotted, or simply because (at considerable personal risk) soldiers crawled out into No Man’s Land and recovered both the ID tags to confirm that a man had been killed. It was not until 1916 that two discs were introduced and prior to this some wealthier soldiers bought unofficial discs or bracelets. The two coloured discs were replaced in the British Army with circular metal discs – but these discs were attached to a thin green nylon cord. It was during the Falklands campaign of 1982 that this cord was shown to be a major hazard in fires and by the time of Operation Granby, the First Gulf War of 1990, the discs were on a metal bead chain similar to that used by the US armed forces. Metal discs have a way of rattling together and while one solution was to tape them together, this would make Modern British Army ID discs with rubber silencers.

identification of a wounded or dead soldier slower and more difficult. The original dog tag silencers – rubber frames fitted to the discs – were believed to have been cut from flexible rubber hose on the US Army World War II M2 and M4 respirators. ID discs and bracelets have now been adopted by people with health problems – if they faint, collapse or have a fit the disc shows a helper what the sufferer’s condition is. UTAG of Southampton have taken the dog tag into the digital age with “UTAG ICE” (In Case of Emergency) Digital Dog Tag. This is a USB stick that slots into an aluminium alloy 54mm x 30mm x 3.2mm ID tag, similar to the US Army tag and is held in place by magnetic closure. The UTAG weighs 10 g and is suspended from a 5 mm bead chain and the USB stick can be loaded with a great deal more information than

US Army ID discs aka “Dog Tags”.

“IT WAS IN THE VIETNAM WAR THAT GRUNTS AND MARINES BEGAN ATTACHING AN EXTRA ID DISC IN THE LACES OF THEIR JUNGLE BOOTS – THE GRIM REASON BEING THAT IF A MAN WAS TRAUMATICALLY BEHEADED IN AN EXPLOSION HIS BODY COULD STILL BE IDENTIFIED.” a standard military ID disk. This type of tag would be useful if you are travelling but if it looks too military, UTAG also produce bracelets and credit card sized ICE USB products. For extra security some users have found that it is worth ﬁtting a rubber silencer around the UTAG as a back up to the magnet that holds the USB stick in place in the dog tag. While not strictly an ID disc, a useful tip for travellers in hazardous countries is to make copies of documents like the main page of a passport, credit and debit cards and health insurance documents. Cover these with clear adhesive ﬁlm and along with a Euro 500 or $500 note and fold them into a zippered money belt. If your wallet or passport is stolen or lost, you will always have these key documents concealed on your person with enough cash to get you out of trouble. Today Dog Tags have become a fashion accessory with slogans and designs that are a long way from the grim details of blood group and service number, even silencers have morphed from functional black to all the shades of the colour spectrum. I wonder if those that wear them have any idea of the history of these simple but very effective little pieces of metal…

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

BOOK REVIEW WITH THE OLD BREED

WITH THE OLD BREED BY E.B. SLEDGE

THE CAPTURE OF THE ISLAND OF PELELIU WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE FOUR DAYS – IT TOOK OVER TWO MONTHS OF ATROCITY. KRIS ROBERTS WRITES ABOUT A BOOK FROM A SOLDIER WHO WAS THERE

“None of us would ever be the same after what we had endured. To some degree that is true, of course, of all human experience. But something in me died at Peleliu. Perhaps it was a childish innocence that accepted as faith the claim that man is basically good. Possibly I lost faith that politicians in high places who do not have to endure war’s savagery will ever stop blundering and sending others to endure it.”

Content Eugene Sledge joined the US Marine Corps in December of 1942. A college kid from Mobile, Alabama, Sledge had enrolled on the Ofﬁcer Training program. With classroom work providing a dull existence, the young Marine grew more and more concerned that he would miss the chance to ﬁght before the

war was over. Not alone in these feelings, Sledge flunked out of the program along with half of his group in order to rejoin as an enlisted man. A long road of training eventually led to the Pacific Theatre of War and, on 15th September 1944 Sledge arrived at the beaches of Peleliu. What was supposed to be a few days of hard fighting became a month long descent into hell, where the battle against the Japanese was fought alongside a battle to endure the environment. Lack of water, blistering heat and a ground consisting of jagged coral rock made the chances of finding shelter from the Japanese shells and bullets an impossibility. With every step taken Sledge and his fellow Marines faced a fanatical enemy that would fight to the death and the levels of violence and barbarity exceeded even the worst of expectations. After Peleliu, Sledge would meet the enemy again at the battle of Okinawa, where torrential rains and mud soaked fields would drive the men to the edges of sanity. In this seething cesspit of human filth and rotting corpses neither side showed a willingness to concede or to ever consider anything short of total annihilation of the enemy. The combat was face to face and at such a high level of intensity that even the dead could not be removed from the battlefield and would be left to decompose beside their surviving comrades.

Impressions Sledge delivers his memoir in a simple yet beautifully written manner. His honesty, sensitivity and intelligence shine throughout the pages and it is utterly heartbreaking to read of such a bright young man being robbed of his youth in the worst way conceivable.

The ﬁght against the Japanese during the Second World War was fought without restraint and involved what can only be described as the systematic murder of human decency. In this world, where innocence and patriotism were replaced by depravity and slaughter, Eugene Sledge and many others like him faced a continuous hacking away at their bodies and souls to unimaginable levels. A grisly, grotesque view of war, told by a man who had the wits to see the insanity yet recognised the cruel necessity. This is book that will take something from you but it should be read for fear of forgetting just how much was given and lost in our name. “In this crater was the body of a Marine whose grisly visage has remained disturbingly clear in my memory… …Every time I looked over the edge of that foxhole down into that crater, that half-gone face leered up at me with a sardonic grin. It was as though he was mocking our pitiful efforts to hang on to life in the face of the constant violent death that had cut him down. Or maybe he was mocking the folly of the war itself: “I am the harvest of man’s stupidity. I am the fruit of the holocaust. I prayed like you to survive, but look at me now. It is over for us who are dead, but you must struggle, and will carry the memories all your life. People back home will wonder why you can’t forget.”

INFORMATION ‘With The Old Breed’ By E.B. Sledge Published by Ebury Press. RRP £12.99

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

101

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

UKARA MEMBER UKASGB MEMBER WOODLAND

SHOP ONSITE BATTERY CHARGING URBAN PYROS ALLOWED REPAIR SERVICE

DESERT

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

ATROOP AIRSOFT

ACE COMBAT

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB

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

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

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

ABER AIRSOFT – THE BUNKER

AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB

ALL ARMS AIRSOFT

Allt-lywd Wood Farm, outside Llanrhystud, nr. Aberystwyth, Wales. 07511554740 www.aberairsoft.co.uk

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

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

AIRSOFT ASYLUM

ALPHA 55

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

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

ARENA AIRSOFT

ALPHA ELITE GAMING

AWA HERTS

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

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

AMAZON EVENTS

BADLANDS AIRSOFT

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

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

AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM

BARNSLEY AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

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

Sutton, near Ferrybridge 07723 061386 andyace@ntlworld.com

AIRSOFT KGB

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES

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

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

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH

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June 2015

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

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

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

SITE DIRECTORY

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

FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

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

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

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE SANDPIT Bradford, BD2 1BQ 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

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

CORNWALLS ELITE AIRSOFT

ELITE BATTLEZONE

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

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

COTSWOLD AIRSOFT

EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DANGER CLOSE AIRSOFT Ellough Lark Raceway, Benacre Road, Ellough, Norfolk 07455906132

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

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

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

CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT

DARKWATER AIRSOFT

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

Hythe, Kent CT21 5SL 07947 558433 www.darkwaterairsoft.co.uk

COMBAT ACTION GAMES

DELTA TEAM 3

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

Maryland, Norfolk, NR10 4 07748 023832 www.facebook.com/ combatactiongames

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

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

FIREBALL SQUADRON

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

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

DRAGON’S LAIR COMBAT SOUTH URBAN Portsmouth, PO6 3LS 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk

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

BUNKER 51

DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT

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

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

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

C3 TACTICAL Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH 07597 938011 www.c3tactical.co.uk

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

FINMERE AIRSOFT

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

FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONS

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

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

CERBERUS AIRSOFT - THE COMPLEX

COOL UNDER FIRE

ELITE ACTION GAMES – WORTHING

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

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

Worthing, BN13 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com

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

FIRST AND ONLY – ANZIO CAMP Leek, ST13 8 0161 727 8863 www.ﬁrstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – BUNKER WOOD Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 5SA 0161 727 8863 www.ﬁrstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – KHE SANH WOODS Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 2NA 0161 727 8863 www.ﬁrstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – MANCHESTER WOODLAND Bolton, BL7 9TS 0161 727 8863 www.ﬁrstandonlyairsoft.com

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FIRST AND ONLY – ASYLUM

GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT

Kidderminster, DY10 3PT 0161 727 8863 www.ﬁrstandonlyairsoft.com

Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com

FIRST & ONLY: THE HIVE

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

FIRST & ONLY: THE ARMOURY

GUN HO AIRSOFT

Wrexham, Denbighshire, LL13 9RG 0161 727 8863

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

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 6QF 0161 727 8863

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – CAMBRIDGE Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

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

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

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

NOMAD AIRSOFT

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

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

GREENZONE COMBAT

Middleton, Manchester, M24 1AZ 0161 727 8863

FIRST & ONLY: THE ACADEMY

LAC SITE 1

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – MIDLANDS RAF Honiley/The Grange Frogmore Grange, Frog Lane, Balsall Common, West Mids CV7 7FP Tel: 01676 532 384 info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk www.shop. suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk

LAC SITE 2 Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

LAC SITE 3 Saxillby, LN1 2JW 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2DF www.groundzerowoodland.com

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

LAC SITE 5 Kirton Rd, North Lincs, DN16 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LINDSEY AIRSOFT Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE 07955 487983 www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk

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

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

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

HUMBER AIRSOFT North Lincolnshire, DN21 www.humberairsoft.co.uk 07792 680297

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

104

June 2015

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

MILSIM UK ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT Near Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO30 07964 751047 www.islandrecon.co.uk

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

Cornwall, EX23 9JL 01288 331748 www.airsoftsouthwest.co.uk

MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

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

Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 07562 479966 maw.airsoft@hotmail.com

MIA

FREE FIRE ZONE

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

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

NSC AIRSOFT

MAW GROUND ZERO WOODLAND

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

NORTHFLEET CQB

MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES GUNMAN AIRSOFT – NORWICH

NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT

Hetton, Sunderland, DH5 0 07983 333521 www.nscairsoft.co.uk

NTAC Durham, DL4 2ER 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk

OBAN AIRSOFT – HILL ARGYLL Argyll and Bute, PA37 1 07967 710185 www.argyllsurplus.com

OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT 07964 990831 www.op-tac.co.uk

OVER THE TOP AIRSOFT CLUB Anglesey, LL71 www.ottairsoft.co.uk 07731 744471

PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION Former RAF Camp Sopley/ Merryﬁeld Park, Hants, BH23 02380 899369

PHOENIX AIRSOFT

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

Welbeck Airsoft, Academy, Budby Road, Notts NG20 9JX 07956 587213/01623 812483 www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk

NCIS AIRSOFT

PLATOON 1HQ

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

Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ 01634 829063 www.ptt-1hq.co.uk

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

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

PLAYERS OF WAR

SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY

TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT

UCAP SANDPIT

High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD 07767 203979 www.playersofwar.co.uk

Billericay, Essex, CM11 2TX 01277 657777 www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk

Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL 020 8665 1299 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk

Bean, Kent, DA2 8 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES

SKIRMISH EXETER

TECH BRIGADE

Ballynahinch, BT24 8NF 02897565651 / 07825169631 www.predatorcombat.com

Exeter, Devon, EX4 5 01548 580025 www.airsoftexeter.co.uk

Newgate Street, Hertfordshire. SG13 8NH 07841 713356 www.techbrigade.org

RAVEN’S NEST

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT

Suffolk, IP8 4 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk

Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR 07766 770830 www.southdownairsoft.com

RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH

THE BUNKER

Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

Aberystwyth, www.aberairsoft.co.uk 07841 462806

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – THE ROCK

THE DESERTERS AIRSOFT

Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

Redford, DD11 07751 878175 www.thedeserters.co.uk

STIRLING AIRSOFT

THE EX SITE

Coventry, CV3 6NX 07831 429407 www.stirlingairsoft.com

Mold, CH7 4 07840 001975 www.theexsitewales.co.uk

STORMFORCE AIRSOFT

THE WARGAMES CENTRE

Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD 07515 937633 www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk

Lundholm Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN www.thewargamescentre.com wargamescentre@gmail.com

Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk

RED1AIRSOFT Chislehurst, Bromley BR7 6SD 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk co.uk

RED1AIRSOFT CQB Red1 CQB. Kings Langley, WD4 8RN 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk

RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3 Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM) Cambridge, CB24 8RL 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT Shotts, N Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com

SUSSEX AIRSOFT Slinfold, RH12 020 8150 9284 www.sussexairsoft.co.uk

S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT Boathouse lane, South Wirral, Cheshire, CH64 3TB www.swatairsoft.eu 07703 177756

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com

TA EVENTS Hemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB 07894 059794 www.ta-events.co.uk

SG1 COMBAT GAMES Co. Londonderry, BT45 8NA 07713 273102 www.sg1combatgames.co.uk

TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT Reynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS 01792 473336 www.tacticalwales.co.uk

TASK FORCE SKIRMISH Cowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF71 02920 593900 www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk

TROJAN AIRSOFT Macclesﬁeld, SK10 4SZ 07428 024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com

TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB Weir Mill, Viaduct Street, Chestergate, Stockport, Cheshire, SK5 7JP 07428024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

URBAN6AIRSOFT – ZONE 13 Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0QN 07432 291729 www.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN6AIRSOFT – THE BLOCK Wood Street, Butron-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 £AB www.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN ASSAULT Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1 01733 247171 www.urbanassault.org.uk

VIKING AIRSOFT Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN www.vikingairsoft.co.uk

WARMINSTER AIRSOFT Warminster, BA12 7RZ www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk

XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOST Dunstable, LU6 2EE 01494 881430 www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk

XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END High Wycombe, HP14 3NP 01494 881430

UCAP AIRSOFT Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

UCAP GREEN OPS Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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DEALER LISTINGS

ADVERTISERS INDEX

Land Warrior Airsoft RedWolf Airsoft Airsoft Zone JD Airsoft WE Airsoft Europe BadgerTac Airsoft Armoury Helikon-Tex Airsoft World VIPER Tactical Tippmann eHobby Asia Leeds Airsoft ActionSportGames Patrol Store ActionAirUK Pro Airsoft Supplies Crawley Surplus Store Eton Guns Gunman Airsoft Airsoft Action Subscriptions Sly Photography BombUpAirsoft NoVAT Dragon Valley Military Outdoor Skirmish Cup Airsoft Action Digital Subscriptions Percy Publishing Advertisers Index

106

OD8J 2014

2 3 + 19 + 48 7 + 56 9 + 32 + 95 15 23 28 + 29 38 42 46 + 47 52 60 63 66 71 79 83 86 86 87 90 91 91 91 91 91 98 99 100 106

AA49-June_AA49 24/04/2015 12:57 Page 107

8 6 5 5 9 8 7 0 6 9 6 6 7 0

8 9 0 6

Now Featuring Next Level Uniforms

Including: Stryke TDU Shirts & Pants, Evo Boots, Zero G-Plates

5.11 TACTICAL

Tap Me!

2015 CATALOGUE Purpose-built gear for the most demanding missions

5.11 TACTICAL IS A STRATEGIC PARTNER TO THE FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY ASSOCIATES, INC.

Next Level Uniform 5.11® innovates to solve problems defined by operators and officers. For the past several years we’ve been listening and building new products for you to take into battle, or on patrol. You asked for speed, mobility, comfort under load, and even a better colour for the urban environment. This season we are pleased to introduce a number of new products that are the result of those requests.

INTRODUCTION

5.11 Stryke TDU™ and PDU™ (p. 5) You asked for our 5.11 Flex Tac® fabric in a duty uniform and we’re proud to announce our new 5.11 Stryke™ Tactical Duty and Patrol Duty Uniforms™. Both uniforms feature new functional designs and the 5.11 Stryke TDU™ comes in our Storm colour, designed for operations in urban environments. EVO Boot (p. 49) Our most popular ATAC series continues in the 5.11® line up, but with your input we’re working to make an even better duty boot, the EVO. Zero G Plates (p. 73) Built with aerospace technology, these carbon fibre plates shift the load of your duty belt from the lower back onto the hips for proper poster and enhanced mobility. Welcome to the Next Level!

Thomas E. Davin Chief Executive Officer

Index of Icons Our product design teams are always on the prowl for problems to solve based on real world feedback from our customers worldwide. As a result, 5.11 Tactical® products are loaded with features that are driven by feedback and interaction from operators and individuals like yourself. With an arsenal of technical features and specific functionality we have developed this collection of icons to help you discover specific features and benefits found in our products.

Product Features And Benefits Adjustable Waistband — Made with a self adjusting or elastic waistbands for flexibility when carrying an inside the waistband (IWB) holster

ID Panels — Built with customisable id panels that can be stowed away, or shown for agency identification.

Air Flow — Constructed with mesh panels, vents and/or a cape back for maximum airflow.

Kneepad Ready — Product is built to accommodate 5.11®’s neoprene knee pad (59008 available separately).

Antimicrobial — Antimicrobial technology inhibits the growth of bacteria (prevents odor).

Laptop Ready — Built with a laptop compatible compartment.

CCW Ready — Designed and built to confidentially carry a concealed sidearm.

Moisture Wicking — A fabric function that helps transport moisture (sweat) away from your skin.

Cold Weather Ready * — A rating of 1 5 for cold weather performance, 5 is warmest.

Rain Ready *— A rating of 1 5 for water resistance, 5 is fully seam sealed waterproof.

Comms Ready — With product features built to accommodate cable routing, radio equipment and/or writing tools.

RAPIDraw — Designed and built with features to allow the fast presentation of a concealed sidearm.

Gear Ready — Designed and built to serve as a load bearing platform.

Reinforced Zones — Features reinforced or doublethick fabric in high wear zones like seat, knees and elbows.

Hydration Ready — Built to carry a hydration bladder.

UV Protection — Ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). The higher the UPF number, the greater degree of UV protection a garment offers.

Gender Specific Fit

New Products & New Colours

Our products are all about the fit, that’s why we build them based on different body shapes. To determine at a glance if the product is available in your fit, look out for the following icons:

To quickly find our brand new products as well as new colour ways for your favourite styles look out for the following icons within the product description: New Product — Indicates that the product is new to the catalogue.

Men — Product is ONLY available in a Men’s fit. Women — Product is ONLY available in a Women’s fit.

New Colour — Indicates that the product is available in a new colour. Example icon shows the new colour is Black 019 (colour name can be found in the product specification text).

Men & Women — Product is available in BOTH a Men’s and a Women’s fit.

* These features are shown for your reference only. They indicate performance based on differences between comparable 5.11® products and do not indicate any official test standards.

Product Categories

SHIRTS & POLOS

18 - 29

OUTERWEAR

30 - 41

PERFORMANCE UNDERGARMENTS

42 - 43

5.11 RECON ® TRAINING GEAR

44 - 47

FOOTWEAR

48 - 57

PACKS & BAGS

58 - 71

NYLON GEAR & HOLSTERS

72 - 79

ACCESSORIES

80 - 87

BRANDED ITEMS

88 - 89

Partners

Promotions

5.11 Tactical® are proud to be strategic partners of the following....

Look out for our fantastic quarterly promo campaigns throughout the year!

PRODUCT CATEGORIES

4 - 17

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

+ SPECIAL OFFERS AND PRIZE DRAWS + FREE LIMITED EDITION COLLECTORS PATCHES To find your nearest participating dealer go to

www.511tactical.eu 3

Pants, Shorts & Belts PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

Stryke Tactical Duty Uniform

5.11 Stryke TDU™ Rapid Shirt Dark Navy 724

The next level of flexible and functional tactical uniforms

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

Functional designs, 5.11 Tactical®’s styling and our Flex Tac® fabric work together to provide a tactical advantage in our new 5.11 Stryke™ Tactical Duty Uniforms. 5.11’s Flex Tac® mechanical stretch fabric offers lasting flexibility, freedom of movement and a TEFLON® finish for stain and soil resistance. Flex Tac® patent pending fabric features mechanical stretch (built into the yarn) for lasting flexibility and freedom of movement. The fabric has a low visibility ripstop weave and is treated with TEFLON® fabric protector for stain and soil resistance.

5.11 Stryke TDU™ Shirt Zipper closure front covered placket version with advanced design features (72416) or our pull over moisture wicking version designed to be worn under an outer plate carrier or load bearing vest (72071). + + + +

Canted front chest pockets, vertical sleeve pockets Zip front with adjustable mandarin collar Reinforced, articulated elbows (neoprene compatible) Badge tab holder, loop patch platform and epaulette kit included

5.11 Stryke TDU™ Shirt

Available colours:

Dark Navy 724

78% POLYESTER / 22% COTTON

72416 5.11 Stryke TDU™ Shirt | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 162 - TDU KHAKI, 190 - TDU GREEN, 724 - DARK NAVY | S-3XL | £78

019

092

162

190

724

72071 5.11 Stryke TDU™ Rapid Shirt | 019 - BLACK, 092 STORM, 162 - TDU KHAKI, 190 - TDU GREEN, 724 - DARK NAVY | S-3XL | £75

5.11 Stryke TDU™ Pant The next level of tactical duty apparel, our new 5.11 Stryke TDU™ Pant features a fitted waistband with stretch and an articulated pattern that provides streamlined appearance while allowing full range of movement. + + + + +

Canted, ergonomically placed cargo pockets Gusseted crotch and articulated knees for great range of motion Double layered knees (neoprene kneepad compatible) Stretch panels behind the knees Waistband with stretch panels

80% POLYESTER / 20% COTTON

74433 5.11 Stryke TDU™ Pant | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 162 - TDU KHAKI, 190 - TDU GREEN, 724 - DARK NAVY | 28-44, EVEN INSEAMS 30-36 | £80

Dark Navy 724

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

5.11 Stryke™ Pant (Battle Brown 116) / Freedom Flex Shirt (Sage Green 831), see page 23 / XPRT 2.0 Tactical (Dark Coyote 106), see page 50 / Rush72 Backpack (MultiCam® 169), see page 59 / Rush Tier Scabbard, see page 61

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS Charcoal 018

Available colours:

018

019

055

092

116

190

192

724

5.11 Stryke™ Pant The 5.11 Stryke™ Pant with Flex Tac® is another break through pant exclusively from 5.11 Tactical®. Flex Tac® is our patent pending propri etary fabric with built in 2 way stretch plus a stain and soil resistant finish. The 5.11 Stryke™ Pant with Flex Tac® features aggressive styling and proven 5.11 Tactical® comfort and durability. + + + + + + +

TEFLON® finish for stain and soil resistance 193g poly/cotton Flex-Tac® ripstop fabric Self-adjusting tunnel waistband (Men’s only) Badge holder front belt loops Quick access, low-profile patented pockets Genuine YKK® zippers and Prym® snaps Discrete double knee with interior knee pad pocket

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

74369 5.11 Stryke™ Pant | 018 - CHARCOAL, 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI, 092 STORM, 116 - BATTLE BROWN, 190 - TDU GREEN, 192 - TUNDRA, 724 - DARK NAVY | 28-44 WAIST, EVEN INSEAMS 30-36 | £65 64386 Women's 5.11 Stryke™ Pant | 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI, 092 STORM, 190 - TDU GREEN, 724 - DARK NAVY | 2-20 (INSEAMS: REGULAR 30-32”, LONG 34-36”) | £65

Available colours:

019

Available colours:

070

092

019

070

116

206

092

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

Storm 092

Stone 070

Cirrus Pant

Ridgeline Pant

Built from our proprietary 193 g/m2 Flex Tac® mechanical stretch ripstop fabric, the Women’s Cirrus Pant is engineered to provide maximum durability and mobility without sacrificing comfort. Equally suited for duty wear, casual wear, or covert ops, the versatile Cirrus Pant features a full gusseted crotch for com plete freedom of movement, twin front pockets sized for a knife or cell phone, twin seat pockets sized for magazines, and authentic YKK® zipper hardware. Rear pockets are double stitched for added durability, and bartacking at all major stress points ensures superior resilience and long garment life. + + + + + + + + +

Strong and flexible 193 g/m2 Flex-Tac® ripstop fabric TEFLON® finish for stain and soil resistance Low profile design Full gusseted crotch Integrated cell phone/knife pockets Seat pockets sized for magazines Double stitched rear pockets YKK® zipper hardware Bartacking at major stress points

The new Ridgeline Pant from 5.11 Tactical® combines a casual look and feel with tough and ruggedised high performance utility. Built from our ripstop Flex Tac® fabric with mechanical stretch, the Ridgeline features bartacking at major stress points, durable buttons and double needle stitching at all major seams. The Ridgeline Pant is engineered to excel in the most demanding environments without sacrificing comfort or mobility. + + + + + +

TEFLON® finish for stain and soil resistance 193g poly/cotton Flex-Tac® ripstop fabric Cordura knife reinforcements in the front pockets Full inseam gusseted crotch Front and back welted pockets YKK® zipper hardware

62% POLYESTER / 38% COTTON

74411 Ridgeline Pant | 019 - BLACK*, 070 - STONE, 092 - STORM, 116 - BATTLE BROWN, 206 - FIELD GREEN | 28-30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36-44, EVEN INSEAMS 30-36 | £65

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

64391 Women's Cirrus Pant | 019 - BLACK, 070 - STONE, 092 - STORM | 2-20 (INSEAMS: REGULAR 30-32”, LONG 34-36”) | £65

Available colours:

5.11 Stryke™ Short An 11” inseam version of our user favourite 5.11 Stryke™ Pant, the 5.11 Stryke™ Short features 5.11’s Flex Tac® fabric with mechanical stretch and a TEFLON® finish. With multi purpose thigh pockets, low profile cargo pockets (with internal magazine compartments), front and rear pockets you’ll not run out of storage space.

019 055

+ + + + +

190 192 724

Flex-Tac® mechanical stretch fabric with TEFLON® Full running crotch gusset Stretchable waistband Quick access, low-profile patented pockets Genuine YKK® zippers and Prym® snaps

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

73327 5.11 Stryke™ Short | 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI, 190 - TDU GREEN, 192 - TUNDRA, 724 - DARK NAVY | 28-30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36-44 EVEN WAIST SIZES | £60 Tundra 192

5.11 Stryke™ Tactical Duty Uniform (Dark Navy 724), see page 5 & 20 / XPRT 2.0 Tactical Urban Boots (Black 019), see page 50 / F eld Ops Watch (Black 019), see page 87 / S+R H6 Headlamp, see page 82

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS TDU™ Pant

Ava lable colours:

019

162

724

169

190

Operator proven pants: The 5.11 TDU™ Pant is available in heavyweight 212g ripstop, smooth finish 207g twill and 173g Taclite® ripstop fabric. All TDU™ pants are made from 65% poly/35% cotton fade resistant fabric. + + + +

092

Self-adjusting comfort-waist Cargo pockets with built-in divider Double-reinforced seat and knees TEFLON® treated for stain and soil resistance

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

MultiCam 169

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Available colours:

019

724

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

Available colours:

Black 019

EMS Pant

Patrol Rain Pant

Our EMS bottoms are loaded with features, performance, and a great fit that you won’t find anywhere else. Pants are available in rugged 207g poly cotton twill. + + + +

Self-adjusting comfort-waist Gusseted crotch TEFLON® treated for stain and soil resistance Full-size cargo pockets with internal dividers and external EMS specific pockets

The perfect companion to any of our waterproof breathable jackets or parkas. The Patrol Rain Pant features a waterproof breathable, seam sealed construction with abrasion resistant nylon from the knee down for durability. It has articulated knees and a gusseted crotch for freedom of movement. + Comfort fit high-rise waistband + Keeper+ belt loops + 12” boot zippers

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

74310 Men's EMS Pants | 724 - DARK NAVY | 28-44 WAIST, EVEN INSEAMS 30-36 | £60

100% POLYESTER

64301 Women's EMS Pants | 019 - BLACK, 724 - DARK NAVY | 2-20 (INSEAMS: REGULAR 30-32”, LONG 34-36”) | £60

48057 Patrol Rain Pant | 019 - BLACK, 724 - DARK NAVY | S-3XL (REGULAR, LONG) | £90

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Ava lable colours:

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

018

019

070

092

116

120

162

190

192

724

Available colours:

019 055 120 182 192

302

720

Tundra 192

TDU Khaki 162

Taclite® Pro Pant

Tactical Pant

Our most popular pants, the Taclite® Pro Pant features six pockets and our durable 174g, 65% polyester/35% cotton ripstop. The poly/cotton blend is easy to wear and offers outstanding colourfastness and durability. + + + + +

TEFLON® treated for soil and stain resistance Trademarked rear strap and slash pockets Double-reinforced seat and knees Fade and wrinkle-resistant Genuine YKK® zippers, Prym® snaps

The pant that started it all: The 5.11 Tactical® Pant is the authentic tactical pant, and has been faithfully serving public safety professionals for decades. Made with 241g 100% cotton canvas and ruggedly constructed for superior durability, comfort and performance. + + + + +

Action waist for fit and comfort Genuine YKK® zippers and Prym® snaps Trademarked rear strap and slash pockets Rugged bartack and stitching construction Reinforced seat and knees

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

74273 Taclite® Pro Pant | 018 - CHARCOAL, 019 - BLACK, 070 - STONE, 092 - STORM, 116 BATTLE BROWN, 120 - COYOTE, 162 - TDU KHAKI, 190 - TDU GREEN, 192 - TUNDRA, 724 - DARK NAVY | 28-44 EVEN SIZES, 30-36 EVEN INSEAMS | £45

100% COTTON

74251 Tactical Pant | 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI, 120 - COYOTE, 182 - OD GREEN, 192 TUNDRA, 720 - FIRE NAVY | 28-44 EVEN SIZES, 30-36 EVEN INSEAMS | £45

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Photo of Royal Robbins c.1959, inventor of the Authentic Tactical Pant © image John Cleare / www.mountaincamera.com

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

THE 5.11® HERITAGE This is where we started from. 5.11 Tactical® Pants, with the trademarked tactical strap and slash pocket design, were originally developed by Royal Robbins for rock climbing. “5.11” is a rock climbing difficulty level as listed in the Yosemite Decimal System which defines skill levels ranging from 5.0 (easy) to 5.10 (difficult). 5.11 is even more grueling. In fact, level 5.11 was officially defined as, “After thorough inspection, you conclude this move is obviously impossible; however, occasionally someone actually accomplishes it."

The 5.11 Tactical Pant is the original tactical pant and is the traditional training pant choice at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA.

Kodiak Pant (Coyote 120) / XPRT 2.0 Tactical Boots (Gunsmoke 067), see page 50 / Guardsman Watch (Granite/Black 033), see page 87 / Covert Shirt (Goldrush 312), see page 25 / Apex Gunner's Belt (Dark Horse Brown 114), see page 17

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS Available colours:

120

Kodiak Pant

122

Designed with reliability in mind, the tough and dependable Kodiak pant offers all the strength and resilience you need to overcome any obstacle. Built from 312g cotton canvas, the Kodiak pant features triple stitched seams, 12 independent pockets, double knee articulation, a gusseted crotch, and pocket reinforcements for maximum resilience.

199

100% COTTON

74406 Kodiak Pant | 120 - COYOTE, 122 - SADDLE BROWN, 199 - PINE | 28-32, 33, 34, 35, 36-44, EVEN INSEAMS 32-34 | £75

Saddle Brown 122

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Available colours:

Traverse Pant

092

+ + + + +

Contoured elastic highrise waistband Durable water-repellent finish Reinforced hem Full running gusset Articulated knees

91% NYLON / 9% ELASTANE

74401 Traverse Pant | 092 - STORM, 192 - TUNDRA | 28-44 WAIST, EVEN INSEAMS 30-36 | £80

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

Leading the charge in apparel and fabric design the Traverse Pant features a 4 way stretch fabric with excellent moisture wicking and breathability. Articulated knees, bottom back hem and a full inseam running gusset ensure durability while back zippered pockets and low profile cargo pockets secure your gear. Anti microbial finish.

192

Tundra 092

Covert Khaki 2.0 Pant A step above your normal khaki’s: The Covert Khaki 2.0 Pant has been designed to provide that neat, clean and professional look for plain clothes duty, off duty or court day. The pant features a flat front plus fade and shrink resistant poly/cotton 205g twill. + + + +

Self-adjusting tunnel waistband Permanent creases Concealed side pockets, button-closed rear pockets TEFLON® treated for stain and soil resistance

Available colours:

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

74332 Covert Khaki 2.0 Pant | 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI | 28-44 WAIST, EVEN INSEAMS 30-36 | £50

019 055

Khaki 055

Covert Cargo Pant Comfortable and low profile cargos: The Covert Cargo pant features a soft and comfortable 241g. brushed canvas and an action waist for fit and comfort. Low profile thigh pockets can each carry 2 AR magazines or other gear.

Available colours:

+ Each thigh pocket can carry 2 full size AR magazines + Concealed front pockets can carry 2 pistol magazines + Deep rear pockets and traditional front pockets

055 182

100% COTTON

192

74290 Covert Cargo Pant | 055 - KHAKI, 182 - OD GREEN, 192 - TUNDRA | 28-44 WAIST, EVEN INSEAMS 30-36 | £50

Khaki 055

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Available colours:

5.11 Stryke™ Short

019

An 11” inseam version of our user favourite 5.11 Stryke™ Pant, the 5.11 Stryke™ Short fea tures 5.11’s Flex Tac® fabric with mechanical stretch and a TEFLON® finish. With multi pur pose thigh pockets, low profile cargo pockets (with internal magazine compartments), front and rear pockets you’ll not run out of storage space.

055

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

190

+ Flex-Tac® mechanical stretch fabric with TEFLON® + Full running crotch gusset + Stretchable waistband

192 724

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

73327 5.11 Stryke™ Short | 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI, 190 - TDU GREEN, 192 - TUNDRA, 724 DARK NAVY | 28-30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36-44 EVEN WAIST SIZES | £60

Tundra 192

Switchback Short Built from 100% cotton twill, the Men’s Switchback Short offers rugged durability, a classic look and feel, and superior comfort that lasts all day long. A coin pocket at the right hip and an on seam cell phone pocket at the left thigh keep you organised, while generous bartacking and double needle stitching at all seams and stress points ensure maximum durability and extended garment life. + + + +

Dual hidden magazine pockets at back hip On-seam cell phone pocket at right thigh Bartacking at major stress points Double-needle stitching

Available colours:

100% COTTON

73322 Switchback Short | 018 - CHARCOAL*, 070 - STONE, 116 - BATTLE BROWN, 206 - FIELD GREEN | 28-32, 33, 34, 35, 36-44 EVEN WAIST SIZES | £40

018

070

116

206

Stone 070

Available colours:

Patrol Short

019 724

For mobility and speed: The Patrol Short features a 108g 94% nylon / 6% stretch Spandex fabric that is breathable, quick drying, fade and wrinkle resistant with an anti microbial finish. 9” inseam and an elastic non slip waistband. + + + +

Hook and loop adjustable belt-keeper belt loops Zip closure rear pockets for security Running crotch gusset for freedom of movement Roomy cargo pockets with internal pocket

94% POLYAMIDE / 6% ELASTANE

43057 Patrol Short | 019 - BLACK, 724 - DARK NAVY | 28-44 EVEN SIZES | £58

Dark Navy 724

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Tundra 192

TDU Khaki 162

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

Above the knee length At the knee length

Available colours:

019

120

162

190

192

724

019

Taclite® Short (9-1/2” Inseam) Taclite® Pro Shorts with a 9 1/2” (24cm) inseam provide lightweight and breathable performance. Made with 174g, 65% polyester/35% cotton ripstop for durable colourfast wear. + + + + + +

Available colours:

TEFLON® treated for soil and stain resistance Trademarked rear strap and slash pockets Double-reinforced seat Quick-access multipurpose pocket Fade and wrinkle-resistant Genuine YKK® zippers, Prym® snaps

162

724

Taclite® Short (11” Inseam) Taclite® Pro Shorts with an 11” inseam lands right at the knee and will impress you with their comfort and fade resistance. Made with 174g, 65% polyester/35% cotton ripstop. + + + + + +

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

73287 Men's Taclite® Short (9-1/2” Inseam) | 019 - BLACK, 120 - COYOTE, 162 - TDU KHAKI, 190 - TDU GREEN, 192 - TUNDRA, 724 - DARK NAVY | 28-44 EVEN SIZES | £38

73308 Taclite® Short (11” Inseam) | 019 - BLACK, 162 - TDU KHAKI, 724 - DARK NAVY | 28-44 EVEN SIZES | £40

63071 Women's Taclite® Short (9” Inseam) | 019 - BLACK, 162 - TDU KHAKI | 2-20 EVEN SIZES | £40

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

Sandstorm 328

Maverick Assaulters Belt The Maverick Assaulter’s Belt Patent pending design, ergonomically shaped rigger’s belt with varying male/female buckles allows one time fit and forget for removal through belt loops. Pre curved design with AustriAlpine® buckles.

Black 019

100% NYLON

59569 Maverick Assaulters Belt | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | S-4XL | £80

Trainer & Operator Belt 100% NYLON

Black 019

TDU Green 190

Coyote 120

TDU™ Belts 100% NYLON

100% NYLON

59551 TDU™ 1.5” Belt | 019 - BLACK, 120 - COYOTE, 190 - TDU GREEN | S-4XL | £13.50

59567 1.75” Double Duty TDU™ Belt | 120 - COYOTE, 190 - TDU GREEN | S-4XL | £18

59552 TDU™ 1.75” Belt | 019 - BLACK, 120 - COYOTE | S-4XL | £13.50

59568 1.5” Double Duty TDU™ Belt | 120 - COYOTE, 190 - TDU GREEN | S-4XL | £18

Black 019 Black/Coyote 120

Coyote 120 Black/TDU Green 190

TDU Green 190

Traverse Double Buckle The Traverse Double Buckle is a casual style belt that’s been reinforced for added durability and to support a duty holster and weapon.

PANTS, SHORTS & BELTS

+ Two-tone lightweight aluminium anodised buckles + 5.11® signature belt tip — reinforced for durability + Mini flag attachment point with a 1”x1” loop patch on the exterior front 100% NYLON

59510 Traverse Double Buckle | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 116 - BATTLE BROWN, 328 - SANDSTONE | S-XXL | £25

Black 019

Storm 092

Battle Brown 116

Sandstone 328

APEX Belts Apex T-rail Belt: Our new T Rail belt features an ergonomically curved design made from TPU coated B10 webbing. Cast aluminium buckle. 100% TPU

59504 Apex T-rail Belt | 019 - BLACK, 192 - TUNDRA, 328 - SANDSTONE | S-4XL | £55

Sandstone 328

Tundra 192

Black 019

Apex Gunner’s Belt: The Apex Gunner’s belt features a pre curved design and provides broken in comfort, TPU coated B10 web belt provides 650+ kgs. of tensile strength, cast aluminium buckle. 100% NYLON

59492 Apex Gunner’s Belt | 019 - BLACK, 114 - DARK HORSE BROWN | S-4XL | £55

Why Curved?

Black 019

Dark Horse Brown 114

The Maverick Assaulter’s Belt, Apex T Rail Belt and Apex Gunner’s Belt feature a pre curved design. The curve fits the natural shape of your waist for outstanding comfort and secure holster wear.

Casual Belt 100% LEATHER

59501 1.5” (3.8cm.) Casual Belt | 019 - BLACK, 109 - CLASSIC BROWN | S-4XL | £35

Black 019

Classic Brown 109

5.11 Stryke™ Shirt (Storm 092) / 5.11 Stryke™ Pant (Tundra 192), see page 6 / CAVU Half Frame Glasses, see page 84

SHIRTS & POLOS

Shirts & Polos SHIRTS & POLOS

Available colours:

019

055

092

190

192

724

Storm 092

5.11 Stryke™ Shirt The 5.11 Stryke™ pant has quickly become an end user favourite pant and we are pleased to release the new 5.11 Stryke™ Shirt as a great companion to the pant. Made from shirt weight (137g) Flex Tac® mechanical stretch fabric and treated with TEFLON® for stain and soil resistance, the 5.11 Stryke™ Shirt offers an updated look for tactical shirts. + 5.11®’s patented document pockets and chest pockets + DWR finish repels light rain + Pen pockets on left sleeve and sleeve roll-up tabs 62% POLYESTER / 38% COTTON

72399 5.11 Stryke™ Shirt | 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI, 092 - STORM, 190 - TDU GREEN, 192 TUNDRA, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-3XL | £65

Rapid Assault Shirt

SHIRTS & POLOS

Cool, comfortable and in control: The body of the Rapid Assault Shirt features a cotton/poly/Spandex knit for softness, breathability and stretch while mesh inserts in the armpit and back of the neck provide even greater breathability. The sleeves and collar are made with a cotton/poly blend for durability and colour retention. + + + + + + + Ava lable colours:

Zip-up collar Saddle-shoulder design Angled shoulder pockets Loop-sided patch panels Flat lock seams for comfort No seams in the armpits to chafe UPF 50

COLLAR/SLEEVES: 65%POLYESTER / 35% COTTON, MAIN BODY KNIT: 55% COTTON / 37% POLYESTER/ 8% ELASTANE, KNIT ACCENT: 55% COTTON / 41% POLYESTER / 4% ELASTANE

019

092

162

190

724

169

72194 Rapid Assault Shirt | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 162 - TDU KHAKI, 190 - TDU GREEN, 724 - DARK NAVY* | S-3XL | £60 72185 Rapid Assault Shirt MultiCam® | 169 - MULTICAM® | S-3XL | £75

MultiCam 169

5.11 Stryke™ Tactical Duty Uniform The next level of flexible and functional tactical uniforms

5.11 Stryke TDU™ Rapid Shirt Dark Navy 724

Functional designs, 5.11 Tactical®’s styling and our Flex Tac® fabric work together to provide a tactical advantage in our new 5.11 Stryke™ Tactical Duty Uniforms. 5.11®’s Flex Tac® mechanical stretch fabric offers lasting flexibility, freedom of movement and a TEFLON® finish for stain and soil resistance. Flex Tac® patent pending fabric features mechanical stretch (built into the yarn) for lasting flexibility and freedom of movement. The fabric has a low visibility ripstop weave and is treated with TEFLON® fabric protector for stain and soil resistance.

78% POLYESTER / 22% COTTON

72416 5.11 Stryke TDU™ Shirt | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 162 TDU KHAKI, 190 - TDU GREEN, 724 - DARK NAVY | S-3XL | £78 72071 5.11 Stryke TDU™ Rapid Shirt | 019 - BLACK, 092 STORM, 162 - TDU KHAKI, 190 - TDU GREEN, 724 - DARK NAVY | S-3XL | £75

Available colours:

019

092

190

724

162

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

5.11 Stryke TDU™ Shirt Dark Navy 724

SHIRTS & POLOS

TDU Green 190

Available colours:

019

092

169

190

724

TDU™ Shirt Ready for rugged duty: TDU™ shirts in our poly/cotton blends are an ide al choice for a rugged uniform fabric as they provides great resistance to fading, are easy to care for and comfortable to wear. TDU™ shirts feature a covered front placket, reinforced elbows, and adjustable cuffs. + + + + +

TEFLON® treated for stain and soil resistance Bi-Swing shoulders for a full range of movement Patented hidden document pockets 173g ripstop - traditional ripstop performance 114g Taclite® ripstop - lightweight and breathable

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

Tactical Duty Uniform (Storm 092), see page 5 / 5.11 RECON® Storm Boot (Storm 092), see page 56 / TacTec Plate Carrier (Storm 092), see page 74

Rapid Response Quarter Zip (TDU Green 190) / 5.11 Stryke™ Pant (Charcoal 018), see page 6 / Maverick Assaulters Belt (Black 019), see page 16 / Watch Cap (Black 019), see page 88

SHIRTS & POLOS Rapid Response Quarter-Zip Inspired by our popular Rapid Assault Combat Shirt, the Rapid Response features a mix of performance fabrics that enhance tactical utility. Body features a 92% polyester / 8% Spandex fabric with a moisture wicking finish. Sleeves, shoulders and collar are built of a 91% polyester / 9% Spandex fabric with two way stretch, moisture wicking and quick drying properties. + + + +

Zippered sleeve pocket at left bicep Scope embossed loop platform on right bicep Embroidered 5.11® branding Also available in Realtree® X-TRA

91% POLYESTER / 9% ELASTANE

Available colours:

092

190

709

302 Storm 092

Mechanical stretch

Perforated mechanical stretch fabric

SHIRTS & POLOS

Available colours:

Underbrush 836

Available colours:

019

092

116

836

019 831 Sage Green 831

Freedom Flex Shirt s/l

Freedom Flex Shirt l/s

The Freedom Flex Woven Shirt was engineered for superior indoor and outdoor comfort to suit a broad range of environments. Featuring a unique perforated fabric under the arms, at the sides and across the back. The Freedom Flex provides excellent breathability and freedom of movement. + + + + + +

711

The moisture wicking 132g/m² polyester fabric is built with stretch for freedom of movement and comfort. Like our Covert Shirts, the Freedom Flex is built with a RAPIDraw placket for access to our Holster Shirt or shoulder holster. The Freedom Flex delivers performance and outstanding functionality at the range or in the office.

Built from 110 g/m2 moisture wicking stretch polyester Perforated fabric panels enhance ventilation Extra wide pen pockets on each sleeve Dual chest patch pockets Bartacking at major stress points RAPIDraw placket for access to a shoulder holster or holster shirt

+ + + + +

132 g/m² moisture wicking mechanical stretch polyester Full length arm and side gusset Pen pockets, chest pockets Bartacked construction Wear tucked in or out

100% POLYESTER

71340 Freedom Flex Woven Short Sleeve Shirt | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 116 BATTLE BROWN, 836 - UNDERBRUSH | S-XXL | £55

72417 Freedom Flex Long Sleeve Shirt | 019 - BLACK, 711 - BOSUN, 831 - SAGE GREEN | S-XXL | £57

Traverse Shirt l/s

Available colours:

Ultra lightweight comfort: Lightweight and ultimately breathable, you may forget you have it on at all. The Traverse Shirt features a unique standoff fabric that promotes airflow and moisture wicking. In addition to the breathable nature of the fabric, the Traverse features a mesh lining in high heat areas as well as mesh grid ventilation in the underarms and sides.

019 055

+ Quick drying and built to breath + 85g 100% polyester + UPF 50

709 831

100% POLYESTER

72390 Traverse Long Sleeve Shirt | 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI, 709 - REGATTA, 831 - SAGE GREEN | S-3X | £57

Khaki 055

Tactical Shirt L/S (Khaki 055)

SHIRTS & POLOS Tactical Shirt l/s A time tested standard: Triple needle tailoring and bartacks abound, ensuring that your 5.11 Tactical® Shirt will serve you well. The shirt features a cape back with mesh lining for breathability and comfort, made from 153g 100% cotton canvas. + Hidden button down collar + 5.11®’s patented hidden document pockets + Long sleeve and has adjustable cuffs and sleeve-keepers 100% COTTON

72157 Long Sleeve Tactical Shirt | 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI, 120 - COYOTE, 182 - OD GREEN, 720 - FIRE NAVY | XS-3XL | £45

Coyote 120 Available colours:

019

055

120

182

720

Taclite® Pro Shirt

Available colours:

Rugged, lightweight and functional: Taclite® Pro Shirts feature a lightweight, breatha ble and fast drying 125g poly/cotton ripstop fabric. + + + +

Hidden button down collar 5.11®’s patented hidden document pockets Long sleeve has adjustable cuffs TEFLON® treated for soil and stain resistance

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

019

162

190

724

092

116

120

192

302

Tundra 192

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Covert Shirt - Flex Our new generation of Covert Shirts features a fabric with built in two way mechanical stretch for enhanced range of motion. Mechanical stretch is built into the fabric for long term performance. The Covert Shirt Flex features our RAPIDraw system for easy access to a concealed sidearm and our patented document pockets. Double Chest Pocket:

74% COTTON / 26% POLYESTER Volcanic 098

71348 Covert Shirt Flex (double Chest Pocket) | 098 - VOLCANIC, 208 - AGAVE, 800 - SILVER PINE | S-XXL | £60

Volcanic 098

71350 Covert Shirt Flex (single Chest Pocket) | 200 - FATIGUE, 210 - GRIDIRON, 664 - TAR HEEL | S-XXL | £60

Agave 208

Silver Pine 800

Single Chest Pocket:

Fatigue 200

Grid ron 220

SHIRTS & POLOS

+ Cotton/polyester blend in an updated, slimmer fit + Wicks perspiration keeping you cool and dry. + Available with one or two chest pockets

Tarheel 664

Covert Shirt - Performance + + + + +

Synthetic fabric for lightweight breathability External chest pockets with zip closure RAPIDraw placket with snap buttons for access to shoulder holster or 5.11® Holster shirt Generous length helps conceal a holstered sidearm Locker loop on inside collar, tagless

100% POLYESTER Volcanic 098

71200 Covert Shirt - Performance | 092 - STORM, 098 - VOLCANIC, 208 - AGAVE, 312 - GOLDRUSH, 677 - NAUTICAL | S-3XL | £60

Storm 092

Volcanic 098

Agave 208

Goldrush 312

Nautical 667

Covert Shirt - Flannel Long sleeve comfortable wear crafted from 153g/m² 100% brushed cotton twill, the Covert Flannel Shirt from 5.11 Tactical® offers an ideal blend of casual comfort and utility. Features include our patented hidden document pockets at the chest and our RAPIDraw placket for concealed carry ease. Designed to be worn tucked or untucked. 100% COTTON

72404 Covert Flannel Shirt | 075 - IVORY, 093 - STEAM, 115 - BARK, 469 - OX BLOOD, 708 - CAPITAN, 709 - REGATTA | S-XXL | £65

Ivory 075

Steam 093

Bark 115

Ox Blood 469

Captain 708

Regatta 709 Ivory 075

All our Covert Shirts are designed to be worn over our Holster Shirts, see page 43.

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

SHIRTS & POLOS Available colours:

019

160

696

724

190

Rapid Performance Polo Bringing operator oriented performance features to everyday comfortable apparel, the Rapid Performance Polo features woven polyester sleeves and polyester/Spandex jersey body for outstanding colourfastness and comfort. Raglan shoulder construction and gusseted sleeves offer a full range of motion and can be comfortably worn under a plate carrier. + + + +

Zip secured bicep pocket Mic loops at both shoulders and pen pockets Antimicrobial and moisture-wicking Tagless label for comfort

100% POLYESTER

41018 Rapid Performance Polo | 019 - BLACK, 160 - SILVER TAN, 190 - TDU GREEN, 696 - FIRE MED BLUE, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-3XL | ÂŁ50

TDU Green 190

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A LÂŽ

Available colours:

Professional Polo The 5.11® Professional Polo is made with a durable, yet soft 100% cotton 193g pique knit that is treated to retain colour and provide wash and wear ease. The Professional Polo is ideal for embroidery or soft badge embellishment.

010

Stay-flat, no-roll collar Dual pen pockets on left sleeve Easy to maintain a neat, clean and professional appearance Wrinkle, shrink and fade resistant

SHIRTS & POLOS

+ + + +

019

016 160

100% COTTON

41060 Men's Short Sleeve Professional Polo | 010 - WHITE, 016 - HEATHER GREY, 019 - BLACK, 160 - SILVER TAN, 477 - RANGE RED, 692 - ACADEMY BLUE, 724 - DARK NAVY, 860 - L.E. GREEN | XS-3XL | £35

477

42056 Men's Long Sleeve Professional Polo | 010 - WHITE, 016 - HEATHER GREY, 019 - BLACK, 160 - SILVER TAN, 477 - RANGE RED, 692 - ACADEMY BLUE, 724 - DARK NAVY, 860 - L.E. GREEN | XS-3XL | £40

692

61166 Women's Short Sleeve Professional Polo | 010 - WHITE, 019 - BLACK, 724 - DARK NAVY | S-XL | £35

724 860

Academy Blue 692

Available colours:

Performance Polo

019

The Performance Polo is made from 190g jersey knit 100% polyester fabric for outstanding colour retention as well as shrink and wrinkle resistance. The Performance Polo is anti microbial, moisture wicking, and snag resistant.

160

+ Stay-flat, no-roll collar + Collarbone and front mic-clip pockets + Dual pen pockets on left sleeve

190 477

100% POLYESTER

71049 Men's Short Sleeve Performance Polo | 019 - BLACK, 160 - SILVER TAN, 190 - TDU GREEN, 477 RANGE RED, 724 - DARK NAVY, 860 - L.E. GREEN | XS-3XL | £30

724 860

LE Green 860

Tactical Polo Everything you want in a polo: Made from 193g 100% cotton jersey and treated for shrink, wrinkle and fade resistance, the Tactical Polo looks great with embroidery or imprinting from the 5.11® Custom Shop. + + + +

Stay-flat, no-roll collar Shrink, wrinkle and fade resistant Mic-clip pockets at shoulders and sternum Dual pen pockets on the left sleeve

100% COTTON

71182 Men's Short Sleeve Tactical Polo | 724 - DARK NAVY | S-3XL | £35 Available colours:

724

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

SHIRTS & POLOS

Utility Polo Shrink, wrinkle and fade resistance at a great price: The Utility Polo is styled after 5.11®’s time tested Professional Polo and features a 193g 60% cotton / 40% polyester pique knit for enhanced colourfastness. + + + +

Stay-flat, no-roll collar Dual pen pockets on left sleeve Easy to maintain a neat, clean and professional appearance Wrinkle, shrink and fade resistant

60% COTTON / 40% POLYESTER

Silver Tan 160

Available colours:

010

016

019

160

477

724

Pinnacle Polo Lightweight, breathable and fade resistant, the Pinnacle Polo features moisture wicking and antimicrobial performance and its 100% polyester fabric is snag resist ant. It features a sunglass loop at base of placket and pen pocket on left sleeve. + Flatlocked seams for comfort + Embroidered 5.11® logo on left chest 100% POLYESTER

71036 Pinnacle Polo | 018 - CHARCOAL, 019 - BLACK, 200 - FATIGUE, 477 - RANGE RED, 677 - NAUTICAL, 724 - DARK NAVY | S-XXL | £40

Available colours:

018

019

200

477

677

724

Black 019

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Trinity Polo (Violet 504) / Maverick Assaulters Belt (Sandstrom 328), see page 16

SHIRTS & POLOS

Trinity Polo Cascade 665

Crafted from a lightweight breathable polyester pique fabric with a moisture wicking finish, the Trinity Polo provides a perfect blend of superior performance and comfort. Mic loops at both shoulder seams keep you connected. The drop tail offers additional coverage in the back, and a buttonless placket adds a stylish touch while remaining neat, clean, and professional. + + + + +

150g polyester pique knit with moisture wicking finish Side vents maximize ventilation Mic loops at both shoulder seams Drop tail for added coverage at the back Buttonless front placket and decorative stitching

100% POLYESTER

61011 Women's Trinity Polo | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 504 - VIOLET, 665 - CASCADE | S-XL | £45

Available colours:

019

092

504

665

Odyssey Polo A sharp looking new polo with contemporary style and fit, the Odyssey Polo features a snag and fade resistant polyester/ Spandex blend for breathability and flexibility. Built for all day comfort and easy movement, its fabric has moisture wicking and antimicrobial properties. + + + +

Pen pocket on left sleeve Zippered chest pocket Tonal 5.11® heat-seal logo Gusseted construction

87% POLYESTER / 13% ELASTANE

Available colours:

71032 Odyssey Polo | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 312 - GOLDRUSH, 716 - VALIANT, 831 - SAGE GREEN | S-XXL | £45

019

092

312

716

831 Valiant 716

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Outerwear

Available colours:

OUTERWEAR

051

206

709

Tactical Full Zip Sweater The Tactical Full Zip Sweater from 5.11 Tactical® features a comfortable and stylish design, dual pass through hand warmer pockets, a double layer fleece lined folded collar, a lumbar pocket, and elasticised bindings at the hem and cuffs to ensure a secure fit at all times. + + + +

YKK® zipper secured chest pocket Abrasion resistant shoulders and elbows with built-in stretch Features a large built-in lumbar pocket 5.11®’s RAPIDraw system allows easy access to an interior pocket or concealed carry

100% POLYESTER

72407 Tactical Full Zip Sweater | 051 - GUN POWDER, 206 - FIELD GREEN, 709 - REGATTA | XS-XXL | £89

Gunpowder 051

1/4-zip Job Shirt The traditional Job Shirt has evolved, and then evolved again! The 1/4 Job Shirt features an 80% cotton / 20% poly fabric with a fade, shrink and wrinkle resistant finish as well as high quality elastic cuffs and hems. + Mic-clip pockets and pen pockets + Break-Through chest pocket that can hold smaller or longer items by pressing through the internal hook and loop + Handwarmer pockets 82% POLYESTER / 18% ELASTANE

72314 1/4-zip Job Shirt | 016 - HEATHER GREY, 019 - BLACK, 720 - FIRE NAVY | XS-3XL | £65

Available colours:

016

019

Heather Grey 016

720

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Tactical Quarter Zip Sweater (Regatta 709)

Available colours:

206

OUTERWEAR

051 709

Field Green 206

Tactical Quarter-zip Sweater Built for warmth, comfort and flexibility on the range or out in the woods, the Tactical Sweater features bonded, abrasion resistant shoulders and elbow patches. The body features 100% polyester with a front zipper that extends to mid sternum for heat management. + + + +

Zipper secured chest pocket Abrasion resistant shoulders and elbows with built-in stretch Chin guard on collar Features a large built-in lumbar pocket

100% POLYESTER

72405 Tactical Quarter-zip Sweater | 051 - GUN POWDER, 206 - FIELD GREEN, 709 - REGATTA | S-XXL | Â£80

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Ava lable colours:

Available colours:

OUTERWEAR

018

019

116

209

200

504

701

663

Caribbean Sea 663

Battle Brown 116

Reactor FZ Hoodie

Horizon Hoodie

The premier hoodie offering from 5.11 Tactical®, our new Reactor FZ (full zip) is crafted from 167g brushed polyester fleece for outstanding weather resistance and all day comfort. The oversized side zip pockets provide pass through accessibility for a concealed sidearm, a zippered pocket on the left sleeve offers added utility, and articulated elbows ensure full freedom of movement. The hood assembly features a polyester drawcord with integrated toggles and a zipper ga rage. A loop platform on the upper right arm supports your 5.11® morale patches. + + + + + + + + +

167g brushed polyester fleece Weather resistant construction Oversized side zip pockets RAPIDraw pass-through pockets for holster access Zippered utility pocket on left sleeve Articulated elbows for freedom of movement Loop patch platform on upper right arm YKK® zipper hardware throughout Bartacking at key stress points for added durability

Built from 100% brushed polyester fleece to keep you warm after a workout or on the range. Outstanding weather resistance and all day comfort. A flexible design offers complete freedom of movement, and provides a clean, crisp appearance at all times, and enhanced seam details create a unique and attractive look. + + + + + +

167g brushed Polyester fleece Weather resistant construction Full zip front Side zip handwarmer pockets Accessories pocket on the left bicep Bartacking at key stress points for added durability

100% POLYESTER

62003 Women's Horizon Hoodie | 019 - BLACK, 209 - JUNGLE, 504 - VIOLET, 663 - CARIBBEAN SEA | S-XL | £57

100% POLYESTER

72041 Reactor FZ Hoodie | 018 - CHARCOAL, 116 - BATTLE BROWN, 200 - FATIGUE, 701 COBALT BLUE | S-XXL | £65

Available colours:

Abr Logo Hoodie

018

Large front design.

019

80% COTTON / 20% POLYESTER

42182AK ABR Logo | 018 - CHARCOAL, 019 - BLACK, 741 - ROYAL HEATHER | M-XXL | £40

741

Royal Heather 741

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Diablo Hoodie (Fatigue 200)

OUTERWEAR

Available colours:

Diablo Hoodie

092

Featuring a traditional pullover design, a kangaroo style handwarmer pocket, and an integrated adjustable polyester hood cord, the Diablo Hoodie combines a classic look and feel with modern features. Crafted from 100% brushed polyester fleece, additional features include a zippered utility pocket at the left sleeve, a loop patch on the upper right sleeve, tonal contrast stitching for a dynamic appearance, and pocket reinforcements for added durability.

192 200 701

+ + + + + + + +

167g brushed polyester fleece Weather resistant construction RAPIDraw pass-through pockets for holster access Zippered utility pocket on left sleeve Integrated polyester drawcord for an adjustable hood Loop patch on upper right sleeve YKKÂŽ zipper hardware Reinforced pockets for added durability

100% POLYESTER

72388 Diablo Hoodie | 092 - STORM, 192 - TUNDRA, 200 - FATIGUE, 701 COBALT BLUE | S-XXL | ÂŁ53

Cobalt 701

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

3 in 1 Agressor Parka (Tundra 192) / 5.11 Stryke™ Pant (Battle Brown 116), see page 6

OUTERWEAR Ava lable colours:

Available colours:

019

120

192

477

019

724

Tundra 192

Black 019

Bristol Parka

Valiant Duty Jacket

The ideal shell for all weather patrol duty. The Bristol Parka from 5.11 Tactical® combines all weather performance with an assortment of tactical enhance ments to provide an ideal solution for winter patrol wear. Waterproof breathable, blood borne pathogen resistant construction. Featuring a removable inner liner that can be worn on its own, pull out ID panels, and the 5.11® patented Quixip™ system for fast and reliable access to your sidearm.

The Valiant Duty Jacket sets a new standard for versatile outerwear with a waterproof breathable, blood borne pathogen resistant, seam sealed nylon outer shell housing a removable polyester softshell liner that can be worn alone. In addition, zip off sleeves provide a vest option for superior all weather versa tility. The Valiant Softshell liner also available separately. The Valiant features removable ID panels and 5.11®'s patented Quixip™ system.

SHELL: 100% NYLON, LINING: 100% POLYESTER

48152 Bristol Parka | 019 - BLACK, 120 - COYOTE, 192 - TUNDRA, 477 - RANGE RED, 724 DARK NAVY | XS-4XL | £250

48153 Valiant Duty Jacket | 019 - BLACK, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-4XL | £250

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Available colours:

019

477

724

120

3-in-1 Parka

192

+ Hidden ID panels that can be customized + TacTec System compatible + Includes matching removable fleece jacket 100% NYLON OUTER, 100% POLYESTER INNER

48001 3-in-1 Parka | 019 - BLACK, 477 - RANGE RED, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-4XL | £200

OUTERWEAR

3 in 1 Parka provides a waterproof breathable, seam sealed construction for outstanding protection from the elements. Its hip length adds protection from weather and keeps your gear dry. Parka has a zip off hood that stows in the collar and zippered sides with snaps. The 3 in 1 features mic clip loops at the shoulders.

48032 Aggressor Parka | SHELL:100% NYLON, FLEECE SHELL: 100% POLYESTER | 120 - COYOTE, 192 - TUNDRA | XS-4XL | £200

Dark Navy 724

Available colours:

5-in-1 Jacket

019

Waterproof and Breathable: Maximum versatility and value, our 5 in 1 Jacket gives you five outerwear options loaded into one outstanding system. The 5 in 1 Jacket includes a fleece jacket with zip off sleeves so you can wear the fleece as a vest only. Five easy ways to customize your level of warmth: vest only, fleece with sleeves, shell only, vest in shell or full fleece zipped into the shell.

724

100% NYLON OUTER, 100% POLYESTER INNER

48017 5-in-1 Jacket | 019 - BLACK, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-4XL | £200

Dark Navy 724

Available colours:

477

Responder Parka Ultimate parka for First Responders: The Responder Parka is loaded to the hilt with performance and functionality. Responder Parkas feature blood borne pathogen resistance. Built with waterproof breathable seam sealed construction. The Parka also feature removable hoods, zippered armpit vents and a stretch drawcord waist.

724

+ + + +

5.11® Traxion non-slip shoulder RadioReady chest pocket Mic loops at shoulders and sternum Removable fleece liner

100% NYLON / 100% POLYESTER TRIM

48073 Men's Responder Parka | 477 - RANGE RED, 724 - DARK NAVY | S-4XL | £260

Dark Navy 724

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Ava lable colours:

Big Horn Jacket

019

OUTERWEAR

Rugged and ready for work: The Big Horn Jacket features a medium weight fleece lining for warmth in cold temperatures. The outer shell provides wind and water resistance and also works well for embroidery. + Hand-warmer pockets + Zippered sleeve pocket 100% NYLON OUTER, 100% POLYESTER INNER

48026 Big Horn Jacket | 019 - BLACK | XS-3XL | £90

Available colours:

Sabre Jacket 2.0

019

Looks and brains: The Sabre Jacket 2.0 sets a new standard for waterproof breathable construction. We’ve kept the aggressive look of the shell and have made major adjustments in a few places, but the true improvements are found in how well the waterproof breathable technology performs in wet weather. + + + +

120 191

YKK® Waterproof zippers Includes our patented Quixip™ quick access side zipper Larger patch panels Hidden ID panels can be customized

724

96% POLYESTER / 4% ELASTANE

48112 Sabre Jacket 2.0 | 019 - BLACK, 120 - COYOTE, 191 - MOSS, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-4XL | £200

Coyote 120

Ava lable colours:

019

131

Chameleon Softshell Jacket

191

Great fit and performance: Designed to blend in with today’s outerwear styles, the Chameleon Softshell provides water and wind repellency and allows you to identify yourself with hidden ID panels. The Chameleon is a 100% polyester bonded softshell fabric.

724

+ + + +

Drop tail Contemporary fit Hidden ID panels can be customized 5.11® Logo on left arm

100% POLYESTER

48099INT Chameleon Softshell Jacket | 019 - BLACK, 131 - FLAT DARK EARTH, 191 - MOSS, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-3XL | £95

Flat Dark Earth 131

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Available colours:

019

Available colours:

208

093

116

302

OUTERWEAR

480

019

709 302 116

Agave 208

Battle Brown / Realtree Xtra 116

Sierra Softshell

Women's Sierra Softshells feature a 100% polyester fabric with mechanical stretch fabric. A DWR (durable water resistant) finish helps keep you dry in moderate showers. Low profile chest pockets stow your phone or other handy items. 5.11®’s RAPIDraw system allows easy access to an interior pocket or to your choice of concealed carry. + + + +

The Sierra Softshell offers lightweight weather protection across a wide range of adverse conditions. Men’s and Women’s Sierra Softshells feature a 100% polyester stretch fabric bonded to a polyester micro fleece. A DWR (durable water resistant) finish helps keep you dry in moderate showers. Low profile chest pockets stow your phone or other handy items. + + + + +

Elastic hem adjustments inside hand pockets Hand warmer pocket linings Full-zip collar with chin guard Tonal 5.11® branding at left shoulder

100% POLYESTER

38068 Women's Sierra Softshell | 019 - BLACK, 208 - AGAVE, 480 - BRICK | S-XL | £115

Elastic hem adjustments inside hand pockets Hand warmer pocket linings Tonal 5.11® branding at left shoulder Embossed loop patch on right sleeve YKK® two-way front zip with chin guard

Valiant Softshell Liner Wear on its own or compatible with 48152 and 48153. 100% POLYESTER

48167 Valiant Softshell Liner | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-4XL | £120

Available colours:

019

092

724

Removable sleeves Black 019

OUTERWEAR

Ava lable colours:

Available colours:

092

890

Storm 092

Sheriff Green 890

Insulator Jacket

Insulator Vest

The Insulator Jacket provides versatile thermal protection in multiple climates with a DWR (durable water resistant) treated outer layer of 62% nylon / 38% polyester with stretch side panels of 93% polyester / 7% Spandex. Featuring 100 g/m2 PrimaLoft Silver for an outstanding warmth to weight ratio. RAPIDraw pockets to allow access to a concealed firearm. Chest pockets with concealed zippers keep smaller items handy. + 2-way YKK® front zipper + Low-profile chest pockets + Performance fit with stretch side panels 62% POLYAMIDE / 38% POLYESTER

78006 Insulator Jacket | 092 - STORM, 890 - SHERIFF GREEN | S-XXL | £125

Keep your core warm with the Insulator Vest. Worn as a mid layer or outer layer, its DWR (durable water resistant) treated exterior of 62% nylon / 38% polyester protects from light rain and its stretch side panels (93% polyester / 7% Spandex) enhance comfort and breathability. The Insulator Vest features 100 g/m2 PrimaLoft Silver for an outstanding warmth to weight ratio. RAPIDraw pockets to allow access to a concealed firearm. Chest pockets with concealed zippers keep smaller items handy. + + + +

2-way YKK® front zipper Tonal 5.11® branding Low-profile chest pockets Performance fit with stretch side panels

62% POLYAMIDE / 38% POLYESTER

80020 Insulator Vest | 092 - STORM, 890 - SHERIFF GREEN | S-XXL | £100

Ava lable colours:

019

162

192

Taclite® M-65 Jacket Released in 1965, the original M 65 field jacket has proven itself on battlefields the world over. We’ve re imagined that original jacket in our Taclite® ripstop fabric with a contemporary, more fitted cut. The Taclite® M 65 is constructed with our 174 g/m2 65% polyester / 35% cotton TEFLON® treated Taclite® fabric for durable stain and fade resistance. 5.11®’s RapiDraw pockets allow pass through access to a concealed firearm. The jacket is lightly lined and un insulated to allow for easy layering and comfortable wear in a broad range of climates. + + + +

Functional epaulets Dual hidden document pockets at chest Nametape holder Tonal 5.11® branding

65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

78007 Taclite® M-65 Jacket | 019 - BLACK, 162 - TDU KHAKI, 192 - TUNDRA | S-XXL | £130

Tundra 192

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Packable Operator Jacket

Available colours:

019

+ + + + + + +

Water resistant polyester microfibre construction Folds quickly into its own pocket Stows easily in a trunk, bag, or locker Hidden document pocket at the chest Twin handwarmer pockets Hood stows in collar Mic loops at both shoulder seams

OUTERWEAR

Perfectly suited for use in rapidly changing climates or as a backup duty jacket, the Packable Operator Jacket comes with a convenient carry pouch and stows easily in your trunk, patrol bag, or locker. Crafted from sturdy, lightweight polyester microfibre fabric, the Packable Operator Jacket offers protection against wind and rain. Addition al features include hidden document pocket at the chest, twin front pockets, mic loops at each shoulder, and elastic sleeve cuffs.

724

100% POLYESTER

48169 Packable Operator Jacket | 019 - BLACK, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-4XL | £57

All of our Packable Jackets conveniently stuff into their own pocket.

Dark Navy 724

Black 019 Available colours:

019

724

Response Jacket Versatile and lightweight: The Response Jacket is great for changing spring weather. It is wind and water repellent. 100% Polyester shell with hidden pockets. ID panels can be imprinted. 100% POLYESTER

48016 Response Jacket | 019 - BLACK, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-4XL | £60

Dark Navy 724 Available colours:

019

724

Tac Dry® Shell The ultimate lightweight shell: The Tac Dry® Rain Shell brings outstanding waterproof breathable performance to 5.11 Tactical® outerwear. It features a 100% nylon, seam sealed construction with a storm flap and removable hood. It features our patented Quixip™ sidearm zipper and is an ideal cut for concealed carry. + Hidden ID panels can be customized

Available colours:

019

Packable Jacket

Packs into its own pocket: Quick and easy protection from light wind and rain, the Packable Jacket folds into its own pocket and features mic loops plus chest and hand pockets. 100% Polyester shell. 100% POLYESTER

100% NYLON

48098 Tac Dry® Rain Shell | 019 - BLACK, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-3XL | £125

OUTERWEAR Battle Brown 116

Available colours:

019

116

162

Range Vest A new tradition: Be well equipped for your day on the range in 5.11®’s Range Vest featuring 2 way center front zipper, TacTec compatible front compartment, lightweight Taclite® Ripstop poly/cotton blend allowing the user to go all day comfortable and prepared. 65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

80017 Range Vest | 019 - BLACK, 116 - BATTLE BROWN, 162 TDU KHAKI | S-3XL | £80

Range Vest (TDU Khaki 055) / Ridgeline Pants (Field Green 206), see page 7 / USB Rifle Case (Sandstorm 328), see page 71

Available colours:

019

Covert Vest

116

OUTERWEAR

Low profile performance: Our Covert Vest features a contemporary design with the added benefit of RAPIDraw pass through pockets to allow access to an IWB holster worn in the appendix/2 o’clock position.

092

+ Wind and water resistant + TacTec compatible hidden chest pockets + 100% polyester bonded soft shell with mechanical stretch

191 724

100% POLYESTER

80016 Covert Vest | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 116 - BATTLE BROWN, 191 - MOSS, 724 - DARK NAVY | S-3XL | £80

Moss 191 Available colours:

019 055

Tactical Vest The original tactical vest: Virtually indestructible and borderline excessive when it comes to pockets, this 5.11® patented design is available in original 241g, 100% cotton canvas or lightweight Taclite® fabric, a 173g 65% polyester/35% cotton ripstop with a TEFLON® finish. The original cotton version was part of our first product launch ten years ago, and this vest continues to serve those with the most demanding missions. 100% COTTON

80001 Tactical Vest | 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI | S-3XL | £75

Available colours:

Khaki 055

019 162

Taclite® Pro Vest A poly/cotton ripstop version of our original tactical vest. Made with lightweight Taclite® fabric, a 207g/m² 65% polyester/35% cotton ripstop with a TEFLON® finish the Taclite® Pro vest will provide years of utility. 65% POLYESTER / 35% COTTON

80008 Taclite® Pro Vest | 019 - BLACK, 162 - TDU KHAKI | S-3XL | £75

TDU Khaki 162

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Available colours:

019

092

Ava lable colours:

019

092

116

Storm 092

PERFORMANCE UNDERGARMENTS

Battle Brown 116

093

6" inseam, mid thigh length

Storm 092

9" inseam, full thigh length

Steam 093

Sub-Z Crew

Sub-Z Quarter-Zip Flexibility for base or mid layer wear, the Sub Z Quarter Zip is made from relaxed fit 90% polyester / 10% stretch fabric that is moisture wicking. Like the crew neck, the fabric’s interior face is textured for added heat retention. Features a zipper to mid sternum for heat management. + Flat-locked seams reduce chafing + Ergonomically placed seams for comfortable wear with equipment + Extended body length to help stay tucked in + 5.11® branding

The foundation for our new layering system, the Sub Z Crew, is built for next to skin wear. The interior face of the fabric has a textured surface for added warmth. The fabric is a 90% polyester / 10% Spandex blend for all day comfort with moisture wicking performance built in. Available in neutral colours for easy matching with our other layering items. + Flat-locked seams reduce chafing + Ergonomically placed seams for comfortable wear with equipment + Extended body length to help stay tucked in

90% POLYESTER / 10% ELASTANE

90% POLYESTER / 10%ELASTANE

40149 Sub-Z Quarter-zip | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 093 - STEAM | S-3XL | £55

40148 Sub-Z Crew | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 093 STEAM | S-3XL | £50

Performance Boxer Briefs All day comfort from our next generation of briefs are available in a 6” or 9” inseam with a non compressive fit in an 86% polyester / 14% Spandex tricot knit with a moisture wicking and anti microbial finish. A wide elastic waistband keeps these briefs in place. + + + +

Flat-locked seams for comfort 6” or 9” inseam Moisture-wicking and anti-microbial† finish Tagless labeling

82% POLYESTER / 18% ELASTANE

40155 6” Performance Boxer Brief | 019 - BLACK, 092 STORM, 116 - BATTLE BROWN | S-3XL | £22 40156 9” Performance Boxer Brief | 019 - BLACK, 092 STORM, 116 - BATTLE BROWN | S-3XL | £22

Sub-Z Leggings Base layer leggings add warmth to even the lightest pants. Built with a body skimming (non com pressive) fit for all day comfort. The fabric is 90% polyester and 10% Spandex with moisture wicking performance. Wide elastic waistband and tapered leg ensure the leggings stay in place. + Flat-locked seams reduce chafing + Ergonomically placed seams enhance comfort 90% POLYESTER / 10%ELASTANE

40151 Sub-Z Legging | 092 - STORM | S-3XL | £40

Winter Leggings Our Winter Leggings are designed to stay in place and feature a compression fit at the calf to keep the legs from riding up. + + + + +

A mesh inset gusset keeps things breathable down below Compression fit at calf Flat lock seams preVent® chaffing Moisture wicking Nylon/Polyester/Spandex

Winter Leggings MAIN BODY: 61%NYLON / 23% POLYESTER / 16% ELASTANE, CONTRAST: 91% POLYESTER / 19% ELASTANE

Black 019

40078 Winter Leggings | 019 - BLACK | S-3XL | £40 Sub-Z Leggings

Storm 092

Holster Shirt Concealed carry favourite: Our best selling Holster Shirt allows you to comfortably and confidentially carry a sidearm beneath a dress shirt or other professional garment. Poly/Spandex fabric.

82% POLYESTER / 18% ELASTANE Available colours:

010

019

Black 019 White 010 Available colours:

720

Available colours:

010 Available colours:

019

010

165

019

724

PERFORMANCE UNDERGARMENTS

+ Mesh shoulder yoke evenly distributes the weight + Outer mesh layer prevents printing + Inner foam layer cushions while terry cloth wicks moisture

White 010 Dark Navy 724

Professional T Professional grade T shirts: 170g 100% cotton ring spun jersey with a shrink, wrinkle and fade resistant treatment.

Tight Fit s/s

Utili-T s/s

+ Saddle shoulder construction + Flat lock seams preVent® chafing + Anti-microbial and moisture wicking

100% COTTON

81% POLYESTER / 19% ELASTANE

71309 Short Sleeve Professional T | 720 - FIRE NAVY | XS-3XL | £25

40005 Tight Fit Short Sleeve | 010 - WHITE, 019 BLACK | S-XXL | £29

72318 Long Sleeve Professional T | 720 - FIRE NAVY | XS-3XL | £30

Available colours:

019

Cotton Winter Mock Cotton comfort: Base layer fit for wear beneath your uniform shirt or other apparel. + Spandex collar and cuff for a neat, professional appearance + Enzyme washed combed cotton/Spandex for a super soft feel 95% COTTON / 5% ELASTANE

40111 Cotton Winter Mock | 019 - BLACK | S-3XL | £35

Undershirts made for duty wear: Our Utili Ts are made with a lightweight moisture wicking 128g ring spun 100% cotton and cut extra long to stay tucked in. 2.5cm. high density collar and a tag free label. 100% COTTON

40016 3 Pack, Short Sleeve Utili-T | 010 - WHITE, 019 BLACK, 165 - ACU TAN*, 724 - DARK NAVY | XS-3XL | £37

Performance Winter Mock Moisture wicking mock: Base layer fit with flat lock seams to preVent® chafing and friction. The fabric is a French terry knit for added warmth. Moisture wick ing. Nylon/polyester/Spandex. + Reinforced mock collar for professional appearance + Flat lock seams preVent® chafing + Anti-microbial and moisture wicking 61% POLYAMIDE / 23% POLY / 16% ELASTANE

40126 Performance Winter Mock | 019 - BLACK | S-3XL | £45

MEN'S

5.11 RECON ® TRAINING GEAR

Black 019

Shadow 036

Dark Coyote 106

5.11 RECON® Trainer The 5.11 RECON® Trainer from 5.11 Tactical® combines agility and comfort with long lasting performance. A stretch mesh upper pro vides unbeatable ventilation, while HELCOR® panels ensure flexibility and strength. The full length CMEVA midsole adds structure and support, a broadened forefoot promotes toe splaying to maximise engagement and improve balance, and the integrated Rope Ready Zone provides assistance when climbing. An 8mm forward angle drop from heel to toe creates a lower profile that increases acceleration and control while remaining lightweight, and authentic OrthoLite® insoles for comfort. 5.11 RECON® Adrenaline Shirt (Sage Green 831), see page 46 / 5.11 RECON® Vandal Topo Short (Fatigue 200), see page 47 / 5.11 RECON® Trainers (Shadow 036)

+ + + +

HELCOR® panels 8mm heel to toe drop Toughened toe reinforcement Compatible with 5.11 Blood Type Patch Kit

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

Blood Type Patch Kit

A set of 11 1” x 1” patches to denote your blood type, medical allergy or 5.11 “Scope” logo 100% NYLON

17003 Blood Type Patch Kit | 511 - SCOPE ORANGE | | £9

The Rope Ready zone is made of HELCOR® material for maximum abrasion resistance while maintaining a lightweight and flexible feel

5.11 RECON Training Gear ®

Storm 092

5.11 RECON ® TRAINING GEAR

Sage 833

Scope Orange 511

WOMEN'S

Scope Orange 511

Timber 132

Fatigue 200

Shadow 036

Caribbean Sea 663

Storm 092

Black 019

5.11 RECON® Ankle Sock

5.11 RECON® Outbound Bag

Rapid Excursion Pack

Ankle height moisture wicking performance socks with 5 zones of cushioning, support and breathability designed to enhance your foot comfort.

With a main compartment lined in a lighter colour for better visibility the RECON Outbound will meet your everyday gym bag needs while providing a secure and confidential storage option for your pistol.

The Rapid Excursion Pack is big enough for a simple overnighter or an afternoon hike.

+ Tab top adds cushion and prevents sock from sliding down + Moisture wicking and breathable

+ One-handed cinch top + Aerospace mesh shoulder straps + 23l., in. 51 x 35.5 x 13cm

+ Fleece lined eyewear pocket / Internal toiletry organiser + 45 litre, 30.5 x 48 x 30.5cm

36% COTTON / 36% POLYESTER / 19% ELASTAN / 4% NYLON / 5% RUBBER

10010 RECON Ankle Sock | 019 - BLACK, 036 - SHADOW, 132 - TIMBER, 200 - FATIGUE | S/M (MEN’S 5-9), L/XL (MEN’S 10-13) | £12

100% NYLON MAIN BODY: 100% POLYESTER, SECONDARY BODY: 100% NYLON

56994 RECON Outbound Bag | 018 - CHARCOAL | 1 SZ | £75

56182 Rapid Excursion Pack | 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 328 SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £19

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

5.11 RECON ® TRAINING GEAR

Ava lable colours:

Available colours:

067

092

200

210

677

312 716

Valiant 716 Gunsmoke 067

Grid Iron 210

5.11 RECON® Performance Top

5.11 RECON ® Triads

Made with a lightweight moisture wicking body and mesh panels for enhanced breathability.

Step up your workout comfort in the new 5.11 RECON® Triad long sleeve and short sleeve shirts. Made from a lightweight 100% polyester jersey knit with a moisture wicking and antimicrobial finish, these tops offer great breathability and quick drying performance.

+ 127g 100% polyester jersey with mesh panel inserts + Flat-lock seams and tagless design for comfort BODY: 100% POLYESTER, INSERT: 94% POLYESTER / 6% ELASTANE

41185 5.11 RECON® Performance Top | 067 - GUNSMOKE, 200 - FATIGUE, 677 NAUTICAL | M-XXL | £38

+ Flat lock seams + Contrast taping and logo detail + Dropped and rounded tail 100% POLYESTER

098

5.11 RECON® Adrenaline Shirt

716

Advancing the design of fitness apparel, the 5.11 RECON® Adrenaline is built for maximum breathability and comfort regardless of your workout. Constructed of a lightweight polyester/Spandex fabric with moisture wicking, quick drying and antimicrobial properties, the Adrenaline enhances that performance with breathable mesh panels in high heat areas.

831

+ Flat lock seams + Reflective shoulder seams + Gusseted construction 83% POLYESTER / 17% ELASTANE

82108 5.11 RECON® Adrenaline Shirt | 098 - VOLCANIC, 716 - VALIANT, 831 - SAGE GREEN | S-XXL | £35

Sage Green 831

5.11 RECON® Short Sleeve Ts Engineered to provide superior maneuverability and performance, the 5.11 RECON® t shirt gives you the comfort and confidence to handle any situation. 5.11 RECON® t shirts feature a 122g 50/50 ringspun cotton and polyester blend in a heather texture . Lightweight, double stitched construction ensures maximum durability and freedom of movement. AA

50% COTTON 50% POLYESTER

See our full collection of Logo T-shirts on page 89

Available colours:

019

215

677

737

831

Black 019

Atlantis 737

Glacier Half-Zip

5.11 RECON® Half-Zip

Wear it for your warm up, or just to warm up. The Glacier Half Zip offers great warmth for its weight with a 178 g/m2 fleece lined 94% polyester / 6% Spandex knit. Full underarm gussets allow easy movement. Front zipper allows you to moderate your body heat. A zippered chest pocket offers within reach storage when worn as a base or middle layer. + Flat lock stitching reduces chafing + YKK® lock-down zippers + Textured inner face of fabric helps retain body heat

Wear it for your warm up, or just to warm up. The 5.11 RECON® Half Zip provides superior warmth with its lightweight 178g/m2, 94% polyester / 6% Spandex fleece knit. Full underarm gussets allow easy movement. Front zipper allows you to moderate your body heat. A zippered chest pocket offers within reach storage when worn as a base or middle layer.

5.11 RECON ® TRAINING GEAR

019

+ Flat lock stitching reduces chafing + YKK® lock-down zippers + Textured inner face of fabric helps retain body heat.

94% POLYESTER / 6% ELASTANE

62005 Women's Glacier Half-zip | 019 - BLACK, 215 - JADE, 737 - ATLANTIS | S-XL | £65

72045 5.11 RECON® Half-zip | 019 - BLACK, 677 - NAUTICAL, 831 - SAGE GREEN | S-XXL| £65

Available colours:

116 Available colours:

200 092 133

098

200

116

677

133

677 Vandal Topo Short

Fatigue 200

Vandal Short Nautical 677

5.11 RECON® Vandal Shorts Constructed from a polyester/Spandex blend of four way stretch ripstop with a sublimation print and moisture wicking performance, the Vandal Short is an outstanding addition to your gym bag. Available in our new Topo pattern and four solid colours. + + + +

Full running gusset Heat seal logo and details 11” inseam Welt pocket at hip and zippered pocket at right thigh

5.11 RECON ® Training Short Made with mesh inserts for breathability and a gusseted crotch for freedom of movement. + + + + +

127g four-way stretch ripstop Moisture-wicking finish 10” inseam Full elastic waistband with drawcord Side pockets

85% POLYESTER / 15% ELASTANE 85% POLYESTER / 15% ELASTANE

73328 5.11 RECON® Vandal Topo Short | 116 - BATTLE BROWN, 200 - FATIGUE | 28-30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36-44 EVEN WAIST SIZES | £55

43058 5.11 RECON® Training Short | 098 - VOLCANIC, 116 - BATTLE BROWN, 133 SCORCHED EARTH, 200 - FATIGUE, 677 - NAUTICAL | S-XXL | £38

43059 5.11 RECON® Vandal Short| 092 - STORM, 116 - BATTLE BROWN, 133 - SCORCHED EARTH, 677 - NAUTICAL | 28-44 EVEN SIZES | £45

Footwear FOOTWEAR EVO Boots feature D30 Impact Protection built into the footbed and securely encased by our stitcheddown sole. D3O is a patented technology used to create a soft and flexible shock absorbing material featuring unique molecular properties. In standard conditions its molecules flow freely, but on impact, they lock together to absorb impact energy and reduce the force transmitted.

EVO Boots

+ Full non-metallic construction + Waterproof models feature eVent® waterproof, breathable, bloodborne pathogen resistant membranes + OrthoLite® insoles + Stitched cup outsole with climbing lugs is slip and oil resistant + YKK® Side Zippers + 360 degree stitched cupsole (not applicable to the waterproof versions) with fence climbing lugs and 5.11® Friendly Marker LEATHER AND NYLON

5.11® Footwear Fit Information

Hi Volume, Generous Fit PRO FIT is our tried and true ATAC fit, the most generous fit with the highest volume overall.

FOOTWEAR

5.11® brings you the next progression in perfor mance and versatility with our new EVO tactical boot collection. Available in 6” and 8” heights, EVO boots offer stability and performance in a lightweight profile. The EVO features a 14mm heel to toe drop for a responsive feel and more natural stance. The EVO Prime platform is cemented and fully stitched for durability and has a full length EVA midsole and nylon shank for long wearing stability and comfort. Inside the EVO Prime platform is a dynamic cushioning sys tem featuring D30 in the heel and an OrthoLite® strobel board. A nylon shank works to provide torsional rigidity and completes the system for all day comfort and support.

Our boots and shoes feature three distinct fits generally based on the intended use for the boot and its mate rials and construction. If you’ve worn our ATAC boots you’ve been wearing our most roomy fit and many of our newer boots and shoes feature a lower volume fit. Look for these three icons for a better understanding of how each different collection of boots will fit.

FIT SPECTRUM TAC FIT is a modern fit with a bit less volume. 10mm 15mm drop heel to toe.

Low Volume, Responsive Fit BIO FIT is a low profile, more anatomical fit for those who demand the lightest weight and most responsive experience.

>15mm drop heel to toe. Examples: ATAC family, SPEED 2, Company 2.0

Examples: Taclite family, Ranger, EVO family

<10mm drop heel to toe. Examples: Pursuit series, 5.11 RECON® Trainers, Sky weight family, XPRT 2.0

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

FOOTWEAR

The XPRT 8'' features eVent® waterproof breathable membrane with bloodborne pathogen reistance. Ripstop and leather construction.

B son 104

Black 019

Dark Coyote 106

XPRT 8” By request, we’ve taken our XPRT boot and have created a 8” version for maximum support and durability in unforgiving environments. The XPRT 8” features the latest advances in 5.11 Tactical® footwear technology and waterproof/breathable/bloodborne protection from its eVent® membrane. + + + + + +

Full grain, suede and HELCOR® overlays Lightweight ripstop eVent® waterproof/breathable/BBP resistant membrane Padded neoprene ankle collar Full length BI-FIT dual hardness insole board 5.11® Kick Toe

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

XPRT 2.0 Tactical Gunsmoke 067

XPRT 2.0 Tactical Storm 092

XPRT 2.0 Tactical The XPRT 2.0 Tactical boot incorporates the latest advances in 5.11® footwear technology, combining high performance materials with top quality construction to produce a phenomenally agile and resilient boot that excels in unforgiving environments. Features include a waterproof/breathable compression membrane, a padded neoprene ankle collar, and a speed lacing system. + + + + + + +

Waterproof Nubuc and Suede overlays Lightweight Ripstop nylon eVent® Waterproof/Breathable/BBP Resistant membrane Padded neoprene ankle collar Full length BI-FIT dual hardness insole board 5.11® Kick Toe Ghillie Speed lacing

XPRT 2.0 Tactical Urban Black 019

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

XPRT 2.0 Tactical Desert Dark Coyote 106

Skyweight Rapid Dry (rd)

+ + + + + +

FOOTWEAR

When quick drying speed and agility are crucial, the Skyweight Rapid Dry provides uncompromis ing performance while significantly reducing weight and increasing mobility. The Skyweight RD features board lasting, an integrated nylon shank, a tactical outsole with self cleaning forefoot lugs and a rear heel brake. Arch lugs provide assistance for ladder and rope work, an 8mm heel to toe drop increases acceleration and improves responsiveness. 8mm heel to toe drop Maximum breathability, rapid-dry Clarino suede Broad forefoot for balance and engagement Full length CVEMA midsole OrthoLite® insoles Compatible with 5.11®’s blood type patch kit (patent-pending)

NYLON AND POLYESTER

12322 Skyweight Rapid Dry (rd) | 106 - DARK COYOTE | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £125

Skyweight (Side Zip) When speed and agility are crucial, Skyweight Boots provides the resilience of standard 5.11 Tactical® footwear while significantly reducing weight and increasing mobility. Metal free YKK® side zippers, metal free eyelets, and an integrated nylon shank offer all the durability of steel without slowing you down, and the tactical outsole offers self cleaning forefoot lugs and a rear heel brake for maximum mobility. Arch lugs provide assistance for ladder and rope work, an 8mm heel to toe drop increases acceleration and improves responsiveness, and a widened forefoot promotes toe splaying for superior balance and control. + + + + + + + +

8mm heel to toe drop YKK® side zippers eVent® waterproof, breathable, bloodborne pathogen resistant membrane Broad forefoot for balance and engagement Full length CVEMA midsole OrthoLite® insoles 5.11® blood type ID kit compatible Non-metallic constructions

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

Skyweight When speed and agility are crucial, Skyweight Boots provides the resilience of standard 5.11 Tactical® footwear while significantly reducing weight and increasing mobility. YKK® side zippers, metal eyelets, and an integrated nylon shank, and the tactical outsole offers self cleaning fore foot lugs and a rear heel brake for maximum mobility. Arch lugs provide assistance for ladder and rope work, an 8mm heel to toe drop increases acceleration and improves responsiveness, and a widened forefoot promotes toe splaying for superior balance and control. + + + + + + +

8mm heel to toe drop Broad forefoot for balance and engagement Full length CVEMA midsole Nylon shank for torsional rigidity Arch lugs for traction and rope work OrthoLite® insoles Compatible with 5.11®’s blood type patch kit

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

12320 Skyweight | 120 - COYOTE | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £125

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

FOOTWEAR A.T.A.C. BOOT

12002 A.T.A.C. 6” | 019 - BLACK | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £90

The foundation of our boot lineup, the A.T.A.C. 8 Boot family has been designed to provide comfort right out of the box. No break in required, and we know you’ll like that. The A.T.A.C. 8 boots feature a hidden pocket on the upper plus polishable full grain leather.

+ Antibacterial and moisture wicking + 5.11®’s Shock Mitigation System + Oil/Slip resistant outsole

12007 Women's A.T.A.C. 8” | 019 - BLACK | 5, 6-10 (REGULAR) | £100

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

A.T.A.C. 8” Shield Maximum protection: Looking for the most comfortable safety toe footwear? This is it, the A.T.A.C. Shield is built on 5.11®'s proven non slip and compression molded EVA foodbed platform. The 8" version is CSA certified and also features a hidden pocket. + + + + +

Waterproof leather EN ISO 20345:2004/AI2007 certified Certified composite safety toe Heel-to-toe puncture-resistant midsole board Waterproof-breathable blood-borne pathogen resistant membrane

A.T.A.C. Coyote Full height 8” (20cm) boot with a suede and nylon upper with vents at the inside arch for great breath ability. A full length YKK® side zipper and hidden pocket add convenience and performance. + Moisture-wicking lining + Shock Mitigation System + Oil & slip-resistant, quiet outsole LEATHER AND POLYESTER

12110 A.T.A.C. Coyote | 120 - COYOTE | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £100

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

12026 A.T.A.C. 8” Shield | 019 - BLACK | 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £150

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L

Speed 2.0 8” Side Zip We've outfit our entry level Speed boots with a light weight upper and our time tested A.T.A.C. footbed and outsole. + Full grain leather and ripstop nylon upper + 8” boot features a YKK® side zip and knife pocket LEATHER AND POLYESTER

12225 Speed 2.0 8” Side Zip | 019 - BLACK | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £80

FOOTWEAR

Taclite Coyote Boot Strobel lasted to reduce weight and increase flexibility, 5.11® Taclite boots provide an enhanced level of support and cushioning in a duty boot. An external stabiliser adds support to the ankle. + + + + +

Lace-to-toe system with stay-tied “sausage” laces Antibacterial and moisture wicking OrthoLite® sock liner Oil and slip resistant outsole Hidden side pocket in 8” version

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

6" Side-Zip

8" Side-Zip

Waterproof Side-Zip

Winter Side-Zip

Taclite Boot Strobel lasted to reduce weight and increase flexibility, 5.11® Taclite boots provide an enhanced level of support and cushioning in a duty boot. An external stabiliser adds support to the ankle. + + + + + +

Lace-to-toe system with stay-tied sausage laces Antibacterial and moisture wicking OrthoLite® sock liner Oil and slip resistant outsole Hidden side pocket in 8 in. version Winter version adds 400g Thinsulate insulation to its waterproof/breathable construction + Waterproof and Winter version add cold weather specific rubber compound on the outsole, noted with blue 5.11® logo plug.

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

FOOTWEAR

Ranger Built for performance on the shooting range or wherever your activities take you, the Ranger shoe features an 8mm heel to toe offset, board lasting with a polyurethane midsole and composite shank for lasting comfort. Constructed with nylon ripstop, PU nubuck and mesh, the Ranger offers all day comfort and lightweight performance. + OrthoLite® footbed + Reinforced toe and heel for protection and durability POLYESTER AND POLYURETHANE

12308 Ranger | 019 - BLACK, 067 - GUNSMOKE, 106 - DARK COYOTE | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £85

Gunsmoke 067

Dark Coyote 106

Black 019

Range Master Crafted from toughened ripstop nylon fabric with genuine HELCOR® leather overlays, the Range Master Boot offers maximum control, traction, and mobility in any environ ment or setting. A full length CMEVA midsole and nylon shank enhance torsional rigidity for structure and support, while a broadened forefoot increases toe splay for traction and balance. The tactical outsole features integrated arch lugs for rope and ladder work, self cleaning forefoot lugs, and a rear heel brake for mobility. An 8mm heel to toe drop provides a low profile and enhances acceleration. An OrthoLite® insole provides cushioned all day comfort. + + + + + + + +

HELCOR® leather overlays Full-length CMEVA midsole 8mm heel to toe drop Fence climbing lugs Arch lugs for ladder or rope work Broad forefoot for balance and engagement OrthoLite® insoles Compatible with 5.11®’s Blood Type Patch Kit

Dark Coyote 106

LEATHER, TPU, POLYURETHANE AND POLYESTER

12148 Range Master | 019 - BLACK, 067 - GUNSMOKE, 106 - DARK COYOTE | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £125

Gunsmoke 067

Black 019

Range Master Waterproof Featuring eVent® fabric for the utmost in waterproof protection and breathability, the Range Master Waterproof is built for lightweight performance in changing conditions. An ankle high upper of nylon ripstop and Clarino leather is mated to our low profile (8mm drop) 5.11 RECON® platform. + + + +

eVent® waterproof breathable bloodborne pathogen resistant membrane OrthoLite® footbed HELCOR® toe overlay for extreme abrasion resistance Climbing lugs and broad forefoot for traction and balance

LEATHER, TPU, POLYURETHANE AND POLYESTER

Dark Coyote 106

12309 Range Master Waterproof | 019 - BLACK, 067 - GUNSMOKE, 106 - DARK COYOTE | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £135

Gunsmoke 067

Black 019

Pursuit Chukka The Pursuit Chukka features nubuck, suede and distressed leather uppers with a removable OrthoLite® insole. Low profile CMEVA midsole provides cushion while the full rubber outsole provides great traction with its integrated fence climbing lugs.

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

Dark Coyote 106

12317 Pursuit Chukka | 067 - GUNSMOKE, 106 - DARK COYOTE, 124 - DISTRESSED BROWN | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £110

Gunsmoke 067

FOOTWEAR

+ OrthoLite® footbed + Professional appearance with running shoe performance + Compatible with 5.11®’s patent-pending blood-type ID kit

Distressed Brown 124

PURSUIT ADVANCE

Dark Coyote 106

The Pursuit Advance 6” Boot offers all the features you expect from premium 5.11 Tac tical® footwear while remaining balanced and agile. A nylon shank increases torsional rigidity for superior stability, a broad forefoot promotes toe splaying for increased traction and balance, and a low profile 8mm heel to toe drop provides enhanced accel eration and momentum control. The tactical outsole offers hardened fence climbing lugs, self cleaning forefoot lugs, and an integrated rear heel brake, while the genuine OrthoLite® insoles provide cushioned comfort that lasts all day long. + OrthoLite® footbed + Professional appearance with running shoe performance + Compatible with 5.11®’s blood-type ID kit LEATHER AND POLYESTER

12319 Pursuit Advance 6” | 106 - DARK COYOTE, 124 - DISTRESSED BROWN | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £115 Distressed Brown 124

Pursuit Lace Up The Pursuit Lace Up features nubuck, suede and distressed leather uppers with a removable OrthoLite® insole. Low profile CMEVA midsole provides cushion while the full rubber outsole provides great traction with its integrated fence climbing lugs. + OrthoLite® footbed + Professional appearance with running shoe performance + Compatible with 5.11®’s blood-type ID kit LEATHER AND POLYESTER

Dark Coyote 106

12141 Pursuit Lace Up | 019 - BLACK, 106 - DARK COYOTE, 112 - DARK BROWN | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £100

Dark Brown 122

Black 019

Pursuit Work Oxford The Pursuit Work Oxford features nubuck, suede and distressed leather uppers with a removable OrthoLite® insole. Low profile CMEVA midsole provides cushion while the full rubber outsole provides great traction with its integrated fence climbing lugs. + OrthoLite® footbed + Professional appearance with running shoe performance + Compatible with 5.11®’s blood-type ID kit LEATHER AND POLYESTER Gunsmoke 067

Distressed Brown 112

12324 Pursuit Work Oxford | 067 - GUNSMOKE, 106 - DARK COYOTE, 124 - DISTRESSED BROWN | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £100

Dark Coyote 106

FOOTWEAR 5.11 RECON® Desert Engineered from the inside out to be the most lightweight, durable and responsive tactical boots available. HELCOR® provides industrial strength durability while maintaining a lightweight construction + + + + + +

Low profile 8mm heel-to-toe offset Protective internal molded toe and heel protection Lacing system with dual eyelet ankle cinch Medial-side HELCOR® fast-rope zone OrthoLite® footbed Hidden knife pocket

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

11011 5.11 RECON® Desert | 106 - DARK COYOTE | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £135

Black 019

Storm 092

5.11 RECON® Urban Engineered from the inside out to be the most lightweight, durable and responsive tactical boots available. HELCOR® provide industrial strength dura bility while maintaining a lightweight construction. + + + +

Low profile 8mm heel-to-toe offset Protective internal molded toe and heel protection Lacing system with dual eyelet ankle cinch Medial-side fast-rope zone

LEATHER AND POLYESTER

11010 5.11 RECON® Urban | 019 - BLACK | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £135

XPRT Tactical + 5.11®’s patent-pending Kick-Toe, Cinch System and Talon Stabiliser + Waterproof-breathable bloodborne pathogen resistant membrane + Full-grain leather/1200D nylon upper + Abrasion-resistant toe + Antibacterial/moisture-wicking lining + Shock Mitigation System + Oil & slip-resistant, quiet outsole LEATHER AND POLYESTER

12201 XPRT Tactical | 019 - BLACK | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £150

12325 5.11 RECON® Storm | LEATHER AND SUEDE | 092 STORM | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £125

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

HRT ™ Advance 6” Lightweight side zip hot weather performer: Its suede and 1200D nylon upper and instep vents help keep your feet dry and comfortable. It features a non metallic lacing system plus the addition of a YKK® side zipper for easy everyday wear. LEATHER AND POLYESTER

11007 HRT™ Advance 6” | 120 - COYOTE | 4, 5, 6-12, 13, 14, 15 (REGULAR) | £125

Foliage 200 Black 019

Black 019

Coyote 120

Black 019

Coyote 120

Year Round Socks

LEVEL 1 Socks

Superb performance: USA made crew length and over the calf length socks featuring TransDRY® cotton and Copper threads for the ultimate in breathability and anti microbial performance.

Feature 12 engineered zones for comfort, fit, compression and support.

+ + + + +

FOOTWEAR

TransDRY® Cotton and Copper threads for ultimate comfort.

Reinforced heel, sole and toe Added arch and calf support NanoGLIDE® threads for enhanced blister preVent®ion Copper in the footbed for antimicrobial and anti fungal properties Crew features tab top design

80% WICK POLYESTER / 8% NYLON / 8% ELASTANE / 4% RUBBER

59048 Level 1 9” Sock | 019 - BLACK, 120 - COYOTE, 180 - FOLIAGE | L | £12.50 59047 Level 1 6” Sock | 019 - BLACK, 120 - COYOTE | L | £10

77% RINGSPUN COTTON / 13% POLYESTER / 5% NYLON / 3% COPPER / 2% ELASTANE

Taclite® Socks 5.11 Taclite® Socks: Enhanced breathability and lighter weight. Great for hot climates and everyday casual shoe wear. 80% WICK POLYESTER 8% NYLON 8% ELASTANE 4% RUBBER

Coyote 120

Black 019

Multiple zones of compression and cushioning.

59224 Taclite® 9” Sock | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £10 59289 Taclite® 6” Sock | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £12

Cold Weather Socks Merino wool for warmth: USA made with a merino wool blend for warmth in cold conditions. The sock features merino wool knitted closest to the skin for superior comfort and warmth. + Reinforced heel, sole and toe + Added arch and ankle support + Merino wool is naturally moisture wicking and anti-microbial

3-Pack Socks 3 Pack Socks: Our best value with an engineered fit. 75% COTTON / 15% POLYESTER / 4% ELASTANE / 4% RUBBER / 2% NYLON

59121 3-pack 9” Sock | 019 - BLACK | L | £18 38% MERINO WOOL / 38% ACRYLIC / 22% NYLON / 2% ELASTANE

50078 3-pack 6” Sock | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £17.50

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

PACKS & BAGS

Packs & Bags

Rush Backpacks Beasts of burden: Our family of RUSH Backpacks offers outstanding functionality and durability. RUSH Backpacks are made with 1050 durable water resistant nylon and feature re designed contour yoke system shoulder straps. Heavy duty self repairing YKK® zippers and re designed rain flys keep your gear secure and dry.

PACKS & BAGS

Available in 12, 24, and 72 hour versions, each offers a myriad of pockets and front organisation panel, plus top gadget pockets, eyewear storage and interior organisation panels and pockets. Backpacks also feature internal hydration compartments with hangers and toggles.

Storm 092

MultiCam 169 Sandstone 328

Available colours:

019

026

Available colours:

328

019

1 69

026

Available colours:

131

188

328

1 69

Rush24

Rush12 + Main compartment 46 x 28 x 16 cm. + Capacity 21 litres + 14 compartments to quickly organise gear

019

026

092

131

188

328

169 6

302

Rush72

+ Main compartment 51 x 32 x 20 cm. + Capacity 33 litres + 20 compartments to quickly organise gear

100% NYLON

56892 Rush12 | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP*, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £85

58601 Rush24 | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP*, 131 - FLAT DARK EARTH, 188 - TAC OD, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £100

56954 Rush12 | 169 - MULTICAM® | 1 SZ | £115

56955 Rush24 | 169 - MULTICAM® | 1 SZ | £140

+ + + +

Main compartment 58 x 34 x 21 cm. Main compartment capacity 43 litres Aluminium spine and reinforcing Shove-it compartment and compression straps

100% NYLON

Available colours:

019

Admin panels

Top haul handle

328

TIER System attachement points

Rush Tier System The RUSH TIER System is a versatile 4 piece strap system for attaching 5.11 Tactical® RUSH MOAB bags to 5.11 Tactical’s other bags with web platforms. 100% POLYPROPELENE

Yoke style backpack straps

Compression straps (Rush 24 and 72 designs differ)

Fleece lined eyewear/gadget pocket

56957 Rush Tier System | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £15

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Available colours:

Ava lable colours:

026

328

019 026

PACKS & BAGS

188 328

Double Tap 026

Helmet storage

Sanstone 328

Helmet storage

All Hazards Nitro

All Hazards Prime

Full featured, easy access ideal for use as either a travel carry on or a grab and go bag, the All Hazards Nitro from 5.11 Tactical® features dual main compart ments, a 180 degree opening for easy access, loop patches at the sides and top, pass through patches for longer implements like breaching tools or a baton, an integrated web platform, and an orange lining to help you identify your gear in low light conditions.

The 5.11® All Hazards Prime features an internal laptop sleeve, internal tablet sleeve, a hydration (or armor) compartment, front admin panel with a large ‘shove it’ area. The front panel unzips 180 degrees for full access to internal tear out mesh pouches for first aid or other gear. A fleece lined and padded top pocket provides protection for your goggles, eyewear or other gadgets. + + + + +

Side-mounted retention lanyards Main compartment: 29W x 19D x 52H cm. (27 litres) Overall exterior dimensions: 29W x 23D x 52H cm. (32 litres) Top grab handle provides comfort even when fully loaded Front panel is lined with high-vis orange and features molle platforms and removable mesh bags. Clamshell-type opening + Two Ammo Mules (available separately) fit perfectly in the main compartment

100% NYLON

56167 All Hazards Nitro | 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £130

100% NYLON

56997 All Hazards Prime | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 188 - TAC OD, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £150

Clamshell opening allows full and fast access to the first aid compartment.

Main utility compartment

Medical compartment

Available colours:

All Hazards Ammo Mule The All Hazards Ammo Mule securely carries 10, 30 round AR magazines or boxes of shotgun shells. 100% POLYESTER

56084 All Hazards Ammo Mule | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £25

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

019

Two Ammo Mules fit perfectly in the main compartment of the 5.11® All Hazards Prime.

Moab 6 & Moab 10 Unsurpassed packs: The MOAB 10 and MOAB 6 are fully ambidextrous sling packs and loaded with functional innovation, versatility, and CCW capability. MOAB bags feature padded backs with ventilation channels, non slip pads, grab handles and compression straps. Load yours up with everyday essentials, or keep one prepared for your E&E or bailout bag. Made with 1050D water resistant nylon. Now available in the new colour Storm + + + + + +

PACKS & BAGS

Available colours:

019

026

092

328

Coms pocket with pass-through for mic/earbuds Fleece lined sunglass pocket Interior admin panel and stash pockets MOAB 10 features a 1.5 ltr hydration pocket with pass-through port MOAB 6 is perfectly sized for your iPad or netbook Includes 5.11’s Tier System - attaches to RUSH backpacks and other web-platform bags

100% NYLON

56963 MOAB 6 | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 092 - STORM, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £70 56964 MOAB 10 | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 092 - STORM, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £90

Black 019

Storm 092

Available colours: Available colours:

008

019

328

Sanstone 328

Can be worn as a backpack or ambidextrous sling pack.

Black 019

Internal admin and web/loop platforms.

Triab18

Rush Tier Scabbard

Go fast, go prepared with the TRIAB18: The TRIAB18 features a fully ambidex trous sling platform that can also be converted to a traditional backpack. Loads of internal organisation and a quick access pistol pocket provide just the right balance of storage for your everyday requirements.

Attach the RUSH TIER Rifle Scabbard to any of our RUSH packs and securely transport your long gun. The TIER System can attach to the front or side of our packs and features a padded wrap for your trigger and optics as well as a protective muzzle trap.

+ + + +

+ Adjustable for length + Padded wrap lays flat when opened + Includes RUSH TIER System (56957)

TacTec compatible pistol compartment Hydration or armor plate compatible Ambidextrous Compatible with BROKOS belt

100% NYLON 100% NYLON

56086 Rush Tier Scabbard | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £50

56998 Triab18 | 008 - MIDNIGHT ASH, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £115

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

PACKS & BAGS

2 Banger & 4 Banger A quick and effective solution for a low drag go bag. An ambidextrous design allows you to tailor the bag’s shoulder strap placement and length. The 2 and 4 Banger bags fea ture our new magazine pouch cover allowing you to choose between a full cover, bungee retention, or no cover at all. Loop sided TacTec compartment secures your backup pistol and two sizes let you choose between a two AR magazine or four AR magazine capacity. The bags can also quickly be converted to chest rigs. 100% NYLON

56180 2 Banger | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 236 - OD TRAIL, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £50 56181 4 Banger | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 236 - OD TRAIL, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £60

Available colours:

Sandstone 328

019

026

236

328

TacTec System CCW friendly compartment.

OD Trail 236

Ava lable colours:

Available colours:

019

131

Flat Dark Earth 131 Black 019

Bail Out Bag

Push Pack

Ready for anything: Loaded up with a trauma kit and magazines or your essentials for a day hike, the Bail Out Bag is made from 1050D nylon and is lined with loop sided material and a web platform to attach our TacTec and other pouches. The outside pockets carry six 5.56/.223 magazines or three 7.62/.308 magazines. The back of the bag features padded aero mesh for comfort and the adjustable strap features a quick release.

Carry your essentials, everywhere: A handy sized over the shoulder pack, the PUSH Pack is sized to carry the essentials you need. Made from rugged 1050D water resistant nylon with heavy duty YKK® zippers. We’ve included flag and nametape holders for easy identification.

+ Measures 21 x 30 x 12 cm., 9 litres

+ 22 x 20 x 10 cm. main compartment, 6 litres + TacTec System compatible + Expanding side pockets fit a one-litre bottle

100% NYLON

56026 Bail Out Bag | 019 - BLACK, 131 - FLAT DARK EARTH | 1 SZ | £50

56037 Push Pack | 019 - BLACK, 131 - FLAT DARK EARTH | 1 SZ | £50

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Available colours:

019

026

236

328

PACKS & BAGS

Double Tap 026

Sandstone 328

Black 019

RUSH Delivery Messenger bags The RUSH Delivery Series from 5.11 Tactical offers all the storage and organisation features you expect in a high end tactical bag. Crafted from 1050D nylon for maximum resilience and weather protection, the Delivery Series features TacTec System inte gration, padded laptop and tablet compartments, a cross body stabilizing strap, and a quick draw compartment.

Double Tap 026

Available colours:

019

026

055

202

694

100% NYLON

NBT Duffles Superior multi functional capability in one quick and durable bag. A remov able shoulder strap, linking compression straps, two sets of grab handles, and a mesh ditty bag will make this your favourite duffel. Three sizes allow carry on through load out size options. MAIN BODY: 100% POLYESTER, BASE PANEL: 100% NYLON

Concealment compartment.

OD Trail 236

Padded laptop compartment.

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

PACKS & BAGS

Available colours:

042

110

Iron Grey 042

Iron Grey 042 Military Brown 110

Lucy Tote

Sarah Satchel

Engineered to provide female covert operators with a full sized covert handbag, the 5.11 Lucy Tote features a strategically positioned TacTec System compatible pistol compartment with a magnetic closure flap provides accelerated access to a sidearm, an integrated concealed pocket is sized for a badge wallet, and built in flex cuff slots at the handle. Water resistant construction and authentic YKK® self healing zippers ensure quick and reliable action, and a discreet logo keychain doubles as a handbag hanger.

Engineered to provide female covert operators with a compact covert hand bag, the 5.11 Sarah Satchell features a strategically positioned TacTec System compatible pistol compartment with a magnetic closure flap provides accelerated access to a sidearm, an integrated concealed pocket is sized for a badge wallet, and multiple interior accessory pockets. Water resistant con struction and authentic YKK® self healing zippers ensure quick and reliable action, and a discreet logo keychain doubles as a handbag hanger.

+ + + + +

Integrated TacTec System pistol compartment Magnetic flap closure for accelerated sidearm access Built-in flex cuff slots at handle Badge wallet pocket Includes keychain/hanger

+ + + +

Integrated TacTec System pistol compartment Magnetic flap closure for accelerated sidearm access Badge wallet pocket Includes keychain/hanger

100% NYLON

56209 Lucy Tote | 042 - IRON GREY, 110 - MILITARY BROWN | 1 SZ | £85

56210 Sarah Satchel | 042 - IRON GREY, 110 - MILITARY BROWN | 1 SZ | £90

Military Brown 110

Available colours:

042

026

110

328

Double Tap 026

Iron Grey 042

FF Tablet Sleeve The Tablet Sleeve features wrap around hypoallergenic closed cell padding, a punc ture resistant exterior, water resistant construction, and an internal fleece lining. An integrated tablet slide out allows quick and easy insertion and retrieval. + + + + + +

Integrated tablet slide-out Wrap-around closed cell hypoallergenic foam padding Puncture resistant exterior Moisture resistant construction Internal fleece lining 21 x 25 cm as outer measurements

Transport your tablet in this padded and reinforced case. Front compart ment for power brick and cables. Laser cut web platform on back. WriteBar and pull tab. 100% NYLON

56150 Tactical Tablet Case | 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £25

100% NYLON

56213 FF Tablet Sleeve | 042 - IRON GREY, 110 - MILITARY BROWN | 1 SZ | £25

Tactical Tablet Case

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Available colours:

019

PACKS & BAGS

Side Trip Briefcase

Kit Bags

Office or overnighter? The Side Trip features a light coloured interior with a web platform and two organiser panels. A hidden pocket with TacTec System compatibility offers CCW options. Side pockets expand to hold a standard one litre bottle.

The ultimate utility bag Great for your tool kit, small range or bail out bag, toiletry or even a place to stash your camera and accessories. Bags are made from 1050D nylon with YKK® zippers and feature fold out organisation panels.

+ Main compartment 42 x 30 x 14 cm., 18 litres + Large back pocket with adjustable divider fits a laptop + Rain cover stowed in bottom of bag

100% NYLON

58725 Small Kit Bag | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £35 58726 Large Kit Bag | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £50

100% NYLON

56003 Side Trip Briefcase | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £85

Available colours:

019

Wingman Patrol Bag

Patrol Ready

The Wingman Patrol Bag is designed to ride in the passenger seat with the upper panel attached to the headrest for easy access. Features interior dividers and a WriteBar for easy ID.

Old faithful: The Patrol Ready Bag is made from 600D polyester and measures 33 x 47 x 22 cm.

+ Main: 47cm x 34cm x 19cm

+ Self-repairing YKK® zippers + VELCRO® panel to attach patches

100% POLYESTER

56045 Wingman Patrol Bag | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £80

59012 Patrol Ready | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £55

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Ava lable colours:

019

026

Extending handle, business card pocket and reinforced oversized wheels make traveling easier with the lightweight DC FLT Line.

328

PACKS & BAGS

Available colours:

026 Double Tap 026

Sandstone 328

328

Sandstone 328

Flag and nametape holders, lockable zippers, ID Window and haul handles make the Mission Ready 2.0 a capable gear hauler. Double Tap 026

Mission Ready 2.0

DC FLT Line

Versatile and Travel Friendly Our Mission Ready 2.0 offers a 73 cm main compartment, and features heavy duty wheels and a collapsible handle for easy travel use. Additionally, the internal dividers can be rolled away to allow top loading.

The DC FLT Line from 5.11 Tactical is crafted from ballistic nylon for lightweight convenience and weatherproof durability. An extendable handle at the top, three separate grab handles, and integrated stationary supports allow a wide range of deployment options. Includes a removable toiletry bag.

100% NYLON

56960 Mission Ready 2.0 | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £185

100% NYLON

Ava lable colours:

Available colours:

019

026

328

56169 DC FLT Line | 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £150

Sandstone 328

SOMS 2.0

CAMS 2.0

High Mobility, Enhanced Storage The SOMS 2.0 (Some Of My Stuff) from 5.11 Tactical is a medium sized rolling duffel bag engineered to provide an ideal com bination of mobility and storage space. The 81 cm. main compartment features comprehensive MOLLE and SlickStick compatibility, a light gray interior for easy equipment identification in low light environments.

Carry it All, Solo or Convoy The 5.11 Tactical CAMS (Carry All My Stuff) 2.0 duffel is the ultimate mission or extended travel bag. With a 101cm. main compartment and hidden bottom compartment, multiple pockets, and a MOLLE/ALICE compati ble interior, this rolling duffel can hold it all and then some.

100% NYLON

50159 CAMS 2.0 | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £300

100% NYLON

56958 SOMS 2.0 | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £240

Compression straps, multiple pockets, external tie downs, haul handles and more make the SOMS 2.0 a versatile big bag. Light coloured interior and adjustable dividers make it easier to stow and find your gear in the main compartment. Tiedown straps and rifle-sized bottom compartment fits your AR individually or in 5.11® rifle bag.

Nametape and flag holder, plus reflective striping help aid identification. Fully adjustable shoulder straps with top stabilis ers, sternum strap and padded belt.

Alert Blue 694

Available colours:

The Responder 84 ALS Backpack is here to serve. Made from rugged 1000D durable water resistant nylon with YKK® zippers, compression straps, haul handle and hydra tion compartment. The backpack includes a removable airway kit bag (blue) and IV kit bag (red) with lockable zipper pulls and fold out organiser panels. Internal Tank Trap securely carries an oxygen tank and adjusts for position. An outside “Shove it” pocket provides a place to quickly stow a helmet or jacket.

694

+ +

Main compartment: 33 W x 21 D x 66 H (46 litres) Exterior dimensions: 41 W x 25 D x 61 H cm. (60 litres)

100% NYLON

56936 Responder 84 ALS Backpack | 328 - SANDSTONE, 694 - ALERT BLUE | 1 SZ | £190

PACKS & BAGS

328

Responder 84 ALS Backpack

ALS and BLS bags also feature a removable, reinforced oxygen tank garage with dedicated side access and a mesh pocket for an oxygen key or other essentials.

Includes IV Kit bag (red) and Airway Kit bag (blue) Bags are purpose built for their specific role, yet offer great flexibility. (Contents not included.)

Available colours:

694

Available colours:

694 Includes removable “stadium” organisers with mesh tops and onehanded openings.

Includes IV Kit bag and Airway Kit bags, large Basic Drug Case and Advanced Drug Case.

Responder ALS 2900 Bag

Responder BLS 2000 Bag

More features than we can write about! The Responder ALS 2900 Bag features a reinforced bottom that provides a stable platform to work out of. The bag is constructed with water resistant 1000D nylon, YKK® zippers with oversize pulls plus a unique shoulder/backpack strap system. The bag includes a removable airway kit bag (blue) and IV kit bag (red) with lockable zipper pulls and fold out organiser panels plus basic and advanced drug cases. The bag features Write Bars, reflective striping plus nametape and flag holders.

Built to perform: The Responder BLS 2000 bag has been designed to provide EMS professionals with a bag suitable for carrying a basic life saving kit. While it shares many construction features in common with its larger brother its smaller format includes removable stadium organisers with mesh windows and one handed VELCRO® opening.

+ Main: 51 L x 30 W x 32 H cm. (49 litres) + Overall: 62 L x 46 W x 32 H cm. (72 litres) 100% NYLON

+ Main compartment: 51 L x 23 W x 29 H cm. (32 litres) + Overall dimensions: 62 L x 38 W x 28 H cm. (51 litres) 100% NYLON

56934 Responder BLS 2000 Bag | 694 - ALERT BLUE | 1 SZ | £180

56933 Responder ALS 2900 Bag | 694 - ALERT BLUE | 1 SZ | £240

Ava lable colours:

019 092

PACKS & BAGS

192

Tundra 192

Storm 092

Covert Boxpack At home in urban settings and lightweight, the Covert Boxpack is our first roll top pack and is built for speed and agility. The pack features an easily accessible TacTec System designed to preVent® printing yet allow rapid access to your sidearm or backup. Two zippered side pockets are big enough for your water bottle and have elastic retention straps for extra magazine storage and the bottom zippered compartment is sized to keep cables, electronic accessories or a med kit. The internal laptop compartment is accessible from the roll top or a separate zippered opening or can carry a ballistic panel. + + + +

1680D ballistic polyester with a water resistant finish Slide adjusting sternum strap YKK® zippers and Duraflex® hardware Multiple externally-accessible pockets

Asphalt/Black 021

Black 019

Ice/Smoke 049

Foliage 180

Blue Depth 671

Covrt18 Backpack Our flagship bag for operators who prefer a low profile bag without all the molle but capable of carrying a tactical loadout and other equipment. Built from 500D and 420D water resistant nylon, the COVRT18 features an ambidextrous con cealment compartment, a roll down assault compartment, pull out ID panel and channel for flex cuff storage. On top of those capabilites the bag has some great everyday features like a padded laptop compartment, fleece lined sunglass pocket, mesh side pockets and compression straps.

100% POLYESTER

56284 Covert Boxpack | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 192 - TUNDRA | 1 SZ | £100

+ + + +

Flip-down ID panel Ambidextrous side-entry concealment system Concealed R.A.C. (Roll-down assault compartment) Quick access flex cuff channel

100% NYLON

56961 Covrt18 Backpack | 019 - BLACK, 021 - ASPHALT, 049 - ICE, 092 - STORM, 180 FOLIAGE, 671 - BLUE DEPTH | 1 SZ | £115

Covrt Zone Assault Pack The COVRT Z.A.P. (Zone Assault Pack) is designed for covert operators, CCW carriers and everyday carry. Its ambidextrous strap system and quick attach tenstion strap make it easy to securely carry your essential items. It is compatible with our COVRT Tech Sleeve and COVRT Holster. The main compartment is sized to hold an iPad or netbook and the bag features admin pockets, internal organiser pockets, plus a hydration/armor compatible pocket. Lastly, the COVRT Z.A.P. features a coms pocket with a mic/earphone cord pass through.

Ava lable colours:

021 726

Available colours:

021

100% NYLON

56971 Covrt Zone Assault Pack | 021 - ASPHALT, 726 - TRUE NAVY | 1 SZ | £79 Asphalt 021

Covrt Pistol Pouch Conceals a standard sized pistol and extra magazine. The front features a quick ID badge holder. 100% NYLON

56972 Covrt Pistol Pouch | 021 - ASPHALT | 1 SZ | £30

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Available colours:

018

Charcoal 018

Select Carry Pack

726

+ Hot-Pull tabs for rapid deployment + VELCRO® ID/patch panels + Hydration bladder compartment 100% NYLON

58603 Select Carry Pack | 018 - CHARCOAL, 726 - TRUE NAVY | 1 SZ | £115

PACKS & BAGS

The Select Carry Pack is sized for a submachine gun with a length of 60cm or less, or can be loaded up with a full first responder kit. Made with 1050D and 840D nylon, the Select Carry Pack features internal web platforms and a TacTec System compatible panel in the front pocket. The Select Carry Pack includes the Select Carry Pistol Pouch that deceptively fits a full sized pistol and magazines in a low profile design.

58604 Select Carry Pistol Pouch | 018 - CHARCOAL, 726 - TRUE NAVY | 1 SZ | £35 Select Carry Pack loaded with First Responder’s EDC with FAK, Mags, Cuffs, etc.

Overwatch Carry On Playing equal roles as duffel, shooting platform and garment bag, the Overwatch Carry On delivers on all fronts. Fast business casual design integrates a duffel bag, shoot er’s mat and garment bag into one easy, carry on size. When versatilty is what the mission calls for, this meets the needs of the quiet professional, sized for transporting a short barreled AR with collapsible stock. + Removable shoulder strap with ergonomic padded sleeve and breathable aerospace mesh + Padded, reinforced removable main haul handle + Garment storage compartment with cinch down straps + Laser-cut micro loop internal web platform + Designed to conceal compact assault rifle + Main compartment: 25 wide, 25 tall, 61 long (cm.) + Side compartments: 25 wide, 25 tall, 8 deep (cm.)

Available colours:

019 100% NYLON

56114 Overwatch Carry On | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £140

Web platforms inside and built-in garment bag.

Covrt M4 Shorty & Covrt M4 Low profile transport for your AR or SBR. Made from 500D and 420D nylon with a smooth 600D lining with YKK® zippers. Both bags feature 5.11’s R.A.C. (Roll down Assault Compartment) with a web platform and loop sided ID panel holder. Carry options include padded grab handles and an ambidextrous shoulder strap. 100% NYLON

56134 Covrt M4 Shorty | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £100 56970 Covrt M4 | 049 - ICE | 1 SZ | £110

COVRT M4: 85 cm Internal COVRT M4 Shorty: 70 cm Internal

Padded interior with muzzle trap and stock retention.

Available colours:

019

328

049

Ice 049

Ava lable colours:

Available colours:

019

PACKS & BAGS Range Ready

Range Qualifier

The ultimate range bag: Our Range Ready has it all. The Range Ready features a removable ammo tote, plus a brass bag with mesh bottom. The main front pocket unzips to reveal magazine storage and doubles as a work platform. The bag is made from 600D polyester and features side pockets to hold your ear pro tection, stapler and tape, plus a water bottle pocket helps keep you hydrated. Measures approximately 61 x 41 x 25cm.

Grab and go range bag: Our Range Qualifier is perfectly sized for a couple pistols and a couple hundred rounds of ammo. The front pocket unzips down to provide a work surface and reveal magazine pockets. Made from 600D polyester, the Range Qualifier includes a removable ammo tote. Measures approximately 22 x 33 x 26cm.

100% POLYESTER

56947 Range Qualifier | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £70

100% POLYESTER

59049 Range Ready | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £95

Available colours:

072

019

Qualifier

188 328

Black 019

Removable work surface with magnet Separate ammo tote

Pistol Case Perfect pistol portage: Our Single Pistol Case measures 23 x 28 cm. and is made from 1050D nylon with lockable YKK® zippers for security. An internal zippered pocket holds your pistol separate from magazines. A WriteBar makes it easy to label the pistol case with a marker.

Pistol Pouch

Pistol Case

100% NYLON

58724 Pistol Case | 019 - BLACK, 188 - TAC OD, 328 - SANDSTONE* | 1 SZ | £25

Dustin Ellerman Products We’ve partnered with Dustin Ellermann, Top Shot Season 3 Champion, to create this fantastical and functional group of pistol bags. Select from a basic pouch, a case with a solvent safe work surface or a fully loaded range bag. 100% POLYESTER

PACKS & BAGS Built to perform as a shooting platform with our innovative bipod leash which allows the shooter to firmly seat the rifle in the shoulder.

Available colours:

019

328

+ + + + + +

Sandstone 238

USB Rifle Cases Low profile and engineered for operations in the concrete and asphalt world our new Urban Sniper Bags are offered in 50”, 42” and 36” sizes to accommodate nearly any rifle. Shell materials are water resistant and have a polyurethane back coating. 15mm closed cell foam is inserted between the inner and outer shell for protection. Zips fully open to serve as a shooting mat with integrated bi pod stops. The USB features our yoke backpack straps that can also be stowed in a dedicated compartment and heavy duty grab and drag handles for quiet handling while lying prone. The front compartment features a web platform and compression straps to secure related shooting equipment.

YKK® zippers used throughout Internal lash points and bungee tiedowns Flag holders and WriteBar Ghillie attachment points Shoulder strap attachment points Duraflex® hardware

100% NYLON

56223 USB36 | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £150 56224 USB42 | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £160 56225 USB50 | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £170

Available colours: Available colours:

019

Double Tap 026

026

019

328

026 328

Sandstorm 328 Black 019

VTAC® Double Rifle Cases

Shock Rifle Cases Lightweight, durable and cost effective protection for your rifle or M4 with our new Shock 36” and 42” rifle cases. Built with rugged 600D polyester outer shell and a padded interior lined with 300D polyester. The adjustable shoulder strap can be converted into a simple backpack system in just a moment’s time. + ID window and WriteBar for easy identification + Internal rifle retention straps + Locking main compartment zippers 100% POLYESTER

The next generation of double rifle cases from 5.11, field tested by Viking Tactics®, are here with a more refined design and more flexible functionality. The front compartment has been simplified and now features a full size web platform for easy pouch attachment and arrangement. Large laser cut web plat forms feature a loop side surface are present for MOLLE gear, patches or other accessories. The shell of the case is built with 1050D nylon and the interior of 500D nylon ripstop and secures with locking zippers. A padded divider helps pre Vent® your rifles from dings and scratches as well as from accidental impacts. Includes an adjustable shoulder strap and 5.11’s yoke backpack straps. + + + + +

Field Tested by Viking Tactics® ID window and WriteBar for easy identification Internal rifle tie-down system Compression straps Muzzle and stock pockets

100% NYLON

56219 Shock 36 Rifle Case | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £80 56220 Shock 42 Rifle Case | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £90

56221 Double 36'' Rifle Case | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £155 56222 Double 42’’ Rifle Case | 019 - BLACK, 026 - DOUBLE TAP, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1SZ | £165

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Nylon Gear & Holsters NYLON GEAR & HOLSTERS

Zero-G Plate

Promotes A Spine Safe Posture Unlike traditional front loaded duty belts which increase forward pressure on your lumbar spine and can preVent® abdominal muscles from properly firing, Zero G Plates promote a correct posture through their spring form ergonomic shape and correct use.

The Zero-G Plates virtually disappear underneath a loaded duty belt.

Low-Profile Appearance Zero G Plates maintain a neat, clean and professional appearance with a minimal profile while being made with state of the art materials and construction. Zero G Plates are made from a non reflective carbon fibre material and over molded for comfort, durability and ease of use. The inner face of the Zero G plate features a large hook sided panel that securely adheres to your inner loop sided liner belt. The Zero G plate includes keepers and is also compatible with your existing keepers.

NYLON GEAR & HOLSTERS

Research Driven Design In development and testing for nearly four years, the Zero G Plates from 5.11 Tactical distribute the load of duty equipment correctly by utilising the body’s natural load bearing structure. Specifically, the Zero G Plate positions the weight of your duty belt properly on your hip and through to your femur.

CARBON FIBRE

59509 Zero-g Plates | 019 - BLACK | S/M, L/XL | £85

Sierra Bravo Duty BLT Kit Engineered with feedback from officers in the field, the Sierra Bravo Duty Belt updates the traditional Sam Brown belt and gives you the adaptability and customizability you need to create the perfect foundation for your tactical or duty wardrobe. Constructed from super resilient high tensile 1680D nylon fabric, the Sierra Bravo features a waterproof back coating that protects against rain and moisture. Designed to fully support a broad range of duty rig setups, the Sierra Bravo integrates with MOLLE web gear and the 5.11 SlickStick™ System. The kit includes the main belt, the inner belt, and four individual keepers with dual retention hook and loop/snap closure to keep your gear firmly in place throughout your shift. + Built from ultra-strong 1680D nylon + Water and weather resistant + Durable Duraflex® Hardware 100% NYLON

59505 Sierra Bravo Duty BLT Kit | 019 - BLACK | S-4XL | £50

Sierra Bravo Duty Belt Double Mag Pouch

Baton Loop Pouch

Handcuff Pouch Radio Pouch

Flashlight Pouch

Gas/Mace Pouch

Glove Pouch

Sierra Bravo Duty Pouches New this season, these compression molded duty pouches are available in stand ard Law Enforcement utility formats. The outer layer is our high strength 1680D nylon fabric for abrasion resistance and the interior is reinforced high density material. Designed for easy integration with your duty gear. 100% NYLON

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Available colours:

019

092

019

092

188

328

188

328

NYLON GEAR & HOLSTERS

Side plate carrier now available

Storm 092 Storm 092

Tactec Plate Carrier

Tactec Chest Rig

The most comfortable plate carrier you’ll ever wear: Engineered from the ground up, the patent pending TacTec Plate Carrier addresses comfort, range of motion, and innovative design, with lightweight materials, patent pending quick release system, and a revolutionary extendable drag handle.

Tactical Flexibility Sun Tzu would be proud: Provid ing operators with options is what our new TacTec Chest Rig was designed for. Includes the capability to mount magazines with either a nylon cover or bungee retention. The two outside compartments can be converted to carry 500ml water bottles. Now available in Storm colour.

+ + + + + + + +

Padded yoke shoulder straps with perforated mesh Low profile quick grab drag handle Interior front and back padded zonal panels with airflow channels Holds 2 ballistic armor plates (large/medium) One handed quick-release cable/escape system Increased range of motion and comfort Laser cut micro-loop web platform 500D Nylon

+ Can be worn H-frame or Rhodesian (x-back) + Web platform on interior for backup or other items 100% NYLON

56061 Tactec Chest Rig | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 188 - TAC OD, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £80

100% NYLON

56100 Tactec Plate Carrier | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 188 - TAC OD, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £170 56274 Tactec Plate Carrier Side Panels | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £55

VTAC® Brokos Harness and Belt Distribute the load! Lightweight, low profile shoulder straps quickly tether to your Brokos or battle belt for load distribution and a versatile, comfortable fit. Available colours:

019

328

+ Supports the weight from your battle/Duty Belt + 500D Nylon / Aerospace Nylon Mesh + Rhodesian style (X-back) or H-Frame Yoke compatible 100% NYLON

56105 VTAC® Brokos Harness | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £37

The Ultimate Load Bearing Belt: An ergonomic battle platform created in part nership with Viking Tactics®, the Brokos belt features web platforms to attach your holster/pouches/etc and allows the user to add a belt of their choosing (not included). + 500 denier nylon with 3D spacer mesh for breathability + Ergonomic shape spreads load and reduces pressure on nerves at hips + Can be added to TRIAB18 100% NYLON

58642 VTAC® Brokos Belt | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | S/M, L-XL, 2-3X | £58

Sandstone 238

VTAC® Brokos belt and harness are a highly versatile platform for attaching pouches and feature an ergonomic design. The VTAC® Brokos Belt is designed to be used with 5.11®’s nylon belts.

Available colours:

019

328

131 188

Back is ‘slick’ for a lower profile when worn with an outer layer or jacket.

328

Black 019

Sandstone 238

NYLON GEAR & HOLSTERS

Available colours:

Taclite Plate Carrier The Taclite Plate Carrier has been engineered to provide superior flexibility in a lightweight platform. The Taclite Plate Carrier is built from rugged and depend able 500D nylon, and offers an adjustable yoke shoulder strap system and waist straps to ensure a snug, secure fit. The Taclite Plate Carrier also features the Grab Drag extending handle, a 5.11 exclusive. Compatible with standard sized armor plates. + + + + + +

Compact, lightweight design Built from durable 500D Nylon Adjustable yoke shoulder straps Extendable low-profile drag handle Laser cut web platform Elastic securing straps at the sides

LBE Vest The LBE vest and Thigh Rig are constructed of a reinforced mesh for enhanced breathability and flexiblity. + + + +

Internal document pockets Hydration pocket on interior back Interior grab handle for officer safety rubberised upper chest web

100% POLYESTER

100% NYLON

56166 Taclite Plate Carrier | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £130

Available colours:

019 Grab Drag handle extends nearly a foot for added leverage.

019

188 328

Tac OD 188

Mesh Concealment Vest

Grab Drag 11”

Built to allow the plain clothed or undercover officer to carry their gear in a comfortable and confidential manner. Turn any of your existing outerwear into a Back Up Belt System™ compatible garment, or use it as a go vest. Back Up Belt System™ pouches attach via VELCRO®. Includes single magazine, radio, baton and cuff pouches.

Add our Grab Drag functionality to your existing LBE vest or plate carrier. + Compact fold-away design + Extends 11” for greater leverage 100% NYLON

56143 Grab Drag 11” | 019 - BLACK, 188 - TAC OD, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £30

83% NYLON / 17%POLYESTER

49002 Mesh Concealment Vest | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £55

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Ava lable colours:

Small Covert Insert

019 Sandstone 238

328

NYLON GEAR & HOLSTERS

Keep your pouches and gear organised or convert any bag or backpack to an instant go bag. Available in two sizes (38 x 25 cm or 48 x 31 cm) our Covert Inserts feature a rigid panel with removable grab handle. The web panel runs in horizontal (front) and vertical (back) directions for maximum functionality and flexibility. The webbing feature a loop material face for TacTec System or other hook and loop attachments. 100% NYLON

56280 Small Covert Insert | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £20 56281 Large Covert Insert | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £25

Any 5.11 SlickStick™ pouch, MOLLE or WEB gear pouch can be attached to our new Covert Inserts making it easy to transfer specialized equipment or daily essentials between larger bags.

Mounting platform runs perpendicular on each side of the pack, one vertically and one horizontally.

Handle can be located on narrow side (pictured) or on wide side. Pouches pictured are available separately and not included.

VTAC® Utility Pouches 100% NYLON

Cuff Case

Large Drop Pouch Flash Bang Pouch

Strobe/GPS Pouch

6.10 Pouch

Rigid Cuff Case

H2O Carrier

6.6 Pouch (padded or unpadded) 3.6 Med Kit

Med Pouch

10.6 Pouch

C4/C5 Case

Radio Pouch

Disposable Glove Pouch Baton Pouch

VTAC® Magazine Pouches

NYLON GEAR & HOLSTERS

Re designed from the ground up, our new pouches feature a user configurable design that allows you to choose between full covers, bungee retention, or no cover at all. In addition, we've upgraded the snap closure on the SlickStick System, making it easier to attach and remove pouches without sacrificing the strength of the overall attachment. 100% NYLON

Cover attached to front of the pouch for immediate access to magazines, can also be tucked into pouch.

Cover pictured in its place over magazine. Ram’s head webbing for easy grip.

5.11’s SlickStick™ system makes installing and removing pouches easier than traditional platforms.

Bungee retention is included for operators who prefer so.

To install bungee: tuck the cover into the pouch then thread the elastic cord through the small web loop (1) and pull tab (2) and then through the channels on the loop platform (3).

Single 40mm Grenade Pouch

Double 40mm Grenade Pouch

G36 Single Mag Pouch

G36 Double Mag Pouch

5 Round Shotgun Bandolier

Shotgun Ammo Pouch

12 Round Shotgun Shingle

LIGHT-WRITE The write answer! Always be ready® with our new Light Write Patch and Sleeve that provides an easy way to carry a pen, flashlight and stack of business cards. Features a hook sided back for easy attachment to loop platforms. + Holds 1 pen and flashlight + Small sleeve for business cards/credentials/small notepad + Compatible with multiple 5.11 outerwear and bag styles 100% NYLON

56121 Light-Write Patch | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £7 56097 Light-Write Sleeve | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £10

NYLON GEAR & HOLSTERS TacTec System Attaches to loop sided fabric or web platforms like those found in our outerwear and bags. Flex Kit adds TacTec System compatibility to web platforms and vise versa. Includes two 3” x 7” panels with web platform front and hook and loop back. Sandstone 238

Available colours:

019

100% NYLON

328

Two Point Slings VTAC® Two Point Slings offer instant tactical flexibility with the ability to transi tion from strong side to support side. The VTAC® sling allows the user to secure their weapon across their back anytime two hands are needed. 100% NYLON

59123 Two Point Padded Sling | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £45 59120 Two Point Sling | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £38

Single Point Slings VTAC® Singel Point Slings provide additional options for individuals who prefer a single point over a two point sling. Each feature a quick release snap shackle and in clude an assortment of attachment options. Available in static and bungee versions. 100% NYLON

54001 Static Single Point Sling | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £35 54000 Bungee Single Point Sling | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £40

LBE Holsters Compatible with most weapon lights. Select from full size or compact size. Loop sided front, SlickStick attachment back. 100% NYLON

Back Up Belt System™ Holster is compatible with a wide range of 5.11 Tactical products. 100% NYLON

59002 Back-Up Belt System™ Hook And Loop Holster | Ambidextrous | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £13

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L®

Thumbdrive Thigh Rig The ThumbDrive Thigh Rig features a height adjustable drop leg strap with a swivel clip and adjustable leg straps with gripper threads. Engineered by Blade Tech® and field tested by Viking Tactics®. FIBREGLASS REINFORCED NYLON 6/6 WITH STRETCH NYLON STRAP

NYLON GEAR & HOLSTERS

Products badged with the "Field Tested by VTAC®" logo have been developed in partnership with Kyle E. Lamb of Viking Tactics®. Kyle served for 21 years, 17 of which were with the most elite elements of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He has been decorated for valor in Mogadishu, Somalia, during the battle that was made famous by the movie Blackhawk Down. He was also decorated for valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom. SGM (RET) Lamb is one of the most credible and sought-after shooting and tactics instructors in the country. Learn more at VikingTactics.com.

50029 Thumbdrive Thigh Rig | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £40

Modular Mount System

ThumbDrive Holsters

Allows the user to mount one holster to two separate mounting locations. Includes one male platform and two female platforms with a self locking mechanism. Engineered by Blade Tech® and field tested by Viking Tactics®.

Engineered by Blade Tech® and field tested by Viking Tactics® the ThumbDrive features our patent pending thumb activated safety. Includes adjustable belt slide and paddle with adjustable cant, removable Chop Block. Solvent and oil resistant.

100% NYLON

50073 Modular Mount System | 019 BLACK | 1 SZ | £40

IWB Holster

Belt Slide

Our Appendix/IWB Holster is designed by Blade Tech® to provide additional concealment options. The holster features a light clip so you can also confidently store your handheld tactical light. Polymer material is heat, grease and oil resistant and retains its shape.

Chop-Block

FIBREGLASS REINFORCED NYLON 6/6

50102 Appendix/IWB Holster | Glock 19/23, 26/27 R/H | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £25

FIBREGLASS REINFORCED NYLON 6/6

50103 Appendix/IWB Holster S&W | M&P Compact R/H (9mm/.40) | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £25

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Flashlights ACCESSORIES Style #

53019

53021

53023

53025

53225

53241

53239

Name

XBT A2

XBT A4

XBT A6

XBT D3

TPT L2 251

TPT R7 14

TPT R5 14

Output: High/Strobe/Low

256 lumens

355 lumens

629 / 111 lumens

1231 / 100 lumens

251 / 13 lumens

613 / 613 / 201 lumens

301 / 301 / 17 lumens

Runtime: High/Strobe/Low

2:15

2:30

10:00 / 57:30

2:00 / 72:00

3:30 / 59:00

5:30 / 14:00 / 22:00

3:00 / 6:15 / 86:00

Cree XP GB

Cree XM LB

3 Cree XM LB

Cree XP G2

Cree XM LB

Cree XP GB

2 CR 123 (included)

NiMH (D) Recharge able (included) / 3 D Cartridge

NiMH (sub C) Recharge able (included) / 6 AAA Cartridge

LED Power

4 AA (included)

6 AA (included)

3 D (not included)

OAL

16cm

21cm

27cm

31cm

13cm

31cm

23cm

Diameter (Body)

2.5cm

4cm

4.5cm

2.5cm

4.5cm

3.5cm

Output Mode(s)

Momentary On / High Steady On

Momentary On / High or Low Steady On

Momentary On / High, Low or Strobe Steady On

Momentary or steady on high, strobe or low

Switch Location

Tailcap

Shoulder Switch

Tailcap

Shoulder

NA NA

Lockout Accessories

Nylon Pouch

Battery Pack, Battery Cartridge, 230V/12V Charging Station

Composition

AEROSPACE GRADE ALUMINIUM

PC/ABS POLYMER COMPOSITE

ABS POLYMER BODY

£45

£57

£80

£125

£50

£155

£135

Price

2 AA (included)

ACCESSORIES

Style #

53032

53232

53237

53224

53223

53029

53030

53031

Name

TMT L2

TMT L2X

TMT L3X

TMT R1

TMT R3M®C Global

TMT A1

TMT A2

TMT L1

Output: High/Strobe/Low

320 / 15 lumens

638 / NA / 52 lumens

860 / NA / 50 lumens

339 / 339 / 23 lumens

357 / 357 / 20 lumens

130 / 15 lumens

220 / 12 lumens

212 / 16 lumens

Runtime: High/Strobe/Low

2:30 / 55:00

3:00 / NA / 50:00

2:15 / NA / 29:00

3:00 / 6:30 / 74:00

3:15 / 6:45 / 87:00

0:53 / 11:00

1:30 / 57:00

2:00 / 25:00

LED

Cree XPG B

Cree XM L2

Cree XP GB

Cree XP GB (plus Red & Blue)

Cree XPG B

2 CR123 (included)

Li Ion Rechargeable (included) / 2 CR 123 Cartridge

1 AA (included)

2 AA (included)

1 CR123 (included)

Power OAL

13.5cm

19cm

15cm

15.5cm

11cm

15cm

10cm

Diameter (Body)

2.5cm

3cm

2.5cm.

Output Mode(s)

Momentary On / High, Low or Strobe Steady On

Momentary or steady on high or low

Momentary or steady on high, strobe or low

Momentary On / High, Low or Strobe Steady On

Switch Location

Tailcap

Rotary Safety

Rotary Switch

Rotary Safety

Accessories

Breakaway Lanyard

Breakaway Lan yard, Battery Pack, Battery Cartridge, 230V/12V

Breakaway Lanyard, Battery Pack, Battery Cartridge, 230V/12V Charging Station

Breakaway Lanyard

Composition

AEROSPACE GRADE ALUMINIUM

ALUMINIUM BODY

AEROSPACE GRADE ALUMINIUM

£75

£85

£100

£140

£155

£47

£57

£65

Lockout

Price

ACCESSORIES Head Tilts 0˚ - 90˚

Head Tilts 0˚ - 90˚

S+R H6 Headlamp

S+R H3 Headlamp

When maximum illumination and runtime are critical, the choice is the H6: Meets the critical portable lighting demands of Search and Rescue professionals. Dura ble enough for rugged missions where dependable performance and exceptional output contribute to operational success. Powered by alkaline batteries, readily available in most theaters. Rechargeable NiMH battery kit is available separately.

Durable enough for rugged missions where dependable performance and exceptional output contribute to operational success. Powered by alkaline batteries, readily available in most theaters. Rechargeable NiMH battery kit is available separately.

+ 470 lumens full-high mode for 10.5 hours. + Three Cree XP-E2 LEDs for the spot beam and two flood light LEDs work independently or together on high or low modes + Lamp head with vertical adjustment from 0° through 90° + Water resistant high impact polymer body construction + (6) AA alkaline batteries included

+ 338 lumens full-high mode for 5 hours, 15 min + Cree XP-G2 spot beam and two flood light LEDs work independently or together on high or low modes + Lamp head with vertical adjustment from 0° through 90° to accommodate near and distant lighting requirements + Water resistant high impact polymer body construction + (3) AA alkaline batteries included ALUMINIUM POLYMER WITH STRETCH NYLON STRAP

ALUMINIUM POLYMER WITH STRETCH NYLON STRAP

53190 S+R H3 Headlamp | 328 - SANDSTONE*, 999 - MULTI | 1 SZ | £70

53192 S+R H6 Headlamp | 999 - MULTI | 1 SZ | £100

53194 S+R H3 Rechargable Battery | 999 - MULTI | 1 SZ | £65

53194 S+R H3 Rechargable Battery | 999 - MULTI | 1 SZ | £65 53244 Torch Filter 1.0 Lens Kit | 999 - MULTI | 1 SZ | £8

S+R Flashlights Tough S+R Lights for the most demanding missions. Powered by alkaline batteries, readily available in most theaters. Lights feature aerospace grade aluminium body with rubber grip surfaces and reflective inserts and feature water resistant construction. Cree LEDs with regulated circuits for maximum output. A lock out tail cap prevents accidental operation. ALUMINIUM

53191 S+R A2 Flashlight | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £60 53193 S+R A6 Flashlight | 999 - MULTI | 1 SZ | £100

S+R A2 - 17cm

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L

S+R A6 -26cm

Available colours: Available colours:

019

325

328

Black 019

328 Valiant 716

TPT EDC Light Black 019

Penlights

+ + + + +

ACCESSORIES

716

91 lumens, 4:45 hour runtime, two AAA batteries included Measures 7 cm long, 3 cm across, 1.5 cm thick Spring steel pocket clip, lanyard attachment Cree XPEB LED with high output steady-on Impact and water resistant PC/ABS Polymer Composite

ALUMINIUM POLYMER

53243 TPT EDC Light | 019 - BLACK, 325 - TRAFFIC YELLOW, 328 - SANDSTONE | 1 SZ | £20

53212 TMT PLUV | 716 - VALIANT | 1 SZ | £27 53028 TMT Plx Penlight | 019 - BLACK, 328 - SANDSTONE* | 1 SZ | £30

A.T.A.C. Polymer Holster Fits ATAC® and TMT A2 and L2 POLYMER PC/ABS COMPOSITE

53165 A.T.A.C. Polymer Holster | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £17

Flexio Penlight A.T.A.C. XL Holster Fits ATAC® R1, R3M®c, TPT L2 & most 2.54cm (1 inch) diameter lights POLYMER PC/ABS COMPOSITE

+ + + + +

90 lumens, 4 hour runtime, two AAA batteries included Measures 32 cm in length with a 15 cm flexible arm Includes magnetic mount base Cree XPEB LED with high output momentary and steady on Includes removable magnetic mount base (not shown)

53166 A.T.A.C. XL Holster | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £17 ALUMINIUM

53242 Flexio Penlight | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £40 53248 Flexio Replacement Head And Neck With Colored Led | 010 - WHITE, 460 RED, 676 - BLUE | 1 SZ | £35

A.T.A.C./TPT Nylon Holster

53249 Flexio Replacement Magnetic Mount | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £9

100% NYLON

53164 A.T.A.C./TPT Nylon Holster | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £17 53154 TPT Polymer Holster | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £16.50

Battery Case Rattle free and molle/web compatible, waterproof storage case for 4 batteries (AA or CR123). Batteries not included.

Flashlight Belt Ring PLASTIC AND NYLON

53109 Flashlight Belt Ring | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £9

53153 Battery Case | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £16.50

Eyewear 5.11™ eyewear includes a free SlickStick compression molded nylon case, cleaning bag and retention straps.

ACCESSORIES

Protective eyewear is designed and constructed for the active operator and is available in a variety of designs built for comfort and great looks on and off the job. Developed in partnership with Wiley X, the leader in military eye protection, 5.11’s exclusive designs provide critical eye protection for all occasions. All 5.11® Eye Protection block 100% of harmful UVA/UVB rays and are Rx Ready for your custom prescription.

Cavu Half Frame CAVU Half Frame The ability to change the lens based on the environment gives these glasses the tactical advantage in the field EN 166 (+S) Certified and ANSI Z87.1 2003 Compliant. 52029 Cavu Half Frame | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £80 52032 Cavu Replacement Lenses | Includes one replacement lens, order by colour code | 011 - CLEAR, 031 - SMOKE, 401 - BALLISTIC ORANGE | 1 SZ | £25

5 . 1 1 TA C T I C A L

Burner Full Frame Burner Full Frame A great shooting competition glass with minimal construction but details that make this glass part of our range bag. CERTIFIED TO EN166(+S) :2001 Impact Protective Eyewear Standards.

Burner Half Frame

ACCESSORIES

Burner Half Frame Interchangeable lenses bring flexibility to your eye protec tion. Now available with mirrored lenses. EN 166 (+S) Certified and ANSI Z87.1 2003 Compliant. 52035 Burner Half Frame | Smoke, Clear and Ballistic Orange lenses | Black matte frames | 920 - MAT BLACK | 1 SZ | £80 52036 Burner Half Frame Replacement Lenses | Includes one replacement lens, order by colour code | 011 - CLEAR, 031 - SMOKE, 401 - BALLISTIC ORANGE | 1 SZ | £25

Burner Half Frame 52061 Burner Half Frame | 915 - SILVER MIRROR, 916 - ASPHALT BLUE MIRROR, 917 FLAME MIRROR | 1 SZ | £70

Aileron Shield Aileron Shield Sport meets performance. The frame allows you to choose from the other colour lenses to adapt to your environment. Now available in three frame colours. EN 166 (+F) Certified, ANSI Z87.1 2010 Compliant and MIL PRF 32432 Ballistic Fragmentation Class 1 with and without the 5.11 FrontSight RX Carrier. Black Matte 920

Sandstone 328 Charcoal 018

Raid Raid Full wrap eye protection you can trust in the field. Now available in two frame colours EN 166 (+S) Certified, ANSI Z87.1 2010. Compliant and MIL PRF 32432 Ballis tic Fragmentation Class 1 with and without the 5.11 FrontSight RX Carrier. 52022 Raid | 018 - CHARCOAL, 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £80 52026 Raid Replacement Lens | Includes one replacement lens, order by colour code | 011 - CLEAR, 031 - SMOKE, 401 - BALLISTIC ORANGE | 1 SZ | £25 Charcoal 018

Black 019

Frontsight Rx Carrier Prescription ready frame and replacement nosepiece. + Compatible with 52058 Aileron and 52022 Raid (shown at the left installed, sunglass frame and lens not included) 52066 Frontsight Rx Carrier | 011 - CLEAR | 1 SZ | £20

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Knives ACCESSORIES BTC

LDE

DRT

LMC Rescue

LMC Modified Clip

LMC Recurve

CS3

CS2

CS1

XPRT

Double Duty Responder

Style #

51089

51085

51057

51059

51086

51066

51068

51084

51080

Name

BTC

LDE

DRT

Min pin

LMC Rescue

LMC Modified Clip

LMC Re curve

CS3

CS2

Locking

Liner Lock

Blade Steel

AUS8

Blade Style

Tanto Recurve

Tanto

Spear Point

Serrated Hawkbill

Modified Clip Point

Recurve

Dagger (one edge)

Spearpoint

Blade Finish

Black TEFLON®

Satin Finish

Beadblast Finish

Blade Length

7cm

5.7cm

8cm

10cm

OAL

17cm

16cm

17cm

19 cm

19cm

22cm

Handle

Textured FRN

Liner

Internal Steel

Full Length Steel

Clip

2 positions

4 positions

Special Feature

Carbide Glass Breaker

Price

£25

£40

£35

£50

Style # Name Locking

51078

51036

51073

CS1

XPRT

Double Duty Responder

51030

51046

51023

51076

50132

Tanto Surge

Side Kick Rescue Tool

Side Kick Boot Knife

Sidepick Combo Edge

Sidepick Plain Edge

Liner Lock

Fixed

Blade Steel

AUS8

S30V

AUS8 Stainless

AUS8

Blade Style

Tanto Combo Edge

Recurve

Sheepsfoot Combo

Tanto

Combo Chisel, Belt Cutter, O2

Spear Combo, O2 Wrench

Dagger Combo (one edge)

Dagger (one edge)

Blade Finish

Beadblast Finish

Black Oxide

Satin

Black Oxide

10cm

9.5cm (primary) 4cm (secondary)

11cm

5.5cm

5cm

6cm

Blade Length OAL Handle Liner Clip Special Feature

Price

9cm 22cm

23cm

22cm

14.5cm

16cm

Textured FRN

Machined G10

Textured FRN w/Rubber

Textured G10

Integral

Removable FRN

Full Length Steel

N/A (Full Tang)

Full Tang

4 positions

3 positions

N/A

Molded Sheath

Ultrasheath

Carbide glass breaker, seatbelt/ cord cutter

Reversible Kydex Sheath w/ Molle locks

Belt, Boot, Web or Neck Wear

Belt, Boot, Web or Neck Wear. Adjust able to 12 Angles

£50

£140

£75

£70

£45

£55

£54

SideKick Rescue Tool

Min-Pin

SideKick Boot Knife

SidePick Combo Edge

SidePick Plain Edge

Tanto Surge

Watches ACCESSORIES

Guardsman Watch + + + + + + +

Field Ops Watch + + + + + +

Swiss three hand movement 316L Stainless steel case and bezel Water-resistant to 100M/330 feet Unidirectional rotating bezel Date window, photophorescent markings Mineral glass crystal 24mm silicon strap with bonus feature

HRT ™ Titanium + 5.11 SureShot™ ballistic calculator featuring patented technology by HORUS Vision + Titanium case and bezel + Water-resistant to 100M/330 feet + Luminescent markings + 3 time zones (2 digital, 1 analog) + Unidirectional ratcheting bezel + Includes leather and rubber straps

5.11 SureShot™ ballistic calculator Polycarbonate case, stainless steel back Water-resistant to 100M/330 feet 3 time zones Digital compass and chronograph Rotating bezel with compass markings

POLYCARBONATE CASE AND POLYURETHANE STRAP 316L STEEL CASE, SILICON STRAP

50133EU Guardsman Watch | 019 - BLACK, 033 - GRANITE/BLACK, 120 - COYOTE | 1 SZ | £159

59245 Field Ops Watch | 019 - BLACK, 120 - COYOTE | 1 SZ | £200

TITANIUM CASE, LEATHER/TPR STRAP

59244 Field Ops Watch Band Kit | 019 - BLACK, 120 COYOTE | 1 SZ | £14

59209 HRT™ Titanium | 999 - MULTI | 1 SZ | £265

81019 Breacher Patch | 029 - GREY, 108 - BROWN, 676 BLUE | 1 SZ | £7

81025 Spade Patch | 310 - DESERT SAND, 511 - SCOPE ORANGE, 851 - OLIVE | 1 SZ | £7

81010 Skull Shot | 019 - BLACK, 029 - GREY, 038 - SAND | 1 SZ | £7

81023 45 Words Or Less Patch | 019 - BLACK, 038 SAND | 1 SZ | £7

81006 Ace In Hand | 019 - BLACK, 029 - GREY, 038 - SAND | 1 SZ | £7

81021 Don’t Tread On Me Patch | 323 - GOLDFINGER | 1 SZ | £7

59238 Nylon Band | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £15

Patches

W W W. M I L I TA R Y 1 S T. C O .UK | FA CE BOOK . C OM / M I L I TA R Y 1 S T

Branded Items BRANDED ITEMS

Caps & Beanies

89062 5.11 RECON® Cap | 85% POLYESTER 15% ELASTANE | 098 - VOLCANIC, 716 - VALIANT | 1 SZ | £17

89063 Flag Bearer MultiCam® Cap | 100% COTTON | 169 - MULTICAM® | 1 SZ | £17

89398 Downrange A-FLEX Cap | 100% COTTON | 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI, 190 TDU GREEN, 921 - ONYX | M/L, L/XL | £17

89260 Uniform Hat | 65% COTTON 35% POLYESTER | 019 - BLACK, 190 - TDU GREEN, 724 - DARK NAVY | 1 SZ | £8

89381 Taclite Uniform Cap | 65% POLYESTER 35% COTTON | 019 - BLACK, 162 - TDU KHAKI, 190 - TDU GREEN, 724 DARK NAVY | 1 SZ | £12

89406 Flag Bearer Cap | 100% COTTON | 019 - BLACK, 055 - KHAKI, 092 STORM, 724 - DARK NAVY | 1 SZ | £17

89405 Realtree® Mesh Cap | 65% POLYESTER 35% COTTON | 302 - REALTREE® XTRA | M/L, L/XL | £20

89404 Realtree® Adjustable Cap | 65% POLYESTER 35% COTTON | 302 REALTREE® XTRA | 1 SZ | £20

89390 Scope A-flex Cap | 96% COTTON 4% ELASTANE | 019 - BLACK, 092 - STORM, 190 - TDU GREEN, 697 - CADET PLAID | M/L, L/XL | £17

89367 Underhelmet Skull Cap | 82% POLYESTER/18%ELASTANE | 019 - BLACK | 1 SZ | £14

89250 Watch Cap | 100% POLYESTER | 019 - BLACK, 120 - COYOTE, 182 - OD GREEN, 724 - DARK NAVY | S/M, L/XL | £10

Women's Logo T-shirts 128g 100% ringspun cotton for comfort and breathability is preshrunk and features a mild v neck. | 100% COTTON

31004AX ABR | 019 BLACK, 670 - LIGHT BLUE | S-XL | £20

31004AO Pistol Prep | 010 31004AN Heart Of Steel - WHITE, 016 - HEATHER GREY | 019 - BLACK, 502 - PINK | | S-XL | £20 S-XL | £20

31004AP Skull Kaliber | 019 - BLACK, 557 - MERLOT | S-XL | £20

31004AI Urban Assault | 016 - HEATHER GREY, 502 PINK | S-XL | £20

BRANDED ITEMS

31004AR Cross Your Heart | 016 - HEATHER GREY, 019 - BLACK | S-XL | £20

Men's Logo T-shirts 156g 100% soft spun cotton for superior breathability. Tapered neck and shoulder line enhancements ensure full freedom of movement and preVent® bunching at the underarm or waist. | 100% COTTON

41006CP Scull Caliber | 019 BLACK, 558 - BURGUNDY | S-XXL | £20

41006CU Breacher | 019 BLACK, 170 - TAN | S-XXL | £20

41006CZ ABR 2.0 | 018 - CHARCOAL, 170 - TAN, 558 - BURGUNDY | S-XXL | £20

41006CM Red Scope | 019 BLACK, 182 - OD GREEN | S-XXL | £20

41006DG Smoke ‘em | 019 BLACK, 182 - OD GREEN | S-XXL | £20

41006DC Purpose Built | 018 - CHARCOAL, 170 - TAN | S-XXL | £20

41006DH Flight Path | 018 - CHARCOAL, 170 - TAN | S-XXL | £20

41006DK AR Skull | 019 BLACK, 182 - OD GREEN | S-XXL | £20

41006DI Apex Predator | 018 - CHARCOAL, 182 - OD GREEN, 707 HARBOR BLUE | S-XXL | £20

41006BZ Don’t Tread On Me | 018 - CHARCOAL, 019 - BLACK, 182 - OD GREEN | S-XXL | £20

5.11 RECON® Logo T-Shirts Engineered to provide superior maneuverability and performance, the 5.11 RECON® t shirt gives you the comfort and confidence to handle any situation. 5.11 RECON® t shirts feature a 122g 50/50 ringspun cotton and polyester blend in a heather texture. Lightweight, double stitched construction ensures maximum durability and freedom of movement.

50% COTTON / 50% POLYESTER

Breaching Tools Effective breaching is a cornerstone of law enforcement. Minimising the exposure and maximising the effectiveness of your breaching team requires the use of high quality tools and adequate training. The Patent pending 5.11® Breaching System (Engineered by S.E.T.) is designed for use against high level in and out swinging security doors, offering your team superior breaching capabilities in a multitude of environments. 5.11 Tactical® offers rams, pryes, rakes, complete breaching kits as well as training doors, all of unrivaled functionality. For more information on the 5.11® Breaching System, please contact 5.11® at info@511tacticaleu.com or your local distributor. Public Safety Professionals Only.

Patrol Duty Uniform™ The next generation of duty uniforms are here! All 5.11® Patrol Duty Uniforms (PDU™) are built from tough and durable materials that maintain clean lines, resist fading and shrinking, and provide all the comfort and breathability you need to keep cool in any situation. If you are interested in these PDU’s, please contact your local 5.11® dealer or 5.11® direct at PDU@511tacticaleu.com. For customisation of a larger quantity of any 5.11® product according to your specific needs, please contact your local 5.11® dealer or 5.11® direct at SDG@511tacticaleu.com.

Gloves Look out for our tactical, functional Gloves back in stock later this year!

Sizing Instructions Using a measuring tape, measure your body (not over clothing) using the diagram on the left as a positioning guide. If you fall between sizes, order the smaller size for a tighter fit or the larger size for a looser fit. Men: Use your chest and neck measurements to determine the proper size for tops, outerwear or jumpsuits; use your waist measurement (where you wear your pants) for bottoms and belts. Women: Use your chest measurement to determine the proper size for tops, outerwear or jumpsuits; use your hip measurements for bottoms; use your waist measurement (where you wear your pants) for belts. Conversion: Should you need to convert between metric and imperial sizes: 1 inch 2.54cm and 1 cm 0.39 inches.

Men’s Body Measurements XS

2XL

3XL

4XL

5XL

6XL

Neck (inches)

Alpha Size

13-13 ½

14-14½

15-15½

16-16½

17-17½

18-18½

19-19½

20-20½

21-21½

22-22½

Chest (inches)

30-32

34-36

38-40

42-44

46-48

50-52

54-56

58-60

62-64

66-68

Waist (inches)

24-26

28-30

32-34

36-38

40-42

44-46

48-50

52-54

56-58

60-62

Short = 5’3 5’7½ | Regular = 5’8 6’½ | Long = 6’1 6’3

Women’s Body Measurements X-Small

Numeric Size (US)

Pants Numeric Sizes

Small

Medium 8

Large 14

Waist

X-Large

Pant 28” Size 76

Numeric Size (UK)

Numeric Size (EU)

Chest (inches)

32½

33½

34½

35½

36½

39½

Hip (inches)

35½

36½

37½

38½

39½

42½

30”

32”

34”

36”

38”

40”

42”

44”

100

106

112

118

124 Measurement (cm ) 76

30” Inseam

Alpha Size

Regular = 5’5 5’7 | Long = 5’8 5’11

32”

34”

86,5

36”

91,5

In the example above if your waist measurement is 94cm and your inseam measurement is 81cm then you would fit a 34/32 labelled pant.

Men’s Footwear Sizing US Size

6½

7½

8½

9½

10½

11½

UK Size

5½

6½

7½

8½

9½

10½

EU Size

37½

38½

40½

42½

44½

45½

47½

48½

49½

Glove Sizing

Women’s Footwear Sizing US Size

6.5

7.5

8.5

9.5

Unisex Size

2XL

UK Size

4.5

5.5

6.5

7.5

8.5

Men’s

78mm

90mm

103mm

114mm

127mm

EU Size

37.5

38.5

40.5

42.5

Women’s

71mm

83mm

96mm

With a flat hand measure across your knuckles.

Hat Sizing Hat Size

Measurement

22" / 55.8 cm

7 1/8

22 3/8" / 56.8 cm

7 1/4

22 3/4" / 57.7 cm

7 3/8

23 1/8" / 58.7 cm

7 1/2

23 1/2" / 59.6 cm

7 5/8

23 7/8" / 60.6 cm

7 3/4

24 1/4" / 61.5 cm

7 7/8

24 5/8" / 62.5 cm

A-Flex

One Size

PRODUCT DETAILS, PRICES, AND AVAILABILITY ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. 5.11 Warranties: All of our products are backed by a limited warranty. Please visit http:// www.511tactical.com/customer service/warranty for details regarding our product warranties.

M/L

One Size Fits Most L/XL

Returns & Exchanges: Please visit http://www.511tactical.com/customer service/return policy/ for details regarding how to return products. Blood Borne Pathogen Resistance: Certain 5.11 products feature resistance to blood borne pathogens. Please visit http://www.511tactical.com/customer service/help center/ for more details regarding the level of this resistance and other important information. Notice Regarding Knives: The purchase, possession, and use of knives are subject to a variety of local laws. Please check which laws apply in your country prior to purchasing your knife. Trademarks: The following are trademarks of their respective owners: TEFLON®, YKK®, Prym®, MultiCam®, VELCRO®, VTAC®, Viking Tactics®, Blade Tech®, Ironclad®, Storm Cotton®, 3M®, Scotchlite®, Nomex®, Duraclad®, Kevlar®, Breathoprene®, MOLLE LOK™, iPhone®, Apple®, Facebook®, YouTube®, OrthoLite®, NanoGLIDE®, TransDRY®, eVent®, HELCOR®, AustriAlpine®, Realtree®, Duraflex®.

5.11 International Geijersgatan 2B SE 216 18 Limhamn SWEDEN

Knife sales to over 18s only

5.11 OPS Center 4300 Spyres Way Modesto CA 95356 USA

5.11 DEV Center 1360 Reynolds Ave. Irvine CA 92614 USA