Issue 34 - April 2014 by Airsoft Action

THE Airsoft Magazine

TWO KIT REVIEWS IOT

TR HELIKON-TEX PA PTOR ADA SPEED PROPANE

T N E V E E E R H T REPORTS 2014 SHOW BRITISH AIRSOFT G URBAN 6 TRAININ WW2 RON FIREBALL SQUAD

FOUR GUN REVIEWS

BATTLEFIELD TOUR

SAS TROOPER, BORNEO 1965

VASILY ZAYTSEV: HERO OF THE SOVIET UNION

WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HEROES

INSIDE MILITARY 1ST l THE BATTLE OF MIRBAT l TRAIN LIKE YOU FIGHT l THE ART OF WAR

APRIL 2014 - £4.50

SNIPERS OF WW2

9 772047 348032

COLD WAR WARRIOR

ASG SCORPION VFC MP7 TM 870 MK23 K & H M O C O S M T

THE Airsoft Magazine

TWO KIT REVIEWS

RIOT HELIKON-TEX PAT PTOR ADA SPEED PROPANE

THREE EVENT REPORTS W 2014 SHO BRITISH AIRSOFT G URBAN 6 TRAININ WW2 ON ADR FIREBALL SQU

FOUR GUN REVIEWS

BATTLEFIELD TOUR

VASILY ZAYTSEV: HERO OF THE SOVIET UNION

WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HEROES

SNIPERS OF WW2

SAS TROOPER, BORNEO 1965

INSIDE MILITARY 1ST l THE BATTLE OF MIRBAT l TRAIN LIKE YOU FIGHT l THE ART OF WAR

9 772047 348032

COLD WAR WARRIOR

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

APRIL 2014 - £4.50

ASG SCORPION VFC MP7 TM 870 MK23 TM SOCOM H&K

Full UK 12-issue subscription rate: £66 For overseas prices visit: www.airsoft-action.co.uk

Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WE13 6PL Tel: 01684 878 003 Web: www.airsoft-action.co.uk ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2014 Distribution: Distributed to the newstrade by Comag Magazine Marketing, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE T: 01895 433 800 Copyright © Calibre Publishing Limited 2014. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reﬂect those of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print.

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Letter, idea or question? Got something to say? A question for our experts? An article or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the editor (nige@airsoft-action.co.uk), write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

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MARCH 2014

WELL, THE BRITISH AIRSOFT SHOW came and went and, generally, most people thought it was a good event, although maybe not quite so busy as last year. What it proved to me is that airsoft still has the potential to become one of the most popular outdoor activities in the UK. Maybe I’d best qualify that by saying I don’t consider either fishing or golf to be an “activity” - no offence, I just don’t! Almost before the doors were closed on the BAS, airsoft companies up and down the country started getting ready for the next big event, IWA Outdoor Classics in Nuremberg, Germany and if you thought that the British Shooting Show was big, then IWA is simply mahoosive! It brings together companies involved in hunting guns, shooting sports and outdoor equipment from around the world, including all the major airsoft manufacturers and distributors. By the time you read this the show will be over, so we will bring you all the news of what went on in the next issue. Regular readers will know that for the last couple of years I have been banging on about how well airsoft was doing in the face of a deep recession - and now, it would seem, the message has started to filter through as the trickle of players turns into a tide. For example, I had a phone call from Ray Cain of Dragons Lair in Essex (if you remember, Ray came with me to the first event I covered for Airsoft Action down at Ground Zero and was so impressed, he flipped from paintball to airsoft), to tell me they had broken all previous records for a regular Sunday Skirmish, with 157 players on the site. When you consider that DL was one of the UK’s most popular paintball sites and never got above 120 players, then this puts it all into perspective - it also explains why more and more paintball sites are now looking to airsoft as numbers rapidly dwindle. Maybe over the next couple of years we’ll have a load of new (to airsoft) sites to play on - and that can only be good for all of us. Have a great month and I’ll catch you next time. Nige.

CONTENTS MARCH APRIL 2014

CONTENTS

AIRSOFT ACTION – APRIL 2014 6

Airsoft News

The latest developments in the world of airsoft 10 Readers’ Gallery Cool photos taken by Airsoft Action readers 12 Armoury: ASG Scorpion Gadge Harvey takes look at this Eastern Bloc machine pistol from Cz 17 Armoury: VFC MP7 We get our hands on VFC’s life-size replica of this H&K classic GBB SMG 20 Kit Review: Helikon-Tex Patriot As the Polish brand becomes more popular amongst airsofters, Liam McCormick puts this heavy ﬂeece jacket to the test 23 Kit Review: Speed Propane Adaptor With this simple adaptor you can safely use propane as an airsoft propellant 26 Event Report: Training at Urban 6 Nige went along to watch a Shadow Stalker’s Training session, at The Block in Burton on Trent 29 Team Proﬁle: Shadow Stalkers Impressed by what he saw at their Training session, Nige tells us a more about the team 30 Cold War Warrior: SAS Trooper, Borneo 1965 Gareth “Gadge” Harvey brings us a loadout from Britain’s “Secret War”, a war that saw the birth of 22 SAS 34 Armoury: Tokyo Marui 870 Gas Shottie With over 10 million of the real thing already produced, Scott Allan gets to grips with TM’s gas-powered airsoft version 38 Debate: Night Games

52 Armoury: Tokyo Marui SOCOM H&K Mk23 It’s relatively cheap and made of plastic but will it stand up to to Jay Slater’s scrutiny 55 Lest We Forget: Beyond Remembrance Kris Roberts wanted to do more than just lay a wreath, so went to ask the Royal British Legion a simple question: “How can I help?” 57 Battlefield Tour Offer This year is the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and Airsoft Action has got together with Matt Limb OBE to offer our readers the chance to walk in the footsteps of heroes on the Normandy battlefields 61 Feature: The Battle of Mirbat Andy Nightingale met up with old friends and ex-SAS soldiers Pete Winner and Bob Podesta at Pete’s recent presentation of this epic action 65 Feature: Snipers of World War II Immortalised in the film Enemy at the Gates, Dan Mills writes about Vasily Zaytsev, who took part in the defence of Stalingrad and chalked up 225 kills in just one month 69 Airsoft Skills: Train Like You Fight Andy Nightingale gives us some pointers as to how real-world training methods can be applied to airsoft 72 Bookshop Special Offer for Airsoft Action readers from Military Pocket Books 73 Book Review: Ace of Spades: File 52 Jamie Finneran’s follow up to Sabre Six: File 51 drops us in the middle of the fight to control the poppy fields of Afghanistan 74 World War 1: The Pals

Does playing at night enhance the game or is it just an excuse to cheat? Gadge Harvey reviews your comments in this issue’s Debate

They lived together, fought together and very often died together but they helped save this country when it was desperate for ﬁghting men

40 Inside Airsoft: Military 1st

78 Feature: War Illustrators

Les Lee has been buying from this online retailer for years and decided to ﬁnd out who’s behind the company and what their plans are for the future

Military Illustrator, Rupert Godesen, looks at the men whose sketches and drawings provided the ﬁrst real glimpse into the horrors of War

45 Event Report: Fireball Squadron’s WWII Italian Campaign

83 Feature: When Things Go Wrong

Chris Wray is back to see if the German’s can capitalise on the success of their previous encounter 48 Event Report: British Airsoft Show 2014 Nige takes a look back at some of the highs from the annual airsoft extravaganza

If it can go wrong it will but, as Paul Yelland explains, we can help ourselves a lot with just some basic preparation 86 Site Directory If you’re looking for somewhere to play, you’re sure to ﬁnd it here

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

005

LEADING PAINTBALL MARKER MANUFACTURER MOVES INTO AIRSOFT Here is a name you may not have heard associated with airsoft before: Tippmann but, mark my words, you may well be hearing it much more often as this world-leading manufacturer of high-performance paintball markers has unveiled their ﬁrst airsoft product - a CO2-powered M4 Carbine. Originally a manufacturer of collectable, half-scale replica machine guns, Tippmann started producing paintball markers back in 1986 and have continually innovated and improved their offering since. Indeed the writer of this news piece vividly recalls their products of the time having a massive impact on the market and almost overnight becoming a force to be reckoned with. Here’s how it is described on their website: “The M4 Carbine features a

realistic ﬂip-top break down design like a true M4/AR. Its versatile air system uses either a 12g CO2 cartridge in the 80 round magazine, or the built-in remote line. It’s also compatible with airsoft’s standard magazines, from 30 to 300 rounds. The M4 Carbine has a metal receiver, and is compatible with many actual M4/AR components including a rear stock, front shroud and standard Picatinny Rail System. The M4 Carbine is adjustable to match each player’s needs and style of play. The rate of ﬁre can range from semi-auto to 20 rounds per second

full-auto, using an air assisted trigger design that does not require batteries. Velocity can be adjusted up to 400 feet per second and can be equipped with a velocity adjustment lock. The inner sleeved barrel is airsoft standard (aftermarket compatible) with adjustable hop up. An armorer’s wrench is included for barrel changes. Other features include Tippmann’s proven in-line bolt system with anti-jam technology, ﬂip up front and rear sights and modular 8-sided Picatinny fore grip.” Other than a short YouTube video, there are no other details available at present, although we are waiting for a response from Tippmann in the USA with further information as to when we can expect to see it in the UK. It is priced in the USA at $399.00. As the UK Airsoft Trade battles with RoHS2 and CE compliance issues, along with PolarStar could this be another alternative to electric-powered airsoft weapons?

4TH ANNUAL SKIRMISH THE BIG GAME?? CUP ANNOUNCED

Quite literally as we were getting ready to push the “Print” button on this issue, news reached Airsoft Action of plans for a massive new airsoft event.

The 4th annual Skirmish Cup will be held on Saturday, 5th July 2014 at Skirmish Billericay. The format is 6 Man teams with a maximum of 25 teams taking part. The main tournament format is the “card” game, using alternate jump off points positioned at roughly equal distances from each other. Up to 21 teams will be on the ﬁeld of play at once so the need for a fast break-out is paramount! There will also be a “Pistol Run” tournament module.

Called “The BIG Game” it is scheduled to take place over August Bank Holiday Weekend, from the 22nd to 25th August. As we understand it, a massive scenario is being created where a number of dynamic scenarios will all have a bearing on the eventual outcome, as things are brought together for one ﬁnal BIG game.

We believe the idea is to combine a number of different genres of Trophies will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places plus a Riﬂemen Trophy. Strict chronograph limits as per usual with penalty points given for hot guns on the ﬁeld. airsoft, which could result in a combined ISAF/Cowboy contingent facing Players not in a team will be matched up to make up extra teams on the day. down hordes of zombies, supported by Post-Apocalyptic survivors and There will be a Player’s Party on Sat evening, with a free BBQ and camping Sat the 101st! Sounds like pretty good fun to us and let’s face it, for the vast night with special rates for next day’s Boot Camp if you are doing both events. Costs: £20.00 per player or £30.00 for both days. Written parental consent needed for majority of airsofters, that’s what the game is all about - having fun! Sat night camping for under 16s. Apparently there will also be family attractions, static displays and

Previous Winners: 2011: ECHO TROOP 2012: ROGUE ANGELS 2013: R.O.S.R. 2014 ?

loads of retail stands - almost like a “grown up Airsoft Arms Fair” - as well as areas to try your hand at different shooting skills and take advantage of free training sessions. We haven’t been able to ascertain the location as yet - we understand it is being kept closely under wraps until all the ﬁnal details have been

For more information or to enter, please contact Skirmish Billericay on: 01277 657777, by email info@skirmish.co.uk or visit the website: www.skirmish.co.uk.

worked out but you can be sure that we will let you know as soon as we do! Sounds like one to watch so keep an eye on the Airsoft Action Facebook page, or sign up to our Newsletter for more information as we get it.

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april 2014

NEWS THE LATEST AIRSOFT HEADLINES

AIRSOFT INTEL LAUNCHES NEW UK DIRECTORY

NEWS UKAPU

statement

regarding

committee

positions. Following on from recent events and our AGM back in December there have been a number of developments that we need to bring to the memberships attention. The first one is that as of the end of February, Phil Bucknall will be stepping down as chairman due to increasing work commitments in the real world! Whilst this is obviously significant it does not mean that UKAPU is no more BUT it means that we as a committee need more members to step up, grab the horse by the reigns and steer it onwards and upwards. This is a battle cry in effect to mobilise the hundreds of members we have to see if any of you are willing to step up and shoulder the responsibility of chairing the association. Perhaps if you don’t fancy that role you could fill one of the other positions. I make no bones about it. Sometimes it is bloody hard, thankless work but we believe that UKPAU has made a difference and continue to so so if

Airsoft Intel offers a detailed directory of all things Airsoft within the UK. Having launched the website at the beginning of the year, they have already secured many listings on the website and with momentum building they hope to become the most detailed and up to date directory for all things airsoft. Whether you are looking to ﬁnd the closest site to you or details on your local shop, Airsoft Intel is there for you and with details updated on a daily basis, you are guaranteed to have the latest up to date info. The website operates by sites and retail shops registering with Airsoft Intel - they are then able to edit their proﬁle, adding information, prices, opening times etc, plus add their own videos and photos. There is a review option for gamers to comment on a site’s facilities, game play and staff - however this is closely monitored by the Airsoft Intel team to make sure the site remains friendly and constructive! It’s not just sites and shops that are listed either, we also allow teams to setup their own pages, which allows players to search for the local teams and challenge them to battle! The site was set up by seasoned airsofters Oly and Nic, who became frustrated with the lack of information regarding new sites to try out. They commented; “We wanted to create something that’s not only simple to use, but more importantly, is constantly updated, accurate and also interactive. We will be running competitions, giveaways and lots more, both through the website itself and through our Facebook page. The more we interact with other airsofters, the more we can learn and improve our website to create what we believe will one day become the hub for searching for all things airsoft related!” The Airsoft Intel team are from the North West of the UK but will be travelling around the country trying out new sites and promoting the website as much as possible, taking banners and promotional items to all the sites that they visit. So keep an eye out and be sure to introduce yourself to the guys if you see them around, they’ll be sure to be at a site near you soon!

people are willing to get involved. Without member involvement then quite frankly UKAPU will have no choice but to shut it’s doors as what would be the point? A membership that doesn’t want to form a committee is worse than no association. So I urge you. If you are driven, passionate about our wonderful hobby and a member with no commercial ties to the Airsoft industry then maybe you could be responsible for helping UKAPU grow over the next few years and take it to exciting new places. Please think long and hard. If you want to this; please be sure. Feel free to discuss it with us via email or phone (number on request) to settle any doubts and to answer any questions. This is YOUR association. Make it what YOU want of it and see it succeed and grow. Thanks. Phil

Airsoft Intel contacts: Facebook - facebook.com/airsoftinteluk Email - contact@airsoftintel.co.uk Web - www.airsoftintil.co.uk

Out going Chairman Chair@ukapu.org.uk

Phil Bucknall Chairman, UKAPU www.ukapu.org.uk

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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NEWS THE LATEST AIRSOFT HEADLINES

BRITISH AIRSOFT SHOW FOUNDER DIES AGED 66 As the British Shooting and Airsoft Show 2014 drew to a close, the sad news that its founder had passed away reached Airsoft Action and we subsequently received the following from his Son-in-Law, Richard. “It is with a heavy heart I write to inform you that unfortunately John Jacques Bertrand, founder of The Great British Shooting Show, sadly passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer on Saturday 15th February. Over the last six years the British Shooting Show has evolved to become ﬁrmly established as the UK’s premier public shooting and gun show. This success has been achieved by the vision, passion and hard work of John & his family. Many have said the recent show was the best one yet, a ﬁtting tribute to John. His legacy will live on!” I am sure you will join Airsoft Action in offering our thoughts and condolences to his family and many, many close friends. If you would like to make a gesture of support, donations to the Macmillan Cancer Trust “In Memory of John Jacques Bertrand” would be both greatly appreciated and warmly received. RIP John Jacques Bertrand, 1947-2014

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april 2014

AA GALLERY SEND YOUR PICS TO NIGE@AIRSOFT-ACTION.CO.UK

SHOTS FROM THE SHOW

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 whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on in the image.

april 2014

DON’T CROSS THIS CZECH NEEDING A DECENT SIDEARM BUT BEING WARY OF CHEAPSOFT GUNS, GADGE HARVEY HOPED GOING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WOULD PAY OFF

While nearly every conceivable sidearm and machine pistol is readily available for the NATO special forces types out there, Eastern Bloc players have until recently been poorly served but the ASG Scorpion is happy to redress this imbalance. For the purpose of this review I’ll use the English spelling of the word “Scorpion” as while the real steel item is often called a “Skorpion”, ASG have chosen to use the UK nomenclature on their packaging. I’ve recently taken to “casual” sniping with my Dragunov and, quite rightly so, most sites specify that snipers need a sidearm and have a minimum engagement range. I’m not fan of gas pistols and with most AEPs and Machine pistols being Glocks, MP7s and MP5Ks they jarred a little bit with my loadout. One or two Scorpions have been out for a while… but not one at such great value. I have to admit to being sceptical of cheap AEPs. My ﬁrst ever NBB TM 1911 back in the ‘90s was an embarrassing affair and 012

april 2014

I’d have been better off spitting BBs at the other side, rather than shooting at them with it! Even a recent “cheapsoft” 1911 (a Glock in an oversized 1911 body if truth be told) left me high and dry after a promising start, by simply breaking apart mid game. So with my conﬁdence rocked a little by past experience I expected little from ASG’s offer, which retails at under £90 for the complete Vz.61 Scorpion package but, for once I’m pleased to say my expectations were well and truly dashed. Before looking at the AEP/AEG itself (the Scorpion really does walk the line between the two) let’s look a little at the real beast from the East. In the early 1960s the Czech government realised it needed a short compact machine pistol for its Security Troops, Special Forces and Paratrooper Battalions. Their chosen weapon was designed by renowned Czech arms manufacturer Ceská zbrojovka (Cz.) in 1961 and given the slightly uninspiring ofﬁcial designation “sub machine gun model 1961” or Samopal vzor 61.

THE ARMOURY RIFLE REVIEW - ASG SCORPION

“FOR CQB, OR AS A BACKUP FOR WOODLAND IT’S PRETTY NIFTY! SINGLE SHOTS WERE SNAPPY AND CONSISTENT, FULL AUTO BURSTS WERE EQUALLY GOOD WITH VERY FEW “FLYERS” LAUNCHING OFF ON WEIRD HOPBASED TRAJECTORIES”

Chambered for 7.65mm as standard, with NATO and Soviet 9mm variants, this SMG used a clever telescopic bolt to keep the overall dimensions of the weapon to a minimum and, as the weapon is so light, special devices deliberately reduce inertia and rate of fire to keep the weapon controllable on fully automatic. With its cyclic rate still at around 850rpm, a rudimentary stock is fitted to aid full auto fire and is used in an unusual way – by clamping the stock under the arm, between arm and body, rather than bracing it into the shoulder. So how does the airsoft model hold up? Surprisingly well, actually. First off bear this in mind and keep it ﬁxed in mind: The whole package retails for as little as £85 in the UK. For that you get the machine pistol itself, a “long” magazine (more about this later), a 20mm bolt-on RIS rail adaptor, a silencer adaptor, a battery and charging pack and of course the obligatory small bag of 200 or so BBs! So, as you can see, you already feel like you’ve got a bargain before you even ﬁre it up. Danish distribution company, Action Sport Games, have consistently impressed us at Airsoft Action. We loved their AS58 FAL variant reviewed in our February issue and it’s great to see that once again they’ve put out a quality product at a knock down price. While the battery was charging I got to grips with the machine pistol itself and while (as you’d expect at the price) it’s not full metal, it almost feels as if it is with quite a few substantial metal parts including the stock and, as you’ll nearly always have this folded over the body of the gun, it adds to the rigidity and solid feel. If you’re like me and tend to bypass

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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THE ARMOURY RIFLE REVIEW - ASG SCORPION

you need to start using the Vz.61 straight out of the box in the box. (Oh and there was a manual which I got around to reading eventually, which was surprisingly well written and readable, by airsoft ‘Engrish’ standards.) All in all a tidy little package, in every respect! But how does it shoot? After the battery had charged I gave it a short test fire using both the supplied BB at .20 and some .25 Blasters. For a start (and I pretty much knew this), don’t bother putting .25s in it. The hop really didn’t like them and the modest FPS of around 275FPS dropped considerably. With .20s in it was a better story. You’re not going to be duking out with gas pistols or primary AEGs at any great range but for CQB, or as a backup for woodland it’s pretty nifty! Single shots were snappy and consistent, full auto bursts were equally good with very few “flyers” launching off on weird hop-based trajectories. Rate of fire is somewhat low but, hey you don’t WANT it to be that high with a 60 round magazine!

the enclosed manual until you find a problem, the stock mechanism is an enigma in itself but after a while I realised that gently squeezing it apart over the fore sight allowed it to be solidly locked into the rear position and, after almost as long trying to figure out how to get it back again, I realised the stock release also worked on squeezing the parallel bars together! Externally the gun is well finished as you would expect from a licenced reproduction, the Cz. Factory have put their name to this and as a “Cold War” fan with a bit of a love for the Scorpion, I can see why they would be happy to. The fire selector, with its “Soviet style” settings of “give it loads”, “off” and “single” (seemingly there as an afterthought) is easy to use but not as smooth as I’d have liked, but the magazine release however is simple and works beautifully every time. Nearly all the controls and catches are on the left face of the weapon (as with the real one), which might normally be annoying to “lefty” shooters, but the bonus is that with the small size of the gun you can reach the mag release with your index finger shooting left handed! The fake, sprung cocking mechanism reveals the hop mechanism with a rotary ring hop, visually similar to that found on AEGs like the TM G36 and Thompson and helpfully a little arrow is provided to tell you which way is “put more hop on”. The battery fits within the pistol grip and once you get used to it, it fits in quickly and securely, but a little trial and error was needed on my part (once again I implore you to read the manual before playing with it!). As aforementioned, included in the packages are a silencer/tracer unit adaptor and, for the more modern player, a bolt-on plastic short 20mm rail. Given the high quality of all the other plastic parts that look very “metal” the rail is somewhat disappointingly cheap and glossy-looking but hey, if you’re the sort of person who wants to “rail up” a classic machine pistol, then you probably don’t mind how things look anyway. The magazine, however, felt like something of a weak spot in the whole package to me. Firstly while it’s great to include the longer of the Scorpion’s 014

april 2014

I managed to burn through about ﬁve magazines before the battery gave out so if you’re planning on using the Vz.61 as anything other than a “last chance” back up, investing in some spare batteries is a must! So whether you want to be a CQB ninja or an Eastern Bloc operative this could be the baby for you… Of course you just might be in the market for an excellent, incredibly well priced compact machine pistol and in that case… this baby is for you too!

magazine type, it seems utterly pointless to have made it a “high cap” wind-on mechanism when capacity is about 60 rounds. I would have much preferred to have had a smaller capacity magazine (say around 40) that utilised a sprung midcap/realcap mechanism. My second bugbear with the magazine only really applies to those of you wanting to use the Scorpion with “historical” loadouts: With the long magazine ﬁtted the machine pistol won’t ﬁt in any of the military pattern holsters made for it (most Czech holsters for the Vz61 are oversized brown leather affairs) and so to holster it you will have to remove the mag, making it slightly less useful as a short notice sniping back up. When you’re “bumped” by someone too close to take a shot with your main weapon, you just don’t have time to faff around slapping mags in! But that’s a minor quibble… The whole boxed set also included a bright orange safety muzzle cap as well as the screws and allen keys needed to put on the optional accessories, which is a nice touch as I’m forever loosing small items like allen keys and you can see that ASG had quite honestly put everything

FEATURES ASG VZ61 ‘SCORPION’ MACHINE PISTOL LICENSED ‘CZ.’ TRADE MARKS FPS: 275 FPS MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 58BB WIND ON HI-CAP 522/270 MM STANDARD MAG.: WEIGHT: 1220 GRAMS BATTERY: 7.2V 700MAH NIMH MICRO BATTERY (SUPPLIED) GEARBOX VERSION: V2 PRICE: AROUND £85.00

ARMALITE® M15A4 R.I.S Carbine A great entry level Airsoft gun for players who wish to increase their gaming experience by using tactical equipment like grips, lasers or lights. As well as quad front rail and removable carry handle. Use battery ref. 17206 (not included)

Réf. 17490

Velocity: 312fps

0016_February2014

ARMALITE® M15A4 Carbine Sportline ArmaLite M15A4 valuepack. This M15 Airsoft carbine has an ideal size for all sorts of Airsoft use CQB or open-ﬁeld. A Hi-cap magazine with 300 BB’s provides plenty of shots. The receiver features a top 21mm rail for mounting optical sights, a detachable carry handle with adjustable rear sights is included. Battery and charger included in the pack.

Réf. 17356

Velocity: 312fps

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RIFLE REVIEW - VFC MP7

LIFE AFTER KWA?

AS VFC STEP IN TO FILL THE GAP FOR UMAREX WITH TWO NEW MP7 SUB MACHINE GUNS, SCOTT ALLAN ASKS: â&#x20AC;&#x153;DID WE REALLY NEED MORE MP7S?â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;THE BLOWBACK IS QUITE FEISTY AND PROBABLY CONSIDERABLY MORE SURPRISING THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. ALSO THE POWER IS UP AROUND WHERE I HAD HOPED IT WOULD BE AND GIVES THAT ALL ROUND SUITABLE POWER.â&#x20AC;?

VFC are the ďŹ rst company to offer both the Navy and the A1 version of the MP7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; exciting times! While I am usually sceptical about VFCs gas products as a rule of thumb I am strangely drawn to the matt black needle gun, which is leaving me equally unsettled and excited. Vega Force Company blasted into the market in 2004 with a Barrett Light Fifty. Positively beside myself with joy I forked out the whopping ÂŁ1,300 without a momentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hesitation for the 13 kilo 8mm monster. When it arrived I was so excited - â&#x20AC;&#x153;giantâ&#x20AC;? didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ever cover the size and weight. Then tragically I did something really, really sillyâ&#x20AC;Ś I loaded ammunition into the video-tape sized magazine and emptied nearly a whole tin of gas into the built in gas reservoir. The 10-15 metres of range was a little disappointing to say the least, I literally had paid about ÂŁ100 per metre of range.... Then there was when the seals got cold and it dumped the entire gas tank out of every crevice and hole! Ever since then I have been wary of the beauty of a VFC. They are like dating a supermodel, a perfect exterior with a whole bag of crazy just under the surface waiting to catch you out and break your heart!! Please VFC, I beg you â&#x20AC;&#x201C; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the MP7 break my heart.

The previous versions of gas blow back (GBB) MP7s were made by KWA and then by Tokyo Marui. Neither were bad, pretty much the opposite in fairness. That said, both suffered an inaccuracy when it came to the external dimensions. In all honesty this is a somewhat bafďŹ&#x201A;ing truth because KWA and Tokyo Marui donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really care about licensing all that much and generally do as they please. This may be why KWA no longer produce the MP7 for Umarex. It was almost as if KWA got the plans wrong right at the start and ran with it regardless, then Tokyo Marui followed suit. Thankfully VFC, who really do make very accurate and externally beautiful airsoft riďŹ&#x201A;es, started afresh and with a very sharp pencil. The Navy version produced has the â&#x20AC;&#x153;classicâ&#x20AC;? fold down front grip and the A1 version sports a bottom rail and two side rails. 2 E 2 2

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THE REAL DEAL The real version was conceived to fill the role of Personal Defence Weapon (PDW) Sub Machine Gun (SMG), designed for vehicles, low profile use and defeating body armour with its 4.6mm x 30mm round. Working with a round that is essentially a small rifle round, the rest of the rifle mimics a modern assault rifle’s features, just on a smaller scale with a reported range of 200 metres. The design allows for pistol-like use, or simply extend the stock and flip down the front grip and you have a compact SMG design with single or fully automatic fire capabilities. While the external appearance and sizing does not seem a million miles away from the Mac 11 or Uzi, the calibre means it is a whole different kettle of fish. The MP7 is a force to be reckoned with.

THE AIRSOFT DEAL Externally the VFC cannot be faulted; the matt finish looks less toy-ish than the KWA, not to say the KWA looks bad but that the VFC does look better. It is a solid product and everything feels like it is tough and going to last through any game day, with the fibre reinforced polymer body backing it all up. Running along the top of both models is a metal 20mm rail with two flip up sights which are usable in either position. If you are looking to use an optic these sights can be quickly removed. The stock is an extending type, again metal construction and feels up to the job. The similarities between the KWA, TM and VFC (other than the slight size difference) are quite striking. One would almost think that they had all come from the same factory. When I got to the good bit of the review, firing the MP7, I was quite apprehensive. I really did expect this to disappoint me and then it did… Cocking the MP7 was similar to extracting a tooth and eventually it dragged back to the open position. I had experienced a similar issue with the Kriss Vector and opted for a liberal application of silicone spray and then worked it in by dry cocking it a couple of dozen times. After this a quick wipe down, reapplication of silicone spray and then repeated. The issue, which is the same thing as the Vector, is the matt finish which effectively acts as a brake against the rest of the bodywork until it has bedded in. So using Abbey Brut Sniper Gas I tried again and filled the magazine with BBs (which seems more difficult than necessary due to the design of the runner). Taking 40 rounds and a belly full of gas I hold my breath and place the barrel into the chronograph. A surprising crack as the bolt cycles - so much so that the magazine falls out. I replace the magazine with a firm push and try again. Another epic crack from the recoil and the magazine stays in place this time. Thankfully the magazine falling was classic user error 101! While the price is a little higher than the previous versions this does kind of fall in line with most VFC products. You do always pay a slightly higher price for any of their products and it isn’t always worth it if you are just an 018

$,#&

average skirmisher. That said everything about the VFC MP7 is nice. I genuinely had expected much worse and am now sitting with a “faith restored” look on my face. The only thing that I have a serious love-hate with is the hop adjuster, which sits as a permanent knob above the barrel. It is the handiest option but also kind of makes me think of my old Ford Orion volume knob.

POWER 340FPS ON BLASTER 0.20G WITH ABBEY BRUT SNIPER GAS AT 24C WEIGHT 1.9 KILOS

The blowback is quite feisty and probably considerably more surprising than I thought it would be. Also the power is up around where I had hoped it would be and gives that all round suitable power. Using a gas such as WE Europe Green Gas would bring this up a little more and allow use in the colder weather commonly known as summer. Spare magazines, which let’s face it you are going to want, are nearly £50 which is the standard high price for any long GBB magazine. Why are they this price? We can only presume that it is to give airsofters something to grumble about. The VFC MP7 uses its own magazine, which is not surprising given is it a 1:1 scale unlike the KWA and TM versions.

ON THE GAME FIELD Those who skirmish purely with a GBB SMG tend to be doing so at their own peril. Indoor sites should see a level playing ﬁeld but given that most UK sites are outdoor, you are more likely to struggle rather than succeed. The other major draw for this MP7 is from

LENGTH 420 – 580MM ADJUSTABLE HOP SEMI/FULLY AUTOMATIC MAGAZINE 40 ROUNDS (SPECIFIC VFC MP7 MAGAZINE) OFFICIAL LICENSED H&K PRODUCT RAILED OR VERTICAL GRIP VERSION FLIP UP METAL SIGHTS EXTENDING METAL STOCK RRP £280 (NAVY) £270 (A1)

RIFLE REVIEW - VFC MP7

the MilSim players who want accuracy, the MP7 is a weapon heavily associated with those lads at Dev Gru, aka Seal Team 6. So by the time you pick yourself up a few magazines and one of the MP7s you really are approaching the ÂŁ500 mark for a usable capacity. Then you have to consider a chest rig of some description or pouches to hold magazines, Blue Force Gear make a good offering for a reasonable price but it is still another cost.

CONCLUSION Well Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in a bit of a pickle about the MP7 overall. The Navy for me looks better but the A1 has more rails so the choice really is personal for what you need during a game. I do like the performance over all, just as I liked the KWA, TM and even the Vector which all nestle into the same class. That said I always ďŹ nd a GBB SMG a little too much effort for a general game day. Sure I have used them but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for a few games then I switch back to a electric riďŹ&#x201A;e purely for the ease of use and not having to gas up magazines in between or during games. So it boils down to, do you want a GBB MP7? If you want one I do think the VFC is a great choice; less likely to run hot like the KWA version and it has more recoil than the Tokyo Marui version. It sports 1:1 scale which is nice but not essential and it looks fantastic.

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HELIKON-TEX PATRIOT HEAVY FLEECE HELIKON-TEX IS RAPIDLY BECOMING A POPULAR BRAND AMONGST AIRSOFTERS, SO LIAM MCCORMICK TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT ONE OF THEIR HEAVY FLEECES FOUNDED IN 1983 IN POLAND, Helikon-Tex initially focused on military surplus supply and sales but after seeing a change in the tactical clothing market in the late 90s, they decided to produce their own brand of military and paramilitary clothing. Helikon’s product line currently ranges from belts and underwear, to bags and foul weather jackets, with their design team continually developing new products to add to their already diverse tactical product range, aimed at everyone from military and law enforcement to the outdoor enthusiast. I first became aware of Helikon-Tex products a few years ago, when I came across the Commander jacket, so I was delighted to get my hands on another one of their products, the Helikon-Tex Patriot Heavy Fleece Jacket. The Patriot was developed with the layer system in mind, with the fleece being used in cold weather when static or conducting light mobility operations. On wearing the Patriot for the first time I immediately became aware of how warm and comfortable it is in the UK winter, with just a t-shirt on underneath. The jacket is made of 100% polyester polar dual 390g fleece material, with strengthened, abrasion resistant elbow lining. During the trial period I used the Patriot in particularly wet and windy weather and remained comfortable and dry throughout. The Patriot is water repellent and an excellent wind breaker, with the shaped hood offering better protection than a standard roll away hood on other garments. Due to the hood being shaped and having an integrated peak, it was easier to use headset communications and I did not experience any issues with the hood conforming to my head shape, or interfering with my eye protection when wet or in high winds. The Patriot has a Velcro patch on each arm and 6 zippered pockets located throughout the jacket, as well as zipped ventilation under the arms for climate control should you start to get hot and I found the pockets on the chest to be useful as hand warmers should you forget your gloves. 020

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kit review HELIKON-TEX PATRIOT

INFORMATION MATERIAL: DOUBLE SUPERFINE FLEECE 390 G/M2, 100% POLYESTER SIX POCKETS: • TWO CHEST POCKETS • THREE SLEEVE POCKETS • POCKET ON THE BACK WITH TWO OPENINGS ADJUSTABLE HOOD UNDER ARM ZIP VENTS STRENGTHENED ELBOWS VELCRO ADJUSTABLE CUFFS VELCRO ON SLEEVES BOTTOM DRAWSTRING FRONT YKK® ZIPPER SIZE: XS-XXXL WEIGHT: 1000 G PRICE: AROUND £50.00

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“A good all-rounder I would say and a strong contender in the tactical clothing market for those looking at buying a fit for purpose garment but not wanting to spend large amounts of cash for a high brand name” Whilst wearing the Patriot with a chest rig configuration, the rear zipped pocket was extremely useful for stowing my gloves, hat and other miscellaneous kit as it was always in a quick to reach, but out of the way, location. The fleece also boasts the usual ubiquitous adjustability with drawstrings at the hem and hood but with a unique rubber cuff adjuster on the wrists. Overall I was very happy with the Patriot fleece, whether I was chilling in the safe zone having a wet or running around the site, I was kept warm and dry and had plenty of pockets to stash the usual admin items I seem to carry. Now I do have to point out the obvious here and say that this is as a fleece lined jacket and therefore not the best item of clothing to be charging around your local site in while wearing a heavy loadout, as no matter how many ventilation zips there are you will soon become hot and uncomfortable if not a tad sweaty! If “slow and steady” game play, lightweight loadouts or static shooting is your thing, then this is for you. For the players who prefer to apply a “high speed low drag” approach to their game playing ethos, this might be better suited for wearing during breaks in the safe zone, when you’ll want to add a layer to prevent you getting chilly (a given with the UK weather system). This fleece worked very well in a contractor style loadout I recently ran but also didn’t look out of place in town on a Saturday afternoon. A good all-rounder I would say and a strong contender in the tactical clothing market for those looking at buying a fit for purpose garment but not wanting to spend large amounts of cash for a high brand name. As time has gone on I have seen more and more Helikon-Tex products appear on the skirmish field, ranging from the Commander and Gunfighter jackets to their PCS range of uniform clothing - a sure sign of good quality products at a competitive price. At around £50, the Helikon-Tex Patriot Heavy Fleece represents excellent value for money. 22

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KIT REVIEW SPEED PROPANE ADAPTOR

JAMES BADURA TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT ONE COMPANY’S ANSWER TO USING PROPANE AS AN AIRSOFT PROPELLANT WHEN YOU THINK OF PROPANE it is not airsoft that normally springs to mind, as camping and BBQs are most commonly associated activities with this highly flammable gas. However, as airsofters search for alternative power-sources, propane filled GBB rifles and pistols are becoming more and more common in the Safe Zone. Not wanting to bore you with a list of facts that could get you a winning score on Mastermind, it’s worth knowing that propane was first identified as a volatile component in gasoline by Walter O. Snelling, of the U.S Bureau of Mines in 1910. The volatility of these lighter hydrocarbons caused them to be known as “wild” because of the high vapor pressures of unrefined gasoline - so it’s been around a fair bit before airsoft! Not only has it been around for over a century, the reason for it being so cheap might have something to do with it being a multibillion dollar industry. In 2004 it was reported to be a growing $8-billion to $10-billion industry with over 15 billion US gallons of propane being used annually in the U.S alone. SPEED airsoft are a Canadian-based company that manufactures high performance upgrades for airsofters who want simply the best bolt-on performance. Their products are available through airsoft dealers worldwide and what I want to look at in particular is The SPEED Airsoft V2 Propane Adapter; a professionally designed Premium Propane Adapter for GBB rifles and pistol magazines. The SPEED Premium Propane Adapter V2 is CNC precision machined from USA grade aluminum and is fully anodized for high wear. One of the key features is a quick replacement Delrin nozzle tip, which is available as a spare part should you ever need one. The exterior of the adaptor is milled, which allows for easy gripping and the whole product is anodized. One thing that is plainly obvious is that the SPEED Premium Propane Adapter V2 is built to last!

Why use Propane and is it for you? First things first… If you have any plastic slide gun, even TM, propane is NOT for you! Propane runs at a significantly higher pressure than your average green gas and will increase your FPS, but at what cost? It is common for someone in the safe zone to tell you to steer clear of propane due to it “wrecking your gun” but does it really? A lot of guns now are C02 compatible and can withstand the high pressure of a 12g C02 capsule, which is around 800PSI. The common misconception with propane is that it will dry your gun out or blow your top slide off, the reality is that if anything is going to dry your gun out and blow the top slide off your £100+ pistol it will be C02. Providing you maintain your weapon well, for example by filling your magazines with

maintenance gas once in a while so your mag seals don’t dry out and keeping your weapon oiled and maintained in the proper manor, you will not have any issues with propane. The main selling point for propane is the price. You can buy a 1.17 litre bottle of Coleman Propane for £7, compared to a 700ml bottle of green gas for £10. To put that into perspective against C02 12g capsules, £7 would buy you the equivalent of 465g of propane (just under 40 12g CO2 capsules). One thing I will add is that if you like to have a smoke while you’re gaming, do not smoke next to your rifle or pistol while firing it! The weapon will still function as if it was on green gas and gas is released on every pull of the trigger. Propane is highly flammable and no one wants to see your eyebrows singed off, or even worse, the internals of your gun burned out! In winter months your GBB pistol or rifle will operate better and will vent nowhere near as much as when running on green gas. There’s nothing worse than getting the drop on someone in the winter, pulling the trigger and getting the airsoft equivalent of the “Dead Man’s click” with all your gas venting down your barrel in one go!

In conclusion If you are considering using propane and know that you maintain for your weapons, the SPEED Premium Propane Adapter V2 is for you. It is great value for money priced at £24.99 and will keep you ahead in the winter months, save you money in the long run and have your weapon running at its peak. The great thing about this product is that it isn’t an essential but can be a key factor in your game play, especially in the cold. If you enjoy using your pistol but have that voice in the back of your head telling you not to use your pistol in case all your gas vents and leaves you helpless, this small, well packaged propane adapter is the item that you need. On a personal note it has changed my whole perception of propane on the airsoft ﬁeld as, like many, I perceived it to be the gun destroyer it is so often portrayed as but, by doing some simple research combined with the constant evolution of airsoft weapons and capabilities it really is a big friendly giant. www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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Photos by Sean Strange Photography

EVENT REVIEW REVIEW EVENT TRAINING --WITH WITH URBAN URBAN 66 TRAINING

AS MORE TEAMS REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING, NIGE SPENT TIME WITH SHADOW STALKERS AND BRISTOL RECON AS THEY WERE PUT THROUGH THEIR PACES AT URBAN 6

THE TWO, FOUR-MAN TEAMS MOVED slowly and yet assuredly as they silently formed up on either side of the corridor. It was semi-dark but no so dark that they would need to use NV. Muffled sounds could be heard coming from behind the doors separating them from their quarry. Each man knew exactly what he was about to do - and each knew what he needed to achieve. There were no anxious glances or furrowed brows, they had done this many times before. Their breathing was under control, they were totally focussed and each man gave himself up to the thing that was going to both serve and save him… Instinct. A silent signal…. A gentle tap… Doors thrown open…. Stun grenades thrown in… Explosions and flashes of light as shadowy figures poured into the room, picking off targets with frighteningly accurate fire. The opposition went down without even having time to raise their weapons. Shouts of “Clear!” signalled the end and an eerie silence descended as the hostages were hustled from the scene and spirited away to safety. Silence returned. The moment is broken by a booming voice: “Right lads. That wasn’t too bad. Now let’s do it again!” I am at Urban 6 Airsoft’s “The Block” in Burton on Trent, having been invited by Jason Price to witness one of his team’s training sessions and I have to say, I am mightily impressed by what I am seeing. The team in question is “Shadow Stalkers” and, like many teams I have met over the years, could not have been more welcoming and receptive. On this occasion they had got together with Bristol Recon to take part in a Training Session at The Block and if you know The Block, you will also know what a great place it is to hone your skills. Today’s training was being run by Jason, assisted by a group of guys with both past and current military experience, along with added benefit of PMC Operatives thrown in for good measure. The objective was to spend the morning practicing drills, such as movement, weapon handling and room clearance before moving onto force-on-force scenarios in the afternoon. As with all airsoft events, the day started with a very thorough overview and safety briefing, even down to reminding participants to mind their heads on the ancient oak beams running across the upper floor - they might be old but they are still much harder than the average cranium!

With the brieﬁng completed the participants were split into two groups and moved off to various parts of The Block to start the session. I followed one group through a maze of corridors and stairs and, although I pride myself on a good sense of direction, was soon wondering if I could ﬁnd my way back to the Safe Zone (why do you never have a pocketful of breadcrumbs when you need one?). Somehow we ended up towards the top of the building in a very large room, lit by sunlight streaming through grime-covered windows and giving the whole area an air of “strangeness”. I remarked on this to one of the Urban 6 Marshals, to which his reply was “Yeah, but the ghosts like it…” Anyway, notwithstanding any paranormal activity, training for this group kicked off with a very simple-looking exercise that brought movement and gun control together.

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All participants had to do was move around the room keeping their longs shouldered and sighted on specific targets. The target might be an object in the room, or a doorway and, on command they might have to drop to one knee to engage it, or move in a figure of eight. The whole thing was designed to teach individuals how to focus on a target whilst remaining fully aware of what was going on around them and to maintain equilibrium as they moved. If ever there was a time to learn that “slow is smooth, smooth is fast”, this was it. Just one other thing, they were live-firing so also had to be aware that their team-mates might be positioned beyond the target in direct line-of-fire. Further exercises followed and these were not just tactical but also looked at more practical subjects, such as the best way to sling your long, or carry your sidearm, or manage your rig and what you carry in it. I also noticed very quickly that the Instructors were giving advice when needed and praise where due, always encouraging individuals to “try it again” and yet not being overbearing and “know it all”, which is sometimes quite a hard to avoid attitude in these situations. Then it was off to a different part of the site to start putting some of the theory into practice. “Room Clearance”, we all know what it is and many of us have probably done (our version of) it many, many times but did you know there is a “right” way to do it and doing it right will lead to success more often.

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I consider myself very privileged to have been involved a few years ago with a group of ex-22 guys who provided a similar form of training. These guys truly had “been there, done that” (and much more besides). The reason I mention this is that the training techniques I saw then, were pretty much identical to those used here so, from a layman’s point of view, were 100% tried, tested and genuine. This was not a group who had set themselves up and used “their” interpreted version of what they thought training should look like, this was almost a carbon-copy of the real thing - and gained pretty much the same results. Although hesitant at first, participants were first “walked through” the scenario, using both demonstration and slo-mo. Then the pace was upped until it was just about “real-time”. Of course, practice always tends to be a little slower when done without the adrenalin flowing but, again, this is one of the things discussed - how to control the sudden rush that this awesome chemical gives us all in times of “flight, fight or frolic”! Of course there were the inevitable cock-ups and mistakes: moving left instead of right, muzzle-sweeping team members, going for the wrong door (or trying to get two through at once), turning backs on targets etc. but isn’t that exactly why we practice? As Thomas Palmer said “Tis a lesson you should heed, try, try again. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

EVENT REVIEW TRAINING - WITH URBAN 6

And try again they did - and again - and again and, as familiarity and muscle memory started to kick in, you could see conﬁdence increase, along with the width of the smiles! Back in the Safe Zone for lunch, I grabbed the opportunity to have a chat with a number of participants and also a couple of the Instructors. All of them said how much they were enjoying the session and even the “old hands” admitted they were learning new things, or at least rekindling old skills. From the Instructor’s point of view, the morning had been very encouraging and they were looking forwards to seeing their “students” putting what they had practiced to good use in the afternoon’s game. Unfortunately I had to leave before the afternoon-proper kicked off but I understand it was a brilliant game, thoroughly enjoyed by all participants and played in true Shadow Stalker’s spirit: “Play hard. Play Safe. Play fair.” However, my report doesn’t end there as during the drive home I was thinking about the whole subject of training. I guess one of the issues we have (as individuals) in airsoft is that we don’t have, or take, enough opportunity to practice the skills we all know we should have as second nature. I know in myself that I am not as good a player as I used to be when I was playing two or three times every week and the difference between “knowing” what to do and “executing” it successfully takes longer than it should. In other words, I have lost the “instinctiveness” I used to have and what used to be “second nature” I now have to consciously think about - which takes precious seconds and could mean the difference between completing the objective and walking back to regen with my hand in the air! As an individual I play quite a lot but it is it possible to gain the same level of skills and those found in a team environment? Personally I don’t think so and what I saw up at The Block would certainly seem to suggest we are likely to see more and more teams develop to a higher level of play in the future. As one of my friends remarked; “…after all, isn’t the military just one big team that practices all the time?”

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team proﬁle SHADOW STALKERS

IN THE SHADOWS WE LAY NIGE WENT TO COVER A TRAINING EVENT AT URBAN 6 AND MET A TERRIFIC BUNCH OF PLAYERS IN THE PROCESS QUESTION… How many players are there in a team? Three… ten… twenty… more? How about 65 - and still growing! Ten years old and still going strong, The Shadow Stalkers are headed up by their Chairman Jason Price, an ex-member of the Army Air Corps and RAF Reserves and now a teacher (I bet he doesn’t get any trouble from his pupils!) Their ethos is one of training and development - of both the team and the individual - without losing sight of the fact that airsoft is there to be enjoyed by all. You only have to glance at their website to understand exactly where they are coming from when you read the words “Play Hard, Play Safe, Play Fair”, all of which I think nobody in airsoft could disagree with. At a recent Urban 6 training event (see pages 25 - 27), I had the pleasure of meeting Jason and some of his team, along with members of his support staff and I have to say that the welcome was very warm and immediately friendly - and not just because I am the Editor of Airsoft Action. I like to keep a fairly low proﬁle and whilst my name might be known my face (thankfully) is not, so when I turn up at a venue people generally don’t know who I am. Let’s face it, we’ve all been in the situation sometime when you walk into a crowded room/ Pub/Safe Zone and it goes quiet as the “stranger” is sizedup. Not here though, the welcome was genuine and this is reﬂected in the Team’s policy of openness and inclusion. Shadow Stalkers isn’t just a group of people with a common interest in airsoft to the exclusion of others. They actively seek to encourage those that would not normally be expected to play and go to great lengths to ensure that everyone can take part - irrespective of their origins or abilities - to the point where their Inclusion Policy is published on their website.

Like a lot of ex-soldiers, Jason was invalided out of the army and understands fully the limitations this can impose, so when players suffering from (what Jason refers to as) “real disabilities” comes along, they are welcomed and encouraged. For example, two of their members (who are brothers) suffer from brittle bones disorder and were banned from taking part in contact sports and, although their condition also means they are deaf, they play like demons and apart from the odd broken digit have not suffered any serious injuries. Then there is Simon. Simon is in the advanced stages of Muscular Dystrophy and has very limited movement but, on the airsoft ﬁeld he is one of the most feared sights - to his opposition. Simon plays in a four wheel drive, armour-plated, twin M249 armed wheelchair and is called “The Tank”! He also possesses great tactical awareness and at Cope Hill Down was the team’s mobile ﬁre support and assault point man. Following his exploits at Cope Hill, Simon was given Honorary Membership status and remains an active online member back home in Ireland. Recently the Shadow Stalker’s ethos has brought them to the attention of JD Airsoft and lead to a sponsorship deal being agreed with the well-known retailer. So what does the future hold for the team? As a Science teacher, Jason has set up airsoft clubs in the schools at which he has worked and these supply a steady trickle of recruits to the team. Their numbers are stable and team spirit very strong - to the point that should a player fall on hard times, the team will often club together to offer support. I think Jason summed it up nicely when he told me; “We’ve entered 2014, we have sponsorship, we have four full time sections (and one reserve), a working Committee and 65 members. The future looks bright on our tenth anniversary!” And who can say fairer than that. www.airsoft-action.co.uk

Pictures: Zoe Seal

GARETH ‘GADGE’ HARVEY

Gadge is our resident history buff and FilmSim fanatic. He has a passion for WWII, Nam-soft and Cold War gaming – but still ﬁnds time to ﬁt in an open-day skirmish

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GARETH “GADGE” HARVEY TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE SAS SOLDIER IN A SECRET WAR THAT BOTH SIDES DENIED WAS HAPPENING

SHADOWY GUERRILLA WARS FOUGHT in far eastern jungles dominated world events of the Cold War era… While most people would think of Vietnam as the 60s Jungle War, Britain fought her own highly successful war against insurgents in Borneo. In the turbulent post-war years, many former Colonial nations had gained their independence from French, British and German yokes. In the 1950s Britain had fought a successful war against communist guerrillas in Malaya partly with the help of a reformed SAS regiment. The SAS had been disbanded after WWII as the top brass at the War Ofﬁce were highly suspicious of what they considered “private armies” but had reformed out of necessity as The Malayan Scouts. The Malayan Scouts became 22 SAS and would lend their valuable jungle warfare experience to the coming confrontation in Borneo, Malaya had by 1960 been given its independence but other regions in the area were still under the protection of Britain. The Malayan Prime Minister proposed a union of Malaya, the island of Singapore and the north of the Borneo territories, to which Britain and the UN eventually agreed. This however was not to the liking of Indonesia. Indonesian territory covered a large swathe of the region and most importantly, the Southern part of Borneo (which is around 5/6th of the island’s area!). President Sukarno of Indonesia had other plans; he foresaw a Superstate of territories in the area called “Maphilindo” (Malaya, PHILipines and INDOnesia) and saw the new state of Malaysia as a threat and promised ‘Konftontasi’ (confrontation) against the state, proclaiming he would “smash” Malaysia but stopping short of declaring full on war.

COLD WAR WARRIOR SAS TROOPER, BORNEO 1965

Terrorists) then simply picture a WWII USMC raider in “duck hunter” camouﬂage and US WWII webbing, as Indonesia used largely US WWII surplus or direct copies thereof. On nearly every raid however, due to the excellent Intelligence gathered by 22 SAS the raiders were intercepted and destroyed either en route to their target, or occasionally if enough notice had not been given, on their way out.

OPENING MOVES The early years of “The Emergency” (as the British Government euphemistically called the situation) saw some haphazard failed minor rebellions under the pretext of a “Communist uprising” but in more serious terms it also saw Indonesia equipping and training its troops for war. Several regiments of the British Army and detachments of Royal Marine Commandos were sent to the Islands to bolster the small standing British defence contingent stationed there and among these units was 22 SAS. The SAS had initially been asked to act as a “rapid reaction force” and to parachute into the jungle to recapture outposts and villages captured by the Indonesians. The commander of the regiment was appalled by this idea and rightly believed it would lead to high casualties amongst highly trained troops for little practical results. Instead he suggested that as in Malaya, the SAS should win over the trust and respect of the local tribes and ﬁght a “hearts and minds” campaign to win over the indigenous population. When 22 SAS took to the jungle their medic with his ﬁrst aid kit and their radio operator were their key items!

BLACK OPS BEGIN HERE HEARTS AND MINDS 22 SAS’s strategy for the campaign was to embed small patrols in with the villagers and by acting as doctors, advisors and engineers become accepted by the tribe who would, in turn, become “thousands of eyes and ears in the jungle” for the British. Whereas the men had trained to operate as four man patrols, this “village life” approach allowed them to reduce patrol sizes to three (and sometimes two) men, allowing them to ﬁeld over 20 patrols at a time. A typical patrol would use simple medicines like antibiotics to clear up complaints that had troubled tribesmen for months and assumed God-like status. One particularly enterprising patrol built a small hydroelectric power plant in a mountain river and provided the only electric light to their village for over 300 miles! The time spent in hearts and minds was well spent indeed. Indonesia began to step up its cross-border raids and sent in sizable contingents of well-trained paratrooper and ranger units. While out of the scope of this article, if one cannot imagine the appearance of an Indonesian raider (or as the British called them, IBTs – Indonesian Border

Britain built extensive “jungle forts” along the border at key locations easiest to infiltrate and kept them staffed with mix of native volunteers and professional army regulars from doughty formations like the Ghurkha rifles, Parachute regiment and Green Jackets. The border forts were resupplied by RAF Whirlwind helicopters and each fort had its own compliment of mortars, MMGs and even light artillery with which to defend it. For those interested in studying the confrontation further I would highly recommend doing some web, or good old paper book research on the gallantry of Company Sargent Major Williams (2PARA), who won a DCM for his pretty much single handed defence of a jungle fort when it was overrun by an overwhelming attack! With the border raids largely contained, it was now time for Britain to strike back. Using intelligence gathered by SAS patrols and local spies, “CLARET” missions were authorised to secretly cross the border into Indonesian territory and destroy Indonesian bases and ammo dumps. These missions were among the first true “Black Ops” as Britain fully intended

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to deny they had made any such raids and ﬁghting patrols were under strict instruction not to allow anyone to be captured, or leave any evidence of British involvement. Early CLARET missions went mere two and half kilometres into enemy territory but as the men became more experienced the Government authorised raids up to 12Km into southern Borneo. With both Indonesia and Britain denying their troops involvement of this border clash this truly was a secret war! SAS CLARET ops strayed even closer to the mark and the men, often miles behind enemy lines, developed the now famous “shoot ‘n scoot” tactic when engaging Indonesian patrols. By utilising short, savage and unexpected fusillades of heavy ﬁrepower and then immediately breaking contact, a four man patrol of SAS could tie up company strength units of IBT for weeks!

WINGED SOLDIERS This month Cold War Warriors would like to thank Peter Seal of the excellent 22SAS re-enactment group “Bersayap Tentara” (you can ﬁnd more about the group at www.wingedsoldiers. co.uk or hook up with them on Facebook by searching for the group name). While normally Cold War kit is quite easy to source this loadout really is a challenge, as much of the kit worn by the SAS in the 60s is very hard to ﬁnd these days. This is largely because most of it rotted to pieces in the jungle or was burnt in theatre, rather than waste shipping space 032

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sending surplus kit back to the UK. Suffice it to say, Pete’s impression is top notch so, without further ado, we’ll investigate our trooper’s kit. Our SAS trooper represents a man who could typically be found taking part in an SAS CLARET raid around 1964/65. Headwear consists of a 1950s bush hat that has been cut down to personal taste and a scrim sweat rag soaks up the sweat from operating in the jungle heat. The jungle uniform itself is part of the 1951 pattern jungle uniform. This jungle green suit consisted of cotton drill baggy combat trousers with a single map pocket on the left leg and a lightly woven “aertex” jungle shirt. The trousers featured an unusual “crossover” waistband fastener, with two straps that crossed at the front and buckled over each hip (a design feature that would still be found on SAS windproof trousers as late as 1985). While most men were fine with this, the garment was criticised heavily by some soldiers as chafing and when patrolling in wet clothes the metal hip buckles could rub the skin raw. DMS ankle boots and wool socks are worn in preference to the issue high leg jungle boot of the 50s and 60s (see Cold War Warriors - Infantryman, Malaya), a choice made by many SAS soldiers as the canvas and rubber jungle boot was too flimsy for extended jungle patrols and could literally rot off a man’s feet. The remainder of our trooper’s kit for his arduous mountain-climbing cross-border raid is carried in a WWII-era commando Bergan. While some 25 year vintage by this point, it was still infinitely superior to the 44 webbing haversack, or the poorly designed 58 pattern “large pack” (a pack that is curiously not that large and hard to pack very much into!) Special attention has been drawn to the trooper’s webbing. Unlike regular army units who would wear full 58 pattern webbing with a supporting shoulder yoke, SAS troopers reduced their webbing to a “belt kit” of essential items that could be quickly donned and adjusted. The belt kit is an interesting combination

COLD WAR WARRIOR SAS TROOPER, BORNEO 1965

of 58 and 44 pattern webbing, custom pouches made specifically for the unit and novel utilisation of cargo strapping. The regular 58 pattern belt is replaced by a cargo strap with a roll-pin closure of the type used to secure loads on helicopter drops. This was easier to adjust than the fiddly 58 pattern belt and could easily be unfastened in an emergency. Threaded onto the belt itself are custom “drop down” 58 pattern webbing pouches to hold 20-round US M16A1 magazines (a popular choice with SAS patrols due to its high rate of fire when “shooting” and its lightweight to aid in “scooting”). Regular 58 pattern pouches are too voluminous for short M16 mags and sit badly on a belt when not worn with a joke but this ingenious solution did the regiment justice. Alongside the twin ammo pouch is a survival “escape and evasion” pouch containing bushcraft and emergency supplies, flanked by two 44 pattern water bottles in their carriers. While in many ways 58 pattern was an improvement on 44 pattern, the 58 pattern water bottle pouch was a poor design, as it fitted tightly on the bottle and was awkward to open and close in a hurry with its buckle closure. Substitution with a 44 pattern bottle and carrier would be a common place thing in many regiments among old soldiers, right up until 1990 (one main advantage of the 44 pattern kit was that it was made of metal rather than plastic so could be used to heat water on a fire).

The belt kit is rounded off with a compass pouch and an issue brass compass – an essential tool for jungle navigation. So there you have it, a great 60s Jungle Fighter loadout with a British ﬂavour and, with the scarcity of some of the items, you can guarantee that if you put this kit together you will deﬁnitely stand out from the crowd at your local site!

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“SHOTGUNS? WHAT, LIKE GUNS THAT FIRE SHOT?” LOCK STOCK ‘N TWO SMOKING BARRELS - 1998 A GAS SHOTGUN FROM TOKYO MARUI IS A BOLD MOVE; OR IS IT? SCOTT ALLAN IS NOT SO SURE… TOKYO MARUI HAS TAKEN their shotguns down the gas route and this is a new move for the Japanese manufacturer. Is this to prevent the Chinese clone market sinking their teeth into their designs? Who knows for sure? What I do know is Marui very occasionally make a bad rifle, could this be the first one in years? Tokyo Marui are Airsoft. Really… they are. They have been making airsoft rifles since the dawn of our beloved sport and they are the actual designers of every major rifle you will see today. The M870 is an unusual and brave move for Marui as they are combining a gas tank with their usual shotgun shell magazine. Will it work or just be a huge faff around, like the Marushin shotguns? Everyone loves a shotgun! Zombie apocalypse survivor wannabes, trench clearing hard asses and CQB ninjas all get positively moist over the prospect of the epic shotgun kill during a game. Marushin used to hold the crown for gas shotguns, even though they were largely fickle beasts. Their shell-ejecting series looked fantastic but then are almost unusable for the high speed player charging around the game area, unless he employs a whipping boy to pick up his expensive shells. The other model is the Mossberg; again it is lovely but the loading process is difficult, slow and not unlike an old black powder muzzle loader. There is a tradeoff between function and realism in every aspect of airsoft, although recent designs like the Marui 416D and the PTS ERG (if it ever actually arrives in the EU) do close the gap for assault rifles. Other than this, the Tokyo Marui SPAS 12 and 034

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THE ARMOURY RIFLE REVIEW - TM 870

“THE MARUI M870 DOES SPORT A FIRE SELECTOR, WHICH IS A FIRST. YOU CAN QUICKLY COCK THE ARM BACK, CHANGE FROM 3 TO 6 ROUNDS AND SIMPLY COCK IT FORWARD AGAIN.” M3, as well as the clones of these, were the main reliable shotgun, although being spring-powered they were a little slow to ﬁre and re-cock - but they were undoubtedly effective.

THE REAL VERSION The Remington Model 870 is one of the iconic shotgun designs of the last century and it is said that over 10 million have been produced over a 60 year period. That is around 19 an hour for 60 years!! When you think about it like that, it really is hard to get your head around. The M870 is a pump-action shotgun, which means the tube under the barrel is a magazine which holds the cartridges. As you cock the pump action back an empty shell is ejected and a fresh round is allowed out of the magazine. As you cock the pump forward it raises the cartridge up and forward ready to ﬁre. If you ever get a chance to look at the action in a shotgun loading, I would advise doing it. It’s like a Swiss watch of mass destruction with an immensely satisfying “clack… clack”.

Shotguns are so good for many reasons, one of which is the spread of the shell, meaning you don’t have to be dead on accurate to hit your target. But unlike a 5.56mm assault rifle, which uses a fairly narrow range of ammunition, a shotgun can use a huge range of shell types, loads and power for any circumstances. From bird-shot that pretty much fires a fine-grain ammunition over a large area, to a 12-gauge grenade round and bean bag round (such as Johnny Knoxville experienced hilariously in Jack Ass) and everything in between. To give you a rough idea, you can watch the trailer on YouTube for the Magpul Art of the Tactical Shotgun and you can see a quick overview of why the shotgun is popular and so versatile.

THE AIRSOFT VERSION Tokyo Marui always present your new pride and joy in a lovely box with a blue ribbon. The M870 from Marui does appear to be a much narrower shotgun than the likes of the M3 or the SPAS 12. It feels light and quite long but not as bad as my M3 Super 90, which was massive. There is a low set of leaf sights and a 20mm top rail which is good news. There is nothing worse than no option to mount an optic onto a riﬂe. I felt this pain when I ﬁrst got my Tokyo Marui Sig 552 all those years ago.

FEATURES WEIGHT 2.7 KILOS LENGTH 955MM POWER 260FPS ON 3 ROUND (ABBEY PREDATOR GAS) MAGAZINE TM SHOTGUN SHELL 30 ROUNDS (10 SHOTS AT 3 ROUNDS, 5 SHOTS AT 6 ROUNDS) GAS TANK HOLDS 150-200 ROUNDS OF GAS CONSTRUCTION METAL RECEIVER AND BARREL, POLYMER STOCK RRP £330

Performance is key with any airsoft “primary” and the days of the ineffective skirmish weapon being accepted in the UK market are long gone. Our market is now www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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THE ARMOURY RIFLE REVIEW - TM 870

driven by players not collectors and these players want 300-370fps and plenty of range. They also want ease of use so that they can continue to play almost unhindered over longer periods of time. This is where the Marui M870 begins to stumble just a little bit. The bofﬁns at Tokyo Marui ﬁgured that the BBs needed to stay in the cartridges for quick loading but they wanted a gas system.

SO HOW DO YOU DO A GAS SYSTEM? Pistols have gas in the magazine as well as the BBs but this makes the magazines more expensive, heavy and the gas reservoir takes up space – which there isn’t enough of in a shotgun shell. This leaves the shotgun itself to hold the gas. Classically you would gas the actual rifle itself, this means you have to carry gas with you and fill it during play which is a little fiddly. This leaves what Tokyo Marui came up with, a gas tank that fits into the stock and boasts a quick release so spares can be carried on the player. The gas tank is around SR25 magazine-size and is fairly weighty, although each tank should hold enough gas to fire 150-200 rounds, which is pretty impressive.

SO CAN I LOAD DIFFERENT SHOT LIKE A REAL VERSION? Well not quite. Unfortunately there is no 12 gauge High Explosive shell available but the Marui M870 does sport a fire selector, which is a first. You can quickly cock the arm back, change from 3 to 6 rounds and simply cock it forward again. There is a slight drop off in power as you punt double the number of rounds out of the barrel but it is immensely satisfying to see the white wall of death crash into your target! The power doesn’t seem to shake the Earth but bear in mind this is 3 rounds travelling, or even 6! You could be tempted to use something with a little bit more oomph to up the power - but bear in mind that Tokyo Marui are not designed to run high powered gas. I recently read a comment from a player saying “Have they fixed the design flaw about the gas tank swelling on green gas?” I have no idea what he was putting into the shotgun but I really wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of it! It’s not really designed to pump out 350 fps, more of a large light slap from a boxing glove than a sniper heavy stab.

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The weight of the M870 is quite low and while I don’t want to say it feels “ﬂimsy”, it does feel small and narrow so I doubt I would be diving around with it too much. However, this does mean it is nimble and quick to manipulate in the game area and you won’t tire out running this over a longer period of time.

USE IN THE GAME FIELD Shotguns are like the AK47 in airsoft; almost everyone loves them but few take the plunge and buy one. Those who use them are die-hard converts and swear by their beloved buck-shot slugging pump guns. In fairness I respect any player who breaks away from the norm massively, mainly because they are doing something they love rather than following a crowd of M4-touting sheep (a flock I belong to myself). Indoor and close-in game sites should be home turf for the M870, the close range and larger spread should give you a definite edge against a single shot opponent. In woodland where range and rate of fire are a bigger element you might find yourself on the back foot slightly. This is where the M870 does move away from the mainstream average player, even though they are immensely good fun. The changing of shells during play does give the player that additional element of realism and the choice of running 3 or 6 shots gives you great in game choice.

CONCLUSION This is not a cheap shotgun, nor is it particularly simple to use and run. For starters the spare gas tanks are expensive at around £38 while the shells on the other hand, are compatible with some of the third party types like the ASG shells. So should you bother? Well it depends on your budget. I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone but those who really want to play with a shotgun, it really is the best on the market just now and very typical of a Tokyo Marui high quality product. While it carries the TM high price tag being a Japanese product it is great fun and enjoyable. If only we could get a variety of new stocks and grips for this I would probably have two!

GARETH “GADGE” HARVEY MAY NOT BE A FAN BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PLAYING IN THE DARK?

GARETH ‘GADGE’ HARVEY OUR RESIDENT HISTORY BUFF & FILM-SIM FANATIC HAS A PASSION FOR WWII, NAM-SOFT AND COLD WAR GAMING BUT STILL FINDS TIME TO FIT IN AN ‘OPEN DAY’ SKIRMISH WHEN HE CAN!

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THIS ISSUE WE’LL BE DISCUSSING the regular hot potato of ‘night games’ at airsoft sites and events. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, chances are at some point you’ll find yourself playing in one! So are they a waste of time? Or a playground for the rich with NVG ? Or a tense and new exciting field of play? It’s hard enough for some players to be honest at the best of times so does a shroud of darkness help them become even more ‘armoured’? Does the darkness allow you to become a Metal Gear Solid ninja or are you one of the guys who spends three hours trying to get back to the safe zone? Does your tracer unit rock or are you up in arms when your Gen1 scope gets burnt out by someone’s Sure-Fire? Is reasonably price NV equipment levelling the playing field or is it still an expensive add-on you could do without? The dawn assault, the midnight hostage rescue, the attack on Mount Tumbledown… Night operations really are the stuff of legend. So why do they often translate so poorly into airsoft? While normally I try and stay as neutral as possible in a debate, I’ll clearly state here that personally, I’m not a fan of them – but I can see the appeal to others. Most airsofters booked in for their first night game are usually incredibly hyped-up and quite often splash out on some new kit, be in some black or dark blue combats, a head torch or (for the less financially challenged) Night Vision Goggles (or scopes), commonly referred to as “NVG”. In theory what’s not to love? You’re being super-stealthy, sneaking around the place, avoiding sentries and being a bit Chuck Norris… Then that moment happens… You’re caught in a flashlight, you go to ground but it’s too late, you’ve been spotted and before long a fusillade of BBs (quite often a spectacular one with the aid of the enemy’s tracer units) has you hugging the dirt then shouting ‘HIT!’ with your hand in

DEBATE NIGHT GAMES

Mark Fountain - My experience of night games has always been poor. I’m not sure if I’m just unlucky, but for me night games have usually involved my team mates and I spending a large amount of time sneaking round towards enemy positions, only to get shot by our own team. No challenge, nothing, usually just a burst in the back. Paul Fisher Jnr. - MilSim games and big event games that run through the night - YES! Because there tends to be a LOT less idiots/cheats. Normal Sunday skirmish sites that run the odd “night shoot” now and again - NO! Because they are usually full of bangers who think just because it’s dark they don’t have to call their hits..... Dave Renniks - Night games are usually a lot less fun with NVG because you end up getting fed up of the massive decrease in hit-taking. Chris Martin - In night games it’s not just your sight that you need to use more. You can have the best NVGs money can buy, but if your stealth movement is like a baby elephant through the jungles of Borneo, it’s a bit of a waste of money. In my opinion nothing can beat the Mk1 eyeball - and a big torch! the air. And that, dear reader, is the point where to me it all goes to ratshit! You see Night Ops and Manoeuvres are notoriously difficult to co-ordinate, professional armies spend most of their time on exercises training to operate at night and sleep during the day, simply because you need to be VERY good to do it well and most 2nd-rate armies fear night fighting. As a former infantry soldier I spent months of my life sneaking around boggy bits of Wales peering through a “Common Weapons Site”, trying to work out if the bush in front was moving because of the wind or because it concealed the enemy! It was hard work, we spent months learning to live, move and fight at night with a minimum of light and noise and even then (to be honest) it was quite often a farce, with guys firing randomly at muzzle flashes or losing half of your platoon on a tactical insertion into the Ops area… So if it’s a nightmare for the best army in the world you can see why a ‘Blue Team’ or such of 30 airsofters, who have never played together before get lost, confused and occasionally angry! As said I love the IDEA of a night game but I find that in over ten years of playing I have only really enjoyed two out of about 50 night games I’ve taken part in and it is usually because control of the game breaks down after that initial contact. Trudging back to a respawn point can sometimes leave you wondering where on earth it was in the day, but at night everything looks different and I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve seen guys continually shot up as they try to find their way back into the game, their squad mates or the safe area. But I shouldn’t be too negative, when it’s done well it’s excellent… Decent prep by the site (like having regularly spaced cylumes marking the way back to key locations), proper player prep (as in ensuring everybody carries a torch) and tightly controlled games with ideally one side in a fixed location, can all contribute to an amazing experience. However one thing I feel and many of you in our debate also felt strongly about, was the integrity of the players in the game. With a protective shroud of darkness those inclined to cheat will - and even with decent NVG it’s very hard to see if your shots are hitting. Equipment is also a great “force multiplier”; while in a real army most 1st and 2nd-World forces have ample stocks of decent NVG equipment, in airsoft we don’t have that luxury and an imbalance in night vision between teams can turn a fun game into a dull turkey shoot. But don’t get me wrong, I’m still up for night games… In fact I can still recall the last one. An outstanding four hour night patrol during a thunderstorm at UCAP Sandpit, as my Soviet recce team infiltrated a NATO base, stole their plans and got out! And you know what? I think the fact we didn’t even fire a shot made it all the better as it was incredibly tense avoiding searchlights and sentries. So enough of a lecture from me about Night Ops, time to hear what you think!

Have your say: Samuel Buck - The tension in a dark environment makes airsofting that much more intense, not to mention it actually gives some degree of purpose for lasers and tac-lights. That said, a lot of players that you can clearly hear the “thwak” of the round against their molle vest seem to magically vanish and then start shooting back barely 5 seconds later... So if you can deal with people being dishonourable liars, then I’d say night games are well worth it!

Scott Allan - It hurts more at night…. I don’t know why it just does. People who cry about NV generally have no idea how to use a torch. Dave MacDonald – I’ve had some great night games totally ruined by Kevlar on the other side, and that’s been at some big events as well. By the same token, have played some fantastic rounds at my local where the numbers were lower, but the players were honest. Dan Davies - Night time is more often than not the highlight of a MilSim weekend for me, sneaking around is great fun. Kenny Wilson - NVGs, IR, laser and tracer rounds... I have loads of fun at night. Adam Endean - If it’s a level playing field, i.e. all have NV or no one has it, then night games are fine but if one or two have NV and the rest don’t, it becomes a very boring night for those without as they’re just walking back and forth to regen. I’ve played night games with my NV and it truly is an unfair advantage over those that don’t have it. Ross Curnow - We did a “D Day” game at a new site and we were pushed out the back of trucks in ones and twos, had to find our way through the woods to a set of 88’s and group up and take them out against a load of dug in German defenders. No NVGs, no lasers, no tac lights and no tracers - just confusion noise and smoke and more confusion. It was amazing! Ed Hotchkiss - Some of the best games I’ve ever played have been night games and I don’t have any snazzy night gear or anything. I think generally the tension is so high that people are glad to be dead so they can have a breather. They can go one way or the other though, they’re either the best, most tense games you’ll ever play or just a never ending string of being killed from out of nowhere, which is never any fun. Matt Keen - The key to any successful game (night or day) are the players. If you have a merry band of airsofters who are really up for it, then you will have a great night game pretty much regardless of the site. Matt Furey-King - They are awesome, but everyone should have tracer (why don’t more people buy one? They are so much fun and very effective). If I was the dictator of airsoft I would ban NVG, they have ruined night games over the last 10 years.

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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LES LEE STARTED USING MILITARY 1ST WHEN HE WAS SHOOTING REAL STEEL. NOW HE IS INTO AIRSOFT AND SO ARE THEY - SO HE THOUGHT HE’D ASK THEM WHY.

LEZ LEE LES HAS OVER 25 YEARS SHOOTING EXPERIENCE BUT NOW HIS FOCUS IS AIRSOFT. SAFETY AND COMMON SENSE ARE HIS STRENGTHS - AND HE JUST LOVES HIS HANDGUNS.

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WE ALL HAVE OUR FAVOURITE “go-to-first” place when we want to see, check or buy something (or is it just me?) and mine just happens to be good old eBay. Some nine years ago I was looking to buy a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.7 V8. I knew what I wanted and up until then I had always bought from AutoMart or Exchange & Mart but alas, no luck for weeks. I had never even looked at eBay until then so I thought why not give it a try and voila, exactly what I wanted. So my first purchase was an eight grand 4WD and I still use it every day but having had this successful “chance” buy, I got curious about just what eBay had to offer and so my love affair, fascination, addiction (call it what you will) began with eBay. I was heavily into my real steel shooting in those days (target, practical pistol and clays) and I needed decent kit and I soon found that the first place that I was looking just happened to be eBay. Now I know this is starting to sound like an advert for eBay but it’s not I assure you, however it is very relevant to how I discovered Military 1st. I have, whenever possible, bought quality kit as they say a poor workman always blames his tools. Well I didn’t want to miss a six foot paper target at 100 metres and start shouting that my new combats were cutting into my crotch or some other lame excuse, so working on the theory that you get what you pay for became front and centre for me. Whilst cruising and perusing the many sellers’ sites on said web page, I found what appeared to be a company that not only had a huge range of military kit and clothing, but at a range of prices which offered variations of the same type of product but of different quality and brands. For example, if I wanted to buy a pair of MTP combat pants, I had not only a choice of make, but style, quality and above all, price which very much depends on whether it is pre, or post pay day. So Military 1st joined my carefully selected group of favourites on where to look to buy first and it quickly became apparent that not only was the

available range of choice and price unbeatable, their customer service was incredibly impressive with a super-fast delivery system and when bought via eBay, free delivery on everything. This brings us to today. A good five to six years on and I am still buying everything from combats to casuals from this all-round awesome mail order company and to date, I think that I have made around 25 to 30 purchases from Military 1st and I can honestly say that I have never had a single problem or need to return any item whatsoever as their descriptions, sizing, images and overall customer service covers everything that you would need to know and for me (an ex competitive Bodybuilder), to find “off the shelf” clothing that fits perfectly, every time, especially specialised gear is indeed a very rare find. A short while ago Military 1st ventured into the Airsoft market and these guys have their finger on the pulse when it comes to being able to supply what airsofters want. They keep their range up to date if you are of the Gucci descent and like to be seen as “out standing in the field” or is that “outstanding”? So as this is purely a web based company, I decided to investigate further as I was curious what went on behind the scenes and ventured where others fear to tread (well not exactly but Nige said

INSIDE AIRSOFT MILITARY 1ST

“go for it” so I did) and what followed next was a very interesting Q & A session with Military 1st eCommerce Manager, Lukas. This was indeed a new type of Q&A format for me as I live on the South Coast and Military 1st are based in Manchester – not exactly local. I always like to visit and “feel” the review coming on in my mind but hey, so long as you all know what I know then I’ve done my job in giving you this unique insight into the many aspects of this amazing company. So what follows are the actual and unadulterated questions and answers between Lukas and myself. Q Who created Military 1st and when was this? A We’ve started our business about 6 years ago: first on eBay and then, in 2009 with our own website (Military1st.co.uk). For us launching our own website was quite an obvious move to make. We are however still strongly present on eBay and our eBay store is as important to us as our own site. Q What was your “vision” and expectations at the start? A From the beginning our goal was to provide quality goods in affordable prices to people leading an active lifestyle. And although we grew bigger and our assortment has broadened significantly since we’ve started, this goal remained the same. Of course our primal target was those interested in military and survival gear - hence the name of our store. Soon enough though we’ve learned that an “active lifestyle” term includes a wide spectrum of interests, and we can answer to needs those interests create. Our vision and what we’re expecting to achieve was to make Military 1st a first place to go whenever people are looking for outdoor clothing and equipment, and we are happy and proud to say that we have become such place for many people. Q How/why did you decide to retail via mail order, what were your reasons? A The decision to start as an online store and remain this way was natural: we thought and were proven right that only this way we could offer the biggest spectrum of products possible along with the best price. It also makes us more flexible to the demands of ever changing market, and enables us to reach a larger number of potential customers with our offer. Apart from that being an online store means that we are open virtually 24/7. Q Initially, I seem to remember that your focus was on supplying quality Military and outdoors clothing and equipment and then some time back you began to incorporate airsoft, and I know only too well that you offer probably the best range of combat clothing as I am an airsoft player and my favourite camo is Vegetato which is almost impossible to find elsewhere, so in your own words, can you tell me why you decided to increase your range of airsoft products?

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

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INFORMATION MILITARY 1ST UNIT 1, FOURTH AVENUE WESTINGHOUSE ROAD TRAFFORD PARK MANCHESTER M17 1DB UNITED KINGDOM WWW.MILITARY1ST.CO.UK INFO@MILITARY1ST.CO.UK PHONE:0161 876 0353

A We noticed that there’s a big demand for such gear and even these few items we had at the beginning were very popular among airsoft players. Since we believe that only by offering wide range of products and more buying options to our customers we can grow we’ve decided to include more airsoft related gear in our assortment. Q Do any of your staff either play airsoft or have any experience of the sport? A Unfortunately none of us are playing airsoft these days - our daily responsibilities associated with work and family are in the way. However it doesn’t mean that we lost the interest - we are keeping up with airsoft news. It’s important if we want to answer the needs of our customers. Q As you are a web based/mail order only company, what is your typical turnaround time when an order is placed, and your returns policy? A All orders are normally dispatched on the same or next business day, soon after the payment is cleared. We use both Royal Mail and DPD to send our products, shipment is free within the UK regardless the size of the package, and we always conﬁrm via email that the item has been shipped. As for returns we’re always following our no hassle policy which is quite straightforward: our customers are always welcome to return unwanted goods for a refund within 14 days of receipt. The best way to do this is to contact us via email at info@ military1st.co.uk within 14 days of the item being delivered. Q Do you have any plans for expansion into other areas which may be of interest to airsofters? A We’re deﬁnitely going to broaden our assortment of tactical and bushcraft related products that we think may be of interest to many airsoft players. This year we’d like to become a full line dealer for such companies as 5.11 Tactical, Condor Outdoor and Flyye Industries, and we’re sure this is going to make many airsoft enthusiasts excited. We don’t forget about such brands as Helikon: we’re its full line dealer from the beginning, there are a lot of new products coming, and we’re going to have them all. Also at the moment we’re in the middle of talks with several new manufacturers: products from their catalogues will make airsoft fans happy.

Q What do Airsofters ask for mostly? A It’s hard to tell what the most common question is. Airsofters are a group of customers that know what they want. Q Has your investment into the airsoft market been a good success, a great success or not as good as expected. A I think it was very good idea to invest in this market. It’s vibrant, interesting and growing really fast. Q Do you have any links or support of local Airsoft clubs, and do you offer any deals, i.e. team bulk discounts or loyalty scheme? A Currently we offer discounts for all members of Cerberus Airsoft and we also do offer discounts for all readers of airsoft related magazines including Airsoft Action. Q What are your plans for the future? A There is a lot to be done in the next months and years to come. Obviously we would like to expand our offer to cover more ﬁelds of the outdoor gear market, naturally including airsoft. Broaden assortment would generally mean more great clothing and equipment for all our customers to choose from. Also we’re constantly working on improving our website, to make it faster and more comfortable to use. There’s always room for improvement and of course we would like to offer even better shopping experience and customer service. Q Any other input you would like to add? A We’d like to thank all airsoft players, our customers and fans, for all the trust and support they gave us over the years and invite those who didn’t hear about us yet to visit our website. So fellow ‘softers, there we have it. An accurate, informative and quite simply honest insight into what goes on behind the scenes at Military 1st. As a long time and very satisﬁed customer (and trust me, I’m normally the biggest critic/complainant/old git to complain about something) and the sheer fact that I have never had cause to return a single item, I would strongly urge you to check out Military 1st when you need to buy a new set of camos, or simply accessorise and/ or upgrade your current look as, let’s face it, dressing up and looking uber-cool is all part of the fun... Les....OUT!

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

Event Review

PHOTOS: TOBY LOWNDES

ITALIAN WW2

RISE OF THE TENTH WITH THE GERMANS HAVING CLAIMED VICTORY LAST TIME THEY MET, CHRIS WRAY HEADS BACK TO FIREBALL SQUADRON TO SEE IF THEY CAN CAPITALISE ON THEIR GAINS

CHRIS WRAY CHRIS HAS BEEN PLAYING AIRSOFT FOR 6 YEARS AND IS A MEMBER OF FIREBALL SQUADRON, HE HAS A PASSION FOR THEMED GAMES ESPECIALLY WWII AND NAM EVENTS.

IT’S 8AM AND I AM SAT in the McDonalds at Bassets Pole, Birmingham just about to head down to Fireball Squadron Airsoft Club for the second game in their Italian WW2 campaign. The last game saw the Germans pull out a surprise narrow victory on the day, which led to the Allies not advancing up the road to Avelino as hoped. That day went well and was one of my favourite airsoft events but this time it was on a larger site, as we had access to parts of the National Paintball Fields (NPF) and had double the number of players. Would it be as good though, as one of the highlights for me last time was the ability to sneak around on missions if need be. It was time to ﬁnd out. After a week of nearly non-stop rain, the airsoft Gods were being friendly and we had sun and blue sky though still very cold, but hey it’s January. The safe zone was busy with nearly 30 players on each side arriving and it was soon a bustling area with some of the players from the last game still swapping stories. Looking around, the level of kit from all players was excellent. With 2 Squads of Americans mainly from the 34th Infantry Division and a squad of Brits, plus a great mix of

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German troops from Heer to Gebirgsjäger (mountain troops to you and me). This game was entitled the “Rise of the Tenth” in which, fresh from its success near Avelino the German army would be counterattacking across the line, to try and push back or hold up the Allied advance even more. Success today for the German army would push the Allied force right back and allow the German forces to strengthen their position. If the Allies could hold out and win the day then maybe they could open up the road into Avelino after all. After the morning brief, the squads deployed to their starting locations. This game was operating the same as the previous outing; 2 bandages per player, a 300-round limit per life and the mission system that worked so well last time was also in play. This meant that your first mission of the morning/afternoon is fixed and once completed you return to your HQ and select a new mission of your choice from a total of more than 30! Some missions were unit specific but most were generic.

Each mission sheet listed an objective, anything you needed in order to complete the mission, the number of players from your Squad/Zug required and a War Effort Rating. This is a points system which varies depending on difﬁculty, with some having bonuses for completing certain tasks, or for completing with no contact. An example was a British mission where they had to take and hold a position, with extra points being awarded if they managed to brew up and have a cup of tea! The reason I feel this works for this type of game is that you are unaware of what the enemy (and often your allies), are up to. Any mission could lead to a contact when forces bump into each other or missions clash, so you are always on guard. The Germans had an open mission for the morning which could be completed by any Zug. This was to capture an American MP who was with the American command squad and take him back to German HQ. The American MP would be a target all morning - which would have been great except for the fact it was me!

APRIL 2014

Event Review ITALIAN WW2

“Time was running out but luck was once again with us as a German tried to make a dash to safety and fell to hail of ﬁre from our BAR gunner.”

INFORMATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON WW2 AIRSOFT THEN HAVE A LOOK AT: WWW.WW2AIRSOFT.ORG.UK. THIS HAS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION, INCLUDING GREAT KIT GUIDES, AND AN ACTIVE FORUM THAT LISTS FUTURE GAMES, SOME OF WHICH OFFER FREE KIT HIRE SO YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH A MINIMUM OUTLAY.

Starting at the allied HQ, my squad’s first mission was to advance to Severino Prison Camp and relieve Squad 1, who were guarding it and had to hold it for 20 minutes. After a short patrol we arrived at the Prison, Squad 1 moved out and within minutes we had our first contact. German troops had engaged our perimeter guards and they exchanged a few shots, but as our primary mission was to guard the camp we stood firm and, after the odd exchange the fire soon died down. We later found out that the German orders were to probe our defences, assess our numbers and report back to HQ. Having made it back to our own HQ it was time for new orders. After a quick search through the missions our CO chose a mission entitled “Blow the Bunker”. We had to advance into German held territory, take and hold the bunker at the German Check Point for 10 minutes while our engineer prepared the explosives (a large pyro charge). As we got close to the bunker we thought we had encountered a German patrol but luck was on our side, it was just the British Squad on the way back from completing their mission. After a couple of quick “Hellos” both squads carried on. We reached our objective and set up a defensive perimeter but a few minutes later our luck ran out as a German Zug stumbled across us. A short firefight ensued with a few casualties on both sides and we managed to hold them off long enough to blow the charges, then we slowly withdrew back to our HQ. Our next mission was to locate four targets across the site and blow them up with the bazooka. We completed it having just one contact with German forces but it was a long mission as the 4 points were scattered around the site. We managed to make it back to HQ and with just under 20 minutes ‘till lunch, so looked for a “quick” mission. “Engage enemy forces and achieve four confirmed kills with a minimum of losses”. As we could see a German Zug in the distance we headed off at pace to try and engage them. We managed to get three quick kills with no losses but we just couldn’t get a fourth as the Germans had gone to ground. Time was running out but luck was once again with us as a German tried to make a dash to safety and fell to hail of fire from our BAR gunner. With this we managed to double time it back to our HQ to complete the mission with just a minute to spare.

As we ate our lunch, we learned that the Germans had spotted me twice in the morning and had been hunting me but we had managed to evade them. Lunchtime passed quickly and we were soon back in the field. The afternoon missions had the German forces dug in at 3 locations, with an Allied squad assigned to attack each one. A time limit was in place to complete each assault, starting from the first shot fired and it was not expected that the Allies would take more than one position. We set off on a route we hoped would get us as close to our “farm house” objective without being seen. We advanced following a drainage ditch and made good progress but were spotted by an eagle-eyed German Guard who opened fire, taking me and another Yank out. After getting patched up we laid down some smoke and advanced slowly using the smoke as cover. We got to the trench in front of the farm house and launched a quick assault which took out the last couple of defending Germans and we still had 2 minutes to spare! After getting back to HQ our Squad managed to complete 3 more missions during the afternoon, including taking and holding a German road block, blowing up a fuel dump and getting Intel photos of the German troops. Before I knew it, it was 4.30pm and end-ex! Another great days’ airsoft and once again I was shattered, but it was well worth it and looking at all the smiling faces in the safe zone I was not the only one to agree. One thing was clear though; both sides thought they may have done enough to win the day. We later found out it could not have been a closer game, with the Allies amassing a War Effort score of 930 and the Axis scoring 920. So the day went to the Allies though both sides could hold their heads up high as the day may well have been decided by the Brits brewing up a cuppa - though I think the turning point was probably the Allies unexpectedly taking all 3 afternoon objectives. I am looking forward to Part Three of the story later in the year when, hopefully, the Allies will advance to the door steps of Avelino. All that was left to do was pack up my gear and wait until March for the next WW2 airsoft game in the calendar, which can’t come soon enough.

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“The Grange had a range of PolarStar rifles on display; one of those was an awesome .50Cal beast of a Barrett and, with Sniper One on the stand it just had to be done… Having “borrowed” a few sandbags from Enola Gaye, Dan was soon down in a familiar position”

NIGE LOOKS BACK AT THE SECOND BRITISH AIRSOFT SHOW, HELD AT STONELEIGH PARK FROM 14TH TO 16TH FEBRUARY BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS the British Airsoft Show 2014 will have been held nearly a month ago and memories of the event already starting to fade. So, for those of you that couldn’t make it, I guess the question has to be “Did I miss anything?” and the answer is a most definite “Possibly!” Arriving on the Thursday afternoon to set up, memories of our arrival at the 2013 show (when the impression was that we had been relegated to a cold, damp cow-shed) were immediately dispelled by the well laid out and fully carpeted exhibition area. The green carpet (complete with a set of large, muddy footprints from someone who shall remain nameless!) and professionally erected stands were already being filled with huge amounts of airsoft goodness. Reading the names as I took the opportunity to walk around the stands was a bit like reading a “Who’s Who of British Airsoft”: RedWolf, JD, Pro Airsoft, BadgerTac, Land Warrior, Enola Gaye, Just BB, Swindon Airsoft, Dave’s Custom Guns. There were also other names that might not be so familiar, such BelTec and Airshooter and others that are synonymous with different aspects of airsoft, such as The Grange who, once again, had set up a fully-functioning AIPSC stage. The Grange was also displaying a large range of PolarStar rifles - but more about those later. Friday started bright and early and just after 8:00am the first visitors could be seen wandering into the show, however we weren’t sure how things would turn out as the show was over three days this year, one more than previously and it was the 14th of February, so there was some discussion as to whether this would dull the numbers. As the day wore on it seemed 048

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that we would most certainly not see the same number of people but we were continually busy - although the less frantic pace meant we could spend more time with individual visitors. At around 11:00 the Airsoft Action stand became the focus of attention as Dan Mills was on hand to chat about his experiences and autograph copies of his awesome book, Sniper One. A couple of Dan’s mates from 21 SAS were also with us on a recruitment drive for SF Reserve forces and yes, you can join the SAS as a reservist, just like any other branch of the TA.

EVENT REPORT BRITISH AIRSOFT SHOW 2014

I mentioned that The Grange had a range of PolarStar rifles on display; one of those was an awesome .50Cal beast of a Barrett and, with Sniper One on the stand it just had to be done… Having “borrowed” a few sandbags from Enola Gaye, Dan was soon down in a familiar position as he posed for photos in front of a rapidly growing crowd of interested snappers. It wasn’t long before a queue had formed to have their photos taken - even one little lad who was completely dwarfed by the gun but made his dad very proud! One of the other PolarStar rifles on display, a fully tricked-up, custom-built “Gunmunki Special” raised both a few eyebrows and one, very pertinent question: Was it a RIF (Realistic Imitation Firearm)? Very loosely, the VCR Act says that a RIF is an imitation firearm that can only be distinguished from the real thing by close inspection, by trying to fire it, or by an expert. In the paintball world their markers are not considered to be RIFs as they have an air/gas bottle screwed into the back of the gun, which normally becomes the stock. Before you say “But they also have big hoppers on the top”, the latest ones don’t, they are mag-fed just like ours, which brings me back to Gunmunki’s rifle - it has an air tank and regulator mounted as a stock. So, the question remains: Is it a RIF? If the answer is “No” then maybe we have seen the birth of a whole new branch of airsoft weaponry - one that might be outside the remit of the VCR Act. Something to ponder methinks but, until a decision is forthcoming, The Grange will be treating them just like a RIF. Saturday and Sunday were pretty similar, in that although visitor numbers seemed somewhat lower than before, the flow was almost constant - well certainly constant enough to notice when it slackened for a couple of minutes. Many of the retailers seemed to feel the

same; that although numbers seemed to be down, the overall level of business appeared to be similar to 2013 - just spread over three days. Of course, this may well lead to questions about the increased costs of manning a three-day event but most agreed that so long as they broke even, it was a worth-while exercise.

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SAD NEWS AS THE SHOW DREW TO A CLOSE, THE SAD NEWS REACHED US THAT JOHN BERTRAND, THE SHOW’S FOUNDER AND ORGANISER HAD PASSED AWAY ON THE SATURDAY NIGHT. WE CONVEYED OUR THOUGHTS AND BEST WISHES ON BEHALF OF THE WHOLE AIRSOFT COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE PRINTED AN OBITUARY ELSEWHERE IN THIS ISSUE. RIP JOHN - YOU DID A GRAND JOB BUDDY! On both Saturday and Sunday, the guys from Pro-Tact Training were with us and Andy Nightigale ran a number of free pistol and weaponhandling courses. A couple of the guys were dressed in the full “black kit” and were raising funds for Help for Heroes having their photos taken with visitors for a small donation - although I understand they caused a bit of a commotion when they went through to the “real steel” section. I guess “real” shooters are just not used to having (seemingly) heavily-armed soldiers in their midst! Back in “our” world, Stirling Airsoft was running their usual training and demo sessions, using a large CQB area and a number of vehicles. I think the organisers had learnt from last year as the area was fully screened and both the noise and smoke was much reduced (dunno about you, I kind of liked the noise and smoke…)

So what were the highlights? Deﬁnitely, without a doubt, having Dan Mills on the stand was great and watching the Pro-Tact guys set to it was terriﬁc too but there were a couple of other standout things I want to mention… First up, the Sentry Gun. We had one sitting alongside the Airsoft Action stand, just scanning backwards and forwards on a remote program. The number of visitors who caught the movement and thought it was actually “tracking” them was brilliant; it was certainly an instant hit and I understand that the maker, BelTec, both sold and received orders for a number of units.

april 2014

Next up was when I was legging it back from the Gents and spotted that the BadgerTac stand seemed to be under siege. Ratty was trying to hold the fort but he was not alone, as both Chris Kong from RedWolf and Scott Allan from Land Warrior were behind his counter giving a hand - and that is what you call TRUE co-operation! Unfortunately I didn’t have a camera with me (not something I generally take to the loo) so didn’t get a photo but it was good to see. Then there was The British Airsoft Club, a new, not-for-profit “players association” that is seeking to offer an alternative (not replacement) to UKARA registration. For me, the key elements are that players can play at any “BAC” site to gain their registration and access to the database created is free to retailers. Obviously it is early days but, so far as I am concerned (and so long as it has been legally verified as being acceptable as a defence), anything that helps to promote airsoft should be supported. The other point to note is that whilst it is free to retailers, there is a small membership charge to players to cover administration costs. It will be interesting to see how this develops. I am sure there was loads more going on that I haven’t mentioned but I can’t finish up without giving you a name: “NiteSite”. You may not know this all-British company (yet) but we had their “Viper” night vision system displayed on the stand and I lost count of the number of visitors who stopped to have a look at/through it. In essence, it consists of a digital full-IR camera (no ambient light needed) which fits on the eyepiece of your scope and displays its image on a screen that is mounted on the scope tube - so the view through the scope is displayed crosshairs and all! NiteSite are putting the final development touches to the unit and you can be certain of seeing a full review in Airsoft Action in the very near future. Was the British Airsoft Show 2014 a success? From my point of view, that would have to be a “Yes!” It didn’t “feel” as busy but then it was far more constant - and it was certainly warmer! Thank you to the many, many airsofters and other visitors who came by the Airsoft Action stand, it was great to meet old and make new friends (even if one or two were a complete surprise - cheers Alan!) A huge thanks also to the guys at RedWolf airsoft who kept us fed and supplied with coffee throughout the show, it was much appreciated. We don’t have a date yet for 2015 but you can be sure we will let you know as soon as we do - Airsoft Action will be there, I hope you will be too!

SERIOUS BACK UP?

CHEAP, CHEERFUL AND PLASTIC - SO WHAT’S THERE TO LIKE ABOUT THIS PLASTIC NBB PISTOL? NOT TOO MUCH ACTUALLY, ACCORDING TO JAY SLATER MADE INFAMOUS FOR ITS PORTRAYAL in the Metal Gear Solid videogame series, the Tokyo Marui SOCOM Heckler & Koch Mk 23 is something of a mixed blessing for the airsoft community. Large, unwieldy, unpractical and yet oozing serious sniper back-up sex appeal, this plastic non-blowback pistol (NBB) is typical of Tokyo Marui: relentless performance and range, superb construction and design, yet suffering from strict Japanese airsoft laws on FPS and cheap pop-tastic, bubble-gum build! Although allegedly manufactured and to be found in limited numbers, this Asian beauty secures a pretty penny on the second-hand market. Designed as the ultimate service weapon of the US Army Special Operations Command, the Heckler & Koch Mk 23 was the first offensive handgun for the US military since the beloved Colt M1911 Govt. (a pistol that Tokyo Marui cracked so superbly that this reviewer has two). Issued in mid-1991, the Mk 23 was chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge, which provides greater man-stopping power than the standard NATO 9-mm round and can either fire the ball (FMJ) or expansive (JHP) bullet. Reported as extremely reliable and potent, with an enlarged trigger guard for gloved use and an ambidextrous magazine release lever, the Mk 23 was also found to be excessively heavy and endurable. Many of the Mk 23’s failings and flaws are to be found in the Tokyo Marui conversion for airsoft. As to be expected, presentation is key with Tokyo Marui and their Mk 23 benefits from a plastic carrying case as if substance and style was etched into their ethos at the very start. The contents within are well packaged and contain the pistol, LAM-integrated torch, a wallop of a huge silencer, gas-powered magazine, a pack of BBs, cleaning rod and well-versed instructions. So far so good; however, initial inspections of the pistol and LAM (Laser Aiming Module) torch are a cause for concern. The magazine rattles somewhat towards the bottom of the well when housed and the 245-mm-long silencer, when fitted, makes this a difficult weapon to field. But above all is its dirt cheap feel and construction. The solid and heavy magazine is what makes the gun appear to possess a good and balanced poise; however, once the magazine is ejected, the end result is one of utter disappointment and delusion. The plastic origins of this crisp shooter are bitterly evident, with a non-working de-cocker lever and other parts that would appear to have been lifted directly from a £30 springer, an earlier incarnation.

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PISTOL REVIEW - TM SOCOM H&K MK23

â&#x20AC;&#x153;WITH THE 19-MM SILENCER FITTED, THE MK 23 IS SO LARGE AND MENACING THAT IT BEATS ITS CHEST AND SCREAMS FROM THE ROOFTOPS FOR AN ASBO.â&#x20AC;?

The Mk 23 has to be one of the Tokyo Maruiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most plastic-looking airsoft pistols and yet commands a high price of some ÂŁ150. Also, their imitation of the LAM tactical light is absurdly rubbish. Of a different design to the original, the light â&#x20AC;&#x201C; powered by three batteries and foolishly pretending to be a pathetic laser â&#x20AC;&#x201C; can barely illuminate the insides of a toaster. So cheap, false and nasty is the LAM that purists have been said to remove it from the Mk 23 and leave it to rot - and quite right they are too. And another thing: the silencer is polished with a sickening sheen and aesthetically unpleasing when compared to the real steel. The gun feels like an unloved toy in terms of construction and weight, suffers from an intolerable heavy trigger pull and is also a nonblowback pistol with a ďŹ xed slide. Perhaps when it came to designing the Mk 23, the boys at Tokyo Marui were hard at it slamming the sake on an apocalyptic Friday night bender. First impressions were hardly favourableâ&#x20AC;Ś But the Tokyo Marui SOCOM Heckler & Koch Mk 23 delivers in what it is supposed to do: shoot and shoot well â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in spades. Firstly, the NBB system can work in its favour. For instance, the gunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s internals are not exposed to dirt and the elements and being a

non-blowback weapon, the slide does not move when the pistol is shot. As more gas is spent for each shot rather than for the movement of the slide back and forth, there is also less wear and tear on internals. This goes very much in the Mk 23â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favour as it can shoot and perform without fail in very low temperatures without serious ďŹ&#x201A;uctuations in performance. Also, the Mk 23 boasts a double-action function that means that the pistol can be preloaded by simply pulling either the slide or striking hammer (although the former is half-hearted when compared to Tokyo Maruiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GBB pistols). The magazine is superbly made and holds a decent 29 BBs with a ďŹ vesecond reďŹ ll of gas: with its splendid efďŹ ciency of gas and hardcore performance in the range, this Mk 23 is beginning to show true punch. Indeed, the magazine holds enough gas for ďŹ ve or so charges and is very efďŹ cient, even in cold climes when GBBs fail and ooze liquid gas. The grip is massive but is designed for easy use with gloves and the pistol feels ergonomically pleasing, weighted and balanced as a sniperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secondary. Also, when fully gassed and loaded â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even when the mighty silencer is attached â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Mk 23 is surprisingly light as if a toy.

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PISTOL REVIEW - TM SOCOM H&K MK23

With the 19-mm silencer ﬁtted, the Mk 23 is so large and menacing that it beats its chest and screams from the rooftops for an ASBO. Refreshingly, the silencer is not just eyeball candy and cuts noise reduction by some 50 per cent, with some players stating that they have shot players from six feet or so and were undetected. The silencer is impressive and its tubes are made of foam in which the gas exiting the barrel expands and does not make a loud boom as if an almost silent clap of hands. Although the gun is chieﬂy made of plastic, the silencer thread is of metal so there is little danger of stripping the thread – a thoughtful piece of design process to allow long and loyal service. In the shooting range, once the hop-up had been adjusted – the gun has to be stripped to gain access to the hop-up unit and is a royal pain – the Mk 23 is a decent performer that outstrips low- to midbudget AEGs in terms of range and accuracy. It’s something of a slow burner and not a rapid shooter, obtaining an impressive range with .25 BBs at 290330 FPS. What remains is a reliable secondary for snipers that offers range, performance, accuracy and an impressive magazine holding just under thirty shots and of course, it comes with the Tokyo Marui rubber stamp of reliability.

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In terms of sniper nirvana, the Tokyo Marui SOCOM Heckler & Koch Mk 23 does the job admirably, packing one hell of a thump with plenty of ammo in reserve and with the deadly efficiency of a ladybird breaking wind repeatedly and clinically. This is a killer concoction and the magazine capacity is simply outstanding. Make no mistake, this is a pocket cannon. With that being said, we prefer authenticity, design, weight and performance: not a compromise between the airsoft sport and a cheap-looking toy that feels that it was made for a fistful of lire. Despite its archetypal Tokyo Marui flair and design razzmatazz, the Mk 23 is simply too large to field comfortably, be it stored on a leg holster or across the chest. Alarmingly, some sniper players only attach the silencer when they know that they’re in for a sure kill, such is its extreme length and encumbrance. For sure, the Mk 23 is a NBB gas-efficient belter and it is one hell of a sniper ‘boom stick’; however, the negatives outweigh its advantages such as its pathetic LAM and sugary fairly-tale construction for the more serious airsoft player, some love it, some hate it.

FOR MANY WAR ISN’T OVER WHEN THE FIGHTING STOPS. KRIS ROBERTS VISITS THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION AND ASKS “HOW CAN I HELP?” THE STREET HAD BEEN CLOSED OFF, as it had been on this day every year for as long as people could remember. I was stuck in work but stopped what I was doing as I heard the sound of a drum beating louder. Here came the parade, bold and impressive, and I watched from my window as the procession passed. First the Cadets, then the local T.A. Squadron, marching in uniform and keeping step. With them their wounded from recent conﬂicts; broken, but proud and inspiring. Then the veterans, men of different ages dressed in their Sunday best and wearing the sashes and colours of their old Regiments. At the back the old boys who served in Korea and the Second World War. Behind them, nothing. I don’t know why I noticed this space, this small gap of air between the groups, but somehow the silence of its presence was deafening. When I was a boy this is where the veterans of The Great War would be, mostly in wheelchairs with blankets laid across their knees. These ancient men who I took for granted in my early days now choked me with their absence. In their place we have the warriors who fought in North Africa, in France and Holland and Burma and dozens of other faraway lands. It hit me for the ﬁrst time that these were now the men who brought up the rear of the parade, they now had in their ranks the ailing men wrapped in blankets. They were the old breed, our nation’s eldest guardians. Two months after the Remembrance Day parade, I found myself walking past the War Memorial in my village. On it still lay the wreathes and crosses that had been placed back in November. The paper poppies were faded and sodden, the ink had run on the hand written messages, the wooden crosses rotting and covered with moss. The sight of it stopped me in my tracks. To me, the state of this memorial meant one of two things: First, that the acts of remembrance laid down last autumn were done so with so much grief and loss, that the pain of removing them would be too much to bare. Or secondly, that they had been forgotten.

A Harsh Reality I paused for a long time, reading the inscriptions and the names and thought hard about the situation in front of me. My mind turned back to the old men in the parade. Men in the twilight of their lives. They had fought and sacriﬁced all they had when they were barely out of childhood, then were made to live with

the memory of it ever since. The sheer scale of the total war they faced is something we cannot fathom, yet those who returned faced a life in which they had to rebuild and contribute to a country that was picking itself up after the fight of its life. They did this with the horrors and nightmares fresh in their minds. Not all soldiers are heroes and not all heroes die on the battlefield. For many that came home they had to find a new courage, one that gave them the will to go on. Whatever your feelings on the state of this country ask yourself this. Could you have faced the challenges that the men and women of this country faced in the 1940’s? Could you have survived a war yet still found the strength to build

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GET INVOLVED IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH HELPING THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, THEIR WEBSITE IS A GOOD PLACE TO START: WWW.BRITISHLEGION.ORG.UK/ GET-INVOLVED

“Not all soldiers are heroes and not all heroes die on the battlefield. For many that came home they had to find a new courage, one that gave them the will to go on.” a future? Theirs is often called the Greatest Generation, but even among them not all had the strength. Some who had survived were still lost to that war. The individual battles that they faced continued to rage long after the politicians declared peace. Those that are left now face their final years, but how will they be spent? There are the fortunate ones who have the love and protection of their families and descendants, but there are far too many that don’t have this support. So what does life hold for them? Cold due to rising heating bills? Housebound due to illness and age? Alone without friends or family? As I stood in the rain at the village War Memorial I had to ask myself. ‘Is this our remembrance?’ The message was clear, I wasn’t doing enough.

A Call to Action I returned home and started researching about Veteran’s charities, about what was available and for whom. I quickly found out that there are teams of people in every corner of this country that are fighting for this cause. Raising money and using it to provide healthcare and a better way of life for those in need. People from all manner of backgrounds working together to achieve a greater objective. Teamwork. A vital and integral part of our sport. Every game day we get together, players from all walks of life, and join up as a team. Working as one to complete our tasks and win the day. Being your typical airsofter thoughts of the game are always ticking away at the back of my mind somewhere, and this was very much the case when looking into these charities. If we, as a collective, can find a way to work effectively on the playing field, imagine the good we could do off of it. Living in Somerset, I contacted David Brixey, the County Secretary for the Royal British Legion, in the hope that he would offer some advice and I was very pleasantly surprised when he offered to meet up with me to discuss the matter over a cup of coffee. That meeting revealed in further detail the work that the Legion does, and the openness and commitment in which they do it. The RBL does not receive funding from the Government or the MOD, but instead relies on donations from the public. Their most well known fundraising campaign is the annual Poppy Appeal, but the work to raise awareness and money is a 365 days of the year affair. I asked David about the ways in which I could help. I don’t have deep pockets with which to make a generous donation, but I do have time and practical skills and a willingness to help, surely that could be put to use? “Don’t ever think that any donation is too small.” he replied. “If you did a collection at one of your game days and managed to raise £10 then we would be very grateful. We would write a letter of thanks and if you had a particular cause within the Legion that you wanted the money to go

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to, we would ensure it got there. Every penny counts and will be put to good use.” My mind skipped back to the Sunday before, when I played an open day game with over sixty players in attendance. A quick walk around the safe zone at lunchtime would have yielded a lot more than £10. David then explained to me how far the help actually goes. It is not just serving personnel or veterans that are listed, but also that their partners, children and carers are eligible to find support from the Legion. “There are always fundraising events being planned or taking place, and we are always looking for help in drawing public attention. If you feel that you can’t help at a particular event then create your own. As long as it is in keeping with the message and principles of the RBL then go for it.” I asked if David thought that airsoft could find a place in the proceedings, and was pleased to hear that he had played a few years back. “I see no issue at all with airsoft. I’m aware of the appeal it has to the military minded and ex-services and I see the benefits of it as a training tool for those currently serving. It could be a great way to attract people to events.”

Feeling Inspired The rest of the meeting was spent chatting about what I could do to help in upcoming local events. And we were soon chatting excitedly about the potential that was on offer. Even beyond prearranged events, there is a lot that local players and sites could do to involve similar communities and raise some much needed funds for a good cause. Invite your local cadet or reservist unit to a charity game, host a shooting tournament or hold a collection in the safe zone. Look to your hometown and what’s taking place. How can you help? How can your team mates or your local site help? There is a huge amount of opportunity to do something worthwhile, and if there is something you could do, then it is something you should do. 2014 is going to see a lot of attention placed on the Armed Forces of today and yesteryear. There will be a huge focus on remembrance, and of the lives lost during the wars of the last 100 years. Rightly so. We must never forget. But also, let us not forget that there are survivors still living among us, men and women who kept the wolves at bay, and to whom we owe so much. With every passing day their numbers dwindle, and we are running out of time to show them that they mean so much more than two minutes of silence. They paid a great price, and it is our debt to them that needs to be remembered before it is too late. In this coming year of ceremony and reﬂection, remember the dead and serve the living.

FEATURE BATTLEFIELD TOURS - MATT LIMB

BEING THERE

MATT LIMB BATTLEFIELD TOURS AND AIRSOFT ACTION HAVE GOT TOGETHER TO OFFER ALL OUR READERS THE CHANCE TO WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HEROES. “BEING THERE; it is the only true way to fully understand what our forefathers endured on the field of battle. We must remember the soldier is the first weapon of war and we need to look and follow the soldier as we try and understand the military actions and campaigns he took part in. If my recent articles in Airsoft Action about D-Day and the Normandy Campaign has captured your interest in this the 70th anniversary year of D-Day, you may also be interested in joining me and other like-minded Airsoft Action readers on a battlefield tour of Normandy. The anticipation… The fear… The camaraderie… You’ll gain a unique insight into the workings and horrors of the D-Day beaches but, more importantly, the people who took part in the many actions and battles. We will stand on the ground where they stood and where they fell - right where it actually happened. I will take you step-by-step across Sword and the bloody Omaha beaches and look at what went right - and what went wrong - before visiting the Drop Zone of the UK parachute and glider forces. You will experience and explore at firsthand what is must have been like to grapple with the enemy at close quarters seventy years ago, while we will walk in the footsteps of The Band of Brothers as they entered US military history and look at the actions of the only Victoria Cross awarded on 6 June 1944, plus much, much more”, says Matt Limb OBE. The five-day tour will include a day looking at the Battle for Caen, with visits to Meville Battery, Breville Ridge, Pegasus Bridge, Sword Beach and the German defensive positions, before moving on to a full day walking the Normandy battlefield, including Gold and Omaha beaches. The following day will take in the actions of the US 101 and 82 Airborne, along with Utah beach and a chance to visit the US Airborne museum. At the end of the tour there will be the opportunity to visit a Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, with a chance for the group to lay a poppy wreath and pay respects in the form of a short Service of Remembrance to the many who paid the ultimate price during The Normandy Campaign. The tour includes travel to and from Normandy plus across the battlefields, B&B Hotel accommodation, packed lunches where appropriate and dinner on the first night. Matt will also supply a set of Battlefield Tour Notes which will

include mapping and historical reference material and be referred to during the tour. Of course, you also get Matt’s full attention throughout the tour as he acts as your guide back through those tumultuous times. If anyone has a relative that fought in the Normandy Campaign, or is buried in Normandy, it may be possible to visit such locations and actions or even a grave, if this detail is provided at the time of booking. The precise cost of this five day battlefield tour, as outlined above, will be dependent on the numbers taking part and the time of year the tour is conducted. But as a simple guide price the cost will be approximately £750.00 per person; but it is stressed the final and accurate cost will vary. Matt is in the early stages of putting this tour together and what he really needs to understand is just how many people might be interested in joining him. So if you would like to register your interest (with absolutely no obligation), visit www. mlbft.co.uk/airsoft and enter your name and email address. Matt will then contact you directly with further details and final costs as they become available. Remember, this is the last time that many countries will be officially commemorating these events, so this may be the last opportunity we will have to understand the many veterans as they remember those that fell - and let them know that we, when their time comes, will remember them.

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FEATURE

PHOTOS: WILL MILNE

LEST WE FORGET | THE BATTLE OF MIRBAT

THE BATTLE OF MIRBAT POSSIBLY ONE OF THE MOST HEROIC DEFENCES EVER SEEN, ANDY NIGHTINGALE TOOK THE CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH A COUPLE OF OLD FRIENDS AT PETE WINNER’S “BATTLE OF MIRBAT” TALK.

ANDY NIGHTINGALE ANDY HAS OVER 30 YEARS SHOOTING EXPERIENCE. HE SPENT SEVERAL YEARS IN THE ARMY AND SEEN ACTIVE SERVICE AROUND THE WORLD. AFTER THE ARMY ANDY CO FOUNDED AND RAN ELITE FIREZONE MSC (NOW AAA). ANDY NOW RUNS PRO-TACT A NOT FOR PROFIT GROUP PROVIDING TACTICAL TRAINING FOR THE AIRSOFT COMMUNITY AND PRIVATE SECURITY FORCES.

AS A KID I WAS ALWAYS TAKEN ABACK by the heroic tales of the SAS, the elite British ﬁghting force that was the brain child of David Stirling during the Second World War. Many war stories have worked their way into the history books but there are a few that seem to defy all odds. One such story is that of a small group of SAS soldiers that took on a formidable force of enemy warriors and won the day at The Battle of Mirbat. It is with great pride that I personally have had the privilege to not only hear some of the tails of the SAS but to have known a few of them. One such hero is Pete Winner, better known as “Snapper”. I met Pete a few years ago during one of his talks about the history and his involvement in the Iranian Embassy siege back in 1980. Pete went to great lengths to tell the story as it happened and expelling a few myths along the way. So it was with great pleasure that I had been invited to come along to one of Pete’s talks on this famous battle that happened over 40 years ago - but why should Pete be telling the story? Simple… Pete was one of the brave SAS troopers that was in the thick of it!

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Arriving at the venue in Greater Manchester, Phil and I drove into the venue car park only to be met by Pete himself. Pete took us into the venue and we sat down with another SAS hero and also a friend of ours, Bob Podesta. I have known Bob for a while now and have had the privilege to train with both Bob and Pete in the past. After a quick catch up on things, both Pete and Bob gave us the heads up on what was on the menu for the night. Pete began by giving us a quick intro to the content before he took to the stage. First up was Bob who gave everyone a detailed history of why the British forces were in Dhofar and also the political history leading up to the British involvement in the region. He also explained the run up and preparations for the deployment of the SAS. Although many people know about the Battle of Mirbat, not many know the history behind it. This was a great way to start the talk, as it set the scene for Pete who could now tell the story of how just 9 SAS troopers fought for their lives (and the honour of the SASâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fearsome reputation) against a communist shock

APRIL 2014

“YOU HAVE TO BE INSANE TO SURVIVE. MY ONLY CONCERN IS NOT TO LET MY MATES DOWN. WE HAVE FIRE IN OUR EYES, ICE IN OUR VEINS, METAL IN OUR HEARTS.” PETE WINNER, SAS SURVIVOR OF MIRBAT

FEATURE LEST WE FORGET | THE BATTLE OF MIRBAT

INFORMATION PETE AND BOB ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC TALKS ON THEIR SERVICE WITH THE SAS AND CAN BE CONTACTED VIA A SQUADRON LTD ON 07762 507146

group of over 300 enemy and, against all odds and with very little support from fast air, win the day. Taking the microphone Pete addressed the captivated audience and began to explain in great detail his involvement during the battle. Aided with reconstructive video to further set the tone, Pete made no effort to enhance or exaggerate the story. His words, the words of the man on the ground at the time, were all he needed to keep us all enthralled. Explaining his role as the gunner manning the Browning .50 and also as radio operator, Pete went into detail of how they fought the battle on a “shoe string budget” - Pete himself fighting with flip flops on his feet before he had the chance to change into his combat boots. His voice was full of excitement as he relived the moments, almost making us believe we were in the battle with him. His explanation of events as the mighty Fijian Talaiyasi Labalaba, who manned the 25lb World War 2 artillery field gun, changed the tone of the scene. The heroic 800 metre sprint across open ground that Tak, Labalaba’s Fijian brother in arms, made from the BATT house (British Army Training Team) to the fort and gun pit to reach his now wounded mate was truly amazing. Pete recalls “I watched as green tracer rounds from the Adoo (enemy) whizzed past Tak’s head, truly amazing”. Tak managed to reach the gun pit and Labalaba but was himself shot - but not out. Both Fijians were pinned down by a mighty onslaught of enemy fire but as Labalaba went to reach for a mortar he was mortally wounded. An AK47 round hit Labalaba in the throat killing him. Pete’s voice changed as he remembered the brave friend that single-handily controlled the main SAS fire power. Not only did Labalaba fire the field gun but he also loaded, aimed, and fired the artillery piece which, as Bob took to the stage, he explained how the 25lber was a 6 man job. The Adoo were so close to the gun pit that Labalaba could no longer use the sights,

so aimed the gun by looking down the barrel itself. Then a stroke of luck came as Pete’s radio message had raised 2 jets that strafed the Adoo giving much relief to the SAS warriors. As the battle raged on the Adoo’s numbers started to dwindle. Then on the horizon Pete remembers seeing an extended line of ﬁgures advancing towards Mirbat from the mountains. Pete recalls that at the time he thought they were the Adoo, regrouped and ready for the second round. But to everyone’s relief it was G squadron SAS on their way to aid the stricken troopers. The story is one of “the few overcoming the many” with true grit and determination but also one that tells how these band of brothers stood shoulder to shoulder when the odds are truly stacked against them. At the end of the talk both Pete and Bob receive enthusiastic applause from their audience and this was followed by a question and answers session which I can tell you, expelled a few myths about the SAS. Keeping within tradition, answers were given but to the point and with no secrets given away. As we left the venue Pete was signing his book Soldier I, an autobiography that is a truly amazing read. Along with other SAS merchandise this was a great night and one that makes you feel proud to be British. With quite a few laughs along the way both Pete and Bob showed that although they are truly remarkable warriors, at the end of the day they were gentlemen also. This was a superb night that also included a fantastic buffet to boot. Both Pete and Bob have served their country and have made a difference in the world. We might not notice the changes they made, but the outcome may have been a whole lot different for us if the battle was lost. This is just a snippet of what the talk is about. I have no place in telling the story of the battle of Mirbat. It can only be told by the brave men that were there. Men like Pete Winner.

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To Advertise here Ring Nige on 01684 878003

FEATURE SNIPERS OF WORLD WAR II

VASILY ZAYTSEV

“HERO OF THE SOVIET UNION” FROM PEASANT BOY TO HERO, DAN MILLS LOOKS AT THE LIFE OF THIS INCREDIBLE MARKSMAN

DAN MILLS A former army warrant ofﬁcer, Dan served in the forces for 24 years, seeing service on operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq

VASILY ZAYTSEV GREW UP as a peasant in the Ural mountains and lived the normal life for one brought up in such circumstances. Hunting and shooting wolf and deer to survive, he went on to become one of the most famous Soviet snipers during World War Two and Hero of the Soviet Union. Vasily joined the navy in 1937and was posted as a clerk to the Vladivostok area where he excelled and went up through the ranks to Chief Petty Officer. Once Germany had broken its pact with the Soviets and invaded the Motherland, he quickly volunteered along with countless others to transfer to the army on the frontline and this he did whilst gaining a promotion. The sailor clerk turned infantryman spent a short period of time on the outskirts of Stalingrad, undergoing training on the standard weapons and tactics that he was likely to be using in the foreseeable future; machine guns, bayonet drill, knife fighting, close quarter battle and joking that he was now used to catching a grenade an enemy had thrown only to throw it back seconds before it exploded into the enemy held trench! In mid to late September of 1942 Vasily and other freshly trained reinforcements were posted to 1047th Rifle Regiment. Now dressed in Khaki greens he found himself boated across the River Volga into The Metal District, this area was to be his playground and once famously quoting “for us there is no land beyond the Volga”, the here and the now was everything. The 1047th Regiment went straight into the attack as soon as it landed and Vasily was almost killed by a massive German on his first day in close combat. Luckily for him his newly taught fighting techniques were still fresh and he managed to strangle his opponent, which was remarkable for a small man of just 5’2”. Two instances in those early days were to transform him into the sniper he became. Firstly, whilst resting with comrades in a shell crater a German machine gun opened up on them from about 600m. After observing with a periscope

and barely taking aim, Vasily shot the gunner dead and then two other gunners who ran to his aid. Secondly, most likely as a result of word going around of his shooting prowess, his Commanding Officer called for him. On arrival he was shown a Nazi officer carelessly stood in a room by a window. After taking careful aim at 880m he shot the officer dead with one shot and again two others who ran to the officer’s aid. Vasily Zaytsev now had a sniper rifle thrust in his hands and was told to go and do what he could. Rifles with scopes fitted were a new phenomenon to Vasily, one that he had to quickly remedy and by practise, along with trial and error he soon became used to a rifle with a little pipe attached to it. The standard Soviet sniper rifle of the period was the Mosin- Nagant fitted with a 4x PE scope. It is bolt operated and magazine-fed, with an integral magazine fitted for use with x5 round clips. It fired a 7.62 x54mm round and could be fitted with a bayonet. As his experience grew on the battlefield of Stalingrad, so did his tally and from the middle of November to mid December 1942 he had marked up 225 kills, an amazing amount considering the life expectancy of a sniper operating there was about one week.

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This does not include of course the many kills him and snipers like him tallied up with the PPSH machine gun. Due to the close proximity of the enemy whilst out stalking their prey, most snipers favoured the PPSH instead of a side arm due to its amazing rate of fire, caught out in close contact and you needed a weapon with serious firepower to extract yourself from the situation. The PPSH 41weighed 3.63kg, fired approx 1000rpm from a 35rd box magazine or the more popular 71rd drum. Before long the command had ordered Zaytsev to train others how to snipe and he realised that he was setting up the first ever Soviet Sniper School. He trained individuals in the art of sniping and the training ground was the front line, so any mistakes were punished with injury or death. Allocating pairs, one to shoot, one to spot, he had soon built up a group of snipers who very quickly began to make their name - and their presence felt - on the battleground. The Germans had become increasingly concerned about the effect on morale and the course of the battle and would send in sniper after sniper to eliminate Zaytsev. One famous example being the Head Sniper from Berlin’s school of sniping, although records have been wiped clean so it is one’s word against the other. Vasily had not had so much trouble from any other opponent until now, this German was good, a “Super Sniper” he called him. His name was Heinz Thorvald, aka Erwin Konig. Vasily and his team of snipers knew that he had arrived and was operating in the area because the standard rose sharply, several of Zaytsev’s group had been shot and wounded. A confrontation between the two was inevitable, after all, Konig had been sent to kill him. For seven days they stalked each other in the district and as well as the continuous danger from artillery bombardment, they had to painstakingly observe every minute detail of the panorama in front of them to look for the slightest thing that would suggest a sniper was present. After two comrades had been wounded in action Vasily projected a back bearing to an area where the shots most likely travelled from. Most debris and paraphernalia present had been there a long time, after both he and his spotter had observed the area for some time Zaytsev noted a difference. In the middle foreground was a pile of spent brass cases from a tank or artillery piece, they had been there since before his time. Now though, it looked liked the bottom had been cut from one of the shells.

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The pair watched and watched and watched until he noticed a slight change in colour, it was from the muzzle of Konig’s rifle. Zaytsev positioned his spotter off to the flank and carried out a rouse he had become famous for, trickery! At the given moment the spotter slowly raised his helmet on a stick and instantly a round shattered the helmet. Vasily waited for the movement that was sure to come; a slight head adjustment to recover the spent cartridge was all that he needed, a tiny portion of head came into view and… Bang! Vasily put a round right through the German scalp. Vasily Zaytsev killed numerous snipers with such methods. As the battle and the war continued Vasily picked up many wounds and injuries. In the early days there had been no exemption from fighting as infantry, they would snipe day and night then be involved in infantry attacks the next. It was relentless and by this stage in early 43 several of his group were dead. During one such attack he was injured in the face and eyes by mortar fire and was removed from the front, temporarily blinded. He was sent to Moscow where he made a full recovery. He spent the rest of the war teaching and sniping all the way to The Seelow Heights , part of Berlin’s “Ring of Steel”, ending the war as a Captain, but again in hospital. Vasily Zaytsev, Hero of the Soviet Union died in Kiev in 1991 at the age of 76, just 10 days before the Soviet Union finally dissolved. Although he was initially buried in Kiev, his dying wish was to be lain next to the monument commemorating the Battle of Stalingrad and so, on 31st January 2006 he was reburied with full military honours on Mamayev Kergan, overlooking the city he defended.

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TRAINING AIRSOFT SKILLS

IT’S AN OLD SAYING BUT DOES IT REALLY APPLY TO AIRSOFT? ANDY NIGHTINGALE THINKS IT DOES… MANY INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS engaged in the art of shooting, be it firearms or airsoft, military, law enforcement or civil, live by the old saying “train like you fight, fight like you train” but what does this really mean? There is much more to this saying than many people think. Hard work, dedication, and study are just a few facts that we must take into consideration when we embark on a combative or defensive training program. In this article I hope to help you become more efficient and effective during your training sessions, whether you are an individual training for a competition or part of a skirmish team battling it out at your local airsoft site. I also hope that I can open up a few doors on how to “train like you want to fight”. During my military carrier and also as part of a Private Security team, I have attended and studded many combative and tactical training sessions with some of the world’s elite fighting forces. Although these training programs are well designed and planned by some of the world’s greatest combative minds (with supportive evidence that their tactics work), I have found that, like all things in life, there could always be something a little better that suits my own personal needs. But as you are the student and they the teacher you have to take what is given to you. Airsoft plays a big part in my training sessions as it is the only legal way that I can train with handguns in the UK - and also my targets can shoot back at me! Because of the lack in ballistics (or should I say the increase in safety over live rounds), training with airsoft weapons enables me to train as realistically as possible without the dangers that real firearms pose. To the weekend airsoft skirmisher though, such professional training package contents need not apply. I’m not saying that professional training is bad; I’m simply saying that because we have no restrictions on training, or protocol to follow, we can simply make those fine adjustments in our training to suit our individual fighting needs. There is a wealth of information on combative training on the good old internet and also in print and this is where the study part comes into play. If you study a training program on tactical carbine for instance, you will find it very informative and, if it has been delivered correctly, all should make sense. Next you should study the same subject again but this time by a different instructor or author and you will start to find some differences in training style and also you

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may also come across some contradictions between the two. A simple example being: “Which is the best handgun stance to use in a handgun fight; Weaver, Chapman, Isosceles, or Modern Isosceles?” They are all good shooting stances in their own right and each instructor will have their own favoured method, possibly because it has worked for them and they are still around to tell the tail. Don’t stop here though, study as much as you can on a single subject from as many different sources as possible. This will give you a bigger picture as to what is used by other operators and you can make your own mind up as what works for you or your skirmish team. No two gun fights are the same and they never will be. You could train in the Isosceles stance until you become a Grandmaster with that stance, but it will be no good to you at all if you have to shoot from a moving vehicle. So my advice would be to be proficient in as many tasks and skills as you can and not rely on the one you think will work best under all conditions. This is easier said than done, as a lack of spare time is a big factor concerning most of us with families and full time jobs, but the more you and your team practice the better you will become when the need to fight arises. This will of course not happen over night. To learn, hone, and maintain shooting skills takes time and as we all know all shooting skills are perishable skills and you will have to go back to basics regularly. Take your time when training especially when you are learning something new as mistakes can and will become apart of the final outcome. Don’t try to go fast in the early days. If you make your training slow and positive every movement will become smooth. It is this smoothness that will lead to speed. SLOW = SMOOTH = SPEED. Don’t try to learn too many skills at once, as you will only get confused with the many different movements. Once you have mastered one skill move on to another, but remember that these skills will perish in time so take the time to go back now and then and practice what you have already mastered to keep in top form. Once you have studied several training drills you will need to sit down and scrutinise each one to find the best points that suits your training needs and discard the rest. The good points can then be amalgamated and become your own personal training program that you and your team can work with - but don’t stop there. Although you have taken all these good points from several training drills to make your own, criticise your drills and fine tune them until they are perfect and work every time with maximum effect. This will help you to better understand the mechanics of the drill and in turn you will better understand how to win a gun fight. If you are training as part of a team then all of the team members will have to be of the same standard using the same drills. Set a minimum standard by which you and the rest of the team must reach before you embark on advanced training skills. Once you are all at a minimum standard then talk about what you need to do to practice advance skill sets. Again, don’t rush this process; think of all the possibilities then discard those that are not relevant to your game style. Training is all about being able to make mistakes and experimentation under controlled conditions. You can’t afford to make mistakes in a gun fight so that’s what training sessions are for; to make mistakes and have the time and ability to rectify them. Use your training sessions to avoid that dreaded trip back to the regen point during a game.

Marine Special Operations Training: Ofﬁcial U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl Thomas Provost 070

april 2014

TRAINING AIRSOFT SKILLS

Special Forces Training: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth/Released

Your kit is also a factor in “training like you fight”. Many operators train in their full fighting kit, complete with helmet and ballistic plates - but is this necessary? Maybe, it depends on how serious you are about your airsoft game play. It is a good idea to train loaded, but don’t carry everything you have. Just load up with the kit you intend to fight with and that will get the job done efficiently and effectively. I spoke to an airsoft team recently that had been together for around 5 years and I must say that they all looked, communicated and worked well together. When I asked the team about their training program they said that they all try to get together once a week to train in full kit. When they went in-depth with the contents of their training program they seemed to take training with full load outs too far. I somehow felt that they misunderstood the meaning of training like you fight. They zero their weapons in full kit. Zeroing weapons is an important part of all our training, but it took too long to do in full battle kit. This time could have been reduced dramatically and the spare time allocated to other training skills. I for one zero my weapon slick (without full kit on). I have never, nor do I ever intend to, zero my weapon during a gun fight, so what would be the point of me spending valuable training time kitting up in full battle gear on something that I will never do? Train with just the kit that you use during a fight and keep it in the same location on your person every time. Use “PAWPERSO” (see my article Prepare for Battle in the August 2013 issue of Airsoft Action) to aid you here. If your team has dedicated roles for individual team members then of course these members should excel in their allocated departments but also all the members of the team should be cross-trained in other roles not allocated to them, just in case your expert has gone down or is in the regen point. Training with the right weapons for the right job also needs to be addressed. I trained with a team from Israel a few years ago that had spent many hours in the art of clearing rooms with handguns. There was nothing wrong with this but the rooms that they were clearing during their training sessions were approximately 20 foot wide by 30 foot long. Their clearance drills were fantastic, dynamic, and successful. When I gave them a task to clear a room a few days later they did all the respective planning and started the execution with long guns. This was fine until they all transitioned to handguns for the entry phase. The room was an old aircraft hanger that needed long gun protection not short

range, low round capacity handguns. They had got too complacent with training with one type of weapon system. Handguns should be used as a secondary or emergency backup weapon and not the primary, unless this is all you are carrying. Think about the type of fights you get yourself into and train mainly with the weapon that suits the task. Don’t forget to train with any secondary weapons though, just not as much. Long guns can and should be used as room clearing tools, unless the room that needs to be entered by the operator is too small to swing the long gun round. With the lack of over-penetration by BBs we can afford to use an airsoft long gun in most room clearing scenarios (if the site rules permit shots at close quarters). Long guns have a greater range, greater rate of fire, greater accuracy and greater round capacity than a handgun so this should be all you need to clear rooms - although I once saw a skirmisher clear a room with a M249, which is a bit overkill I think! So to train like you fight takes more than turning up and running a few drills. Time to plan and study will make a big difference in the overall outcome of your training sessions. Take notes on what works and what doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things no matter how well or bad it goes. If you don’t try them you won’t know. Have fun when training and remember to take all the usual safety precautions when training. Also keep a record of all the training that you do; both the good points and the bad. If a certain type of training skill works for you and your team than make a record of that drill so you can run it again in the future as a standard drill. One thing I insist that my students do is keep a personal shooting log book. This will enable the student to look back and assess their progress in different areas of combative and defensive shooting. Have fun and safe shooting.

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AIRSOFT

BOOKSHOP CADET’S POCKET BOOK

Cadet’s Pocket Book

SOLDIERS POCKET BOOK

ACTION

SOLDIERS POCKET BOOK

with plastic book cover

344 pages of combat skills for Airsoft enthusiasts, TA & Regulars. Easy to read packed full of essential tips & skills you need to know. RRP £10.00 with this voucher code AASB13 at www.milpkbk.co.uk Webshop Checkout £7.00

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Are you a Cadet/Adult instructor? You should have one of these pocket books in your kit!!! RRP £8.00 with this voucher code AACB13 at www.milpkbk.co.uk - at Webshop Checkout £6.00

AIR CADET POCKET BOOK

Air Cadet

Pocket Book

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Some of the most intense reading material you’ll every read on this subject, written by a Master Sniper Instructor. A must read for all the right reasons. RRP £10.00 with this voucher code AASN13 at www.milpkbk.co.uk Webshop Checkout £7.00

BOOK REVIEW ACE OF SPADES: FILE 52 BY JAMIE FINNERAN

ACE OF SPADES: FILE 52 BY JAMIE FINNERAN HAVING READ AND REVIEWED JAMIE FINNERAN’S FIRST NOVEL, NIGE WAS KEEN TO SEE WHETHER HIS SECOND COULD KEEP UP THE PACE. SABRE SIX: FILE 51 had me riveted from the moment I picked it up and so, when Ace of Spades: File 52 dropped through my letter box I knew I would have to put a few hours aside if I wanted to read it properly. In File 51 we are introduced to a number of characters, some who make it to the end of the book, some who don’t and one who… Well, that would be telling. One character that does make it through and appears right at the start of File 52 is Stan and, as in the previous novel, he plays a pivotal role in this one too. Ace of Spades: File 52 is set in 2015, following the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and set against the potential disaster that would happen should the Taliban return and reclaim the vast resources of the Afghani poppy ﬁelds. To prevent this from happening MI5 set up Merlin Security and recruited Major Ryan Nash to run the operation and protect the poppy ﬁelds. Unfortunately, Major Nash went rogue and

was using the Merlin Security assets as a Private Army for his own benefit. He had to be stopped and Stan had recruited to ex-soldiers, Private Jamie Lewis-Branston, Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment and John Giddings who was SAS and had good local knowledge of the AO. Jamie had recently returned to the UK having been the sole survivor of a fierce fire-fight that followed when the troopladen Puma he was travelling in was shot down. On his return he discovered his fiancée had become a junkie and when he went to confront the supplier things went tits-up and he found himself going to jail for murder - which is when HMG in the form of Stan steps in and recruits him for a mission, described by John as a “Usual little job. Go in, find the bastard, kill him and get out.” Of course, things are never that simple. The story moves to Afghanistan where Jamie and John become integrated into both the lifestyle and operations of Merlin Security, slowly gaining the trust and reliance of “The Major” as they take part in numerous successful missions. All the while though, Jamie has suspicions that John is falling for this way of life and, as the atrocities mount, so does his desire to get the job done and get the hell out of there. But for now there was another mission to go on, so he would just have to play his part and wait for an opportunity to present itself… As in his previous book, Jamie Finneran (I’ve got to admit that it felt kind of odd that the main character had the same name as the author) keeps up a relentless pace as the action swings back and forth. Also as in File 51, I sometimes found myself having to go back and

re-read a section to make sure I hadn’t misunderstood the storyline - but maybe that was just me doing my version of “speed reading”! So, did I enjoy reading Ace of Spades: File 52? Yes, I did and using my usual yardsticks, I would say it is well worth getting yourself a copy, ﬁnding a few hours when you won’t be disturbed and reading all 208 pages in one go. I promise you something… At the end of the book you will know two things: 1) There will be another and 2) you will read that as well!

INFORMATION AUTHOR INFORMATION: JAMIE IS A FORMER SOLDIER IN THE SECOND BATTALION, THE PRINCESS OF WALES ROYAL REGIMENT AND WENT THROUGH SELECTION WITH RESERVE SAS. JAMIE STARTED WRITING BACK IN 1995, WHEN HE WAS ASKED BY HIS LIEUTENANT TO WRITE UP REPORTS FOR THE PATROL IN NORTHERN IRELAND. HE FOUND A NEW INTEREST IN WRITING AND STARTED TO RECALL HIS EXPERIENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND. NOW SOME YEARS LATER, JAMIE’S DEBUT NOVEL IS A MILITARY BASED FICTION BOOK. JAMIE IS MARRIED TO DEBBIE AND LIVES ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT WITH ONE CHILD AND A DOG CALLED GRIFFER. ACE OF SPADES: FILE 52 IS PUBLISHED BY PERCY PUBLISHING, PRICED £6.99 (PAPERBACK). ISBN: 978-0-9571568-6-9 WWW.PERCY-PUBLISHING.COM

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THE PALS BATTALIONS DAN MILLS CONTINUES HIS LOOK BACK AT THE EVENTS OF 100 YEARS AGO AND THE BATTALIONS MADE UP ENTIRELY OF FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.

DAN MILLS A former army warrant ofﬁcer, Dan served in the forces for 24 years, seeing service on operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq

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AS CASUALTIES STARTED TO MOUNT and the war did not look like it would be over by Christmas 1914, recruiting of a “New Army” started in earnest. Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, advertised and called on the public to sign up to “the big adventure”, as we have already seen the regular British army had almost ceased to exist in its original form after suffering many casualties in the opening battles, including during the long withdrawal south. Patriotism was the order of the day; men joined the long queue outside the recruiting offices and signed up. Many places were left completely bereft of male population, in the towns, villages and cities, scores of men joined. Many were to fill gaps in regular or Territorial battalions but many opted to join the same units as all their friends, colleagues and townsfolk and these became known as “Pals” battalions, because one joined up with all his pals. Complete workplaces, warehouses, tradesmen, organizations and estate workers all merged together into a unit of friends, even whole football teams joined up. Often the estate owner, company director or landowner became the Commanding Officer, with his staff as the deputies. Whilst this was fantastic for morale at the time, the devastation caused on the communities back home when casualties started to mount was irreplaceable and whole towns and villages were left with no, or very few male survivors from those that left for the front lines. This wholesale recruitment of the male population, the fighting and the discharge of the many wounded, led to the issue of The Silver War Badge. As well as recruiters scouring the streets eager to sign up new blood for the army, overzealous females were doing so too and were handing out white feathers to males of fighting age seen out in public not wearing a uniform, without a thought to ask why. Many of these men had been invalided out of service and therefore had done their bit and the badge was worn on the right breast

in civilian attire only as a way of showing they had rendered their services and were not cowards. This situation of loss would affect these communities and the families in them for years and years and change them forever. Many villages, towns and cities had their male population diminished greatly by the losses, widows with now fatherless children were everywhere, and work places too were affected. Jobs at home throughout industry fell to women and those excluded from ﬁghting by illness or occupation, for a long time after the war this would remain the case. Many of the Pals battalions were completely wiped out by the end of the War. Some had so few men left standing they were sent to other units after the disbandment of their own. The 1st Manchester Pals Battalion was formed on the 28th of August 1914 in Manchester City, it was one of four Pals battalions formed there that day. The following November saw another three battalions formed; that is a lot of the male population gathered up and removed from one place in a short time. The 1st Manchester Pals were formed up as the 16th (Service) Battalion by the then Lord Mayor, billeted and trained in drill with broomsticks and wooden riﬂes, then musketry and tactics at Heaton

FEATURE THE PALS BATTALIONS

Park prior to a move to Larkhill via Belton Park. On the 6th of November 1915 they landed in France and just thirty months later, in May 1918, they were so depleted of manpower they were reduced to cadre strength. Typical for the time, they were returned to Britain, their ranks filled with leftovers from another destroyed battalion and then they were turned around and sent back to France, landing on the 4th of July to take part in the remaining battles of the war. In total seven battalions of Manchester Pals Battalions were formed, with a figure of approx ten thousand men of all ranks joining up. Four thousand seven hundred and seventy six of them were killed; a heavy price to pay for one city and this does not include other non-Pals units either. The “Stockbrokers” Battalion was formed in less than a week in August 1914. Barely a few days after the call went out 100 men had signed on the dotted line and joined the ranks, becoming the 10th (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers, all from the City of London. Every one of the new soldiers was an employee in The City, and joined to serve alongside those he knew. Trained up in Colchester until efficient in all drills they were sent to France in July 1915, fighting through the War’s remainder they suffered 2,647 casualties in all. Other battalions within the Royal Fusiliers were made up of “Bankers”, “Sportsmen”, ”Public Schools” and “Frontiersmen”. The Welsh Regiment had battalions of Pals from Cardiff, Swansea and Carmarthen; North Walians had a battalion in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The 11th (Service) Battalion The Welsh Regiment was known as the Cardiff Pals, it was formed in September 1914, trained for the following twelve months and shipped to France. Initially after enlistment the men stayed at home, reporting to Maindy barracks each day for training, in their civilian clothes. In mid-September they marched from Maindy to the train station, cheered the whole route by patriotic crowds. Their destination was Sussex to continue training before deployment. The 11th Battalion landed at Boulogne and were moved quickly into position on the frontlines. The first casualty to the Cardiff Pals was a Corporal A Johnson, who died when a German artillery shell had a direct impact on the dugout he was sheltering in. After less than two months the Cardiff Pals were withdrawn and sent onwards to Salonika in Macedonia, Northern Greece, defending it against the German and

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“The Accrington Pals were almost to a man wiped out on that first day of The Somme. Of the 700 who advanced, during the first thirty minutes 235 were dead and another 350 wounded” Bulgarian attacks, where they landed on November 8th 1915. There they fought and died for three long years fighting the elements that would cause them many casualties - as well as the enemy forces. One of the most widely known “Pals” battalions was that of Accrington. Named as the 11th Battalion The East Lancashire Regiment, after the call to arms it took only ten days to have the battalion formed up and on parade, although the name is a little misleading as each company in the battalion was made up of volunteers from surrounding East Lancashire towns, Chorley, Burnley and Blackburn. Worth a mention is that within the Chorley Pals served four brothers, the Allsup brothers, all of whom survived the war, which is remarkable. After war service in Egypt defending Suez they sailed to France landing at Marseilles harbour on the morning of the 8th of March. The Accrington Pals went over the top on the morning of July 1st 1916 as part of “the big advance”. It was supposed to be a walkover. The Accrington Pals were almost to a man wiped out on that first day of The Somme. Of the 700 who advanced, during the first thirty minutes 235 were dead and another 350 wounded, very few reached the battalion objective, the village of Serre and those that did were either killed or captured. Those watching the first wave walk over watched with tears in their eyes as they witnessed their young friends mown down like grass, only to then hear the whistle blow and the order for them too to go over the top. Serre was eventually taken in February 1917, by which time the Germans had already moved back. Later the battalion was pulled from the line, reinforced and continued to fight for the rest of the war. In all there were 33 Pals battalions, some with more than one regiment but it will always be the Accrington Pals that will symbolise the courage and destruction of this country’s young friends. 76

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Following the introduction of Conscription in 1916, no more Pals battalions were created and those that were left were used in other battalions to bring their strengths up.

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THE ART OF WAR IN THIS FIRST PART OF A SHORT SERIES MILITARY ILLUSTRATOR AND AUTHOR, RUPERT GODESEN, INTRODUCES US TO SOME AMAZING ARTISTS FROM WWI

DEAR AIRSOFT ACTION READERS, I trust not too many of you are submerged by all this dreadful ﬂooding! The weather I am sure will get better and by June we’ll all be basking in the life-giving rays of the sun and enjoying the most glorious weather. We’ll hopefully have forgotten all about it and be enjoying some awesome gaming. Apart from most of us being on holiday, June doesn’t really jump out at you in terms of memorable dates does it? I mean, it’s not Christmas or Easter, just kind of stuck in the middle. One date in June you probably won’t be familiar with is the 28th. On that day exactly 100 years ago Gavrilo Princip, a young Serbian Nationalist gunned down Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg in the street in Sarajevo. He was part of a movement that had decided that Austrian rule was not acceptable and he and his accomplices were roaming the city on that day looking for the Archduke to “brass him up”. Princip and his gang weren’t having much success and were on the verge of sacking it, when sadly the Archduke’s driver took a wrong turn young Princip saw his chance. He opened ﬁre with his pistol and changed the course of history, as his actions led to the outbreak of hostilities which we all know today as World War 1 or “The Great War”. It’s hard to imagine the almost snail like speed the news of these events would have spread across the globe, compared to how quickly things go “Viral” these days. I mean 100 years ago it was a completely different World; there was no TV and certainly no internet. Compare that for just a second to David Cameron tweeting about events in the Somerset levels and getting instantaneous coverage to all his followers, it’s quite incredible. But back at the start of the 20th Century there was no such thing as the 10 o’clock news, the BBC news online and all the other things that bring the world to our TV, tablet or smartphone. There were no real war reporters either as we 078

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know of them today. No valiant (and sometimes completely barking mad) war photographers who would travel to the front line and report back. Great Britain was however, a huge consumer of newspapers and still is today. At the time of the Great War there was in London a collection of illustrated papers called “The Great Eight” (that’s three Greats in two sentences) and the nice thing was they all got on with one another. Very unlike today, with all these characters taking one another to court and libelling each other on Twitter, which all seems rather ungentlemanly doesn’t it? Amongst The Great Eight was the Illustrated London News and The Graphic as well as The Bystander. They all did roughly the same thing and jostled for position on the newsstands in a lively London. A jolly convivial atmosphere you might think, until you remember what the date is… It’s 1914 and I don’t know about you but I am really very glad indeed that I wasn’t a young man then and going to the trenches. Conditions must have been unimaginably awful, with little or no relief to lift the gloomy atmosphere. Hundreds of thousands of men basically waiting in ditches not that far from their home shores to die for their country. A country which, to them must have seemed to be sacriﬁcing them gladly (and daily) in huge numbers against the wire and machine guns of German emplacements. One young Captain called Bruce Bairnsfather spent his spare time (and he probably had a lot of it) in the trenches drawing and sketching. He had trained as an artist before the war but had become an engineer out of necessity. It’s extremely hard even today to make it as an artist and you have to be an extremely gutsy self-promoter to hawk your wares around the bazaars to earn a living. Naturally not many creative types are great at this. Captain Bairnsfather was sitting in his trench sketching away trying not to think about his fate. He possessed (as many illustrators do) a natural eye that is developed by observing your fellow man at close quarters and he also had a keen sense of the absurd, which is an 80

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asset when you’re trying to get a smile from your drawing. The men in the trenches had access to papers like The Bystander and other members of the “Great Eight” which filled their desperate days with news of the wider war, as well as much needed news from home. His fellow officers began commissioning him to do drawings for them to decorate their awful dugouts where they served out their sentences. It wasn’t long before someone put two and two together and suggested that Captain B send a drawing in. I can imagine that he was initially reluctant to do so, because creatives have this pathological fear of rejection. But his colleagues must have persevered and within a few weeks he received a letter with a cheque and a request for more drawings. If you want to see more of his work Google his name, it’s really excellent. The Bystander launched Bruce Bairnsfather as a famous War Illustrator but sadly the fortune didn’t follow in its wake and it did not make him rich or well off. The Bystander had rather shrewdly tied Capt B into a contract to own all the work he did, so poor old Capt B was tied to the paper, but at least he made some £££ and he also got out of the trenches alive, which is great. Another weekly newspaper title within the “Great Eight” was called The Illustrated London News or ILN. Launched in 1842 by Herbert Ingram it employed the finest Illustrators and engravers to produce drawings and wood cut illustrations at incredible speed to produce his take on the world’s events. It’s important to make the distinction here between “War Artists” and “War Illustrators”, because there’s a big difference. Artists were paid large amounts to paint huge landscapes taking in the poetic horror and tragedy of the war. Many were from the finest art schools in the land, roped in by the Ministry to undertake commissions and visited the trenches to collect reference material for their commissions and then hot footing back to Blighty (and who can blame them? Not I). War Illustrators (their poorly paid and less well known cousins) on the other hand, were basically ordinary enlisted men as well as Officers who could draw, but they

FEATURE WAR ILLUSTRATORS

were infinitely more useful to Ingram and the other editors of the Great Eight (I am resisting referring to them as “the G8” for obvious reasons). Why? Because they were there, they were bereft of hope, freezing and shit scared. They could draw quickly and extraordinarily well (bearing in mind the circumstances) and because they had nothing else to do. But more importantly, they had that black sense of humour and cynical, fatalistic eye that makes for great humorous cartoons. If you were to talk to some of the great political cartoonists you’d discover a link between all of them, they saw the funny side of almost everything. Bruce Bairnsfather and his fellow War Illustrators had it in droves. In London at the time drawing and sketching was seen as a fine job for a chap, there were even Gentlemen’s clubs such as The London Sketch Club where members would meet one evening a week, sketch for an hour and then critique one anther’s work in a convivial atmosphere. William Heath Robinson (Google it – if you haven’t heard of him, he’s worth a look) was another cartoonist who was popular during this period. The period, at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th Century that was to become known as “Illustrations Golden Age” and the trenches of WW1 was were many of these poor souls found themselves. If you will permit me (Ed has OK’d it) and as it is the 100th Anniversary of the Great War, I would like to spend a few editions introducing you to some of these characters and their superb work. Until next time, stay fit and healthy and if you get an opportunity why not sharpen a pencil, get yourself a new sketch pad from the shelf, watch a YouTube clip on how to draw cartoons and give it a go, you never know what might happen. ‘Til next time.

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FEATURE SENSE AND SAFETY

We all know the old adage about things going wrong. Ex-Ambulanceman Paul Yelland, gives us some advice on how we can be prepared should the worst happen

paul yelland With over twenty years’ experience in practising ﬁeld craft and survival techniques, Paul hopes to share some of his gained knowledge on the subject with fellow enthusiasts.

HAVING SERVED FIFTEEN YEARS in the UK ambulance service, I have on many occasions had to deal with casualties found in remote locations. What I often find in these situations is that the casualty is shocked and in disbelief that the accident has happened to them. The complacent attitude of “it won’t happen to me” is, in my mind dangerous. Lack of preparation and planning for an emergency whilst in the countryside not only endangers the individual, but it can also make the task of locating the casualty and their consequent rescue by the emergency services more difficult. In airsoft, there are many options when it comes to the type of terrain we can choose to operate in. We could find ourselves in a forest, on moorland or in an urban setting. If skirmishing abroad, artic and arid landscapes can be added to the list. Airsoft events are generally well run with safety of the players a priority for event organisers, but unfortunately emergencies can still occur. The following advice is just as relevant for when you are out walking with family and friends, for example on Dartmoor, as it is for when you are on a rural patrol somewhere in Wales.

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So, some examples of common remote emergencies are: Lower limb injuries Falls from height resulting in multiple trauma Chest pain Asthma attack Exposure Stranded in ﬂood water (on foot or in a vehicle) Navigation issues (lost) When faced with an emergency in a remote setting, people tend to panic. The incident can catch them off guard and often happens at the worst possible time (in darkness, bad weather, in an area with poor mobile phone signal). Carrying out basic preparations prior to starting out, means the individual is prepared both physically and mentally for dealing with an incident. Some preparations to consider making include: Fill out a route card/tell somebody where you are going Check the weather forecast Wear suitable clothing and footwear Carry adequate water and food Have a medical kit (including any prescribed medications for asthma, anaphylaxis, angina etc) Take waterproof clothing Pack spare warm dry clothing Check your mobile phone battery is fully charged Make sure your compass is accurate Check any battery operated items such as torches and carry spare batteries

Suggested items to carry The weather, terrain, expected duration of the walk/event and time of day will dictate which Items of equipment that you may want to consider taking with you. I have kept the following list as basic as possible, and it is based on my own personal preference for when walking on the hills

Dealing with an Incident The following is not ofﬁcial advice. It is my opinion based on experiences I have gained over the years. I would suggest to anyone who is visiting the wilderness, that they should attend a First Aid course to gain valuable lifesaving skills. Going on a decent survival course will further your ability to cope with rural emergencies. You really do not know when you might need to use these skills.

Safety Do not endanger the safety of yourself or others by attempting a dangerous rescue. You are more use to the casualty alive and able to call for the emergency services, and guide in any rescue team coming to your assistance. It is difﬁcult to stand back and watch a friend or loved one in trouble as it is only natural that we would want to help them, but jumping into a swollen river or attempting to climb down a ﬁfty foot cliff without safety equipment is really only going to end in one way.

Call for Help? Backpack This must be large enough and robust enough for the task in hand. I use a karrimor SF 35 litre backpack. I use a heavy duty black dustbin bag to line the main compartment and keep the contents of the pack dry. Emergency equipment such as medical kits should be easily accessible and should be packed last, so it is at the top of the pile of other equipment.

My Kit list: Waterproof jacket and trousers Warm hat and gloves Spare warm clothing (packed in plastic bag) Medical kit Food and water/ﬂask with hot water Stove Mess tin and spoon Map and compass Mobile phone Additional emergency kit could include: Survival kit (carry in your pocket) Space blanket/survival bag Hi visibility tabard Torch and spare batteries

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Assuming that you can safely reach the casualty, and there is no further risk by staying where you both are, you must now decide whether to call for help or give first aid as a priority. If for example someone you are walking with falls over and breaks their ankle, you are naturally going to offer your assistance, find out what is wrong and make them as comfortable as possible. Then after finding out that they have a leg injury you would give some first aid and probably call 999 for help, assuming that there is phone reception. All pretty straight forwards so far…. Now, things start to become complicated. You are with your friend walking on the hills and they suddenly say that they do not feel well. They sit down on a rock, quickly keel over onto the ground and are now in cardiac arrest. There is nobody else around for miles. You get out your mobile phone, but find there is no phone reception. You know how to carry out CPR, but there is now only you. If you start CPR, who is going to go and call for help? The chances of CPR on its own getting the heart working again are very slim. Your friend needs advanced care with drugs and defibrillation - you have none of these. So, do you stay and carry out CPR, or do you leave your friend to run off and call for help? This is a realistic moral dilemma you may well face. This is a decision that only you can make at the time, but I know what I would do.

FEATURE SENSE AND SAFETY

“The international distress signal is six blasts of a noise or ﬂashes of light in quick succession. This is followed by a minute pause and is then repeated...”

Identifying Your Location When making an emergency call it is really important to give an accurate as possible position to the operator. If venturing out into the wilderness you should really be able to use a map and compass and be capable of working out six figure grid references. If you cannot do this, then practice. I work on the principle that you should be able to identify your current position on a map at all times. If no grid reference is available however, then the next best thing is to try and identify major land marks in relation to where you are. Just saying to the operator “we are on a hill” will not really be helpful on its own. Identify forests, peaks, rivers, aerial masts, distant buildings, roads and bridges to try and give the operator a rough idea where you are. If it is dark, look for distant artificial light sources such as red lights on top of towers and masts, street lighting from towns and villages or distant vehicle head lights and their direction of travel. If you find yourself getting into difficulties and you do not have a mobile phone, or your phone has no signal, then you must rely on other methods to attract attention and signal your distress. The international distress signal is six blasts of a noise or flashes of light in quick succession. This is followed by a minute pause and is then repeated. Continue this pattern until you receive a reply – three blasts of a noise or flashes of a light source in quick succession, repeated after one minute.

over where they are laying. If no tent is available, then wrapping the casualty in a space blanket will be of some benefit, as will getting them to lie inside a survival bag. However, if there is any suspicion of the patient having sustained a spinal injury, then they should not be moved (unless they are in immediate danger). Any shelter or protection should be placed around them. With the casualty and other team members warm and protected from the elements and the rescue services on their way, you need to make your position known them. Improvise with whatever equipment you have at your disposal. Making a noise such as with a whistle will attract attention at any time of day and night and also in poor visibility. If there is sunlight, then a heliograph is useful. One can be improvised by using any item that has a reflective shiny surface. Bright items of equipment can be laid out on the ground to attract attention, as can spare foil space blankets which will stand out against the natural coloured surroundings. At night, the methods of signalling are with noise and also sources of light. These could be torches, cyalumes or the flash of a camera. If using light sources to signal to rescue aircraft at night, then be aware to the risk of dazzling the pilot who will more than likely be using night vision equipment.

Helicopters Waiting for rescue Once you have called 999 for the Mountain Rescue, Coast Guard or Ambulance service etc, and you have given the operator your position, then stay where you are. There is nothing more frustrating than people calling 999, giving a location and then moving to somewhere else! Once you have made that 999 call and have given the location, as long as it remains safe to do so, stay put otherwise it will be harder for the emergency services to ﬁnd you. Whilst waiting for rescue, make the casualty as comfortable as possible and continue to give them ﬁrst aid as needed. It is really important to get the casualty and yourself out of the elements. Put up a shelter to protect yourselves from the wind, rain or snow. The danger now is hypothermia. Make sure the casualty is insulated from the ground and is kept warm by using extra clothing or a sleeping bag. Even in the summer time, it is surprising how much a casualty’s body temperature will drop when exposed to the elements and by lying directly on the ground for long periods. Put up a tent if you have one and everyone in your team should get inside it. If the casualty cannot be moved, then erect the tent outer

If a helicopter comes into land near your position, ensure any loose items are packed away, or held down securely. The force of the rotor wash can be very strong and will blow around anything not secured, such as space blankets and tarps. There is a serious risk of these loose items being thrown up into the rotor blades endangering the aircraft and its crew. Rotor wash also has a habit of throwing up loose debris from the ground. The effect is made worse in dusty dry conditions and in snow. So when a helicopter is coming into land near you, it is wise to turn away from the aircraft to avoid dust and debris blowing into your eyes. The casualty needs to be protected from this as well, so lean over them. One last thing – under no circumstances should you or anybody else in your team approach the helicopter whilst the rotor blades are moving. Keep a safe distance away. Once the aircraft has landed, a member of the aircrew will come over to meet you. So to sum up, I hope you never need to use any of this advice but if you are well prepared and stay calm, the outcome is much more likelyy to be a positive one.

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APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

ABER AIRSOFT – THE BUNKER

AIRSOFT ASYLUM

ALPHA 55

ARENA AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

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

Sutton, near Ferrybridge 07723 061386 andyace@ntlworld.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MARCH 2014

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

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

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

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

086

AWA HERTS

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

SITE DIRECTORY

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

FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

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

BLUESTREAK AIRSOFT

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

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

CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT

BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT

CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

BUNKER 51 Charlton, SE7 8NJ 0870 7549653 www.wolfarmouries.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

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

COOL UNDER FIRE CERBERUS AIRSOFT - THE COMPLEX Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

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

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

CORNWALL AIRSOFT ASSAULT Truro, Cornwall, TR2 07837 475012 www.cornwallairsoftassault.co.uk

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

DELTA TEAM 3 Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8UT 07986 053076 www.deltateam3.co.uk

DOGS OF WAR

FIFE WARGAMES

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

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

DRAGON’S LAIR

FINMERE AIRSOFT

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

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

DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT

FIREBALL SQUADRON

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

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

ELITE ACTION GAMES – GATWICK Holmbush Farm, Crawley Road, Faygate, Nr. Horsham, W. Sussex, RH12 4SE 07882 686242 www.eliteactiongames.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIRST AND ONLY – ANZIO CAMP Leek, ST13 8 07862 288359 www.ﬁrstandonlyairsoft.com

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

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

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

FIRST AND ONLY – ASYLUM Kidderminster, DY10 3PT 07862 288359 www.ﬁrstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST & ONLY: THE HIVE Middleton, Manchester, M24 1AZ0161 727 8863

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

FIRST & ONLY: THE ACADEMY Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 6QF 07779 157440

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

087

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

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

FIRST & ONLY: THE ASYLUM

GREENZONE COMBAT

Kidderminster, DY10 3PT 07779 157440

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

FIRST & ONLY: THE OUTPOST Kidderminster, DY11 5SA 07779 157440

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

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

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

LAC SITE 1 Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

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

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

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

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

LAC SITE 5

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

IV25 3PY 07702 846090 www.highlandtacticalairsoft.co.uk

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

Wolverhampton, WV10 7HU 08000 354490 www.paintballuk.com

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

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

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

Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk

GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com

088

MARCH 2014

February 2014

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

INVICTA AIRSOFT – RAINDEN WOODS Folkestone, Kent, CT18 7AY 01227 763335 www.invictaairsoft.co.uz

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

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

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

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

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

Argyll and Bute, PA37 1 07967 710185 www.argyllsurplus.com

OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS MAW Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 07562 479966 maw.airsoft@hotmail.com

Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT 07964 990831 www.op-tac.co.uk

OVER THE TOP AIRSOFT CLUB

HUMBER AIRSOFT GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON

NOMAD AIRSOFT

OBAN AIRSOFT – HILL ARGYLL

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

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

NTAC

HILTON PARK AIRSOFT FRV AIRSOFT

NCIS AIRSOFT

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

HIGHLAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT FREE FIRE ZONE

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

NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT

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

MILSIM UK

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

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

Anglesey, LL71 www.ottairsoft.co.uk 07731 744471

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

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

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

PHOENIX AIRSOFT

SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY

TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT

UCAP SANDPIT

Budby, Notts, NG22 9FG 01623 812483 www.phoenix-airsoft.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

PLATOON 1HQ

SKIRMISH EXETER

TECH BRIGADE

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

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

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

PLAYERS OF WAR

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT

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

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

PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES

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

Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN 08456 434326 www.scottishadventurecentre.co.uk

SUSSEX AIRSOFT

TROJAN AIRSOFT

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

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

S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT

TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB

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

RAVEN’S NEST Suffolk, IP8 4 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk

RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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 Boathouse lane, South Wirral, Cheshire, CH64 3TB www.swatairsoft.eu 07703 177756

Weir Mill, Viaduct Street, Chestergate, Stockport, Cheshire, SK5 7JP

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

XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END

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

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM

TA EVENTS

UCAP AIRSOFT

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

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

TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT

UCAP GREEN OPS

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

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

High Wycombe, HP14 3NP 01494 881430

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

www.airsoft-action.co.uk

089

DEALER LISTINGS

ADVERTISERS INDEX Land Warrior Airsoft RedWolf Airsoft Airsoft Zone

april 2014

3 + 79 9

Wolf Armouries

ActionSportGames

Enola Gaye

BadgerTac

JD Airsoft

090

28 + 68

Airsoft Armoury

Military 1st

Leeds Airsoft

SWAT

Armex

58 + 59

BadgerTac 2

EW Trading

Crawley Surplus Store

NoVAT

Dragon Valley

Military Outdoor

Epic Militaria

Gunman

Airsoft World

Pro Airsoft Supplies