Tactical Pith Helmet

Sierra Bravo Airsoft - Op Yarra 3-4/6/23 Ultimate Wargames Kent Another in the Namsoft series of games, this one has a difference in that the game revolves around Australian involvement in Vietnam. Teams were therefore Australian SAS, Australian Infantry and a pair of New Zealanders versus the usual array of VC and PAVN players. A few civilians hung around the village too, and play an increasingly important role in the games too. The site is a woodland site with some well-constructed buildings, and a CQB area that comprises of steel fencing dumped old crap cars etc. The safe zone is central and splits the site in two. The main half is very pleasant, the CQB side less so, but a good game space none the less. We arrived to the first shock, which was that bugger all people were there. Our usual group of lunatics number about a dozen or so, only three of us made the trip this time. Mrs TPH was ill, so it would have been four. I think that this was due to the game next week at Gunman being so close. Personally, I’ll keep the gear in the car and just charge the batteries up again. The teams were fifteen a side booked on, slightly less in attendance. Friday night was a good laugh, very laid back and I ended up reading for half an hour before bed. Mao on rural warfare was a good primer for the morning I thought. Briefing was brief, informal and stuck to the basics. Each rif chronoed was recorded. Any late changes and I doubt that you’d be covered by site insurance. Quite right to. With regular players in attendance, only the basics needed saying. Most players were on first name terms. Saturday started with a simple game setting out boxes to respawn with. These had to be hidden well and intelligently. We manged to set out five or so out of a minimum of eleven, avoiding the enemy all of the time. Each had to be guarded for ten minutes after placement and this was achieved, the coordinates marked and relayed to control. After years of playing together we're finally getting our basic act together re: comms and maps - hurrah. Next up, we fancied some trigger time. We set off in what we guessed was the location of the enemy only to blunder into them. They got the drop, we ran away like schoolgirls, except myself, who manfully hid in a holly bush after a strategic retreat of thirty yards (I wasn’t awake enough to run…) I waited to cover the retreating VC only to hear them blunder into another patrol that must have been following us! I sat tight and the pursuing SAS team made straight along the main track in a huddle. Ho ho ho Chi Minh… I let rip with the RPK and sent them legging it in turn. By this time, someone had the presence of mind to order us all back into the centre of the site out of the Australian pincer. Final score two VC wounded for several Aus dead according to our radio. Next up we set up two boxes of high value in the CQB zone and waited. And waited. For almost an hour nothing happened. I then decided that the only part of the site not covered must hold the other team, so I set off, collecting someone with the same vague intention as myself. We soon bumped the Aus squad, and exchanged fire, radioing in our position. We were told to pull out and so did, firing as we went. The time was up for the Aus to attack and so we legged it with both boxes intact and a second leg won. Third game was an attack on the Vietnamese village that we had to repulse. This went well, we decided to defend a few small strong points rather than randomly defend a few. I set up in the upstairs of the corner building along with three other players. One covered the stairs. After a while we heard someone enter downstairs. They could have easily shot a sentry so our plan was a good one. Then things got strange. Our comrade fired a shot that followed by a blood curdling scream and a loud series of thuds. Someone shouted ‘cease fire.’ A civilian player ran over with a chair, fearing a broken lower limb from the stair fally noises. We looked over the banisters to see someone holding their head and shaking. They suddenly exploded into a series of shouts that they had been badly hosed with BBs and that they were in great pain. FFS, they’d been hit with a single BB… With much effort we didn’t laugh but consoled the person that they had been hit with a single BB and advised that they go and lay down which they and the rest of the SAS squad did. The ASAS reenactors are a decent bunch, but they do miss the point sometimes. The next minute, the police station exploded with noise as a mammoth pyro battle ensued. I ran out of bangs and feared that I’d run out of BBs for the first time ever. It was one intense set to, and to be honest, I was glad that I was watching the noise from another building. One of the civvies had a blank firing MP40 and was adding to the noise and confusion with 9mm blanks. The ‘nade throwing was pretty accurate and we out threw the Aus team in the end. Much ear rubbing ensued. We then all sat down and swapped fags, drank water, and did a post-mortem on the stairs incident in case any of us were dreaming. We rebalanced sides with a couple of ‘picked volunteers.’ Next up was an attack on the main Aus base. This was important as it was the last game of a hot and long days airsofting. Luckily, our spawn boxes were all unfound at that end of the site, so we had little distance to run, although we still had the five minute bleed out time. We really threw ourselves at the fort. I set up in decent cover and really did suppress the oppo side. A pal with a DMR set up to my left, swearing that I drew too much attention with my timed bursts. They shot really well tbh. I did keep a few heads down. A few brave souls charged as we suppressed and did very well, getting into a few feet of range before engaging. We rolled the position up after a hell of a time though. It was really back and forth. I was about dry when we finally took the position. Sunday dawned warm and clear and we started late. The SAS team went home. We were down to six ANZACs versus eight VC. Three VC had to leave early so we left it at that. This was a fall back game with the Vietnamese chasing the Aus team from the fort. I can honestly say that this was some of my most memorable airsoft ever. We blundered into the Aus side at first, in a repeat of Saturday. Third game in a row that I’ve fucked up Sunday morning! I’ll change my brand of isotonic sports scotch I think… Next attempt we really tightened things up. I set up a spot to suppress from, the DMR guy held an overview at 45 degrees and we sent our rifleman in to draw fire, respawn and try again. Third attempt we got the two groups of two as they tried to do their fall back in rushes bit. Shot our son for the second time that weekend. Well satisfied. The next fall back was an attack on two blockhouses. This was classic airsoft too. I sneaked around the back and got to within feet of the window before being spotted and shot. The next attempt I took two others and we aced it. I was the only one un-hit , and managed to slide into blockhouse one through a window. I set up and listed as the second blockhouse put up a good fight. I laid down fire to have it returned well passed my position. They had not realised that the first blockhouse was in our possession. In time my BBs found their mark. The whole fight had taken so long that we decided to wrap up with one last scrap over the main base. I’ll leave it there (before we got beat) to say that it was truly classic airsoft, and one of my favourite days ever. Why drive four plus hours and camp just to play games that are not 100% different from normal if themed? Well… the gameplay was excellent. No cheat calling, no arguing (bizarre bollox on this occasion excepted), good hit taking, great atmosphere, fun social in the evening, nice food and company and a meet up with old friends. I much prefer doing a couple or one of these games a month March to November than skirmish silliness every couple of weeks, much as I loved my last skirmish game. I came home after little sleep and a lot of booze and exercise feeling refreshed and very mellow. The lad agreed that this was a very good game indeed. Mrs TPH well pissed off at missing things. No worries as next week we will roast the lick-spittle running dogs of the comprador capitalist class all over again on a different site. Cheers: just about everything. Best airsoft games ever AFAIK. Moans: getting a bit too loose on the loadout front. Get yourself some proper black PJs people. I’ve had mine for 17 years and trained kung fu in them thrice a week for twelve. They’re in a state tbh but they do look authentic. Likewise, leave the scrim wrapped M4 at home and borrow a gun if need be. A non-tactical AK74 will pass, we’re not stitch counters but make an effort. Du ban GI!

I spent the whole morning building a time machine – that’s four hours of my life I’m definitely getting back.

With your weird feet being the opposite in width to length scale to my weird feet, I'd go German in xx-wide.

My son destroys a pair in three years daily use with absolutely no care at all. The leather dries out and cracks in the end. The German jungle boots come in a HUGE range of widths and are the Rolls Royce of jungle boots. I use extra extra narrow 9s! About £50.

Welco Paruana are £28 new at Preppers Shop at the moment.

I heard a rumour that Cadbury's is bringing out an oriental chocolate bar. Could be a Chinese Wispa.

Got a new job at the wheel factory. Got elected as the shop steward too. I'm now the official spokesperson.

I would think thrice before buying from anywhere with 'BB guns' in the title. I was extremely hacked off with their customer 'service.' Google them and see what comes up...

I've half a dozen of the things. My folding AK47 is beaten but still straight shooting. My full stock AK47 has been loaned to various friends of my son forever and still performs well. My metal bodied series are 100% A OK and Mrs TPH loves her AK74SU. I really rate them. The lad's CM.048 has been mistaken for an E&L or LCT more than once.

Bought one of those Welsh motorbikes today. It's a Rhondda 500.

My friends and I are having a competition between us, to see who can steal the most from our local pet shop. This week I managed to take the lead.

To err is human. To blame others shows management potential.

Depends on the type of game. I use a 1000mah over a whole weekend milsim/filmsim. CQB sees a 1500mah minimum in the rif and a spare in the pouch. I have a 2400mah for my support gun. I've never had to change a battery mid game.

My wife told me that the cat needed to be chipped. I only had a nine iron, but I still got it over the shed.

What with this and the scammer thread, it's turning into Agatha bloody Christie on here!

'Stop trying to scam people and get a job Moriarty, you lazy cunt.' The Hound of the Baskervilles - Conan Doyle Seriously mate, top job!

I've been meditating in the garden. I'm no fortune teller but my fuchsia looks bright.

My mate draws sketches of escaped prisoners for the police. He's a con artist.

Sunday Skirmish at Gunman Tuddenham. We had not skirmished for a couple of years, and with the lad’s birthday being soon, and my promise to treat one of his mates to a game being keenly remembered, we went to today’s game. The weather was glorious, we arrived on time, and I remembered everything but my water bottle. Luckily, I always have a two litre bottle in the van… which some swine had not put back. First purchase then was six bottles of water, and three tickets at £30 a pop. I also added a bag of Geoff’s .25gs. These were £13 compared to my last couple of bags of Taiwan Gun Kilo 9s at less than a fiver! Safety briefing was long detailed and pretty funny. The youngsters laughed and seemed to stay attentive. No questions were asked at the end apart from a bit of clarification, so top marks. Game brief was concise and clear too. First question from chief marshal was to remind anyone with a medical issue to have a word pre-game. First game took place in the woodland area of the site and consisted of one team attacking two positions, both of which had a timed bomb. If armed and defended for (I think) ten minutes, the attackers won the position, if the defenders kept them from detonating, then the defenders won the position. This was a great game with the team moving up aggressively and communicating well. Radios were used to good effect and the positions were soon in the hands of armband team. We held these for the required time and were victorious in no time. Someone forgot which barrel held the bomb however and was standing too close when it went off, which hurt their tinnitus. They heard the warning shouts but assumed that they were for someone else. Totally the player’s own stupid error (I’ll try and remember next time… The game was turned around and this time, the bombs were defended with the same level of positive play that they had been attacked with, leaving both intact at close of play. What I really enjoyed was the level of sportsmanship. I heard a lot of ‘well done,’ and ‘good shot’ calls, and was on the receiving end of some great shooting. Twice I was hit by people with the first couple of BBs, no walking in or huge bursts of fire required. I shot well, getting the drop on several people despite little sleep. I thought that both games had been well played and was just warming up for some serious play when lunch was called. I seriously thought that we must have had two half hour games rather than the full sixty minutes each time. It was that fluid and fast moving. Lunch proved that you can lead a teenager to bottled water, but you can’t make it drink. ‘I’m fine with a can of Monster’ seemed a keen topic of conversation, including between me and the lad’s pal. I took a shoulder bag into the field with me full of water for the inevitable as the sun had really got out by now. The afternoon games were in the village, a group of old Second World War buildings used as accommodation by bomber crews. These are very difficult to fight around at this time of year as the foliage around them is thick and engagement ranges are extremely short in places. You need to be quick and have 360 degree vision. First we had to fight over two timers, one in the shower block, and one in a container in the open half of the site. Snipers were restricted to the open section; limited respawns for the defenders favoured the attackers. This was a seriously contested game with each side allowed use of one shield each, and the same level of gameplay achieved as in the morning. It was really enjoyable to skirmish without a hint of the silly shouty bollox that infects games occasionally. Unfortunately our team’s cooperation fell apart, and our attacks were ill supported at times, chaotic at most. We were badly beaten, gaining no time at all on the clocks. A certain amount of visible frustration did creep in for a couple of younger players, probably due to dehydration and post lunch torpor as much as anything else. At change around a couple of players were ordered to drink at risk of banishment to the carpark or somewhere, being identified by concerned friends. Looking after oneself in the heat had featured in the safety brief, and it was good to see silly sods get outed and watered well before the frustration reached a verbal level. As it was the gameplay remained excellent. I had traded with a player twice and both times we called having thought that we’d missed each other. I felt really switched on and it seemed to be a common feeling for some reason. Last game was a simple building clearance. These are classic Tudders games. Get four or five into a building and shout clear. If cleared by a marshal go to the next building, if an opposition player has hidden themselves when you call clear, then you’re all KIA. The non-banded team got off to a flying start, taking the first rows of buildings with ease, then slowing up as they got closer to the defenders positions. I got into a great position in one building, hiding in a bush and shooting in through a window at the doorway. I got a couple of attackers and was about to get a whole group as I was shot in the back by my own team, as I shouted out for them to watch their fire as we were in front of them. In airsoft, don’t bunch up, don’t hang back, keep alert, communicate, and push the flanks are about all you probably need. When you lose those, you’ve lost the game. We lost the game quite badly, but I honestly could not care less. At close of play, the marshals were amazed at the level of play, everyone sported a big grin, I had not heard one moan all day and we called it a wrap. It was only when we pulled out of the carpark that I saw the time, I thought that we could have squeezed another quick game. Then again, we had truly quit whilst ahead. To be honest, we usually avoid skirmishes as the themed games are so much better, but we had a whale of a time today. The game, gameplay and marshalling were spot on, the weather was perfect and the atmosphere was really good natured. I wished that Mrs TPH had attended. I leave her at home for the odd skirmish we go to, as any arguing, or sexist ‘banter’ or morale patches might lead to her sticking one on the offending player, but she would have loved it. As it was, no girls were in attendance. I hope that the high standard of play continues. We had a cracking day out. The G&G CM16 never missed a beat all day, although I accidently took the fucked ‘fet instead of the functioning one. Lad’s mate used my loaner CYMA AK47 which performed fuss free; the lad’s half-brother used his CYMA M4 which still performs 100% despite it being his only, and hence only used rif. The boy himself used a G&G electric recoil M4 which despite expectations has kept together as his main rif for four or five years. His CYMA AKM which was fitted with a scope for a laugh, but which did sterling work around the buildings in the afternoon, shot like a laser. We did have a few misfires due to weak mag springs; as our first purchased G&G midcaps have tired springs these days. I expect that most of us fell in love with this tomfoolery at skirmish games. It was fun to be reminded why today. My only moan is that we could have had an extra half hour or so.

A dyslexic friend of mine thought it might help his condition if he joined a poetry club. He hasn't written any poems yet, but he's made some pretty nice jugs and vases and stuff.

Not sure if I'm relieved or disappointed! 😆

I see that Germany is sending tanks to Ukraine. Apparently they'll be going via Poland for old times sake.

People applauded when they witnessed a dwarf abseiling down a prison wall. I saw it as a little condescending.

Given the way things are going, with second hand G&G M4s at £130+, we could all be asking ourselves a similar question soon... Personally I treat all rifs to a bit of deference given their relative delicacy. This attitude lasts until I get carried away enjoying the game and inevitably my most used guns are missing various bits and sport a fair few examples of gaffer tape and cable ties. If the damage annoyed me, I would not use them, however much they cost.