Plus encore de Claude

The mention me getting to ride around in 'Claude', a Simca Sumb truck at a recent airsoft event got Paul at Plastic Warriors all hot and bothered, so here are some more photos of the beast in question (the Simca, not Paul!) as it appeared last month.

Here is a Video clip showing some French (?) chaps cocking about with a Sumb and some other stuff.  Listen out for the hiss of those air brakes!

The Volturno affair, October 1943 (and October 2011) - part 3

More 'action' pics from Volturno.  Actually these mainly show players lazing about - 'in combat' shots are understandably rare!

Martin in a typically dynamic pose.

Awaiting new orders.

More laying around during a lull.  Shortly afterwards we were sent on patrol - and ran straight into a much larger Allied force.

An American player skulking in the woods. 

After action photo of the German force.

After action photo of the Brits.

And finally - as a treat for Paul, another pic of 'Claude', a Simca Sumb before his recent repaint.

Photo by CiA member Old 'Un - Claude's owner.

The Volturno affair, October 1943 (and October 2011) - part 2

More photos now from Volturno, mostly showing the Germans moving into position.  One of the nicer things about the WW2 airsoft games I have attended is the amount of time spent on non-combat cocking about - approach marches, sorting out defensive lines, constructing positions, patrolling etc. 

Photo credits as per the previous post.

The Landsers recover after the initial trip aboard Claude.  I now understand why, in photos of real soldiers aboard lorries they are smiling.  Travel aboard Claude was an interesting experience - very cramped due to there being more then 20 tooled up guys in the back, but a surprisingly smooth ride.  Proper French suspension I suppose - like the old Peugeots and Citroen I've run.

More milling about sorting out kit.

A 'period' shot.

German briefing.

Part of the Heer section moves up into position.

The Volturno affair, October 1943 (and October 2011) - part 1

Last Saturday saw me attend another WW2 Airsoft event.  Set in Italy in 1943, this was actually held at Close Action Airsoft's Weekly Hall Wood site in Northamptonshire.  This made it an easy day trip for those of us in the Sheffield area.  The scenario involved US and British forces attempting to clear up German rearguard parties following the breaching of the Volturno Line.
The German forces (about a platoon) were split into a section each of FJR, SS and Heer.  The Heer (Army) section was theoretically Gebirgsjager (mountain troops), so I wore basically my Luftwaffe Field Division gear, topped (for posing around the car park purposes at least) with a Gebirgsjager field cap.  Martin had enhanced his look with a big rucksack and a rope of the type normally used for securing ocean liners.  Steve chose to debut in his Heer uniform.
Photo credits go to Comrades in Arms members Martin R, Cheeky Chappy, Sgt. Heide and Pride of England.

The US forces gathered for the initial briefing.  Scruffy lot.

The Brits seemed to be mostly Paras.

The Fuhrer's finest.

'Claude' - actually a Simca Sumb, late of the French Army, which served as the German transport.  Think of it as a sort of French Unimog - with air brakes and a V-8 engine!  What luxury!

As always, players had made great efforts to get the 'look' right.

The appearance of affordable airsoft Sten guns a couple of years ago has greatly increased the popularity of British airborne kit.

Steve T tries out his camouflage.

This chap was very handy with his rather nice K98.

Steve showing off his 'weathered' MP-44

Coming soon - 'in action' photos.

Il Gigio Pass - WW2 Airsoft event - part 2

As promised in my earlier post, here are some 'in action' photos taken at this event.  Photo credits as per the first post.

Me manning the '42, in conversation with one of the soldats soldiers.  Martin is in the centre, chatting to 'our' Feldgendarme (the owner of the MG42).

A thing of beauty.  The MG42 that is!

MG gunner's eye view of the field of fire.

British troops moving up a very Italianate zig-zag path on the opposite side of the quarry.

Martin was our designated communication operative.  We memorised three German messages:  "Hilfe, hilfe!" [Help, help!]; "Der Schwere Panzer Abteillung, schnell!" [The heavy tank battalion - quickly!] and "Al ist kaput!" [All is, er, kaput!].

Later in the day - relaxing while the Brits attack another position.  

A more authentically 1944 version of the same scene.

They were the enemy but they looked pretty good!  The Military Policemen were particularly striking.

The assembled multitudes in front of the German command post after the end of the game.

A nice touch was the souvenir mug presented to every player at the end of the day.

Il Giogo Pass - WW2 Airsoft event - part 1

On Saturday 18 June I took part in a WW2 Airsoft event in Portland, Dorset (hence the en-route visit to the Tank Museum).  The scenario was based on the fighting for Il Giogo Pass during the Allied assault on the Gothic Line in Italy (Wiki Link).

The game was organised by Comrades in Arms (Link) and attracted over 40 players.    

My thanks for allowing me the use of their photos goes to CiA members Boshman, MartinR, BedsnHerts, Agent Orange & Seidler.  This post will look at the initial setting up, with 'action' pics forming a second post.

One of the excellent props which made the day so atmospheric.  There was indeed a minefield!

The (top secret) German map showing the layout of the quarry.  I was part of the garrison of 'Anton' which was around 10m above 'ground' level.  'Zeppelin', the German rear echelon, was about 250m distant.  The British attack came from around 200m to the left of 'Anton'.

Some of the 'Germans' getting their gear together.  

The German CO with his command bus.  Most impressive.  He played his role particularly well - to the extent of sporting a long cigarette holder and a riding crop.

4 FJR Div ready for action. 

Nationale Volksarmee in Sherwood Forest!

I finally managed my first airsoft outing of the year on Sunday.  I was joined by a few other members of our (very) informal airsoft team, Wheezy Kompanie at Phoenix Airsoft's woodland site just along the road.  There were around 40 players in total.

Martin and I both decided to give our East German 'Strichtarn' camo an outing while Gunter went for modern German Flecktarn and Tony & Alex British DPM. 

Rifles used were as follows:

Tim - am: nice wood & metal AKM, pm: scruffy old black AKM

Martin - am: modified M-14 (it will pass as an SVT-40), pm: G-3 SG1

Gunter - am:  G-36 (long version with bipod), pm: G-36C

Tony - AK-47

Alex - G-36C

All photos taken by Tony Lineker and used here with his kind permission.

Martin (right) and I prepare to repel an assault by the capitalist imperialist lackeys from the west.  Must be from Derbyshire then?

Your humble correspondent helping to make the world safer for the peoples' democracies.

Gunter turns his G-36C on a flanking attack.

It may be cheap and not very cheerful, but Strichtarn is pretty good camo!