MILSIM: Operation East Wind VI (MAR09-MAR16, 2013)

[Gimpalong]

Sorry, can't make this one.

[Impulse]

Booooo.

If our two northernmost guys are out, I'll look for someplace closer to operate in. Although I'm doubtful that the southeast has the same type of rolling hills and isolation from civilians that I'm looking for. It does open the possibility of scouting out terrain ahead of time, though, instead of relying on old topo's, so that's good.

As I said, the fee's most likely going to be less, I copied the $25 from another event which I think uses some of it to buy non-reusable... stuff. $25 for three meals could probably get you MRE's the whole weekend, and that's an expensive route (although picking up a few isn't out of the question).

[Columbus]

I received my order from Germany yesterday. It's going to be like Tetris trying to get everything to fit into the rucksack.

[Impulse]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D_IDCKV5IM

1S's got you covered.

[Columbus]

Have you looked into Wolcott Mill metropark for the fieldcraft training? It's a lot closer for south east participants and has a lot of land.

That video link you posted is excellent. I have the Jaeger rucksack, but many of the same principles for packing apply. I was just staring at my sleeping bag yesterday and then back at the rucksack shaking my head over how I was supposed to make it fit.


Edit: Is the fieldcraft event still happening? We haven't received updates from everyone, and I am not sure how many participants are needed for it to be worth the time and effort.

[Impulse]

I was just coming in here to say that with only two confirmed attendees, I'll have to cancel the training event. Four is a minimum to do any kind of formation training, which is what I'd planned to focus on. Comms and shelter work are also of diminished value in such a small group.

[Bison]

Pending clinical days for the Winter semester I am planning on attending. I am currently in the Army as a 13F so I can provide military experience as well as training or answering any questions. I'm stocking up on old OCIE now so my wallet hurts less later on. Looking forward to working with everyone!

[aswayze]

@ Impulse, look hard at East German as well. The more we begin to grow, the more viable East German troops are due to the much better quality field gear and more modern processes/procedures than their Soviet counterparts.

Now back to our regularly scheduled announcement:

Just a last minute reminder, we are one month out from the sign up deadline for East Wind 6. If you are planning to attend, you need to have a deposit in by the end of Feb and your full balance paid by March 1.

Day Player sign ups also close at the end of Feb so if you intend to attend as a day player you’ll need to be signed up by then as well. We do not allow any walk ons to East Wind so pre-registration is your only way into the event.

If you were hoping to get to East Wind and are not yet completely kitted up with your required gear you’d better get hopping. Last minute gear chases are part of every years festivities so if you are running into a wall on one piece of kit or another make sure you hop on over to the East Wind forums and ask around to see if anyone can point you in the correct direction.

If you are bringing a military vehicle to East Wind make certain that you have done all your maintenance tasks and that your vehicle is ready to go. Change axle oil, change oil in transfer cases, change engine oil, if you have a manual transmission, change the oil in it, if you have an automatic check you oil out and if it’s suspicious, change it AND the trans filter. Grease all your zerks according to the correct lube order for your vehicle (don’t skip the hard ones like the throw out bearing, if you’re thinking about skipping it, the last guy probably did the same) Check all your tires including your spare. Make sure you have a complete pioneer kit, make sure you have chains or a recovery strap, check your first aid kit, make sure you fire extinguisher is charged and double check all your black out light systems. If you are self deploying a CUCV, check your harmonic balancer, make sure both your alternators are charging well and carry a spare fuel filter with you. If you are self deploying an M880 series vehicle check and grease your front drive shaft double cardin joint, make sure that you grease both of your front wheel bearings, make sure your transfer case lock is correctly adjusted, and feel around on the top of your fuel tank for cracks. If you are bringing an M151, DO NOT EVEN THINK about bringing it out without changing your transmission oil, checking both your inner and outer shifter boots and greasing every one of your universal joints. You do not want to end up with water intrusion into your transmission or a busted U-joint. Also make sure you review the M151 training videos for either the M151A1 or the M151A2. If you are bringing a gasoline powered vehicle bring a spare fuel pump as well as at least 2 spare fuel filters. Do not skimp on ANY of the above, East Wind is a tough environment and your vehicle needs to be in top shape to operate successfully out there.


If you are flying in or taking any other sort of public transit, make sure you get with us about your arrival times so we can see about getting you picked up and dropped off. If you are driving from some distance away, again coordinate on the East Wind forum so that you can take full advantage of carpooling or convoying to make your trip easier and safer..

This is shaping up to be the best East Wind yet and we look forward to seeing everyone soon!

[steelfallenangel]

That guy in the initial photos with a M16 with a mounted optic, is that a Colt Canada C7A1? I'm asking since nearly all guns can't have non standard optics and the C7 is one of the few i know that has a elcan mounted under most conditions, and would be period for canadian troops. I'm only asking since I know this even has VERY strict standards for equipment.

While the event itself interest me highly, the period is what throws me off. I know what the event managers are trying to achieve and its quite impressive just not my cup of tea.

Hopefully in the future as airsoft grows, another event like this perhaps taking place in southeast asia to open up the possibilities for more nations to be able to fictionally participate. Likely wouldn't be as realistic since it wouldn't be able to maintain the same extreme gear requirements with some pieces being in the 1000$ or just outright illegal to own.

Best of luck to all attending.

[Gimpalong]

The Canadian contingent did, last year, run C7A1s with ELCANs. Apparently they are the period correct optic. I believe EW only allows actual Canadians to form part of the Canadian contingent.

As far as cost, the equipment, at least for the US contingent, is actually cheap and plentiful. The most expensive items tend to be the PASGT helmet, PASGT vest and Goretex jacket.

Night-vision equipment, infrared devices, motion sensors, vehicles etc are supplied by the event hosts or people associated with the event hosts.

Find out more at www.operationeastwind.com/forum/.

[Impulse]

Yeah, it's a C7A1. US troops do technically carry M16A3's with removable carry handles, but that's just because of the lack of good A2 receivers on commercially produced weapons.

Southeast Asian themed events do have this little problem along the lines of 'hey look at all the white people'. Europe not so much. And East Wind strategically selected a time and place for which equipment is easy to get - the main concern for the administration being vehicles, tents, radios, NODs, motion detectors, and all those little bits that tend to cost far more than an individual soldier kit (regardless of era). As a bonus, the fact that there never actually WAS a war in Europe means that collectors of the equipment are few and poorly-made reproductions of things are as expensive as the real deal.

East Wind does, however, need more East Bloc players, and some of their equipment is a little tougher to get than your typical flea market US gear.

Keep talking about doing a similar themed event and maybe it'll happen...

[Impulse]

If I can get a quick handcount on who's interested in doing another fieldcraft event, possibly mid-march (not competing against Ogre's event) I'll make a planning thread for that.

And, shock update, I'll be going after all - but only in an assistant cook role - let me know if you'd like to carpool.

[steelfallenangel]

I should have clarified, when I said east asia I meant post 2000. The use of UN peacekeepers in perhaps a conflict between Russia and China or China and another neightbor could allow the use of a wide variety of forces.

Maybe in a year or two when I get more experience and grow tired of normal milsims I'll look to attend. Likely as either as UK Armored Infantry since I like their gear or a East German Bundeswehr since I own some of that gear already.

Just so I know for future refrenence, the Bundeswehrs G36, can I assume it cannot be a K varient even if it includes the traditional A1 style scope.red dot, and bipod? I know the C and MG would be out of the question but I've read that the K shows up quite a bit alongside the full length G36.

[Gimpalong]

The G36 (full length version, six hole handguard with optic) is used as a stand-in for the G3 which would have been used at the time.

Because solid airsoft G3s are a little difficult to come by, an exception is made for Bundeswehr units to use the G36.

This may change in the future, but for this year's EW, the G36 is correct.

Bundeswehr requirements here: www.operationeastwind.com/NATO/FRG-B.shtml
US requirements here" www.operationeastwind.com/NATO/US-A.shtml


This is the best resource for information on the event:

www.operationeastwind.com/

[Impulse]

Post-2000 runs into the same problems as pre-1980 events - all the heavy equipment needed to run the event is hard to come by (although at least the PRC tents are feasible). For more recent eras the personal equipment is even a bit much - let's look at what you'd need for a US kit around 2002:

- BDUs (2 sets is about $50-60)
- PASGT helmet / possibly MICH 2001 ($60 for PASGT, 100 minimum for MICH)
- Interceptor vest with Alice pouches (~$100)
- ECWCS parka
- M16A2
- Mess tin
- Canteens
- etc etc basically the entire EW US list.

You don't want to allow replica helmets if you're operating with armored vehicles, because someone will smack their head on a protruding piece of metal while you're racing away from an RPG team and it's best if they're not unconscious and bleeding all over.

And to be sure - the G36 in the Bundeswehr's hands does look a bit out of place at the event - the G3 a bit more fitting for the era. Any version of the G36 which isn't the first, original 1995 issue is even more hopelessly wrong.

Why such strict adherence to trying to replicate an impression? Because we don't want players to come by and look at it as week of airsofting; there's much more to this event. The attention to detail on all levels really is astounding, and expecting the same level of perfection from the players ensures that we aren't getting people who aren't willing to go all the way.

It's not a great policy for getting a lot of players - but it ensures that the players who do come are in the right mindset to sleep four hours a day for six days and not throw a fit when the CQ busts into the squad tent at 0400 to hustle them forward again.