BOB Pictures! - VIDEO NOW UP!

[hellmutt]

Here are a couple of awesome shots from BOB:

[Braddock]

Nice.

looks pretty authentic

[hellmutt]

To all who might be interested,

Yesterday was a WW2 Battle of the Bulge game put on by battlesims.com. I went with my son Tyler and some folks from around the area. A few from PSAC. We had vehicles and a lot of custom weapons. We were hoping for a period armored car and a 37mm AT gun from the military vehicle club which would have been cool. They said they would be excited to come to a spring or summer event. Tough driving an open top vehicle in freezing weather! The turnout was about what I expected (28 players?). It would have been much higher had the weather been warmer but the cold weather lent beautifully to the overall feel of an "Ardennes" depiction


It was extremely cold. A high of 42 degrees and a low of 31! There was dense morning fog and clear skys in the afternoon. I served as US commander and had a lot of players with gas replicas. (Most US airsoft weapons are only available as gas replicas.) Needless to say that was a down side in the cold. The German force was smaller but had more generous regen rules and had an electric MG 34 (custom) and electric MG 42. They also had some nice MP-40s (electric) and a MP-44. (very cool) Some modern weapons were used. M-14s, AKs an MP-5 and even a couple M-16s, but they were the exception rather then the rule


The scenarios went very well and the event was quite well run in my opinion. What amazed and delighted me was the quality of the impressions. The US looked accurately hodgepodge and depicted units present. (28th Infantry, 101st and 82nd airborne, Tank Destroyer units. The Germans ranged from wicked looking SS soldiers and a SS Oberst, to regular Whermacht and three beautifully outfitted Falsimjagers in smocks and airborne helmets. It was so cool seeing the shape, outline and colors of an enemy you recognize so readily from movies and television. It was also cool that just low caps were used except with MGs (tripod and bipod weapons.) We had a custom Vickers machine gun that weighed 34 lbs but was very cool. There were a lot of players I had never met before and the sportsmanship was terrific. They even fell "dead" when hit in most cases which was neat. The way the medic rule was done was the best I've seen and the capture rule worked well also. Both commanders were "in on" the scenarios and Helmutt funneled intel to both to insure constant action and keep everyone hopping. There was still plenty enough flexibility to keep it interesting but occasions where I had to keep things under my hat which was actually kinda fun to watch things play out.



At one point we had a US check point which was occupied throughout the game phase. All regens and captives passed this point as well as returning patrols. There were numerous elements that past the point with captured intel and updates including a recovered Luffwaffe pilot who once searched (a second time) had a map with the overall German planned airborne drop zones. Later a GI with a captured SS soldier approached with some control panel markers which were essential to play. They were challenged with the password (as was everyone) and gave the proper counter sign. As they came up to the Jeep, Drift said something didn't look right. The German of course had his weapon which was normal (airsoft capture rules) but still had the magazine in and a grenade in his belt buckle. Tyler ordered the German to remove his magazine before passing and both the U.S. GI and German removed their magazines. Hmmmmmmm???? The POW compound was right near our howitzer position which was a key German objective. Drift suggested they keep a close watch on them and Tyler and Drift followed them to "insure they knew where to go" Enroute Drift noticed the American "GI" was wearing German style leggings at the bottom of his "off shade" wool pants. He asked him the running pass number and when he couldn't respond they shot the German and captured the GI who was in fact a German impersonating a GI with the intent of blowing up the howitzer once past the check point. This was historically correct for the battle of the Bulge and was one of many cool twists.

After 10 minutes in the POW compound they were released and had to return to their respawn wearing a yellow "neutral" rag on their head. While in the POW compound much tactical discussion among American GIs was taking place in the presence of the POWs. How the call sign tricked them ("When I said a random number you were supposed to say "Purple") some of our other tactics etc. It was done in a conversational "hows the game going" for you guys kind of way. Naturally it was all misinformation and amazingly they fell for it and fed the bad intell to their guys once back. When we challenged with a number and the voice responded "purple" we lit them up! All part of the fun.

There was a professional photographer who took hundreds of pictures and I'm looking forward to seeing them. These by no means cover the event but are just some snapped with my camera. I especially want to see the group pictures of the Germans and GIs.

I thought you'd all enjoy the update and early pictures such as they are.

John Robison

[Matt]

Wow, excellent photos, I wish I was there to snap a few myself.

[Silent]

Looks like a class act you had goin there, I like the road patrol picture, really shows how damn cold it can be!

[Cobol]

Class act Hellmutt! Looks like a hell of an event. Sorry I missed it. With any luck we'll get you guys involved in something truly great as well down here. Looking forward to those photos.

[Riddick]

so do the rifles make noise or do they say bang bang your dead?

[hellmutt]

so do the rifles make noise or do they say bang bang your dead?

They sound like either a gas gun or an AEG since they are airsoft guns. I guess we could say bang, bang but mostly people call their hits. . .

[Nightshade]

Hahahahahaha.

[Riddick]

I had no idea they were airsoft rifles. So cool I get it now..

Raddue shazaam off

[Nightshade]

*fap fap fap*

[PanzerFaust]

If that was a reenactment question, riddick, we fire blank rounds at PNWHG events. Automatic weapons like the MP40 require a barrel block to force gas into the gas tube so weapon will cycle. w00t for hijack!

[Skywalker]

Wow....looks pretty authentic. Must have been a bit like being there in the Ardennes in 44-45.

[Zahrdoz]

Unfortunately, this was the one event that I really wanted to attend this year but was not able to. I think that WWII reinactment definately is enhanced by airsoft and vice versa. I would like this sort of thing to be more common. For all of you WWII peeps, how do you feel about doing your impression with airsoft? We have talked about it amongst some of us in the 5RAC; So I would like to hear what others think! BTW.. Excellent Pics!!!

[Radduski]

Once there was a good, reliable M1 Garand for the price of the standard TM replica, I'd do it.