The Diary of a Rebel#2

Somewhere in the Moldistan Forest - December 2014

Well, a lot of things have happened since we last spoke.

The weather for one !! - the snow and ice have arrived. The camp is now carpeted in 100-150mm of snow and night time temperatures plummet to a bone chilling -20 Degrees C.

Nobody has any spare energy for fighting - its just enough to keep warm.

Mind you, before the bad weather came, we did manage to secure one last pre-winter success against Gretsky.

The trucks carrying the Titanium Ore from the mine have to negotiate an old steel bridge across the Chernyy River to reach the processing plant. Fortunately for us, it is poorly guarded by the MDF and one dark night between convoys, we were able to neutralise the guards at either end with our sniper rifles and then plant explosives under the main supports of the bridge.

We removed the guards from the road and let the next convoy safely cross. Suspecting that we didn't have long before an MDF Patrol arrived (the truck drivers will have reported the lack of guards to MDF headquarters), we got to work.

The explosives detonated with a huge concussion and the bridge which was built by the Russians during the war, fell into the river with huge splashes. Not only did we destroy the bridge but we also managed to block the river for boat traffic, which will stop the government sending patrol boats up to support their men.

The trucks now have to make a 75Km detour to cross the river. Our action won't stop Gretsky and his exports to Russia but it will hinder them.

Another piece of good news is that our beloved leader, Nikolay Jakov is now the proud father of a new daughter. Born only a few days ago. It won't be long before she has her own AK47 and is fighting alongside her father in the forest.

Our group are starting to prepare for Christmas and are collecting food for the womenfolk to make Moldistani delicacies ready for the big day. We celebrate Christmas on January 7th in accordance with the Russian orthodox religion, so we will celebrate New Year before Christmas, which may seem strange to westerners !!

Anyway, the Peoples Front of Moldistan wish you all a happy western Christmas and we hope that 2015 will bring peace and freedom to all.

The Diary of a Rebel#1

Somewhere in the Moldistan Forest - November 2014

Autumn is settling in fast and the temperatures are already dropping, here in the forests of Moldistan.

Things have quietened down considerably since our fierce battles with the government troops and the American interlopers some 6 weeks ago.
- Gretsky has run back to Krasvin.
- Back to his palace, his whores and his high life.

The Americans got their wounded man back from us and have also gone home. Of course, we tried to kill Gretsky, twice and we think the Americans even tried to help us, but that man has the luck of the devil.
He even survived our RPG attack !!

Now we are just left in the cold. We sit wrapped in furs, huddled around our log fires for warmth. The world no longer cares. The news has moved on.

We have developed elaborate fire pits with special chimneys to draw the smoke away so it doesn't give our position away to the government jets patrolling high above our heads.

The Titanium mine at Gorazh is fully operational now and is churning out the stuff for the Russians.
Every day, we see trucks loaded with ore, ripped from deep below us, making their way North to the land of the bear.
We tried attacking some of the trucks, but what can we do ?

We stop the truck and scare the driver off into the woods with our rifles. The Moldistan Defence Force just send more men to take the abandoned truck and its cargo away.  We achieve nothing, but the exercise keeps us warm - haha.

Soon the snow will come. We get very cold winters here, probably -25 Degrees C and several metres of snow. We will probably spread ourselves out for the winter, seeking shelter from the harshest weather in the barns of farmers, secretly loyal to our cause. Nikolay took over from our beloved Lukashenka, may God rest his soul. Comrade Jakov is young but has the heart of a lion. He is determined to beat Gretsky and hates him with a passion. We all look forward to the days when the sun returns to our meadows and people will no longer need to live in fear of marching boots or go to bed with empty stomachs.

Today, we secretly travelled to a farm way up in the North East. We discovered a mass grave - the farmer had reported hearing trucks and machine guns one night several weeks ago but had been too afraid to investigate. Probably more victims of the government cleansing - more citizens who were too vocal and critical of Gretsky, no doubt. It was impossible to estimate how many were buried there, but it could be as many as fifty dead.

The nights are long here, so we sit round the fire and tell stories of our forefathers and sing and dance. Petr is good with his violin. He plays gypsy songs and we drink, sing and stamp our feet in time.

We look forward to spring - warmer temperatures, longer days and the chance to strike back at Gretsky.
May God let us survive long enough to take our revenge.

Stay warm Comrades.

Yours

Micha

A Different Airsoft Grenade ?

This blog has reported on the different types of pyro and grenades before, but this grenade has just come to our attention. We would start off by saying that if you expect your grenades to explode with an 130dB+ ear shattering thump and send banks of smoke reeling across the battlefield, read no further. However, if you like to play Milsims which use a stated kill zone radius and where the game is not totally dependent on the sound level alone, then this could be of interest.

The grenade is available in two shapes, the more modern M26 "Lemon" one as shown above and the older pineapple shape reminsicent of the MK2 US hand grenades.

What it provides is a reasonably realistic, re-usable grenade that will sound with a "crack" when it lands on your enemies. The "crack" is designed to be loud enough so that anybody in that kill radius will hear that it has activated and will be able to see it land, so they can decide whether they are in its kill zone or not. It is activated by landing on any surface and isn't fazed by soft grass or mud.

How Does It Work ?

The body of the grenade is plastic and very lightweight. This is advantageous in that if you are throwing the grenade, it is unlikely to hurt anybody based on its weight alone (more chance of the spoon having somebody's eye out). If you want something a little more hefty for added realism, the body is hollow and could be filled with sand.
The quality of the external finish is okay - the body has a few moulding marks so it isn't as good as some resin replica's, but in some respects, its "horses for courses". Hey, it goes bang !!

The metal spoon and upper part of the unit simply screws on to the top of the plastic body. The body is just for show really and unlike the real thing, has no practical purpose - the mechanism is all up top.

If you remove both pins and lift the hinged spoon, you will see the back end of a spring loaded hammer.

THIS IS A CLOSE-UP - Although my grenade is new, there was a bit of light surface rust on the hammer, but I wasn't too bothered. The grenade is going to get thrown around anyway!!
You need to get your thumbnail under the hammer and swing it out and up against the force of its spring.

When the hammer is as far back as it can go and under tension, you insert the little "L" shaped pin which is supplied with the grenade and called a Detonator Stay, through the housing to hold the hammer in place (stopping the spring bringing it down again). In the photo above, you can also see the supplied 5mm M.G. Caps (PF Caps) on their card. The grenade comes with 50 of them and these give the grenade its bang. Note the familiar grenade pull ring also visible in this photo.
Where the hammer has swung up out of the way, you can now see something resembling a firing pin protruding from the centre of the upper housing.

Next you place one of the little green plastic PFC caps over the firing pin, so the red/brown coloured material inside the cap sits on the firing pin itself.

 CLOSE-UP:

Close the spoon down and insert the grenade ring to make the unit safe and secure.

You can remove the Detonator Stay but be careful as the ring can easily fall out. It might be a good idea to wrap a small piece of insulating tape around the end of the ring pin so it prevents this if you are moving around. (NB - I think I will leave the Detonator Stay in as well, as an added precaution when carrying these around in pouches).

When you are ready to use the grenade, hold the spoon against the body of the grenade with your fingers and pull out the ring with the other hand. Unlike real grenades, the spoon is not spring loaded. The suppliers instructions actually tell you to slowly ease the spoon outwards until its about 30-40 degrees from the vertical plane of the grenade. You will hear one click as you start to ease it out and then another as it moves into the primed position (there is a little retainer on the inside surface of the spoon that catches the hammer as it starts to travel down to strike the firing pin through the cap). If you now toss the grenade, even the most gentle landing force will force the spoon out, allowing the hammer to strike down and the grenade to "explode".

Actually, I found it was more realistic to just pull out the pin, with my fingers holding the spoon in the safe position and then throw the grenade conventionally. The force of landing still moved the spoon sufficiently and the grenade detonated.

When I opened the parcel that came in the post and first saw the M.G Caps, I was a little disappointed. They reminded me of the percussion caps that I used as a child with my toy guns. However, when I actually used them, my spirits lifted.
Not as loud as a Mk5 pyro, they are used in the replica guns used by re-enactors etc and they do flash and smoke a little on detonation and send a clear message to the intended recipient of your grenade. I'm no expert, but they seem a lot safer than normal pyro, especially if you are wearing eye protection as you should be in Airsoft.

I can't find the spare caps on Ebay, but you can buy them from the supplier of the grenade for £8.50/100.

All in all, I can see a potential for milsims and look forward to using them in mock anger !!

The price is £27.50 including 50 bangs and 2nd class postal delivery in the UK.

Home James

Land Rover have announced that they are stopping the production of their renowned Defender vehicle, after over 60 years of production.

The Land Rover has been the mainstay light transport of many a military force over the years. For example, during the Iraq conflict, the British SAS used Land Rover WMIK vehicles.

Before Land Rover and during World War 2, the LRDG successfully used unprotected and heavily armed Chevrolet off-road vehicles to carry the fledgling SAS into the North African desert for reconnaissance patrols and raids.

The ever-present IED threat, wider mission profiles and increased amount of equipment of more recent wars has changed the requirement for vehicles.

In practice a varied range of motor transport is used by coalition special forces, including motor cycles, small ATV's and heavier vehicles like Bushmasters. However, the successors to Pinkies and the WMIK have become vehicles like the Supercat Jackal/HMT400 as shown above. These are available in many versions and a number were purchased for use by the British SAS, US Delta Force, Danish and Australian special forces during the war in Iraq.

One of the main requirements for this type of vehicle is that it can be loaded up the ramp of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

The Jackal can, but not easily.

Supacat have now developed their Chinook compatible LMV400, which is derived from an off-road racer and this was launched at the DSEI Defence Show in London last year. With a top speed of over 100 mph and a range of 600 miles, it is a serious multi-purpose vehicle.

LMV400 - Courtesy of Supacat Ltd

Competitors in this field include the Defenture ATTV from Holland and the US General Dynamics Flyer. The latter is also available in an Osprey V-22 compatible version.

It is envisaged that more vehicles will be developed to meet the V-22 requirement due to the growing number of global forces adopting the aircraft. Even Boeing who build the V-22, have developed their own solution in the shape of the Phantom Badger.

These vehicles are largely custom engineered to meet specific defence contracts and operational requirements. As efficient and sleek as they may be, I have a feeling that I'm going to miss the old Land Rover...

Okto Eight Milsim - The Plot Thickens

More Intel on the OEM Facebook page

We announced in our post last week that Okto Eight MilSim would be organising Operation Skylight in September 2014. As an experienced British MilSim company and events organiser, they have launched the concept of these 8-hour military simulations with a twist in the tail.

The concept of MilSim has been with us for some time - "a military simulation conducted by civilians for entertainment purposes, using Airsoft weapons to simulate military scenarios and tactics".
We also have Filmsim, which is a form of role play or re-enactment, where the contributing players can use Airsoft weapons to 'act out' pre-organised and dynamic military scenarios, creating an involvement and experience similar to participating in a movie storyline.

What Octo Eight appear to be offering is a modern day immersive story which revolves around the sleepy fictional former soviet republic of Moldistan and its discovery of a huge concentration of Titanium-bearing Limenite rock.

The initial background was laid out in the form of a "newspaper report" carrying the headline "Moldistan Teeters on The Edge" published on March 22nd. Since then, the story has started to take twists and turns as the updates are published on their Facebook page in an almost serialised thriller-like fashion.

Okto Eight advise that their intention is to continue with the storyline and "leaked" intelligence reports until booking for the game opens up next month. After that time, the public version of the story (what the public might read in their newspapers) will continue on the Facebook page for all to see, but the undercover intelligence (reports, sightings and other insider information similar to the sample shown above) will only be available to those who have booked to play the weekend in September.

We suppose it could be described as a 5-month on-line cyber thriller where you can take part in a real world action finale at the end ?
Okto have already said that if this first event is successful, the outcome of the finale will be carried across into the second serialised chapter with another game prospect at the end of that.

More information can be found on the Okto Eight Facebook page here:

Okto Eight Milsim 

Member of Peoples Front of Moldistan

Okto Eight Milsim

We are pleased to announce that the Summer 2014 Milsim, codenamed Operation Skylight will be organised by Okto Eight Milsim.
OEM are an experienced British Milsim company and events organiser and they have recently launched the OEM brand to cover their 8-hour Milsims.

It says on their Facebook page:

"Okto Eight is the phonetic for the number eight when radio atmospherics turn to little more than mush. The number eight is key to an organisation that creates eight hour Milsims; military simulation games involving Airsoft Replica Imitation Firearms, uniforms, movie roleplay and a fair smattering of smoke, props and things that go bang. 

Total immersion is the watchword and Okto Eight Milsim engage their clients months before the action begins, with news reports and intelligence, building up to an action packed climax.

Join in now, leave your day job and stress behind and become somebody else for a while. Take on the mantle of a rebel freedom fighter, governmental soldier or private military contractor for a straight eight hours in the battlefield; blood, guts and victory - then go home, have a hot shower and sleep soundly in a soft bed (until the next time).

Our next adventure, Operation Skylight is starting now. The tension is building towards the Battlefield day in September. It will be held at a secret location, within one hours drive, North of London".

Okto Eight are already living up to their word. Following an initial newspaper report dated the 24th March outlining the initial story, they have followed on with another news clipping updating the plot and cranking up the heat.

It seems that immersion really is the key !!

Okto Eight can be found on Facebook here:

Okto-Eight-Milsim on Facebook

The Airsoft SOFSIM 2014 Milsim is Coming !

Airsoft SOFSIM are pleased to announce that they are planning a soft MILSIM for 2014.

It will be held in the summer just outside London and is designed for Airsoft skirmish players who want to get into a MILSIM or for those milsimmers who want an 8-hour MILSIM where milsim rules will apply but it's not necessary to carry everything in a bergen on your back for the duration and you can get a hot shower and a soft bed after the game.

To kick it off, here is the background. To keep abreast of developments and receive future news updates and intel, check us out on Facebook.

MOLDISTAN TEETERS ON THE EDGE

Trouble is looming in the tiny Republic of Moldistan following the botched attempt to rescue kidnapped politician Artem Novik.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union almost 25 years ago, Moldistan has quietly soldiered on as an independent republic. The sleepy largely undeveloped country, which is still covered by dense woodland for over 40% of its surface area, rarely rates a mention in the worlds press.

One month ago, Mr.Novik, the Moldistani Minister of Trade and a close friend of President Aleksandr Gretzky, was kidnapped by insurgents when his car was ambushed as he travelled to a state visit at the Gorazh National Mine. The Moldistan People’s Front or MPF claimed responsibility for the abduction and demanded the release of MPF political prisoners from Krasvin Jail in exchange for his safe return.

Although the exact details are unclear, it is believed that government troops attempted a rescue attempt after negotiations broke down. In an official state press release at the time, it was claimed that Novik had been tracked to a remote woodland location and the Moldistan Defence Force safely snatched the minister from the clutches of the rebels.

Unfortunately, it seems that Novik had been fitted with a concealed improvised explosive device and both he and his rescuers were killed when the device accidently detonated. Inside sources have hinted that a hidden proximity sensor triggered the explosion when the rescuers tried to evacuate Novik by helicopter.

It seems that international interest in Moldistan has been heightened recently after a US-led corporation cooperating with the Moldistan government discovered a huge concentration of Titanium-bearing Ilmenite rock just North of Krasvin.  The traditional exports of Moldistan are timber and tractors, but the discovery of such a large source of Titanium could transform the small agricultural republic into an industrial giant.

Due to their high tensile strength and corrosion and fatigue resistance, Titanium alloys are used in aircraft, armour plating, naval ships, spacecraft and missiles. As Titanium is non-toxic and not rejected by the human body, it is ideal for use in a gamut of medical applications including surgical implements and implants. However, despite its increasing widespread use, global oversupply has caused the price of Titanium to fall on the international metal markets by some 30% in the last 2 years, eroding profitability for the mining industry. The recent large scale find of Titanium in Moldistan could completely destabilise the world market and threaten the major producers in countries like South Africa.

News Today is led to believe that when kidnapped, Artem Novik was travelling to visit the source of the Ilmenite find at Gorazh. We also understand that only a few weeks earlier, officials from both Washington and Moscow were engaged in talks with Novik concerning a future trade agreement. Eye witnesses present at the site of Novik’s failed rescue have indicated to our reporters that the Moldistan Defence Force were assisted by English-speaking special forces operatives who arrived at the scene in a black western-built Sikorsky helicopter. Official sources have rejected this as nonsense.