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U.S.A.S.O.C.
United States Airsoft Special Ops Command
Contents:
Letter from Editor:
News:
Team Interview:
Reviews:
Tactics:
Laws and Safety:
Tips:
What’s next in U.S.A.S.O.C.:
Photos:
Upcoming Events:
Teams:
Airsoft Websites:
Ops Ideas:
Classifieds/Wanted:
Final Thoughts:
Letter from Editor:
Well here it is! The first issue of U.S.A.S.O.C.! This is a very exciting
time for us here are U.S.A.S.O.C., and we hope it is for you too.
There are not many other US-based airsoft magazines so we thought
that not only should we make one but for free for at least the first few
months! This is the first of many issues to come, and we hope you
enjoy them as much as we do making them. First off, we here at
U.S.A.S.O.C. would like to thank God for helping us put this emagazine together, and all credit of success of this magazine goes to
Him and Him alone. Also, we would like to thank all of you who have
helped out by submitting your photos, articles, and everything else.
This magazine wouldn’t be what it is, even in this first issue, without
people like you. This is corny, but it’s “people like you that make this
magazine happen.” Alright so what is U.S.A.S.O.C.? Well when I
started thinking about making the e-magazine, I wanted to make it
something great so that it’s not just a “wanna-be” magazine, or
something that is just plain crap. We wanted to give quality reviews,
quality advice, and quality in all other areas of the magazine too.
Airsoft is becoming such a big sport now that it is about time that a
good, quality magazine be put together. That is how we went into
creating this magazine. U.S.A.S.O.C. will feature reviews of the
hottest guns and gears, team interviews with some of the best known
teams, tips for bettering yourself out on the field, tactics for your
teams, and many other things. It’s hard to list them all out, especially
when this is the first issue so just bear with us while we get every
thing sorted out. But like we said, the main goal of this magazine is to
accurately help airsofters in anything that is related to airsoft and to
provide quality entertainment for airsofters about airsoft. So with that,
thank you for checking out the first of many issues to come. We here
at U.S.A.S.O.C. hope you like the magazine and enjoy it as much as
we do producing it. Check out our website:
www.officialusasocmagazine.com also!
Nick Petrus-Owner/Main Editor
To contact U.S.A.S.O.C., please email any questions or comments
to: usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com .
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News:
The “News” section is your place for what’s new in the community of
airsoft….anything from new weapons, manufacturers, and gear. If
you have some news for us about anything relating to airsoft, just
send it our way at: usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com (main editor’s
email)
Brand New Systema Motor coming out late 2006!
Systema is breaking out with an all-new motor that will break all the
limits of previous versions! They are promising faster rotations and
more torque in a single package. The motor will be a popular add-on
to your AEG (Automatic-Electric Gun). Previous versions never had
high speed and ultra high torque in the same single motor. As you all
know, you could either get a high speed or high torque motor but not
both in one. This is where Systema has realized the need for a motor
with both, and it is in production. The new motor, called MAGNUM,
will beat all the performance of past motors-so says Systema. Some
specs on the motor include:
- Superior neodymium magnets provide unprecedented torque in
AEG motor history
- Hand-wound rotor coils deliver over 80% of maximum torque
instantly (at zero RPM / start up)
- Newly designed brush & brush case provide greater contact area for
higher current flow without unnecessary surface friction
- Individually balanced commutator, meticulously aligned bearing
inserts, and new CNC-machined aluminum end bell combines to
ensure rotor stability at extreme speeds.
- Capable of powering gearboxes with spring rates of M170 at over
20 revolutions per second! (In conjunction with Systema Helical
Super Torque Up Gears and 12v 2400mah battery
Systema will also be releasing theTURBO version for you “ultra-high
rate of fire” junkies that will deliver 30 revolutions per
second….WOW! This kind of power passes the Tokyo Marui EG1000
by leaps and bounds. To have this kind of power though, you will
need a 9.6v 2400mah battery and standard ration gear set. The
TURBO does trade speed for torque from what we’ve heard. This
means that it can only be used with gearboxes with springs that rate
M100 or less. Systema has told the airsoft community that the motor
will be released in the last quarter of 2006. The motor is still currently
going through tests by Systema. When we have more, we’ll let you
know.
Hero Arms to Release the MK46 AEG!
We know that this is a few months old, but we thought it should be
mentioned. The first complete AEG to be released from Hero Arms
(who were former gun-smiths) will be the MK46 AEG. Now some
debate whether it should be called the “MK46” because it resembles
another support weapon, but because Hero Arms calls it the “MK46”,
we will too. A popular feature of the MK46 is that it will have the
STAR type mechbox that will be capable of some 400-500 fps of
power! The final product from Hero Arms will be around 350 fps to
keep the gun reliable and in limits of most fields’ rules regarding fps
(feet per second). As with most guns, you can upgrade it to the 400500 fps limit that Hero Arms says it will go. Beware though, the
reliability of it may be compromised at that level of fps. The MK46 is
completely made out of high grade/light weight aluminum. The gun
has a synchronized auto-winding box magazine that is mounted to
underside of the MK46. All you have to do is pull the trigger and the
magazine winders automatically so there is no need to stop. The
battery will be concealed in the fore-grip for the nice, clean, and
authentic look. A rail on the top cover will allow you to install a scope
if you want also. The full metal extendable stock is sturdy and real
easy to pull out and lock in place too. RedWolf Airsoft has said that
their in-house tests of the prototype were great! It fired flawlessly and
very rapidly, pumping out around 15 rounds a second which totally
destroyed their cardboard target. Believe it or not, they also say that
the accuracy on the gun is pretty good too, so that will be a big hit
among the buyers. There is only a full-auto rate of fire, so beware of
that. If you have quick fingers, you can get off about one-two rounds
at a time so says RedWolf Aisoft. The gun is also surprisingly light for
the size of the beast. Beware again, you do need some muscle
endurance to lug this all day. Hero Arms reports that they will only
import about 100 units worldwide so if you have one…you are one
out of a hundred in the world. For the MK48 7.62mm fans, Hero Arms
is considering about making one for you, but they aren’t sure yet.
Retail price has not been set, but it’ll be around the STAR’s 100%
plastic M249 which makes this gun a collector’s edition at an
amateur’s price!
Team Interview: AMSOG
Q. How about a little history about AMSOG and its members
meaning: How did you guys first start? When did you start? Who
started it? Where in Arizona are you located? Etc.
A. Originally most of us came together on a team called SWAIRTAC
that was founded by Justin Raley, I am not clear as to exactly when
SWAIRTAC was founded as I was not present. SWAIRTAC
eventually dissolved as things do in early 2005. In early 2006 I posed
to Far that I had a desire to bring the team back together, after some
discussion and a few phone calls … BANG Arizona Military
Simulation Operations Group or AMSOG was born. Why the name
change? Well the founder of SWAIRTAC was no longer in Arizona
and none of us felt it would be SWAIRTAC without Mr. Raley so Far
and I felt a new name and a new identity was the only option, and we
haven’t looked back since. AMSOG members are located throughout
our great state of Arizona, but our base of operations is located in
Tucson, Arizona. We do have a member or two outside of Arizona.
Q. Is AMSOG based off any military group?
A. Out of respect for our armed forces no, but we do however wear
MARPAT as our team uniform as we feel it is the best camouflage
available today that is affordable and readily available. We also do
utilize the basic rank structure of the US Army as it facilities structure
within the team and for no other reason.
Q. What do you consider yourselves as a group meaning: a CBQ
team, outdoors team, all-around team, etc?
A. All around, within the team we have members with real world
experience in all areas of combat, which is what brought most of us to
Airsoft to begin with. We, unlike a lot of teams, attempt to stay true
Mil-Sim.
Q. Now a lot of people, including myself, consider you guys a
professional airsoft team, but do you consider yourselves a
professional airsoft team, or just one that does it when you can?
A. Thank you for the compliment. We would never call ourselves
“Professional”. We do make a strong effort to be professional in the
way we conduct ourselves on and off the field, but I couldn’t call us
“Professional”. Maybe someday with sponsorship I would use the
word “Professional”.
Q. How many active members do you have and who are they?
A. 17 active.
• Commanding Officer = Dan “Tonk” Tonkovich (Me)
• Tucson XO = Benn “Farslayer” Psalms
• Phoenix XO = Dave “Gixser” Huyck
• Quinn “Bones” Kavanaugh
• Cody “Kodiak” Baker
• David “Gadget” Pathammavong
• Robert “Tank” Pathammavong
• Mike “Teach” Teachout
• Reid "Delta Echo" Inman
• Robb "Bagger" Salzmann
• Weston "Chainsaw" Barkley
• Nathan "Grim" Gilbow
•
•
•
•
•
Greyson "Ares" Morley
Keith “EagleEye” Lee
Brent “Doogey” Armer
“Woody” McClendon
Joe "Sarge" Bouchard
Q. Are you recruiting?
A. Yes, always.
Q. If so, then what are you requirements?
A. We require a minimum age of 18, an M-16 variant weapon within
90 days of joining the team, one must be in good physical condition,
and have the willingness to attend 4 meetings/games/practices a
month.
Q. Do you have a website or any contact information for airsoft fans
out there?
A. Of course, http://www.AMSOG.com is the best way to contact us.
Q. What events have you participated in or plan to?
A. We plan to sponsor one game ourselves every six months but to
try to attend as many local games as possible.
Q. Any on the national level?
A. Not as a team, no. Many of our teammates have attended events
such as Lionclaws, Irene, and Bulldog. Not to mention a few random
others. Generally airsofters in Arizona attend events and represent
Arizona and not any individual team.
Q. Have you guys ever had any trouble with the law regarding airsoft
in Arizona?
A. No never, we make a very conscious effort to stay current on all
local, state, and federal laws.
Q. What would you suggest to a bunch of guys who want to make a
new airsoft team?
A. The single most important thing you need to do is get organized,
plain and simple. A close second would be to learn to communicate
effectively. Lastly, form and maintain a strong team core. You get out
of it what you put into it.
Q. What guns do you guys have?
A. Well as a team we require M16 variant weapons to facilitate the
sharing of magazines, and they range from Classic Armys to Tokyo
Maruis. The Overwatch guys have no standard weapon requirements
and nether do the support guys.
Q. Are any of your members in or have been in the military or law
enforcement fields?
A. We have members who have served in all branches of the US
military. We also have active duty Homeland Security and Federal
Security members.
Q. How often do you guys meet together and train or sit down and
prepare what to do for an Op?
A. As often as possible but face to face a minimum of 4 times a
month, and we do have a public and private forum on our website to
do the day-to-day communications.
Q. Any tips you can give us on how you train?
A. Often. Learn from your fellow teammates and again learn to
communicate effectively, and openly I can’t emphasize that enough.
Q. Any final tips you can give the readers?
A. The most important tip I can give is to remember to have fun, I
mean it is a game. I would be happy to answer any questions, just
shoot me an email Tonk@amsog.com or post in our forums and
thanks for this opportunity.
Well that sums it up. Thanks again to the boys at AMSOG, especially
Dan “Tonk” (the founder) for letting us interview AMSOG. These guys
are really the top dogs out there. Not only are they great airsofters,
great guys in general, but now they will be “movie stars” if you will.
They were asked by A.I.A. Productions to be the National Guard in
the upcoming independent movie based off of Mary Shelley’s book:
The Last Man. To check out the guys from AMSOG and photos of the
movie shoot, go to: http://blog.jamesarnett.com/ to see more. Once
again, I would like to thank AMSOG and all its members for allowing
U.S.A.S.O.C. to conduct this interview, and if you would like to see
your team featured in the magazine, please go to our website:
www.officialusasocmagazine.com or email the main editor:
usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com. Now enjoy some photos that
AMSOG has allowed us to use.
(Courtesy of AMSOG)
(Courtesy of AMSOG)
(Courtesy of AMSOG)
Reviews: Classic Army M15A4 CQB:
Did you ever need a gun for close quarter battles (CQB)? Ever want
something other then the frequently used MP5A4? Have you been
saving up for a great CQB gun but can’t find one? Well there is a gun
out there for you….it is the Classic Army M15A4 CQB.
So how about a little history lesson on the ol’ M15A4 CQB? The
Classic Army M15A4 CQB is a detailed full metal replica of the
NSWC (Naval Special Warfare Center) Mk18Mod0 Subcompact
Assault Rifle. It is classified by the US military as the Mk18Mod0. The
CQB-R was originally part of the SPR program, but was later
intended as a drop-on upper receiver kit for the M4 SOPMOD kit. It
started development in 2000 but quickly gained a following as its own
weapon. TACOM did purchase a few thousand CQB-R uppers, and
the M4 DEVGRU is either based on or closely resembles the CQB-R.
The gun basically consists of some major components: the fore end,
which consists of a modified/shortened 10.3” barrel; a KAC QD
silencer compatible flash hider; KAC M4 RAS system; the receiver,
which is simply an M4A1 flattop receiver with a gas port opened up to
accommodate the shorter barrel; the detachable rear sight
manufactured by LMT (Lewis Machine & Tools); and the retractable
Crane type butt stock. It also features angled cheek welds and
“storage compartments.”
The airsoft version is really close to the actual Mk18Mod0. It sports
full metal construction, die cast receivers, realistic barrel and gas
tube, laser engraved markings, and stock upgraded
gearboxes….what more could you ask for?! How about a 7mm
bearing gearbox with reinforced gears and cylinder components;
optimized piston head, mated to an improved; a metal hop up, an
amazing new stock; a shortened M4 CQBR upper, metal, detachable,
and fully adjustable rear sight; a vertical fore grip; a M4 RAS rail
system; RAS panels; and a 300 round hi-cap magazine! Basically if
you are into CQB or know anything about CQB this should sound like
heaven on earth for you. Classic Army really banged out on all
cylinders this time for us airsoft fans.
A buddy of ours at U.S.A.S.O.C. has one of these, and we were able
to do a detail review of this AEG because of his allowing us to check
out the gun (if you have a review of any gun you would like to see in
U.S.A.S.O.C., just send it our way at:
usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com ~ main editor’s email). Ok so on
with the review…
The first impression we got when we looked at the gun was that it
was superbly detailed from end to end. Again, Classic Army really hit
it big time with this gun as far as details. It has a sleek, black metal
body with Armalite logos and laser engravings on the laser. It is
smaller then most AEGs, which wasn’t a surprise to us since it was
dubbed a “CQB” gun. To roughly compare the length, it is about the
length of a MP5A4. One of the main things we loved about the gun
was how sturdy it felt, not only as you hold it, but when you shook it
also (hint: when you run, your body and gun bounce and shake….). It
is much stronger then most Tokyo Marui models. It has a RIS, and a
crane stock which most new comers to the gun like but for many that
was soon to change. I’ll explain what I meant by that latter. Also,
along with the sturdiness of the gun, the internals are great! This
meaning they are well placed and re-enforced, which equals NO gear
replacements when upgrading if you don’t want to. Overall, it was one
of the best guns I had a chance to look at.
Now for the Pros about the gun. There are many pros with the M15A4
CQB. One of them is its looks. It has a wonderful black finish and has
a fake gas tube in the fore grip/RIS which really adds a lot of details
to gun. Its sturdiness is another pro about it. I know it was talked
about earlier in the article, but for some of the things that happen
during a battle to your gun….sturdiness helps a whole lot! A lot of the
strength and weight might be attributed to the fact that most of the
gun is made of metal, with the exception of the pistol grip, the vertical
fore grip, the crane stock, and the two rail covers. Also, it’s not too
heavy, an advantage of the CQB. It is lighter then the Classic Army
M15A4 Carbine because of where the battery is placed; the crane
stock has a much better feel to it then the Carbine also. Another pro
is that all the wiring with all of Classic Army’s guns, especially with
the CQB, is done so all you have to do is hook up a fresh battery to it
and then “Git-R-Done.” Due to the fact that the internals are so reenforced, the internal parts hardly ever break which means many
dollars in savings for the owner. For some this is a pro and for others
it is not, but the barrel is shorter then other Classic Army guns which
makes it better because of the new Hop-Up system (yellow instead of
the normal black). While in production of the gun, Classic Army redid
the trigger contact plate. It was latter told by Classic Army that this
was made to be a smoother action then the Carbine. And finally, you
don’t really hear the gears and spring crank when firing the gun. With
the Carbine, there was about third of a second, or less, before the
gun actually fired, and you could really hear the gears and spring
make that cracking noise. So those are the pros for the gun…pretty
great so far.
Now for the cons about the M15A4 CQB. Again these are the ones
we found, so there may be more cons for you with the gun, or there
may be less. First off, Classic Army glued on a black-flash suppressor
and painted it orange which is not too normal on most AEGs. We’ve
heard that a lot of people have just either taped or painted over the
orange tip because of how difficult it was to try and take it off. The
dust cover, also, needs to be opened by hand and held with a
magnet. This wasn’t a big challenge at all, but since there were very
little things wrong with the gun, we decided to write it anyways. The
crane stock can be hard to use which leads into another con. Some
people blame the manual on this. The manual says that by pressing
down the level on the crane stock, it will allow you to slide the stock
out to change batteries which many people have had trouble with.
We’ve found, as others, that instead of pressing the level down, you
need to pull it away from the stock. This should allow for easily
changed batteries. Another thing about the crane stock is that
sometimes it’s hard to adjust it so that it will slide all the way in when
the battery is in place. This issue may be due to the size of your
battery. Also, the RIS doesn’t line up exactly with the Classic Army
receiver. It looks to be between ½ - 2mm higher then the specs say it
should be. Another thing about the RIS is that sometimes the covers
don’t fully locked (click) into place meaning that at least one cover is
loose at times. Those are the cons for the gun. We were being real
picky when we went over the gun and tried to find anything and
everything. If some of these “cons” are not bad things for you, then
great, but we wanted to give a broad variety on what we found that
could be called “wrong” with the gun.
So the conclusions on M15A4 CQB are: it is designed to be used
easily, is versatile and reliable, and has some of the best looks and
details out there for an airsoft gun. We would recommend this gun to
everyone who likes not only CQB action, but also a better, shorter
version the M15A4 Carbine by Classic Army. It can be used for
outdoor battles, but as the name says, it is better indoors. We’ll leave
you with the official specs for the gun:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Modified Wiring Switch
Hi-Cap Magazine (300round)
Special Forces Crane Stock
Imitation Gas Tube
7mm Metal Bearing Gear Box
Metal Detachable Rear Sight
Easy Disassembly Metal Body
Colorful parts inside the Gear Box
Real Gun Logo with Serial Number
Nice Surface Treatment on Gear Box
Bearing Spring Guide and Piston Head
Reinforced Parts (Piston, Gear set and Van Sealed Cylinder)
Gear Box-Version 2
Length: 700-800mm (change measurement)
Weight: 3000g (change measurement)
• Barrel Length: 280mm (change measurement)
• Muzzle Velocity: 85-80m/s (change measurement)
• Battery best to use for power: 9.6 1100mAh (crane stock
version)
• Barrel Caliber: 6.08mm
• 330 FPS
• Shooting modes: semi and full auto
• Retail price range: $400 .00-$500.00
Reviews: Gear/Battery/Etc
AirSplat’s Tactical Vest OD with Holster Vest:
When I first ordered this vest back at the Christmas of 2005 from
Airsplat, I couldn’t wait. Well Christmas came, and I got the vest. It
was great!
First Impression:
When I took it out of the bag, it smelled like that new car smell. It was
great. It was just the right color OD (Oliver Drab) for those woodland
battles, yet it could be used if one was to do some CQB ops. For the
price of $39.99, you get a lot. You get a modular cross-draw pistol
holster, tactical web belt, three airsoft AEG magazine pouches, four
pistol magazine pouches, a radio/utility pouch, and it is US MOLLE
compatible for other utilities, accessories, shovels, etc. Not only that,
but it is completely modular and ventilated. It also includes a back
pouch for a CamelBak or a Hydration System Bladder. For $39.99,
this is a steal! A real steal folks…seriously. I’ve had this vest for
awhile now, and it has never failed me. For the price I got it for, I
thought it might just survive for a few months, and then I would get a
brand name one - but no. There was no need too. Sure you can
spend $150.00+ on a vest and have a little more, but for what you get
with this vest, you can’t go wrong.
Ok, so for some of the more detailed conclusions. It has three pistol
magazine pouches in the top left of the vest. Also, there is the
radio/utility pouch just above them. The vest has three AEG
magazine pouches on the middle to lower right of the vest. The only
thing I will say against the vest is that a Classic Army M15A4 Carbine
magazine has a little trouble getting in the AEG pouches. It does fit,
don’t get me wrong, but it is a little snug. For you MP5A4 guys, this
won’t be a problem at all. It has the cross-draw pistol holster on the
bottom left side of the vest with another pistol magazine pouch also.
The vest has a utility pouch on the upper right of the vest. Inside the
vest are two huge pockets to store anything you like in there, one on
each side of the vest. It has adjustable straps so it will fit most lean to
semi- fit guys. The web belt built in is a really nice touch as with the
zipper. Once this puppy is on, it really isn’t coming off till you take it
off. It fits just tight enough for you to move around without sucking the
breath out of your mouth, yet it does allow you to move freely which is
a big plus.
The back of the vest has some more adjustable straps and a large
pocket for a CamelBak. It also has a “carrying handle” for one to
grasp it by. I’m sure it might be strong enough to pull someone, but
for safety reasons, we at U.S.A.S.O.C. wouldn’t recommend it to
anyone. Also on the back is the US MOLLE compatibility for you carry
along your favorite accessories.
This vest is by far the best vest out there for this price. You just can’t
beat it, because there isn’t anything like it out there on the market for
its price. U.S.A.S.O.C. fully recommends this vest to any and all. It is
great for beginners and advanced players. You will not be
disappointed at all.
If you have a review on a gear/batteries/etc that you have and want to
see them in U.S.A.S.O.C., send it our way:
usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com (main editor’s email).
Tactics: Basic Military Tactics “101s”:
The words “Military Tactics” are commonly used words among airsoft
players, paintball players, and obviously, military personal. In this
article there will be basic military tactics information and how to apply
them to your team or just for yourself. In later issues, there will be
more in-depth articles on tactics, but before one can learn the
advance, one must learn the basics. Again, these are the basics
many of the readers will know, but for the people new to the sport, we
thought we should start at the beginning.
The words “military tactics” refer to: methods of engaging and
defeating an enemy in battle. Throughout time, military tactics have
changed extensively under the influence of philosophy and
technology. Up until the 19th century, military tactics were mainly on
battle warfare concerning how to maneuver units in battle on open
terrain. If you think about it, most battles around the 19th century and
before were conducted when both armies met on open fields and
fought, especially in the European wars and battles. In modern
terminology, tactics refer more to the operational application of forces
to a situation. Don’t get this confused with military strategy which is
concerned with more long-term results. There are many levels on
which tactics can be brought up on: from room clearing to how to
clear miles of terrain. Common military tactics would include the
following: frontal assaults, flank (rear) assaults, ambushes, etc.
Now let’s talk about some different basic types of tactics for you
and/or your team to use. Reconnaissance is the military term for
gathering information about the enemy. This could include: where
they are located, how large their force is, their intentions, the best
way to insert and extract into and from an enemy’s AO (Area of
Operation), etc. Basically: you are gathering all the information you
can about the enemy and how best to complete your assigned tasks
and mission. This provides the solid building blocks for the
intelligence side of the operation. Reconnaissance is often referred to
as “recce” or “recon” depending on the role of the reconnaissance
mission.
Patrolling is another tactic. Small groups of units or individuals
(depending on how many men are needed) are sent from a larger
formation to complete a certain objective and then return. There are
many types of patrols, each depending on a different objective. The
most common patrol is collecting intelligence by carrying out a
reconnaissance mission. The patrol may try to remain covert and
record info on the enemy without being detected. Some
reconnaissance patrols are actually overt, which is the exact opposite
of covert. Their mission may be to interact with the civilian population
and receive information concerning the enemy they are fighting.
A fighting patrol is a group with a good substantial amount of men
(platoon or company) and equipment to raid or ambush a specific
enemy. Don’t get this confused with an attack because in a raid or
ambush you do not hold the ground in which you acquire after
defeating the enemy.
A clearing patrol is a brief patrol around a newly occupied defensive
position to ensure the area is secure. These kinds of patrols are sent
on missions called “screens” which means to patrol a certain area.
Ambushing is another military tactic used for quite some time where
the ambushing force uses cover, or concealment, to attack an enemy
at a certain point when they pass by. The ambushers strike from a
concealed position such as dense bushes or behind hills. This tactic
is usually used to gather information or to establish control over an
area. Ambushing is most often used by ground troops up to a platoon
size against enemy targets. Ambushes are multi-phase operations
and usually should be planned in some detail from insertion to
extraction (hint: always have a plan B, always then have a plan C,
etc).
Since ambushing is used frequently, I thought I should outline the
basics for planning for, setting of, executing of, and extracting from an
ambush. The first step is planning. The first step is to designate a kill
zone. This is a reasonable position in which there is cover and a
vantage point that all your team members or you can see when the
enemy is in range. The next step is setting the ambush. To be
successful in an ambush, a patrol must deploy into the area covertly
and establish secure and covert positions overlooking the kill zone. If
your squad has enough men, think about a cut-off group. This is a
group which “scouts” ahead of the kill zone, radios the man in charge
of the operation when the enemy is approaching, and prevents any
enemies from escaping once the ambush is initiated. The main thing
during setting the ambush is the man in charge should make sure
that none of his men are directly in each other’s line of fire. Once your
team, or you, is set up, you need to then wait for the enemy to come
into sight.
The next step is pretty simple: eliminate the enemy - the execution
phase. Again, the coming of the enemy should be signaled by the
cut-off unit. Once the enemy is in range or in the middle of the
ambush kill zone, the commander should initiate the ambush with
either shots from his weapon, an explosive devise, a hand signal, or a
simple whistle blast. Once that has happened, it’s up to everyone in
the unit to shoot straight and shoot fast. The final part of this step is to
check the enemy for intelligence, taking prisoners, checking for
bodies, and if you are nice, treating the wounded enemy.
The final step is extraction. Your squad being compromised, there
should be an extraction plan to get out of the AO as soon as possible
before assisting enemy units arrive.
Now let’s talk about a frontal assault in more detail. A frontal assault
is also called a suicide strike. Why? Well, it is basically a direct,
hostile movement of forces towards the enemy in a large number in
attempt to defeat them. This should always be the commander’s last
resort. During the 19th century, this type of warfare was popular on
horses, but as the range and accuracy of weapons improved, it
proved to be suicidal. This type of tactic was also used a great deal in
the American Civil War and World War I in trench warfare, being one
of main reasons for the large number of casualties during trench
warfare also.
Now these are the very, very basic military tactics. Later on in the
issue, there will be a more in depth look at some tactics that you and
your team can apply more directly to airsoft.
Tactics: More In-Depth Look into the Basics:
Now that the basics were covered in the above article, I want to
discuss a more in-depth look on how you can apply these to your
team. You may want to modify them to adjust to your team’s situation,
or you may not. Regardless of that, here are some more in-depth
tactics of the “101’s” of military tactics.
Basic Field Operating Procedures:
Infantry Minor Tactics or IMTs are the very basic tactics that are
employed at the squad, section, or platoon level. They are, generally
speaking, reasonably similar across most modern armies.
In most situations, except static defense, IMTs are based on the
principle of "fire and movement" - that is firing and moving, often in
pairs. One soldier is firing to suppress or neutralize the enemy while
the other soldier moves either toward the enemy or to a more
favorable position to attack/counter-attack. The movement often uses
only 5-10 feet per move. This technique is sometimes referred to as
"pepper-potting" (British) or "fire team rushes"(US).
IMTs are typically taught to all arms and services both in basic
training and often also whilst undergoing non-infantry specialty
training. In some military forces, such as the Australian Army and the
United States Marine Corps, all units in the field force regardless of
corps, regiment, trade, or specialty are supposed to undergo annual
refresher training in IMTs, on the basis all soldiers in a conflict can be
expected to be involved at least providing local security for their unit
or formation.
Most IMTs are taught in the form of a drill – i.e. a series of
choreographed steps that occur in reaction to a certain stimuli, such
as sighting an enemy to the front, or being engaged by enemy from
flank etc. The initial stages of the drill are reutilized, and therefore,
action doesn't require full appraisal of the situation by individual
soldiers or unit commanders. Such stimulus-response training allows
coordinated responses without the need for direct orders. In combat,
this allows the first few moments of the engagement to occur almost
automatically and gives the soldiers a way to respond appropriately
and predictably (i.e. take cover and start returning fire, or shift the
flanks to becoming in enfilade to a surprise attack) while the unit
commander assesses the actual situation and issues orders further
orders.
Perhaps the most basic of all IMTs is the "Basic Drill". The Basic
Drill is the drill all individual soldiers are supposed to perform if they
come under "effective fire".
The basic drill is:
• Run two or three steps
• Drop to the ground or into cover
• Crawl a few yards (or move under concealment/cover)
• Observe
• Shoot (identified targets of opportunity within effective range)
• Move
• Observe
• Shoot
• Move
• Repeat until issued orders.
The basic drill is designed to provide the soldier with simple steps to
follow under the stress of combat. The essential goal of the basic drill
is to move the soldier into cover, remove him from the last position
where he was likely to be seen by the enemy, and keep him
"positively engaged” (identifying and shooting) with any targets in his
effective area until his commander makes an appraisal and issues
instructions.
Fire and movement is the basic military tactic used by small unit
commanders on the modern battlefield. It uses the power of
suppressive fire to decrease the enemy's firepower, organization,
intelligence, and morale. This tactic has been brought to a new level
with the advent of automatic weapons, but also has been used in its
basics since ancient times with slingers and archers providing
covering fire for advancing infantry and cavalry.
Fire and movement work on the basis of suppressing an enemy with
an appropriate level of fire, while at the same time advancing. This
will take the form of two units of whatever size appropriate - two
soldiers or larger.
Base of Fire
One unit will provide a base of fire from a position in order to
suppress the enemy. This will take the form of sustained fire on the
enemy position as to prevent movement or return of fire on the
advancing unit.
Suppression
Heavy and continuous fire keeps an opponent suppressed and
therefore limits the overall firepower of a unit (if a platoon has 30
soldiers, but only 15 are shooting back because the other 15 are
being suppressed, you have tactically limited that unit's firepower by
50%). It also builds up confusion and sometimes panic for
undisciplined forces. The fire cuts down on an enemy's intelligence in
that they are not able to assess the situation as clearly. Finally the
suppressive fire hurts an enemy's morale by scaring them, for the fire
is continuous. In actuality, it scares more then it kills, but an enemy
who hesitates the least bit is at a great disadvantage.
Advance
While a base of fire is set up, the second unit will advance to cover in
front, in the process setting up a new base of fire at this point.
After a new base of fire has been set up the first unit will advance,
under cover of the new fire base, to a new position and set up
another fire base there. This continues on and on till the enemy is
either captured or killed.
Assault
The “advance” is repeated until the units have closed upon the
enemy position. At this point a unit will close in on the enemy and
destroy them.
Overwatch:
In modern warfare, overwatch is the state of one small unit supporting
another, while they are executing fire and movement tactics. An
overwatching, or supporting unit has taken a position where it can
observe the terrain ahead, especially likely enemy positions. This
allows it to provide effective covering fire for advancing friendly units.
The term overwatch originates in U.S. military doctrine.
An ideal overwatch position provides cover for the unit and
unobstructed lines of fire. It may be on a higher piece of ground or at
the top of a ridge, where a vehicle may be able to adopt a hull-down
position. If the overwatching unit is in a position to fire over advancing
friendly units, great care must be taken not to let fire fall short. The
friendly units should be within tracer burnout (the range at which
tracer rounds are visible).
Overwatch can be performed by platoons during company fire and
movement, infantry sections, in platoon fire and movement, or even
by fire teams or individual soldiers, in the final stages of an assault.
Offensive Tactics:
These following tactics are basic offensive tactics on how to outsmart the enemy and how to defeat them by basic common
knowledge of tactics.
A flying wedge or flying V is a charging technique in which troops
are arrayed to form a V- shaped wedge formation or boar's head.
Military uses:
If the point of the wedge can breach the enemy line, the following
troops can widen the gap. As successive ranks of the wedge engage,
they can draw their opponents' attention away from previous ranks,
thereby protecting them.
This tactic relies on momentum and penetration. If the point of the
wedge can be stopped for even a moment, the wedge can be easily
enveloped in a pincer attack which will be discussed later. The tactic
is especially effective when used by heavily-armed infantry against
shield wall defensive formations, where defenders link their shields to
form an all but impenetrable wall. The flying wedge can be used to
knock a small section of the wall open, and flank the enemy from
inside their own line.
The pincer movement (double envelopment) is a basic element of
military strategy which has been used, to some extent, in nearly every
war. The maneuver is mostly self-explanatory; the flanks of the
opponent are attacked simultaneously in a pinching motion after the
opponent has advanced towards the center of an army which is
responding by moving its outside forces to the enemy's flanks, in
order to surround it. At the same time, a second layer of pincers
attacks on the more extreme flanks, so as to prevent any attempts to
reinforce the target unit.
Most infantry combat, on every scale, is based in some fashion on
this military tactic and it is commonly used by aircraft as well.
In military tactics, a flanking maneuver, also called a flank attack, is
an attack on the sides or rear of an opposing force. If a flanking
maneuver were to succeed, the opposing force would be surrounded
from two or more directions, which often grants victory to the flanking
side. As the flank is usually the weaker part of an army, flanking often
gives the attacker an advantage on the psychological condition or the
practical condition of an army, depending on the situation.
The flanking maneuver is one of the most basic tactics used in
battles. There are two types of flanking. In the first type, the principle
of the flanking maneuver is to be sudden and able to catch the enemy
by surprise, causing the enemy to overreact or retreat when they are
surrounded from a few directions. Usually this type of flanking is
concealed in an ambush.
The second type is obvious and transparent, and thus gives the
enemy a chance to prepare. A typical example will be a platoon
encountering an isolated enemy combat outpost. Taking fire from the
combat outpost, the platoon commander may decide to flank. In this
case, one third to two thirds of his platoon may remain in position and
"fix" the enemy with suppressive fire. This prevents the enemy from
retreating or reorienting to a new threat. The remainder of the platoon
will advance discreetly to the flanks of the enemy, before destroying
the enemy in rushes. Because of the possibility of fratricide,
coordination is very important.
The most effective form of flanking maneuver is the doubleenvelopment that involves simultaneous flanking from both ends of
the line of battle.
To prevent from being flanked, a unit could be sent to engage the
enemy flanking unit before the enemy reached its target.
Motti is a Finnish military slang for an encircled enemy unit. This
tactic of envelopment was used extensively by the Finnish forces in
the Winter War and the Continuation War to a good effect. Basically
motti is a double envelope maneuver using bad terrain and light
troops to encircle an enemy restricted on good terrain or roads. They
are heavily outnumbered, but mobile forces could easily immobilize
an enemy twenty times larger than itself.
The idea is to cut the enemy columns, or battle groups, into smaller
groups and then encircle them by light and mobile forces, such as
ski-troops during winter.
A raid is a brief attack, normally performed by a small military force of
commandos, or by irregulars. A raid may be conducted to demoralize
or confuse an enemy, to ransack a camp, to obtain or destroy goods,
to free POWs, to kill or capture people important to an enemy force,
or to gather intelligence. Raids are especially common in guerrilla
warfare also called Special Ops.
Hit-and-run tactics is a tactical doctrine where the purpose of the
combat involved is not to seize control of territory, but to inflict
damage on a target and immediately exit the area to avoid the
enemy's defense and/or retaliation.
These tactics are a cornerstone of irregular warfare. Like guerrilla
warfare, militant resistance movements, and terrorism where the
enemy typically overmatches the attacking force to the point where
sustained combat is to be avoided
Offensive Maneuvers:
Offensive Maneuvers are different from offensive tactics because
offensive maneuvers are some of the ways on how to conduct
offensive tactics.
Skirmishers are infantry soldiers stationed ahead or alongside of a
larger body of friendly troops. They are usually placed in a skirmish
line to either harass enemy troops or to protect their own troops from
similar attacks by the enemy. Skirmishers are generally lightly armed
and armored for increased battlefield mobility.
Human wave attack is a military term describing a type of assault
performed by infantry units. This type of maneuver is in which
soldiers attack in successive line formations, often in dense groups
and generally without the support of other arms or with any
sophistication in the tactics used. The term is usually connected to
conscript armies, whose poor training usually leaves them little
tactical flexibility. The term has come to be used as a pejorative. In a
human wave attack, there is no attempt to minimize casualties; on the
contrary, part of the tactic involves presenting the defender with the
shock value of overwhelming numbers of attackers. This dense
concentration of troops in the open tends to lead to very high
casualties.
Shock and awe, technically known as rapid dominance, is a military
doctrine based on the use of "overwhelming decisive force",
"dominant battlefield awareness", "dominant maneuvers", and
"spectacular displays of power" to "paralyze" an adversary's
perception of the battlefield and destroy its will to fight. The doctrine
was written by Harlan K. Ullman and James. P. Wade and is a
product of the National Defense University of the United States.
Defensive Tactics and Maneuvers:
Again, as with offensive tactics and maneuvers, don’t get the two
confused: Maneuvers are the way on how to conduct tactics.
Defence:
Yes, a defence. It is not a misspelling. Let me explain: a conventional
defence strategy would concentrate all military resources at a front
line which, if breached by an attacker, would leave the remaining
defenders in danger of being outflanked and surrounded. This would
also leave supply lines very vulnerable.
A “defence in-depth strategy” requires a defender deploy his
resources such as fortifications, field works, and military units, both at
and well behind the front line. Although an attacker may find it easier
to breach the more weakly defended front line as he advances, he
will continue to meet effective resistance. As he penetrates deeper,
the attacker's flanks become vulnerable. Should the advance stall,
the attacker himself risks being enveloped also.
The “defence in-depth strategy” is particularly effective against an
attacker who is able to concentrate his forces and attack a small
number of places on an extended defensive line.
Defenders who can fall back to a succession of prepared positions
can extract a high price from the advancing enemy while themselves
avoiding the danger of being overrun or outflanked. Delaying the
enemy advance mitigates the attacker's advantage of surprise and
allows time to move defending military units to make a robust defence
and to prepare a counter-attack.
A well-planned defence in depth strategy will deploy forces in
mutually supportive positions and in appropriate roles. For example,
poorly trained troops may be deployed in static defences at the front
line whereas better-trained and better-equipped troops form a highly
mobile reserve. Successive layers of defence may use different
technologies or tactics; another example would be: a row of dragon's
teeth may be a problem for tanks, but no barrier to infantry while
another barrier of wire entanglements has the opposite effects.
“Defence in-depth” may allow a defender to maximize the defensive
possibilities of natural terrain and other advantages.
The disadvantages of “defence in-depth” are it may be unacceptable
for a defender to plan to give ground to an attacker. This may be
because: vital military or economic resources are close to the front
line or yielding to an enemy is unacceptable for political or cultural
reasons.
A scorched earth policy is a military tactic which involves destroying
anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through
or withdrawing from the area. The term refers to the example of the
practicing of burning crops to deny the enemy food sources.
Although, it is by no means limited to food stocks and can include
shelter, transportation, communications, and industrial resources
which are often of equal or greater military value in modern warfare.
The practice may be carried out by an army in enemy territory, or by
an army in its own home territory. We here at U.S.A.S.O.C. must
insist that no one ever do this anywhere for any airsoft or other
reasons at all.
A counterattack is a military tactic used by defending forces when
under attack by an enemy force. During their assault, the attackers
may have become vulnerable through exhaustion or complacency. At
the right moment, the defenders aggressively charge out of their
fortifications meeting and stunning their attackers directly, and gain
the initiative. This can break a siege or change the tide of a battle.
However, if the wrong moment is chosen, or a counterattack is poorly
executed, a military disaster could result for the defending side since
the defenders are no longer protected by their fortifications.
The Parthian shot was a tactic employed by ancient Persian horse
archers. The horsemen would feign retreat at full gallop, and then
suddenly turn their bodies around and fire arrows at the pursuing
enemy. You can apply this by retreating and then turn around and
firing back. The Parthian shot is a forerunner for the leapfrogging
tactic. This tactic can be used for both offense and defense.
Retreats:
Here I will discuss how to retreat if your unit is to come under fire and
need to extract fast. Also, they are good tools for moving out of an
AO without everyone running in each direction in panic. These help
build confidence, teamwork, and a professional and efficient way of
retreat while still hurting the enemy.
Center Peel, or simply Peel for short, is a type of retreat practiced by
modern-day infantry. This particular tactic is more specifically
designed for situations where smaller groups of infantry withdraw
from an engagement of a much larger force. In general terms, it is a
sloped or diagonal retreat from the enemy.
This tactic was designed with human psychology in mind (no pun
intended). It begins with an infantry unit facing off with a larger force
of enemies. Once the command is called, the soldiers implement a
battle line formation facing into the enemy's midst. The soldiers then
begin, or continue, to use suppressing fire to delay the enemy's
attack and advance. Depending on the direction of the retreat, the
second to last soldier on the far most end, opposite the retreating
direction, calls out, "Peel 1". Now, the infantryman next to him, on the
end of the line, ceases fire, works his way behind the line towards the
other side, takes a position one meter diagonally back from the far
most soldier on this side, and resumes suppressing fire. Then, the
process repeats with the commands being simplified to "Peel.” The
“1” is only stated at the beginning to signify the actual start of the
tactic. The slanting motion of the tactic gives the impression of
increasing numbers of infantry joining the battle, a psychological
move designed to demoralize the opposition.
Leapfrogging: This is the military tactic of using a combination of
suppressive fire with either offensive forward movement or defensive
disengagement. As members of a unit (element to platoon level) fire
at the enemy, other members advance to cover; these two groups
continually switch roles as they surround the enemy. This process
may be done by "leapfrogging" by fireteams, but is usually done
within fireteams along a squad/platoon battle line to simulate an
overwhelming movement towards the enemy and make it more
difficult for the enemy to distinguish specific targets. This military
tactic takes continual training and focused coordination to be effective
on the modern battlefield. It is also a common tactic practiced by
Special Forces and Special Ops to move to an extraction point once
a mission has been completed, or to extract fast if they come under
fire.
Laws and Safety:
Many people are concerned that the realism of airsoft guns makes
them dangerous. Parents need to be aware that giving an airsoft gun
to irresponsible children can put their child in danger. In certain
countries where real firearms are illegal the police, and others, may
understand that children are playing with fake guns. In the United
States, however, airsoft guns are regularly mistaken for real guns.
Just as you would not brandish a real firearm in public, the same is
true with airsoft guns. Airsoft guns are not cap guns or squirt guns.
Be aware that if your child brings an airsoft gun to school, or any
other public place, they may be arrested or, at worst, shot by a police
officer.
If you are a parent and are reading this, thank you for taking
responsibility and being pro-active in learning about airsoft guns. To
learn more about airsoft gun safety please read on.
Not only do airsoft guns appear to be real, they also shoot plastic
pellets. Many of the more expensive models such as AEGs are fully
automatic. The speed at which airsoft bb's come out of airsoft guns is
much slower than the speed that bb's are shot out of a traditional bb
gun. Generally speaking, this speed allows people to shoot at each
other with airsoft guns safely, under certain conditions. The first
condition is eyewear. Never, ever, shoot at someone who is not
wearing proper eye protection. Proper eye protection means eye
goggles rated at least ANSI Z87.1 or paintball goggles. Proper eye
protection is not military sun/dust/wind goggles, ski goggles, or shop
goggles. Do not risk your own eyes or take on liability for your friend's
eyes. Always wear proper eye protection when shooting airsoft guns!
Read more about eye protection.
Also, please be aware of the speeds at which all airsoft guns used in
an airsoft game are shooting. Typical out-of-the-box airsoft guns
shoot at ranges anywhere from 250 feet per second to 350 feet per
second. Airsoft guns can be modified to shoot faster. Speeds
between 375 feet per second and 400 feet per second are usually the
maximum speeds US airsoft teams will allow. Make sure that anyone
firing an airsoft gun over 400 feet per second is experienced, can
accurately judge distance, and does not engage targets at close
range. Never mix real bb guns into an airsoft gun game. If you are
unsure of an airsoft gun's firing speed, either buy a chronograph to
measure the speed or simply do not allow it at a game.
The simplest rule to remember with airsoft guns is to treat them as
real guns. An accidental discharge at close range can have any
number of damaging results including, but not limited too, broken
teeth and damaged eyes.
When transporting your gun to and from a game, carry it in a gun
case. Not only is a gun case the safest means of transportation, it
also naturally protects your gun (airsoft guns can be quite fragile) and
makes a great place to store airsoft pistols and spare magazines. For
many areas, a gun case is the only way to legally transport your
airsoft gun. Remember, it is very difficult to visibly distinguish an
airsoft gun from a real gun.
Many people are concerned about the use of airsoft guns in crimes. A
criminal is a criminal and will use whatever means they can to break
the law. I would prefer a less dangerous criminal with an airsoft gun
to a criminal armed with a real gun and the capability to kill innocent
people.
Don't let any of these safety issues scare you away. Airsoft is not a
dangerous sport as long as everyone playing understands safety. If
you can not follow these rules, please try another outdoor sport.
When everyone follows the rules, airsoft is just as safe as paintball. In
3 years of playing, I never saw any serious accident. On a few
occasions a BB at close range has drawn blood, but that is rare. I
have played in games with 50+ people without incident.
Last, but not least, before you play an airsoft game make sure that
the airsoft teams you are playing with have strict rules concerning
safety and feet per second limits for guns involved. Good Luck!
(Source: www. AirsoftgunHelp.com)
Laws and Safety: (Continued)
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Under Federal Law,
o Airsoft guns are not classified as firearms subject to the
Gun Control Act. (However, In almost every major city
and population center the definition of a firearm within
their respected ordinances includes propulsion by spring
or compressed air, thus subject to applicable laws.)
o A 6 mm minimum orange tip must be present on the
barrel end of the airsoft gun to identify it as such for any
commercial sales or transport. Once you own the airsoft
gun, you may remove the orange tip in most areas, but
local and state laws do vary.
o Airsoft guns' trademarks must be removed where the
manufacturer does not have an existing license
agreement with the "Real Steel" gun's manufacturer in the
US. (Example: Classic Army has a licensing agreement
with Arsenal Arms, so the trademarks can stay on
imported replicas of Arsenal's SLR 105 A1. In practice
enforcement is hit or miss. You might get an "unlicensed"
gun through customs with Trademarks intact, while a
Licensed gun might be held in Customs by an "under
informed" customs agent.)
o In addition, the similarity between genuine firearms and
airsoft replicas is close enough to provoke interaction with
local law enforcement personnel if an airsoft gun is
carried openly in public.
o If someone were to, for example, attempt a robbery with
an airsoft gun, they would be charged as if the airsoft gun
were a real firearm.
Tips: Best Way to Apply Camouflage:
We’ve noticed that a lot of guys out there either look ridiculous with
the camo they have on, or they just don’t know how to apply it so we
thought we would give you all some advice on it. This is just a brief
overview so we’ll discuss more in future issues.
Instructors at the U.S. Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, GA offer
this advice on soldier's camouflage:
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When applying camouflage paint to your skin, work with a
buddy. Apply a two or three color combination of camouflage in
an irregular pattern. Face paint in wooded areas should be
short vertical stripes, consistent with vegetation. Other terrain
dictates locally consistent patterns to match.
Paint shiny areas -- forehead, cheekbones, nose, ears, and
chin -- with a dark color. Paint shadow areas -- around the
eyes, under the nose and under the chin -- with a light color.
Don't forget the back of the neck, arms and hands. Palms of
hands are not normally camouflaged if arm-and-hand signals
are not to be used. Remove all jewelry to further reduce shine
or reflection.
Study the terrain and vegetation and pick camouflage material
that best blends with the area.
Change camouflage as needed. When moving from one area to
another, blend with the surroundings. Take grass, leaves, brush
and other material from your location and apply it to your
uniform and equipment and put face paint on your skin.
Do not over-camouflage. Too much camouflage material may
actually disclose a position. Get your camouflage material from
a wide area. An area stripped of all or most of its vegetation
may draw attention.
Helmets. Camouflage your helmet with leaves, grass or sticks.
Use strings, burlap strips or rubber bands to hold those in
place. If there is no material for a helmet cover, disguise and
dull helmet surface with irregular patterns of paint or mud.
Uniforms. Add more camouflage to make the uniform blend
better with the surroundings. To do this, put mud on the uniform
or attach leaves, grass or small branches to it.
Tips: (Continued)
G3 Mechbox Takedown by Matt Bezkrovny:
Suggested Tools:
Phillips head screwdriver
Standard head screwdriver
Tweezers (if handling hop up sleeve)
Silicone lubricant (if handling hop up)
Mini Screwdriver Set
The G3 is a fairly simple gun to breakdown: that is one of the reasons
I chose to add it to my collection. By following this guide, you will
become as proficient as I am in disassembling this beast of a gun.
This guide pertains to all G3 variant receivers including: the MC-51,
G3 SAS, G3 SG/1, both CA SAR models, CA HK33E, and more.
Although this is a TM SG/1 which has been highly modified, all of the
elements of a standard G3 are still there. Now, for the guide:
First, we start by removing the two screws as seen above. Use a
standard flathead screwdriver to unscrew both pins holding the stock
together. There are two parts of the pin, the main body of the pin and
the screw on pin heads, make sure to not loose either. (Photos 1-3)
Once the pins are out of the receiver and stock, pull the stock and
stock cap from the receiver. The picture above shows the stock
removed from the receiver. Remember, those are deans’ connectors
so you will have clear plastic tamiya connectors. I will be writing a
deans’ ultra connector installation guide soon. (Photo 4)
The next pin that has to be removed is the magazine well-receiver
pin. This is what holds the two halves of the receivers together. Use a
flathead to unscrew both sides of this pin and remove it. (Photo 5)
Once the pin is removed, pull the lower receiver (pictured as the top
receiver) towards the rear of the gun and out. It should be a clean
slide, with no obstructions. Make sure to not loosen the golden
magazine catch cylinder, which is prone to falling out. (Photo 6)
Here are the two receiver halves split, the lower receiver is on top,
the upper receiver is show on the bottom. (Photo 7)
Now: This portion of the guide will show how to get to the hop-up unit.
If you just need to get to the gearbox, skip this portion.
Inside the upper receiver is the hop-up, which is connected to the
inner barrel. Just put your finger into the magazine well and push the
hop-up chamber towards the rear of the gun. Then pull it with the
inner barrel.
(Photo 8)
Pull the hop-up adjustment dial from the hop-up unit. (Photo 9)
Remove the plastic hop-up clip that attaches the hop up to the inner
barrel. (Photo 10)
Once the clip is off, pull the barrel out while turning it with the hop-up
sleeve. Under the plastic lever on top should be the hop-up bucking.
NEXT: This is the lower receiver removal portion of this guide.
When we left off, we had this, the lower receiver with the gearbox, still
attached. (Photo 11)
The screw that secures the alignment assembly to the gearbox must
be removed by using a standard Phillips head screwdriver. (Photo 1112)
The selector switch must now be removed. Use a mini-screwdriver,
the smallest one in the set, to remove the screw. DO NOT LOSE
THIS SCREW! When you have removed the screw and selector
switch, make sure to put the screw back onto the selector switch,
while it’s out of the lower receiver, to avoid losing it or misplacing it.
Also, remove the right side selector dial once the switch has been
removed. (Photo 13-14)
Next, we have to remove the motor plate which is at the bottom of the
handgrip. The hex-screw in the middle is the motor adjustment screw
and does not have to be touched now. Only the two Phillips head
screws must be removed. (Photo 15)
This is the two Phillips screws removed, and the motor plate
removed. Be wary of the motor adjustment plate, which is the small
washer seen to the left of the motor plate. (Photo 16)
Next, remove the motor by disconnecting the two leads, and pulling
the motor out. This is the picture of the motor removed. (Photo 17)
Next, we need to remove the handgrip from the lower receiver and
gearbox. Remove the two magnetic screws at the bottom of the
handgrip. A magnetic screwdriver is preferred, just in-case one falls
out, you can easily reset it. (Photo 18)
Once the two screws have been completely unscrewed, just pull the
handgrip diagonally off the receiver. When you put the motor grip
back on, make sure the wires and screws go into the correct holes.
The middle hole, which is the largest, is for the motor pinion gear and
axle. (Photo 19)
Finally, after all of the above steps have been completed, pull the
lower receiver off of the mechbox. It should be an easy slide! (Photo
20)
These are some pictures of the version 2 mechbox at gearbox level.
(Photo 21-22)
This is the internal selector switch bracket. This small plastic piece is
what moves the selector plate when the selector switch is moved to a
different selection. Make sure you do not lose this, and put it in the
right way. It should be put on the left side of the receiver. (Photo 2324)
This is how the motor should be put back into the handgrip when you
are done. Make sure the red positive lead matches with the red
positive terminal. There should be a reference, like red paint, or a
plus, like on my Systema motor. The circular, raised part of the motor
(highlighted in blue/purple) is where the motor adjustment washer
should be placed when sealing the handgrip. Once you are ready to
put the gun back together, follow the steps in reverse order. (Photo
25)
Thank to Matt Bezkrovny “KrYpTiK” for writing this article and
allowing us to use it! It was, with his permission, taken from his
website: www.fubarairsoft.com/forums in the AEG section. It’s people
like him that helps this magazine stand out. If you have an article on
how to upgrade or do a modification to your gun, just send it our way
at: usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com (main editor’s email).
What’s next in U.S.A.S.O.C.:
What’s to come in the following issues of U.S.A.S.O.C.? Well, quite
frankly…a lot! In the next issue, CQB tactics will be discussed, the
Tokyo Marui M4-S System will be reviewed, more tips on how to do
modifications to your guns including how to create a custom scope
mount for your AEG, a new team interviewed, plus much more!
Within a little bit, there will be sniper, CQB, outdoors tactics, and
information sections. There will be more for you gas and spring
airsofters including modifications, upgrades, reviews, and previews.
Also, you will learn how to create a custom ghille suit for a small
amount of money, while it still being a very effective suit. Those are
only some of the things to come in U.S.A.S.O.C. Again, this is our
first issue so we are still learning too. So stick with U.S.A.S.O.C. and
watch the magic happen!
Here, two AMSOG members take aim downrange on a target.
(Courtesy of AMSOG)
Photos:
Thanks for all those who contributed to the photo section, especially
AMSOG and W.T.A. If you would like to see yourself, or your team in
here, please send all photos (as big as possible too) to:
usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com (main editor’s email). If no name
is given after photo, then it is from our library of photos taken at
events. Please note: all photos in the e-magazine were staged.
That is why some people don’t have safety goggles and glasses
on.
Ben “Farslayer” from AMSOG
Ben “Farslayer” from AMSOG
(Courtesy of W.T.A.)
(Courtesy of W.T.A.)
(Courtesy of AMSOG)
(Courtesy of AMSOG)
Photo of the Issue:
Thanks to the guys at WRAA (W.T.A.) for allowing us to use this
photo. If you have a photo that you think is the “Photo of the Issue”,
send it our way to: usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com (main editor’s
email).
Upcoming Events for November 2006:
Operation Ill Wind
www.TNairsoftEvents.com
Lewisburg, TN (55 miles south of Nashville, TN – 60 Miles North of
Huntsville, AL)
Nov. 4th, 2006
0700-1700
Open Registration starts Oct. 1st, 2006
Event costs $25, including a subdued operation shoulder patch.
Size of forces:
40 – US Rangers – US Woodland uniform
12 – US Special Forces – Tiger Stripe uniform
52 - Nigerian Army – All camouflage uniforms patterns except US
Woodland or Tiger Stripe
To register or for any questions please visit our website:
www.TNairsoftEvents.com
Overview:
State of Borneo, Nigeria, West Africa
The Bornoian leadership have finally had enough and decided to
break away from the troubled nation of Nigeria to form the nation of
Borneo. Nigerian Muslims have vowed that the new nation ‘shall
never see the light of day’.
Ordinarily the United States would stay out of the matter, but NSA
signal intercepts indicate that the Nigerians have acquired two
canisters of BA-PP3/I anthrax from the former Soviet Union and they
are planning to release the bio-agent against the Bornoians.
The United States already has a Army Special Forces A-team
operating inside Nigeria and they have been ordered to cross the
border into Borneo. US Special Operations Command (USSOC) is
mobilizing the 75th Ranger Regiment to support the Special Forces
A-team in suppressing the overwhelming Nigerian incursion.
Will the US stop the Nigerians from oppressing the Bornoians? Will
the Nigerians be able to bring the Bornoians back into the fold? You
decide!
Join the fight. Register now!
Operation Mercury:
This is a Mediterranean Theater of Operations themed game,
covering Crete to Italy, 1941-43.
November 4th-5th, at Georgia Airsoft in Athens, GA.
http://www.georgiaairsoft.com/
Entry fee is $35.00
Friday night, for the early arrivals, we will have open CQB games in
the illuminated 'town' area.
Operation Mercury beings Saturday (11/4/06), 10AM-midnight, and
concludes Sunday (11/5/06), 9AM-1:30PM.
As is usual there will be a raffle afterwards and 'costume' contest.
Please read the requirements/rules for this game here.
http://www.worldwar2airsoft.com/rules.htm
By attending this event, you agree to abide by these.
This is a WWII airsoft event, designed by and for those players who
have expressed interest in this type of play.
One of the important factors in creating an immersive and enjoyable
WWII scenario is the willingness of participants to take on a basic
uniform appearance appropriate for the era in question. This event
has very liberal Uniform Requirements, but these will be enforced.
You must wear some sort of acceptable WW2-inspired uniform and
headgear, or risk embarrassing yourself.
If you're not sure what that might be, ask!
Please also see the questions thread for further details.
http://s176595924.onlinehome.us/teamblackjack/phpBB2/viewforum.
php?f=47
We understand that, being a WW2-themed event, this will not be for
everyone. Not everyone is willing to forego full automatic fire, past
helmets, personal radios, and tactical vests, or put up with uniform
requirements, fire mode restrictions, and what-have-you, and that is
okay. For those who can handle it, we promise you an extremely
enjoyable experience. Ask Black Company.
A re-enactor grade kit is not required, they key is to look like a Yank,
Limey, or Jerry from 30 feet away. That’s good enough for us.
Sportsmansguide.com and the like are excellent sources for
inexpensive, "close enough" gear.
Peruse this forum for some suggestions, on the cheap.
http://s176595924.onlinehome.us/teamblackjack/phpBB2/viewforum.
php?f=41
Any weapon is also okay, just be expected to use it in semiautomatic
only mode.
Teams:
Listed here are teams that we have found. If you would like to submit
your team to be listed, just include: your team’s name and any
contact info (website, location, email, etc). Please send it to:
usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com (main editor’s email).
AMSOG:
Location: Tucson, Arizona.
Website: www.amsog.com
Airsoft Team Rhino:
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada.
Website: www.airsoftteamrhino.com
Centurion Aisoft Club:
Location: Northern California.
Website: www.airsoftcenturions.com
Cimmerians:
Location: San Francisco, California.
Website: www.cimmerians.org
Cobra Company:
Location: Walworth County, Wisconsin bordering Illinois.
Website: www.cobracompanywi.com
Echo Squadron:
Location: Southeastern Wisconsin.
Website: www.echosquadron.com
Fox Team Airsoft:
Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Website: www.foxteamairsoft.cjb.net
Ghost Strike:
Location: Dayton, Ohio.
Website: www.ghoststrike.cjb.net
Iron Cross Elite:
Location: Wisconsin area.
Website: www.ironcrosselite.com
Mobile Militia Force-Alpha:
Location: California.
Website: www.teammmf-a.com
Morgantown Airsoft:
Location: Morgantown, West Virginia.
Website: www.morgantownairsoft.com
North Alabama Tactical Airsoft Command:
Location: Huntsville, Alabama.
Website: www.natac-airsoft.tk
Rangers of NC:
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina.
Website: www.home.ec.rr.com/hybridiscool/ai/
River Rats:
Location: Elgin City, Chicago.
Website: www.riverratsairsoft.com
South East Airsoft Legion:
Location: Dade/Broward/West Palm Beach, Florida.
Website: www.southeastairsoftlegion.net
Strikers:
Location: Ohio
Website: www.teamstrikers.com
Task Force Delta:
Location: Northeast Wisconsin.
Website: www.taskforcedelta.com
Tactical Airsoft of Cleveland:
Location: Cleveland, Ohio.
Website: www.airsoftcleveland.com
Toledo Airsoft:
Location: Toledo, Ohio.
Website: www.toledoairsoft.com
Airsoft Related Websites:
Here’s a compacted list of airsoft related links. If you have one that
you don’t see, please submit it to:
usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com (main editor’s email).
Airsoft Alaska: www.airsoftalaska.com
Airsoft Arizona: www.airsoftarizona.com
Airsoft Cincinnati: www.airsoftcincinnati.com
Airsoft Colorado: www.airsoftcolo.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Airsoft Connecticut: www.airsoftct.com
Airsoft Hawaii: www.airsofthawaii.com
Airsoft Iowa: www.airsoftiowa.com
Airsoft Kentucky: www.airsoftkentucky.com
Airsoft Pacific: www.airsoftpacific.com
Airsoft Teams.net: www.airsoft-teams.net
Alabama Airsoft Forums: www.bbgunmilitia.proboards77.com
Colorado Airsoft: www.coloradoairsoft.org
Fubar Airsoft: www.fubarairsoft.com/forums
Florida Airsoft: www.floridaairsoft.com
Illinois Airsoft: www.illinoisairsoft.com
Las Vegas Airsoft: www.lvairsoft.org
Lonestar Airsoft: www.austinairsoft.com
Minnesota Airsoft Association: www.mnairsoft.org
North Eastern Airsoft Group: www.neasg.org
Seattle Aisoft: www.seattleairsoft.com
Tennessee Airsoft: www.tnairsoft.com
United States Federation of Airsoft Standards/FAST: www.fast-us.org
Wisconsin Airsoft: www.wiairsoft.com
Ops Ideas:
Thanks to airsoftbeastie for this great op idea. Credit for this goes to
him. If you have an idea for an op, just send it our way to:
npetrus@quixnet.net (main editor’s email).
Title: Prisoners Of War
1. Scenario: The Rangers are trying to save their fellow comrades
who are POWs; the insurgents are trying to move their POWs to
another base because they heard about the Rangers coming to save
them. The Rangers have two options: 1) they can save the POWs
while the insurgents are moving them to the other base. Or 2) they
can save them at the original base. Also, while the Rangers are
behind enemy lines there is a rumor that there is a large weapons
cache so they are requested to find it.
2. Setting: Woodland or Desert will work for this scenario.
3. Time: Should only last 45 minutes to an hour. That’s what the
average is for me and my friends.
4. You'll need 3 teams: Army Rangers*, Insurgents, and POWs.
There should be 4 Rangers, 4 to 5 Insurgents, and 2 POWS
6. Rules: The POWs can not be shot unless all of the Rangers die.
No re-spawns. POWs can only be shot with a spring gun.
7. Objectives:
Rangers: 1. Free the P.O.W.s
2. Eliminate all insurgents
3. Find weapons cache**
Insurgents: 1. Eliminate all soldiers
2. Execute the P.O.W.s
3. Protect weapons cache
POWs: There aren't any objectives for them.
8. Props: Toy guns for weapons cache.
Blindfolds for POWs (Optional…Not recommended.)
9. There are no ammo limits, and all guns must be under 400 fps
unless they are sniper rifles which can be 500 fps.
*= You can use another force if wanted.
**= Only if you want to have it.
Classifieds/Wanted:
Have some gear or gun(s) you want to sell? Are you looking for
something to buy relating to airsoft? Well send us a photo,
description, and price for how much you want to sell it for, or how
much you want to pay for the item you want, and we’ll list it for you.
Please send all items to: usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com (main
editor’s email).
Wanted:
One hi-cap magazine that will fit the Classic Army M15A4 Carbine. I
would like it new, or very slightly used. Please send all photo(s) of it
to me at: occ_black_widow_bike@hotmail.com Thanks!
Final Thoughts:
Happy Holidays!
Well there you have it…the first issue of U.S.A.S.O.C. I hope you
truly enjoyed the e-magazine. One day, I would like to have this in
newsstands everywhere, but U.S.A.S.O.C. still has a good ways to
go till it gets there. Also, I would like to extend a Happy Thanksgiving
and Happy Holidays to all the readers! U.S.A.S.O.C. would also like
to thank all the troops, law enforcement, EMS, firefighters, and all
others who bravely defend our freedom in America. Never forget that
if it wasn’t for all of them, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy our freedom as
much as we do now. So please keep in mind the troops, all the others
listed, and their families when you spend the coming holidays with
your families. U.S.A.S.O.C. is a proud supporter of all our troops!
Also, come back January 1st, 2007 for the next issue of U.S.A.S.O.C.
We plan to kick off 2007 with an even better issue than this one so
come back and see it then.
God Bless and Happy Holidays!
Nick Petrus-Owner/Main Editor