Post by masterchef on Apr 23, 2011 19:45:34 GMT -5
Similar conundrum as the Vietnam airsoft thread. Not Pre-WWII, but still deserves mention on here. I've had the pleasure of attending a 9-day, Full Immersion field Op known as Operation Eastwind. Eastwind is one of the most interesting experiences of my life thus far.
When we say full immersion, we mean it. We eat, sleep and crap milsim for 24 hours a day, 9 days a week. From Period Radios and uniforms to Vehicles and Tactics, we do all that we can to emulate our chosen nationality in every detail imaginable. Eastwind 3 is the first one that we really stepped up the game on Realism, and it has proved to be the best thing we could have done for the event.
Here's the forums.Prices range from $150 to $200 on average, for 9 days of Patrolling,Night Recon with PVS-7s, APC Shows of Force, and overall awesomeness. If you're interested, come check us out.
operationeastwind.com/
Here's a few pics from past events to give you an idea what we do out at East Wind:
Here US troops move out as infantry support for a British FV-701 Ferret armored car. We make extensive use of vehicles at East Wind since we operate on large enough pieces of property to make them tactically significant.
Here US troops are fed via Mermite can while deployed forward. The Squad you see here is out on a 36 hour patrol along a section of the border just before the war goes hot (That's why no goggles yet) They were out when the balloon went up and managed very well with the limited ammo and supplies they had on hand.
Here an NVA(East German) BTR-40 APC moves down a roadway during a patrol. As far as we know, there are 3 of these in operable condition in the USA. If you go to a museum, you MIGHT get to touch one. Here, you get to ride one into combat.
Here a US Squad leader makes a radio call on a PRC-77 radio. We use period correct comms equipment at East Wind (provided by us). If you've never used a "real" radio, prepare to be amazed at all you can do with one of these.
A NATO supply convoy traveling along "MSR Steele" at East Wind II. This was a route cut through the forest across a rocky valley that linked the main NATO controlled area with the northern end of the playing field. NATO trucks ran this very tough route both during the daylight hours and at night under black out conditions using night vision.
An NVA patrol, just returned from a cross border mission, is debriefed by the Soviet HQ staff. Notice the wierd blue interior of the tent? That's actually a period correct Soviet tent they are in. The map they are pointing at is a near perfect replica Soviet style map of the AO they are working in.
A Soviet patrol prepares to move out on a night recon mission. East Wind runs 24 hours a day.
A Soviet sentry walking his rounds at East Wind I. The weather is poor, the wind is howling, there is another snow storm on the way but this man has his gear and knows that everything will be just fine. We have somewhat stringent gear requirements for exactly this reason. East Wind stays tactical regardless of the weather. Note the Isuzu in the background... This was before we transitioned over to only using military vehicles. We learned a hard lesson that year about putting "normal" vehicles into that environment. They do not hold up well to that sort of use...
A Bundesgrenschultz (West German Border Guards) unit at East Wind I. These guys were in charge of a border checkpoint and managed to hold their own with limited support for the entire duration of the event. Every night saw them repulsing major Soviet attacks and they held their ground. This pic was taken towards the end of the event as can easily be told by their somewhat haggard appearance. Their morale never cracked, and even when they donned their distinctive camo smocks, they always had their ties on.
A US soldier takes a moment to shave during his comms watch in the US HQ. You're out there for 9 days: That means eating, sleeping, pooping, washing and shaving in a combat environment.
Who says you won't hear a phone ring for 9 days? Both sides employ field telephone systems at East Wind. This is the NATO SB-22 switchboard in the operations center. It allows calls to be patched through from one caller to another anywhere across the phone network. It also allows a radio call to be patched through to any of the telephones in the network. Basically every tent in the base camps has a telephone and most any of the commonly manned forward outposts is equipped with a phone as well.
A Soviet made BTR-152 armored personnel carrier. Again, if you got lucky at a museum, you might be able to touch one. At East Wind, you'll ride into battle in one or face off against one with your LAW-80 anti tank rocket.
A FV432 Trojan APC. We have 2 of these for Operation Eastwind V
A Hunter SHL (Space Heater Large) puttering away heating the NATO supply tent at East Wind III. When the wind is howling and the snow is flying, it is nice to have a place to go warm up and dry off. Both sides have most of their large common area tents heated with period correct wood stoves or oil fired heaters such as the SHL here. If you have never walked into a heated tent after a long, cold, wet patrol and stood by one of these guys to warm up then you have never felt what "warm" really is. It is amazing.
A NATO officer typing up a AAR on a period correct SAIC V2LC computer. We strive to get as much right as is humanly possible and the V2 here is a perfect example. It's silly, it's hard to use, it cheeps every time you hit a key but it's the right system for the time and everyone loves it. East Wind is about so much more than just airsofting. It's an opportunity for everyone to participate in something that collectively is bigger than anything they themselves can create. Whether you are bringing the minimum required gear for the event, are bringing a military truck, or happen to restore something like the V2LC here, it's all a piece of the puzzle that makes East Wind the event that it is. When you form the environment around you as much as we do here at East Wind, it really makes an event that you feel you are a part of. East Wind creates memories that you will not forget.
I hope that some of you will make the trip out to be part of it.
When we say full immersion, we mean it. We eat, sleep and crap milsim for 24 hours a day, 9 days a week. From Period Radios and uniforms to Vehicles and Tactics, we do all that we can to emulate our chosen nationality in every detail imaginable. Eastwind 3 is the first one that we really stepped up the game on Realism, and it has proved to be the best thing we could have done for the event.
Here's the forums.Prices range from $150 to $200 on average, for 9 days of Patrolling,Night Recon with PVS-7s, APC Shows of Force, and overall awesomeness. If you're interested, come check us out.
operationeastwind.com/
Here's a few pics from past events to give you an idea what we do out at East Wind:
Here US troops move out as infantry support for a British FV-701 Ferret armored car. We make extensive use of vehicles at East Wind since we operate on large enough pieces of property to make them tactically significant.
Here US troops are fed via Mermite can while deployed forward. The Squad you see here is out on a 36 hour patrol along a section of the border just before the war goes hot (That's why no goggles yet) They were out when the balloon went up and managed very well with the limited ammo and supplies they had on hand.
Here an NVA(East German) BTR-40 APC moves down a roadway during a patrol. As far as we know, there are 3 of these in operable condition in the USA. If you go to a museum, you MIGHT get to touch one. Here, you get to ride one into combat.
Here a US Squad leader makes a radio call on a PRC-77 radio. We use period correct comms equipment at East Wind (provided by us). If you've never used a "real" radio, prepare to be amazed at all you can do with one of these.
A NATO supply convoy traveling along "MSR Steele" at East Wind II. This was a route cut through the forest across a rocky valley that linked the main NATO controlled area with the northern end of the playing field. NATO trucks ran this very tough route both during the daylight hours and at night under black out conditions using night vision.
An NVA patrol, just returned from a cross border mission, is debriefed by the Soviet HQ staff. Notice the wierd blue interior of the tent? That's actually a period correct Soviet tent they are in. The map they are pointing at is a near perfect replica Soviet style map of the AO they are working in.
A Soviet patrol prepares to move out on a night recon mission. East Wind runs 24 hours a day.
A Soviet sentry walking his rounds at East Wind I. The weather is poor, the wind is howling, there is another snow storm on the way but this man has his gear and knows that everything will be just fine. We have somewhat stringent gear requirements for exactly this reason. East Wind stays tactical regardless of the weather. Note the Isuzu in the background... This was before we transitioned over to only using military vehicles. We learned a hard lesson that year about putting "normal" vehicles into that environment. They do not hold up well to that sort of use...
A Bundesgrenschultz (West German Border Guards) unit at East Wind I. These guys were in charge of a border checkpoint and managed to hold their own with limited support for the entire duration of the event. Every night saw them repulsing major Soviet attacks and they held their ground. This pic was taken towards the end of the event as can easily be told by their somewhat haggard appearance. Their morale never cracked, and even when they donned their distinctive camo smocks, they always had their ties on.
A US soldier takes a moment to shave during his comms watch in the US HQ. You're out there for 9 days: That means eating, sleeping, pooping, washing and shaving in a combat environment.
Who says you won't hear a phone ring for 9 days? Both sides employ field telephone systems at East Wind. This is the NATO SB-22 switchboard in the operations center. It allows calls to be patched through from one caller to another anywhere across the phone network. It also allows a radio call to be patched through to any of the telephones in the network. Basically every tent in the base camps has a telephone and most any of the commonly manned forward outposts is equipped with a phone as well.
A Soviet made BTR-152 armored personnel carrier. Again, if you got lucky at a museum, you might be able to touch one. At East Wind, you'll ride into battle in one or face off against one with your LAW-80 anti tank rocket.
A FV432 Trojan APC. We have 2 of these for Operation Eastwind V
A Hunter SHL (Space Heater Large) puttering away heating the NATO supply tent at East Wind III. When the wind is howling and the snow is flying, it is nice to have a place to go warm up and dry off. Both sides have most of their large common area tents heated with period correct wood stoves or oil fired heaters such as the SHL here. If you have never walked into a heated tent after a long, cold, wet patrol and stood by one of these guys to warm up then you have never felt what "warm" really is. It is amazing.
A NATO officer typing up a AAR on a period correct SAIC V2LC computer. We strive to get as much right as is humanly possible and the V2 here is a perfect example. It's silly, it's hard to use, it cheeps every time you hit a key but it's the right system for the time and everyone loves it. East Wind is about so much more than just airsofting. It's an opportunity for everyone to participate in something that collectively is bigger than anything they themselves can create. Whether you are bringing the minimum required gear for the event, are bringing a military truck, or happen to restore something like the V2LC here, it's all a piece of the puzzle that makes East Wind the event that it is. When you form the environment around you as much as we do here at East Wind, it really makes an event that you feel you are a part of. East Wind creates memories that you will not forget.
I hope that some of you will make the trip out to be part of it.