Airsoft Wargaming 101 : Camouflage

In my quest to share and enlight fellow Airheads and Wargamers, here is another Airsoft/Mil-Sim/Wargame related article;

Since the beginning of time, man and all other types of life have used camouflage. It can be used offensively or defensively. Camouflage can be used either to hide from an enemy or by predators who wish to remain unseen before they attack.

Camouflage is a way of blending in with the surrounding terrain to remain unseen. Many animals can mimic the features of their surroundings by changing the color of their skin. By doing so, they can remain unseen by a predator, or they can attack an unwary victim that is close by. Camouflage is a way of hiding in plain sight.

Camouflage plays a crucial role in military maneuvers. Colors worn by the military mimic their surroundings. If soldiers are on duty in jungle terrain, they wear dark, green colors to help them blend into the surroundings. They also paint their faces brown and green to mimic the foliage and dirt.

If soldiers are in a desert surrounding, they wear tan. In snow covered terrain, they wear all white. The main goal is to stay hidden from the sight of the enemy. The camouflage used in the military is often a disruptive pattern, because it is easier to spot straight lines. The brain connects mottled patterns with the surrounding trees and bushes.

The brain’s perception is a very important factor in military camouflage. The brain categorizes things as separate objects. When someone is looking at a countryside scene, there is an enormous amount of information to take in. It is rather like the old saying, “you can’t see the wood for the trees.” People use their senses, mostly the eyes, to break the scene down into different parts.

If your eyes see a group of trees, the brain perceives it as a forest. A quick scan will not show anything untoward. The visual information the brain perceives is rather like looking at a magic eye picture. It is only with some distinct movement that the illusion of camouflage can be broken. Once you have seen the camouflaged person, he or she will stand out, and by then, it may be too late.

Below I will break down the types of camouflage you will mostly see and where they should be used:

Olive Drab
This color of uniform was first used as military camouflage in the 18th century. It has since become outdated and is currently used by the armies of many third world countries.


“Duck Hunter” or “Frog” Pattern
The US Army and Marine Corps were issued full camo uniforms during the later part of WWII called the “Duck Hunter” or “Frog” pattern. It was designed by the Californian horticulturist Norvell Gillespie. In early 1942 it came as a reversible one piece jumpsuit, which they found to become extremely heavy when wet since it was 100% cotton. It also lacked a drop-seat, making it necessary to disrobe for toilet functions. In early 1943 it came as a two piece uniform. Both uniforms were reversible with a green pattern outside and a tan pattern inside, suitable for use on a beach landing (sand) or later in the jungle interior (green), typical of the Pacific campaigns.

Best Used – In the forest

US M65 ERDL and M81 “Woodland”*my all-time favorite pattern*

This pattern is currently used by the US Army. It was first introduced in the early 1980′s. “Woodland” was based off of a similar pattern called M65 Environmental Research and Development Laboratories (ERDL), or “Leaf” pattern. M65 ERDL was designed in 1948 and the US used during the Vietnam War from 1965-1967. These two patterns have been the standard patterns for the Army’s Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) from 1965-2005.

Tiger Stripe
Tiger Stripe was initially used in the jungles of Vietnam by U.S. Special Forces and is now over 30 years old and still being used. It was based on Vietnamese pattern, derived from French “Lizard” pattern.

US Desert 6 Color “Chocolate Chip”

This 6 color camo pattern was used in Operation Desert Storm. It was the first widely issued US desert camo uniform. The two browns are almost impossible to distinguish from each other and the light green is hard to see as well. So why go through the expense of 6 color printing when only 4 colors are actually identifiable?

US Desert Tricolor
This pattern is the currently used for the US Desert Combat Uniform (DCU’s). It was first used in 1990 during Operation Desert Shield. In preventing detection with infrared devices, Tricolor has a 30% improvement over “Chocolate Chip” due to the removal of the white dots.

CADPAT-TW (temperate woodland)
Canadian Military came out with a new digital pixilated pattern in the 1990’s called CADPAT which brought the acclaim from NATO in field testing. At the close of the 20th century the Canadian Army decided to adopt a complete camouflage uniform (including equipment covers) for its field troops. Up until 2000, the Canadians still used a mono-color green uniform. CADPAT was the first digital pattern to go into mass production.

TIGERPAT*another favorite pattern and next BDU project*
If Tiger Stripe came second to a digital pattern why not evolve Tiger Stripe into a digital pattern? Guy Cramer, one of the world’s top experts on camouflage and designer of over 250 digital camouflage patterns conceived of giving Tiger Stripe the digital makeover.

MARPAT Woodland
In 2000 the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) gave a directive to develop a new and improved camouflage uniform. After initial evaluation, eight potential candidates were selected from more than 100 after-market camouflage. Because of other factors, this selection was further narrowed down to the three best performers: Tiger Stripe pattern, Canadian Pattern (CADPAT), and Rhodesian Disruptive Pattern Material (Rhodesian DPM). The USMC considered adopting CADPAT for their new pattern; however the Canadian government owns the copyright for the pattern. These three selected patterns were scanned and digitally edited; and a modified version of the Rhodesian DPM camouflage early figured to be the favorite. There was, however, some feeling that the USMC deserved something more original and distinctive than a pre-existing pattern, suitably adapted.

After extensive laboratory analysis and testing, a variation of the CADPAT pattern using the colors that had been used to modify the Rhodesian DPM camouflage. The CADPAT pattern had been empirically modified by well trained and seasoned Marine Corps Scout Snipers, along with the Canadian Department of National Defense and their extensive research used to develop CADPAT. This modified version of CADPAT was selected and designated as Marine Corps Pattern (MARPAT). MARPAT and Tiger Stripe were then selected for print on actual material and taken for field evaluation where MARPAT emerged as the victor.

The American MARPAT is a 4 color pattern based on olive greens and browns. The camouflage pattern was officially designated Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform Pattern, and the introduction of the new Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU) commenced in 2002.

Best Used –

MARPAT Desert*im currently using this one*
This 4 color pattern is the currently used for the Marines’ desert uniform. The uniform design is identical to the Woodland MARPAT uniform.

MARPAT Urban
This 4 color pattern was designed by the Marines for an urban uniform. This design has never gone into full production runs.

ACUPAT
In 2004 the U.S. Army began to trial the new Army Combat Uniform (ACU) with a new digital pattern called ACUPAT, also known as Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) and officially designated as ARPAT. Based on the Marines’ MARPAT, ACUPAT is composed of three colors: sage-green (woodland), grey (urban environments) and sand-brown (desert). Black was omitted since it is not a color commonly found in nature. Nonetheless, it is a color that creates depth, and in nature, shadows are often perceived as black. The military feels there is no one camouflage that is fool-proof in every situation, but ACUPAT does a very good job.

During development, it was speculated that with this pattern, soldiers would need half as many uniforms, thereby saving government spending. The problem of course, is that the uniforms will still wear out at the same rate as the old one and end up costing the government the same amount. The ACU has some radical design changes compared to the BDU, such as canted pockets, hook & loop fastener closures (in-place of buttons), wrinkle-free material, and a Nehru collar. The ACU became standard issue for all deployed troops in 2005.

MultiCam
Saw this pattern for the first time in Transformers part-1. MultiCam is a modern multi-environment camouflage pattern developed by Crye Associates in conjunction with U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center (also known as U.S Army Natick labs). The pattern was on the race to replace the 3-color desert and Woodland patterns, but originally lost to the Universal Camouflage Pattern in 2004, seen in the Army Combat Uniform. However, it was commissioned in 2010 and will be replacing the UCP pattern over time for use by US Army Units serving in Afganistan. According to the Army’s test results, MultiCam was the only camo pattern to rank first in all three categories of the Army’s photosimulation evaluation.

MultiCam has background colors of a brown to light-tan gradient and lime green blending in between, the main part consist of green to yellowish green gradient and finally dark brown and light pinkish blotches spread throughout the pattern. This allows for the overall appearance to change from greenish to brownish in different areas of the fabric, while having smaller blotches to break up the bigger background areas. MultiCam hides volume and form by tricking the human eyes perception of color. MultiCam allows the object it covers to blend into the back ground with the camo pattern.


Real Tree™
Widely used by hunters, this natural pattern works extremely well for one specific environment. Real Tree is made specifically for the North American environment. It has found its way onto many things other than uniforms, such as rifles, vehicles, casual wear, and even women’s sleepwear (perfect for the wife of a redneck).


Mossy Oak™
Widely used by hunters, this natural pattern works extremely well for one specific environment. Mossy Oak is also made specifically for the North American environment. It has found its way onto many things other than uniforms, such as rifles, vehicles, casual wear, and even women’s sleepwear (then again, perfect for the wife of a redneck).

Hmmm.. i think i should include some the special mentioned* patterns in my Christmas wish-list too!

**camouflage images courtesy of Wikipedia**

Airsoft 101 (Choosing The Right Weapon)

Suddenly i'm so inspired to blog about Airsoft and related stuff so here goes another:

So you’ve decided you want to get into airsoft, or your looking to purchase your next airsoft gun. You’ve decided on manufacturer, build material type, and price. You visit a few on-line or local Airsoft Retailers and are suddenly overwhelmed by the choices you have. So what do you choose? This guide will help you make the right choice based on how you plan to use your airsoft gun.

The first questions you need to ask yourself is what type of skirmishes will you participate in and what will be your role. Skirmishes’ can range from Urban Combat, to open battlefield re-enactments. Samples of roles you can fill are rifleman, machine gun operator, or sniper. In this guide i will break down weapons into categories, list the types of Airsoft guns that fit those categories and correspond them to Skirmish types. The categories are:

* Side-Arms
* Personal Defense Weapons (PDW)
* Close Quarters Battle (CQB) Weapons
* Assault Rifles
* Sniper and Battle Rifles
* Machine guns, Squad Weapons, and Everything else

The Side Arm

Side Arms mainly encompass handguns (automatics and revolvers). In the real world they are used by law enforcement, military, and security services. They are weapons that you carry in a holster to rely on as a last resort or for very close quarters combat. Airsoft pistols come in spring loaded and gas versions. Airsoft pistols tend to have shorter range due to their slower muzzle velocity. A side arm is best used under 15 metres, although many are accurate at longer ranges. Most Airsoft enthusiasts keep a side-arm at the ready in case they run out of ammo or their airsoft gun runs out of battery power. It should not be your main weapon on the field, but may well be in the CQB. Side-Arms are also great for target practice and teaching proper firearms handling.

The Personal Defense Weapon – PDW

The personal defense weapon (PDW) is a compact semi-automatic firearm. They are similar to most assault rifles but usually have shorter ranges and sometimes higher rates of fire. The real steel is used primarily by security and special ops forces due to their compact size. Many airsoft enthusiasts will argue that PDW can be considered side-arms due to their small compact nature. An Airsoft PDW can make a great back-up weapon (like a sidearm) or can be used as your primary weapon in close quarters combat scenarios (room clearing and urban ops). Though in real life they are not as accurate as assault rifles at longer ranges in Airsoft PDW’s are just as good as most other semi-auto weapons. You may want to consider a PDW if you are participating in urban ops, specifically indoor ops as well as on open fields. This weapon will easily fit into any different environment. Weapon types that fit into the PDW category are:

* Belgian P90
* H&K MP5PDW/RAS/K
* MAC10
* Beretta 93R
* Scorpion
* Tech-9

Close Quarters Battle (CQB)

CQB is the latest buzzword in the airsoft and real weapon communities. This encompasses weapons that are best suited for Room-to-room, between building and confined space shooting. Many CQB weapons are favored by vehicular based soldiers/law enforcement as they provide good balance of maneuverability, accuracy and range. Most CQB combat is incurred by small teams engaging the enemy at close range. Many CQB weapons are shorter barrel variants of the normal assault weapons, and sometimes even include collapsible or folding stocks. You may also hear CQB called MOUT (a military acronym for Military Operations on Urban Terrain). The CQB Airsoft guns are great for the above described skirmish types, but also give you decent range and accuracy in open and woodland areas. If you will be doing a combination of Close Quarters and open area Skirmishes, a CQB would be a good choice. Airsoft guns that fit the CQB classification are (some will also fit the PDW Category):

* M4 CQB
* MP5 (most variants)
* P90
* G36/C
* G3
* UMP
* AK-Spetz

Assault Rifle

An assault rifle is a rifle or carbine offering a Semi automatic firing mode. Assault rifles fit between Machine guns and CQB Weapons, and are the preferred small-arms issued to most modern armies. Many of the CQB and PDW weapons are variants of full-sized assault weapons. They provide longer range and accuracy and are best suited for open area combat, Assault weapons are not very convenient or useful for close quarters combat. So, if you need something with longer range/accuracy and the ability to lay down a lot of fire this may be the airsoft gun for you. Weapons that make great Airsoft assault Rifle choices are:

* M16A1/A2
* XM8
* G36
* AK-47
* M4A1-Carbine
* SCAR
* MP40

Sniper and Battle Rifles

The next category encompasses the longer barreled sniper rifles and older model battle rifles. Most of these rifles are intended for single shot, long range firepower. However, many of them can be shot on full-automatic firing mode. The ability to hit your target outside of his/her weapon’s maximum effective range is the strength of the sniper rifles. If you think you may be assigned as a sniper, these weapons make the best choice for you. Many of the Battle Rifles are usually period type rifles (WWII, Vietnam, etc.) and are great for long range, accurate airsoft shooting. If you participate in any period airsoft battles Battle Rifles will suit your purpose. Many of the Airsoft sniper rifles and battle rifles available have mounts for a scope which gives you magnified sighting power. Keep in mind the sniper and Battle Rifle may be longer and bulkier that most Airsoft guns. This makes maneuverability low, but accuracy is through the roof! The most popular Sniper and Battle Rifles include (but not limited to):

* Soviet Dragunov Rifle (sniper)
* M1 Garand (battle Rifle)
* M14 Rifle (Battle/Sniper)
* M4 SPR Mod-1 (Sniper)

Other airsoft guns that do not fit into any of the above categories are:

* Airsoft Shotguns
* Airsoft Claymores (landmines)

These are specialized and have limited uses. Shotguns are usually used for close quarters battle and room clearing operations. Claymores are best used for base defense or bobby-trapping heavily traveled areas.

As you can see the Airsoft Weapon choices are available for all skirmish scenarios. You may find that you have interests in different types of airsoft play and you’ll need more than one weapon in your arsenal. This is not uncommon in the airsoft circles and acceptable for most players. Recommendations from other players can be helpful too. Veterans of various fields will know what works best based on terrain and skirmish types. Don’t be afraid to ask. Forums are a good choice to bounce ideas off fellow airsoft players too.

Good luck in your selection process. Have fun, safe time on the field!!! And of course, don’t forget your eye protection!

Airsoft Wargaming 101

"I eat, sleep and drink Airsoft." yea, this has always been my line referring to my beloved sport. I've been playing Airsoft for quite some time and being an "Airsoft Pioneer" and Mil-Sim/Wargame Enthusiat, which dates back to the late 80's and early 90's in the Philippines during the time of Gas Guns, Springers and Pneumatics; i think its about time i blog something about it.

Airsoft is a social sport, and so playing on a team is one of the enjoyable aspects of the hobby. If you can find a team to play on, then join! If not, there’s nothing stopping you from forming your own team. But whether or not you’re on a team you started or not, it’s a good idea to train with your team. Your team can learn things like formations, hand signals, moving, tactics, marksmanship and more.

1. Squad Roles

You should assign a role to each member of your team. If your team has more than 5 members, then dividing everyone into squads of 5 or 6 men each is a good idea. Here are the roles:

Assault soldier (rifleman): The assault soldier forms the backbone of the squad. He fights with a medium range assault rifle. His main responsibility is to act as the squad’s muscle, eliminating hostile forces and helping the team achieve its objective through flanking, suppressive fire, and tactical movement. They should move swiftly and have a quick mind to evaluate threats and respond accordingly. They should also take orders willingly and never flee or retreat unless commanded to do so by the squad leader

Point man: If the squad is a spear, then the point man is the very tip of it. Armed with a rifle or sub-machine gun, he goes ahead of the assault soldiers, acting as recon and team leader. He must be the squad’s best tactician, in order to decide when to and when not to engage. Stealthy movement is also a must, along with leadership skills to keep the squad in line.

Support Gunner: The support gunner has one simple job: suppress the enemy so that the assault team can move unmolested. In order to complete this, he must have a large, powerful weapon. His aim and tactical sense need not be great, as his role is only to put a huge amount of lead into the right area. However, he should be strong in order to carry his heavy load-out of heavy guns and magazines.

Designated Marksman: The designated marksman is a part of the assault team. However, he is different than his fellow assault grunts because of his weapon, a large, accurate semi-automatic rifle. He has two roles. The first is to engage targets that are out of the assault team’s range, hurting the enemy before they can do any damage. His second role is as a counter-sniper, to find and suppress enemy snipers as the squad moves in and destroys them.

Sniper/Spotter: As the most independent soldier in the squad, the sniper is largely autonomous from the assault team. With his large, accurate rifle, his main job is to harass and harry the enemy by attacking them from an unknown position. As a secondary duty, the sniper reports back to the squad, via radio or hand signals, about enemy movements and positions. He should be the stealthiest person on the squad, skilled in woodcraft and concealment. The sniper should also have a slightly “lone wolf” mentality, as he occasionally will be completely cut off from the squad and must survive alone.

Heavy Weapons/Demolition Man: This soldier’s main duty is intimidation, suppressing the enemy with a barrage of explosives and smoke to cover up the squad’s movements. It is definitely not a position that requires finesse.

A squad should be compromised of a point man and and at very least, 4 other riflemen. If someone has the resources to be a support gunner or a DM (designated marksman) then they can be great additions to the squad. However, a squad should be based off of riflemen, as they are the workhorse of the squad.

A sniper team is also a great addition to the team. If available, a spotter that can assist the sniper may prove very useful, but could also prove unwieldy, cumbersome and distracting. It really depends on the sniper. A sniper team will never exist of more than two men. Most of the time, snipers will go alone. They’ll have to be very good at what they do, as airsoft sniper rifles do not have the same capabilities as real steal sniper rifles do. Real sniper rifles can hit ranges up to and beyond 3 miles. A good sniper rifle can hit around 300 feet.

It is very rare for a team to have a heavy weapons guy. Most of the time, riflemen will carry their own explosives, such as such smoke, and grenades. A lot of people also mount grenade launchers on their rifles. For starting teams, do not worry about this role.

Here’s your first guide and piece of advice.

2. Soldier Readiness Conditions

Now that your team members have roles, it’s time to teach them about the different readiness positions. Confused about what this is? Read on to find out.

Soldier Readiness Conditions

Condition 1. Combat Impossible (in safe zone, before game, after game)
All weapons are put on safety, magazines are removed, and chambers are cleared. Pistols are holstered, while rifles are slung over back or held in non-ready position. The soldier is allowed to relax/rest.

Condition 2. Combat unlikely
Weapons are on safety, with fingers off the trigger, but magazines are inserted. Weapons should be held at the soldier’s side, within easy reach. The soldier should scan his surroundings, remaining alert, but not necessarily using cover when speed is important.

Condition 3. Combat possible
Weapons are on safety, with fingers off the trigger. Magazines are inserted. Weapons are held ready, but not shouldered.
The soldier should be very alert, watching his surroundings closely and staying near cover.

Condition 4. Combat likely
Weapons are on safety, with fingers off the trigger. Magazines are inserted. Weapons are shouldered, with the barrel pointing down. The soldier is very alert, and points his gun wherever he looks. He stays under cover when stationary, and is covered by his squad-mates when he moves.

Condition 5. Combat imminent.
Weapons are off safety, with fingers off the trigger. Magazines are inserted. Weapons are shouldered, with the barrel pointed toward the enemy’s location. The soldier is extremely alert, focusing his attention toward the enemy’s location, but still remaining aware of his surroundings. He stays under cover unless moving to a different location is vital.

Condition Six. Combat commenced.
Weapons are off safety, with fingers on the trigger and magazines inserted. Weapons are shouldered, with the soldiers looking down their sights. The soldier is at his highest alert, which can only be maintained for a few minutes before adrenaline, tunnel vision and other effects begin to have a negative impact. He focuses his attention on his lane of fire, but should still remain aware of the overall tactical situation. He remains in his position unless covered by his squad-mates.

Note:. these conditions are meant as general guidelines for riflemen/support gunners etc. Snipers should keep their safety on until actually engaging the enemy, and should remain on a Condition 4 alert status throughout the game

Because CQB (Close Quarters Battle)is a game of reflex, CQB men should keep their safety off from the time they reach Condition 4. Like snipers, they should constantly keep a Condition 4 alert status.

My trigger finger is itchy already, cant wait for the next skirmish..AWOOF!