Cover photo courtesy of SGO Śląsk
In response to the invitation issued by the SGO Śląsk group, I had an opportunity to take part in a military simulation on February 3, 2024 in the Beskid Śląski Mountains using ASG replicas, vehicles, UAVs and many other elements found more or less frequently during airsoft events.
The simulation scenario was focused on light infantry operations with the assistance of selected technologies used on contemporary battlefields. The participants were presented with a complete WARNO in advance, and the primary goal was to prevent the penetration of enemy reconnaissance units moving from a specific direction into the game area.
To ensure a more immersive atmosphere of the simulation, participation of individual teams was kept secret and initial communication with the Signal application was conducted only in the simplified RFI (Request For Information) format via the coordinator (Stevo - SGO Śląsk). For the duration of the game, he assumed the conventional role of C2 (Command & Control).
As participants, working in tandem with a fellow member of the RQS Team (Flynn), we were assigned to perform "EOD" duties. The assigned tasks included: establishing contact with the reconnaissance team, retrieving a package ("sonic" mines), mining the roads designated by the command (Szelest - SGO Śląsk) and active kinetic influence on enemy units.
Working in pairs, the key element was selecting the right equipment for navigation, maintaining communication, and conducting airsoft combat during the day and at night. Due to the short duration of the simulation (the plan assumed a maximum of 16 hours) and favorable weather conditions with temperatures above 0°C, it was possible to omit taking camping equipment in order to improve mobility.
We focused on almost full unification of the equipment, including uniforms, viper hood camouflage adapted to the season, replicas of the same category with mutually compatible magazines, GPS watches supported by phones with the Locus application, appropriate radios, long-range flashlights, thermal imaging sights and basic equipment for "providing assistance" according to simplified TCCC rules. In order to improve the ability to identify and report contacts, we also used classic sights, a video recorder and a laser rangefinder.
An important factor that significantly increased situational awareness and facilitated our tasks was the support of UAV equipped with a good-quality thermal imaging camera. Also, the possibility of using ingame transports, although ultimately it was rarely used, expanded the range of available options.
After dark, while carrying out one of the tasks, we has a fire exchange with OPFOR forces. Thanks to the precise exchange of information, cooperation with the headquarters and all three of our own teams operating in the field (QRF, REC, EOD), we managed to encircle the enemy and force them to capitulate, without taking any losses. As a result, the simulation ended several hours earlier than planned. After demining the roads at night, we went to EXFIL.
We would like to thank both the organizers and participants from SGO Śląsk for the opportunity to test our skills in this event, and the other teams taking part in it (including DS Piraci and SGR MAP TEAM) for cooperation and competition in the spirit of fair play.
Photos: Logan, Flynn
