Airsoft Equipment: Gorgeous Gun!

I took a trip down to my local airsoft site earlier today to pick up some cash from the sale of one or two guns and as I walked into the shop, there on top of one of the clothing display stands was something I've been waiting to see arrive on the market for quite a while now

I was looking at an airsoft version of an iconic light machine gun of the second world war, the German MG34. If, like me, you've had your head in the sand recently when it comes to airsoft, and you've yet to learn of the release of this formidable WW2 replica weapon, then you might want to 'read' on. To be honest, there's not a lot here to read but there's a video clip and some piccies and if you want to actually read some more rather than simply drool over your keyboard, then go to the manufacturer's website or look it up on one of the forums. Enjoy!

 uk.redwolfairsoft.com

       



       

Airsoft Arms and Accessories: Latest Additions

In a few weeks time I hope to be taking part in a WW2 themed game at Fireball, my regular site, and a month later, on the 21st August, I'm due to play in a WW2 game at The Tunnels, A first and Only site in between Kidderminster and Stourbridge

I decided to splash out on some more kit for these two games and here are the first couple of items; a Type II camouflage smock, made in the USA by S&M Wholesale, and an unissued WW2 German field torch made by Pertrix

I won't need the torch for the first game but for the second I reckon it will be an essential part of my kit. I've played at The Tunnels a couple of times before and although large parts of the site are well lit, significant areas have been left purposely very dark. I've no idea how much benefit the WW2 torch will be, with its tiny 4.5volt bulb but, hey, hopefully it will look the part

 

A view of the inside of the torch showing the modern battery and repro label. As yet, I don't have any bulbs. The torch is supplied without them and I wasn't aware of that when I bought it. Thankfully, the supplier has kindly agreed to send me some post free!

Take a craft knife, or perhaps a sharp fingernail, to the piece of paper stuck over the contacts and with a little bit of bending into position, away you go

Torches like this were supplied to the army by a number of manufacturers, Pertrix and Daimon being perhaps the best known and most widely used. They came in a variety of models, all very similar in size, and mostly fitted with leather flaps [some on the top only, others at both ends] for hanging on a tunic or coat button, by far the most common method of carrying them

They were used for general purpose lighting and for signalling. They were usually fitted with two or three perspex filters in red and green [like this one] or red, green and blue as well as a quick-release button on the top for signalling in Morse code. Some models had apertures at the bottom, whilst others had hinged lids over the glass, to allow the ground directly underfoot to be lit

The smock, which you can see a little of in the above pictures, is a Type II Plane Tree print smock purchased from the same place as the torch, namely Soldier of Fortune. Made by S&M Wholesale in the US, it's a good quality reproduction of the real thing with a lace up neck, elasticated cuffs and waist, two skirt pockets with metal dish buttons and loops on the front, back and shoulders for fixing additional camouflage material to it should you wish to. It's also completely reversible with autumnal colours on the other side

It cost just under £100, plus P+P, so not inexpensive but cheaper than buying it direct from the US and cheaper, too, than going to somewhere like Panther-Store in Europe

 

The use of camouflage clothing such as this was surely one of the most innovative and pioneering aspects of Waffen SS uniform production. SS-VT units had started using smocks cut from cotton duck material and printed in camouflage patterns as early as 1938. Earlier versions didn't have the foliage loops and, rather than skirt pockets, had slash openings above the waistband which facilitated access to the tunic underneath

Details of the elasticated cuffs and waistband

The smock was originally intended to be worn over the top of the y-straps, ammunition pouches and other equipment, being loose fitting around the skirt to allow access to whatever was underneath. It was very common, however, for equipment to be worn over the top of the smock and very often the skirt was rolled up under the elasticated waistband to allow soldiers unimpeded access to the lower pockets of the tunic

Detail of the 'inside' of the pocket

Detail of the foliage loops to the front, rear and shoulder of the smock

One final shot of the author's purchase being worn over the top of a GD tunic

This reproduction smock comes in one size only, large enough to fit chests 42-48 according to the maker's information. I don't know about that but, as you can see from the picture above, it's plenty big enough to fit comfortably over the top of a woollen tunic without feeling in any way tight or constricting

So, two new purchases that I'm very happy with and would heartily recommend. Can't wait to get them out on the skirmish field. Until next time

WW2 Airsofting: A La Francaise

Please excuse my, probably incorrect, use of French in the title but there is a reason for it

One of my interests is WW2 airsofting and I am a member of a forum dedicated to the promotion of this particular sub-genre of the airsofting hobby, WW2 Airsoft Community Forum

Whilst browsing through some of the latest threads the other day I came across one posted by a chap going by the name of Yohan, a Frenchman living near Paris, who posted some pictures and videos of himself and some of the folks he plays with, enjoying a game of WW2 airsoft, and rather good I thought they were, too

So much so, I decided to share some of them with you, with Yohan's kind permission of course. So, enjoy!

I love these black and white effect shots.Very atmospheric. Takes you right back. Well, almost!

A very 'together' looking unit, this! A big thumbs up to you

As I've already said on the forum, it would be great to hook up with you guys for a game sometime, either on your soil or ours. Hopefully, that will come to pass. Bonsoir mes amis

Overlord 2011

Welcome to the first post of May. Well I don't know about you, but I've been enjoying the last few days of fine weather, and being fortunate enough to have been given time off work to take advantage of them, and it suddenly struck me today, whilst pottering about in the garden cutting down the plants that weren't quite tough enough to have survived the cold snap back in December, that the 'silly season' is upon us

With that in mind I thought I'd draw your attention to a militaria show being held over the second of the May bank holiday weekends. Now in its 30th year, the Overlord Military Spectacular is a well known show but this year the organisers have moved it to a new venue and it promises to be bigger and better than ever before

I have taken the liberty of including some more detailed information taken directly from the event website, www.solentoverlord.co.uk, and a few 'well chosen' piccies from last year's 'spectacular'

Overlord 2011

Friday 27th May - Monday 30th May

9am til 5.30pm

* New location * click here

 
2011 bigger and better than ever!

After continued success and growth over the last few years we have outgrown the Clanfield site. Our new location has allowed us to grow into a bigger area, spread across 4 fields. The center field is dedicated to Living History, complete with stream. This "nomansland" is an ideal location for terrain and scene oriented dioramas with purpose dug bomb craters. Contact Gary Lambsdale to book your location on this field

Now taking bookings - To download application forms click here

Running for 30 years, this annual event has become the main show for military enthusiasts commemorating D-Day 1944

- Over 300 military vehicles: jeeps to motorcycles, trucks to tanks.
- Mock battles with explosions and gunfire.
- Living history section with period uniforms and weapons.
- Trade stalls for militaria, uniform and tools.
- Arena events guaranteed to entertain the whole family.
- Nostalgia Day—Sunday 29th May, 40’s style theme.

Admission Charges
Adults: £7.00
Concessions: £4.00 Child: (5-15yrs) £4.00
Family: (2 adults, 3 children) £20.00

Facilities
Disabled parking, First Aid , Toilets, Food & Trade Stalls, Beer Tent, Free parking

Download Show Leaflet
Front and Back pages
Middle Pages

There will be military vehicles aplenty, from different eras, not solely WW2.....

..... battle reenactments.....

.....and the odd airsofter or two

If you look closely, you might see the chap on the left throwing a glance at his mate and asking, "are you quite sure we don't look like a couple of Charlies, Keith?"

Let's hope the weather's fine and, if you can make it, you too will be able to enjoy all the fun of the fair

Poor Bloody Infantry

No, not an exclamation of despair, although it could quite easily be one, merely a reference to the WW2 airsoft and living history group mentioned in an earlier post

I'd like to add my heartiest congratulations to the lads and lasses of the group on their being awarded 'Best WW2 Airsoft Group' in the country by the team at 'WWII Re-Enactors Magazine'

Well done, and well deserved. As numerous people, myself included, have already observed 'the walls are coming down'. If that means nothing to you, take a look at the earlier post on GD Recon, and check out the CIA website and forum for further enlightenment

Hope to see some of you around and about soon, chaps. Until then, keep the flags flying

PBI marching at a living history event

One of their number taking aim at an airsoft event

GD Recon in Print

Whilst browsing in a local newsagents the other day I happened to see the latest issue of the magazine pictured below, sporting on its front cover a truly atmospheric picture of some of the lads of GD Recon
 
Some of them live quite local to me and before I discovered the delights of WW2 airsofting I was seriously contemplating joining their living history group. In the end I didn't. I decided I couldn't give enough quality time to both interests and would have to choose one or the other. Choose, I did, and it was airsoft, not specifically WW2 airsoft, that won out. Incidentally, one of the WW2 loadouts I have is a GD Recon/GD Infantry one

Since I've been involved with airsoft, about three years or so now, there has been an increasing amount of 'cross-fertilisation' taking place within the once separate worlds of WW2 'filmsim' airsofting and WW2 reenacting or living history display, with enthusiasts from both sides of the divide discovering the delights that 'the other camp' has to offer. There is an article relating to this very subject in the same issue of the magazine, penned by one G. Harvey, a prominent member of  Comrades In Arms and up until fairly recently a staff writer with Airsoft International. He is also a founding member of PBI, one such 'cross-over' group who portray WW2 British infantry soldiers at both living history and WW2 airsoft events across the country

GD Recon portray, as accurately as possible, rifle men of an armoured reconnaissance unit within the elite ‘Grossdeutschland’ Division that mainly saw active service on the Russian front during World War 2

Members have many reasons for joining the group. Some have a keen historical interest in WWII, some have an interest in the weapons and tactics used, others join for the ‘Kameradschaft’, but the main aim is to share knowledge and research about the conflict and the soldiers that fought in it 

Last year, having been in existence for 5 years, the group became motorised and membership rose to over 25. This year the GDR will be participating in some of the most exciting and respected shows in the UK such as the Bovington ‘Tank Fest’, the English Heritage ‘Festival of History’ and the Victory Show

As you will see from the pictures on the site they attend a wide variety of events throughout the season, from tactical weekends to public displays, and have also taken part in TV & film work as extras

They are always on the lookout for motivated recruits with historical knowledge and a genuine interest in WWII, and especially ‘Grossdeutschland’, so if you have any questions, or are interested in joining a rapidly growing group with a rapidly growing and varied events calendar, go along to one of their shows and have a chat
Failing that, you can always get in touch with the group via the website

Some of the lads pictured at the Battle of Konigsberg event in 2010

Richard Schulze

Good evening

Some of you may know me from one of a number of forums that I sometimes post on, others from WW2 airsofting, some of you may have picked up one of my business cards, and whichever one of the above applies to you, you may have noticed that I am frequently referred to as Richard, or Richard Schulze. For those of you who might be wondering why that is, if you care to read on then all will be revealed

A few years ago I decided to become involved with WW2 airsofting, having happened upon some of the guns for sale whilst visiting a militaria show. I already knew I wanted to represent 'the dark side', having had an interest in the German army, and a few other things German, since I was a fairly small child, and I had already started to put a uniform together for an entirely different purpose, hence my attendance at the fair. The uniform I was putting together [I briefly flirted with the idea of joining a reenactment group, but if I'm honest it was primarily for 'dressing up'] was based on a photograph of a Waffen SS officer I had seen in an Osprey 'Men-At-Arms' publication (number 401 to be precise). His name; Richard Schulze. So, I decided to use it as my forum 'nom de plume' and the 'aka' for my WW2 airsofting 'character' or 'impression'

I have included a couple of links below to sites that offer some very detailed accounts of some of the units Richard Schulze was part of during the war. Although an infantry officer, he is pictured here wearing a field grey version of the panzer, or tank, wrap worn by SP and AG crew but also worn quite occasionally by panzer grenadiers. Notice also that the insignia on his m43 ski cap is rather unusual and certainly not regulation wear. It sports a metal totenkopf, or death's head badge, positioned below a regular army pattern national eagle

A picture of Schulze taken from the above mentioned Osprey book. Photographed in 1944/45 when he was with the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend

A summary of Schulze's career up to August 1941
 

Richard Schulze was born in Berlin-Spandau on 2 October 1914. He joined the SS on 11 November 1934 stationed to the 6.SS standarte in Berlin. A short while later he was transferred to the LSSAH. In April 1935 he attended the second cadet class at SS Junkerschule Bad Tölz and was commissioned on 20 April 1936 with the rank of Untersturmführer. He was assigned to II./Totenkopfverbänd "Elbe" until March 1937 when he served a four month stint as Theodor Eicke's adjutant. It was while adjutant to Eicke that Schulze joined the NSDAP

On 10 July 1937 Schulze was assigned to "Thüringen", where he served as adjutant until November 1938. He received his first promotion as a commissioned officer on the 9th and shortly after assumed command of one of the "Thüringen" barracked units. In April 1939 Schulze was transferred to the SS Hauptamt (central office) where again he served as adjutant, this time to SS Hauptamt chief August Heissmeyer. Schulze served in this capacity until 8 June, when he was then transferred to a similar post on the staff of Joachim von Ribbentrop, Germany's Foreign Minister and father of future Ritterkreuzträger Rudolf von Ribbentrop

In April 1940 Schulze was transferred back to the Leibstandarte and placed in command of a zug in 2.Kompanie. Serving in this capacity at the outset of the hostilities in the west, Schulze went on to distinguish himself by winning both Iron Crosses and taking command of the Kompanie when the Kompanie commander was wounded on 11 June. Promoted to Hauptsturmführer on 11 August, after France's capitulation Schulze returned back to his staff position with Ribbentrop

In the January of 1941 Schulze transferred back to the Leibstandarte's 2.Kompanie. He would command 2.Kompanie until suffering wounds in both arms that August 

Later in his career he served as commander of the 2nd SS Panzer-Grenadier Battalion of the 25th regiment, Hitlerjugend during the division's 1944 campaign in the Ardennes, and towards the end of the war in March 1945 he was given command of the 38th SS-Grenadierdivision Nibelungen

Below you will find a chronological record of the ranks achieved by Schulze during his career and a selection of the awards he won, a couple of which you can see being worn in the above photograph

Dates of rank

• SS-Anwärter: November 11, 1934
• SS-Junker: April 1, 1935
• SS-Standartenjunker: November 11, 1935
• SS-Standartenoberjunker: February 2, 1936
• SS-Untersturmführer: April 20, 1936
• SS-Obersturmführer: November 11, 1936
• SS-Hauptsturmführer: August 1, 1940
• SS-Sturmbannführer: February 24, 1943
• SS-Obersturmbannführer: November 11, 1944

 Notable decorations

• Iron Cross Second (1940) and First (1940) Classes
• German Cross in Gold (1941)
• Close Combat Clasp in Silver (1942)
• Infantry Assault Badge (1940)
• Wound Badge in Silver (1941)
• Order of the Cross of Liberty 4th. Class (1942)
• SA-Sports Badge in Bronze (1937)
• Bulgarian Military Order for Bravery in War 4th Class (1942)

Some photographs of the German awards referred to above are included here

The Wound Badge in Silver

The Iron Cross 1st Class

The Infantry Assault Badge

The German Cross in Gold, picture courtesy of The Regalia Specialist

The Close Combat Clasp in Silver, picture courtesy of The Regalia Specialist