Operation Silent Harvest

[ADB]

I just wanted to say a big thankyou to Foxtrot Bravo Zulu, Thanks for making my first event a memorable one. 1 IC Foxtrot Bravo 21 out.

[Matt Belgrove]

Big thanks from all the staff  to all the players on the UK forces side. Brilliant!!

Also A very big thanks to ETS and WMD for being the bad guys and very bad they were!!!

SYD!!!!! You are a legend!! But you didn't get the criple!! 

Hats of to all players and staff. Alot is asked of you all at our weekends , sometimes your missions seem pointless but they always have reasons and a knock on effects. Everything we asked was done and to a high standard.

Thanks.

[wormbyte]

On behalf of HWM I want to thank you Matt and the lads for a good weekend.   We had an unfortunate time with the comms but that was to be expected due to the distance we were away from the base at times. 

I personally did not fire a single round during the whole weekend.  The rest of my team got their first shots off during the final firefight.

But I can honestly say that I would do it again without hesitation.  The more I reflect on the weekend the more I recognise my own personal acheivements (knowing how far I can push myself etc), and the effects our tasks had on the ever changing events.

So when is the next one?

[Jimmy]

Its when you read peoples comments about combat missions like that it gives you that ici8ng on the cake moment.

Personally the weekend felt very real indeed. We had teams out there on the ground, tabbing miles and miles to targets. We had great comms and intel was coming back thick and fast in captured maps, data discs and orders.
The locals and Taliban were fantastic, the interactions between both sides was amazing.
The stoning to death of the man accused of rape was a particular highlight I think.

Everyone will have got something different from the weekend, the more combat missions you do the more varied the experience.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; When you’re up on the mountains in the wind and the rain, when your tired and hungry, when all you have is a radio and a callsign you think to yourself what the hell am I doing here but when the mission is over and you hear how it all went off, how you played your part in the whole thing then you realise that in a small way you lived the mission in the closest way we can out it together.
Everyone is a little gem having its highlights.

There were so many things I got to see this weekend as an intel officer and then SF operative that I can hardly even remember them all.
The MP’s visit with the UN in full blue kit, the snatch mission on quads using 4 teams which went like clockwork, the Afghan local mob and the stoning, going on stag as the sun came up, the late night attack on PB1 which we defended, Syd going on a one man pistol killing spree who stole a beer from our base who then got captured and got interrogated for it! The realistic comms traffic of teams calling in to Zero Alpha which Sit reps, IED’s blowing people up in the road, Mortar attacks which blow the roof off the patrol base.

Sometimes you see a lot, sometimes you do a lot, sometimes you spend the whole weekend on a CTR finding not a lot but that’s how it goes and without both ends of the spectrum it wouldn’t be as real as it gets!

I would say that it was a 95% successful weekend, the only slight mini downside that I saw was that not everyone did their full sessions on stag which meant some teams had to do more. This always happens and is only natural I guess but the weather was good for us and it wasn’t too cold. We did keep it all up from 10.00 AM Saturday till noon Sunday though – A full scale Op. with multiple teams, 60 odd people, running numerous missions and objectives, night and day right up to the final battle which was stunning, fighting in the ruined buildings on the hills of Afghanistan chasing Taliban and killing the lot!

Well done to everyone. That was a proper millsim event. I really hope those that enjoyed themselves even a little bit will come back for more, they only get better and better. You always get back the effort you put in at the end of the day.
You just can’t buy a weekend like that everyone.

Thanks to all the players and the staff.

Jimmy M

[Jimmy]

P.S - Did anybody pick up a smock, a green shemag and green jumper that were togeather on the wall at the main patrol base PB1? - Its kinda important to the continuation of my life that I find that jumper       

Jimmy

[wormbyte]

I took a green fleece jumper off the wall at endex that I thought was mine.   I could not find it in my kit when I was packing and then saw one on the wall, so I presumed someone had found it and left it on the wall.

I will check it when I get home tonight. 

Did yours have a zip at the front of the collar and two zip pockets on the side, along with a brand label on the chest?

[Matt Belgrove]

No that one was yours mate.

[Syd]

Awesome event.

Many great moments; some cat and mouse games on the hill during the day, lots of confusing attacks on Blaine during the night with blue on blues, much pyro all round, getting lit up by a GPMG (with tracer) at dusk on Saturday and running straight into an ambush getting completely owned. The aggressive defence of The Place against several waves of Brits was a highlight. As part of a mountain combat unit I missed some of the RP elements, I'd like to have seen the stoning and the MP visit.

My personal high and low are parts of the same action, finding no-one on stag at Upper Blaine around 0500, turning off the genny and capping the guy sleeping next to it, then standing in the main building standing over your snugly sleeping bodies wondering what to do. The looks on the faces of the just waking up people as I capped them will make me smile for a long time ... Then getting caught by Dino (nice run mate!) drinking your beer smoking a cigarette sitting up the hill foolishly gloating, then getting seriously interrogated - not pleasant and lesson well and truly learnt. I was in bits for a good half hour after that. Roleplay/Airsoft at the sharp end.

Thanks to all the staff, players and fellow bad guys for making it another amazing weekend. Hope to see you all at the next one

[Zulu Daddy]

I will find the appropriate place to put my official de breif up, but for now i would just like to thank everyone for a great weekend.
Firstly to Matt & Ben, and those involved in the planning,prep & execution. because i know how hard the build up & preperation is for you/us & how much you/we want everyone to come along & enjoy it, to reap the benefits of the seeds placed. there is a hell of a lot goes into it, everyone plays their part in the build up, but its all masterminded, so Matt & ben Well done, you raised the Bar yet again, this was the best combat mission i have ever took part in.

Right here we go in no particular order, ETS & WMD our beloved bad guys. from our point of view at Foxtrot Bravo one (FOB) we saw /encountered a lot of you guys this weekend,  you never gave us a minute- which was brilliant.
my lads got to interact with you during roadside VCP's MP Visits, & visits to the UN Village, they met & spoke with many characters & interacted with prisoners when we held them at our FOB. this enhanced the whole experience & you gave depth to our mission there.

From the moment we settled in at our FOB  we were hit by your boys hard & fast, this set the whole mood and pace for the weekend & Foxtrot Bravo One battered down the hatches & was on High alert, so much so that when it went quiet for an hour or so the boys & girl at FOB got twitchy & were guessing on what was going to happen next or that something big was about to go off ( & it usually did)

To all units that assisted us & visited us at FOB we were usually glad of the back up, or just good to see you guys passing through & checkin in on us, again adding dimension to our Purpose at FOB. we were that busy at times we were unable to offer you a brew, next time my brothers next time...

British Intel for the giving & recieving of intel (well done Jamez my zulu brother.) and to Zero alpha that was busier than a BT exchange i can imagine.. sightings, grid references & intel melting the batteries on the radio they were that busy..

& lastly but by no means least. all personell from 2 para based as FOB Foxtrot Bravo One- Units Bravo 2.1 & Bravo 2.2, you were all brilliant, you followed orders, were all keen to do duty & hungry for action & when the going got tough you all mucked in & held the Alamo that was our FOB.
it was an honor & a pleasure to serve with you all & i look forward to doing battle with you again soon, i hope everyone accepted that i too was playing a character this weekend & Captain Ethan Hillyard had an integral part to play so thanks for bearing with me.

I dont want to leave anyone out but i do have to make some big shouts - Ade & Rob the 1IC's of Bravo 2.1 & 2.2 well done under what was sometimes very stressfull & testing situations.
Gaz & Craig for turning up after your car broke down so near then having to be towed back home & then setting out again & your role as 2IC to foxtrot bravo One Zulu.

the langley boys this was your first ever airsoft event & you offered your services throughout & was on hand to carry out any task (and to make me a brew- thanks) you soaked everything up & i hope you got alot out of it.

Christian, you also impressed mate, well done..
like i say everyone was integral to our mission over the weekend & i thank you all..& look forward to seing you all soon. a big thanks again from me Captain ethan Hillyard Aka- zulu daddy/keith.

Ooh & a big thanks to Keith silk, ben, dino james, craig & everyone who helped get my disco out when i got stuck in the mud at blean thanks lads..

in reflection, the best combat mission to date, loads of action, loads of intel, missions & enemy contact.
i was soo tired after it- thanks again.

[Labyrinth]

That was a cracking weekend.  While I didn't see any of the big firefights, I did see a lot of action, and in some very varied roles.  Running Zero Alpha with Jimmy on the Saturday morning was busier than the call centre I work in.  The only breaks we got were when I said to Jimmy "Armed local!!  Right outside!!", and promptly scored a perfect "red mist" headshot from the window of PB1.  (Well, the red mist was in my mind's eye...) 

Next I was ordered to drive members of 2 Para from One Four around, transporting them to their designated target areas.  Twice the Landy came under fire and I had some serious fun joining in the skirmishes as an independent mobile infantry unit!  The Landy was even hit by an IED on one occasion, but after 15 minutes we managed to get the engine started and limp back to PB1.

Then I was tasked to do a couple of LRRP's (which I love) with Ben and Will plus a few others.  We gained lots of valuable intel, and got involved with the protection of FB1 which came under heavy attack at about 0030 on Sunday morning.  It was strange because we had to brief Foxtrot Bravo Zulu with our sitrep whilst under fire, and there was a weird air of calm despite serious harassment from the enemy.  It was like the bridge scene in Apocalypse Now; a strange and uneasy lack of urgency, whilst rounds zipped around everywhere, tracers flew overhead, and explosions from grenades illuminated the night sky.

On return to base, I spent a double shift on stag, holled up with Dino in one of the finely constructed but very cold sangers at the back of PB1, before turning in for a couple of hours kip until the base was attacked at first light and we all had to stand to.

Early in the morning I was out with Will and Ben again, and our patrol discovered an ammo box up in one of the ruined encampments high in the mountains around the Puktis Valley.  We were ordered to go ahead and examine the box, and I'll never forget Ben saying "Well, if this thing's a trap, it was nice knowing you."  We all breathed a sigh of relief when nothing happened, but it wasn't an easy sight seeing ben pull out first some circuitry, then a load of detonators, followed by big blocks of plastic explosive, one after another.  We had located a fair sized bomb making kit, and promptly had it transported back to HQ. 

Following that I was in the OP team for the final assault - we found an ideal vantage point (concealed with a good view), and guided the teams in as they went for the snatch of the Cleric on Sunday morning. 

All in all, it was a hell of a weekend, and I was knackered.  I had to get Will to do some of the driving on the way home!  The Landy was practically coming to bits on the journey home after having done some serious greenlaning just getting up and down the driveway to Upper Blaen!

Cheers to all the players and staff for making this a great weekend.  I look forward to fighting alongside all of you again soon.

When are the pics going up!?  ...The few I took on my mobile are up at http://www.stirlingairsoft.com/g2/v/Customer/Ed/SilentHarvest/
Enjoy!

[Arma]

Early in the morning I was out with Will and Ben again, and our patrol discovered an ammo box up in one of the ruined encampments high in the mountains around the Puktis Valley.  We were ordered to go ahead and examine the box, and I'll never forget Ben saying "Well, if this thing's a trap, it was nice knowing you."  We all breathed a sigh of relief when nothing happened, but it wasn't an easy sight seeing ben pull out first some circuitry, then a load of detonators, followed by big blocks of plastic explosive, one after another.  We had located a fair sized bomb making kit, and promptly had it transported back to HQ. 

I'm glad you found that kit! When we went to plant it, our patrol was down three men so the 3 of us remaining were pretty jumpy when were securing the building. It was only when reading of your caution when finding it, that i remembered we had two booby traps in our bergen which would have made for a suitable surprise for you, had any of us thought to rig it!!

Thanks to all of you who opposed our Taliban mountain strike team, we had a hell of a weekend and I hope you all did too

- "Ali"
(Taliban with suspiciously M4-like rifle)

P.S. Thanks also to Captain Ethan Hillyard for a nice little bit of roleplay when detaining me as a rather bedraggled captive at your FOB.

[wormbyte]

My photo's are online...

http://www.stirlingairsoft.com/g2/v/Customer/wormbyte/Silent+Harvest/

[Jimmy]

The view out of my office window just isn't the same 

The climb just keeps on going and going doesn't it ........... that's why we love it 

Jimmy

[wormbyte]

The views were certainly worth the feeling of your lungs exploding after such a climb.

The only thing that could of topped it would of been watching a couple of warplanes screaming through the valley below...    Along with dropping a few cluster bombs on the bad guys....   Where was fast-air support when you needed it   

[Labyrinth]

The only thing that could of topped it would of been watching a couple of warplanes screaming through the valley below...    Along with dropping a few cluster bombers on the bad guys....   Where was fast-air support when you needed it   

That's been a fantasy of mine for ages!