| MAY 2003 @ SAC page 3. |
 |
 |
 |
| This firefight had taken only a short amount of time, I can’t even say how long, but only seconds. Wasting no time, I remembered that O.D. was flanking behind me, so turned my attention to the edge of the field. Almost straight away, I spotted O.D. moving into the gorse 40m away. Without thought, I moved forward using the bushes as cover and quickly entered the same gorse thicket. Looking at where I predicted O.D. to be; he could not be seen and I decided to press on round the bush. As I moved forward 3 single shots rang out and I sidestepped left, the pellets whistling close, to my right. O.D. had indeed been only 5m from where I had predicted, but had still got the drop on me. I was now in cover, but pushed round the corner, with my next stride. Firing, as I came out of cover, my mag jammed and I instinctively cranked my CAR15 round to gravity feed it. O.D. was diving out of his position and somehow the short burst I fired made it’s way to the target (“HIT!”). I was unsure if he had back up, so legged it out quickly, under the cover of Green Team. I rallied the guys and called Red Team back to base. Nilz and Nete showed up after a minute and I briefed them to dig into the gorse and watch the left flank (boundary), so they moved off. I expected a full attack, after the initial engagement and was trying to decide what to do. MANTIS also returned and said he had been shot once but had first tagged 2 of the UE in an ambush first. He was unsure of the DAY/NIGHT Boundary and had a query, so I got on the 1.1 channel and asked for MARSHAL assistance at a the specified grid location. I told Mantis he would have to wait around the gorse area till the Marshals arrived and sort it out with them. |
 |
| Moving downhill, I checked Satan, who had been only feet from the main attack, but had not seen anyone due to the crest infront of him. He had done the right thing and held his position and fire, should anyone have run past Green Team, he would almost certainly have ambushed them. Moving back to the flag, we had a short debrief on what had just happened, before I decided to move down to Sneakin’ Corner and bolster the ambush team. On the way, I saw O.D. with all of his kit heading to the car park. I figured he was still out of the game, but shot him in the leg just to be sure. We had a quick chat and he left for work, while I moved to the ambush. I updated the guys on the situation and told them I expected someone to move in on the opposite flank (ie. here). I sent Capt. back to the stash to get his AEG. Before, I moved off 80m away and sat in the treeline. From here, I had a great view and could see nearly both flanks, aswell as the central fields. I saw the Marshals negotiating the field, to rendezvous with Mantis. I thought out my next move for the team. Rather than waiting here, in a position I had picked hoping not to be found straight away, I figured it would be best to move out and reposition. This would disrupt our opponents, aswell as give us another chance to pick a strategic defensive position. I already guessed that the opponents were uphill, so planned to go to SCAREY CORNER (400m away). |
 |
 |
 |
| It started to rain and I sat in a hollow under a tree. Putting on my cap, to shield my goggles from the large rain drops, I rolled a cig. Smoking it, I observed the terrain for 5 minutes, before the rain stopped and I saw the Marshals head back the way they had come. They contacted me on the radio and confirmed that the rules had not been broken. Sitting for a while longer, I noticed voices, coming from the SW. I got up from my position and decided to quickly scout the next treeline. Walking over the field, I felt pretty safe, so far from any cover that may hide an ambush. Looking back towards the gorse, I saw Nete with his sniper rifle, covering the field that I was in. I waved and he waved back. Reaching the far treeline/trench, I could see it looked clear and decided that I could not press on alone (being the CO). So turned round a quickly returned the way I had come. Moving down to the ambush at Sneakin’ Corner, I informed Blue team that I had decided to move the entire team to a new LUP. I said I’d get the rest of the guys and return to the ambush before departing. Moving off to the flag, I informed everyone there of the updated plan. Then set off to the gorse to recover the sentries. Mantis had radioed for information on friendlies in the gorse, as he could hear movement. Indeed, when I arrived there, it turned out to be Red Team. Getting all the players in, I suddenly realised something and asked “Nilz, was Nete with you, in the gorse all the time?” “Yes.” “Well I thought I had seen him 50m over there 5 minutes ago! I waved and he waved back. Well it must have been SPUNKMEYER our opposing sniper. I think we should go and TAG him. If 5 of us with AEG’s move in fast, with lots of aggression, it shouldn’t be too hard, even if he has a spotter. Lets go!” The plan was done and dusted in 10 seconds! |
| I closed in quickly, not fearing the sniper rifle in a straight fight, using bursts, I had him pinned with no chance for a clear or aimed shot. Nilz was also pouring down long range support fire. Anticipating when he would next bob up for a shot, I squeezed off a burst and he held his hand in the air...... “HIT!” Wasting no time, I got the ASSAULT team together and we pulled back round to behind the ambush team. Heading off to the flag alone, I rounded up Mantis and my webbing set before, taking the flag back down to sneakin’ corner. All the team was assembled and I briefed them all quickly; “We are going to head back past the SAFE ZONE and to a strong defensive position in SCAREY corner, I’ll bring up the rear of the patrol. I want good 10m spacing too. OK? let’s move out.” |
| Nilz, Soap, Stinger, Nitrox and I dashed forward into the field, spreading out into a line. Closing the range down to the bushes quickly, we jogged forward ready for a firefight. I cleared the position that I had last seen him in, nothing. Moving on, another 5m and I could see a trail in the wet grass; someone had crawled from here downhill, along the treeline. I signalled (with hands to the others) and we changed direction, following the drag marks. Nearing the ambush, I heard a faint noise...... a sniper rifle report and got down, signalling Nilz to take cover. Another shot and I could hear a pellet land within 10m. I held my position, again there was a shot and I zeroed in on the direction of the sniper. He was 60m downhill and I fired just to show the rest of our guys, where he was. Signalling Nilz forward, I told him that I was flanking left and set off running. Nilz and the others put down suppressive fire. I cleared the deadground behind the ridge, then moved down behind the sniper’s position. He was only 20m from our booby trap, firing from the riverbank. |