26-28 JAN 2007 - The Long Winter - WASHINGTON

[hellmutt]

WHAT: Living History WWII Airsoft Event
WHEN: 26-28 JAN 2007
WHERE: DUVALL (area), WA
COST: Self equipped: $55 before DEC 26 / $70 after DEC 26
COST: Equipped: $80 before DEC 26 / $95 after DEC 26

REGISTER HERE: http://www.battlesim.com/tlwregistration.html

Battlesim invites you to immerse yourself in the coldest battle of the last great war. Fight a desperate defense as a soldier in the U.S. 30th Infantry Division or blitzkrieg your way to victory as a Sturrmann in the 1st SS Panzer Division. Fight the enemy with every weapon at your disposal; Panzer Tanks, Artillery, Mortars, Anti-Tank Cannon, Bazookas ,grenades and Heavy Machine Guns. Work with your comrades to plan, fight and achieve realistic tactical objectives.

If you are a World War Two history buff this is for you. If you are an avid airsoft player looking for a different, more realistic and more challenging event this is for you. If you like guns, tanks and explosions this event is for you. If you want to play capture the flag with sniper rifles this is definitely not for you.



The Long Winter centers around a small American platoon’s defense outside the town of La Glieze, Belgium. The Allies, taken by surprise are fighting a desperate unorganized defense while the 6th Panzer Army ,Spearheaded by Kampfgruppe Pieper, throws all of it’s might in to one last great counter attack to drive the allies back to the sea.

We welcome all players of any experience. If this is your first event or your 100th event we would love to have you out. If you don’t have a WW2 uniform laying around the house no problem we can outfit you as a U.S. GI or a Waffen SS trooper. We encourage you to bring a period correct weapon but it is not required. We will have several M1-garand custom AEGs to rent as well as other custom weapons like M1919 and MG-42 Machine Guns for players to use.




Have you have ever felt stupid defending a hill that was really a large bump, assaulting an “objective” that was really a signpost or securing a bridge that was just a couple planks across a stream? The long winter will be fought over a four mile area, with hilltops, crossroads and critical bridges that players must attack and defend. Real WW2 vehicles will help maneuver players around the battlefield.

This will be the fourth WW2 event Battlesim has produced and one of many in our popular series of historical scenario events including Airsoft Recondo School and The Gothic Line. Here’s what players have said about some of our events.



About Recondo School

"To Battlesim and Hellmutt, REMF, Ranger Warren, Matt Deeds, 1stSGT and the rest of the Instruction Cadre for the excellent level of professionalism, conduct and for all the hard work, time, money, effort and organization of the elements of theatrics, atmosphere , special effects and environment that truly made this hands down the BEST Mil-sim, Airsoft or Re-Enactment event I have ever attended... "
Seth R. The Regiment (SoCal)

"What a fantastic time! Loved the school setting and the instructors were outstanding! I'm looking forward to next year!"

"Mercy" P. - Black Company (Louisiana)

About The Gothic Line




"Let me tell you I had a blast. Out of the 36 hours of being there I got less than five hours of sleep. Being thrown in the platoon leader role was great. I really didn’t even want to volunteer for the platoon guide role the first morning, but all of the responsibility and chaos made the whole weekend fantastic. Thanks to Josh and REMF for all of the pointers and assistance through out the operation. Doing the prisoner captures and sitting in the bunker all night was the best part,. . . Everyone in the platoon did a great job at doing their part, it was really great to see a bunch of airsofters work like that. Fantastic event Battlesim,"

Dan S. - NWATT (Yakima)

"The main thing that I liked most about last weekend was that in some moments I forgot that I was at Vaughn field and really got sucked into the WWII era, for example when we were rolling the tank gun towards Large bunker, the MG was blazing and raining rounds on us but we pushed it through and blew it up. At that moment we really felt like soldiers 60 years ago... Defiantly one of the most memorable weekends I've had. Also having actual military people like Josh really helped because we knew they knew what they were talking about. Remf did a great job as well, fighting side by side with us younger guys he led the way and showed us how its done! Thanks to everyone for making this event a great first for me, I'm defiantly hooked on Milsim. "

Sergey K. (Olympia)

BACKGROUND:

“Gentlemen, we are risking everything for everything, and may the devil come for you if I can’t depend on you.” – Oskar Klingelhöfer

"THE TRAP THAT DOOMED KAMPFGRUPPE PEIPER" Al Palfey

While browsing through the 3rd Armored (SPEARHEAD) Div. Files, I found the attached memo written by Col. W. B. Lovelady, my Task Force Commander. The event occurred on our initial thrust into the Belgium Bulge, when Combat Command B (CCB) was attached to the 30th Inf. Div. The Col's item is an incident in what may have been one of the most significant battles of the Belgium Bulge. With reference to the attached map, here is the rest of the story.

The decisive role of the German Ardennes offensive was to be executed by the 1st SS Panzer Div. This Div. was known as Hitler's own, having its' origins to Hitler's first bodyguard. More specifically, the offensive was to be spearheaded by the beefed-up (5800) men Kampfgruppe commanded by SS Lt. Col Joachim Peiper, an experienced hero of the Russian Front. After the initial breakthrough, Peiper's objective was to cross the Meuse River at Huy, Belgium, between Liege and Namur.

CCB, now attached to the 30th Inf. Div., was ordered to clear the north bank of the Ambleve River between La Gleize, and Lovelady's TF, the largest of the group, was to clear the hwy. between LaGleize and Stavelot. The attack started on the morning of Dec. 20, from an area south of Spa. At this time Peiper's leading elements had passed through LaGleize and reached Staumont where they were halted by units of the 30th Inf. Div. Both Tf Jordon and TF McGeorge ran head-on into Peiper's strength, and were stopped about one-quarter mile short of their objective. However, this action changed thoughts Peiper had of turning north to Lieve. With his dangerously low fuel supply, his efforts may have been more intense had he known of the vast fuel depot located between the two TF's. TF Lovelady turned left at Grand Coo, approaching Trois Ponts they met a column of German guns, infantry, and supply vehicles which were quickly riddled to pieces. The first of many attempts to reinforce Peiper had failed. A clause in the Kampfgruppe's order expressly stated that prisoners of war were to be shot, where the conditions of combat should so require it This decree was first demonstrated at Baugnez, site of the Malmedy Massacre. Shortly after the breakthrough, the 1111th Engr. Combat Group was ordered to cover the area south of the Ambleve River, to provide a screening force for the 1st Army Hq. at Spa.

On Dec. 18, Peiper's leading elements had reached Stavelot and Trois Ponts on the north side of the Ambleve. Moments before their arrival, the 291st Engrs. had blown three bridges - one over the Ambleve at Trois Ponts and two on the Salm River south of Trois Ponts. Peiper was now forced to turn north to LaGleize, rather than to follow his planned crossing of the Ambleve for the most direct route to his objective. To further complicate matters, the river on his left and the high wooded hills on the right limited his route to the valley road to La Gleize. The noose was tightening'on Peiper. Although he had found a bridge over the Ambleve intact at Cheneux, his advance in that sector was halted by the 82nd ABN Div. The 82nd's front on the south side of the Ambleve extended east to the Salm River.

D Co. of TF Lovelady advanced to the outer fringe of Stavelot at Perfondroy. Here they witnessed atrocities committed upon Belgium men, women and children by Peiper's SS Troops.
At Trois Ponts, E Co. was engaged in clashes with the 2nd SS PS Regt. in their effort to breakthrough to Peiper's advanced units.

The E Co. Commander Lt. Hope, was killed and Maj. Stallings assumed command. Capt. "Doc" Robert's medics, guarded by Lt. Pierro's Platoon of B Co. light tanks, were stationed at Petit Coo. CWO Palfey moved to the railway station at Grand Coo to relay radio messages to Stallings. The high hills in the area blocked radio communications with Lovelady's CP at Roan I e.

It was during this interval when the young Lt. from the 82nd ABN Div. made contact with Col. Lovelady, as written in the attached memo. He informed the Col. that CCB and the 30th Inf. Div. were now attached to the XVIII Airborn Corps., commanded by Major Gen. Gavin.

Some elements of the 2nd SS PZ Reg't. infiltrated across the Ambleve over a footbridge east of Trois Ponts at Petit-Spai and bypassed Stallings tanks. On the afternoon of Dec. 22 they attacked Capt. Roberts aid station at Petit Coo. Fierce fighting raged on into the night. Both D and E Co's. were now separated from the TF, however, they continued to resist efforts to reinforce Peiper from the east.

The following morning units of the 30th Inf. Div. began clearing the SS from the aid station at Petit Coo. Later in the day Petit Coo was cleared and contact was made with D and E Co 's. Another attempt to breakthrough to Peiper had failed. Obviously, this situation relieved the pressure on CCB. They then rejoined the Div. and went on to win other battles. Peiper was sentenced to death at the war crimes trial. In 1954 his sentence was reduced to thirty-five years. He was Paroled in 1956 after serving eleven years. In the summer of 1976 fire bombs destroyed Peiper's house and killed the former commander of Kampfgruppe Peiper.

A. J. PALFEY Former TFL CWO Comm. Oct. 26, 1992 References; C.B. MacDonald,"A TIME FOR TRUMPETS" 1985 Capt. A.E. Roberts,"FIVE STARS TO VICTORY", 1946 CWOX. J. Palfey, Route map of TF Lovelady, 1945. Pages following: A Memo from W.B.Lovelady, Col. AUS Ret. June 1, 1989 Map by A.J. Palfey 10-24-92 Several efforts by Peiper to breakout at Staumont, Cheneux, and in TF Jordon and TF McGeorge's sector were unsuccessful. Supplies of gasoline, munitions, food and medications were virtually exhausted. Requests to retreat were denied, having been assured that reinforcements were forthcoming. Finally, on the night of Dec. 23, .. after destroying their equipment at LaGleize, Peiper led the remnants, 800 men, of the Kampfgruppe on a foot retreat. They crossed the Ambleve on a wooden bridge south of LaGleize into the 82nd ABN. Div. area. Moving only in darkness, they finally rejoined their Div. south of Trois Ponts, after wading the cold and rapid Salm River.

Thus ended the exploits of the once mighty Kampfgruppe Peiper. Starting with about 5800 men, 60 tanks(7 Tigers) 3 Flak tanks, 75 HT's, 14 20mm Flak Wagons, 27 75mm assault guns, plus 105 and 150mm SP Howitzers, the group was now trimmed down to 800 scraggly SS troopers.

[hellmutt]

Information updated!

[hellmutt]

Pre-registration is 30 players! This will be the largest WWII Airsoft event. . . ever.

We are expecting to be 50+ with OCs, drivers and support.

For those who missed out on the pre-registraion we are offering $60 off registration for groups of 4 or more for the next week. So if you were thinking about coming with some buddies this would be the time to do it!

[hellmutt]

Links to video if the area of operations:

YouTube - Long Winter AO 1

YouTube - Long Winter AO 2

[hellmutt]

A video covering Medic and wound rules along with a little game play clip at the end.

Large video (71MB) will take a while to download:

http://www.battlesim.com/LWPT/BattlesimTLWsmall.wmv

[hellmutt]

So what do you think about the tank? (yes it will be at the event)

[Stealth_Omega]

Wow that is very cool. I am very jelous of you guys. Good job on the medic rules and the video!

[Gish]

Love the medic rules, looks like a great event

[Aquamarine]

Looks very good, hope you boys have a good time! Think of us!

[MrEvolution]

that video was Epic. awesome stuff.
"say lads isnt it tea time?"

[leecas]

Nice work with the Medic rules and the video. The Tank is fantastic!! Wish I could make it out. Maybe a summer event... road trip.

[MrEvolution]

its in the states tho lee our guns get seized.

[Identity]

Holy crap man, that looks too good to be real! The snow and the forest. Wow. All I can say is that, I would LOVE to play in that setting!
Hopefully, we can have those kinda fields running in Canada!

[leecas]

Originally Posted by MrEvolution

its in the states tho lee our guns get seized.

I know... we'll have to go with everything but our weapons... I'm sure we would be able to rent some from them.