Event announcement post for East Wind 6

[Basic-Wedge]

We're working diligently to add more Canadian content to the landing page of Operation East Wind website. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, we've added substantial content to the Canadian section of the East Wind Forums http://www.operationeastwind.com/forum/ Chances are, most of the basic information has been covered in the forums. The East Wind Flickr page also has some images of last year's Canadian contingent, giving you a good idea of the detail that goes into preparation for the event.

Last year, with only five months preparation, we were able to field a five man contingent drawn from two Western Canadian airsoft teams, the South Manitoba Rifles and the Edmonton Scout Snipers. The two teams plan to send a few more players in 2013, hopefully fielding a complete rifle section. Of course, other Canadian airsoft players/reenacters are fully welcome to join in.

[Kuperov]

The Canadian section of the boards is pretty slick! I'd love to see photos and real world facts in the other sections!

[Gato]

Getting guns to the states was never an issue, getting them back to Canada was. With the way laws are now, it's very doable and has been done more than once for big games already.

Talk to some of the guys that went to pine flats or whatever that game was.

[Mordarski J.A.]

Gato: C7A1 = M16A3 with Elcan optical sight LOL. Quite literally, that's how it was done for us. The only period correct C8 I've come across is the Classic Army M15A2 Carbine (straight barrel, fixed carry handle) otherwise I'm still at a loss since I liked mine....curses that I sold it some number of years back! As for the C1....I'm waiting for a GBBR version :P

FirestormX: Last year we were fortunate enough for the organizers to have lent us AEG's. This year - with the change in CBSA's stance on bring airsoft across the border - providing you have the correct documentation and a blaze orange barrel tip (removeable at the event) there should be no issue crossing the border. I'll have to copy/paste what a friend/teammate posted as his is infinitely more eloquent and has all the exact info. The short version is it is possible to bring AEG's and GBBR's across the US border now. With respect to the website, it is maintained by the EW staff who are (constantly) busy with every other aspect to the event. There is indeed a kit list for the Canadians, it is posted on the EW forums.

[Gato]

Originally Posted by Mordarski J.A.

Gato: C7A1 = M16A3 with Elcan optical sight LOL. Quite literally, that's how it was done for us. The only period correct C8 I've come across is the Classic Army M15A2 Carbine (straight barrel, fixed carry handle) otherwise I'm still at a loss since I liked mine....curses that I sold it some number of years back! As for the C1....I'm waiting for a GBBR version :P

The C7A1 is easy enough provided I can get ahold of the correct handguards. My question was actually mainly in regards to gear. Is it the 82 Pattern Webbing? 82 pattern Rucksacks?

I''m glad to hear about the info in regards to the M15A2, I already have handguards and Stock for a C8, I also have an Elcan C79 with green and black covers :P

What would the Canadian contingent's stance be on C1 rifles or C1 SMGs?

[Basic-Wedge]

The only authorized weapons for the Canadian contingent are the C7A1, C6, C9, and also the Browning Hi-Power. Substitutions are simply not allowed, so no FN C1, no C1 SMG, and no C8 allowed. This event aims for absolute accuracy so substitutions and omissions from the kit list are simply not allowed. That's probably the hardest thing for potential attendees to understand. You have to arrive at the event with all the period correct equipment on the kit list, and absolutely nothing else. If it wasn't issued to a soldier in 1989/90, then don't bring it.

[Mordarski J.A.]

Rob is correct - the rule of thumb is early 90's, and issued to line troops. This definitely means *groan* the '82 Pattern webbing (I seriously thought I had got away from that stuff when I got my LBV and TV in 2004 LOL), and either the '64 Pattern ruck or the '82 Pattern ruck. As I mentioned, checking the EW forums is the best bet.

Unrelated to EASTWIND, I would like to see someone make a C1 GBBR, but a correct C1 is probably not in the cards at all.

[Gato]

Originally Posted by Basic-Wedge

The only authorized weapons for the Canadian contingent are the C7A1, C6, C9, and also the Browning Hi-Power. Substitutions are simply not allowed, so no FN C1, no C1 SMG, and no C8 allowed. This event aims for absolute accuracy so substitutions and omissions from the kit list are simply not allowed. That's probably the hardest thing for potential attendees to understand. You have to arrive at the event with all the period correct equipment on the kit list, and absolutely nothing else. If it wasn't issued to a soldier in 1989/90, then don't bring it.

I can understand for the C8 as it was adopted fairly late, around 94.

I was asking because the Sterlings were in service from 58-88, though weren't fully removed from use until, more likely, 92-94, with photos dated as late as 98 showing Sterlings being used.

C1s were in service from 55-87, and, again, like the C1 smg, weren't actually out of use until much later than 87.

As I'm interested in doing CF at some point, I'm only clarifying.

If you're insisting on C7A1s simply because you like them and that's what you want your formation to have, that's cool and that's all you need to say.

If you're claiming that it's for authenticity and "realism", then you're incorrect, and also need to fix your "C9" and, if you use the Echo1 M240B as a C6, you need to alter them to fit the layout of their Canadian equivalents. Even with a mix such as that, you'd find drivers, cooks and all manner of support personnel carrying C1 smgs, even within infantry units.

The C9s you need would be a factory standard Minimi with steel tubular stock with picatinny rail on the feed cover, no extra things like heat shields.

C6's are bone stock FN MAGs with wood buttstocks, nothing else.

Regardless, if I go CF, C7 is not an issue and I hope some of my information is useful to you.


EDIT: Also, on something I just noticed, you'd probably like to find some helmets and Flak Jackets for authenticity, unless they're just not on for the photo. Also, scrim like a ma fuka

On a joking level, for authenticity sake, you may also want to make being a functional alcoholic a requirment for a certain percentage of the contingent (We had a serious drinking problem in the CF before they "modernized" and started changing shit, some for the better, some for worse.)

[Cammer]

Originally Posted by FirestormX

To the Canadians: What did you do/do you plan to do about getting your guns down to the US?

I ordered a gun from Evike and had it dropped shipped to one of my team mates. My WE G39 was $217 delivered to KC. I brought down an extra trigger group, a lower speed bolt and the correct sight package for the gun. The orange flashhider was covered with a wrap of black duct tape, bringing it back I put in the higher speed bolt, took off the duct tape and showed the man at the border the online bill of sale with the advertized velocity of 430 fps. I ended up with a very cheap gun that if I sold could have offset the cost to go down.


As you can see by the helmet cam there are some exceptions to total kit emmersion.

[Mordarski J.A.]

Sorry, I should have specified a little bit - we go by what was commonly issued to line infantry troops The C8 was initially only issued to reg force armour and engineer types (to the best of my recollection....if someone wants to correct me, go for it).

You are partly correct in regards to the C9 and C6. To be 100% accurate they would need some modifying, but the addition of the Picatinny rail with Elcan was actually the C9A1. The C6 would need the standard wood buttstock, but it would also require the correct flash hider. Regardless, it's something that is slowly in the works, but so long as everyone has a rifle they're good to go.

Specific to EASTWIND, the C8/M4 was made a no-go by the organizers a few years back as too many people were showing up with an M4A1 which included a thousand different attachments they had.

Cam's option is also really good too, especially on the wallet.

In the photo Rob posted (and for the entire event itself) we did have helmets with scrim, we just didn't use them much as we were primarily tasked with reconnaissance missions at EW5. I suspect that *may* change for EW6, but as I'm not an organizer I cannot say for sure.

To your joking comment....we've got our functioning alcoholics LOL! I still think we need to bring back rum rations :P

Ultimately EASTWIND is an incredible experience all around. While my personal preference is Canadian (as that's what I know), I was nonetheless impressed to learn all about the WARPAC side during the cultural exchange. Hell, we even got Comrade Kuperov here doing our tour of the East Bloc camp! Whichever side you opt for Gato (I'm assuming you're still aiming for Soviet first LOL) I think you'll really enjoy it. And that goes for anyone else reading this thread too - it's definitely an experience that is like no other.

[Kingsix]

Originally Posted by Gato

There are 3 or 4 of us currently kitting up for Soviet Recce from the boards here. probably won't be out for EW6, but we're aiming to get our stuff together as quickly as realistically possible. Can't wait to game with you all!

Maybe EW7 we'll show our faces around. If there are others in Ontario interested in Warsaw Pact for eastwind, we could form a group and head down together.

My kit is coming together, probably going to be done around spring 2013. I have most of the gear coming in sometime this month. My 6b3 vest arrived , I have planned a order for Parka's, rain gear and other important survival gear.

[Kuperov]

Post up pics! I'll have to show my "East Wind Packing List". Every February or so I lay everything out on the floor to make sure I have it all. It also speeds up "check in" at the event, as the admin can see you have all the required gear by the photos.

[FirestormX]

Originally Posted by Cammer

I ordered a gun from Evike and had it dropped shipped to one of my team mates. My WE G39 was $217 delivered to KC. I brought down an extra trigger group, a lower speed bolt and the correct sight package for the gun. The orange flashhider was covered with a wrap of black duct tape, bringing it back I put in the higher speed bolt, took off the duct tape and showed the man at the border the online bill of sale with the advertized velocity of 430 fps. I ended up with a very cheap gun that if I sold could have offset the cost to go down.

Thanks for the comments everyone - especially Cammer. I may have a gun shipped to a buddy already in the US as well, assuming I go.

[Kingsix]

Originally Posted by Kuperov

Post up pics! I'll have to show my "East Wind Packing List". Every February or so I lay everything out on the floor to make sure I have it all. It also speeds up "check in" at the event, as the admin can see you have all the required gear by the photos.

I will when my SSH-60 helmet, webbing, Saperka, canteen, and I think mess kit gets in.

Next Month will be getting the Veshmeshok, Plastch-Palatka, AK-74 Sling, bayonet.

Looking into getting M88 Afganka, M69 HEBE, KLMK and maybe Gorka ( if I can fit it in budget)

All I have for now is a M88 Afganka cap (When Gato gives it to me, didn't fit any of the other guys, 6b3 (Aluminum plates for some weight and shape),4 Cell AK74 Mag Pouch and a NSPU 1PN34. (I wonder if they would let me bring my PNV-57E

My Friend has one loadout almost done, M88 Afganka, SSH-60, Full webbing.

[The Keiichione]

Originally Posted by Kingsix

Maybe EW7 we'll show our faces around. If there are others in Ontario interested in Warsaw Pact for eastwind, we could form a group and head down together.

My kit is coming together, probably going to be done around spring 2013. I have most of the gear coming in sometime this month. My 6b3 vest arrived , I have planned a order for Parka's, rain gear and other important survival gear.

I almost have all the required gear for the East German side. My soviet kit is missing a main uniform and the 6B3 but I got a complete webbing set and a 6B2.