Tactics and Concealment
In all forms of airsoft, some form of tactics and concealment will be a key part of surviving, and winning. However, both are skills that are not easily acquired. Without tactics, you might as well just run at the enemy team waving your hands in the air singing. Without concealment, you might as well walk around in a big orange vest covered in bells. This page is to help give you an idea of how to operate alone, and in a team environment using tactics. It also has information on concealing yourself, your movement, and your team.
Concealment
Before tactics can do you much good, you need to know the basics of concealment. Concealment contributes mainly to your survival, but also to your control over the game. With good concealment you can help control where, and when you get shot at. It also effects your survival in any form of game because the less attention you draw to yourself, the less likely you are to be someone's target. Concealing yourself can also keep you safe from BB's speeding towards you at 380 feet per second.
The first thing you need for concealment is some sort of camouflage clothing. Generally BDU's (battle dress uniforms) are the best. There are many different patterns and types of BDU's so do your research and find a set that works for you. Be sure to consider what kind of environment you will be playing in and choose a camouflage pattern that will be effective in that environment. At the same time, you should consider getting a pair of combat boot's and some tactical gear like a vest or assault backpack. Not only are they extremely useful, but they also add realism to the game and can intimidate your opponent. What's better, a bunch of people running around in jeans and hoodies with airsoft guns? Or a team of fully decked out personal advancing towards you with kitted out airsoft guns? Now, if you can't afford BDU's then you can probably make due will a dark pair of pants like jeans, and a black, brown, or green shirt or hoodie.
The next key part of concealment is movement. The first rule of thumb is never run unless absolutely necessary. Running makes a lot of noise, and also greatly increases the chance of injury. The only time I ever run is in a large firefight when it is necessary to avoid getting hit while moving from place to place. I've seen many people trip, break their guns, and injure themselves while running in a game of airsoft. The best movement method when alone is to pic a spot of decent cover about 10 meters up ahead, and jog lightly and quietly to that spot. Watching your step to avoid tripping or breaking branches. Once at that spot you should instantly take a knee and scan the area ahead and around you, then repeat. When in a team, a single file line will do well. Be sure to keep a spacing of about 4-5 meters from the person in front of you. That way, if attacked, it will be much more difficult for a single AEG or grenade to take out the entire team. Move slowly and quietly making frequent stops where everyone kneels and covers their direction. Scan the area, and once your team (or team leader) has insured it's safe to move, get up and continue walking.
Another key part of movement is knowing where to move. It's normally best to stick to paths as they will be free of branches and anything else that could make noise and attract attention to you or your team. But at the same time paths are common places for ambushes. This is the reason I encourage frequent stops to check the area ahead visually, encase some one is waiting for you to come closer. Terrain is another factor. Obviously, walking out into and open field is not a smart decision. You should also watch to avoid doing things like silhouetting yourself. Or areas where the terrain is treacherous and difficult to move through.
Moving during a fire fight is more difficult than normal movement. When other players are shooting at you and your team, it can be very difficult to move from place to place. The second an enemy player shoots at you, you should get to cover if you aren't already. Once in cover you can begin to return fire. However in order to "win" the fight you will probably need to take an aggressive maneuver (explained later). You will need to move, likely while being shot at in order to achieve this. The number one fire fight rule no matter what, is keep your self down! Standing up will almost always get you shot. Now, in order to move you must first pic the area you need to move to. Depending on how far away it is, you may need to employ a number of tactics to get there. Generally, in good battle, you will need to call upon your team to give you cover fire as you make a quick dash for your objective.
Another key part of movement is knowing where to move. It's normally best to stick to paths as they will be free of branches and anything else that could make noise and attract attention to you or your team. But at the same time paths are common places for ambushes. This is the reason I encourage frequent stops to check the area ahead visually, encase some one is waiting for you to come closer. Terrain is another factor. Obviously, walking out into and open field is not a smart decision. You should also watch to avoid doing things like silhouetting yourself. Or areas where the terrain is treacherous and difficult to move through.
Moving during a fire fight is more difficult than normal movement. When other players are shooting at you and your team, it can be very difficult to move from place to place. The second an enemy player shoots at you, you should get to cover if you aren't already. Once in cover you can begin to return fire. However in order to "win" the fight you will probably need to take an aggressive maneuver (explained later). You will need to move, likely while being shot at in order to achieve this. The number one fire fight rule no matter what, is keep your self down! Standing up will almost always get you shot. Now, in order to move you must first pic the area you need to move to. Depending on how far away it is, you may need to employ a number of tactics to get there. Generally, in good battle, you will need to call upon your team to give you cover fire as you make a quick dash for your objective.
Tactics
Please note that all the tactics in this section are designed for a five man team. However they will work for teams of larger size. If less players are available, some improvisations may be necessary. These tactics are my own and may not always work for you and your team. The purpose is to give you an idea of how to play airsoft in a somewhat organized and tactical manner.
Basic Formation: In order to keep your team safe, this basic formation should be held while moving in a single file line (figure 1). It allows your team to cover all directions. When moving, players should still try to cover their directions, but the person in the back does not need to walk backwards. Keep the proper spacing as previously mentioned. Players in the middle of the line should alternate the directions they cover.
Basic Formation: In order to keep your team safe, this basic formation should be held while moving in a single file line (figure 1). It allows your team to cover all directions. When moving, players should still try to cover their directions, but the person in the back does not need to walk backwards. Keep the proper spacing as previously mentioned. Players in the middle of the line should alternate the directions they cover.
Flanks: Flanks are probably the most effective and aggressive maneuver. A flank is conducted when players attack from the side, or behind other players. If done properly and planned out well, a flank will mean almost certain victory. Figure 2 shows how to take a basic right flank.
Securing an area or objective: An example of more complicated tactics, securing an area can be very helpful in milsims or games in large playing fields. The purpose of securing an area is to create a "safe heaven" for whatever purpose it is needed. Figure 3 shows an example of how to secure an area around an objective. With four paths leading to and from that point.
Securing an area or objective: An example of more complicated tactics, securing an area can be very helpful in milsims or games in large playing fields. The purpose of securing an area is to create a "safe heaven" for whatever purpose it is needed. Figure 3 shows an example of how to secure an area around an objective. With four paths leading to and from that point.
Covering fire and suppressing fire:
Covering fire and suppressing fire are about the same thing. The concept behind them is to put lots of BB's down range towards enemy player position's. The is meant to stop the other team from firing at you very much, essentially forcing them to keep their heads down. Covering fire is used when you need to cover an allied player as they do something. For example if a medic needed to run out and save another player, you would probably want to give the medic cover fire while they did this in order to prevent the enemy players from targeting him. Suppressing fire is about the same only instead of covering some one, you're just shoot lots of BB's at the other team in an effort to loosen them up a little. When performing either of these actions, you don't need to worry to much about whether or not you will hit the enemy players. Just point your airsoft gun in their direction and start shooting (being careful not to do anything unsafe of course). The point of this is not to hit the opposing players, it's to prevent them from being able to hit you. Also, remember that the second you ease up on the amount of BB's you send at them, they are going to want to shoot back with just as much.
Covering fire and suppressing fire are about the same thing. The concept behind them is to put lots of BB's down range towards enemy player position's. The is meant to stop the other team from firing at you very much, essentially forcing them to keep their heads down. Covering fire is used when you need to cover an allied player as they do something. For example if a medic needed to run out and save another player, you would probably want to give the medic cover fire while they did this in order to prevent the enemy players from targeting him. Suppressing fire is about the same only instead of covering some one, you're just shoot lots of BB's at the other team in an effort to loosen them up a little. When performing either of these actions, you don't need to worry to much about whether or not you will hit the enemy players. Just point your airsoft gun in their direction and start shooting (being careful not to do anything unsafe of course). The point of this is not to hit the opposing players, it's to prevent them from being able to hit you. Also, remember that the second you ease up on the amount of BB's you send at them, they are going to want to shoot back with just as much.