The Airsoft Sniper - Serial - Part 5

Firekitten

The Airsoft Sniper Serial

Part Five: Out On The Town

From The author: (This time, yes, it’s at the start.), Firstly, Olla, greetings, hello, shalom, whatnot. This chapter is dedicated to the urban operations aspect of sniping, counter sniping, and marksmanship.
Anyway… I shall begin.

The Urban Environment

You’re ready to hit the town… You’ve got your hair done right, your makeup’s perfect, and that little black dress fits just right… Wait… oops wrong scenario… In either case however, the principals of preparation for operating in a town are not so different. Gear, equipment, appropriate attire and behaviour/method all play a vital role in making the Airsoft sniper effective.

Weapons Systems

The weapon system the sniper uses within the urban environment is an important choice that should be given the appropriate consideration before the game.
What are the engagement distances you will be working with? How far can your various systems engage accurately? What are the target numbers and concentrations likely to be? How will you be employed? Sniper? Counter sniper? Marksman? These are all important factors in the appropriate choice.
I do understand some of you may only have one rifle, and that doesn’t matter too greatly in the long run. However, this section is simply to discus the pros and cons of various systems within this environment to maximise your effectiveness, or, to provide food for thought to those planning to build a system for this role.

The Bolt Action Rifle

Often considered the mainstay of the Airsoft sniper, these form the most accurate and long range systems we employ due to (International laws vary) higher fps limits, and internal design tolerances. The rate of fire of this system is limited by the shooter and his or her practice and technique. Well suited to the longer range shot, and engaging lower numbers of targets, the bolt action rifle is a capable all rounder for woodland and urban Airsoft, although it does possess downsides for the marksman and counter sniper. One distinct benefit of the bolt action system, is that with the correct internal work, and the fitting of a silencer, it is possible to produce as near silent an Airsoft weapon as possible. I remember a friend engaging targets from a mere thirty meters away and nobody heard a thing. Considering the ranges of urban Airsoft, this is a benefit to be considered.

The Semi-Automatic Rifles

Generally based on AEG chassis, DMR rifles may have lower range than bolt action rifles due to fps restrictions, but are still highly capable sniper systems in the urban environment. Urban engagement ranges are often shorter than that of the woodland game, and a missed shot may result in direct compromise of the sniper’s position. A rapid follow up shot may allow the sniper to hit their target while they are still reacting to the first miss; a feat not always possible with the delay of racking a bolt action rifle.
The semi automatic fire mode will also allow for the engagement of several targets with a smaller timeframe, allowing the sniper to inflict more damage before moving on. Unfortunately, due to their design, these systems are often louder than their bolt action cousins. However, due to the nature of built up areas, the greater noise of these can be masked by the reflection of sound from multiple solid surfaces, reducing the disadvantage somewhat. This system also allows the sniper a more powerful defensive weapon when moving through urban areas.

For the Squad marksman, the Designated marksman rifle allows rapid accurate target elimination and extends the squad’s effective accuracy on the battlefield just as the real world equivalent does. This system, depending on type and bb weight used may also allow the marksman to share magazines with team mates.

Note:
The inherent differences in these systems are considered under British Airsoft conditions where FPS limits create an artificial divide. However, in countries such as Sweden and Ireland, where limits are closer although not the same, the designated marksman rifle is at less of a disadvantage.

Rifle Accessories in the Urban Environment

Normally, Gucci practice dictates that one should cover every available patch of Lego on their rifle with toys of all shapes and sizes. Ranging from coffee cup holders to Ipod racks and occasionally something practical. But what sort of accessories are useful in the urban world of Airsoft sniping?

Bipods are an obvious choice for the Airsoft sniper. Working with hard flat surfaces provide ideal conditions for the use of a bipod, but consider the added weight to the front of the rifle. When operating in built up areas, I do prefer to carry one, but not fitted… Consider a quick detach bipod that can be stowed in a pouch when not in use.

One side effect of bipods that I find problematic, is their location on the weapon, and the tendency to use a window sill to rest it on, leaving half of your barrel sticking out of the window: A very large no no in urban combat, but I’ll get on to that later.

Silencers are a contentious topic in Airsoft. Do they really work? What’s the point? Then there’s always the hilarious old wives tales about extending your barrel through the silencer giving you more range: Don’t get me started….
In reality, Silencers can be extremely useful. A lot of flashhiders have an effect similar to the noveske muzzle brakes available that amplify the muzzle rapport of Airsoft guns. Items such as the stock flash suppressor on aw.338s significantly amplify the sound produced. A good Airsoft silencer on a bolt action rifle may deaden the sound to a mere whisper, on an electric marksman rifle or semi automatic sniper system, the silencer’s purpose is twofold. The muzzle report can be deadened significantly on a rifle, but the main advantage, especially within the tight confines of urban Airsoft, is the disorientation and softening of the sound produced. An enemy may still hear the shot, but it is much harder to locate the source.

Vertical grips on marksman rifles may also provide a comfortable firing position for the shooter. Some prefer separate bipods and grips although combination systems such as the FAB Defence Z-pod reduces the overall accessory weight on your front end, making unsupported firing easier for longer periods of time.

Other accessories such as lasers and torches must be used at the shooter’s discression. Will you need it? If you have a torch, will sunlight reflect off the lens and give you away despite your Gucci killflash? Is that laser going to do anything but mark your own position? Whatever you feel you need to add or use, make sure you think about possible advantages and disadvantages before hitting the field.

Personal Equipment and Clothing

The ghillie suit; while highly practical in woodland or rural environments, it is of little use in the urban Airsoft environment; unless, of course, your suit resembles an Azalea bush. Your kit should, within allowances of camouflage restrictions, blend in as much as possible with the type of environment you are playing in. For example; At Sennybridge’s Celini Village, or other similar Ministry of Defence training area sites, ACU is highly effective. Alternatively, sites such as Catterick’s Winney hill, that contains darker redder brickwork and more foliage a darker greener camouflage will be more suitable given the predominant greenery. Equipment should be light, but practical. Refer back to Chapter two if you need a reminder.

Operations in Built Up Areas: The Meaty Bit

We now enter the true heart of the subject: How to operate in urban Airsoft games and events effectively in the role of the sniper, counter sniper or marksman. Operations within these environments differ greatly from the same role in wooded areas. Where movement can take hours in a forest, time is not a luxury present in most urban battlefields. You are operating in a fast and dynamic battlefield where the front line chances by the minute, and there are no safe places… If it’s bloody and costly for the infantry, it is far worse for us.

‘Rattenkrieg’ or Rat Warfare was a term coined by the German 6th army in Stalingrad during the Second World War. This was their description of the fighting within the ruined city on the River Volga, and much can be learned about urban sniping from looking at the Stalingrad campaign.

Most action of snipers within the city was very close range precision marksmanship rather than long range action. This provides a lot of direct proxies for the Airsoft sniper to apply to combat within the urban setting.

Action involved the ‘shoot and scoot’ style of guerrilla warfare, where snipers would make shots, and egress rapidly using the buildings for cover and planning their routes before hand. Movement to and from positions was fast, but cautious, and stealth was the primary concern. As with Airsoft, the sniper and spotter would be woefully outmatched should a stand up fire fight occur.

A great deal of modern urban sniper warfare tactics have been developed from those used and perfected amongst the ruins of Stalingrad. I’m not advising that you become Jude Law… heaven forbid… But appreciate what history and real experience can teach us.

To survive alone, or in a pair within the urban Airsoft environment, consider yourself truly alone: This is a 360 degree battlefield, and threats may approach from any direction, regardless of the direction of friendly forces. When moving from location to location, treat the environment as entirely hostile. The lines of battle in Airsoft urban warfare change extremely rapidly; a street held when you departed to move into position may now be in enemy hands. Communication and observation are you’re your allies. Movement must be cautious but fast: move from cover to cover, and as quickly as possible in open ground. Where possible, use the dead ground behind walls, treelines and fences or hedges to move around. If identified, move faster still. You will likely not win a stand up engagement in woodland conditions, but in urban combat, the uncertainty is removed: You will lose.

The sniper and the marksman’s roles differ more significantly here, especially as part of an offensive force. The sniper must move away from the main force, and concentrate on routes used by enemy forces, or areas controlled by them, whereas the marksman is operating on the front line of the battle itself.

The two roles may share some common ground, but the Sniper’s main aim, besides observation (A key role for the sniper and asset to the commander) is to sow fear, and spread confusion: Yes, it is possible in Airsoft too… Operating behind the enemy lines, or in enemy controlled areas requires those forces to move more cautiously at all times when the threat of sniper fire is present. This can slow down the arrival of enemy reinforcements from regen points and turn the tide of a battle. The sniper is able to attack key targets or abuse weaknesses in the enemy’s alertness. Airsofters tend to bimble when they don’t believe they are in any danger. Change that…

The marksman’s role is a direct support role to the ground troops fighting the main battle. Whether you are along side those forces providing long range ‘reach out and touch them’ factor, or part of a defensive unit, the role is quite simple and often overt. If the enemy know they are fighting a force with marksmen, their tactics will be limited if they have any sense. Naturally, if they are blissfully unaware of this point, by all means fire away until they do realise.

The counter sniper’s job is a mirror image of the snipers task. Your role is to counter the threat of enemy snipers and that alone: Believe me, that one task is time consuming and important. Generally you should operate behind your own lines, and in areas that you yourself as a sniper would pick to attack your forces.

The role you are playing within the game will dictate your operation. The marksman is the simplest to deal with; he or she will operate as part of the main force. The counter sniper, similarly, will operate within their own lines, seeking out and eliminating enemy snipers and marksmen where possible, performing observation roles or simply protection of a command or support element such as mortars. Their job is to think like the enemy and predict their movements and intent: By no means a simple task, but a highly rewarding one. The counter sniper must learn to operate and think like the sniper if he is to understand him… from this point on, I will simply refer to the tactics and techniques of the Sniper themselves. Counter snipers… pay attention too.

Choosing a Location

Choosing where to position yourself is as vital as being able to hit the target. This is especially important in urban warfare. Positions themselves are much more obvious, or can be, and routes too and from often provide little continuous cover. Something a lot of Airsoft snipers always manage to ignore is an egress route: Make one, and use it, it keeps you out of regen.

First off, the movie scene with the sniper perched high in his church tower… Iconic, but moronic. Isolating yourself in the highest structure around is a sure way to attract the attention of enemy forces the second someone’s hit…

Primary considerations for a firing position are noted bellow:

-Access too and from the position to dead ground
-Minimal exposure to the target site
-Locations that see high levels of enemy movement or will as the battle moves
-more than one entrance or exit to the building or location -Always know another way out)
-Sufficient shadow to conceal a shooter – bright sunlight filling a room may give you a nice tan, but it will also make you about as visible as Joan Rivers plastic surgery.
-Sufficient number of possible positions around the chosen location – isolating yourself makes location and retaliation easy
-Good visibility of the target site, and other approaches

A position need only be as complex or as simple as you make it. Tucking yourself into the corner of a building at ground level will make you practically invisible within an urban environment when every possible enemy soldier will be scanning windows after a team-mate is hit. Positions with height sometimes offer good locations for recognisance, but do consider how you plan to leave the building. How many stairwells are there? Where do they exit the building? What directions will the enemy likely come from? Never enter a building without knowing how to leave, even if that is a ground floor window.

Your location should also be able to provide good cover when in position. Being spotted from any angle at the front could result in airmail from a counter sniper: Be aware of other positions around the target. Windows and positions you would choose could equally play host to an enemy sniper. If you can find a position that fills as many of these requirements as possible, you will be onto something good. However, occasionally choosing that extremely obvious location can pay off… ‘They would never be there…’ Remember Chapter Four? It works…

Getting into Position

As previously mentioned, the primary asset to the sniper is stealth. The ability to move into a location unseen is key to the element of surprise. No more is this true than within the confines of a city/urban area. Thankfully, unlike woodland areas, there is a significantly higher volume of dead ground. People, being creatures of privacy, erect hedges, fences, and other such screens: Sites such as Winney Hill Obua Village is a key example. The sniper may use these as a shield when moving into location or low walls and fences in the cases of Cellini Village in South Wales.
Whereas in the natural environment, the eye is drawn to unnatural shapes, the urban area is filled with them; hard lines, edges, shining surfaces, movement. This makes it far more difficult for the enemy to locate a sniper moving within an urban location.

The ghillie suit, while important, is of secondary consideration in urban operations, and I myself have been extremely effective wearing simple combat trousers, belt order and a fleece. The landscape is your ghillie suit; used correctly, one can be entirely invisible with only minor considerations of camouflage. A good idea, however, is to pack within your kit some basic aids, such as a hooded smock with similar surface texture to the walls of the local environment. In Cellini village, Sennybridge, I often wear an ACU gortex jacket inside buildings to break up my shape and silhouette against the grey concrete walls. Other options work equally well in other locations

A direct route to your chosen location may be impossible, or predictable. Taking a roundabout route can reduce the chances of being observed, or being the victim of a counter sniper. This is another reason why a location should be, when possible, entered directly from dead ground. Maintain exposure to the target site at absolute minimum whenever possible: If you want to shoot it, it’s quite likely someone on their side has already worked this out and are watching for you.

When entering the location, be aware of footprints. At one particular game at Cellini Village, Sennybridge, I was alerted to the presence of enemy in a building I had chosen when I came across a set of wet footprints in the entrance hall. It had been raining recently, and the battle line had withdrawn leaving me in enemy territory. The only possible occupants could be enemy forces. One set of footprints leading in was enough for me to believe it was still occupied, no matter how stealthy the occupants appeared; something which saved my arse. If possible, dry your feet, or lay a false trail leading out the door again. It might seem anal, but the astute will notice these things… Same goes for mud too… Never thought what Mummy used to tell you would ever really matter huh?

Firing from the Position

Firing from the position is the critical moment. You expose yourself and reveal your location to the astute and observant. Even if you do not, the enemy’s senses will be heightened by the shot. Depending on your purpose, observation or target neutralisation, be prepared to wait. Choose a position that is comfortable and provides the maximum amount of cover.

Unlike the real world, we cannot dig out a brick to observe through, or borrow furniture to build a hide. We have to work with what is present. Some Obua villages have murder holes, but they often tend to attract the wary eyes of a counter sniper. A favourite method of mine, involves standing in the shadow at the back of a room using a tripod or alternatively, freely supporting the weapon, kneeling or prone where practical. An excellent method that provides superb concealment is shooting through the rungs of a stairwell and out of a window from a high angle. From the ground, you are literally invisible because of the angle of the slats. Equally so, any onward facing target only has a slim chance of seeing you.

Depending on the site, or if I have observed the enemy using counter snipers, I will often place an old vsr10 outer barrel on one window ledge, protruding slightly to attract enemy attention, while positioning myself elsewhere, waiting to hunt the hunter attracted by the ‘noobish mistake’. It can also provide a ‘oh they are there!’ visual fixation for enemy forces once a shot is fired. The enemy see the barrel and tunnel vision sets in and they convince themselves the sniper is there. By the time they discover the trick, you can be long gone.

The protruding barrel from a window scenario is a complex one in itself. On one hand, for a marksman, or sniper in an area denial role, this visible threat can help to damage enemy morale, ‘Omg sniper’ syndrome sets in, and typically Airsofters overestimate the effective range and accuracy of the mythical sniper, and avoid the area. In other cases, as mentioned early on. It’s a bad habit, and bad practice some less experienced shooters will employ to shoot from a building. Intimidating yes, but also highly revealing to see a black shape protruding. Remember my little cloak and dagger example?

When firing, make sure you are stable and comfortable, but also that you maintain your cover.

Getting out of the Position

Egress is vital if you wish to go on another mission without visiting the safe zone each time you take a shot. As I mentioned earlier, when choosing location, you should also plan or observe possible egress routes. These can be stealthy if unobserved and un-located, but in some cases, you will leave in Wiley coyote cartoon style… extremely quickly. Make plans for either eventuality, and the better your preparation, the greater your chances of success.

* * *

Sniping in an urban area can be played by the numbers… by theory. But unlike woodland Airsoft, there are simply too many variables to truly learn how to do it by paper alone. The only real way to become successful at sniping in urban Airsoft is to get out and do it. Experience it, hit targets, get hit, and make mistakes. Unlike the real world, you will learn, and you will be able to apply it again the next time. The most important advice I can give, is to be patient, and have good running shoes.

Thanks for reading
Firekitten

Silent Death

Thanks Fire Kitten keep em coming.
Having a Milsim type game with friends overnight. Im not with them on a smaller team roughly 2:1
and while they have the best site, out gun us and out number us they are still worried with me out there. my friend whos captain of the team will not allow a fire as far as i know cause it will light em up. So far i have made them cold and worried before the game is on its still 3 weeks away
Who said snipers arent feared