PBI Event - Operation Varsity - F&O 30th March 2008

Frontline: Operation Varsity

Presented by Poor Bloody Infantry (PBI) at First and Only Airsoft, Matlock - 30th March 2008

"With a bone crunching thud the wooden fuselage of the Horsa glider impacted on the soft soil and careered across the field speeding headlong into the approaching woodland. A loud crack reported through the cramped interior as the wings were wrenched from the aircraft and the broken body of this one way transport shuddered to a halt.

With minutes and with typical teutonic efficiency the German reconnaissance platoon were already on their way to tackle this threat from the air!

Welcome to the first ever Poor Bloody Infantry WWII airsoft battle - we intend to take you back over 60 years to the second world war where *you* can experience the tension and action of infantry combat!

PBIs new series of Frontline games will portray the action of a single platoons of Allied and Axis troops as they wage war over one single day of the Second World War. Instead of recreating a large battle or operation, here you will be experiencing action from an infantryman's perspective.

In our first battle we'll be recreating a day from Operation Varsity - the allied attempt to cross the Rhine and push into the heart of Germany to end the war in one stroke.

In this battle you can choose to play either a valiant red devil from the 6th allied airborne division or a stalwart panzer grenadier defending the fatherland from the enemy hordes!

About Operation Varsity

Operation Varsity was the allied attempt to cross the mighty river Rhine and push into Germany's industrial heartland to end the war. A massive force of infantry and armour was amassed to force this crossing of the last great obstacle between the allies and Berlin. As part of this plan the allies decided to drop glider forces and paratroopers behind the enemy lines to slow down reinforcements to the river and attack communication centres and supply dumps where possible.

Having been caught unaware by a mass airborne drop at Arnhem previously the German forces were quick to respond sending in some of their best troops to defeat the red devils before they could complete their mission.

So, who will you fight for?

In this game there are two sides. You can be a member of the British Airborne or the combined forces of the German 84th Infantry division and 7th Fallschirmjager.

We have 20 places available for each side.

British Airborne

22 platoon D company the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry 6th Airborne division

Minimum kit for this event is a Denison, red beret and battledress trousers
(don't worry about getting new cap badges, keep your existing ones)

German Panzer grenadiers

Reconnaissance platoon, 8 kompanie 84th Infanterie
or
2 Section, 2 kompanie, 7th fallschirmjager

You will be representing a Heer of FJ unit so kit for this one is feldgrau uniforms and splinter pattern accessories. If you have SS kit that too is fine but please don't use distinctive SS camo patterns, just wear your field grey tunic and coverless helmets. However, if you only have SS camo then that's fine you will represent the advance elements of 'Kampfgruppe Karst' who reached the battle after the landings.

Cost and Booking
The total cost for this event will be £25 per person. We'll need £5 of this cost as a deposit paid on booking. The remaining £20 should be paid on the day.

For details on how to pay please see here: viewtopic.php?t=2490

OPERATION VARSITY FAQ:

Q: Why cant i play American/Russian/SS?

A: The main reason is that the 'Frontline' games are based on a micro view of a battle, like in 'Band of Brothers' we'll be dealing with the adventures of one platoon and how the war was for them on that given day. Although US troops played a major part in Operation Varsity they were many miles away from the British Airborne drop. We're concentrating on the adventures of 20 or so Brits and an equal amount of brave grenadiers and their FJ allies.

If you have SS kit you can still play on the German side but wherever possible try not to use distinctive SS pattern gear, e.g. wear your field grey kit but not your oversmock or helmet cover. If you only have a pea pattern uniform then that's okay, but if you can go grey please do!

Q: Why Operation Varsity?

A: Well it was a massive airborne drop and one made after learning the mistakes of Arnhem, the allied airborne only have to hold for one day which is perfect for our games as we don't have to pretend its over several days or that a small hut equals a whole village etc.

Add to that Operation Varsity happened 62 years ago to the month so we felt it would be good to honour the memory of those veterans at the right time of the year.

Q: How are Frontline games different from other WWII airsoft games?

A: We're hoping the Frontline games will allow the players to feel they are part of a platoon with specific roles and objectives. We'll be sending you on missions or you'll be patrolling with clear objectives. Though your objectives might not be that grand, they will be similar to those given to a fighting patrol or scout group in 1944/45.

Q: How accurate does my kit have to be?

A: Pretty much the same as for any other CiA game although this time we're trying to make it appear that all the players on each side are from the same unit rather than a composite force of several regiments. We're looking into ways of making this more possible that wont cost you a penny!