Here's a few pics from past events to give you an idea what we do out at East Wind:
Here US troops move out as infantry support for a British FV-701 Ferret armored car. We make extensive use of vehicles at East Wind since we operate on large enough pieces of property to make them tactically significant.
Here a US Squad leader makes a radio call on a PRC-77 radio. We use period correct comms equipment at East Wind (provided by us). If you've never used a "real" radio, prepare to be amazed at all you can do with one of these.
Here an NVA(East German) BTR-40 APC moves down a roadway during a patrol. As far as we know, there are 3 of these in operable condition in the USA. If you go to a museum, you MIGHT get to touch one. Here, you get to ride one into combat.
Here US troops are fed via Mermite can while deployed forward. The Squad you see here is out on a 36 hour patrol along a section of the border just before the war goes hot (That's why no goggles yet) They were out when the balloon went up and managed very well with the limited ammo and supplies they had on hand.
A NATO supply convoy traveling along "MSR Steele" at East Wind II. This was a route cut through the forest across a rocky valley that linked the main NATO controlled area with the northern end of the playing field. NATO trucks ran this very tough route both during the daylight hours and at night under black out conditions using night vision.
An NVA patrol, just returned from a cross border mission, is debriefed by the Soviet HQ staff. Notice the wierd blue interior of the tent? That's actually a period correct Soviet tent they are in. The map they are pointing at is a near perfect replica Soviet style map of the AO they are working in.
A Soviet patrol prepares to move out on a night recon mission. East Wind runs 24 hours a day.
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A NATO patrol prepares to move out on a night ambush mission. They have checked out night vision units from supply (everybody, on both sides gets, gets to use night vision a LOT at East Wind) and have painted their faces so they will shine less in the moon light. East Wind runs 24 hours a day, we are not kidding.
A NATO attendee heads into the MKT (Mobile Kitchen Trailer) to get lunch. Both sides use period correct military field kitchen set ups to provide A-ration meals to troops so you are not stuck eating MREs the whole time.
A Soviet sentry walking his rounds at East Wind I. The weather is poor, the wind is howling, there is another snow storm on the way but this man has his gear and knows that everything will be just fine. We have somewhat stringent gear requirements for exactly this reason. East Wind stays tactical regardless of the weather. Note the Isuzu in the background... This was before we transitioned over to only using military vehicles. We learned a hard lesson that year about putting "normal" vehicles into that environment. They do not hold up well to that sort of use...
A Bundesgrenschultz (West German Border Guards) unit at East Wind I. These guys were in charge of a border checkpoint and managed to hold their own with limited support for the entire duration of the event. Every night saw them repulsing major Soviet attacks and they held their ground. This pic was taken towards the end of the event as can easily be told by their somewhat haggard appearance. Their morale never cracked, and even when they donned their distinctive camo smocks, they always had their ties on.
A US soldier takes a moment to shave during his comms watch in the US HQ. You’re out there for 9 days… That means eating, sleeping, pooping, washing and shaving in a combat environment.
Who says you won’t hear a phone ring for 9 days? Both sides employ field telephone systems at East Wind. This is the NATO SB-22 switchboard in the operations center. It allows calls to be patched through from one caller to another anywhere across the phone network. It also allows a radio call to be patched through to any of the telephones in the network. Basically every tent in the base camps has a telephone and most any of the commonly manned forward outposts is equipped with a phone as well.
A Soviet made BTR-152 armored personnel carrier. This is one big bad mother… Again, if you got lucky at a museum, you might be able to touch one. At East Wind, you’ll ride into battle in one or face off against one with your LAW-80 anti tank rocket.
A British FV-432 Trojan APC. When we say our British troops are Armored infantry, we are not kidding. There will be 2 of these at East Wind IV.
A Hunter SHL (Space Heater Large) puttering away heating the NATO supply tent at East Wind III. When the wind is howling and the snow is flying, it is nice to have a place to go warm up and dry off. Both sides have most of their large common area tents heated with period correct wood stoves or oil fired heaters such as the SHL here. If you have never walked into a heated tent after a long, cold, wet patrol and stood by one of these guys to warm up then you have never felt what “warmâ€