Bastogne Camping

Ok Lustmolch will concur with this as he has heard my crazy plan before but I am looking to go for an experience I'm not soon to forget.

Camping out in a foxhole during an English Winter, in full kit with a camp stove, rations and a zeltbahn maybe if I can find one to keep the cold out. I got the idea while watching an episode of Band of Brothers. I haven't yet been able to equate that kind of cold with anything in my own personal experience so I'm keen to "learn".

Anyone know where I could do something like that? Anyone offering ? Anyone want to join me? . I'm currently living in Birmingham. I'm even entertaining an idea to do it for charity, like "Children in Need" or the "Cancer Foundation".

Stefan, could you also tell me how the German Soldier was kitted out for this sorta thing? I know they were not all well supplied but is there anything specially you can think of?

[ 07. January 2004, 09:41 AM: Message edited by: BratwurstDimSum ]

 

How about the ultimate experience "Russia and winter 1941-42"?

Helmet, t-shirt and short trousers...
and of course the German military boots! Or flip flops...

 

First off, I have done it and it isn't fun! Ok, it was fun, but it was difficult to say the least.

First question I have for you, when are you leaving the country? Just so I know what kind of deadline we are working with here.

Second issue, kit, well I slept on an open field in a half Zelt tent (2 Zeltbahns stuck together to form a 2 sided tent), I wore full field grey, greatcoat and had a blanket, I spent the whole night shaking like a leaf in a blizzard. I had a full set of field gear (I will give you the list in a minute) that I used during the battle the following day, ate the rations I had 'cooked' over an esbit stove. It was an interesting experience that all re-enactors should do if they don't mind certain brass monkey related situations.

Third issue, why? Well, I was thinking about what you said and perhapse there is perhapse a better idea than sponsorship for a charity, how about a museum? We could try to arrange for a group of re-enactors (and forum members) to meet up on some land and camp out there totally authentically (absolutly no post 40's kit). Worth thinking about maybe as it will be easier to get people involved if its a museum.

This will take some thinking about...

 

Can I volunteer to fire the 88 for that authentic 'tree-burst' effect ?

( OK, OK - just joking...I think it's a great idea if you can get it together, guys ! )

 

You're a braver man than I, Gunga Din

Regards,
Gordon

 

If any of you forumites are up for it we may be able to accomodate you, as for the treeburst 88, well the best I ever had my hands on was a 2cm Flak, great fun!

 

Nothing 10 roman candles strapped together can't fix. We will have our own "moaning minnie" as Sapper calls it

I leave the country on the 29th February so it will be close. I know this is an insane question but will it still be as cold then? Not that I am complaining, especially if several "real" reenactors are coming to augment my lame airsoft impression.

Which brings me to my next point. Most of my kit is wartime but my tunic/trousers are NVA/postwar, what say you to that Stef? Will I be shunned in foxhole circles?

3rd point, I'd really like to dig a hole to lie in, maybe not as deep as the prepared positions one often sees in movies but deep enough to put a cover over if possible. Tents...well I had plenty of that in boy scouts

As for the Museum thing, sure! I was talking about the charity so that people will give me use of their land for a worthy purpose Any purpose will do for me.

[ 07. January 2004, 01:31 PM: Message edited by: BratwurstDimSum ]

 

I am really not sure we can work this out, the land is going to be a major problem though. My re-enactment group have some land that we use from time to time but a) it takes a lot of time to organise, b) I am not sure how happy the farmer would be with us digging on his land, if you can think of anywhere else it would be good. Oh, it WILL be cold, believe me!

Don't worry about kit, we won't shun you (treat you like a poor relative but not shun) . If you need anything we can probably sort it out for you.

 

ok lets say we don't dig, what are the time constraints with this farmer dude? I don't mind mixing it up with a bunch of cows...

 

It depends where we do it but usually the area we use is cow free and we have access all weekend, the problem is I don't think I will be able to get hold of him any time soon.

 

dum de dum, I see...

As a city slicker, I don't get to meet too many farmers so I don't have any suggestions about land either.

I will try the airsoft forums, theres plenty of private land owners there. Meanwhile I appreciate the gesture Stef, see what you can do on your end.

 

Actually I am talking to a few re-enactor friends of mine, if we can sort land there is the possibility of having a few tommies turn up as well. Let me know how things go with the airsoft thing, I am a bit of a city slicker myself but I have family in the countryside so I can spend time in the woods to some extent whenever i like, lucky really.

 

Well I got a 101st Airborne guy I know whos gagging to come so it could be quite a turnout!

PLEASE SOMEONE GIVE US LAND!!!! WE PROMISE, NO SMALL MAMMALS WILL BE KILLED, NO MORTAR HOLES OR BLOOD WILL BE FOUND AFTER WE LEAVE...

 

OK some good news:

I may have a place near Southampton but there is a rub. You will have to play in an Airsoft game the next day to be able sleep the night before.

That will mean weapons hire, usually they are around £15 and about the same again for an all day fee to play airsoft.

My airsoft webpage:
http://members.lycos.co.uk/crookintheguts1/Fireball2a.htm

Good news is they have slit trenches, bunkers and we are allowed to dig foxholes!

Bad news (for you reenactors anyway) is that usually hire weapons are conventional type. My site in Birmingham uses Ak47s and M16s, I don't know what this site offers yet!

Please note this is only a heads up and is not 100% yet, I may have more news in a couple of days.

[ 08. January 2004, 11:13 AM: Message edited by: BratwurstDimSum ]

 

Myself and another guy in my unit are considering going down to the site our unit has and camp out period style. Then again we have the use of a concrete bunker with a stove and wooden bunks. Its all period though.

 

whereabouts is your site?

 

Will the airsoft thing be a re-enactment airsoft or will there be guys out there in modern combats and so on? Either way I would be fairly up for it though if it is modern then I will wear my combat 95 + PLCE for simplicities sake.

Maybe we could have a forum airsoft weekend? I know at least one other who may be up for it, could be fun!

 

what country are you going to? i live here in the states and it's a blasted cold winter right now, hardly any snow but it's COLD, i wouldnt' mind reenacting Battle of the Bulge or Hurtgen forest i'm apt to the cold, you can't usually keep me inside (until i cant feel my toes) well any who, keep me posted

 

You know Stef, I honestly thought you may not go if it was modern, you are surprising me every day . It may well be modern, we aren't sure yet. The two guys organising this will get back to me but they are trying for a WW2 bent to the day, whatever happens and whatever kind of airsoft day is on I always go in my Wehrmacht outfit, which is why I chose the gear I did, even if it gets ripped or destroyed I'm not overly fussed as it was relatively cheap.

What is a combat 95 + PLCE?

Duce mate, if you read the first post it says we're doin it in England, hell if you foot the airfare, we'll find a place for you to stay! But you'd have to come here

Yeah it'll be cold but that's why is called Bastogne Camping!!

<EDIT>***SOME NEWS****

Southampton site is Woodland, with village buildings (6), bridge & radio shack.

Weapons for hire are Ak-47s and M4s (modern M-16s)

Here's what I've proposed:

The Night:
------------
Site owner picks an area that we can dig in. I will dig a foxhole for myself to sleep in no more than about 4-5 ft deep and about 75cm across. Any holes will be filled in after skirmishing the next day. Others who want to come can either do similar or pitch tents. We will not be letting off pyros (grenades) and probably won't be even doing anything else other than a survey of the site and camping / cooking with our esbit stoves and billys. We won't light a campfire unless the conditions are dire and we have permission from the site owner first.

Camping out is a priviledge extended to us provided we skirmish (Airsoft) the next day.

the Day:
-----------
I was thinking that we can be some left-over unit of Volkstruppen (cobbletogether group) who didn't surrender after 1945 and remained combat ready. A scenario could be set a year or two later, say in 1947 where an American led squad can come to flush us out of an isolated bunker deep in the forest.

This will be able to accomodate both period and modern uniforms nicely. And will be able to explain the ak-47s!

Ok a bit far-fetched, but it will be fun

Who's interested?

[ 09. January 2004, 04:53 AM: Message edited by: BratwurstDimSum ]

 

BDS, I was a WO2 in the cadet force, of course I am up for modern stuff!! Combat 95 is modern British camoflage stuff and PLCE is Personal Load Carrying Equipment (webbing).

It sounds good, lots of potential. Let me know what you manage to organise and it could be great fun!