Reenact-SA

Situation
As people may know Re-enacting South Australia (RSA) has gone from strength to strength over the past 18 months.

Our new club has reached the stage that we are ready to host our first tactical event here is South Australia. The event is to be hosted at a private property near the town of Nangwarry (SA) over the 18th 19th of July weekend. Nangwarry is located 32.5km north of Mount Gambier SA. Nangwarry is also about 438km from Melbourne.

We have selected this date as it gives three months warning for those attending, and it also does not directly clash with other interstate events, such as history Alive, Armidale and or Wedderburn.

It is the intention of RSA to invite all approved interstate World War Two Re-enacting groups (AGS, CHS as an example). This is the warning order to gauge RSA members and interstate group interest.

The private property is a farm that contains a mid density pine forest and open grass fields. Possible engagement ranges will be from 300m to 25m (if you set up the ambush right!). A picture speaks a 1000 words so here is some of the terrain that will be used.

This picture shows the fern under brush that is common on this property. With tree coverage and underbrush like this the event offers a wide range of tactical situations even in the open country.



This is a shot of one of the camp sites for this event. Note the tree cover, clearing for a camp fire and pine needles bedding area.



Vehicles are welcome. However even the open areas are quite ruff and only 4WD or tracked vehicles would be able to be used at this event.

Mission
RSA is to carry out its first tactical training weekend to act as a building block for individual RSA member’s skills in all areas of World War Two re-enacting.

Execution
An advice party (to dig facilities and mark out the camp area) would arrive on site at about midday on Friday 16th July. The event would start proper on Friday night 16th July with the arrival of the participants. Saturday will start early with a range clearance and weapon safety testing followed by a familiarisation walk around the events area of operations. Only once this is complete will the tactical event start. At the latest the event should finish up by the later afternoon of the 19th of July.

The event base camp will take the form of a central camp fire with an Axis camp and Allied camp at opposite sides. The distance between each camp will be only about 50 metres, each only being about 25 metres from the central fire. Both camps are located on a bed of soft pine needles.

Participants will arrive at the property and enter through a side gate. Parking for cars is provided on site. However the last 300 metres can only be travelled by 4WD vehicles. As a result the intention is that all heavy equipment (Water and food that is to be issued) is to be ferried into the camp site via RSA 4WD vehicles. The light gear such as sleeping bags etc can be carried for the last 300 metres.

Participants will take part in a variety of high intensity (blank firing) infantry engagements over variable combat ranges and terrain. Engagements will include patrols, ambushes, set piece attacks on an enemy camp, defence of a position and withdrawal from combat.

Because this is first tactical event for many of our members and the first for RSA, the idea is to have an open format to the engagement programme. For this reason we will be running an Axis vs Allied event with no specific campaign taking place.

We are planing a simple night activity for Saturday night. However it will not be going late so as not to get in the way of team bonding 

Looking at the manning of RSA. Our Germans are mainly FJ and continental Heer. Our Allies are mainly a mix of commonwealth nations and Russian (naval infantry). As the date of the event get closer we will be able to ascertain what the impression mix will be.

Admin and logistics
RSA has recently gained a blank manufacturing capability. RSA can currently make 7.62NATO (long or short), 7.92 (long or short), 7.62x54R and 303 blanks. Interstate visitors can buy blanks from RSA or they will be permitted to use other blanks that have been manufactured by approved suppliers.

RSA has a range of extra equipment that we will be able to deploy at this event. One of our member’s blank firing mortar will be used at the event. Also another members DAK 4WD truck should be able to make an appearance.

RSA will be able to supply enough water for all participants. People attending will be rationed in as part of the event fee. The rations will take the form of period front line field rations. The event fee has yet to be set. However it is the intention of RSA that it will be comparable with other events of a simular size held in other parts of Australia.

****Under no circumstances is any live projectile firing ammunition to be brought along to the event!****

All participants are to carry a first aid dressing during all tactical engagements.

All of the property’s neighbours are on a first name basis with the owner of the property (one of the neighbours is the owners mother!) and will be warned about the event along with the local elements of the South Australian Police and country fire services.

Only very basic field ablution facilities (box over a hole in the ground and a wash bowl) will be provided on site at the event. Camp stores such as star pickets, hammers, wash bowls etc will be supplied by RSA members.

On Saturday morning all participants will need to register will the event Directing staff (DS). This is a simple process where we confirm (by sighting) that you have a firearms licence if you are in possession of a firearm at the event.

This event will be taking place during July. There is a good chance that it will be cool during the day as well as at night. It is recommended that people use continental uniforms (wool) that are suitable to cold weather.

Directions and maps of how to get to the site will be sent to participants on expression of interest. The property is on Google Earth.

RSA looks after the property owner, all rubbish is to be removed from the property.

Command and signals
NCO positions at this event will be appointed by the RSA members. If a attending interstate group is of the correct size. It may have the option of appointing its own NCO’s.

To make organising this event easier could all interstate groups interested in attending please make inquiries through each groups respective RSA liaison officer to the RSA committee. Email addresses are listed on our website

http://www.reenact_sa.noadsfree.com/index.html

During the event the Directing staff (DS) are to use hand held radios to coordinate the engagements. DS are to carry charged functional mobile phones at all times during the event.





PS. Sorry I am terribly dyslectic. There will be some spelling and gramma errors in this post. They will be fixed over time.

In relation to the camping arrangements, is this period only or will there be an area set aside for those that wish to camp on more modern tents etc.

Regards

Jason GMRG

Hi Jason, thanks for dropping by. For RSA, we have asked for period Tents as I know we all have the tentage we need, and we are useing this as a training weekend (so to speak). For other groups without period tentage, I see no problems with us having them set up a few meters away from the period tents. It's pretty thick with Pine as you can see so the non period tentage can be close, but still almost out of view.

Andy.
President

Okay, I just bought a US Army 1944 Chrysler Airtemp Field Stove for use at Nagawarry, and presumably other events.

It was apparrently shipped to Australia in WW2 for use in the Pacific Theatre against the Japanese, however it seems that this and several others in the shipment were never issued or used. (The guy has sold a few of these on ebay).

I am making progress on rations and have some preliminary thoughts on food. However I'm going to run them past the Committee before I announce them. I am operating on a general assumption that rations for the wekend will cost members $25. This is extremely good value for two days worth rations, including four hot meals!

In the meantime, here are a few photos from the ebay site of the Field Stove.

That is an awesome pice of kit. Well done!

Fee's for this event will be payable one month before the event -June 20th (to alllow for preparation of rations etc). $25 is the cost we are looking at. Any late requests to attend will incur a late fee which will mean it will cost you $30.

I will pass this info onto other groups.

Admin

addit. After costing rations, fees will be $30, and $35 for late payments.

I am pleased to advise that I purchased a US Jerry can yesterday, and a successful test of the field stove was performed today. Takes a little while to warm up, and there is a trick to lighting it, however I am now confident about hot ration supply.

Bring it on!

Catering Officer
Nangawarry Tactical Event

Okay, as far as I am able to determine, the following people have committed to attend. This is from just looking at the forum post, etc, and so is not strictly accurate.

David Schneider - US/Soviet
Andrew Henshaw - Heer
Parker Henshaw - Heer
Paul Kenwery - Heer/US (CHS)
Darryl Thomsen - FJ
Steven Oniszk - FJ
Eugene Wasilena - FJ
Craig Henley - Heer
Daniel Gale - Commonwealth (NZ)
Brendon Hampton - Heer
David Bartlett - FJ

The club has 21 members at present (Preston Henshaw is dropping out, but Parker Henshaw is joining, so that number does not change.)

We have invited CHS & AGS. We have also invited Don Vallis of Fort Eden, and I am not sure, but I believe that Andy may well have invited other groups (I have been trying to get through to GMRG, and I think that Andy has told Ausreenacts, but that they have not responded to any e-mails from RSA). Other vehicle collectors may have been advised as well.

As things stand on the information that I presently have we have 10 club members who have indicated that they are coming out of 21. We have one CHS member who has indicated that he is attending.

Please advise if any of this information is inacccurate or otherwise out of date.

Addit: Oh, and Top Pots has put an ad for the event on their website.

http://www.toppots.net/main.php?do=clie ... ink_id=147

Provisional Duty Appointments Nangwarry

Officer in Charge (OIC) Andrew Henshaw
Safety Officer: Stephen Oniszk
Catering Officer: David Schneider
First Aid Officers: Andrew Henshaw, David Schneider
Allied NCO: Daniel Gale
Axis NCO: Stephen Oniszk
Registration Officer: David Schneider

That is all.

ADDIT: Are there any duty appointment that we've omitted? Bearing in mind that if you tell us, you probably just volunteered to do it...

I can not say I have been worried with getting non fab sleeping and shaving stuff (We just cover it up during the day). More points to you if you do Craig. Can you post some links with some examples of Period shaving stuff etc so i can check it out?

From SOF http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/



Not a good pick, however it looks like a old school razer that I remember my dad using (and US personal in “saving private Ryan”. not a real reference I know.). I think Commonwealth used old school non safety razors up until the 1980's (one of my SGT was issue one when he joined!).

I swear I can remember on “soldier of fortune” them selling bake-alight (spelling ?) disposables that look very close is modern BIC's.

I take it He is going to need some 303 blanks? Not a problem i just need some lead up time.

That razor looks similar to ours Steve, we got ours from Landser Outfitters. www.landser.com they have heaps of good stuff there and are cheap and efficent in getting gear to you...usually about 8 days from America.

In order to try and tie a few threads and discussions together.

Operations Overview at Nangwarry/Penola 17th, 18th & 19th July 2009

This Operations Overview is a supplement to the Event Safety Document, RSA Safety Rules, and the “RSA Event” Document, and should not be taken in isolation from those documents.

1. Roll Call

Roll Call – Axis

Heer

Andrew Henshaw
Craig Henley
Brendon Hampton
Mick Smolski (CHS Guest)

Fallschirmjager

Darryl Thomsen
Stephen Oniszk (Axis NCO)
Eugene Wasilena
David Bartlett

Waffen SS

David Parr (AGS Guest) (May or may not attend.)

Total: 8 or 9

Roll Call – Allies

United States

David Schneider
Parker Henshaw
Paul Kenwery (CHS Guest)

Commonwealth

Daniel Gale (Allies NCO)
David Bliss
Aaron McCready
Gene Nyland

Co-belligerant Italian

Richard White

Total: 8

Total Attendance: 16 or 17

Not all responses are in, and attendance figure may increase.

2. Duty Appointments Nangwarry

Officer in Charge (OIC) Andrew Henshaw
Safety Officer: Stephen Oniszk
Catering Officer: David Schneider
First Aid Officers: Andrew Henshaw, David Schneider
Allied NCO: Daniel Gale
Axis NCO: Stephen Oniszk
Registration Officer: David Schneider

These duty officers will be collectively known as the Directing Staff.

3. Ration Issue

Each participant will be issued the following for self cooked lunches, etc. You WILL need a can opener.

Tins issued for lunches Saturday & Sunday:
- Il Duce Spag Bol, 535g, x1
- Wehrmacht Braised Steak & Mushrooms, 410g, x1
- Soviet Smoked Sprats, 160g, x1
- German Chocolate bar, 15g, x2

Each participant will be issued the following hot rations.

Dinner Friday.
Army: Allied
Rations:
- Stew, depends on meat & such available day before we go. Variation on Navy Bean stew likely.
- Bread roll, x1
- Coca-Cola, x1 (330ml bottle)

Breakfast Saturday.
Army: English
Rations:
- Scrambled Eggs
- Sausage, x2
- Fried tomatoes & mushrooms

Dinner Saturday.
Army: German
Rations:
- Brockwurst, x2
- Mashed potatoes
- Bread roll, x1
- German Beer, x1 (330ml bottle)

Breakfast Sunday
Army: United States
Rations:
- Baked Beans
- Spam, fried

All participants are expected to bring a supply of drinking water, and as a minimum must have a full canteen on Saturday morning.

4. Ammunition & Safety

All ammunition will be booked in on arrival with the Safety Officer. It will be inspected, bagged & labeled, and then secured in a locked metal box until issued for operations on Saturday by the Safety Officer.

There will be a weapons check and safety brief conducted by the Safety Officer on Saturday morning. This will be as per the Safety Document issued by him, RSA Safety Regulations & ALHF Safety Regulations.

THE BRINGING OF LIVE AMMUNITION TO THIS EVENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN.

The standard cry of “STOP! STOP! STOP!” Will be used to halt tactical activities in the event of injury or unsafe practice.

5. Command & Control

The OIC has overall control and final say over all decisions pertaining to this event once commenced. Otherwise bring all issues to the attention of the appropriate duty officers.

In tactical situations the NCOs have control of members assigned to their command. NCOs will have been briefed in regards to tactical scenarios.

6. Miscellaneous

- Some straw/hay will be available, but amounts will be limited.
- Bringing of additional rations is permitted.
- A change of clothes should be brought in case of soaked uniforms.
- There will be adjacent Allied & Axis camps. If required there will be a non-period camp site away from the period camp site.
- Period vehicles may be brought, but attention should be paid to the operational terrain.
- All participants will pay a fee of $30, or $35 if less than one month prior to the event. This is payable to the Treasurer.
- In view of the time of year attendees are urged to bring appropriate sleeping gear. Non-period items are fine, and can be hidden under a blanket, etc during day time.
- Blank ammunition is available for purchase from Stephen Oniszk, but orders must be placed as soon as possible or he may be unable to fill your order.
- There will be signage placed on the nearby roads to direct attendees to the event.
- Have fun! That’s an order!

Sorry Steve, I gave you wrong info...my bad!
We got the razors from dabi on eBay.

Mike has passed on his apologies, he won't be making the Nangwarry event.

However, Gene has confirmed attendance as British and Richard White is coming as a co-beligerant Italian on the Allies side.

Andy