DIAMOND
This formation is best used when the
team is crossing open countryside
at night, for example during a
weekender MilSim event or in
extremely bad visibility. Each player
must be able to see the next and
ensure all arcs of fire are covered. The
Team Leader may control from the
front or middle of the formation.
Diamond formation gives good
all-round defence and provides
for good observation and efficient
communications. This would also
be the perfect formation to use in a
scenario where you need to ’protect
a VIP’, or where your team is making
off with the hard-won ammo crate
objective marker. The main drawback
is that it presents a vulnerable target
after dark when illuminated if the
team is not quick taking cover.
The signal for the team to adopt a
diamond formation is for the leader
to simply position his arms above his
head (as if representing a roof over
his head – or, thinking more laterally,
a diamond). If the leader wishes to be
positioned in the middle they will drop
back into the centre of the formation
and another team member, usually
the Scout, will take their position.
USING FORMATIONS
If the terrain and tactical situation
dictates then the Team Leader could
arrange a ‘baseline’ from which
the team’s forward advance can be
planned.
An efficient way to get the team into
position quickly while under fire is to
shout “Baseline!” With a little practice,
the team should be aware of the
leader’s location and would then form
a baseline along the direction indicated
by the Team Leader. This allows for
032
Xmas 2011
EXTENDED LINE
The most aggressively-used formation
is extended line. It is most often used
on approach to a suspected enemy
location, advance to contact or as
an assault formation. It offers poor
protection to the flanks but excellent
protection to the front and rear of the
patrol, as firepower can be quickly
maximised to threats on these sides of
the team.
One of the main problems with this
formation is that it’s difficult to control
– this is where team sub leaders
come into their own while the Team
Leader co-ordinates each fire team into
position.
This is a formation an airsoft team
can adopt quickly once they come
under contact (while patrolling in file,
for instance).
If he wants his team in extended
line formation the Team Leader holds
both arms outstretched to the sides,
parallel with the ground. As before
the side his weapon is held in can be
used to dictate which flank any support
weapons carried are required to
position themselves
rapid deployment of any formation
necessary.
Once in the baseline, the team
members should return the shout
to indicate they are in position and
ready return fire. Once the baseline
is confirmed then clear, loud target
indication can be given and accurate
fire returned, allowing the assaulters
to move forward and clear the enemy
position.
By linking different formations
together like this, you and your team
can respond to changing terrain,
visibility and developments in individual
battles during games.
Basic tactics like these can really
give you the edge over an untrained or
unprepared team, regardless whether
it’s ‘Captain Killer and his team of
spray-and-pray merchants’ or ‘Team
support weapons R us’! By using these
methods you can make your gameplay
more quiet, efficient and tactical – after
all if they didn’t work, the military
would be doing it differently. n