This article is based on CQB/MOUT/FIBUA Warfare. CQB, as you know, is the fastest pace of warfare when things really get going. Depending on your role, you will have different tasks. Assaulter, Weapons Sergeant (Or by its USSOF designation - 18Bravo), Designated Marksman, Support Gunner etc.
Lets take the
average assaulter. This loadout can be swapped and changed for each role. The assaulters weapon in this case will be what mine was - an M4 SOPMOD. He will have a sidearm, and will be tasked in the average CQB event with clearing rooms, movement through urban terrain, etc etc. A Designated Marksman may not have to clear rooms, but he will carry higher power optics and signalling equipment, and may have a secondary role such as Team Medic or Communications. The Support gunner will carry extra ammunition. The grenadier will carry an M203/UGL and 40mm shells. An assaulter may carry grenades, smoke grenades, and smaller SMG/CQBR style weapons.
So, as a standard assaulter in modern USSOF tactical equipment, and for a general USSOF look, I would use the following. With each item listed there will be a reason. Also, some items may seem expensive - bear in mind this is from a geardos perspective. Pick what works for you. But remember this - MOUT/CQB is toughObviously, the exceptions mentioned above apply:
Clothing and Protective Equipment: Because assaulting a building bollocks naked will hurt not only you, but your dignity, and the eyes of others.Clothing:*
US ACU BDUs for MOUT: Say what you like about ACU, in a grey environment with smoke and grey buildings, tarmac and concrete, it will blend in. Not so good for a stroll in the woods but hey, thats not what you are using it for. If it was moving from woodland to MOUT, I would go for a CWU-27P USAF Flightsuit in OD. If in a desert type town, with browns and tan colours, go for a Tan version of the same flightsuit. Why a flightsuit? Fireproof, and if a smoke goes off on your leg, or a flashbang hits you and detonates, you wont get scorched as badly.
*
A good tough pair of lightweight assault boots. Something like Merrel Reflex Mids (my personnal choice), or Oakley Assault Boots. Belleville Desert Boots in CB will do nicely. Laced up tightly so they dont fall off as you boot a door in.
*
Light Tactical Gloves: I would recommend something like USAF Nomex Aviator Gloves, or Oakley Tactical Assault Gloves. Lightweight, tough, allowing you to feel triggers, safety catches, thumb-breaks and rotating-hoods on thigh holsters, etc etc.
*
Option: Nomex Flashhood Balaclava: If you are worrying about your vanity or having a tooth shot out, you might choose to wear a Nomex Flashhood Balaclava. Go for a single-hole version, as it doesnt restrict vision as much and looks better for USSOF impressions. Flashhoods are also good for protecting against possible flames produced by smokes and/or flashbangs as they go off, which in CQB, is a possibility. I normally wore mine inside my helmet, and pulled it down over my face when preparing for an assault.
Protective:*
Helmet: Dont ask, just buy one. You should know why. As you sprint through that door, you crack your head on the concrete doorframe and thats it, you are out for the count - perhaps with a bad concussion and a splitting headache. Also useful for vehicle operations, mounting things like strobes, holding goggles, and pimping-out any USSOF impression. To properly pimp a helmet, get something like a Toysoldier IBH or MICH 2000/2001 Replica, or maybe a Protec, add velcro to the sides, an NVG mount, Bolle X800 goggles, replica MS2000 strobe, US Flags on the sides and IFF Patches. Perhaps add blood type patches - but only if you know your own blood type, as it might prove vital in the future. Helmets are common sense, and dont invest in some crappy $40 one. Buy a proper one that costs a bit. Pay less, buy twice. And do you really want to risk damaging your noggin? I dont think so. Imagine telling chicks at a bar how you got the scar on your forehead "I ran into a doorframe". Slick.
*
Kneepads: You go to a knee to return fire, or drop onto your knees then onto your stomach. Doing this on tough grass is painful enough without kneepads. On concrete it can be bloody painful and with the risk of broken glass in some less "prepared" CQB sites, it can result in a nice gash on your knee. Go for a good pair like Hatch Operator Kneepads.
*
Tactical Goggles: These are useful for one reason - they protect angles that not all shooting glasses may protect. Invest in a cheap but decent pair of Bolle X800s, or WileyX NERVE goggles. Dont pay less and risk your vision, as a BB to the eye will f**k up anyones day, regardless of how much they were kicking ass and taking names.
*
Option: Groin Protection: If you are a bit of a ***** you might want to protect the old meat and two veg down below. A BB to the shlong hurts like a ***** - I was sprinting across a road once during an assault, a sniper caught me in my gland with a lucky shot and I dropped like a sack of potatos and didnt get up for 10 minutes. A full blown firefight, flashbangs, smokes and frags going off around me, and I did sod all but roll around on the ground and shout abuse at said sniper - (rearrange 'W*nker' 'F*cking' and 'You'). Your call. I dont wear one, because if I get shot in the balls, it tells me I did something wrong and need to learn from it. Pain is a good teacher imho. And I am faster on my feet without one.
So thats your clothing and protective. You may wish to change bits of it, for example ACU for Black BDUs, A balaclava and goggles for a gasmask - but make sure the lenses are ballistic rated. A current favourite amongst USSOF is the MCU/2 by MSA.
First Line: What you need to live right now.This is the tactical gear that sits on your body from the waist down. You should carry on this (based on personal preference):
*Sidearm (Pretty obvious why)
*Magazines for sidearm (Again, obvious why)
*Magazines for primary (I never go anywhere without my primary and secondary weapon on me. I dont even go for a piss/dump without some form of firepower on me.)
*Torch (Common sense)
*1 Smoke (If you get attacked when you are without your main gear on - a rare occurance but it can happen - you can use this to conceal movement and break contact to get back to your equipment where you should have more).
My personal 1st line consisted of:
*MOLLE Belt (MOLLE Realestate that is very useful for pouches).
*HSGI Suspenders (Stops the whole belt rig slipping around my arse)
*Safariland 6004 Holster for 1911 on right leg. (Holding Kimber MARSOC. Sold that). Also had a survival knife through the rear straps of the 6004, so it didnt interfere with the draw. This isnt for stabbing people, far from it - its to cut off clothing in a medical emergency, or to remove webbing if its on fire due to an accidental ignition of pyrotechnics such as smokes.
*MOLLE Panel on left leg with 2 x 1911 magazines in SDS Kydex Insert Pouches
*TAG Dumper pouch on rear left of body. (For spent magazines, both primary and secondary)
*Cyalume Chemlights in Red and Green on a karabiner (Used for marking rooms secured, rooms not secured, casualties, and sometimes thrown to mark enemy positions for fire control.) Karabiners have a million uses. Carry a few for longer games.
*Smoke Grenade Pouch (Containing - yup - a smoke grenade)
*First Aid Pouch (Qualified First Aider, so it makes sense. Better to carry it and not need it than not carry it and need it.)
Second Line: What you need to fight and win.The second line is the tactical vest/rig you wear. I personally opt for the integrated bodyarmour/MOLLE platform option, like the CIRAS/FSBE. You need to carry the following on your Second Line:
*
Primary Magazines*
Additional Secondary magazines in easy positions when wearing full battle-rattle.
*
Smokes, Frags, Flashbangs.
*
Other weaponry items - perhaps 40mm items or mock silencers. God alone knows what good a mock silencer is in airsoft, apart from Mk23 NBBs - which is probably Gods personnal choice of silenced airsoft sidearm.
*
Radio Communications Equipment*
Torch*
Plasticuffs*
Water/Hydration Systems*
Medical Gear if you are qualified.*
Mission Critical Equipment - Sledgehammers for putting doors in, AT Weapons if you have that built into your gameplay, etc etc.
My old FSBE (again, sold it) looked like this:
I had:
Front:*4 SDS M4 CQB DA II Pouches in Woodland, (holding total 8 magazines M4. All locaps.)
*2 SDS .45 Kydex Insert Magazine Pouches. (I know I said sidearm mags on my 1st line but I usually wore this vest aswell, it became a second skin)
*1 SDS Flashbang pouch at front of vest - that I can reach. Additional ones were hung through MOLLE loops.
*5 Flexcuffs. (Just for show, but can be useful in games)
Back:*1 TT Hydration Carrier (with 2L Water Bladder.)
*1 SDS Flashbang pouch (Could be reached by man behind me in stack, so if I was entryman, he would grab the flashbang from the pouch on my back, shove it over my shoulder to indicate ready, I would nod so I indicated I was ready, he would pull the pin, shove it over my shoulder again, tap it on my helmet twice (to burn off time on the fuse but also to indicate "Flashbang going in") and then throw it in ahead of me. I would sprint in as it was going off.)
*1 Medical Pouch (on my back because it impeded reloads of M4 magazines on the front.)
*1 LBTech/AITES 200rnd SAW Pouch (Sustainment pouch that contained extra ammo, MS2000 Strobe, extra Flashbangs, Smokes and Frags, and other mission-critical-equipment.
*1 SDS 200rnd SAW Pouch (Inverted, would have been used to carry MCU-2 Gasmask but never got round to buying one).
Missing from that is a radio and pouch. I know I have a headset there but again its just for show. That was more of a reinacting thing than a tactical thing. My next loadout will have a DEVGRU swimmer headset wired to 446 radio in an MBITR replica housing.
I would advise getting MOLLE-based equipment, because modularity is your new best friend in terms of tactical gear. Dont like a pouch where it is? Move it! Need more pouches? Buy some, attach them in 30 seconds, job done. I would advise going for something like an FSBE/CIRAS/Replica or Real Eagle PC with Cummerbund. The MOLLE realestate afforded by those are brilliant.
3rd Line: What you need to keep going.Not really applicable to a CQB situation, but if like in the UK you have some 24-hour urban-warfare events, carrying some chow in the form of MREs, Haribo, extra ammo, extra gas, spare parts, spare batteries for rifle/radio/strobe etc. Other suggestions for a 24 hour urban event, when you get a lull in fighting and a chance for rest (guess which ones are taking the piss...):
*A book.
*Cleaning kit.
*Chess set.
*Porn.
*MP3 player/iPod with favourite "War Tunes"
*Pictures of girlfriends/family.
*Toiletries. Dont smell like some filthy doyle.
*Sleeping bag.
*More porn.
*More food, water.
*Medical supplies.
*A branch of MacDonalds.
As said, 3rd line for CQB isnt as important. Id just cram in extra ammo, extra gear, some MREs, sweets (Jellybabies are great for 24 hour games, fill you with energy and taste good), snacks, and things you think you will need. Id put it into a small assault pack like a MAP, or perhaps something like a BHI 3-Day Assault Backpack.
Anyways, I hope this has been useful.
Matt.
