We play alot of Night-ops, and an I'm sure that there are some others on the board who have worked to perfect the art of night battle as well.
This is some equipment to use and how to use it.
anybody have any suggestions or tips please post up.
Red dot scope: Used as in day time but at night is very usefull so you can have a sort of reference as to where your aiming.
Night vision Device: Exreamly difficult to use w/goggles. Adjust eye relief as you would for looking at objects far away. All memebers using night vision should not be offensive positions,.. scouts and commanders only.
Two way radios w/ earbuds: Essential for keeping noise down and letting your team know were each member is. Keep chatter to a minimium and use check ins frequently to keep orientation of all team members.
Flare pistol: You can pick thease up at Wal-mart really cheap. Use thease for probing an area. First notify all team members that a flare is going up and give team time to gain cover/concealment so as not to give away thier positions. Count down to launch and send flare up. Quickly scan area w/dominant eye closed so you don't ruin all of your night sight. Also good for iniating an assault or ambush.
Tac-light: Used on your weapon preferably w/ a pressue pad or on/off button that is very accesible. Once contact is made amass the team and flip on Tac-light giving the team visible targets while at the same time blinding the OPFOR. Assault the OPFOR rapidly and agrresivly basically running him thrugh. Once assault is made turn of lights and melt into darkness.
Laser sights: May be used during an assault as same as Tac-light. Also used for marking targets, positions, and terrain. When used for marking targets alert team members that you will be marking an area and in what general direction it will be. This done so that you may only need to have laser on for the shortest time possible since this may aslo give you away as well. Get some good cover before using laser to try to keep keep from compromising yourself.
When used at Night in CQB terrain it is a very handy tool..point-shoot-listen to men squeal like babies as they get hit.
Chem-lights: Used for marking in same manner as laser sight. Less effective unless used as a permanet location marker due to the fact that it has less range than a laser and will give more proment tracer effect back to you position. Better to use for marking areas that you will go back to, Way points. Or left behind by a foward souting/reconning element to alert main body of detours or areas of concern. Use a color coding system for this method of employment.
Spot light: Used as either a probing or assault devise. Depending on which method is used consult the use of Flares or Tac-lights for rules of deployment.
Strobe light: Mount to the end of your barrel when assaulting this gives you quick light for aiming or enemy oreintation yet is extreamly disoreintating to the eyes on the other end of the strobe. Very effective when moving rapidly.
Strobe balls: The little siezure inducing fire crackers you get at 4th of july. Used to distract, disoreintate and ruin night sight of enemy patrols just before you ambush.
Smoke: Employ when crossing large area, suspected enemy held positions, or moonlight area. Used to render enemy night vision devises useless.
Desert storm night parka: An extreamly long parka used in Desert storm/ Desert shield. Consists of a green checkered-pixulated pattern (not digital). Given to troops to wear at night and designed to disrupt the outline and fool night vision goggles. Works very good against the lower quality Gen1 devises common amongst general civilian population.
Coyote Howler: A hunting call used to simulate howles and barks of coyotes. PSYOP's tool, employed by multiple team members to fool the enemy into thinking they are playing in an area infested w/coyotees. This will couse an overcuatious enemy, fear and nervousensess taking thier minds (the most valuable weapon) out of the game. Once the OPFOR craps his pants thinking a pack coyotee is in the area just follow the smell to his location and light him up
found some more valuable info in good ol Combat and Survival.
Night Battle Procedure.- 3 points for a succesful night attack.
1) SURPRISE
Choose a time such as 0300, when those not on duty will be in their deepest sleep.
Avoid dusk and dawn, as most troops stand to at these times.
But if you think the enemy is disorganized, get in there quikly, And to cause maximum panic,-attack in different places from different directions at the same time.
2)MOMENTUM
Keep up the pressure. Attack in depth; use maximum fire support; an keep some infantry close to to the supporting fire.
3) SECURITY
Use deception to conceal the timings and dirrection of your assault. Your start line must be secure, the flanks of you attack must be protected, and your objectives must be secured by rapid reorganization.
Notes
.1) -Blue on Blue contact- The most diffulcult problem in controlling a night attack is preventing your own troops from shooting each other.
As a result, the flanking attack has been largely abandoned in favour of the Frontal assault.
Inter squad and platoon bounderies must be very easily recognised and rigidly adhered to
.2) -The Drills- The drill for fighting through an enemy posistion must be practised in detail before hand.
If assault troops have to stop and think, you will lose momentum.
Continued.
9 points for a night attack.
1) Minimize noise: tape down anything that rattles.
2) Keep your weapon ready to fire,with fresh mags ready to get to.
3)Make sure you can always see the man on your right and left once you are in assault formation.
4)Watch for signals and make sure you pass them on.
5)Tell your partner when you are changing mags.
6)Carry only what you need for the battle.
7)Always put a fresh mag in when making the final assault.
8)Do not bunch up on the objective; spread out and keep looking for posistions in depth.
9)Do not leave the dead and wounded with vital KIT,e.g. the radio.
Some last thoughts:
I run string to anything I will carry or use so if cought in battle I don't have to worry about trying to find pockets I can just let go and not lose my gear becouse it is tied down.
Just becouse it cold at night doesn't mean you shouldn't be drinking lots of water.
Patience is a virtue.
Noise amplifies greatly at night.
Black is a poor choice for night uniforms it only becomes blacker and leaves a very solid dark mass that sillhouttes you.
It has been my expirence in Night-ops that you will either fire a very small amount of ammunition becouse you never make contact w/ the enemy due to the fact that you can't see him,
or that you go thrugh ammo like a speedballer on meth becouse you have no idea what you're aiming at becouse you can't see the enemy.
Don't fear the night. Fear what hunts in the night.
