WW2 British Airborne Infantry Arnhem | Market Garden | Airsoft Loadouts | AATV EP172

This episode is all about British Paratrooper, Airlanding and Airborne forces in WW2. This is representative of infantry fighting in Operation Market Garden at Arnhem in 1944 as well as D-Day and Operation Varsity.
Our loadout guides are intended for Airsoft Skirmishing only and are not for living history or re-enacting. Some considerations may have been made because of this. We consider boots, gloves and protective glasses as essential PPE and for the user to decide on for their own needs.
Thanks to West Midlands Airsoft for the use of their woodland site 'The Fob':
www.wmairsoft.co.uk
Film Footage from ‘A Bridge Too Far’ (MGM Studios) is used for educational purposes.
Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the copyright act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use.
You can tip the channel at Buy Me A Coffee... www.buymeacoffee.com/AATV
You can also support us staying as independent as possible by joining our Patreon!
/ aatv
Get your sweet AATV T-Shirts here and help support the channel: teespring.com/en-GB/stores/an...
I've created a list of some of the filming gear we use to make episodes over on amazon, buying some cool stuff from here gives us a small kickback:
www.amazon.co.uk/shop/anvilair...
The best way to support us is to subscribe and ding the bell icon so you get alerts when we publish new videos. Thanks and we'll see you next time.
Host:
Gareth "Gadge' Harvey
Camera:
Jo Horsefield
Production & Editing:
Black Dog Media
anvilairsoft.com
You can find us on Social Media @:
/ anvilairsofttv
/ aatv_airsoft

[@theirishempire4952]

"We Haven't the proper facilities to take you all prisoners, Sorry!"

[@edgarsantiesteban433]

hu

[@FloofPogg]

"What?!"

[@markaxworthy2508]

I knew an old British para called Don who lived in Paignton 15 years ago. He was a working class man but one of nature's true gentlemen - soft spoken, dressed impeccably, always tipped. He was one of the first 100 British paratroop volunteers, but never dropped operationally. This was because in 1940 the RAF wanted to know if it was practicable to parachute into the sea with the Mae West life jacket already inflated. Don was the volunteer selected to test this. The impact drove the Mae West upwards with great force, damaged his neck seriously and knocked him unconscious. He was too badly injured to jump again, but his experience may have saved a lot of aircrew lives.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Wow thanks for letting us know Don’s story.

[@markaxworthy2508]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV His story would probably have died with me, if I hadn't got it out somewhere. Thanks for providing the opportunity. As a result of your positive feedback, I will now put it upon other Para-related websites. Don died about 10 years ago but his courtesy and personal standards have left their mark on me, at least.

[@CaptStarlight]

When I was a kid I ask a veteran once what a toggle rope was for and very seriously he told me that it was used for hunting and catching toggles. For years I believed him cx

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

:)

[@richarnold8951]

Just noticed your Staffordshire Regiment Cap badge!!! Now i give you the highest respect

[@muchasgracias6976]

Looking at the Denison smock and drooling.

[@user-vw4rt7qg8e]

OUTSTANDING!!! This is The BEST description of WWII outfit I have ever seen! Love it!!! I have been reenacting WWII for over 30 years, love airsoft!

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Thankyou. Gadge puts a lot of effort into preparing and presenting these.

[@RDPproject]

*Thank you for a fantastic video* My Granddad was in Arnhem. His LZ was north west of the town. Was shot in the right shoulder and captured. He made it home. Rob.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Thank you for letting us know about your Grandfather.

[@Grayman58]

My mom's brother in law who is long gone now actually jumped into Holland during ww2 . A family story which is always talked about and his grandson served in Afghanistan as a para

[@jorggruhl709]

Very good video. Loads of information in a professional presentation. I’m neither a reenactor nor a air softy. But as a painter of scale model dioramas I found many new things. Please keep on these standards, they are rarely seen on KZbin. Thanks for posting this. Greetings from Germany and apologies for my broken English.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Thanks. We’re running out of Loadouts to do from our collections but there’s a few left.

[@richardmachray191]

That Enfield is amazing. Gadge awesome load out as usual.

[@gijoe508]

Very interesting, I know all about the American airborne gear but never knew much about the British airborne other than the smocks and berets and some of the weapons.

[@jockin_around8314]

I tell you, if you can get your hands on a modern british para smock, do it, its soooo comfortable (in my opinion) definitely an ally piece of kit

[@gadgeharvey5544]

I have a 1980s DPM one in the kit room

[@jockin_around8314]

@@gadgeharvey5544 in my opinion they are better than the “regular” issued smocks, because of the elastic cuffs and the lack of a hood. Which in the army, we we never used. But each to their own. I would like to get my hands on a ww2 denison though, after this video, getting a good look at it, definitely looks like a must have

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

I’ve got three windproofs of various ages that I much prefer to the issue smocks. All my hoods are rolled up nice and tidy though. :)

[@gadgeharvey5544]

@@jockin_around8314 i used to use the SAS windproof with the hood rolled up. The para smock is nice but its a lot heavier than the sas smock. I only got a para smock years after actually needing one for exercises so cant really compare the two fairly. The issue smock was pants, thats for sure :)

[@jockin_around8314]

@@gadgeharvey5544 all depends on what your looking for, up here in Scotland it can get quite cold so a heavier smock is bob on. Ive seen many great comments about the sas smock, definitely something to look into. Anyway another great loadout! Its great seeing older kits being put together.

[@jimomaha7809]

I have read several accounts were the sten bandoleer is being used. Fun fact in the airborne museum Hartenstein there is a p37 ammo pouch in its collection and to both sides a single , cutoff pouch of a sten bandoleer is sewn. Several German made photographs, during the Arnhem battle, show them being worn by German soldiers who have armed themselves with MKV stenguns. One photograph that surfaced a few years ago shows a killed British airborne soldier wearing such a bandoleer. My point is these were probably not that rare at all just not being shown that much in period photographs.

[@James-C24]

Can confirm toggle ropes are still used on some team training exercises in British army training. Was suprised to see it myself 🤣🤣

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

One of the oldest bits of issued British kit.

[@gadgeharvey5544]

I was issued one for officer selection RCB in 1998!

[@James-C24]

@@gadgeharvey5544 this was just for trying to cross a small gap we had 2 toggle ropes and some other ropes and odds and ends.

[@teaandmedals7677]

2 days they said…we’ve been here 9 !

[@chrishoatson3186]

I’ve worn the modern day DMS boots for the kit in airsoft. Same look but much better soles for playing airsoft.

[@nope1888]

Love it! great information!

[@Wessex90]

I love this! My grandad was in the 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment so seeing all the kit he would’ve worn is so insightful. Earned a sub!

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Really glad we could bring this to you

[@Wessex90]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV thanks so much!

[@randydimand6573]

What I’ve seen people do is use empty tic tac containers fill them with bbs and use them to fill up their speedloaders. Mostly with the us webbing but I don’t see why it wouldn’t would with the smle bandolier.

[@deangoodall7411]

Great vid as always guys, well done Gadge, keep it up fellas, love these vids

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Thanks Dean

[@AirsoftReviewArgentina]

Very good and detailed video. Thumbs up!

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Hey thanks for watching.

[@frontlineevents1066]

Superb! Cant wait for more!

[@gadgeharvey5544]

I have a few more British WWII loadouts we can do, sadly my axis and USA kit was sold years ago but perhaps we can look at those in the future if these videos are popular enough to make it worth sourcing the kit.

[@frontlineevents1066]

@@gadgeharvey5544 I would love to see more WW2 British kits. Not something we see much of yet. Hopefully this will steer our community in the right direction on the build up to May 2022 :-)

[@richardthomashaydon]

Good one as per normal Gadge. Very imformative.

[@getthembucks9984]

Very informative thank you

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Our pleasure

[@garywateridge]

easy to have a love afair with the Denison smock

[@lokischildren8714]

Excellent video

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Thanks. Mostly Gadge’s gear and knowledge on this one.

[@andrewcombe8907]

Denisons were worn over the battle dress blouse. If you watch “Theirs is the Glory” you can see that.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

For sure but not really needed for our purposes.

[@randycheow4268]

A Bridge Too Far

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Indeed.

[@Enigma..]

I always wondered what the rope around the kit was, very interesting and ‘zee germans joke’ 😂

[@DutchTunisian]

Great video i really like the look of the British airborne

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

It’s an iconic loadout for sure

[@DutchTunisian]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV yea

[@ceeb2275]

Im off to watch A Bridge to Far. great vid

[@gadgeharvey5544]

Try and watch 'theirs is the glory' it was actually made shortly after the war and most the guys in it were actually at Arnhem, they also use real weapons and blow up real german tanks.

[@ceeb2275]

@@gadgeharvey5544 I'm Ex Royal Navy Submariner and also ex RAMC (left after Herrick 7) there is nothing I haven't seen :)

[@fosty.]

4:30 definitely doing that here in Texas.

[@seamus459]

i have a 44 pattern smock and a 59 pattern plus a 1980 dpm and a 1990 woodland cammo smock pluss all the correct airsoft rifs since i drew my pension

[@Cold_War_Buff]

Can the sten gun pouches hold Thompson mags? tempted to do a royal marine load out like this

[@West_Coast_Gang]

I’m Trainspotting in airsoft:

[@ianstainer6090]

great vide, im currently looking ot do som ww2 loadout and this has helped make it a lot easier and cheaper to start off with! I was wondering where you got your denison smock from? and whether using post war battle dress would be considered okay. I bought some that has moth damage and was used by cadets in the 50s as opposed to ww2 originals or kit used in the korean war. mainly because it was a mile cheaper tha ww2 repro. tia

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

lots of people have used post war or greek battle dress for airsoft. Makes sense to us.

[@wyattrierson3967]

For market garden what smocks where used or favored Ive seen photos most of the men I'd say are whering the type 1

[@MrKieronwharton]

Im sure ive got some of that old webbing in my parents loft, its was brought for me when i was around 13 as i was really into British military history, i will have to dig it out

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Will be worth a bit now!

[@MrKieronwharton]

I wouldn't even know where to sell it now 😂

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

eBay. You’ll just need to do some research to know what you actually have.

[@wyattrierson3967]

What type smock do you prefer or recommend If my eye is correct I'd say it's the first pattern

[@jantztim]

2 question, great video🫡 smock is from sof? I love the colors, and 2nd question, the ammo pouches, are they mark 2 or mark 3? Mark 2 fits only 2 bren magazines and mark 3 fits 3, if the soldier had the mark 2, would it automatically be replaces with the MKIII? So it will be allowed to carry 3 bren mags?

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Smock is not SOF, it's from a company called 'Military Tours' a few years before SOF did them. I honestly have no idea what pattern of pouch they are I've not looked at the markings for 20 years. Standard was to carry two bren mags in one pouch and your own ammunition in the other. If people carried more it was usually in the ancillary bren pouches worn above the normal ones. Gadge.

[@qonxs]

Does the sten gun include realistic jamming

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Most of the replicas don’t work very well if you hold them by the mag.

[@andysanger7723]

Epic millitara are also good and millitara fairs have cheap kit

[@rac4687]

Hello great vid. I wish more lads played second World War games as id love give airborne game a go. Ps there actually is an airsoft mk5 sten and mk4 Enfield available unfortunately no bren or piat yet

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

There’s a fair bit of WW2 in the UK.

[@rac4687]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV excellent guess i need find some. Ps i think we meet at decent game where you an intelligence guy. I was the Russian guy knelt next you as waiting for an imaginary helicopter lol

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Indeed! I ended up in Moscow as my rescue team were useless! :)

[@rac4687]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV had nice kit though

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Have a look at Frontline Events for WW2.

[@brendanmernin6230]

Would there be much of a difference of the contents caried in the small pack between paratroopers and infantryman

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

This is a glider troop impression so effectively the contents would be the same.

[@brendanmernin6230]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV thank you as i am thinking about getting into reanacting as a paratrooper. Have u any more videos on this impression. Thanks

[@46templar]

A big big thank you guys and can i run a Umbrella guys as im not good a passwords

[@251294Jordan]

Did you but everything from Soldier of Fortune?

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

It’s the largest seller of repro WW2 kit in the UK.

[@qonxs]

where do you guys recommend getting the gear for this from

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

If you are in the UK Soldier of Fortune. US then What Price Glory

[@qonxs]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV thank you

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

What price Glory are about to do some good looking Repro 68 pattern DPM and Early 80s windproofs smocks.

[@PowerAverage]

do a ww1 tommy loadout

[@redlinebmx14]

Isn't G&G making a Lee Enfield ?

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

At some point. Though last thing I heard they had pulled the engineers off for other projects

[@TheInnacity]

any chocolate covered caramel pouches

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

:)