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| Hellions crew of the Gremlin at Viper's Flashpoint: Korea |
The Southwest Detachment of the Hellions SFG (ODA 163) received the Most Formidable (MoFo) Opponent award on Sunday, February 20, at Viper's "Flashpoint: Korea" 2-day event hosted by Cousin's Paintball in Forney, Texas. Team members Randy "Flight" Farris and Gary Payne as well as Andrew "Pyro" Jewet and Chuck "Arid" Isom all served as crew for the Hellions' LSV-3 paintball tank. LSV-3 stands for "Light Strike Vehicle-3" but is better known as "The Gremlin". The Gremlin and its crew were part of the North Korean side and helped take and hold many objectives on the field, despite poor terrain during the two days of paintball.
On the first day, the Gremlin crew did not face any OPFOR (Opposing Force) AT (Anti-Tank) players for the first half of the day and were able to help push the OPFOR all the way back to their field hospital. Because the game became so lop-sided for a time, the Gremlin crew gave a wide berth to the OPFOR players so they could get a little room to breath and make the game a challenge. Even after the break, the OPFOR was not able to make effective use of AT, and so the Gremlin and her crew continued to harass and help retake objectives for the rest of the day.
On day two, the South Korean side employed a heavier AT presence and focused on trying to take out the Gremlin and its crew. The OPFOR successfully eliminated the Gremlin four times throughout the day. A few times throughout the day, the Gremlin seemed to serve as an APC (Assault Personal Carrier) with its crew playing the role of infantry support. Crew members dismounted, chased down and bunkered OPFOR players at critical objectives and actively worked to eliminate AT players that threatened the Gremlin.
Although often outnumbered and surrounded by a larger infantry force, the Gremlin and her crew were able to serve as an effective fighting force and a thorn in the side of the OPFOR. That is what ultimately earned them the MoFo award. The OPFOR general generally gives the award to a team or individual that has worked the hardest to disrupt and ruin his or her plans.
[Article provide by Gary Payne, Assistant Weapons Sergeant for the Hellions ODA 163.]
SPECIFICATIONS :
VEHICLE NAME: LSV-3 "Gremlin"
TURRET MARKERS: (2) Tippmann 98 Customs with E-grip and Cyclone feeders.
PASSENGER MARKER: (1) Invert Mini
CHASSIS: 1988 Ford Bronco II
