Dukes of hazard
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The Dukes Of Hazard
The Dukes of Hazard are an Airsofting Team based in the South of England. They come together mostly for large weekend events as well getting together in smaller groups for Sunday games.
They have a number of quirky traits, including assembling a fictional history for their team. Their main aims are having fun while airsofting, being polite and friendly to others regardless of circumstances, and the opposition of 'Gucci Geardoes' with no manners or sense of humour. The team were roughly formed in mid-2005 at the large airsoft event called 'Distant Thunder'. The team were 'named' shortly afterwards and realised in full since that point.
Real World Members and Organization
There are currently ten members of the Dukes, with a further one yet to game with the group. The team all met by association with one another - 'friends of friends' mostly, and have come together by their shared enjoyment of the hobby/sport which has lead to them wanting to play together whenever possible.
So far, the various members of the team have their own specialities, detailed below:
Stu Markham
Stuart is the commander of the team, and is responsible for the wider strategies of the team. He is a good tactician, and is very welcoming to new members of the team. Rather than an M4, he prefers to carry and MP5 into battle, suiting his role more or sometimes an MP7 depending on the days preference. Infamous for dropping a brand new PMR down the latrines at Operation Corinthian Wave.
Matthew Coles
Also known as 'Bob', or 'Dog', Bob is the 'field commander' of the team if Stu is the one in charge. Tenacious in his tactics, and highly capable in a firefight, he is quick to react to a situation. Bob is one of the most responsible for starting the team, and outlining their 'look'. He can be seen as the authority on the teams US loadout.
Graham Marsh
Alias Cowboy, Graham is one of the teams longest playing airsofters. He mostly likes to deal with the short-range engagements, having a fondness for pistols, as well as humorous tactics - which often pay off unexpectedly. He also functions as one of the teams grenadiers.
Mike Hazel
Twinned with Stu H, Mike brings a sense of reliability and tenacity to the team. He is capable in a firefight and contributes with either his M4 or M14, giving the team a great amount of their presence.
Stu Hazel
Brother of Mike H, Stu provides the heavy firepower for the team with his CA M249 SAW, which he wields with competency and an eager eye. Reliable and good-humoured, Stu, like his brother, is incredibly likeable.
Edward Walker
Ed, as he is often called, wields an AK in combat, and is another highly capable member of the team. He is often credited as a building entry specialist where he uses his Benelli shotgun to great effect. He is also another of the teams riflemen, and acts well as such.
Stephen Doyle
Preferring to be called 'Steve' and also known as 'Sarge' (in his own head at least), Steve is a rifleman, plain and simple, rather than having a particular specialisation, and adds to the teams firepower in general situations. He has been airsofting for quite some time, and creates 'artefacts' for the group, such as the Team CD soundtrack - and this wikipedia article.
William Pearson
Will is another of the teams newest members. Wielding an M4 carbine (which is famous for it's non-reliability), he takes on a scouting role, or uses ambushing tactics with an MP5 or Benelli shotgun. He aspires to be the teams demolitions expert, and is eager to learn more about the destructive tools of his trade. While he is quiet, when he does speak it is often to insert a highly humorous remark, or a worthwhile insight.
Matthew Tugwell
Usually called Mat, or sometimes 'Lunchmeat', Mat is one of the newest members of the Dukes. His chosen speciality is as a grenadier or rifleman, and while he does not have much airsoft experience, his research into tactical and airsoft in general knowledge is admirable, as is his enthusiasm and interest in the team and game as a whole.
Craig Pearce
Also known as 'Macenzie' Craig is the newest member of the group, and has so far only officially gamed with the Dukes on one occasion. He has the record for getting the complete loadout in the shortest time, and as yet is also without a special role.
Potential/Future Members
So far, there is one further speculative member of the Dukes. However, there is no real limit imposed on how many people the team may yet contain although as more members join, getting to places becomes more difficult through sheer numbers. Although the team do not always play as a single group, and often join together in smaller groups to play, it could be more flexible if the team are spread over a larger area. New members of the team are 'recruited' as such simply by meeting the team and becoming friends with them, and then expressing a desire to join and get the same 'kit' as everyone else - and by coming more than once with the other Dukes.
Weaponry and Loadout
The Dukes main defining loadout is as a US Infantry unit in a Desert Environment. As such, they are clad in 3-colour desert combat fatigues, with a PASGT helmet in a matching helmet cover. Interceptor vests are standard, in either tricolour desert or US Woodland camouflage pattern. Boots are preferably Magnum to match the loadout, but there is no standard, and the same is true for gloves, knee or elbow pads, sidearm holsters, or pouches for the Interceptor vests.
As US infantry, primary weapons are matched to the desired look. Mainly the team carry various versions of the M4 carbine, some with rail attachments on although this is again not a standard feature. Scopes, grenade launchers, and other such accessories are also optional and currently not subject to any particular restrictions. The team are also fortunate, in that they can call on the use of a Classic Army M-249 SAW as heavy firepower for covering fire and suppressive fire. A VSR-10 is also used for sharpshooting currently, with looking to a potential recruit as a further sharpshooter. Sidearms are by personal preference currently, and not all of the team possess one. Many of the teams' sidearms are appropriately 'US', with Berettas being primary, but also Colt 1911, SOCOM pistols and SIG Sauer P-226's making an appearance.
There is talk of constructing a secondary loadout, but so far nothing has been agreed upon officially, other than the need for a less 'heavy' Hi-speed loadout for shorter game days.
The 'Other' Side of the Dukes
As well as the 'real' world Dukes, there is also the 'fictional' history of the team, and a number of humorous traditions and in-jokes that have come about over the various get-togethers and events the team have attended.
Fictional Member Backgrounds
Stu Markham
Matthew Coles
Graham Marsh
Mike Hazel
Stu Hazel
Edward Walker
Stephen Doyle
Steve is otherwise known as the 'Sarge'. This came about from his history with the unit. While the other original team members are part of the Androvian army, he was part of the air force, and had aspirations to be a pilot. However, during the invasion he was shot down, and during his convalescence in a deep ditch full of somewhat brackish water and heavy industrial pollutants, all he had to keep him focussed were a pocket collection of R. Lee Ermey quotes from full metal jacket. Realising the horror of Androvia's fall from grace, he adopted the moniker 'Sarge' for himself along with his slightly unhinged personality and tendency for shouting, and joined the Dukes in their fighting exit from the country and into obscurity. 'Sarge' now acts as the teams shouty-man and as a rifleman. While he may be called 'Sarge' he does not hold the rank of sergeant. As far as anyone knows, anyway.
Likes: Shouting, calling people 'dirtbag', and drinking whiskey
Dislikes: Dirtbags, Hippies, Guccis and XM-8's
William Pearson
A mercenary most of his life, Will found he'd signed up with the group 'Claws of the Dragon' after sampling a few too many of the local liquors whilst in Cambodia on a gap year. An experienced jungle fighter, he is skilled with ambushes, guerilla warfare and using whatever he can find to achieve objectives (though this is in part to his legendary talents of rendering kit inoperable with a mere touch). Several years ago he went freelance, after an incident involving a motorcycle, six pounds of plastique and the warlords 'personal' goat meant he had to leave the country in a hurry. He met up with the Dukes while working as a PMC in Mogadishu during the battle of the Black Sea, and has so far seen action in several theatres, with varying success.
Likes: Claymores, Drinking, Night Ops.
Dislikes: FIBUA, XM-8's, the French.
Matthew Tugwell
Matthew Tugwell was a hippy drifter way out of his league in the real world. Struggling with rent and finding it hard to get a good job in modern day Androvia he began smoking weed every day to numb the pain. After three years and after losing almost everything he had, Matt found himself awakened from a dreamless sleep by a man wearing a flaming tie who he should become one of the Dukes of Hazard. He became one, it being the best piece of advice the flaming tie man had ever given him. The advice about eating the tyre of a moving Land Rover being, most probably, the worst.
He's had to beg, borrow and steal most of his kit, which in no way matches anyone else's. He gained the erroneous title of "grenadier" when he was on patrol and accidentally set off the fuses on a pack of explosives that he was carrying whilst trying to light a South-African-Reefer-Style-Spliff-Doobie. He managed to throw it away and killed 23 enemies who were camped nearby as well as injuring a travelling mime.
Random facts about Matthew Tugwell:
- His real name is Lord Matford Tugwellis (Lord being a first name and not a title)
- His favorite colour is tri-.
- He loves having a sit down wee when he thinks nobody is around.
- He is currently disguised as an old Israeli woman.
- Twiglets make him violent.
- The mere sight of an XM-8 makes him vomit purple.
Macenzie Aleixandre (Craig Pearce)
Macenzie’s early past is a mystery, it is said he was raised by wolves in deepest Siberia; Macenzie himself refuses to substantiate this rumour. His earliest traceable history is when he joined the Russian Red Army where he attained the rank of Senior Praporshchik and entering into training with the Spetsnatz before deserting and becoming a mercenary.
It is reported that he is still wanted by the Russian Federation as not only he deserted, he made off with a truck load of Vodka, Kalashnikovs and his commanding officer’s favourite hat.
Macenzie has since been fighting in small scale conflicts for the highest bidder, until recently he has not associated himself with any particular mercenary organisation apart from J.A.P.P.I back in 2004 which soon dissolved from lack of organisation.
His mercenary career ended briefly in late 2005 – early 2006 when he retired to become a professional poker player but soon returned to his mercenary work stating his AK had been calling for him.
Macenzie’s latest job saw him teaming up the newly formed Dukes during operation Hunter’s Moon in late 2006 and has since joined their ranks.
Note: Macenzie's fondness for the Gucci favoured XM-8 has somwhat caused friction between him and several team mates. Macenzie still maintains the stance "I liked them before they were trendy" and believes that Guccis will move onto the SCAR soon enough.
Likes: Vodka, Poker, XM-8s, Kalashnicovs, The colour red, Calling people "Comrade"
Dislikes: Superior officers, Guccis, Peace-Time
Fictional History of the Dukes of Hazard
Originally a unit of the Androvian military forces (a small central Asian republic), the 'Dukes' were unnamed at that point, simply being part of the desert-fighting 'Devil's Brigade'. However, the country was invaded by hostile forces in 2005, and the Devil's Brigade were devastated by the invaders. Vowing to restore their country to power in the future, the surviving members of a military unit banded together as a group of mercenaries, abandoning their real names and affecting the name of an 80's TV Show, both as an alias, and as a mission statement - they were the royalty of trouble, or 'Hazards'.
The original Six members, plus one renegade enemy, formed the core of the group. Participating in various small scale conflicts over the next few months, they refined their equipment and set down a reliable load out of weapons, while recruiting new potential members through the internet.
Ransacking a US Army base, the team now possessed a suitable loadout of weapons and tactical gear, and then proceeded to search out a profitable contract. This came when the team were hired as part of a UN combined expeditionary force to Somalia. Providing security for the US forces HQ and performing various patrols and FIBUA actions during the conflicts, the Dukes were commended at the end of the operation (despite it's overall failure), for their strategy, tactics, and reliability in person by the operations commander. Flourished with pride and excitement by the commendation, the team sought out another contract, and performed another small action as a quartet, before taking part in reduced numbers and with a new member in a night-time operation against the forces of the hi-tech but globally reviled nation of 'Guccania'. The operation was a success, and only a few weeks later a quartet of the team attended a Christmas celebratory exercise.
Currently all is quiet, but 2007 looks like the Dukes will have a full schedule, as there seem to be more conflicts brewing, and the membership roster looks due to grow, as do the resources of the unit as a whole.
Attitude and M.O.
Before the invasion of Androvia, the Dukes were not particularly widely known or celebrated in the Androvian armed forces. A unit of no particular distinction, they were a line infantry unit... albeit one not often called on as reliable. In fact, they were often described as a 'place to put all the crazy people'. Despite this, when the war did finally arrive, they threw themselves into it head first, and performed beyond the expectations of their commanders (and themselves), despite their rag-tag kit, and even though the war ended in disaster, had several small victories.
This attitude prevails, as the Dukes, following the mentalities of their twin 'idols' of Chuck Norris and John Wayne, throw themselves into battle with aggression and dedication, but also with cunning and caution.
John Wayne and Chuck Norris
Often touted as the 'Original Dukes' the two men above are the 'idols' of the Dukes. If something goes wrong, someone is ill, or a cloud of negativity and frustration descends, John Wayne has been watching or visiting - if only to test the resolve of the Dukes themselves. However, John Wayne's visits are often countered by thought of Chuck Norris, the force of nature (specifically, the booted sole of it's foot) that connects with the chin of the enemy, and inspires the Dukes on to further action and victory.
Rumours of Homosexuality
Rumours of Homosexuality in the Dukes are greatly exaggerated.
General Attitude
The Dukes are dedicated to their role. However, they are also dedicated to enjoying it, and enjoying drinking. The night before battle is often spent in careful preparation by the consumption of alcohol as a tribute to Grand Master Chuck, and to hopefully stave off John Wayne for the duration of battle. The ferocity of combat is also often deadened by humour and light-hearted banter between the individual dukes, taunting the enemy and dismissing them as a minor threat - especially if they seem more concerned with their gear and appearance and reliance upon them, than their tactics, teamwork, and friendships. Or sense of fun.
Related Articles
Teams - Teams in Airsoft.
External Links
[1] - The Dukes of Hazard forum on ASCUK.
