The following information is all tactics I have used during various night ops since I've started playing airsoft. For the most part during these night ops I have played roles in the scenarios where I'm not working as a team. For the most part, people who come with teams to do night ops are pretty well equipped and trained, and so have a strong bond with their teammates. For this reason I felt like I would be intruding if stuck onto a team with other people. Therefore, the majority of my time was spent as a pilot with just a pistol trying to evade the enemy while finding the good guys. The best way of going about this is to get close. Really close. When it comes to playing outside, most people don't like to use the rail mounted tac-lights or flashlights. Very rarely, someone will use spotlights for defense, but in general the use of lights out in the field is not a good idea. So people rely on their senses, which can work surprisingly well if you give them a chance. Don't think that I am forgetting NVG’s; I will get to them later. For now though, let us assume that you are alone, against a single player, and you both have no artificial illumination.

Many people assume that at night you can't see anything at all. To the contrary, if there is a bright moon out, or you are removed from population enough to actually see the stars, then there is a surprising amount of light. What you want to do is find the natural dark spots, and DON'T SILHOUETTE YOURSELF! I cannot emphasize enough not to do this. It is amazing how many people will find a ridge, stick their head up, and start looking around. You can see just as well, if not as far, from a lower elevation, without giving away your position. Find the natural dark areas!

Don't make yourself or your shadow man-shaped! People are looking for the familiar and easily identified shape of a person. Do anything possible to not give them this. Even when you don't think you’re being watched, stay in a crouch at the very least. This will keep people from seeing you miles away. I can't even count how many times I have just sat down against a tree, or lay down in a shrubbery, and waited until some people were walking right by to pop them. I once took out three guys, all carrying TM AEGs, from five feet with a cheap spring pistol that fit in the palm of my hand. Just make your movements small and natural, and bam, bam, bam . Even when you think they have seen you, it takes extreme training and patience for them not to just immediately start shooting. Every veteran will tell you their story of how they hid, and then thought they were seen and ended up losing their chance because the got up and ran when they thought they were found.

Don't let anything shine. If you have a watch, then spend five dollars at Wal-Mart to get a cheap digital one with a cover. Either give your gun a flat, camo pattern paint job, or just use a little camo duct tape. You'd be surprised how many shiny things are normally built onto the gun or a pack. Just a light coloring with a sharpie can reduce your chances of being found. Also, manmade noises are very distinct, even under the cover of the forest. While footsteps might go unheard, the unmistakable rattle of bbs, or the tinkle of water in a canteen, can often give you away. If you can't buy a hydration pack, then don't buy a canteen, just bring water in a plastic bottle, that way it won't slosh quite as much.

When you end up going against people so hardcore that they bring NVGs to a game, many people feel ready to give up. But the downsides of these are so great that the U.S. Army itself does not condone continuous use of these. They cause excessive tunnel vision on the user, which opens up the possibility of a flank or rear attack. They actually cut down the vision to 40 degrees. They are meant to be kept handy and have a use similar to binoculars, to be whipped out to check an area. If, however, you see a person coming towards you wearing these, don't be afraid. There is very little chance that they see you. There are two different ways for Night Vision Devices to work. One is through light amplification, increasing the amount of visible light anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000. The other way is through thermal imaging. Let us discuss the first type.

Light amplification devices, no matter how little, still need light to function. Admittedly, they don't need much, but this is where some of the earlier tactics used could help you. If none of your equipment is shiny, and you are concealed in shadows, you have greatly decreased the chances of being seen. However, if it isn't pitch black night out, and there are any stars, or the moon is shining, then they have a good likelihood of spotting you. This is where the secret comes out. You can use their own tools against them. The majority of us have either a tac-light or a mag light on hand at most games. Bring this out, and shine it directly at the user's eyes. The light amplification of this device will cause it to make it so bright that the device will be unusable for several minutes. This is where you kill them with whatever weapons you have, or have them surrender. If they have teammates with them, they likely saw your light and are layering your with suppressive fire, in which case your dead. If, however, they were blinded also, proceed with the capture of enemy forces . Now, I will tell you how to go against the other form of NVDs.

The other form of NVDs uses thermal imaging to find the target. These NVDs are much more expensive, difficult to find, and tend to have more problems. If the sun has just set, residual heat can trigger them. Also, depth perception is difficult and tunnel vision is extremely pronounced. If possible, curl up like a rock and stay very still, thinking cold thoughts and slowing your breathing rate. This will make you appear somewhat like a rock. If you get the opportunity, slink out of their field of vision and try to get very close. If you can pick them off from 100 ft. fine, but they will be concentrating on the device and have no depth perception, so here's a chance to pop them from 10 ft. or demand a surrender. If you use the tips in the last two paragraphs, you should get the message across very clearly that NVDs are not a profitable form of combat.

Regarding combat against a group of people while on your own. While stealth is a great trait, a lot of people really lack it. And why use it when there is an easier way. Sneaking up on a group of people is extremely hard, especially since once you do, you're outgunned anyway. The thing to do is to stop on contact, freeze, and figure out their heading. Stay farther away and position your self so that they will pass close to your position. Get in a comfortable firing position, remembering earlier tips on concealment. At night, concealment is better than cover. If you had an AEG, then most likely you would forget fire discipline and wait till the got close to start laying down some bbs. If that is true, both these articles are good for you to read. http://www.airsoftforum.com/board/Firepower-t28824.html http://www.airsoftspecialists.com/articles/POR/PORmain.htm
The best way to go about doing some butt-kicking is to start picking them off slowly, once they have gotten near, but not to close that you can pick out the pimples. Start with people more towards the middle of the squad. Under the stress of combat operations, figuring out which direction the bb came from can be hard. Don't start shooting at the person nearest you. Shoot at the leader, normally more towards the middle of the squad, if there is one, and then start hitting the people near you. Don't forget your fire discipline though, and definitely don't do anything you can prevent to disclose your position.

I believe that is everything, though if I can think of anything else I'll edit it in. Until next time, and happy hunting

night ops are very easy if you know what your doing. ive only had night ops expiernce in woodland but you don't need nvg's to be effective. if you cant see the enemy, the enemy cant see you, unless they got nvg's in which case your . I have noticed that with less bb's then when I do day ops. :S

also if your on night ops and they have nvd's then whip out something that gets hot or already is hot and you don't mind if it gets damaged or lost then put it away from you to draw the attention of the enemy then shoot him while he is shooting or finding out what the heat signature is.