Free Shooters
Translation details
Model:mistral-medium-2604.Translated text
Section titled “Translated text”Game marked with an asterisk in the book: more suitable for older scouts.
The Whites must capture the hidden bands of “free shooters” (the Reds), while the Reds must evade the encirclement.
The terrain should be as varied as possible—hilly and mixed, with both open and obscured spaces. The area covers several square kilometers (expanding if more participants are involved), and its boundaries, which must not be crossed, should be clearly defined by roads, rivers, forest edges, etc. A fairly large number of scouts (100 or more) take part, with the Whites outnumbering the Reds four- or fivefold.
The White party occupies one or two elevated points offering a wide view and posts guards there to monitor the Reds’ movements; signalers may also be added to these points. The entire terrain is divided into sections, and the search begins from a corner section. The goal is to detect the Reds, drive them forward, and force them toward the opposite edge of the terrain, where they are to be captured.
To this end, the Whites divide into patrols (with the strongest central patrol led by the commander) and advance evenly, with scouts at the front, searching the first section. Patrols maintain “contact” with one another and send messages to the commander, who, if necessary, dispatches reinforcements to the right or left. Above all, the Whites must ensure that once a group of Reds is detected, it cannot slip through to the other side. After the first section, they proceed to the next, and so on. From every open spot, attention is paid to the guards on the hills, as important clues may come from there.
If, during the encirclement, a Red occasionally slips between patrols, the Whites should not alter their plan but continue as before. However, if a fairly large group of Reds escapes, the commander may change the original plan and turn back, as capturing this group could decide the victory. Such a change of plan (previously communicated to all patrols) can be difficult, and in obscured terrain, even very difficult. Therefore, the Whites must maintain contact with one another and have established signals for “halt,” “advance,” “assembly,” “watch the right (left) flank,” etc. Otherwise, confusion may arise, which clever Reds could exploit.
Meanwhile, the Reds have divided into small groups, each acting independently to evade the encirclement. They primarily seek hiding places, posting well-concealed guards to warn of approaching enemies. If danger arises, they either remain hidden if there is a chance of staying undetected, or stealthily slip away or retreat, waiting for a better opportunity to move between the Whites. If the danger is very serious, they scatter; then, each individually, using all available terrain cover, sneaks toward a prearranged meeting point designated by the group commander. There, they hold a council to decide their next steps. It is permissible to deceive the enemy—for example, someone may deliberately sacrifice themselves and allow capture if it diverts the Whites from a critical point and facilitates their comrades’ escape.
It is forbidden to hide in buildings on the exercise terrain. Before the exercise, as always, the rules governing encounters for both sides must be established. For example, it may be stipulated: Only the Whites may take prisoners; this is done by calling out to the Reds from a distance of no more than 10–15 (or 15–20) paces, or simply by touching them with a hand. Thus, there is no need for colored armbands; instead, badges are used to distinguish the sides.
The Whites win if, after two passes across the terrain from one side to the opposite (a turn counts as a pass), they capture more than half of the Reds—otherwise, the Reds win.
Alternatively, the duration of the exercise may be set in advance, during which the Whites must capture a prescribed number of prisoners, leaving the method of searching the terrain to their discretion.
The more scouts participating, the better the exercise can succeed.
Scan source: Polona / National Library of Poland, marked “Public domain”. View scan — PDF pages 237–239.
Metadata
Section titled “Metadata”- Type: game
- Traits: Not stated in the source
- Source: Zygmunt Wyrobek, Harcerz w polu: zabawy i gry terenowe (1946)
- Printed pages: 231–233 / PDF 237–239
- Digital edition: Digital edition · Source record
- Open the edition at the relevant page: p. 231
- Read the source text: hwp-114