Hostile Environment UK

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 As I sit down to start writing this article, I am watching events unfold on the TV about the hostages being held in a Sidney café. Part of the footage shows numerous armed police officers taking up positions around the outside of the building. Suddenly, a young lady fuelled with pure fear and determination to live, bursts out from one of the café doorways which leads onto the street. She makes a run towards one of the armed police officers, desperate to escape captivity. As she runs towards the police officer who is all clad in black kit, her facial expression shows a plead of needing help, and the normally intimidating SWAT type figure must seem to shine like a beacon of hope as the hostage runs for her life towards him. As the escaping hostage crashes into the arms of the police officer, she breaks down into tears of relief as she realises that she has reached safety and that the ordeal for her at least, is now over.

 

I cannot even start to imagine what it is like to be in a situation where you are being held against your will and could face death at any time. It was quite moving to watching that young lady make the emotional run to safety in Sidney. Her visible desperation to survive represents everything that I believe in. Escape and evasion is usually a specialist skill only needed to be used by the armed forces, but as the unfolding events in Sydney have already shown, being held captive and needing to escape a hostile situation can happen to anyone. That café in Sydney could have been any café in the world. In fact, a number of years ago (2008) in Exeter, a city close to my home and where I have shopped, eaten and socialised many times with family and friends, a suicide bomber attempted to blow himself up in a busy city centre café. 

 

The customers who were in the café's both in Australia and  Exeter would have been unsuspecting and taken by surprise by the attackers. Developing situations can at first seem surreal and the shock of capture can make people submissive to their captors.  Therefore, your best chance of escaping is before you become held captive, so situation awareness is very important. Noticing things that seem out of place can pre-warn you that something is just not right and may give you that vital few seconds warning before a hostile incident develops thus, allowing you an early escape. I don't have the credentials to advise on hostage survival, but what I will say is don't attempt to tackle an armed assailant, and do not argue with them as there is a good chance that you will end up being injured or killed. The first moments after capture are going to be the most chaotic with a high risk of people being killed by nervous gunmen who will be desperate to force their authority over their hostages. Also, if you are surrounded by an armed group, the outcome of an escape attempt at this point could be very bleak for you, so just do as you are told by your captors, and stay mentally switched on. Pay attention to numbers of attackers, their locations, armament, clothing, discipline of group members and their command and control. This information can then be passed on to the security services if you are successful in escaping. Any attack is more then likely to have been pre-planned, with the attackers carrying out reconnaissance of the area, including the building layout. An opportunity of escape may present itself during your captivity (similar to what happened with the members of staff who escaped from the café in Australia), but remember that any escape attempt will come with a risk, with a high price to be paid by you or your fellow captives if it fails.

 

It is not just in urban areas where people are captured and held against their will. The rural setting can present its own set of challenges. Imagine that you are part of a covert OP team, who has been watching an enemy target. Your position is compromised and a fire fight ensues. You are the only member of your team to survive the contact, and are now massively out numbered by the enemy troops who are closing in on you. Your only chance of survival now is to go on the run in an attempt to evade capture. You are being hunted by a determined enemy force who has a vast array of resources available to them for their use in locating you. Friendly forces are miles away from where you are. Your weapon is of little use to you now – it is your wits that will keep you alive. As a guide to help you evade capture, remember the four D's:

 

DIRECTION

DISTANCE

DECEPTION

DARKNESS

 

Direction

 

First of all, work out which way you are going to run. To start off with, it will obviously be away from the enemy forces, and initially, it might not be the correct direction to get you back to friendly troops. If you were still in a group, then the smaller the group in numbers, the less chance there is of being found, so split up large groups and head in different directions. Any planning for the OP should have covered Emergency Rendezvous Points (ERV's) as part of your escape plan. If you were in a team which survived the enemy contact, but had become separated, head for the ERV. Be careful as you approach an ERV as its location may have become known to the enemy through the interrogation of captured members from your unit. Any maps that you are carrying should not be folded to show the area of operations or have anything marked on them. By observing this rule will deny the enemy of any intelligence if you are captured and wont compromise the rest of your unit. The ability to navigate will depend on what equipment you still have with you. Keep important items such as maps in your smock, and a compass around your neck tied onto some parachute cord.

 

In this scenario, you are pre-capture, so you do still have your belt kit. However, you should still prepare for the possibility of losing all of your kit before starting the operation. Conceal survival items in your clothing to help you when evading. Issued cloth escape maps can be sewn into the lining of smocks, and button compasses can be sewn into the seams (use fishing line to re-sew the seams). Wire saws with the rings removed,snare wire and lengths of para cord can all be fed along the inside of seams. Small items can be concealed in combat boots, but make sure that your ability to walk is not impeded.

                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aircrews were issued with cloth escape maps and compasses during WW2, in case they were shot down

 

Distance

 

 It is really important to put as much distance between you and the hunter force as early as possible. This will be physically challenging but it is vital to push hard as distance gained now will mean a bigger area for the enemy to search.  Remember, you will be on foot, but the enemy may have vehicles and aircraft available to aide in the search. The enemy may be able to deploy stop teams ahead of you at key points such as bridges or borders and wait for your arrival, so be aware. The best chance of escape is immediately after capture as the further into enemy territory you are taken, the harder it will be to escape back to friendly forces. The easier option is to try and evade capture in the first place.

 

As you travel, try to use any natural cover that might be available such as dead ground and forests. Make irrational changes in your route to include steep hill sides and tie this in with your deception plans. Bad weather can help to mask your movement, and could make it harder for you to be tracked.  Try to scavenge food as you move such as edible nuts and berries. Also keep an eye out for any discarded items which could be of use to you. These include plastic drinks bottles for carrying water, plastic sheeting for a shelter and drinks cans which can be fashioned into a small cooking pot if you are going to risk lighting a fire. All of these items can be found thrown into ditches at the road side. However, don't take items that are going to be noticed. If the local population notices any suspicious behaviour, then it could be reported to the local forces, who may well investigate and start searching that area for you. Another point about the local population – avoid them at all costs. You will not know whether they are friendly or hostile, so it is best to treat them as hostile. Stay away from settlements and avoid the local dogs which will start to bark as soon as they get wind of you approaching them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avoid roads and bridges as they may be patrolled                                  Railway lines are dangerous and some are

                                                                                                                       electrified. They may also be patrolled

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          Drink cans make good cooking pots                                              Discarded drink bottles can be used to carry                                                                                                                                                                         collected water 

                                                                         

Deception

 

The enemy will deploy combat trackers, dogs and aircraft in an attempt to find you. They are the hunters and you are their prey. Stay on your guard and assume that you are being tracked, even though there might be no obvious evidence of this.......yet.

 

Counter Tracking Techniques

 

As you create distance between you and the enemy, try to use counter tracking techniques in an attempt to fool the tracker. An experienced tracker will be very aware of these techniques, but it is still worth trying. Here are a few examples:

 

• Avoid disturbing vegetation, especially walking through tall grass as this will leave a very obvious path showing direction of travel.

• Try not to snap branches or bruise the undergrowth as you brush past it.

• Pushing vegetation back to its original position after walking though it could help to hide your track, but it is time consuming, especially if the enemy are hot on your heals. There will have to be a trade off between speed, distance and covering your movements.

• As you move through an area of small shrubs and trees, try not to hold on to them as the movement of the tree could be seen by the enemy.

• Avoid walking through mud and leaving boot prints. Also, back tracking your steps might deceive an unaware tracker, but the signs you leave will differ from the rest of the track you have left, so could give your attempt to deceive away.

• Avoid using tracks and roads

• Move using dead ground and natural cover

• Take irregular routes to try and confuse the tracker

• Enter a river and walk a short distance up it, and then hide your exit point

• Bury any rubbish as it can tell a combat tracker a great deal about you and your physical state

• Avoid spooking animals such as livestock – they will move away from you possibly giving you away.

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Tracker Dogs

 

Dog are used in tracking because of their advanced senses of hearing and smell. They will be used in conjunction with a human handler who will assess what track the dog is picking up. A dogs vision is quite poor compared to its other senses, but even so, the animal will still see movement, which will get its attention. The tracker dog smells scents which are airborne and those which are at ground level. Airborne scents are dispersed soon by the wind, but ground scents could remain in place for days. Your body will give off scent as you sweat, breathe and touch surfaces. At ground level, crushed vegetation and disturbed earth will give off a scent which the tracker dog will follow. Certain surfaces and weather conditions are more favourable to the tracker dog team then others. Areas of soft, wet ground, dense, tall vegetation, and woodland will make the scent trail easier for the dog to follow. The best weather conditions for a tracker dog are light wind and rain, humidity, mist and fog. Terrain such as rocks, sand and open sparse areas will make it harder for the tracker dog team, as will moving along roads. Weather conditions that will hamper the dogs ability to track are high winds, heavy rain and ice.

 

The tracker dog and its handler are a team, so you need to try and confuse the dog, which will hopefully cause its handler to think that the dog has lost your scent. There are certain methods that can help you to confuse the dog. These include:

 

• Travel over well used tracks to hide your scent amongst others

• Zig zag across rivers and streams

• Double back

• Tire out the dog and handler by moving up and down steep hills

• When hiding, stay low to the ground breathing downwards into the earth

• Bury any waste

• Cover your body when laying up to reduce the amount of scent being picked up and carried in the air

 

Camouflage and Concealment

 

If you are to be successful in evasion, then you need to remain illusive to the enemy, so use camouflage, concealment and tactical movement.

 

• Shape

• Shine

• Shadow

• Sound

• Silhouette

• Smell

 

Shape

 

It is commonly taught in field craft that there are no straight lines in nature. Just take a look around next time your in the countryside. You will soon begin to realise that the shape of the human body really does stand out from everything else. By wearing some form of camouflage clothing such as the British temperate  disruptive pattern material (DPM), the shape of your figure will start to be broken up. The bodies outline will still be noticeable though. By sewing on dark elastic loops to your head wear, combat smock and trousers, you can add local vegetation to your camouflage. Pay particular attention to your head and shoulders, but don’t obstruct your field of view with too much foliage on your hat / helmet.

 

Load carrying equipment should also have strips of scrim net and local vegetation attached, again making sure that the head and shoulders are broken up adequately by fixing foliage to the yoke. A word of advice though. Make sure that you can still get to all of your pouches easily. Also make sure that any foliage that you add is securely fastened and wont drop off.

 

The rifle is another item of your equipment that needs to have its shape broken up. Wrap scrim netting around the fore grip and barrel. Also, apply camouflaged tape to the body of the gun. Make sure any moving parts remain free. Elastic bands can be used to attach local vegetation to the weapon if desired.

 

Shine

 

Anything with a shiny surface will reflect sunlight, moonlight, searchlights and flares. Your skin, regardless of colour, will reflect light. Therefore, camouflage cream needs to be applied. The face, neck, ears and hands all need it. Helmets, if being worn should be used with a helmet cover and helmet net. The shape needs to be broken up by attaching foliage. Finally, boots - don’t shine them. Gleaming boots are only going to reflect the light. Keep you boots clean and well waxed up, but go easy on the polishing.

 

Sound

 

A careless and undisciplined enemy will often be heard long before they are seen. Loud talking is asking for trouble. Messages should be whispered, or hand signals used to communicate with other members of your team. Be aware of loud radio noise as well. Before moving off to your objective, put on all of your kit including belt kit and bergan and jump up and down. Anything that rattles and makes a noise should be taped down with black insulation tape. Also, watch your step, especially in forest and wooded areas. Avoid stepping on dead fall which will give a nice loud “crack “, warning the enemy of your approach.

 

Shadow

 

Relevant at night during a full moon just as it is on a sunny afternoon. Be aware of the sun or moons location and watch where your shadow is being cast. It is no good trying to sneak up on someone when the sun is behind you casting your shadow off to your front. Your target will see your shadow before you get close to them. Use shadow to your advantage. When hiding up, move way back into the shadows of foliage, and when crossing open ground, stick to the shadows.

 

Silhouette

 

There is no point spending ages camouflaging you and your equipment, to only go and walk across the top of a hill. With no backdrop, you will be sky lined making yourself the perfect target for a sniper. Walk below the sky line and avoid gaps in cover. Applying vegetation to your kit will break the silhouettes shape up.

 

Smell

 

Sweat and deodorants will be easily detected by a well tuned nose and you will be sniffed out. Avoid smoking as the smell will get carried in the wind and could be detected by the enemy, giving you away.

 

 Laying Up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avoid hiding in solitary buildings such as this.                                    Large dense forests offer a better place to hide

They will be searched

 

When looking for a suitable place to hide, avoid obvious places such as remote buildings or small woods as these will be searched. Instead, head for the thick undergrowth away from built up areas, roads and footpaths. Choose a position which offers good concealment from both ground troops and aircraft, and make sure that the cover offers some protection from the weather. It is important that there is a route of escape to use if you are discovered. When in the hide, maintain noise and light discipline, which includes not lighting fires unless it is essential. If you do choose to light a fire, then a low profile one such as the dakota fire should be used. Water can be collected from rivers and streams, but be aware that the enemy will know that you need water, so could be patrolling the river banks in an attempt to catch you.  Food can be sourced from gardens or fields of crop, but this is risky. Only take what will not be noticed, and only take items from the edge of fields avoiding leaving any trails. It is better to collect wild edible foods as you move. Traps can be set for catching game, but need to be set before laying up, and will need to be checked and removed when you move on. There is a risk of the traps being discovered by locals, or the enemy. Also, if you are keeping mobile then you will not have time to use traps.

 

Darkness

 

If possible, only travel at night using the daylight hours to lay up and stay concealed.  Movement at night will offer you some protection against detection but you should still be aware that the enemy might have technologies such as night vision, thermal imagery and motion sensors at their disposal. It will be dangerous to move over certain terrain at night such as mountain areas. Thick forest areas could also be difficult to walk through in the dark, but the density of the foliage should provide enough cover, making it safe for you to move during daylight. The real benefit of moving during the hours of darkness is being able to move across open ground which would be too risky to do during the day. Also, finding a hide at night could leave you in for a surprise the following morning, when you discover that you are laying up at the bottom of somebodies garden, so if possible, select your laying up position before darkness falls so you are aware of what is surrounding you.

 

Summery

 

There are many famous stories of people escaping and evading an enemy force. There are also stories detailing individual accounts during captivity, and the horrors endured by the captives both mentally and physically. I have had the privilege to listen first hand to the accounts of a POW, and to witness their emotions as they told me their story. The word 'brave' does not come close to describing what anyone who has been held in captivity is, nor is it enough to explain what it takes to escape from someone who wants to kill you.