When society collapses

[tdawg]

http://survivalblog.com/
Retreat Security: I Am Your Worst Nightmare, by Jeff T.


I am the leader of a band of 8-to-12 looters. I have some basic military training. We move from place to place like locusts devouring everything in our path. My group is armed with light weapons and can develop and follow simple plans of attack. We take what we want by force of arms. We prefer none of our victims survive because that could cause problems for us in the future.

It has been six months since the grid went down. You and the other five members of your party have settled into what may be a long grinding existence. The every day tasks of growing and gathering have now become routine. The news from the outside is extremely limited but you don’t really miss it much. Life is simple but physically demanding.

Although things may seem stable you will need to keep your team focused and alert. This is your first and most important layer of defense. You should hold an immediate reaction drill once per week. Keep things simple. Practice a specific response to such threats as injury, fire, attack and evacuation. Despite the challenges you must maintain contact with those around you such as neighbors for vital clues that trouble is brewing. Regular monitoring the radio will be critical in providing an early warning of trouble. You may be able to safely interview refugees with risking your party. Keep in mind the information you get from them may not always be reliable.

While you have been farming I have been learning the best tactics to employ to seize your property and your goods. I have been refining them since we hit the road right after the lights went out. I have conducted eight “hits” so far and have been successful seven times. Here are some of my “lessons learned”.

Intelligence gathering and target selection is critical to my success. Targets include those who have large quantities of fuel, food and other valuable supplies. My posse is constantly questioning anyone and everyone we contact searching for this our next victim. Anyone who has ever had knowledge, even second hand, of your preparations is someone of interest to me. I may approach them directly or indirectly. If anyone knows something I will find out about it. Who seems well-fed? Who still has transportation? Who has lights? Who was prepared? Where are they exactly? Somebody talks, either in person or on the radio. They always do.

We search for victims night and day. During the day we are listening for the sounds of machinery, cars, tractors, gunfire or generators. Day or night without a lot of wind those sounds can carry for miles. At night I look for any sort of light. Even a small flash indicates somebody with electricity and that means a rich target. I always have somebody listing to the scanner for any news, leads or insecure chatter.
Operational Security (OPSEC) is an important concept for your entire group to understand and maintain. If somebody outside your circle doesn’t have a real need to know about your plans, preparations or procedures then they shouldn’t know period. Develop a cover story and live it like was a bulletproof vest. It is no less important to your protection and survival. During an event you need to blend in with the surrounding environment. Carefully observe noise (such as generators and other engines) and light discipline especially at night. If you need to test fire weapons do it in one sequence to avoid a prolonged noise signature.

Once I find and target you reconnaissance of your retreat is my next step. Only a fool would try to rush in and try to overwhelm a group of “survivalists”. We had a bad experience with that during our second hit. Now we spend at least a day or two trying to size up a large opportunity and the best way to take it down. I will observe retreat activity from a nearby-concealed position. I will get an idea of your numbers, weapons, routines and so much more by careful surreptitious observation. If your group seems alert, I will try and trigger a false alarm with a dog or child to watch your reaction to a threat. That helps me know how you respond, where you are strong and how to attack. I may also obtain a topographical map of the area to identify likely avenues of approach and potential escapes routes you will try to use. I may coerce your neighbors into uncovering a weak spot or access point or other important intelligence. I also have a Bearcat handheld scanner. I will be listening for any insecure chatter from your radios.

Regular patrols at irregular intervals focused on likely observation points and avenues of approach could keep me at bay. You could put down sand or other soft soil in key choke points as a way of “recording” if anyone has recently traveled through the land. Dogs, with their advanced sense of hearing and smell are able to detect and alert you to intruders well in advance of any human. Motion sensing IR video cameras as a part of a security plan could play a part in your layered defense as long as you have power. A 24 hour manned observation point equipped with high quality optical tools is a must. It should be fortified and if possible concealed. It should have a weapon capable of reaching to the edges of your vision. Seismic intrusion devices, night vision and thermal imaging are phenomenal force multiplying tools. They can give you critical intelligence and warning. You should use them if you have them. Understand they are not fool proof and I can often neutralize them if I know you have them.

These tools and techniques provide you reaction time. Time to plan your response and time to execute that plan. Recognize that a “defender” is always at a disadvantage. By definition a defender will be reacting to my attack. Modern warfare has emphasized the ability of the attacker to operate faster than opponents can react. This can be explained by the OODA loop. Below are the four steps of the classic OODA loop. These are the steps a defender goes through when under attack.

1. Observing or noticing the attack.
2. Orient to the direction, method and type of attack.
3. Deciding what the appropriate response will be.
4. Acting on that decision.

As an attacker I will try and operate at a pace faster than you as a defender can adjust to. I will change my direction, pace, timing and method to force you to continue to process through the OODA loop. This creates confusion and wastes your precious reaction time. As a defender you will need to disrupt or reset your attackers timing with a counter-attack. When you are successful you become the attacker. Your defensive plans should utilize and exploit this concept. Here are a few scenarios:

1. Snipe & Siege
I will begin the attack when I can engage at least half of your party’s military age personnel in one coordinated effort. I will infiltrate my team into concealed positions around your retreat within 50 to 75 yards. I will target any identified leadership with the first volley. Two thirds of my people will be engaging personnel. The other group will target communications antennas, surveillance cameras and any visible lighting assets. I want your group unable to see, communicate or call for help. The members of my band will each fire two magazines in the initial exchange. Two thirds of my group will change to new concealed positions and wait. One third will fall back into an ambush of the most likely avenue of escape. We will stay concealed and wait until you come out to attend to your wounded and dead. We repeat the attack as necessary until any resistance is crushed.

Ensure you adjust the landscape around your retreat so that I don’t have anyplace offering cover or concealment within 100 yards of your residence. You can create decorative masonry walls that can be used to offer cover for personnel close to your residence. Fighting positions can be built now and used as raised planting beds and then excavated for use in the future. These can be extended or reinforced after any significant event. These structures or other measures such as trenching must be sited carefully to avoid allowing them to be used effectively by an attacker if they are overrun.

2. Trojan Horse
For one hit we used an old UPS truck. We forced a refugee to drive it to the retreat gate. We concealed half our group inside the truck. The truck was hardened on the inside with some sandbags around the edges. The other half of our group formed an ambush concealed inside the tree line along the driveway. We killed the driver to make it look good and had one person run away. Those preppers almost waited us out. After nearly three hours they all walked slowly down the driveway. They were bunched up in a group intent on checking out the truck and driver. It was like shooting fish in a barrel.

They could have worked together as group to sweep the area 360 degrees around the truck and they would have surely found us. A dog would have also alerted the residents to our presence. They could have taken measures to eliminate the vegetation offering us concealment on the road near the gate. They could have used CS gas or something similar to “deny” any suspicious areas. Lastly they could have done a “reconnaissance by fire”. Shooting into likely hiding spots, including the truck, trying to evoke a response. They should have established an over watch position with the majority of their group. This over watch group would have provided visual security and an immediate response if there were an attack. They were not expecting any additional threats. They didn’t consider that there might be additional danger lurking nearby aside from the truck and they died.

3. Kidnap & Surrender
A few weeks ago we surprised and captured a couple of women out tending a garden. It was totally by chance. We were traveling through a very rural area on our way to another town when somebody heard a tractor backfire. We immediately stopped and I sent a small team to recon the noise. They bumped into a small party tending a field at the edge of their retreat. They seized two women and immediately dragged them back to our vehicles. We began negotiations by sending a finger from each one back to the retreat under a white flag. The rest was easy.

This didn’t need to happen. Better noise discipline would have kept us from discovering their retreat. Some simple boundary fencing or tangle foot could have delayed us. The women should have been armed and aware of such a threat. If they has established an over watch for the garden they could have engaged us before we took our hostages or at least alerted the others that there was a problem. They also could have had a quick reaction SOP developed prior to this incident. That Quick Reaction (QR) force could have followed the kidnappers back to our vehicles and set up an ambush of their own. Rural retreat security is a full time job. If you snooze you may lose everything.

4. Fire and Maneuver
I don’t like this option but sometimes the prize is just too tempting. We typically infiltrate quietly at night to prearranged start points. We begin our attack just before dawn when your senses are dulled by a long night watch or from sleep. Based on our reconnaissance we divided your retreat into positions or zones that need specific attention. We prepare for battle by using an air rifle to target any lights or cameras. Our first priority is to engage any LP/OP site and destroy or degrade them as much as possible. I split my forces into two supporting groups. One group keeps the target position under constant fire. The other group also fires and maneuvers, closing on the target and destroying it with gunfire or improvised weapons. Many times these positions only have one occupant and the task is relatively easy. Often these positions are easy to spot and are too far from each other to provide any effective mutual support. We will work from one position to the next. In the darkness and confusion most of the defenders are disoriented and ineffective. They fall like dominos. We have also used motorcycles to negotiate obstacles and speed through cuts in the perimeter fence. Then throw Molotov Cocktails into any defensive position as they roar past. If you fall back into your residence we will set up a siege. If we can maneuver close enough, perhaps by using a distraction, we will pump concentrated insecticide into your building or we may introduce LP gas from a portable tank into the house and ignite it with tracer fire.
If there was enough warning time from your OP you could execute a pre-planned response. Your planned response should be simple, easy to understand and execute. Half your group occupies your fighting positions, two to a position. The rest of your party establishes an over watch and concentrate its fire at the enemies trying to fix your positions. If you had more than enough prepared positions the enemy might not know where to attack. It would also provide more flexibility in your defense based on the direction of attack. I would use Night Vision if available or illumination from flares or lights as a last resort. Rats hate light.

Usually people keep main access points blocked from high-speed approach. Likely avenues of approach should also be blocked or choked and kept under observation. Remember though what keeps me out keeps you in. Typically the common techniques of parking vehicles in roadways will only delay my approach not stop it altogether. An ordinary 12-gauge shotgun, shooting slugs, can stop most types of non-military vehicles at close range.

Don’t forget the threat of fire or other non-traditional weapons in your defensive plans.
You could create the illusion of a “dead end” for your main access road by positioning a burned out trailer home or a couple of burned out cars at the false “end” of the road. Concealing the fact that the road actually continues to your residence.
Lastly, develop a plan to evacuate and evade capture. When faced with a significantly superior force it may be the only viable option. This should include simple, reliable communications or signals such as three blasts on a dog whistle. Your fighting positions and barriers need to be constructed to allow coordinated withdrawal in an emergency. You should establish a rally point and time limit to assemble. I believe this should be a priority in your practice drills. During a real emergency you may be able to rally, rearm and plan your own version of the “snipe and siege” to retake your retreat.

Key messages:

Your rural retreat defense can be visualized as a set of concentric rings:

• Location – Location – Location: High and remote are best
• OPSEC – Think of it as a form of armor or shield: Practice it and protect it.
• Observation Post / Listening Post: Your first best chance to counter attack
• Gates / Fences / other barriers: May slow me down. Might keep you in.
• Fighting positions: Must provide mutual support and allow for evacuation.
• Residence: Last line. Don’t become trapped
• People, Planning and Practice

Remember:

• An aggressive and unexpected counter strike can win the battle.
• Stay alert for multiple threats or diversionary tactics.
• Criminals excel at feigning weakness to lower your guard.

Don’t underestimate me.


Reading for further study:
The Defence of Duffer's Drift, by Major General Sir Ernest Dunlop Swinton (1905)
US Army FM 5-15 Field Fortifications
US Army FM 5-103 Survivability
Online OODA Resources

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[grower]

Dog whistle?
How do you hear that?

[DeoVindice]

This was linked on lewrockwell.com today:

http://www.survivalblog.com/2009/10/...eful_prep.html

Survival Novels as Useful Preparedness Parables, by W.E.




As a college teacher, NRA firearms instructor, and military trainer (including survival skills), I have spent years sorting the most effective teaching techniques from less effective ones. Obviously, some types of training, such as marksmanship, require hands-on methods, while classroom presentations are more appropriate for other subjects. In all cases, however, it is common for students to base their questions on preconceived notions. For example: “What is the 'best' handgun?” Best for what situation? Or,
“What is the best survival kit?” I always reply, it’s the one you carry between your ears; knowledge, not equipment. And, I am often asked similar questions about “best” books, and again, I counter, best for what?
For actual instruction on survival-related skills, there exists a plethora of training manuals, old and new, general and specialized, beginner level to expert. Some of these books give the subject matter straight and unvarnished; others contain an admixture of politics, patriotism, or preaching along with the technical data. I quarrel with neither approach, but I do have reservations about much recommended “inspirational” literature, - mostly novels, - intended to “send a message” or otherwise stimulate the readers’ thought.
Far too many of the current crop are based on premises or plots so implausible that the author undermines any credibility his characters’ actions may have. This is entertaining, but it leads the reader directly into the realm of imagination, if not outright fantasy, (not unlike imagining oneself as James Bond) instead of leading him to ask, “what would I do in that situation?” Moreover, though it may be like sugared medicine, a truly inspirational story must go down smoothly, so the reader gets the point without feeling he is being preached to. So, why bother? Why not stick with the technical books?
As mentioned, hard skills can be learned, and practiced, but it is difficult to develop, much less measure a person’s survival mindset, his ability to anticipate problems he might encounter, his situational understanding. Even Jesus recognized that most people learn best through stories:

". . . the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. . . . because they see not; . . . neither do they understand." - Matthew 13: 10 - 13

Some books that meet the criterion of “understanding” have stood the test of time:
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank [the pen name of newspaperman Harry Hart Frank] is the overall best post-apocalyptic novel. First published in 1959, it is still in print. It tells the story of a fictional town in Florida, coping on its own after a brief nuclear war has destroyed central government and electrical power. There are some exciting conflicts, but no space aliens, no diseases unknown to science, no comets striking the earth, no roving bands of drug-crazed looters – just sympathetic characters realistically dealing with plausible problems. One older character salvages a discarded bicycle, recognizing its value if the gasoline runs out. Another character saves irrigation pipe, realizing that the city water supply will soon fail. Lacking medical instruments, a doctor improvises a surgical kit from household tools.
The book is well-written and the plot builds to an exciting, yet plausible, climax. Some of the 1950s technology is outdated, such as tube-type radios, and some details have changed -- the Air Force Base mentioned is now Orlando’s airport – but the fictive town is based on the real town of Sanford, Florida, the other places mentioned are real, and the characters seem real, too. They are neither survivalists, nor firearms experts, nor former Green Berets; the reader can relate to them without delving into fantasy.
First runner-up, and best in the emergency evacuation category, is No Blade of Grass (1956) by “John Christopher,” the pen name of prolific British science fiction author, Samuel Youd. His series of books depicting life after a space alien invasion is popular, but this book is realistic and plausible. A plant disease wipes out most of the world’s food crops; famines, riots, wars, and social chaos follow. Several families band together to escape London, losing their vehicles halfway through their odyssey. The characters deal with privation, hardship, danger and violence in realistic ways. Some of them cannot accept “murder for self-preservation;” others willingly trade their personal freedom for protection by the stronger. A historically-minded reader can see a parallel to the collapse of the Roman Empire and the rise of feudalism in an insecure Europe.
No Blade of Grass is now back in print, but look for copies from earlier editions that are widely and inexpensively available on the used book market. It is also known under the British title Death of Grass and a reprint title, An End to Grass. A 1970 motion picture bears little resemblance to the book, so skip the movie.
The award for Miss Uncongeniality goes to the title character in Vandenberg (1971), re-titled by the publisher as Defiance: An American Novel (1981), by Oliver Lange (the pseudonym of novelist John Wadleigh). Vandenberg, the character, is a rebellious social misfit who resists indoctrination after a Communist take-over of the American West. He finds it harder than most such books make it seem. Vandenberg pontificates, “to listen to some, if the day ever came, 500,000 citizens, all appropriate Rogue Male types, would melt into the hills, and when they weren’t creating havoc among brutal Occupation forces, they would be practicing the fine art of survival.” On equipment, he says, “if a survival and guerrilla nut bought all the stuff the outdoor stores and catalogs said he needed, it would’ve taken a 25-foot U-Haul trailer and two weeks of packing to get him out of his damned driveway.”
Of course he does go into the hills, and the author’s descriptions of the New Mexico mountains are so accurate the book’s locations can be found on a map. Eventually he does get some equipment, and he does recruit a few other rebels willing to fight back, but the ultimate result is more thought-provoking than satisfying. Both titles are out of print but available on the used book market.
A similar theme with a more optimistic conclusion is developed by Samuel Southwell, a former U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, in If All the Rebels Die (1966). Southwell’s characters resist enemy occupation after a brief nuclear war, but it is their discussions about patriotism, duty, resistance and its consequences – especially the consequences of reprisals by the enemy – that stimulate the reader to think, “what could I do in such a situation?” “What would I do in such a situation?”
Many books, both current and past, develop the idea of retreating to the mountains and ultimately fighting the “bad guys” of that particular scenario. "Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse" ( 2006, 2009, and earlier draft editions [under other titles]) by James Wesley, Rawles, is a current best-seller that has been described as “a survival manual disguised as a novel.” It is the now-standard dystopian tale of the hardy band of survivors coping in the wake of the collapse of civilization, and it is representative of this type plot – nothing original here. But it differs from similar works in the early chapters which describe a collapsing economy:

“The President . . . instead of reducing growth in government spending launched an immoderate bank lending stimulus package . . . the Federal Reserve . . . began monetizing large and larger portions of the debt (p.13) The dollar collapsed because of the long-standing promises of the FDIC . . . the government had to print money – lots and lots of it.” (p. 15)

This is prescient, considering the first edition of this book came out about 1999, before the current government actions it seems to predict, and the theme of economic collapse followed by chaos has resonated with many readers. The remainder of the book, however “action-packed,” is far less plausible. An earlier, briefer treatment is found in Fire and Ice (1975), by Ray Kytle. Note the author’s name, since there are several books by this title.
Fire and Ice was written shortly after the very first Arab oil embargo of 1973, and it posits a three-year economic decline precipitated by an oil shortage. The protagonist and his family do, indeed, go to a mountain cabin, and do, indeed, fight the good fight. But along the way they must deal with such problems as obtaining firearms on the black market, and the enmity of less-prepared neighbors. They also face their own crises of conscience, not over the morality of killing but of the “selfishness” of protecting themselves versus attempting to help their friends and community. Except in Southwell, this psychological dimension has not been dealt with in other books. Some of the technical details are less plausible: Even if you can obtain guns ‘off the books,’ don’t try to smuggle 2,000 rounds of .30-06 ammunition in your children’s luggage; they would weigh about 140 pounds!
It is training that prevents an emergency from becoming a crisis, but no one can say, with absolute certainty, what he or she would do in a given emergency. Soldiers and “first responders” are trained (and trained, and trained) on how to react in foreseeable situations, yet even well-trained persons sometimes fail to take appropriate action. There are also a number of our fellow survivalists who are so committed to a particular scenario they either cannot or will not consider possible alternative situations or outcomes [If I just have enough guns and ammo, I’ll be safe, no matter what!] or they do not take into consideration many of the human factors that affect sound judgment and decisive action.
While it would be best to develop one’s situational understanding through long training and practice, such training is not available to all. Some degree, however, can be gained by a study program that involves reading for mental exercise as well as practical knowledge. I believe the books I have briefly reviewed will be helpful. However, if an asteroid does strike the planet [as in Lucifer's Hammer] or if the aliens land, you are on your own!

[tdawg]

Originally Posted by grower

Dog whistle?
How do you hear that?

not the silent kind ... this kind ...

Product Description

Designed and manufactured for hunting on heavy weather days.
You and your hunting and training partners will appreciate the use of a whistle while training and especially while hunting.

Designed and manufactured for hunting on heavy weather days.

Lower tone to penetrate fog, snow and rain.

Rubber mouth piece for better grip in colder weather.

http://www.dogsupplies.com/products/...g-Whistle.html

T.

[sparkky]

it's all speculation, at this point, how a thousand different scenarios will play out in a thousand different places. you plan for "worst case scenario" as best you can.

I'm not too far from goatlady and I agree that roving bands of city zombies is the LEAST of my worries here.

[GoldenCityMuse]

Yes, survivalblog.com is great reading for preps.

Small communities of people are going to be your best way of getting thru tough times, there will be many small groups of thugs here & there looking for a easy score.

There will be some kind of govt authority, even if it just the local town or county. If you are involved now, you will be respected then & have an input. If you are a loner, then the local govt. will not be paying much attention to you or your desired input.

So get involved with your local church, pro-life organization, Salvation Army/ Red Cross, Volunteer Fire Dept. Give without seeking return, & you will garner respect.

[EWNC]

Fascinating read. I have to wonder though, if a tshtf scenario where war breaks out, what kind of foilage would be left if Agent Orange is used to destroy any remaining forests and chem trails used to poison the land?

[Navajo]

Originally Posted by EWNC

Fascinating read. I have to wonder though, if a tshtf scenario where war breaks out, what kind of foilage would be left if Agent Orange is used to destroy any remaining forests and chem trails used to poison the land?

Yes, yes, yes....and what about the Yellowstone Caldron blowing or that meteor from the south or extremely large solar flares, nuke from NK, China, Pak going off at any moment, flu / mutations of flu’s.....

So now how does that effect you’re planning....



ETA: and let’s not forget reptilians from other planets, war with aliens living on the dark side of the moon, and invisible space craft that you can't see...along with micro bug surveillance robots...

[grower]

Got to cover all the bases!

[Rhodie]

Originally Posted by Navajo

Yes, yes, yes....and what about the Yellowstone Caldron blowing or that meteor from the south or extremely large solar flares, nuke from NK, China, Pak going off at any moment, flu / mutations of flu’s.....

So now how does that effect you’re planning....



ETA: and let’s not forget reptilians from other planets, war with aliens living on the dark side of the moon, and invisible space craft that you can't see...along with micro bug surveillance robots...

Navajo your almost too funny, in a weird sort of way. Not an odd way though.

My father told me years ago that the City Americans are way too soft, and that our civilization was just one flush away from falling apart.
If there wasn't any water left to fill up the tank, people wouldn't know how to react, that they would go feral by the end of the day.

Yes you will have some who prepared or have a little water set back, but the majority are SOL, IMHO.

Rhodie