Oklahoma D-Day

Oklahoma D-Day is the world's largest scenario game of paintball that recreates events of World War II, held at Oklahoma's D-Day Adventure Park in Wyandotte, Oklahoma every June. The game was created by Dewayne Convirs, and was first held in 1997 - with attendance of 135 players. The following year was more popular, with 335 players participating.^[1][2]

General

The game seeks to faithfully recreate battles from the real Normandy invasion, including Omaha beach, Utah beach, Sword Beach, Colleville, Sainte-Mère-Église, Caen, Pegasus Bridge, and Vierville. The game caters to an average of 4000 players a year, often run on the anniversary of the events being recreated.

The game is played on a 740-acre (3.0 km²) area at the D-Day adventure park, with a range of differing terrains to suit different scenarios (including open fields, ravines and creek beds). Trench works, villages, firebases, headquarters, bunkers and gun emplacements provide strategic options for players.^[1] Play itself deviates from standard tournament paintball rules - in that when hit by paint, players move to a reinsertion zone and are back in the game within thirty minutes. Emphasis is on completing objectives rather than solely eliminating enemy players,^[1] and the game makes extensive usage of World War II era equipment and vehicles (including tanks and bazookas, among the standard paintball markers).

In game, players belong to either the Germans or the Allies. Allied forces include the French resistance, Americans, British, and Canadians. Each side has its own Battle Staff in corresponding "tactical operations centers" and divisions assigned to three different beachhead or other objectives. The Allies invade from off playing field locations, including actual wet insertions from landing craft.

Field operations

The site at the D-Day adventure park includes 100 acres (0.40 km²) of camping area, showers, restrooms and food vendors for players.^[3] The mimimum age of players is ten years, and all players who participate in the game are charged a playing fee (which may also allow the player to enter for prize draws), and must sign waivers. The field operators recommend purchasing at least two cases of paint. Players are given the choice at a recruitment depot of which side they wish to play on, and which particular unit to play as; dependent on places available.^[4]

Historical accuracy

The game continues to evolve and the overall realism is improved every year. The most recent changes have been a massive terraforming project to create the beach landing of Utah beach. The game has mechanisms that are installed to facilitate the flow of the game, the mechanisms take away some of the realism but are generally approved. For example, players (even snipers) must have a brightly colored hopper cover designating their side. GPS and 2-way Radios are permitted despite their non-existence in the real invasion.

Allied

These countries historically represented are the United States, Britain, Canada, and France. This unit represents the oppressed French under German occupation, who banded together to help the allies any way they could.

German

The German side is represented in the spirit of the German soldier who fought for the love of his country like the allies.

Units

Players are sorted into various units on either side. Each unit has its own objectives to accomplish throughout the day.^[5]

Allied

Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force — SHAEF —

• S.H.A.E.F. information wiki

• S.H.A.E.F. Forum

Infantry	Airborne	Armor
1st Infantry Division(US)	101st Airborne Division(US)	2nd Armored Division (US)
3rd Infantry Division(British/Canadian)	6th Airborne Division(British/Canadian)	13/18th Royal Hussars Regiment (British/Canadian)
4th Infantry Division(US)	82nd Airborne Division(US)	899th Tanks Destroyers Battalion (US)
238th Engineer Combat Battalion (US)
1st Ranger Battalion (US)
2nd Ranger Battalion (US)
5th Ranger Battalion (US)
Free French forces
Royal Marine #41 Commando (British)

German

German Army Command West (OB West)

• Fourm/Website

Infantry	Special	Armor
91st Luftlande Division	6th Fallschirmja(ä/ae)ger Regiment	21st Panzer Division
352nd Infantry(ie) Division	Geisterja(ä/ae)gers Sniper Unit	352nd Panzerja(ä/ae)ger Battalion
709th Infantry(ie) Division	Brandenburg Kommandos
716th Infantry(ie) Division	1058th MEK Marine-Einsatzkommando
726th Infantry(ie) Regiment
914th Infantry(ie) Regiment
916th Infantry(ie) Regiment

Winning side by year

2011 - Allied Forces
2010 - Axis Forces
2009 - Axis Forces
2008 - Axis Forces
2007 - Allied Forces
2006 - Axis Forces

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Adkisson, Kevin (June 1, 2008). "WWII inspires paintball game in Wyandotte Discover Oklahoma". http://newsok.com/wwii-inspires-paintball-game-in-wyandotte-discover-oklahoma/article/3250266/. Retrieved 14 March 2010. 
2. ^ Dwayne Convirs (July 2009). "A note from Dwayne Convirs". Paintball X3. pp. 6. http://www.digitalpublisherpro.com/Magazine.php?member_id=2&pub_id=115&issue_id=323. Retrieved 2010-2-22. 
3. ^ "D-Day adventure park - Camping FAQ". http://www.ddayadventurepark.com/index.php?option=com_easyfaq&task=cat&catid=9&Itemid=19. 
4. ^ "D-Day adventure park - Registration & Requirements FAQ". http://www.ddayadventurepark.com/index.php?option=com_easyfaq&task=cat&catid=10&Itemid=19. 
5. ^ [1] Oklahoma D-Day Website