Special Operations Executive (GL): Difference between revisions

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* [[Antonio Celeste]], Estharian; Sgt.
* [[Antonio Celeste]], Estharian; Sgt.
* [[Juho Hietanen]], Balambian; Sgt.
* [[Juho Hietanen]], Balambian; Sgt.
* [[Liisa Paaskivi]], Balambian; L.Cpl.
* [[Liisa Paasikivi]], Balambian; L.Cpl.
* [[Kari Bauer]], Rubrumian; L.Cpl.
* [[Kari Bauer]], Rubrumian; L.Cpl.
* [[Riisa Vanhala]], Balambian; L.Cpl.  
* [[Riisa Vanhala]], Balambian; L.Cpl.  

Revision as of 06:17, 1 August 2021

Special Operations Executive
Special operations executive.png
SOE insignia
Active22 July 1940 – 15 January 1946
Country United Kingdom
AllegianceAllies
RoleEspionage; irregular warfare (especially sabotage and raiding operations);
special reconnaissance.
SizeApproximately 10,000
Nickname(s)Churchill's Secret Army
Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Bertram Kreiss

The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a Lucian Second Europan War organisation. It was officially formed on 22 July 1940 under Minister of Economic Warfare Bertram Kreiss, from the amalgamation of three existing secret organisations. Its purpose was to conduct espionage, Template:Wpsabotage and reconnaissance in occupied Europa (and later, also in the Asianna, Joyonghea, Middle East, North Africanna, and Zemuria) against the Axis powers, and to aid local resistance movements.

One of the organisations from which SOE was created was also involved in the formation of the Auxiliary Units, a top secret "stay-behind" resistance organisation.

Few people were aware of SOE's existence. Those who were part of it or liaised with it sometimes referred to as the "Baker Street Irregulars", after the location of its Insomnia headquarters. It was also known as "Churchill's Secret Army" or the "Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare". Its various branches, and sometimes the organisation as a whole, were concealed for security purposes behind names such as the "Joint Technical Board" or the "Inter-Service Research Bureau", or fictitious branches of the Air Ministry, Admiralty or War Office.

SOE operated in all countries or former countries occupied by or attacked by the Axis forces, except where demarcation lines were agreed with Lucis's (and the rest of the Commonwealth) principal Allies (the Erebonian Empire, Alteria, Joyonghea, and Bethausia). It also made use of neutral territory on occasion, or made plans and preparations in case neutral countries were attacked by the Axis. The organisation directly employed or controlled just over 13,000 people, about 3,200 of whom were women. Primarily Lucian, some of its members were taken from Lucis Commonweath nations, including those from the Erebonian Empire and Alteria (although the two nations would be admitted into the Commonwealth by 1975). Eventually, the SOE would support the foundation of the Special Air Service, The Lucis Army's main special operations force.

After the war, the organisation was officially dissolved on 15 January 1946. A memorial to SOE's agents was unveiled on the Regius Embankment by Lambeth Palace in Insomnia in October 2009.

History

Second Europan War

Equipment

While most SOE agents were armed with suppressed weapons, those who served in part with the SAS were equipped with either Commonwealth-issued or captured weapons to allow operatives to use ammunition from enemy pouches. The following weapons below had the most significant use:

Name Origin Type Calibre Photos Notes
Theimer Hi-Power United Kingdom
Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum High power Inglis (6971784217).jpg Standard issue.
Theimer 1911A1 Gallia-Bruhl
Semi-automatic pistol .455 Webley or .45 ACP M1911.455UK.jpg Standard issue.
Waltzer PPK Gallia-Bruhl Semi-automatic pistol .32 ACP Walther PPK-L.jpg Used often in night missions, equipped with a suppressor.
Lena-Elfield United Kingdom
Bolt-action rifle
.303 Lucis ErebonianEnfield.jpg Standard issue rifle. Also used as a sniper rifle.
M1903 Theimer Gallia-Bruhl Bolt-action rifle .30-06 Theimer M1903GSR.jpg Standard issue rifle. Also used as a sniper rifle. Often used for missions requiring long range marksmanship. Equipped with an 8x Unertl Scope.
Balambian M28/30 Nagant Esthar and Balamb
Bolt-action rifle 7.62×53mmR Mosin Nagant M28-30.jpg Issued mostly in operations in South Amerigonna, Middle East, and Asianna. Prized for its accuracy and reliability. Famously used by operatives Maia Räikkönen and Elizabeth Page.
Theimer submachine gun Gallia-Bruhl
Submachine gun .45 ACP TheimerSMG.jpg Standard issue submachine gun.
Shippard-Tamaki SMG United Kingdom
Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum RubrumianStenMk2.jpg Standard issue submachine gun for clandestine operations. Often used in night raids or in air drops. Fitted with a suppressor.
Kpist/-31 Esthar and Balamb
Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum Kpist--31.jpg Secondary issue submachine gun when the Thompson or Sten is not available. Often used by operative Anika Ekland. Prized for its high rate of fire at close range.
Brnfield LMG United Kingdom
Light machine gun
.303 Lucis Bren wog.jpg Primary issue machine gun.
M1918 Theimer Automatic Rifle Gallia-Bruhl
Light machine gun
.30-06 Theimer Army Heritage Museum B.A.R..jpg Used in operations involving Gallian and Concordian forces.
LK 26 Alteria
Light machine gun
7.92×57mm Mauser ZB vz. 26 at Great Patriotic War museum in Smolensk.jpg Issued mostly in operations in South Amerigonna, Middle East, and Asianna.
Mills bomb United Kingdom
N°5-MkII N°23-MkII N°36-MkI.jpg Primary anti-infantry grenades.
Balambian-issued explosives Esthar and Balamb
Assorted weight of TNT Polttopullo.jpg Primarily used for Anti-tank and bunker busting purposes. Replaced the S.T. AT Grenades due to faults with the latter.

Notable Members

Torch Company; Special Air Service

One of the most famous formations in the Special Air Service is Torch Company, in which the group gained recognition for its efforts during the Middle East Campaign, Scandinavian Campaign, and the Joyonghean Campaign during the early years of the Second Europan War. Torch Company had been responsible for several sabotage, raiding, and espionage operations against the Imperial Quenminese Army. They were also notorious for foiling Operation B-1 through their efforts during Objective DBC later in the war.

Crown Company; Special Air Service

Apart from Torch Company, the SAS also enlisted Crown Company, which consisted of primarily Erebonians, Rubrumians, Gallians, Jutlanders, Nihhonese, and Bethausian members. This group was renowned for its exploits during the Scandinavian Campaign, the Middle East Campaign, and the Asianna and the Pacific Campaign. Crown Company was similar to Torch Company in its role of espionage, sabotage, and raiding.

Oboe Company, Special Air Service

Oboe Company primarily served in both the Scandinavian Campaign and in the South Amerigonna Campaign. It primarily consisted of Rubrumians, Erebonians, Jutlanders, Concordians, Estharians, Balambians, and Ilarians. They were highly praised, especially in Ilari.

Other Members