Special Operations Executive (GL)

Special Operations Executive
SOE insignia
Active	22 July 1940 – 15 January 1946
Country	United Kingdom
Allegiance	Allies
Role	Espionage; irregular warfare (especially sabotage and raiding operations); special reconnaissance.
Size	Approximately 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.

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		Standard issue.
Theimer 1911A1	Gallia-Bruhl	Semi-automatic pistol	.455 Webley or .45 ACP		Standard issue.
Waltzer PPK	Gallia-Bruhl	Semi-automatic pistol	.32 ACP		Used often in night missions, equipped with a suppressor.
Lena-Elfield	United Kingdom	Bolt-action rifle	.303 Lucis		Standard issue rifle. Also used as a sniper rifle.
M1903 Theimer	Gallia-Bruhl	Bolt-action rifle	.30-06 Theimer		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		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		Standard issue submachine gun.
Shippard-Tamaki SMG	United Kingdom	Submachine gun	9×19mm Parabellum		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		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		Primary issue machine gun.
M1918 Theimer Automatic Rifle	Gallia-Bruhl	Light machine gun	.30-06 Theimer		Used in operations involving Gallian and Concordian forces.
LK 26	Alteria	Light machine gun	7.92×57mm Mauser		Issued mostly in operations in South Amerigonna, Middle East, and Asianna.
Mills bomb	United Kingdom				Primary anti-infantry grenades.
Balambian-issued explosives	Esthar and Balamb		Assorted weight of TNT		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.

• Gerald Ingram, Lucian; CO
• Michael Todd, Zanarkian; NCO
• Henry Price, Lucian; NCO
• John Erick Brennan, Rubrumian; Lieutenant
• Aika Wakana, Rubrumian; L.Cpl
• James Gwyn Rainford, Erebonian; Lieutenant
• Anika Ekland, Erebonian; Sergeant
• Suzanna Hart, Erebonian;L.Cpl
• Emily Duncan, Gallian;L. Cpl
• Pom Han-bi, Joyonghean; Sgt.
• Kim Seung-hyeon, Joyonghean; Cpl.
• Heo Young-soo, Joyonghean; PFC
• Bhupinder S. Gadarah, Sikh

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.

• David John Blazkowicz, Erebonian; CO-Maj.
• Kaoru Atsushi, Rubrumian; NCO-Cpt.
• Ernst-Georg Blumentritt, Jutlander; NCO-Cpt.
• Keith Varrot, Gallian; NCO-Lieutenant
• Märtti Albarea, Erebonian; Sgt-Maj.
• Maia Räikkönen, Rubrumian-Finlandian; WO1
• Elizabeth Page, Gallian; Cpl.
• Nana Vanhala, Rubrumian-Finlandian; L. Cpl.
• Lilith Ekland, Erebonian; L. Cpl.
• Lisa Mirca, Rubrumian; L.Cpl
• Quách Ngọc Tuyết, Free Quenminese; Sgt.
• Bo Zeyar Thurein, Bethausian; Sgt.

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.

• Rickard Keith, Rubrumian; NCO-Maj.
• Läurni Berg, Erebonian; NCO-Cpt.
• Richard Valestine, Erebonian; NCO-Lt.
• Carmilla Monici, Erebonian; Cpl.
• Antonio Celeste, Estharian; Sgt.
• Juho Hietanen, Balambian; Sgt.
• Liisa Paasikivi, Balambian; L.Cpl.
• Kari Bauer, Rubrumian; L.Cpl.
• Riisa Vanhala, Balambian; L.Cpl.
• Nathanael Giles, Concordian; Sgt.
• Martha Dixon, Concordian; WO
• Alexander Sacristán, Ilarian; Sgt.
• Amanda Obregón, Ilarian; Cpl.
• Esteban Xirau Noboa, Ilarian; Cpl.
• Julio Lizardo Velázquez, Ilarian; L.Cpl.

Other Members

• Hoàng Thiện Minh, Free Quenminese
• Tô Gia Nghị, Free Quenminese
• Logan Mitchell, Concordian