Col. Faulkner 0 Posted February 4, 2007 SPECIAL SERVICE is a project dedicated to creating addon sets, missions and islands for Armed Assault which represent the British Army Commandos and their raiding operations in the Second World War between 1940 and 1943. The first phase of SPECIAL SERVICE is planned to consist of an addon set of uniformed Army commandos in light raiding order (as worn in small-scale raids in the N.W. European theatre), appropriate weapons, assault boats, a small early-1940s themed island and two commando raid missions. These missions will attempt to represent the often unpredictable nature of these raiding operations and will invite the player to display the same determination and adaptability that very quickly came to be expected of all ranks of a Commando. The missions will have realistic objectives and will as far as possible reproduce 1940s British commando raiding tactics and ethos as described in contemporary training pamphlets and after-action reports. All weapons and equipment are being constructed with careful attention to detail and are authentic to the place and period under study. It is intended that the characteristics of each weapon will be modelled as closely as the Armed Assault engine will reasonably allow. It is hoped that it may also prove possible to add some new capabilities for the soldiers (particularly scaling cliffs, stalking and very basic use of the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife). Depending on availability from other sources, a very small selection of appropriately equipped and armed enemy units may also need to be created to support the mission set, although no attempt will be made to allow the player to undertake the supplied missions from the German side. On satisfactory completion of phase 1, phase 2 of SPECIAL SERVICE will be dedicated to representing British special service units in the Middle East, particularly to include the Long Range Desert Group and Special Air Service, again principally between 1940 and 1943. This phase as well as including all weapons and vehicles used by these formations will include four representative missions authentically illustrating typical operations undertaken by these troops. SPECIAL SERVICE Â is a one-man operation so progress will likely be gradual. In the meantime, for your entertainment, here are links to pictures of some of the weapon models from the first phase of SPECIAL SERVICE currently under construction. There are many more than these actually planned for inclusion in the addon set. Pending the release of the newer addon making tools from BIS, the models are shown rendered by the OFP renderer in Oxygen lite, and all still need varying amounts of work done to complete them. I am not trained or very experienced in 3D modelling and it has taken considerable trial and error and some frustration to get them even this far. Mapping and texturing is a whole new area which I am now discovering the "pleasures" of. I am sure the models will also probably further evolve as the texturing proceeds. Thompson Machine Carbine Several variants of this gun were used by the Commandos and will be included in the addon sets. Machine carbines were issued on a higher scale in commando units than they were in line infantry units. Rifle, .303 inch, No.1 Mk.III* Extensively used by British troops during the period that SPECIAL SERVICE covers. Bren Mk. I Light Machine gun Commando units equipped with light machine guns on a higher scale of issue than was usual with line infantry units.LMGs were the main source of firepower during commando raiding operations. Pistol, .38 inch (Webley Mk.IV) and Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife The Webley Mk.IV is of First World War vintage but saw extensive use in the early stages of World War 2. Other pistols which were favoured by the Commandos will also be included. It is also hoped that some very basic use might also be possible in game of the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
black dragon 0 Posted February 4, 2007 Very nice idea Col. Faulkner. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-SWAT- 1 Posted February 4, 2007 Very nice idea Col. Faulkner. jap, sounds very interesting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Connors 0 Posted February 4, 2007 Very nice idea nice to know you'l;l be covering the Layforce in part 2, will you be covering the inter-allied commandos as well? I look forward to hopefully seeing the De Lisile Commando Carbine. Good luck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Col. Faulkner 0 Posted February 6, 2007 Very nice idea nice to know you'l;l be covering the Layforce in part 2, will you be covering the inter-allied commandos as well? I look forward to hopefully seeing the De Lisile Commando Carbine.Good luck Yes, 10 Commando will be included at some point, but initially I have to "aim small", so phase 1 will be a modest addon set for small scale raids. The De Lisle, Welrod and Sten MkIIs are all under construction but none of these were historically available, of course, before 1942. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Al Simmons 0 Posted February 6, 2007 thats a very nice bunch of weapons you want to put in our crate Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Col. Faulkner 0 Posted February 10, 2007 Another somewhat unusual weapon (WIP) for the Commandos of SPECIAL SERVICE - Phase 1; .55 inch Boys anti-tank rifle. Originally designed as an anti armour weapon but actually used by real life WW2 British Commandos for destroying enemy vehicles, boats, parked aircraft and gun emplacements. I am trying to get a website up dedicated to this and the SPEARHEAD project, so anyone who is interested can follow their progress there. I will post the URL here when it comes on-line. I shan't post much else in this forum about it any more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
black dragon 0 Posted February 10, 2007 Nice weapon Can you give me some technical data about this weapon? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Col. Faulkner 0 Posted February 10, 2007 Nice weapon  Can you give me some technical data about this weapon? Basically the Boys ATk rifle was a monster bolt action rifle that fired a steel cored .55 calibre bullet (later ones were tungsten cored). The box magazine held five of the huge rounds, and the Boys team's no.2 man carried at least 120 further rounds. It could penetrate the armour of all tanks of the 1930s and early 1940s but quickly became obsolete for that purpose early on in the war. Modern tests indicate that it could penetrate about 12.5mm of armour plate at about 450m to 500m range. The gun weighs about 16.5 kg (36 lb). It was not popular with the troops because of its weight, the noise and muzzle flash and the huge recoil. In the WW2 British training manuals users are warned about the recoil, which could cause "whiplash" injuries to the necks of careless firers. It was usually nicknamed "Charlie the Bastard" Commandos used it more creatively than just as an anti armour weapon. It was very effective in both the "anti materiel" and anti-personnel roles. Typical uses were attacking trucks, fortified positions, concrete pillboxes and parked aircraft.  For example, during one commando raid in N. France a German flak gun which opened fire on the commandos was knocked out with Boys anti tank rifle fire. They were also used (along with machine guns) to defend commando assault boats against enemy patrol vessels. It was also very effective as an anti-personnel weapon since it could punch through some forms of cover. There are also reports of it being fired at enemy hiding among rocks and casualties being produced by the rock splinters chipped off. The LRDG and SAS in N. Africa used it mounted on vehicles which reduced the recoil. I had intended to do some LRDG and SAS addons in phase 2 of this project but now that there are at least two other mods trying to do the N. African theatre in WW2 I may not actually bother any more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Col. Faulkner 0 Posted July 12, 2007 Some more pictures of funny-shaped grey things to keep the thread alive and provide some entertainment for patrons of the forum. The promised website is on hold until I have more addon stuff and pretty pictures to include - there doesn't seem any point in doing a website until then. Disclaimer: Everything is rendered in the crappy OFP Oxygen rendering thingy and everything is subject to continual refinement and tweaking. I tend to just bang things down roughly first and then stepwise refine them. No idea how to do it "properly". Picture 1. "British" Tommy guns (1940 to 1943). (clicky) This was the quintessential British commando weapon in WW2. I have labelled them as "Sub-Machine Guns" here because I just noticed that the British training pam from 1940 explicitly calls the Thompson a "Sub-Machine Gun". By the time of the next pam revision (1942) they were calling it a "Machine Carbine" and that remained so until the end of WW2. 1940 was the first year the Thompson was issued to the British Army and presumably they were just using the American terminology. No sub-machine gun type weapons were used by the British before they got the Thompson. The British were the first to use the Thompson in combat in WW2. Both vertical and horizontal foregrip types were used in reality, but since the ArmA men cannot hold vertical foregrips - and their attempts to do so are very unsightly - these will probably not be included in the addon-set. The gun at the top has the "L" drum fitted and the Cutts replaced. <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/whisky01/specialservice/cdoLofots.jpg" target="_blank">It is a model of the guns carried by some members of 3. Commando on the Lofotens raid in early 1941</a>. The drums were otherwise not extensively used, however. They were a chore to load and maintain, and were awkward and difficult to fit (They could only be fitted with the bolt back but the Thompson's return spring was very heavy and the gun had no bolt hold-open device so a small tool - called a "Third Hand" - was required). Drums were also susceptible to denting, and included a coiled spring that needed winding (either under - or overwinding the spring would cause jamming). The weight of 50 rounds of .45 ACP also made the already heavy guns very clumsy to handle. Second from the top is a standard M1928A1 type with British modifications to the furniture and a 20 round stick fitted (30 round Thompson mags did not enter service until 1943 when the model M1 gun entered service). A version with the Lyman leaf sights fitted and one with them removed (aiming down the slot in the cocking handle) will be included in the addon-set. Bottom is a British B.S.A manufactured gun with wartime emergency fixed peep sight. Picture 2. Rifle grenade discharger and hand grenades.(clicky) (1 and 2) represent an old, knackered service rifle fitted with a grenade discharger cup for "rifle bombing". The rifle should be tightly bound with wire and should have a rear sight fitted for the No. 68 A/Tk grenade but I have not included these details yet. The wire binding was to mitigate the effects of any explosive failure of the rifle bore or breech due to the effects of grenade launching. The E.Y. denotes that the rifle is so clapped-out that it should only be used to fire ball ammo in an emergency. This contraption could throw a frag grenade, a smoke bomb or a flare up to 200 yards depending on the setting on a gas regulator device mounted on the cup. It could also lob the no. 68 grenade up to 75 yards upon which it could penetrate at least 2 inches of armour plate (an impressive feat in 1940). It was also useful for "house breaking" and blowing holes in fortifications and walls. This is regarded as the first weapon in service anywhere to use a hollow-charge H.E.A.T. warhead. Unfortunately the ArmA anims do not accurately simulate <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/whisky01/specialservice/grendschrgr.jpg" target="_blank">the method of using this device when firing hand grenades</a> (although they are reasonably alright as a simulation of using the No. 68 grenade). I may replace this with the M.L. 2 inch mortar for the addon set if nothing can be done to better approximate the method of use of the grenade launcher. The No. 68 grenade will be retained, though, to offer some anti-armour capability to supplement the Boys A/Tk rifle. (6, 7 & 8) represent hand grenades. All are shown "in flight" (ie armed with fuses burning) as these are how they will appear in-game. (6) is a No. 27 White Phosphorous/smoke grenade. It could also be filled with lachrimatory compound as a "tear gas" grenade. It is one of several models used before the introduction of the more familiar No.77 WP/smoke grenade which entered service in 1943. (7) is a No. 69 "offensive grenade" comprising a charge of H.E in a plastic shell. It exploded on contact. The long trailing object is part of the fuse arming mechanism. (8) is a No. 36M "defensive" fragmentation grenade - popularly called a "Mills Bomb" after its inventor. When launched from the discharger cup these had a 7 second fuse, the hand thrown version had a 4 second fuse (after mid-1940). Texturing will give this model its gnurled "non-slip" structure. Picture 3. Knives and bayonets.(clicky) It is hoped that it might be possible to somehow make these usable in-game (especially since a WW2 report on commando training states that "knife fighting has been found to be effective against sentries"). Even if not, then they will certainly be included as details of the mens' accoutrements. (1) The R.B.D. knife was a type widely issued to Independent Companies and Commandos prior to the introduction of the more familiar Fairbairn and Sykes knife in very early 1941. The R.B.D. was a popular item which had been sold by the Wilkinson Sword company since the 1880s. At the start of WW2 their entire stock of R.B.D. knives were hurriedly purchased by the govt. and issued as a stop-gap combat-utility knife. (2) Is an early-issue type of Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife. This type was only issued to commandos (some paratroopers who were former members of 2. Commando had them too) - other WW2 special forces were issued later patterns. The Fairbairn-Sykes was derived from fighting knives used by the Shanghai colonial police in the late 1930s (Shanghai was at that time considered "the most dangerous place in the world"). (3) Is the bayonet for the service rifle No.1. The long distinctive "blood channel" of the No.1 bayonet will be added during texturing. 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abs 2 Posted July 13, 2007 Mr. Faulkner, I must say, I really like your weapons. I can't wait to see them in game. Btw, are they mapped at all, or just models? Abs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bracken 0 Posted July 13, 2007 I agree, also I think it's great that you list all this information with each model as it makes reading the thread that much more enjoyable. Best of luck with the mod, hope it goes well! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sander 14 Posted July 13, 2007 Hi, The screenshots are looking very good. Will you also, when time permits, include the Smatchet and kukri amongst the bladed weapons, as these are also in evidence on photographs of British commandoes? Regards, Sander Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ArmaVidz 0 Posted July 13, 2007 Very cool. Some great work there already. Can't wait for more updates Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Col. Faulkner 0 Posted July 16, 2007 Abs: They are all in various states of completion, but I tend to work over the models extensively before I am satisfied with them enough to start the next procedures. This is one of the reasons why I planned it in phases, with modest but achievable goals for each phase. Sander: At various times and in various theatres they carried smatchet, kukri, machete and various styles of "trench knife" with brass-knuckles grips. I'll include all of these eventually, especially so if I can work out some way to make them usable in-game. For "phase 1", though, I'll restrict it to the three types shown here. ArmaVidz: The latest update is a W.I.P. picture of my 3D model of the Machine Carbine, Silenced, De Lisle (clicky) This model represents the 17 pre-production prototypes that were extensively field-trialled by Commandos and S.O.E. from mid-1943. The weapons proved to be excellent for quietly neutralising sentries during Commando raids and for assassinations by S.O.E. The 1943 prototypes were hand-made by De Lisle at Ford's Dagenham factory in London using parts from condemned .303 service rifles (eg. a surviving example is built on the action of an S.M.L.E. Mk III dating from 1910 - and this 3D model represents that particular example). The suppressors were built around spare Thompson Sub-machine gun barrels, and 7-round M1911 Colt pistol magazines were used. The 1943 prototype differed in several respects from the (more-commonly known) production model, the first examples of which left the Sterling factory only in August 1944. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Johannes 10 Posted July 16, 2007 Those weapons are really looking badass. However did you already start mapping and texturing those beauties? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Prydain 1 Posted July 16, 2007 Excellent stuff mate, I am particularly pleased about the Fairbairn-Sykes Street Knife finaly making an appearence in a game, they where a prized token and still one of the best fighting knifes (unless you get a replica). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Second 0 Posted July 17, 2007 Intresting... What are the things required from top class fighting knife? I've always seen knife as tool for multiple porpuses and using it as weapon is only small role. I've always wondered what is the difference with combat knife and ordinarry knife... like Lappknife, with broad and from 5 to over 10 inches long one side blade. @Col. Faulkner: My grandfather used Boys AT-rifle during Winterwar Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Prydain 1 Posted July 17, 2007 Intresting... What are the things required from top class  fighting knife? I've always seen knife as tool for multiple porpuses and using it as weapon is only small role. I've always wondered what is the difference with combat knife and ordinarry knife... like Lappknife, with broad and from 5 to over 10 inches long one side blade. A knife like this is like a stowable dagger, since the sword has lost its pressence in modern warfare due to ranged weapons a soldier still needs, in built up areas, the ability to gain the upper hand when rifles become too clumbersome or when a specific scenario arises. If you loose or run out of ammo for your rifle; your knife should become your primary weapon. Althogh with short weapons with long barrles like the L85A2 and IMI Travor 21 not having enough space is not so much a problem anymore. But really old rifles like the AK-47, M16 and the world war two weapons in this mod are more harder to use in tight spaces. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
enti 0 Posted July 17, 2007 nice work when are they expected to be released?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deathstruck 375 Posted July 17, 2007 Niiice work Colonel Iam saluting you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Second 0 Posted July 17, 2007 A knife like this is like a stowable dagger, since the sword has lost its pressence in modern warfare due to ranged weapons a soldier still needs, in built up areas, the ability to gain the upper hand when rifles become too clumbersome or when a specific scenario arises. If you loose or run out of ammo for your rifle; your knife should become your primary weapon.Althogh with short weapons with long barrles like the L85A2 and IMI Travor 21 not having enough space is not so much a problem anymore. But really old rifles like the AK-47, M16 and the world war two weapons in this mod are more harder to use in tight spaces. Yeah, this i know, with lappknife many trenches and forests (in dark nights) have been cleared as well as POW-capturing patrols killed. Even now days lappknife is most valued knife in our army for it's multiporpuse use (basically only thing it can't replace is pickaxe and shovel). Well nothing more, offtopic as this is. I quess i start to understand what is the difference between combat knife and ordinarry knife. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Col. Faulkner 0 Posted July 18, 2007 @ENTI: Like everyone else I'm still waiting for the BIS ArmA modelling tool so I can get soldier models and stuff in game. I'm doing some commando soldiers and "commando raid" missions too, not just a bunch of weapons. So basically that all means that it'll be quite some time yet. I'll also need to wait until some decent early war Germans are made by one or other of the other WW2 mod teams (I'd rather not have to do all of them too if I can avoid it). And, most importantly of all, I don't want to release shit so I'm doing it carefully. I am thinking now about concentrating on making the airborne version of the De Lisle and releasing it sometime soon as an "enticer". That's out of the scope of this project (and IRL only 2 prototypes were ever made), but might be interesting to some people. @.jonny: I refer you to the answer I gave to Abs. None of the models are "technically" finished yet and I have to learn this autodidactically as I go along. I'm not a brilliant 3D artist like some of the others on here. I also need to totally rebuild some of the models for better authenticity and "in- game efficiency". The Bren gun, for example. The Bren is a really complex shape, especially the MkI and especially for a duffer at modelling and I reckon I made an arse of it the first time. Some of the needed weapons are not even started yet. I still need to do a Lewis gun for my Higgins "Eureka" boat and a Webley signal pistol. One (just one of many) of the attractions of doing commandos, though, is that I don't really need to bother about doing support weapons and vehicles (except a couple of boats) because they never had any at the start of the war. @second: Yes the Finns used that bad-boy a lot! I just had some fun shooting up some ArmA BRDMs with my WIP Boys last night. @toffiekipper: I really hope I can get the F-S knife working in game (or can find someone who can). Even if it's just one basic attack (I guess THIS Â (commandos training in 1942) is totally out of the question in the game engine). I'd really rather not just have it as a "fashion accessory" on the soldier models, even if the opportunity to use it in missions will be rare. In the meantime, commando fans, Â I discovered a free 3D modelling tool called "Anim8or" that can make fancy renders of models. It's great! Even on default settings it makes even my crappy models look nice! More to the point it also shows up problem areas much better than OFP & Oxygen does. This is the current state of the No.1 rifle as rendered in "Anim8or" (yes, I know it still needs some "fixing") Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Prydain 1 Posted July 18, 2007 Nice, I just noticed the title 'Commando' from the Commando comic book's. I love the Lee-Enfield, I used one in South Africa in 2005 in the Kruger, very accurate and beautiful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Col. Faulkner 0 Posted July 20, 2007 Nice, I just noticed the title 'Commando' from the Commando comic book's. I was amazed to find out recently that Commando comics are still being published! I used to read as many as my pocket money would allow when I was a kid. Twice a week I could enter a world where plucky squaddy or dashing Spitfire pilot always heroically triumphed in a contest of honest Britisher against dastardly evil... Â Quote[/b] ]I love the Lee-Enfield, I used one in South Africa in 2005 in the Kruger, very accurate and beautiful. Well done, that man! Best bolt-action military rifle ever made (forget Mausers and Mosins and all that nasty foreign tat! ) Â Anyway I've now also started on the assault boats for the plucky squaddies: an LCP(L) (aka "Higgins Eureka") and an LCA. The LCA is the one seen in the famous film of Canadian assault infantry going ashore on Juno on D-Day (Normandy 1944). Getting the ArmA AI retards to run through the armoured doors and down the ramp should be "interesting" (if not "impossible"). At least the LCP(L) is a "no ramp -jump over the gunwhales" type of boat: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites