Gurps SOE Weapons?

[Tessen]

I was wondering how effective some of the weapons issued to the SOE were?

For instance the thumb dagger and the punching spike? Where they actually used operationally in the war?

I also believe there was a fold up mini crossbow that fired short steel mini bolts and small grenades called beanies.

If someone has the gurps stats for these that would be helpful to.

[Anthony]

The thumb dagger is a concealable small knife, the spike is a concealable dagger. I expect they were normal utility for that sort of thing, which is low but not zero. I suspect most of the 'weird' devices were also useless, though they do seem to have been pretty innovative about explosives (plastique, etc).

[johndallman]

The OSS made two sizes of crossbow. In GURPS terms, they both do 1d imp (2), if you use the cinematic damage scale from The Deadly Spring (Pyramid #3/33, Low-Tech). The realistic damage scale makes them even less effective. You might be able to add +1 with Fine-quality bolts.

They didn't become widely-used, and this makes some sense under GURPS: you need a different skill to use them, and they don't do enough damage.

[Michele]

It seems you are looking for GURPS WWII: Hand of Steel. It's 3e, but it would be useful for all of this anyway.

[Tessen]

Thanks I'll check it out.

[Donny Brook]

What does SOE stand for?

[Anthony]

Special Operations Executive.

[jason taylor]

The limpet turned out to be very popular and other services took it up (it appears in Cockleshell Heroes by the way). It was a magnetic, hand attached bomb.

David Howarth on the shore staff at Shetland describes people scheduled for insertion having all sorts of gear. Some are interesting and a bit Cliffhangersy like knuckledusters. I get the impression that a lot of it they just took along: they had more leeway than the regular service which had to standardize.

A hand to hand weapon is more a desperation tool. Some things, like sentry removal would make it relevant.

A lot of the exotic hand to hand equipment though, seems to figure more in the "why not" category than in something seriously relied on. If it isn't cumbersome it might as well be put in especially if it can be used for something else.

The Sten was favored, more because it was low budget than anything else if the wikipedia article is correct

The Welrod was liked because it was small and also could be taken apart. It also had no manufacturer markings though it is not clear why that mattered. Apparently it could be disguised as something else.

Basically I would guess that most of their best weapons will be centered around making bangs. Stealth is the best tool for mere survival.

[jason taylor]

By the way this is a splendid book:

https://www.amazon.com/World-Secret-...%2C239&sr=8-15

[Þorkell]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

The Welrod was liked because it was small and also could be taken apart. It also had no manufacturer markings though it is not clear why that mattered.

So it couldn't be traced back to the British. Which, admittedly is odd when you consider that there was a war on.