SAS (Action Force)

SAS Force is a fictional military unit that features in the Action Force universe, a European version of the G.I.Joe action figure and comic book series.

SAS Force was depicted both in the "Battle Action Force" comic books and also with a range of action figures and vehicles from Palitoy Limited.

Graphic Representation

The SAS characters and their representative figures and vehicles were based on the SAS and SBS special forces regiments of the British, New Zealand and Australian armed forces. The Action Force characters were devised around the time of the Iranian Embassy Siege (later depicted in the movie "Who Dares Wins") when the SAS were extremely highly regarded in the British popular media.

Described in promotional material as:

"The behind the lines team, skilled in sabotage and disruption. They are usually the first to go into action against Baron Ironblood's fanatical Red Shadows"

the unit was introduced as part of the second generation of Action Force (see "Action Force – second generation (1983)"). The graphic representation of the SAS Force characters and vehicles borrowed heavily from their real-world counterparts by using the dark camouflage of the SAS and SBS units, although adding yellow for some of the armaments and insignia. [http://museums.leics.gov.uk/collections-on-line/GetObjectAction.do?objectKey=137180 SAS Squad Leader] figure, part of the collection at Leicestershire County Council Museum] [http://museums.leics.gov.uk/collections-on-line/GetObjectAction.do?objectKey=137176 Hawk helicopter and Blades] , part of the collection at Leicestershire County Council Museum] Despite taking its name from the SAS units of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand but, in keeping with the Action Force concept, the unit was written as a single multi-national fighting force including soldiers from England, the USA, Mexico, Canada, Iceland and Belgium among others.

In another departure from their real-life counterparts, the Action Force SAS unit was not entirely under cover or "behind the lines" (despite the promotional brief). The range included the overt Wolverine missile tank, multi-missile system and the Hawk attack helicopter. Despite the marine/acquatic function of Q Force (which also included military frogmen) the SAS unit included waterborne operatives such as Beaver and Stakeout, echoing the role of the SBS for inland waterways whilst Q Force dealt with marine scenarios.

The "Battle Action Force" back stories that accompanied the release of the figures (see "Battle Action Force tie in"), were more extensive than were the case for the other Action Force ranges, with the possible exception of Z Force. Capitalising on the popularity of the real SAS, many of the comic back-stories of the characters and storylines involved SAS Force. Indeed, after appearing in the first-ever Action Force story [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/blood/Action%20Force%2002%2003.html Action Force] storyline courtesy of [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com Blood for the Baron!] ] , the SAS were the only Action Force unit that consistently appeared in storylines following the introduction of the third generation and the arrival of Cobra.

Three of the SAS characters had their own dedicated features exploring their back-stories: Quickfire [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/blood/Quickfire.html Codename Quickfire] storyline courtesy of [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com Blood for the Baron!] ] , Beaver [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/blood/Beaver.html Codename Beaver] storyline courtesy of [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com Blood for the Baron!] ] and Stakeout [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/blood/Stakeout.html Codename Stakeout] storyline courtesy of [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com Blood for the Baron!] ] whilst characters such as Blades [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/blood/Hawk's%20Challenge.html Hawk's Challenge] storyline courtesy of [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com Blood for the Baron!] ] and Stalker also had dedicated storylines and frequent appearances in "Battle Action Force".

The largest of the Action Force units, later releases ignored existing characters and their representative figures and resulted in some duplication - for example the Hawk helicopter was released with pilot "Blades", notwithstanding the SAS range already included a helicopter pilot, "Chopper". In addition, the unit included only marginally distinct SAS Commando ("Quickfire"), SAS Para Attack ("Sparrowhawk"), SAS Boat Patrol ("Stakeout") and generic SAS Attack Trooper figures.

The figures were, the least updated of the second generation of Action Force. Since the First Generation figures included SAS characters, the first wave of released figures were very minor repaints, variations and repackages of the First Generation figures - for example the SAS Frogman, Pilot and Commando. Later releases were repaints of G.I. Joe figures and vehicles - including from the 'enemy' Cobra range (e.g. Hunter as a repaint of the 1982 Cobra Officer figure).

Characters

Vehicles, weaponry and armour

Initially, in the first wave of release, in keeping with their "behind enemy lines" brief, the SAS Force had few vehicles. Later releases saw the introduction of more heavy weaponry – such as the Wolverine vehicle and Hawk helicopter.

First release

*Panther – a heavily-armed jeep, driven by "Stalker" [http://museums.leics.gov.uk/collections-on-line/GetObjectAction.do?objectKey=269999 Stalker] figure, part of the collection at Leicestershire County Council Museum] The Panther jeep was the second such vehicle in the Action Force range in addition to the Z Force jeep. A repaint of the G.I. Joe/Cobra VAMP jeep, the vehicle came with high octane fuel tanks, was armed with a dual 7.62mm machine gun and was capable of towing the Mobile Missile System (below)
*Mobile Missile System – a mobile surface-to-air missile battery. Not provided with a character to operate it, the MMS was provided with three large Patriot missiles [ [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/afonline/sasforce/images/MMS_01.jpgThe MMS 'blueprint' datafile] from [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com Blood for the Baron!] ] attached to a wheeled unit, capable of being towed by the SAS Panther jeep. The weapons unit was a re-issue of the G.I. Joe multi-missile system.
*Boat Patrol – a small, rigid power boat, piloted by "Stakeout". Actually a re-issue of the removable roof boat unit from the First Generation AF-3 jeep, the boat had an outboard motor (as well as a single oar) and a heavy machine-gun (in addition to the M60 machine gun provided with Stakeout).

econd release

*Wolverine – A tracked tank-style missile launcher, driven by "Hunter". A black and grey camouflaged tank, the Wolverine was another mobile missile system however in contrast to the MMS (see above) the Wolverine battery was intended to have ground-to-ground capability. [ [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/afonline/sasforce/images/Wolverine_01.jpgThe Wolverine 'blueprint' datafile] from [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com Blood for the Baron!] ] The vehicle was a repaint of an existing G.I. Joe vehicle of the same name, driven by Cover Girl. A later AF (Third Generation) release had a new driver, Ton Up.
*Hawk - A one-man light helicopter, piloted by "Blades" The aircraft was a black and yellow single seat helicopter, similar in design to a microlight helicopter or gyrocopter. The aircraft was still supposedly within the SAS stealth remit being capable of flying below radar and with non-reflective paint. Accompanied by four air-to-air heat seeking rockets and a nose-mounted rotary cannon the vehicle was a repaint of the Cobra F.A.N.G helicopter released with the G.I Joe range and later with the Third Generation. Piloted by Blades, the range appeared to ignore the existing SAS helicopter pilot character, Chopper. Outside of the spacecraft of Space Force, the Hawk was the only aircraft in the First or Second Generation of Action Force.
*Silent Attack – A kayak, piloted by "Beaver" [http://museums.leics.gov.uk/collections-on-line/GetObjectAction.do?objectKey=137178 SAS Silent Attack] , part of the collection at Leicestershire County Council Museum] The black and yellow kayak included short-wave communications and an infrared searchlight. It also had so-called "integrated land transport" (i.e. wheels) and, confusingly for a craft with a stealth and reconnaissance function, a "team pennant". The craft was a repaint of the G.I. Joe Silent Attack kayak.

References

External links

* [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/ "Blood For The Baron!!!"] Action Force Website