Editing Special Operations Executive (section)

==Equipment==

===Weapons===
Although SOE used some suppressed weapons such as the [[De Lisle carbine]] and the [[Welrod]] (specifically developed for SOE at Station IX), it took the view that weapons issued to resisters should not require extensive training in their use, or need careful maintenance. The crude and cheap [[Sten]] was a favourite. For issue to large forces such as the [[Yugoslav Partisans]], SOE used captured German or Italian weapons. These were available in large quantities after the [[Tunisian campaign|Tunisian]] and [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Sicilian]] campaigns and the surrender of Italy, and the partisans could acquire ammunition for these weapons (and the Sten) from enemy sources.

SOE also adhered to the principle that resistance fighters would be handicapped rather than helped by heavy equipment such as [[Mortar (weapon)|mortars]] or [[Anti-tank warfare#Anti-tank guns|anti-tank guns]]. These were awkward to transport, almost impossible to conceal and required skilled and highly trained operators. Later in the war however, when resistance groups staged open rebellions against enemy occupation, some heavy weapons were dispatched, for example to the [[Maquis du Vercors]].{{Sfn|Foot|2004|p=78}} Weapons such as the British Army's standard [[Bren light machine gun]] were also supplied in such cases.{{Sfn|Foot|2004|p=77}}

Most SOE agents received training on captured enemy weapons before being sent into enemy-occupied territory. Ordinary SOE agents were also armed with handguns acquired abroad, such as, from 1941, a variety of US pistols, and a large quantity of the Spanish [[Llama firearms|Llama]] [[.38 ACP]] in 1944. Such was SOE's demand for weapons, a consignment of 8,000 [[Ballester–Molina]] .45 calibre weapons was purchased from Argentina, apparently with the mediation of the US.{{Sfn|Seaman|2006|p=27}}

SOE agents were issued with the [[Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife]] also issued to Commandos. For specialised operations or use in extreme circumstances, SOE issued small fighting knives which could be concealed in the heel of a hard leather shoe or behind a coat lapel.{{Sfn|Foot|2004|p=73}} Concealed "Coin slasher" knives were used for slashing car tyres.<ref>https://www.spymuseum.org/exhibition-experiences/secrets-revealed/</ref><ref>https://fightingknives.info/Products/oss-soe/rvdsfpvs/12/rvdsfpvdo/10/rvdsfpvn/4</ref> Given the likely fate of agents captured by the [[Gestapo]], SOE also disguised [[suicide pill]]s as coat buttons.

===Sabotage===
[[File:Audience in demolition class. Milton Hall, England, circa 1944., 1943 - 1944 - NARA - 540063.tif|thumb|left|Audience in demolition class, [[Milton Hall]], {{Circa|1944}}]]

SOE developed a wide range of explosive devices for sabotage, such as [[limpet mine]]s, shaped charges and time fuses, which were also widely used by commando units. Most of these devices were designed and produced at The Firs.{{Sfn|Milton|2016|p=80}} The [[Pencil detonator|Time Pencil]], invented by Commander A.J.G. Langley, the first commandant of Station XII at Aston{{Sfn|Turner|2011|p=17-19}} was used to give a saboteur time to escape after setting a charge and was far simpler to carry and use than lighted fuses or electrical detonators. It relied on crushing an internal vial of acid which then corroded a retaining wire, which sometimes made it inaccurate in cold or hot conditions. Later the L-Delay, which instead allowed a lead retaining wire to "creep" until it broke and was less affected by the temperature, was introduced.

SOE pioneered the use of [[plastic explosive]]. (The term "plastique" comes from plastic explosive packaged by SOE and originally destined for France but taken to the United States instead.) Plastic explosive could be shaped and cut to perform almost any demolition task. It was also inert and required a powerful detonator to cause it to explode, and was therefore safe to transport and store. It was used in everything from [[car bomb]]s, to exploding rats designed to destroy coal-fired boilers.<ref>{{cite news | first=Richard | last=Norton-Taylor | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/oct/27/richardnortontaylor | title=How exploding rats went down a bomb and helped British boffins win the Second World War | newspaper=The Guardian | date=28 October 1999 | access-date=2017-08-23 | location=London | archive-date=1 June 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601141448/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/oct/27/richardnortontaylor | url-status=live }}</ref>

Other, more subtle sabotage methods included [[lubricant]]s laced with grinding materials, intended for introduction into vehicle oil systems, [[railway wagon]] [[axle box]]es, etc., incendiaries disguised as innocuous objects,{{Sfn|Foot|2004|pp=82–83}} [[Coal torpedo|explosive material concealed in coal piles]] to destroy locomotives, and land mines disguised as cow or elephant dung. On the other hand, some sabotage methods were extremely simple but effective, such as using sledgehammers to crack cast-iron mountings for machinery.

===Submarines===
Station IX developed several miniature submersible craft. The [[Welman submarine]] and ''[[Motorised Submersible Canoe|Sleeping Beauty]]'' were offensive weapons, intended to place explosive charges on or adjacent to enemy vessels at anchor. The Welman was used once or twice in action, but without success. The [[Welfreighter]] was intended to deliver stores to beaches or inlets, but it too was unsuccessful.{{Sfn|Boyce|Everett|2003|pp=147–153}}

A sea trials unit was set up in [[West Wales]] at [[Goodwick]], by [[Fishguard]] ([[Station IX|station IXa]]) where these craft were tested. In late 1944 craft were dispatched to Australia to the [[Allied Intelligence Bureau]] (SRD), for tropical testing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.welfreighter.info/|title=Welfreighter|publisher=Welfreighter.info|access-date=2017-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050922030729/http://www.welfreighter.info/|archive-date=22 September 2005|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Other===
SOE also revived some medieval devices, such as the [[caltrop]], which could be used to burst the tyres of vehicles or injure foot soldiers{{Sfn|Boyce|Everett|2003|pp=53–54}} and crossbows powered by multiple rubber bands to shoot incendiary bolts. There were two types, known as ''"[[Big Joe 5 crossbow|Big Joe]]"'' and ''"Li{{'}}l Joe"'' respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://images.royalarmouries.org/search/?searchQuery=%20Little%20Joe | title=Royal Armouries image Library }}</ref> They had tubular alloy skeleton stocks and were designed to be collapsible for ease of concealment.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.historynet.com/the-little-joe-crossbow-weapon-of-the-oss/ | title=World War II Spy Weapon: The 'Little Joe' Crossbow | date=18 August 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1179/174161210X12652009773492 | doi=10.1179/174161210X12652009773492 | title=The Crossbow and the Bow in Modern Warfare | date=2010 | last1=Credland | first1=Arthur G. | journal=Arms & Armour | volume=7 | pages=53–103 }}</ref>

An important section of SOE was Operational Research, which worked mostly from Station IX but also called on the facilities of Station XII and HQ. It operated through the User Trials Section and later the Air Supply Research Section and was formally established in August 1943. The section had the responsibility both for issuing formal requirements and specifications to the relevant development and production sections, and for testing prototypes of the devices under field conditions. It ensured that operational requirements were properly assessed, trials conducted, and quality monitored.{{Sfn|Boyce|Everett|2003|pp=159–165}} Over the period from 1 November 1943 to 1 November 1944, the section tested 78 devices. Some of these were weapons such as the [[Sleeve gun]] or fuses or adhesion devices to be used in sabotage, others were utility objects such as waterproof containers for stores to be dropped by parachute, or night glasses (lightweight binoculars with plastic lenses). Of the devices tested, 47% were accepted for use with little or no modification, 31% were accepted only after considerable modification and the remaining 22% were rejected.{{Sfn|Boyce|Everett|2003|pp=166–167}}

SOE agents were issued a "striptease suit", a camouflage overall and matching cloth helmet for parachute insertion behind enemy lines.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.509thgeronimo.org/other/soeosssuit/soeosssuit.html | title=SOE OSS Suit }}</ref> This item was not intended to be used in the sense of a uniform and only for concealment and to be discarded after landing in the dropzone.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30097129 | title=Jump Suit, "SOE Striptease Suit": SOE }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alliedforum.net/viewtopic.php?f%3D12%26t%3D301 |title=US, British and Allied Reenactment • View topic – SOE Jumpsuit |access-date=2009-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723011932/http://www.alliedforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=301 |archive-date=2011-07-23 }}</ref> Another rare item in the same camouflage was the "Smock Covert SOE", an overhead smock similar to the SAS windproof but lined with wool, used a large front split pocket and came with a crotch flap. These items and the SOE brushstroke camouflage pattern were Paramilitary as they were never issued to the main armed forces but only the Special Operations Executive.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Before SOE's research and development procedures were formalised in 1943, a variety of more or less useful devices were developed. Some of the more imaginative devices invented by SOE included exploding pens with enough explosive power to blast a hole in the bearer's body, or guns concealed in tobacco pipes, though there is no record of any of these being used in action. Station IX developed a miniature folding [[motorbike]] (the ''[[Welbike]]'') for use by parachutists, though this was noisy and conspicuous, used scarce petrol and was of little use on rough ground.{{Sfn|Boyce|Everett|2003|p=110}}