Q Force
Encyclopedia
Q Force is a fictional marine military unit that features in the Action Force
universe, a European version of the G.I. Joe
action figure
and comic book
series.
Q Force was depicted both in the Battle Action Force comic books and also with a range of action figures and vehicles from Palitoy Limited
.
-based unit, and therefore without the scope for variety of characters and vehicles, Q Force was the smallest of the Action Force ranges.
Described in promotional material as:
and SAS Force
, the figures and vehicles moved away from the camouflage
of their real-world equivalents (i.e. naval greys and light blues) and were painted in bold yellows, reds and dark blue.
The Battle Action Force back stories that accompanied the release of the figures (see Battle Action Force tie in), were less extensive than were the case for the SAS Force and Z Force ranges - the SAS Force for example featured in nearly twenty separate storylines, Q Force in contrast had seven.
However Q Force did appear in the first-ever Battle Action Force storyline, introducing the Action Force team. The Swordfish craft and the two characters Leviathan and Shark represented Action Force's debut in Action Force, written by Gerry Day
. Later comic storylines also constructed Red Shadow
frogmen and an enemy battlecruiser
although these were never realised as action figures or toys.
Despite having frogmen and an array of waterborne characters and vehicles, the Action Force universe still included some cross-over with the SAS Force also including frogmen two water-based characters Stakeout (an SBS
-style commando) and Beaver (a kayak pilot) although these characters were used for inland waterway
s whilst Q Force dealt with marine-based scenarios.
With limited theatres in which to operate and without toy representations of any marine-based Red Shadows characters or vehicles, the stories involving Q Force battling the enemy were limited, often to cameo roles in stories involving other Action Force units such as Operation Spearhead (a holiday special) and their last appearance, a fleeting role alongside Space Force
in Crossfire! Unlike the SAS and Z Force units, Q Force were never written into any storylines involving Cobra or the Third Generation Action Force characters however the Dolphin character was one of the few profiles to be carried over to the AF (Third Generation) team (albeit without reference to the Q Force unit).
The paucity of storylines was also evident in that two of the seven comic book appearances by Q Force included sequences where shark
s were exploded by hand grenade
s, in a likely homage to the shark's demise in the Jaws 3-D
movie released in 1983, around the time of the comic book story.
The action figures were, in keeping with much of the second generation of Action Force, repaints and repackages of existing G.I. Joe
figures and vehicles as well as some First Generation toys.
A further release added another vehicle and figure set, the two-seater submarine/hovercraft hybrid (Sealion) in addition the range added a mini-vehicle and figure pack, the jet-ski inspired Sea Skimmer.
Both the Sealion and Dolphin were subsequently re-packaged as part of the Third Generation (AF) release, keeping the same codenames.
Action Force
Action Force was a 1980s range of European action figures initially based on Action Man, and later used to introduce G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys to European markets...
universe, a European version of the G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
action figure
Action figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
and comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series.
Q Force was depicted both in the Battle Action Force comic books and also with a range of action figures and vehicles from Palitoy Limited
Palitoy
Palitoy was the name of a British toy company.It manufactured some of the most popular toys in Britain, some original items and others under licence...
.
Graphic Representation
A marineOcean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
-based unit, and therefore without the scope for variety of characters and vehicles, Q Force was the smallest of the Action Force ranges.
Described in promotional material as:
"Made up of Underwater Specialists, they are the Action Force arm that strikes from the sea"the unit was introduced as part of the second generation of Action Force (see Action Force – second generation (1983)). In contrast to the First Generation releases and Q Force's fellow units Z Force
Z Force (Action Force)
Z Force is a fictional infantry military unit that features in the Action Force universe, a European version of the G.I. Joe action figure and comic book series....
and SAS Force
SAS (Action Force)
SAS Force is a fictional special forces military unit that features in the Action Force universe, a European version of the G.I. Joe action figure and comic book series....
, the figures and vehicles moved away from the camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
of their real-world equivalents (i.e. naval greys and light blues) and were painted in bold yellows, reds and dark blue.
The Battle Action Force back stories that accompanied the release of the figures (see Battle Action Force tie in), were less extensive than were the case for the SAS Force and Z Force ranges - the SAS Force for example featured in nearly twenty separate storylines, Q Force in contrast had seven.
However Q Force did appear in the first-ever Battle Action Force storyline, introducing the Action Force team. The Swordfish craft and the two characters Leviathan and Shark represented Action Force's debut in Action Force, written by Gerry Day
Gerry Finley-Day
Gerry Finley-Day was a prolific British comics writer from the 1960s to the 1980s, best known as the creator of Rogue Trooper.He started out at D. C. Thomson & Co., before becoming the editor of IPC's girls' title Tammy in 1971, for which he wrote strips such as "Ella on Easy Street" and "The Camp...
. Later comic storylines also constructed Red Shadow
Red Shadows
The Red Shadows are the fictional fighting force opposed to Action Force and depicted in the UK Battle Action Force comic books. They were also portrayed in action figures by Palitoy as a European version of the G.I. Joe range. Later US G.I. Joe storylines have revived the Red Shadows as an...
frogmen and an enemy battlecruiser
Battlecruiser
Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...
although these were never realised as action figures or toys.
Despite having frogmen and an array of waterborne characters and vehicles, the Action Force universe still included some cross-over with the SAS Force also including frogmen two water-based characters Stakeout (an SBS
Special Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
-style commando) and Beaver (a kayak pilot) although these characters were used for inland waterway
Waterway
A waterway is any navigable body of water. Waterways can include rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, and canals. In order for a waterway to be navigable, it must meet several criteria:...
s whilst Q Force dealt with marine-based scenarios.
With limited theatres in which to operate and without toy representations of any marine-based Red Shadows characters or vehicles, the stories involving Q Force battling the enemy were limited, often to cameo roles in stories involving other Action Force units such as Operation Spearhead (a holiday special) and their last appearance, a fleeting role alongside Space Force
Space Force (Action Force)
Space Force is a fictional space military unit that features in the Action Force universe, a European version of the G.I. Joe action figure and comic book series....
in Crossfire! Unlike the SAS and Z Force units, Q Force were never written into any storylines involving Cobra or the Third Generation Action Force characters however the Dolphin character was one of the few profiles to be carried over to the AF (Third Generation) team (albeit without reference to the Q Force unit).
The paucity of storylines was also evident in that two of the seven comic book appearances by Q Force included sequences where shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
s were exploded by hand grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
s, in a likely homage to the shark's demise in the Jaws 3-D
Jaws 3-D
Jaws 3-D is a 1983 thriller film directed by Joe Alves and starring Dennis Quaid, Bess Armstrong, Lea Thompson and Louis Gossett, Jr...
movie released in 1983, around the time of the comic book story.
The action figures were, in keeping with much of the second generation of Action Force, repaints and repackages of existing G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
figures and vehicles as well as some First Generation toys.
Characters
| Code Name | Function (figure) | Real Name | Birthplace | Serial number | Primary military speciality | Secondary military speciality | File card or comic book 'Datafile' description | Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shark | Aqua Trooper | Jean-Paul Rives | Toulouse Toulouse Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea... |
AF 934038 | Torpedo Torpedo The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for... technology |
Underwater demolition Underwater demolition Underwater demolition refers to the deliberate destruction or neutralization of man-made or natural underwater obstacles, both for military and civilian purposes.-John G. Foster:... |
Swimmer of undoubted ability. Spent early years in Martinique Martinique Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados... and was involved in several complex treasure hunts for Spanish Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... galleons. Basic training at French Naval School French Navy The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching... , Brest Brest, France Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon... , France. Top of Class in torpedo training. Torpedo officer, French Navy. Joined Action Force. Took underwater demolition course Sword-of-Honour. |
Breathing apparatus Scuba set A scuba set is an independent breathing set that provides a scuba diver with the breathing gas necessary to breathe underwater during scuba diving. It is much used for sport diving and some sorts of work diving.... |
Repaint of the First Generation Action Force Frogman with additional breathing apparatus. |
| Leviathan | Deep Sea Defender | Jamie Hugh Maclaren | Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... |
AF 93403 | Naval battle tactics | Gunnery | Second son of a shipyard worker Shipbuilding Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both... in Glasgow. Joined Royal Navy Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... straight from school. Sheer ability forced him through the ranks to become Commander of a Destroyer Destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from... . Action Force recruited him as the best man available. Passed Deep Sea Diving Scuba diving Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater.... top of class. Experienced Diver Navy diver Navy diver is a general term to describe members of a country's naval forces who specialize in underwater diving and military diving.* Australia: Royal Australian Navy clearance diver* Canada: Canadian clearance diver... . |
A red aerial Antenna (radio) An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver... and a red backpack Backpack A backpack is, in its simplest form, a cloth sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders, but there can be exceptions... . |
An unaltered repaint of the First Generation Deep Sea Diver figure. Described in Battle Action Force as the "leader of Q Force" although this was never stated on his datafile. |
| Phones | Sonar Sonar Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels... officer |
Patrick Liam O'Flaherty | Dublin | AF 934037 | Communications Military communications Historically, the first military communications had the form of sending/receiving simple signals . Respectively, the first distinctive tactics of military communications were called Signals, while units specializing in those tactics received the Signal Corps name... |
Survivor | Ex-leader of specialist survival school. Recruited by Action Force and given extra training in communication technology. Friendly rivalry exists between Phones and Breaker as to who is the best in Action Force with communication systems. | Radio pack and AK-47 AK-47 The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year... |
Repaint of an amalgam of several First Generation figures. |
| Surfer | Sea Skimmer pilot | Hoxworth Whipple | Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of... |
AF 934119 | Seaborne rescue | Rocket assault Missile Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"... |
A champion surfer in his youth - rode the "Tunnel" at Waikiki Waikiki Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī.... . Very happy at sea Ocean An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000... , he has an intuitive appreciation of moods and weather changes on the ocean. Joined Action Force and has since designed and developed a speed-board capable of 150 knots. Best record on Action Force "Rescue & Recovery" course. |
Jet-ski (Sea Skimmer) armed with rockets Missile Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"... |
Repaint of First Generation Naval Assault figure. |
| Dolphin | Pilot of Sealion | Gareth Morgan | Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... |
AF 934332 | Underwater solo attack | Deep sea exploration | Superb formal training. Excellent knowledge of all Action Force underwater weapons. Rapid promotion led to command of Royal Navy submarine Submarine A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability... at an early age. Given brief to chart one of ocean's least-known expanses, beneath the Polar ice cap Polar ice cap A polar ice cap is a high latitude region of a planet or natural satellite that is covered in ice. There are no requirements with respect to size or composition for a body of ice to be termed a polar ice cap, nor any geological requirement for it to be over land; only that it must be a body of... . Ideal experience for command of the Sealion, generally acknowledged as the most advanced sub-aqua vehicle in existence. |
Pilot accompanying Sealion vehicle | Originally a repaint of the Aqua Trooper, later releases were entirely new moulds. Dolphin and Space Force Space Force (Action Force) Space Force is a fictional space military unit that features in the Action Force universe, a European version of the G.I. Joe action figure and comic book series.... 's Moondancer were the only characters whose profile was carried over, without amendment, to the Third Generation release. |
Vehicles, weaponry and armour
Unable to produce scale battleships or submarines due to the size such models would require, the figures were supplied with more fantastical equipment and the first release included one full-size missile boat (Swordfish,see below), a one-man submarine mini-vehicle (Stingray) and three stand-alone figures (Aqua Trooper, Deep Sea Defender and Sonar Officer (see above).A further release added another vehicle and figure set, the two-seater submarine/hovercraft hybrid (Sealion) in addition the range added a mini-vehicle and figure pack, the jet-ski inspired Sea Skimmer.
First release
- Swordfish – a hovercraft-styled missile boat. An amalgam of parts of the First Generation AF-5 vehicle and missiles used in the SAS ForceSAS (Action Force)SAS Force is a fictional special forces military unit that features in the Action Force universe, a European version of the G.I. Joe action figure and comic book series....
mobile missile system. - Stingray – a one-man submarine, similar to those used in the James BondJames BondJames Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film Never Say Never AgainNever Say Never AgainNever Say Never Again is a 1983 spy film based on the James Bond novel Thunderball, which was previously filmed in 1965 as Thunderball...
. The craft came packaged with an Aqua Trooper figure whose accompanying file card identified him as Shark.
Second release
- Sealion – an original vehicle, the Sealion was a two-man craft piloted by the accompanying Dolphin figure. A submarine/hovercraft type vessel, it included detachable solo-submersibles (or 'diver transport units'), electromagneticElectromagnetismElectromagnetism is one of the four fundamental interactions in nature. The other three are the strong interaction, the weak interaction and gravitation...
claws and an array of missiles and laser weaponry. The Sealion was also given its own introductory storyline in Battle Action Force although, in the absence of Red Shadow equivalent vehicle, it was written into a conflict with the Singapore NavyRepublic of Singapore NavyThe Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
as a result of a case of mistaken identity.
Both the Sealion and Dolphin were subsequently re-packaged as part of the Third Generation (AF) release, keeping the same codenames.
- Sea Skimmer – a jet-ski style mini-vehicle, this craft came armed with rockets and was piloted by Surfer.
External links
- Action Force Online Action Force Online
- Blood For The Baron!!! Battle Action Force comic scans