(My first draft was lost- so this is the best I can do. It's quite TLDR in places.)
[A Brief Introduction](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/1956-11-01_War_in_Egypt.ogv)
In 1956, the beginnings of a very Colonial crisis began, bringing the world's attention to the Middle East. This was following Egyptian nationalization of the Suez waterway earlier in the year, a retaliation for the withdrawal of Western funds for the Aswan Dam Project, and Nasser's increasing Pan-Arabism giving him the opportunity to oust the last of British influence in the Canal. The British and French, builders and majority shareholders in the Suez Canal Company, had no compensation and were effectively stripped of influence in this area, taking the canal into Egyptian hands.
This was not cricket, of course.
Operation Musketeer was launched in November 1956, spearheaded by the 3 Commando Brigade, The Parachute Regiment, as well as the 3rd Infantry Division, reinforced by French and Israeli forces to the east. The aims? Seize the Suez Canal zone, starting from El Cap Airfield to Port Said and Ismailia. Opposing British forces lies the Egyptian Military, poorly armed, and Militant forces, even more poorly armed. The fight seems simple, but for the men of 3 Commando, it's going to be the toughest Urban Warfare they've faced since the Second World War. The horrors of war never seem to be too far behind either.
The operation in it's end, resulted in a crushing British and French Strategic Failure, despite a sound Tactical Victory. The Americans, predominantly President Eisenhower, and the UN called it an "Illegal War" and demanded immediate Anglo-French withdrawal. The Soviets even threatened "action" against British and French interests at the UN, backing Nasser indirectly throughout and following the conflict. In the end, British Prime Minister Anthony Eden was forced to resign, and the Soviets grasped a strong hold over Nasser, with a UN Buffer Force sent in and the British and French walking away with their heads in shame. The Soviets were also to end up using the Crisis as a diversion for activities in Hungary, and suppressing it's revolution.
But what if history was different? What if British commanders disregarded any orders from above, and rather, disregarded Eisenhower's and the United Nations' orders to withdraw? What would the Soviet response be? Would it be escalation?
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This is an RP that places you into the boots of a squad of the Royal Marines from 40 Commando (Helicopter-Borne), 3 Commando Brigade. The aforementioned Royal Marines are a combination of Korean War and Malay Emergency veterans, combined with conscripted National Service (18-19 year olds) soldiers- but are the among the hardest infantrymen on the planet, owing to their Light Infantry status and training being among the most grueling and physically intensive in regular NATO forces.
The players start on the deck of the HMS Eagle, a Audacious-Class Aircraft Carrier deployed to the Mediterranean, to board a Westland Whirlwind helicopter for immediate deployment into Port Said- a major town that occupies the northern end of the Canal, and the first flashpoint in the aftermath of the seizure of the El Cap Airfield by The Parachute Regiment.
It's an RP that will see you as the superior force in the battle, one that will be distinctly one that is very shady. The mixed abilities of the unit, as well as the atrocities that were committed, such as the indiscriminate shelling and bombing of civilians, as well as the intensity of urban warfare in Port Said may bring about a little more gore and violence than some military RPs may usually bring about. It isn't going to be roses, I'm afraid.
This is an RP that will also feature an alternate ending to the real Crisis- with the continuation of British military actions and the full seizure of the Suez Canal leading to an escalation. However, the RP will stay predominantly in canon to the events of the Crisis in this period.
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The Royal Marines Commando are an elite Light Infantry unit of the United Kingdom's Armed Forces, so their armory is just as one would expect- extremely well-supplied, and often equipped up with a wide variety of British weaponry, some predating the Second World War such as the Lee-Enfield and some being cutting-edge, Cold War standard weaponry, such as the L1A1 SLR and L7A1. Armorers can often make a weapon a Marine's standard- and make it what they need in the heat of battle, aboard the HMS Eagle. Whilst there isn't a lot of room for modifications, a different barrel, stock or even a change up of weaponry for something more comfortable is fairly simple to sort out among British-stocked weapons.
[This](http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/75259/posts/ooc#post-2323890) is an exceptional post detailing all weapons and kit in period, if you want to imagine what it looks like.
Weapons Available:
-L1A1 SLR (7.62x51mm NATO)
Possible Mods:
-Full-Auto Mod (Achievable with an Armorer and a Coke Can Ring-pull. Seriously.)
-"Short" Variant (16 Inch)(Modified Barrel)
-Standard Variant (22 Inch)
-Marksman Variant (Heavy 22 Inch Barrel, Optic)
Rifle Grenades Attachable:
-Anti-Tank Rifle Grenade, No. 94 (ENERGA)
-22mm STANAG HE Rifle Grenade
Other Weapons:
-L2A3 Sterling SMG (Mk4)(9mm PB)
-Bren L2 (.303 British)
-L7A1 Medium Machine Gun (Prototype/Trial Weapon)(7.62x51mm NATO)
-M20A1 "Super Bazooka" Anti-Tank/Anti-Structure Launcher
-Lee Enfield IV w/Telescopic Sight- Sniper Rifle (.303 British)
-Webley MkVI Revolver (.38)
-Browning Hi-Power Pistol (9mm PB)
-Mills Bomb (Frag Grenade)
-Various Smoke Grenades
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CS:
Name:
Gender: (Females for Medics and Radiowomen only- this is non-canon, but I'll let the shit fly if need be.)
Age:
Appearance:
Rank: Caps at Staff Sergeant
Role: (If not Section Leader/Fireteam Leader, such as Machinegunner, Rifleman, AT etc.)
Weapon and Ammunition: i.e L2A2 Sterling| 8x 30 Round 9mm Magazines
Brief Background: A paragraph or two will suffice. From a veteran to a fresh face, anything is good.
Equipment (Can be fused with Appearance)
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### Bravo Section, 2 Coy, 40 Commando, 3 Commando Brigade
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(Fireteams exist as smaller subdivisions, split up on the CO's objective decision making at the time. There may be different mixes, given the situation.)
Fireteam "Blue"
-[Captain Mackenzie/Private Parsons](http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/75259/posts/ooc?page=2#post-2326106), Section Lead/Machinegunner
-[Lance Corporal Telford](http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/75259/posts/ooc#post-2323973), Rifleman
-[Sergeant Ward](http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/75259/posts/ooc?page=2#post-2326740), Marksman
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Fireteam "Red"
-[Sergeant Reid](http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/75259/posts/ooc?page=3#post-2331007), Fireteam Leader/Grenadier
-[Lance Corporal Page](http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/75259/posts/ooc?page=2#post-2329836), Medic
-[Lance Corporal Spencer](http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/75259/posts/ooc?page=3#post-2331277), Machinegunner
-[Private Mills](https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/75429/posts/ooc#post-2331682), Anti-Tank