Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines

Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines is a single player real-time tactics computer game developed by Pyro Studios and published by Eidos Interactive. Released in 1998, the game is set in wartime Europe where a group of six British Commandos performs missions utilizing small unit tactics. Each Commando has a unique set of skills and tools determined by his class which forces the player to establish cooperation among them so that further progress can be made. The objectives varies from sabotages to rescuing allied informants and assassinations.

Commandos employs an isometric view with a whole map visible, thus allowing player to think out a strategy and its execution in advance. The same system was later used in the expansion pack Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty released in 1999 as well as in two installments Commandos 2: Men of Courage and Commandos 3: Destination Berlin released in 2001 and 2003 respectively.

Historical background

After the evacuation of most of the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk, Liutenant Colonel Dudley Clarke (Royal Artillery) put forward the idea of small units capable of penetrating the enemy's line and sabotaging communication, industrial and military targets. The proposal was approved by Winston Churchill.

In 1940 volunteers were called from Territorial Army Divisions who had been serving in Norway. Later, soldiers from Royal Marines Division and recruits from British Police Force were also accepted for the training. The name "Commando" was proposed by Dudley Clarke after the raiding and assault style of Boer Commando units of the Second Boer War.

Commandos were trained in physical fitness, survival, orienteering, close quarter combat, silent killing, signalling, amphibious and cliff assault, vehicle operation, weapons (including the use of captured enemy small arms) and demolition. The Commando Training Centre was located at Achnacarry near Spean Bridge in Scotland.

The area of activity were primarily Northwest Europe, Norway, Middle East, Italy and Burma. At first the missions were carried out on a smaller scale, inflicting little damage to the enemy but greatly boosting up the morale of allied forces. Later, as a result of many successful operations, for example Collar, Ambassador, Claymore, Archery, Anklet, Chariot or Longcloth, Adolf Hitler issued a secret order called Kommandobefehl stating that all commandos found in Europe and Africa should be killed immediately, even if in uniform or if they attempted to surrender.

The British Army Commandos were never regimented and were disbanded at the end of the war.

Commandos

In the game, player represents the role of an officer who has been entrusted with the command of a group of six Commandos.

Jerry McHale (Green Beret)

An Army boxing champion from 1934 to 1937, McHale was sentenced by a military court to 14 years of forced labours after hitting an officer. When he joined Commandos, his sentence was commuted. Promoted to Sergeant after wiping out 16 enemy soldiers without ammunition during the raid on the island of Vågsøy.

• Equipment: Knife, Pistol, Climbing axe, Acoustic decoy, Shovel.
• Skills: Moving explosive barrels, hiding bodies.

Sid Perkins (Driver)

Joined the British Army in 1937 after a long criminal career in United States. Perkins accepted the offer of joining the Commandos mainly because his being sought by American authorities. During the raid on the aifield in Tamet he managed to destroy eight German fighters using his jeep's machinegun and another four when he crashed the vehicle against the remaining aircraft full of fuel.

• Equipment: Pistol, Submachine gun, First aid kit.
• Skills: Driving tanks and vehicles, capturing heavy machinegun and artillery posts.

James Blackwood (Marine)

Educated in Oxford, this naval engineer swum across the English Channel on a bet. Because of his problems with alcohol, Blackwood was demoted from the rank of Captain to Sergeant after a fight in a private club. He joined Commandos as a simple soldier. Decorated with a Military Cross for rescuing 45 stranded British soldiers about to be captured at Dunkirk.

• Equipment: Knife, Pistol, Inflatable launch, Harpoon.
• Skills: Diving.

Thomas Hancock (Sapper)

Born in Liverpool, Hancock became a specialist in the High Risk Explosives department and volunteered for the Commandos in 1940. During the raid on Saint-Nazaire, he was responsible for the explosions that crippled the port facilities for months. In this operation Hancock was captured, but after eight weeks he escaped, crossed the Pyrenees and returned to England.

• Equipment: Pistol, Bear Trap, Time bomb, Remote control bomb, Grenades, Pliers.
• Skills: Setting up traps.

Sir Francis T. Woolridge (Sniper)

An aristocrat from Sheffield famous for his coolheadness, quiet and distinguishness. Received a Military Medal during the invasion of Narvik where he killed the Commander of the German garrison with a single shot at a distance more than one mile while the officer was inspecting the placement of his troops.

• Equipment: Pistol, Sniper Rifle, First aid kit.
• Skills: Sniping.

Rene Duchamp (Spy)

A former Chief of Security in the French embassy in Berlin where he obtained valuable knowledge regarding the members of the Hitler's General Staff, Duchamp joined the Resistance when the embassy was closed. At least three trains, fourteen tanks and more than thirty vehicles have been knocked out thanks to his skills of information, infiltration as well as sabotage.

• Equipment: Pistol, Poison Syringe, First aid kit.
• Skills: Stealing hanging uniforms, distracting enemy soldiers, hiding bodies.

References

External links

• Commandos: Behind The Enemy Lines at GameSpot
• Official Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines website