SSSP (Science Special Search-Party)

SSSP: Scientific Special Search Party
Members:	Toshio Muramatsu Shin Hayata Daisuke Arashi Mitsuhiro Ide Akiko Fuji Isamu Hoshino Shingo Sakomizu
Affiliations:	Ultraman ISPO (International Science Police Organization)
Designations:	Investigate bizarre anomalies
First appearance:	Ultraman episode 1 "Ultra Operation No.1" (ウルトラ作戦第一号 Urutora Sakusen Dai Ichigō) Alternate Version: Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle
Latest appearance:	Revive! Ultraman Alternate Version: Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle

The SSSP, Science Special Search Party (科学特捜隊 Kagaku Tokusō Tai), is a fictional organization from the 1966 tokusatsu TV series Ultraman. An International Science Police Organization, it is officially named the Science Special Investigation Team (科学特別捜査隊 Kagaku Tokubetsu Sōsa-tai). Abbreviated as "The Science Patrol" (科特隊 Ka Toku-tai lit. Special Department Team), it is described (in the English-language version of episode 1) as being part of the "Scientific Investigation Agency," but what international organization this is an agency of is not specified. Its basic designations are to seek out bizarre anomalies, and in special cases, protect the public from kaiju attacks. The organization has a headquarters situated in Paris and has other major branches located in India, New York, the Middle East, and Bolivia that are mentioned in the series, but it also has connections in Brazil, London, Moscow, and Turkey. Its telephone number is 999.^[1]

Overview

The members that most often appear in Ultraman are the five members from the Japan branch, Captain Muramatsu (referred to as a Cap), followed by Vice-Captain Shin Hayata, Daisuke Arashi, Mitsuhiro Ide, and Personnel Officer Akiko Fuji. The young boy Isamu Hoshino was also made a Special Personnel Officer in the middle of the series, and the title of special personnel was also awarded to the friendly kaiju Pigmon (in episode 37). The Japanese branch has also been visited by members from the Paris headquarters and Overseas branches. (Instances of these are found in episodes 7, 22, 23, 31, and 32.) ^[2]

While originally depicted as having an emphasis on research rather than as a combat organization, the Science Patrol has managed to defeat many monsters on its own; indeed, the number of successes it has enjoyed is the highest of that of any defense team.^[3]

Logo

The symbol of the Science Patrol is the outline of a five-pointed Meteor with the outline of a conventional tail having its tip in the center of the meteor.

Japanese branch base

Founded 20 years ago by Dr. Ichinotani from Ultra Q and located in the Tokyo suburbs, the SSSP Japanese branch HQ is formed by two interconnected buildings. The one is a gray-colored trapezoidal shaped building, while the other is a black building with a parallelogram shape. The launch pads of the Jet VTOLs are a separate construct next to the main building.

The outer walls of the base are built using a special ferrol alloy steel concrete, to block all light ray and heat ray attacks.

The internal of the base includes the command room which is equipped with a large electronic brain. The bedrooms are on the upper floor with a fire pole leading down to the command room. A hotel section exists with well-equipped sleeping rooms for visitors. An analysis room is used to study items recovered from field missions and to assemble equipment and new weapons. An automatic water discharge apparatus has also been installed all around the base, for the purpose of suppression of structure fires.^[4]

History

Ultra Strategy

At the heart of the Japanese branch's establishment was Dr. Ichinotani and his colleagues, who appeared in Ultra Q. During the events of Tsuburaya Productions's certified PC game, Ultra Strategy, Mobilization of the Science Patrol!, which depicts the events between this work and Ultra Q, the Science Patrol had been fighting against alien monsters long before the first appearance of the original Ultraman on Earth.

Initially, the founder, Dr. Ichinotani, was seriously injured when the nuclear dew monster Gold King attacked the Science Patrol's operations in the Hexagonal village ("Ultra Strategy" episode 1 "Science Patrol, birth of the Japan Branch") and subsequently retired from front-line work. In episode 31 of Ultraman, Cap Muramatsu mentioned that the Japan branch of the SSSP had existed for at least 20 years by that time.^[5]

Ultraman

TBA

Members

Other Members

The SSSP's arsenal

The Science Patrol is equipped with numerous special equipment, so they can operate according to any situation. Development of equipment is done mainly in the science center, by Dr. Iwamoto and member Matsuhiro Ide.

Personnel gear

The Patrol personnel wear international-orange field uniforms under a regular duty blue business suit uniform with white trousers or skirts. When the order to go into the field is given, the outer suit is designed to be quickly removed in favor of the field uniform. Accompanying the field uniform are special helmets with ear fixtures that improve the reception of their communicator pins, and visors that provide visual aid, such as when using weapons. The field uniform/helmet combination also provides a degree of protection, such as from radiation, even enough to allow a human to operate in space without having to breathe or worry about the bends.

The uniforms of the SSSP are noteworthy, as they were international orange in dominant color, and based on those used in the film Forbidden Planet in having a mantle that descends from each shoulder in front with a curved hem. However, they wear white shirts and orange four-in-hand ties instead of a ribbed imitation of a sailor's striped shirt. Their tie tacks are emergency detectors; each flashes and beeps when a monster is near. They wear plastic airman's helmets with the insignia in the middle, which also appears on both descending parts of the mantle. As a precursor to the later Star Trek's communicator being incorporated into the insignia, theirs functions as a two-way radio once a tiny antenna is raised from the star on the insignia on the left.

Equipment

• Meteor Badge (流星バッジ Ryūsei bajji): Each Science Patrol officer is equipped with a small pin shaped as the organization's meteor emblem that has a radio transmitter of considerable power and range for its size--or, more likely, one that relies on a dense network of radio-communications relays. All the operator has to do is pull out the small antenna at the top of the pin to activate it and send a message.
  • Science Patrol Shuriken: Shin Hayata hurls a shuriken or shaken shaped like the Meteor bade at the man-sized version of the alien Alien Baltan in episode 2. (On the DVD, it can actually be seen bouncing off before the film is edited to show it sticking into the monster.)
• Monster Translator: Invented by Matsuhiro Ide to translate any monster's language. It was used to communicate with the friendly monster Pigmon, in the second of the two episodes in which he appeared.

Firearms

• Supergun (スーパーガン Sūpā Gan): the basic sidearm carried by each Science Patrol member. When unholstered, the barrel flips out from the handle and the gun is ready to fire. The weapon discharges either a wave of what looks like electricity or, alternatively in some episodes, a thin beam of energy. Three of them can be combined for a "triple shot," which is powerful enough to take down a (revived) monster. It returns for an episode of Ultraman Dyna as an "older model."
• Spider-Shot (スパイダーショット Supaidā Shotto): A heavy atomic gun that Daisuke Arashi uses frequently; it is his favorite weapon. Fashioned as a two-handed weapon—somewhat like a submachine gun with a massive barrel—it is clearly more powerful than the standard Supergun sidearm, and visually more impressive. It has at least three settings; stun, heat ray, and heavy damage. It is called the "gamma-ray gun" in the English dub.
• Mars 133 (マルス133 Marusu Ichi San San): A gun invented by Mitsuhiro Ide, that works on the same principle as Ultraman's Specium Ray, and is thus mortally effective against Baltans.
• QX Gun (QXガン QX Gan): A two-handed blaster, which attacks a monster's nervous system. Stands for "Quickly eXtinguish Gun." Called the "M-Ray Gun" in the US version.
• Mad Bazooka (マッドバズーカ Maddo Bazūka): A large shoulder-mounted bazooka, also created by Matsuhiro Ide.
• Spark 8 (スパーク8 Supāku Hachi): An attachment for the Supergun invented by Matsuhiro Ide, and used by him, that enables the gun to fire rapid shots. The effect is best described as a Gatling gun that disintegrates its target in parts. It is easily the most effective handheld weapon the Science Patrol has in its arsenal, yet Matsuhiro Ide/Ito only uses it twice; against a revived monster (Dorako II) and Geronimon.

Mecha

The SSSP operated many different vehicles, most of which are depicted by models. Their car was a customized 1961 rear engine air-cooled Corvair sedan, one of the smallest cars Chevrolet ever made.

• Jet VTOL: The Science Patrol's iconic principal craft, and is frequently just called the "VTOL." (The prop for the Jet VTOL was originally from the 1962 Toho SF epic, Gorath, but repainted and probably modified for this series. It should be noted that the Gorath prop was slightly pointier than the rounded VTOL.) Up to three are seen. A hydrogen-rocket modification is later built for it, allowing it to go into space. It is generally armed with missiles of varying quality, depending on the episode.
• Sub VTOL: A smaller, triangular version of the Jet VTOL, is actually an STOL with no VTOL capabilities. This was the vehicle piloted by Shin Hayata when he crashed it into Ultraman's "Travel Sphere" ship in "Ultra Operation Number One," the first episode, and destroyed both. It is generally not used to attack monsters, as it lacks the heavier firepower and carrying space of the Jet VTOL.
• Submarines S16, S21 and S25: The Science Patrol's short-range, high crush-depth underwater submarines, all of which are airlifted by the Jet VTOL to lakes or other bodies of water one at a time.
• Underground Tank Pelucidar: The Science Patrol's subterranean vehicle with a huge drill at the front. Similar to the Mole from Thunderbirds, it is named after the underground world from Edgar Rice Burroughs's At the Earth's Core. It appears to have its own incidental music when it is first used.
• Special Search-Party Private Car: A silver 1961 Chevrolet Corvair four-door sedan with the Science Patrol logo on the doors and roof.

Gallery

Other Media

Manga SSSP

Main article: SSSP (ULTRAMAN)

The Manga version of the first attack team from the 2011 manga from HEROES magazine.

References

Attack Teams
Showa Attack Teams	SSSP | TDF (UG) | MAT | TAC | ZAT | MAC | UGM | Scientific Defense Guard
Heisei Attack Teams	UMA | WINR | HEART | MYDO | TPC (GUTS, Super GUTS, Black Buster Corps, Neo Super GUTS) | XIG | EYES | TLT | DASH | GUYS | ZAP Spacy | Team U | UPG | Xio | VLT | AIB
Other Attack Teams	SGM (Science Guard Members) | SAT (Space Attack Team) | SAF (Scientific Attack Force)