why Z and Q

chad_ghost · Post by **chad_ghost** » 18 Jul 2003 22:03

interesting question pat, i was talking to a british collector at the convention last year and he corrected me on the pronunciation of Muton.

i thought it was "Mutt-en" of course it was pronounced "Mewt-on"

hmm, Zed Force, how is Q Force said then??

id like to know more about this myself.
i guess thats the Americans for you

steve · Post by **steve** » 18 Jul 2003 22:56

The only real Z Force (ok Force Z) I know of was HMS Repulse & HMS Prince of Wales when they deployed to the pacific in 1941 on their ill fated mission.

There was also a 1981/2 Australian Film starring Mel Gibson and Sam Neil called Attack Force Z which was about Australian Commandos in WW2. Maybe this was an inspiration (the timing is right)

I always assumed that the Q came from aQua! Although there was a 'Q' force in the RAF in the early 1920s defending Constantinople and the Dardenelles, and they were transported aboard ship (HMS Ark Royal). The only other naval use of Q came with the Q ships which were anti submarine ships disguised as normal merchant ships.