This may not be the article you are looking for. For the ULTRAMAN manga and anime counterpart, see SSSP (ULTRAMAN).
The
Overview[]
The SSSP Meteor logo
The SSSP is a subsidiary organization of the ISPO (International Science Police Organization ), abbreviated as "The Science Patrol" , which is not a military organization like the Earth Defense Force but rather a specialized police force. However, the SSSP is typically tasked with handling mysterious events, investigating anomalies, and defending Earth against extraterrestrial threats, missions that regular police forces cannot handle.
Despite being a non-combat organization focused on investigating mysterious events, the team has often been involved in special missions to combat monsters. According to Muramatsu, the organization has been established for about 20 years.Who Goes There?
The headquarters of the SSSP is located in Paris, with branches in India, Bolivia, New York, the Middle East, Brazil, London, Moscow, Turkey, and Japan. Communication with the headquarters from external locations can be done directly through operators, with the emergency contact number being 999.
In this series, the focus is on the team at the Japan (Far East) branch, which consists of five members, including Captain Muramatsu (referred to as Cap), followed by Chief Shin Hayata, Daisuke Arashi, Mitsuhiro Ide, and Personnel Officer Akiko Fuji. The young boy Isamu Hoshino was also appointed as a Special Personnel Officer in the middle of the series, and the title of special personnel was also awarded to the friendly kaiju Pigmon. The Japanese branch has also been visited by members from the Paris headquarters and Overseas branches.
In addition to the Muramatsu team, other media has mentioned the Endo team, which performs missions in space, as well as units such as the Mizuno team and the Yamato team.
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.
History[]
Ultra Strategy, Mobilization of the Science Patrol![]
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 Ultra Q and Ultraman, 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 "Birth of Japan's Branch of the Science Patrol") 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.
Ultraman[]
The SSSP was formed to investigate and deal with events and incidents directly and indirectly related to Kaiju and aliens. After fighting alongside Ultraman on many occasions, the Japan Branch was destroyed by Zetton during its attack. The SSSP used a special anti-gravity weapon to defeat Zetton, showing that humanity could handle themselves. Eventually, the SSSP was dissolved, and presumably reformed into future attack teams. The data that the SSSP collected was used by GUYS in the future.
At some point they had sent Shingo Sakomizu, where he was protected by Zoffy from an alien fleet. He experienced the Rip-Van-Winkle as a result of his trip to space, which severely slowed his ageing. He eventually became the captain of GUYS.
Ultraman Kaiju Legend: The 40 Year Old Truth[]
40 years after Ultraman left Earth, the Japanese branch of the SSSP underwent reorganization. Due to the absorption of the organization by the Earth Defense Force, some members became part of the EDF, while others chose to leave.Ultraman Kaiju Legend: The 40 Year Old Truth
Bases[]
Japan Branch[]
SSSP Japanese branch HQ
The Far East Base of the SSSP was founded by Dr. Ichinotani 20 years ago, located in the outskirts of Tokyo (west of the city). The base consists of two interconnected buildings, including a pentagonal silver structure surrounded by slopes, and a "headquarters" comprised of a pentagonal black building, along with ancillary structures such as Jet VTOL landing pads efficiently arranged.
The exterior walls of the base are made of reinforced concrete with added special alloys to withstand attacks from all light and heat rays. Inside, there is a large underground electronic command center, upstairs from which are interconnected team dormitories, fully-equipped guest lounges, storage rooms for recovered materials, and workshops for new equipment development. Automated drainage devices are also installed around the base to extinguish building fires. The base is staffed by resident personnel and guards for at least 24 hours a day to handle various emergencies.
As the series progressed, the base underwent several upgrades and renovations, including the installation of a large electronic intelligent system in the command center and the introduction of various radar and measuring instrument console systems. However, due to its status as a crucial facility of the Far East Branch, the base often becomes a target for attacks. In Episode 39, the base was even invaded and destroyed internally by the Alien Zetton.Farewell, Ultraman
![The floor plan of the Far East Base, an artwork drawn by Yuji Kaida.[2]](/wiki/File:Far_East_Base_Art.png "Far East Base Art.png (2.48 MB)")
Sublight Spaceship Izanami[]
Izanami
The extraterrestrial department of the SSSP was testing sublight speed technology. Their base of operations was on board Sublight Spaceship Izanami. The ship has a docking bay that is able to store a Jet VTOL.
Singapore Branch[]
A division of the SSSP based in Singapore that is featured in Ultraman: A New Power of Singapore. Its only known member is Dr. Alisha Hoshi of the Space Organism Research Lab.
Members[]
Japan Branch[]
Toshio Muramatsu
- Main article: Toshio Muramatsu
Toshio "Cap" Muramatsu is the leader of the Science Patrol. He is very serious and is also highly intelligent. He is sometimes shown smoking a pipe. He is known as Captain Mura in the US version.
Shin Hayata
- Main article: Shin Hayata
Shin Hayata is the Science Patrol's brave and no-nonsense chief. His life changed when Ultraman's Travel Sphere accidentally crashed with Hayata's Sub VTOL, destroying it, and killing Hayata. Ultraman, ashamed of what he did, decided to merge his life force with Hayata's, bringing the human back to life. Ultraman gave Hayata the Beta Capsule, which, when he presses the red button on its side, transforms him into Ultraman.
Ever since Ultraman, Hayata has been Ultraman's human host.
Daisuke Arashi
- Main article: Daisuke Arashi
Daisuke Arashi , the Science Patrol's resident sharp-shooter; his favorite weapon, a two-handed rifle called the Spider-Shot in the original, is called the Gamma-Ray Gun in the English version. He is shown to have a tough guy personality, but he is very caring towards his fellow teammates, and has a soft spot for children.
Mistuhiro Ide
- Main article: Mitsuhiro Ide
Mitsuhiro Ide is a scientist, and the primary ordnance-and-munitions inventor of the Science Patrol. Sometimes he feels his weapons are useless because of Ultraman; however, sometimes his weapons saved the day. He is rather comical by comparison with the team's other personnel, and is very skinny and tall. He is called Ito in the English-language version. In episode 30, it is stated that his mother died when he was a child.
Akiko Fuji
- Main article: Akiko Fuji
Akiko Fuji is the operator of communications of the Science Patrol, she is the only female on the Tokyo team. She is very intelligent, and can be presumed to have been born in June, as the pearl (as shown in "The Pearl Defense Directive") is her birthstone. In most adventures, Fuji proves to be the most level-headed and capable member after Hayata.
Isamu Hoshino
- Main article: Isamu Hoshino
Isamu Hoshino is the Science Patrol's unofficial mascot, he gets to hang out with the full-fledged members; later, he is even issued a Science Patrol uniform after the encounter with Bullton. He often gets into trouble, and sometimes Ultraman would have to save him. He is known as Hoshino Fuji in the US version, which describes him as Akiko Fuji's younger brother.
Other Members[]
- Main article: Dr. Iwamoto
He was the designer of the Jet VTOL, and simultaneously the Phoenix No. rocket.
He took over for Dr. Ichinotani, from Ultra Q, as the Science Patrol's scientific adviser after the latter's retirement.
Liaison Jim was a SSSP member from their France HQ. He was sent to Japan HQ to help them investigate the Arabian Desert's mysterious plane disappearances (that were caused by Antlar). Jim knows many languages, including Arabic and Hebrew. He also knows of the ESP ability that the princess of Baradhi uses.
Actor: Edgar Keizer
Anne Morheim came from France HQ to show Hayata, Paris. Anne also had an underground twin, who took her place as an impostor and tried to corrupt Ultraman to the evil of the Underground People--but without success, as Shin Hayata's transformation instead killed them all. Anne then came back from Paris after realizing Hayata had been abducted and explained to the Science Patrol what had happened.
Actor: Annette Sonfers
Alan Bilotz came from France HQ to help the Japan HQ with Jamila's force field. Alan then told the Science Patrol about Jamila and given the order to eliminate him.
Later, he would quit from the SSSP to devote into journalism, and exposed the truth behind Jamila in his book "My Home is Earth" . Ultraman Mebius: Anderes Horizont
Actor: Pierre Pirottsu
Gotoh was a member of the Bolivian base of the Science Patrol. 20 years before the series he and his father where sent on a expedition to the Amazon only to have them both killed by Keronia. Keronia disguised himself as Gotoh and tried to infiltrate the SSSP base.
The real Gotoh never actually appeared in the series; "his" only appearance was when Keronia was disguised as him.
Actor: Yoio Kirino
Member Patty
Patty is from the SSSP's India branch. Hayata was her escort while she visited Japan. She became unconscious due to Zumbolar's combustion.
She is called Patra in the English dub.
Actor: Annu Mari
Shingo Sakomizu
- Main article: Shingo Sakomizu
Shingo Sakomizu was originally a member of the SSSP that was on an away mission from Earth during Ultraman as captain of Sublight Spaceship Izanami. During one of these flights, he was attacked by a fleet of alien ships but was saved by Zoffy. This incident made him realize how much the Ultras were actually doing for humanity, that the human race was unaware of the hidden dangers in the Universe and his testimonies upon his return were the reason GUYS was formed and maintained despite a lack of supposed threats from aliens or monsters for twenty-five years.
Due to the Rip-Van-Winkle effect, Sakomizu had only experienced a fraction of the time experience on Earth. The result of approaching the Speed-of-Light is that time stretches and the time outside the object moving at such velocities is faster than inside. This is why he is so young despite being of Shin Hayata's generation.
Dr. Alisha Hoshi
Alisha Hoshi is a researcher belonging to the Space Organism Research Lab of the SSSP's Singapore Branch, who was first seen reviewing old photographic evidence of Ultraman's visits to Singapore while investigating mysterious phenomena, before coming face-to-face with the Kaiju terrorizing the island nation.
Actor: Hikari Kuroki
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 Mitsuhiro Ide.
Attire[]
The SSSP personnel outfitted in their "Class A" uniforms.
Standard SSSP Mission Wear
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.
In addition, the SSSP also possesses the following equipment and uniforms worn during special missions:
- Gas Mask : These are attachments for helmets. Developed to protect team members from various toxic gases, these high-performance masks are designed to cover the face completely.
- Diving Equipment : This includes wet diving suits and scuba gear, capable of withstanding pressures up to 200 meters deep in the ocean and strong water currents.
- Space Suit : Worn during exploration activities on Planet Q, these suits come with oxygen tanks. In emergency situations, oxygen can be jetted from the tanks, allowing for short flights of up to 500 meters.
Equipment[]
- Identification Card : Used to carry a member's identification.
- Meteor Badge : 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 threw a shuriken or shaken shaped like the Meteor Badge at 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.
- Supergun : 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". In Ultraman Mebius: Anderes Horizont, a super combat type with a truncated barrel reappeared as GUYS Security Department's standard weapon, and is used by GUYS investigator Yamanaka against an army of Alien Shaplay.
- Spider-Shot : 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.
- Barrier Machine : A backpack-looking device developed by Ide that can generate a light wave barrier against intense beam attack. It was finished at some point before and used during the battle against Dodongo. An improved version would be equipped with the UG's Pointer.
- Marus 133[3] : A gun invented by Mitsuhiro Ide, that works on the same principle as Ultraman's Spacium Beam, and is thus mortally effective against Baltans. It is named after Mars, which contains Spacium, and the atomic number of Spacium, 133.
- Mad Bazooka : A large shoulder-mounted bazooka, also created by Matsuhiro Ide.
- QX Gun : 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.
- Spark 8 : 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 only uses it twice; against Dorako II and Geronimon.
- Needle Type S80 : A rapid-fire gun that is stated to be 10 times stronger than the Spider Shot.
- Silver Arrow : An ultra-small missile used to shot down X's meteorite-shaped egg.
- Stamina Capsule : In Revive! Ultraman, this equipment was made by Mitsuhiro Ide to recharge Ultraman's energy. The projectile took inspiration from the Energy Drinks Ide had found.
- Thermal Beam Machine Gun : This is a weapon divided into a main body and a gun mount, typically used for firepower suppression and defensive combat.
- Napalm Grenade : This is a small-sized bomb with an effective throwing distance of 20 meters, usually stored in a box at the back of the member's belt.
- Powerful Drying Missile : Referred to as a "missile" by Ide, it is actually a "dropped bomb" type weapon released from an automatic open-close magazine on the underside of the Jet VTOL's fuselage.
- Pan Space Interpreter : Developed by Ide, this is a universal language translation device used for communication and deployed in actual combat with extraterrestrials.
- Monster Language Translator : Developed by Ide and Dr. Gonda of Tozai University, used for automatic translation of monster language.
- Spectrum Alpha, Beta, Gamma Rays : Three new weapons developed by Ide, with different optical effects, including controlling light refraction, destroying light color absorption, and restricting light reflection angles.
- Marker : A universal marker pen that can be torn off and stuck on wood or walls to indicate routes to other team members.
- Dissolver : A device capable of dissolving building exteriors.
- Fire Extinguishing Liquid Spray Device : Capable of spraying fire extinguishing liquid from the air to extinguish fires.
- Hand Radio Wave Detector : Used to confirm the presence of Neronga or electricity.
- Compass : A device used to determine direction during exploration.
- Magnetic Counter : A device used to detect the uranium magnetic waves of the Underground People.
- Hydrogen Bomb Detector : Used to detect water bombs, with an effective range of 20 kilometers.
- Spy Camera : A camera capable of espionage photography.
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 No.1," 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 Vellucidar: 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.
Other Media[]
ULTRAMAN[]
- Main article: SSSP (ULTRAMAN)
The manga version of the defense team from the 2011 manga from HEROES magazine.
Gallery[]
Ultraman[]
immediately after Skydon has
supposedly been dispatched.
In the English version,
the narrator says ominously,
just as this still appears on screen,
"But it was still too early to celebrate."
Ultraman Kaiju Legend: The 40 Year Old Truth[]
Ultraman Mebius[]
Miscellaneous[]
Trivia[]
- The official name of SSSP was inspired by the popular television detective drama "Special Mobile Investigation Team" at that time. [4]
- In the novel "Ultraman" written by Tetsuo Kinjo, the SSSP is described as "each team consisting of five people, with a total of twenty teams and one hundred personnel".
References[]
- ↑ https://hicbc.com/tv/mebius/document/
- ↑ Science Special Investigation Team/Ultra Guard <Ultra Weapons Document 1>
- ↑ https://en.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp/encyclopedia/gomora
- ↑ Ultra Special effects Magazine VOL.3 TV magazine Special pg 8–19
| Defense Teams | |
|---|---|
| Showa Defense Teams | SSSP | TDF (UG, MAT, TAC, ZAT, MAC, UGM) | Science Guard Party |
| Heisei Defense Teams | UMA | WINR | HEART | Mydo | TPC (GUTS, Super GUTS, Black Buster Corps, Neo Super GUTS) | GUARD (XIG) | GOKAZOKU | SRC (EYES, Team SEA), JADF | BCST | TLT (NR) | UDF (DASH) | GUYS | DEUS | ZAP SPACY | Team U | UPG | UNVER (Xio) | VTL | AIB |
| Reiwa Defense Teams | EGIS | GAF (STORAGE) | TPU (GUTS-Select) | SSSP | GGF (SKaRD) | SKIP, GDF |
| Other Defense Teams | Inter Galactic Defense Force | Space Patrol | MIGHTY JACK | SRI | SGM | Team Mouri | SAT | SAF | PAT | Koseidon Corps | SWORD | SSSP | USP | GIRLS |