BRIXMIS

[Hobbes]

At SMW, there was some discussion of BRIXMIS (The British Commanders'-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany). Nick regaled us with tales of BRIXMIS exploits (basically semi-legal military espionage in East Germany). The mission used a variety of interesting cars for this purpose.

Opel Senator, modified with 4WD, strengthened suspension and underside, modified engine, large fuel tanks, extra lights configured to make the car look like a Trabant in the dark, etc:



Later they switched to Mercedes G-wagens:



It'd be fun to build a car to this sort of specification.

Moe info: http://www.brixmis.co.uk/

[PR19_Kit]

There's one of those 4x4 Senators at Cosford, parked just behind the York in the Cold War display. It looks quite normal at a glance, quite amazing.

[Hobbes]

There's one of those 4x4 Senators at Cosford, parked just behind the York in the Cold War display. It looks quite normal at a glance, quite amazing.

That's the one in the first photo...

Chris, I can't get that channel, but I'll keep an eye out, it might turn up on Discovery or online.

[PR19_Kit]

That's the one in the first photo...

Hobbes,

Sadly the first pic shows as a red cross on here for some reason.

BTW it was great to meet you in person at Telford. 

[Hobbes]

My mistake, that site doesn't allow their photos to be reused.

the original is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcl/386882559/

And I enjoyed meeting you as well 

[Mike Wren]

they also had mk 1 Range Rovers for a time, but they kept breaking... I've got 1/43 Senator, G Wagen & RR diecasts to eventually finish as BRIXMIS one day..

[Hobbes]

I found a road test of the Senator 4x4:

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/6846600279/in/photostream/
https://secure.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/6846600291/in/photostream/


and an article on the Brixmis cars (in German, but lots of pics)
http://www.alt-opel.org/clubzeitung05/Senator-Allrad.pdf

[Runway ? ...]

Have a poke about arrse .co.uk
Some of the cold war warriors wander through from time to time.
eg http://www.arrse.co.uk/arrse-social-events-networking/194366-brixmis-tourer.html


Chippy spyplane for variation on a theme.

[PR19_Kit]

Chippy spyplane for variation on a theme.

Used to fly over me on a daily basis when I lived in Berlin, but at least one was camo'd.

[Rheged]

A couple of useful sources

http://www.bunkertours.co.uk/BRIXMIS.htm

http://www.callsignalpha.co.uk/British%20Kit.htm

and theres always this one too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRIXMIS  with the "links" data to help you on your way.

[Captain Canada]

That's some interesting stuff....who knew ? Certainly not me !

[Mossie]

I've half read a book so far called The Red Effect, by Harvey Black.  The author patricipated in intelligance gathering missions in Berlin and Northern Ireland.  If the events haven't been over fictionalised, it seems they didn't only take photos but would sometimes resort to stealing interesting bits of kit for further anaylsis.  The book has a scene where they remove an ERA block from a T-80, and the suggestion is that such antics sometimes got them into serious trouble.