Marksman unit

Tue, 09/23/2014 - 00:12

thats me.

Date picture taken
1970s

Comments

Shortly after this photo there was a 3 x man x baddie situation Hong Kong side where they went to ground and tried to hide and escape down a water drain pipe. I was dropped into a storm water pipe with my AR 15 and quietly crawled after them. After a few moments I realised from distant scuffles that I had been dropped too far in front of them and the baddies were behind me. Problem; the rifle was too long to turn around in the diameter of the pipe. Solution; The AR15 breaks in half for cleaning. So remove magazine, push receiver pin out and hinge rifle in half. Turn rifle around and Quietly re-assemble. When they came into view in the dark, in the quiet, they met the barrel of the AR 15 and gave up. No shots. No loss and a clean end. Due to the nature of the incident, No press. From items found on them one of the methods of smuggling explosives into HK from the mainland was discovered.

If I remember right the location was east of Wong Chuk Hang in the hillside drainage system there. I think the theme park took it over and built on it. We think the baddies were attempting to get lost in the  Aberdeen Harbour area.but due to the quick action of the EU the roads and pavements everywhere were being monitored and without them being aware of it they were being hearded into an empty containment area to be dealt with. This is one advantage when the main control for all units is in one secure place and it is being directed by someone who knows the area and what they are doing and who knows the capabilities of each unit. If you look at the whole photo album of the Marksman Unit you will eventually come across the MG photo that leads on from there. Also look on the PTS and RHKP Bomb Unit for stories. As I said before, these are a few allowed episodes of a Royal Hong Kong Police Unit, the individual members and events that would have faded into the mists without anyone being remotely aware of our existance. Good luck and hope you enjoy.

Just to whet appitites, Bill recently reminded me of this, we tried various aspects of training with life-like possibilities. One was if a hostage situation took to a car, would the ammunition we were using be diverted from the target if the bullet went thro' glass, metal or a windscreen and could you shoot 2 baddies thro the screen if one was behind the other? One day on a quiet road blocked off by EU on a bendy stretch that was a main feeder for the airport, cars were towed at various speeds which had pig heads placed in various baddie positions-within the car and as each car drove to the airport various positions, high low angled different weapons and ammo tried and we eventually found a success.We also found that 2 weapons side by side aimed at the same target and shot at the same time (comms thro ear mikes with toe switches) one bullet by millisecs. would always be in front of the other and that would clear a path for the other to follow true. The only downside after was clearing and cleaning up the site of all the mess and getting the barrack sgt to hose out the vehicles. This was the foresight and planning of Bill Duncanson to be able to cope with any aspect of the job we were called upon to do-- to do it right, first time. See what I mean? people are totally unaware that RHKP had a quiet operational mobile unit unlike anything anyone else had. Hope you enjoyed.

Very cool! 

I live adjacent to the area you describe (Brick Hill), and actually went to school there (on Nam Long Shan Road). Interesting about the drainage networks, they must have been quite large and I have never heard of/come across them. I suspect you are correct that the system was overtaken by Ocean Park, along with the old Brick Hill AA Battery. 

a mission like that on the Island during the 70s must've been a crazy. 

Did you ever have any other experiences on that side of HK island? South side, and even out towards Stanley, Tai Tam, Cape D'Aguilar, etc

If you go onto the main site and look up Hong Kong 70s then that reveals photos and little stories that very nearly got lost forever. Lots of things happened which cannot be put down, that is why the ex Commis. Police has been approached to see if he can write a book/paper about the times. As you state, ' A mission like that on the Island during the 70s ...crazy?  No it wasn't. It was nessessary, to be prepared for any aspect the RHKP may be called upon and to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion; involving the co-ordination of different units and areas. Anyway have a look at the photos and enjoy the stories. They all very nearly got thrown away. 

Have a read of " BomBan" by 'Jack Hunphreys ' -published 2016  ISBN-13 9781537622743 for further tales of derring - do in this vein.

Hi Ray,

Interesting that you mention stories that you think are never known to the public and will be lost if not posted here.  Given the covert nature of some of the jobs that Marksman Unit needed to do, I want to ask whether this unit was well known even within the police force?  Were new MU members invited individually to join or was the MU a place that every police officer aspired to?  From your stories the MU did not seem to enjoy the same prestige among the general public.  I have asked people who joined the police force in the late 70s and got involved with the SDU later, but they have never ever heard of the MU.  Is the fog of secrecy purposefully maintained?

breskvar

Potential members were carefully selected and approached. The work was on call 24/7 and kept in house with no loose talk. Have a look at the photos, read the stories and just enjoy this little insight into the capabilities of the RHKP in the 1970s. The material was due to be outed at a recent house move and forgotten but why should it as it is part of a little known RHKP history. They were put on site as they also bring to life to the now aged persons and their contributions towards the make up of the unit before time passes over them and all this is gone.Some members are gone and those still here have contacted each other through the gwulo site. Regards...