Originally Posted by
RetiredBA/BY
Perhaps the tankers were were grounded before the bombers with our SACEUR commitment.
IIRC the Valiants remained with a nuclear, read-only, role for some weeks after the grounding.
Regarding refurbishment of a base. Apart from refurbishment and closure, a role change is the traditional excuse for a refurb. It goes like this:
A unit is posted on to an existing facility but the facility needs essential changes to make it fit for purpose, things like carpets and a new doorway for the bosses office. Some years later, say 2, the new boss wants but can't have as there is no money. A couple of decades later the original is still in use as it was OK for the previous X years. Come a new role and it is clearly totally unsuitable so . . .