An ex-Martel techie once told me that the reason the Shrike was used, was because the Martel had a limited flight carriage life of something like 24 hours, which the Shrike didn't. The TPS-43 was damaged in the first Vulcan anti radar attack (Two missiles tuned to the TPS-43), though the damage was repaired (the Argies did trash it before we got our mits on it, I've seen photos of the damage when it was at Henlow in 1983/4 before it was fixed and based at Wattisham). Second attack was with four Shrikes, two for the TPS-43 and the others tuned for the Skyguards. one Skyguard taken out by the two Shrikes fired at it, one of the TPS-43 missile fired off to clear the launcher on the trip to Rio after the Vulcan's probe broke on the return AAR, and the other which misfired, impounded at Rio. As regards the Atlantic Conveyor, I've heard of stuff being written off from being on that ship when I reached the operational Air Force three years later.
Last edited by MAINJAFAD; 16th May 2008 at 17:42.
Reason: Spelling