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Old 30th Dec 2008, 11:42
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MAINJAFAD
 
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Didn't buy them back from the Swiss. Swedish AF got 116 missiles back in 1965-6. They fired 10 in trials/troop firings, kept 6 or 7 as gate guards and the rest we got our hands on in the late 1970's, along with 9 of the 'Firelight' (Type 86) radars a bit later. In 74, the majority of the force was overseas in West Germany and Cyprus (25 and 112 Sqn's). There was only one Bloodhound missile section in the UK that could be used operationally between 1974 and 1976, and that was the trials and proving section of the Bloodhound Support Unit at West Raynham, which could be placed in the 11 Group order of battle in time of war (the unit's primary role was support of 25 Sqn in West Germany). 76 to 79 saw the force build back up in the UK when 85 Sqn stood up in Dec 75 from the rump of the BHSU, equipment returned Cyprus when 112 were canned and equipment out of storage that had been removed from Butterworth in 1970. Half of the kit from Seletar was sold to the Singapore AF, while the rest (mobile T86 sections) made up part of the kit that 25 Sqn had in Germany.

RAF Bloodhound Mk 2 stocks in 1991 when the system was phased out was just under 300 missiles.
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