Why did the RAF give up nuclear weapons...
But a hand grenade is rather more deadly than that WE177A training round....
In any case, the 177A was for girls. WE177B (B for big) was the real thermonuclear big boy's toy
!
In any case, the 177A was for girls. WE177B (B for big) was the real thermonuclear big boy's toy
!
8pm BBC2 Sunday 4th September 2016
BBC Two - A Very British Deterrent
A Very British Deterrent
Sunday 8pm
Length 1 hour
News & Documentaries, Features
The story of the remarkable events, power relationships and secret deals done half a century ago to secure Britain's very first submarine-launched nuclear missiles.
Sunday 8pm
Length 1 hour
News & Documentaries, Features
The story of the remarkable events, power relationships and secret deals done half a century ago to secure Britain's very first submarine-launched nuclear missiles.
That was an interesting programme TEEJ
When I was a kid I lived In Carlisle and if the wind was from the east you could hear the Blue Streak engines on test at Spadeadam. Surprised there was no mention of the Thor sites, when I went to do OCTU at Feltwell in 64 the Thors hadn't long gone and some of the installations were still there.
When I was a kid I lived In Carlisle and if the wind was from the east you could hear the Blue Streak engines on test at Spadeadam. Surprised there was no mention of the Thor sites, when I went to do OCTU at Feltwell in 64 the Thors hadn't long gone and some of the installations were still there.
Yes, thanks too TEEEJ, great prog. I was at Sleaford Tech 59-62, and remember the Soviet satellite and manned launches then (though little flurry at RAFC amongst we low life ;-). I also remember the subsequent Cuba Crisis (at 5FTS RAF Oakington by then). Again it took second billing as it coincided with my 21st!.
All this accounted for the many arms race US systems mentioned in the programme that allowed Super Mac to cherry-pick from, first Skybolt and then Polaris. This was when the special relationship was special both to the USA as well as to the UK. Less so these days of course, with repeated threats to banish us to "the back of the line" (sorry, queue)!
Oh, yes, I also remember the Thors, clearly visible from the main road and not that far inside the wire. It always seemed to me that a malcontent with an air-rifle could have seriously compromised them!
All this accounted for the many arms race US systems mentioned in the programme that allowed Super Mac to cherry-pick from, first Skybolt and then Polaris. This was when the special relationship was special both to the USA as well as to the UK. Less so these days of course, with repeated threats to banish us to "the back of the line" (sorry, queue)!
Oh, yes, I also remember the Thors, clearly visible from the main road and not that far inside the wire. It always seemed to me that a malcontent with an air-rifle could have seriously compromised them!
Last edited by Chugalug2; 5th Sep 2016 at 10:12. Reason: Thor, and his hammer
OK - but rather thin!
An interesting programme, but with some glaring omissions.
No real mention of the UK free-fall weapons before 1957, only a scant mention of the H-bomb OP GRAPPLE tests. No mention of Thor IRBM and Blue Steel weapons.... Neither that Skybolt worked correctly on the very day that it was cancelled.
But the Holy Loch episode was very interesting; MacMillan and Kennedy managed to find an equable solution- and without undue interference from Mountbottom.
No real mention of the UK free-fall weapons before 1957, only a scant mention of the H-bomb OP GRAPPLE tests. No mention of Thor IRBM and Blue Steel weapons.... Neither that Skybolt worked correctly on the very day that it was cancelled.
But the Holy Loch episode was very interesting; MacMillan and Kennedy managed to find an equable solution- and without undue interference from Mountbottom.
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It wasn't meant to be a history of the UK detererent - it was purely about the adoption of Polaris
the clue is in the PR puff....
"deals done half a century ago to secure Britain's very first submarine-launched nuclear missiles."
anyway these are TV people - not historians
the clue is in the PR puff....
"deals done half a century ago to secure Britain's very first submarine-launched nuclear missiles."
anyway these are TV people - not historians
No real mention of the UK free-fall weapons before 1957, only a scant mention of the H-bomb OP GRAPPLE tests. No mention of Thor IRBM and Blue Steel weapons.... Neither that Skybolt worked correctly on the very day that it was cancelled.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I have been asked about Valiant targeting. As the Victor and Vulcan force built up the Valiants were assigned to SACEUR as the Tactical Bomber Force. They had US laybown weapons years before WE177 entered Service.
Were they targetted by SACEUR and were those targets in WPC rather than mother Russia?
Were they targetted by SACEUR and were those targets in WPC rather than mother Russia?
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Visiting Thor
Thanks Chugalug (post #93). You have reminded me of my entry’s detailed exposure to Thor. I was at Sleaford Tech a year earlier – perhaps they thought better of this little exercise when it might have been your turn.
The day started with a briefing by the Stn Cdr of Hemswell. RAF Police were much in evidence, in white caps, belts and gaiters, which abashed us a bit. The old gentleman remained seated and seemed worn out and perhaps not well. His address was notably dispiriting.
We then made a long visit to RAF Coleby Grange. The squadron of old-timers made us very welcome in their hutted accommodation. We saw one of its three missiles raised, which was pretty impressive.
As a gung-ho young jet-jockey, I found the whole business bizarre. Fortunately I did my bomber Canberra first tour in Singapore, so I did not have QRA to teach me the hard truth of life on the front line in the Cold War. Coleby Grange had given me due warning and for years I more or less put it out of my mind.
The day started with a briefing by the Stn Cdr of Hemswell. RAF Police were much in evidence, in white caps, belts and gaiters, which abashed us a bit. The old gentleman remained seated and seemed worn out and perhaps not well. His address was notably dispiriting.
We then made a long visit to RAF Coleby Grange. The squadron of old-timers made us very welcome in their hutted accommodation. We saw one of its three missiles raised, which was pretty impressive.
As a gung-ho young jet-jockey, I found the whole business bizarre. Fortunately I did my bomber Canberra first tour in Singapore, so I did not have QRA to teach me the hard truth of life on the front line in the Cold War. Coleby Grange had given me due warning and for years I more or less put it out of my mind.
risbutler:-
Fortune clearly smiled on you as it did on me. First tour at Changi as a Hastings Co-pilot. The boss claimed half the Pacific to the East, the East African coast to the West, Japan to the North, New Zealand to the South, and "all the intervening territories" as his Parish. I was lucky enough to beat the bounds to his four cardinal points before returning tour-ex to the Swinging Sixties UK. Once clear of RAFC I never returned to that land of ORPs until our 25th Reunion, long after my PVR!
BTW, the Snowdrop that you recall could be obtained in effigy form from Messrs Airfix, together with his attendant Alsatian. "Stop, or I shall release my handler!".
Fortunately I did my bomber Canberra first tour in Singapore
BTW, the Snowdrop that you recall could be obtained in effigy form from Messrs Airfix, together with his attendant Alsatian. "Stop, or I shall release my handler!".
BTW, the Snowdrop that you recall could be obtained in effigy form from Messrs Airfix, together with his attendant Alsatian. "Stop, or I shall release my handler!".