British alternative to Skybolt

This was an air-launched ballistic missile, a three-stage solid rocket version of the X.12.

Talking of three stage solid rocket ballistic missiles…

In Volume 59 Supplement 2, 2006 of BIS’s Space Chronicles – UK Spaceplanes

Based on studies of manned Blue Steel to do the same research as the X-15

The Vulcan Obiter Z 124

By October 1962 ambitions had increased to the extent of considering a brand new rocket vehicle completely different in principal from Blue Steel. The concept began with the recognition that the Vulcan, because of its delta wing, had very tall undercarriage. This would permit the installation of a large ballistic multi-stage rocket weighing up to 40,000lb (the drawing shows the missile hanging outside the bomb bay which appears to have had the doors removed). This would be carried and air launched much as was Blue Steel, from a height of about 50,000ft, but the trajectory would be more akin to that of the ballistic Skybolt as the obiter was wing-less. It was calculated that this three-stage vehicle could place a 650lb payload into a low earth orbit. Although less design detailing was done on the obiter than on the manned Blue Steel its potential was recognised. Here was a revolutionary way of placing application satellites (for communications, meteorology, survey, navigation etc) in orbit launched from a mobile platform. Two advantages sprang from this: firstly the Vulcan could fly to any base in Europe, collect its rocket and launch into a variety of orbital planes; secondly, with flight refuelling, the craft could be placed in an equatorial orbit. In this way Europe could have had its very own launching system, quite different from that of the USA, which was totally expendable.

This project was announced at a lecture and received a lot of publicity. Whether it was ever considered seriously by HMG is doubted but it could have given the RAF an opportunity to take a bold step, into spaceflight.

The problem with that is that the longer range standoff missiles had sufficient range to be launched from relative safety. It is very likely of course that the SSBNs would still have been bought, but a Skybolt or similar missile might have allowed the RAF to share the deterrent role.

Interesting you should bring that up, take a look at the wiki article for Chevaline, admitedly its wiki but its quite interesting regarding the redice range of Chevaline Polaris over the standard Polaris.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevaline

From what i’ve read in various places, Moscow was the target and the range requirement seems to have been based on launching from friendly airspace.

The problem with that is that the longer range standoff missiles had sufficient range to be launched from relative safety. It is very likely of course that the SSBNs would still have been bought, but a Skybolt or similar missile might have allowed the RAF to share the deterrent role.

Depends where you are trying to hit inside the Soviet Union.;)

The problem with that is that the longer range standoff missiles had sufficient range to be launched from relative safety. It is very likely of course that the SSBNs would still have been bought, but a Skybolt or similar missile might have allowed the RAF to share the deterrent role.

If a suitable working stand off weapon – Skybolt, OR.1182 (Bristol X12 or Avro W.140) – had been available, would Polaris have still been bought at this time or would a switch to SSBN’s have occured later?

There will still be the vulnerability issue with the manned bomber but a working system in place would have been hard for the Treasury not to pick up on.

They still would have gone to SSBN’s. The problem was the ability of the V-force to survive in Soviet airspace long enough to stand-off their weapons. With the cancellation of TSR-2 even the means of allowing their penetration in the first place was starting to look antique. On the other hand no one could realistically hope to stop an ABM yet.

If a suitable working stand off weapon – Skybolt, OR.1182 (Bristol X12 or Avro W.140) – had been available, would Polaris have still been bought at this time or would a switch to SSBN’s have occured later?

There will still be the vulnerability issue with the manned bomber but a working system in place would have been hard for the Treasury not to pick up on.

Got some info on the original X.12

OR.1182 – 1,000nm range, Mach 3 performance at high altitude, and high-speed (mach 2) terrain following for the last 100nm to be in service by 1966.

Bristol X.12 (also known as Pandora) – This low-level stand off bomb had a slim 50ft (15.2m) long fuselage of just 3ft 2” (98cm) in diameter together with small delta wings 15ft (4.6m) long and 6ft (1.8m) span. The latter, and a semi-integrated BS.10-13 ramjet optimised for Mach 2.5, were mounted around the rear fuselage; a 28ft (8.5m) mid-fuselage section housed the fuel and the nose contained the warhead and guidance (Forward Looking radar from TSR.2). At 20,000lb (9,072kg) weight, X-12’s range would have been at least 1,000nm (1,852km); maximum ceiling was expected to be 70,000ft to 76,000ft (21,336m to 23,165m) and initially, a cruising speed of mach 4 had been planned. Projected in-service date was 1966.

Avro W.140 – This had a slim body 37ft 3in (11.35m) long with a 6ft 6in (1.98m) span delta wing, a Rolls Royce RB.153-17 jet and all-moving elevons for control aft of the wing. Launch weight would be 8,550lb (3,878kg). If the weapon was launched at mach 0.84 and 45,000ft (13,716m), a range of 1,550nm (2,871km) was possible but this fell to 950nm (1,759km) if the missile flew the last 100nm (185km) at Mach 1.5 at sea level; W.140 would cruise at Mach 3 at 70,000ft (21,336m).

The most fanciful of the fanciful I would say. Had britain have pursued a skybolt alternative it would have been ramjet powered- or skybolt minus America.

According the British Secret Projects: Hypersonics, Ramjets and Missiles, BAC at Stevenage proposed (some time in 1961 it looks like) a British alternative to Skybolt, the X.12B.

This was an air-launched ballistic missile, a three-stage solid rocket version of the X.12.

Launch aircraft was to be the VC.10 (this could carry four of the earlier X.12).

Does anyone have any information on this?

Yes, I’ve heard, over the years, of a number of would-be attack roles for commercial planes, including using Concordes as an RAF standoff platform.

To the best of my knowledge, the Nimrod is the only thing that’s come even remotely close. I’d be happy to be reminded of anything else.

I’ve no idea about the Skybolt ‘alternative’ but when it comes down to it, this is all a bit fanciful.