Had they taken a trip to Russia to brighten their day in the 1970’s/early 1980’s, how many such nukes would have been carried on an attack ? I’m assuming more than one, as the Vulcan is famed for carrying 21 conventional bombs.
Can’t seem to find much on the subject. Plenty on early big bombs such as Yellow Sun, Blue Steel etc’ and many references to the lack of air refuelling and conventional bombing skills in April 1982, but very little on the 1970’s nuclear role etc’ when equipped with WE.177’s.
Anybody know more please ?
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By: XM692. - 3rd March 2009 at 22:26
David,
I have Tim’s book, i will re-read more carefully, thanks.
Surprised by the other replies stating only one bomb though. Is it just SAC aircraft that had multiple targets then ?
Cheers….
Dave T’
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By: Postfade - 3rd March 2009 at 22:14
Tim Mclelland (know here as ‘Choux’) has done a great appraisal of the V-forces cold war capabilities and their attack planning in his latest Vulcan book.
It has a comprehensive chapter on the British A and H bomb development and testing as well. Definetely one to get if you’re interested in the subject.
DT
By: exmpa - 3rd March 2009 at 16:48
Had they taken a trip to Russia to brighten their day in the 1970’s/early 1980’s, how many such nukes would have been carried on an attack ?
One.
The only V-Bomber that carried more than one was the Valiant when equipped with the US weapon, they carried two.
exmpa
By: madjock mcgrok - 3rd March 2009 at 15:35
If memory serves our crews were briefed one WE177 and one target. Fuel load for this venture was 98% +8K in the bomb bay tanks. After departure we- the ground crew were deemed surplus as the odds of them coming back were extremely low even so we had to hang around just in case any had made it to their end run airfields- none in the UK. Of course this meant nothing as Waddington was supposed to be a smoking hole by then!
Even when the Blue Beasties were loaded there was a strange feeling about the aircraft- we knew it was a dummy even so the two man principle brought it home although due to shortage of bods it was observed more in the breach- its not the sort of thing taught at STCVSS
Cheers
Mad Jock
By: XM692. - 3rd March 2009 at 14:24
I think Blue Steel was the nuclear deterrent in which case it would be one weapon per aircraft.
Nope…. after Blue Steel. The period when Polaris took over the nuclear deterrant and the V-force reverted to conventional bombing and tactical nuclear weapons.
Perhaps on a ‘real’ mission they would have carried the bomb bay fuel tank and maybe 3 weapons ?
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By: hunterxf382 - 3rd March 2009 at 14:02
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WE.177 is worth a read on the subject – I just learnt a few things I didn’t know even though I was in the RAF from ’78… 😮
By: VX927 - 3rd March 2009 at 13:52
I think Blue Steel was the nuclear deterrent in which case it would be one weapon per aircraft.
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March 3, 2009 at 1:34 pm