Special weapons controller no. 3

Pehaps, but several special weapon panels were aircraft specific. Here is a site that shows the Buccaner panel. need to scroll down http://www.nuclear-weapons.info/vw.htm#WE.177

or a direct link to the Bucc panel: http://nuclear-weapons.info/images/pilotpanel700px.png

Great site on the WE177 by the way.

The delivery options selector knob seems consistant with a WE/177 (not sure how the delay function is activated for underwater use?), but many aircraft were cleared for it.

Color of the panel, only one weapon and date on the panel of 1984 still suggests Tornado to me, but still a guess. Sea Harrier had a similar instrument panel color.

If you look here http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?132135-Buccaneer-multi-role-panel you can see that there are two boxes screwed into the Bucc panel which could possibly be swapped out for this one. For all I know this approach may have been carried over to other platforms – although the earlier SWC no. 1 which has exactly the same controls as the Bucc looks Tornado-specific.

The differences appear to be more sophisticated safety and arming including the USG, no depth mode and the function (yield?) switch.

Pehaps, but several special weapon panels were aircraft specific. Here is a site that shows the Buccaner panel. need to scroll down http://www.nuclear-weapons.info/vw.htm#WE.177

or a direct link to the Bucc panel: http://nuclear-weapons.info/images/pilotpanel700px.png

Great site on the WE177 by the way.

The delivery options selector knob seems consistant with a WE/177 (not sure how the delay function is activated for underwater use?), but many aircraft were cleared for it.

Color of the panel, only one weapon and date on the panel of 1984 still suggests Tornado to me, but still a guess. Sea Harrier had a similar instrument panel color.

Thank you everyone.

On reflection, I may have been thinking about this in the wrong way -it is not going to be aircraft-specific. Looking at the Buccaneer for example, a couple of these would bolt into the BRSL panel as a modification.

If we’ve ruled out all the others, what does that leave? FBSA Phantom, perhaps?

I’m thinking Sea Harrier, but I’d need to do a bit of digging!!

If we’ve ruled out all the others, what does that leave? FBSA Phantom, perhaps?

USG stands for “unique signal generator” which if my memory serves me right, had something to do with either the inflight testing of the weapon, or part of the release procedure.
Strangely there is no “BRSL” (Bomb Release Safety Lock) switch on this panel.
Arming of the weapon was achieved by turning the rotary switch to one of the release settings. This allowed the metal lever to rotate outwards from the opening. This allowed the black box with the circular feature to move to the right, and be retained in position by screwing in the stud behind the same circular knob.
As I only had dealings with nukes on Vulcans and Nimrods, it certainly looks more like a British Weapon controller, than an American one. It would appear to be only for the control of a single weapon, and the Nimrod carried two of American manufacture.

Yep, I do not recognise it from a Jag either, anyway a Jag would need a Ground Time delayed selection lol… What about a Bucc or Wasp or Wessex ?

Interesting. No idea, but the gray panel color is similiar to the rear cockpit instrument panel on the GR version of the Tornado. Few public shots of the rear cockpit are out there, and some show a missing rectangle on the lower right side of the panel that is just about that size…. Jaguar and Vulcan panels were black IIRC. Do you think it is of UK orgin?

I don’t think it’s GR1 as I have one of those -SWC No.1 a huge two channel double thing measuring 265×145. I imagine this would have fitted in the rear left rack with the weapons stuff.

The unit in question is only 145×85. Not the classic Tornado bluey colour more browny grey . Deffo UK. Looking at your picture, it is within the range of panel colours visible. I can see the cutout but I don’t think it would be next to the IFF transponder – actually this picture shows two IFF transponders fitted which is a bit odd.

Interesting. No idea, but the gray panel color is similiar to the rear cockpit instrument panel on the GR version of the Tornado. Few public shots of the rear cockpit are out there, and some show a missing rectangle on the lower right side of the panel that is just about that size…. Jaguar and Vulcan panels were black IIRC. Do you think it is of UK orgin?

A picture of a stripped Tornado rear cockpit is here:
http://www.airfieldarchaeology.co.uk/uploads/7/3/3/0/7330321/4359497_orig.jpg

Definitely not V Bomber, far too modern!

just to make it clearer for Smirky, it reads as Ground level / Retarded

me retarded?:highly_amused:

What about USG?

Yes no underwater option, unit is dated 1984.

Ground level detonation with parachute deployment

just to make it clearer for Smirky, it reads as Ground level / Retarded

Don’t think its from a Nimrod.
Nimrod nukes were used as depth-charges.
Top right rotary switch shows live release options, Ground level detonation with parachute deployment, Mid-air detonation with parachute deployment,
Ground level detonation in free-fall mode, Mid-air detonation in free-fall mode
This may be from a “V” bomber. I recognise the layout, particularly the sliding block in the lower right opening but I can’t remember where I saw it.