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As we all know the 1957 Defence White Paper ensured that TSR2 was replacing Canberras in the RAF.
However, the RAF also provided SACEUR with a Valiant wing until 1965 as a theatre nuclear asset.
Like the Valiants the TSR2 was designed to carry two nuclear weapons.
As the UK is forced in 1962 to abandon Skybolt it is not just the RAF that is concerned by the demise of the V force.
The US and NATO regard the V force as a key means of hitting nuclear targets in support of SAC.
Behind the scenes they have lobbied the UK to provide TSR2s based in the UK and Cyprus for this role.
Parliament and Press are unaware of this so when the Defence Secretary produces first pictures of the aircraft in 1963 and gives it a name: Vindicator, there is some surprise.
The opposition Labour Party pledges to cancel both Polaris and Vindicator if they win the forthcoming election.
In 1964 Denis Healey the new Defence Secretary succeeds in saving Polaris with the loss of the fifth boat.
Vindicator is less fortunate. BAC are unable to give a price for 50 production aircraft. Healey is told by the US and NATO that the FB111 will meet the requirement with some changes of equipment like new inflight refueling and recce packages.
The UK agrees to take 50 FB111s In a somewhat tongue in cheek moment perhaps motivated by its long nose the new aircraft are called the Vulture.
After some delays all 50 Vultures are delivered by 1970 allowing the Vulcans to leave RAF service.
Meanwhile the RAF back in 1962 had accepted that the new Buccaneer S2 would be its Canberra replacement. By 1970 nine Buccaneer squadrons are in RAF service.
That leaves the RAF with Hunters and Lightnings to replace.
The Conservative government had supported the P1154 and AW681 as a vstol ground attack solution. Healey suggests that the Kestrel is much closer to the Hunter in complexity and already flying. The RAF had its own doubts about P1154/AW681 and readily agrees to the P1127RAF taking on the P1154 Harrier role and name. The C130 will replace ageing Beverley and Hastings transporters much sooner than AW681 could have.
The sorry saga of UK carrier aviation solves the problem of replacing the Lightning. Healey is unwilling to accept an RN carrier force for the 70s composed of the complicated CVA01, an ageing Audacious class carrier, and Hermes which cannot operate F4. He tells the RN to give him alternatives. One thing emerges quickly, the UK cannot use the F4 at sea, so they will go to the RAF.
By 1970 the incoming Conservative government inherits an RAF with FB111s based in UK and Cyprus. Lightnings Buccaneers and Harriers in UK and F4Ks entering service.
The Tories have two problems to solve:
what aircraft will make up the RAF in the 1980s?
Whether and how to retain fixed wing naval aviation?
But that, as they say, is another story
However, the RAF also provided SACEUR with a Valiant wing until 1965 as a theatre nuclear asset.
Like the Valiants the TSR2 was designed to carry two nuclear weapons.
As the UK is forced in 1962 to abandon Skybolt it is not just the RAF that is concerned by the demise of the V force.
The US and NATO regard the V force as a key means of hitting nuclear targets in support of SAC.
Behind the scenes they have lobbied the UK to provide TSR2s based in the UK and Cyprus for this role.
Parliament and Press are unaware of this so when the Defence Secretary produces first pictures of the aircraft in 1963 and gives it a name: Vindicator, there is some surprise.
The opposition Labour Party pledges to cancel both Polaris and Vindicator if they win the forthcoming election.
In 1964 Denis Healey the new Defence Secretary succeeds in saving Polaris with the loss of the fifth boat.
Vindicator is less fortunate. BAC are unable to give a price for 50 production aircraft. Healey is told by the US and NATO that the FB111 will meet the requirement with some changes of equipment like new inflight refueling and recce packages.
The UK agrees to take 50 FB111s In a somewhat tongue in cheek moment perhaps motivated by its long nose the new aircraft are called the Vulture.
After some delays all 50 Vultures are delivered by 1970 allowing the Vulcans to leave RAF service.
Meanwhile the RAF back in 1962 had accepted that the new Buccaneer S2 would be its Canberra replacement. By 1970 nine Buccaneer squadrons are in RAF service.
That leaves the RAF with Hunters and Lightnings to replace.
The Conservative government had supported the P1154 and AW681 as a vstol ground attack solution. Healey suggests that the Kestrel is much closer to the Hunter in complexity and already flying. The RAF had its own doubts about P1154/AW681 and readily agrees to the P1127RAF taking on the P1154 Harrier role and name. The C130 will replace ageing Beverley and Hastings transporters much sooner than AW681 could have.
The sorry saga of UK carrier aviation solves the problem of replacing the Lightning. Healey is unwilling to accept an RN carrier force for the 70s composed of the complicated CVA01, an ageing Audacious class carrier, and Hermes which cannot operate F4. He tells the RN to give him alternatives. One thing emerges quickly, the UK cannot use the F4 at sea, so they will go to the RAF.
By 1970 the incoming Conservative government inherits an RAF with FB111s based in UK and Cyprus. Lightnings Buccaneers and Harriers in UK and F4Ks entering service.
The Tories have two problems to solve:
what aircraft will make up the RAF in the 1980s?
Whether and how to retain fixed wing naval aviation?
But that, as they say, is another story
