Re: UK Thermonuclear Warheads. Red Beard
(RB not thermo-, but still a Big Bang). Mismatch between numbers ordered/(part-)built, and deployed.
Initiated 1952 to overcome the bulk of Blue Danube. In build by 1957 for TBF/RAFG Canberras and for Valiant back-up to MT Vulcan/Victor; and for RN.
27/5/57: UK/US MoU: Project 'E' rendered nugatory Beard/Sacuer (TBF and RAFG): Wynn,P.267: 16/6/60: "we see no need to produce Br. bombs to replace American bombs for the forces assigned to NATO" {ak: 48 TBF Canberra B.6 from 2/7/59, Valiants from 1/10/60; 64 RAFG Canberra B(I)6/8 from 5/5/58}. Production therefore suspended, even dismantled, fissile material back to pool.
3/7/58: US/UK MoU: warhead data. Leads on to UK's Improved Kiloton Bomb {to be WE.177A). Beard evidently fraught (Moore/RN, P.140: "danger of an unplanned event": maybe 3 weapons at sea 1960, 5 in 1962 with Scimitar, "emergency use only").
MBF Valiant/Wittering: RB: 7 Sqdn: 1/9/60 - 30/9/62;
49 Sqdn: 9/60 - 25/6/61;
138 Sqdn: 9/60 - 31/3/62. 24 bombs. These plus 8 more to NEAF Canberra B.15/16:
32 Sqdn: 28/11/61 - 3/2/69;
249 Sqdn:28/11/61 - 24/2/69;
6 Sqdn: 2/62 - 13/1/69;
73 Sqdn: 3/62 - 3/2/69: the Wing: 32 bombs.
32 Sqdn. had a Secondary Task to FEAF, supporting 45 Sqdn./Tengah, 8 Canberra B.15, 9/62 - 2/70. I think no bombs were dedicated to Tengah, which housed RN/Buccs. when ashore. Any MBF secondment would be with its normal UK store, which was not Red Beard: Wynn,P.452: 3/5/63: MBF Standard of Preparation: Valiant: "possibly" RB; all others: YS 2/(to be) WE.177B.
Bucc was at sea with RB 14/8/63 - 23/1/72: one brief period in 1966 when 20 in Strike config. were at sea on 2 ships concurrently, more when 16 were. 5 vaults per CV, reloads on RFAs. I think RN had 26 Beards.
