Was there any British expertise in solid-fuel TVC prior to Taildog/SRAAM? None comes to mind, it just wasn't a technology available when Sea Dart was in development.
The first projection of a VL British SAM that I can remember was Shield, derived from SRAAM.
Seaslug was originally to be vertically launched in 1948 discussions. But concerns over the need to get a system ASAP drove the launcher.
NIGS included possible VL.
PX430 which became Sea Wolf included VL options from the 60's.
IIRC, there is a picture of the VL arrangement or a description in one of Friedman's books.
I recall seeing a photo of a VL launched Sea Wolf some time before the missile entered service. As I recall,. it had a long booster attached. Don't recall what the launch vessel was - possibly a barge?
From Shipbucket but it does tie in with what i've read elsewhere
She was built for Wijsmuller Bros Marine UK as the Semi Submersible Heavy Lift Barge "Ocean Servant 1" in 1976 and was Comandeered by the MOD in 1984 to test the Sea Wolf VLS GWS 26 system to be fitted to the Type 23 Frigates. Following completion of the trials she was mothballed from 1987 to 2003 in Brixham harbour, Devon, UK whilst the MOD decided what to do with her. There was several suggestions to despose of the vessel following completion of the Sea Wolf trials and it's eventual deployment on the Type 23 and aborted deployment on the Fort Victoria Class.
In 2003 she was again brought into use by the MOD for testing the then joint Franco/italian/United Kingdom PAAMS (Principle Anti Air Missile System) missile system (later to be called "Sea Viper" when the UK pulled out of the Horizon Frigate Programme and concentrated on it's own Type 45 Destroyer Design). she was fitted with the Samson radar and a 4 chamber VLS for the PAAMS (Aster15 and Aster30) Missiles. she carried out a number of successfull and some not so successfull launches at the French missile test ranges before the Sea Viper trials were concluded by the French and Royal Navy's aboard there respective ship's (HMS Daring and Dauntless for the RN).
In 2010 talk was suggesting a repreive as a air defense barge to be parked at the mouth of the River Thames as part of London's hightened security for the 2012 olympics but this was droped and HMS Ocean and a Type 45 Destroyer were made available instead. there was also plans to use Longbow as a test platform for the new CAMM (Common Anti Air Modular Missile) soon to be deployed by the Royal Navy (Type 23 and Future Type 26), RAF (Replacement for ASRAAM) and the ARMY (replacement for Rapier). but this was dropped as testing aboard a Type 23 was deemed Cheaper.
In 2012 she was sold for scrap to a Turkish Breakers, ending an eventfull 36 year career.
Bit more info
In 1984, the barge was purchased from Weijsmuller by the MoD and converted to a trials facility for use in the Vertical Launch
Seawolf missile project and was renamed Dynamic Servant.
The barge was renamed Trials Barge Longbow in 1985 once the conversion had been completed.
Following the Seawolf trials, Longbow was then moored at Brixham from 1989 under MOD care and maintenance programme until early 2002.
It was moved in August 03 to Fleet Support Ltd (FSL), Portsmouth for conversion, for Principal AntiAir Missile Systems tracking & firing trials.
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