End of an era
Riain
Banned
1972 saw the final retirement of those icons of British aviation, the V Bombers, although by then the last survivors, originally built as Victor B1s were relegated to the unglamorous but crucial inflight refueling tanker role. The nuclear deterrence role had been relinquished to the RN way back in 1967(1) and the TSR2 had taken on the theatre-strategic role leading to the retirement for the B2 Vulcans and Victors.(2) However it was the transfer of ex-BOAC VC10s and their cnversion into tankers rather than the Victor B2s that was the final nail in the coffin.(3) The early VC10 K2 were proving so successful that it was decided that the 14 C1s should receive a limited tanker conversion(4), fitting HDUs to the wingtips but foregoing the High-flow Mk17 HDU and fuselage fuel tanks of the K2, these tanker transports would be known a C1K.(5)
The discreet reorientation of the RNs more powerful units away from the Far East and leaving that theatre with whatever was left did not lead to the negative diplomatic consequences Britain feared. This was not a result of effective British action, rather the war between Pakistan and India had shown the two alliance systems that Britain was a key member of East of Suez to be worthless. Pakistan had sought CENTO and SEATO assistance and not received it, leading to the loss of East Pakistan in December 1971 and Pakistan’s withdrawal from SEATO in 1972. The war in Vietnam that was partly fought under SEATO auspices was finding down with troop withdrawals by SEATO members USA and Australia, although the ferocious bombing campaign continued apace. In this chaotic environment nobody really noticed that for much of the time Britain’s naval presence in the Far East was headed by a single helicopter-command cruiser and that the Commando carrier Albion’s main role appeared to be moving men and equipment out of the area.
Despite Britain wishing to withdraw from her world role events kept pulling her back in. The ongoing tensions between Britain and Guatemala over the looming independence of British Honduras flared up into the threat of invasion again, provoking a British response. The carrier Ark Royal was ordered to head towards the Caribbean and ‘show the flag’ with a demonstration of force and after a rapid transit toward the area four Buccaneer were launched, a pair of Maxi tankers and a pair to fly over Belmopan. After a long flight which included a brush with NORAD F102s near Florida, the Buccaneers undertook several low passes over the city making a clear message before heading home to ‘mother’.
While the TSR2 production line wound down the first Jaguar prototype took to the air. The need for this aircraft was becoming acute, in recent years RAF Germany had closed two bases and 3 of the 4 remaining were in the far west of the country. With the short range of both the Harrier and Lightning RAF Gutersloh was packed to capacity while the location of the remaining bases would mean the Lightning operating at the limits of it’s range in the event of a Soviet attack. The range of the Jaguar would mean a major reorientation of RAF Germany to the 3 westernmost bases, drastically reducing vulnerability while increasing operational effectiveness.
The discreet reorientation of the RNs more powerful units away from the Far East and leaving that theatre with whatever was left did not lead to the negative diplomatic consequences Britain feared. This was not a result of effective British action, rather the war between Pakistan and India had shown the two alliance systems that Britain was a key member of East of Suez to be worthless. Pakistan had sought CENTO and SEATO assistance and not received it, leading to the loss of East Pakistan in December 1971 and Pakistan’s withdrawal from SEATO in 1972. The war in Vietnam that was partly fought under SEATO auspices was finding down with troop withdrawals by SEATO members USA and Australia, although the ferocious bombing campaign continued apace. In this chaotic environment nobody really noticed that for much of the time Britain’s naval presence in the Far East was headed by a single helicopter-command cruiser and that the Commando carrier Albion’s main role appeared to be moving men and equipment out of the area.
Despite Britain wishing to withdraw from her world role events kept pulling her back in. The ongoing tensions between Britain and Guatemala over the looming independence of British Honduras flared up into the threat of invasion again, provoking a British response. The carrier Ark Royal was ordered to head towards the Caribbean and ‘show the flag’ with a demonstration of force and after a rapid transit toward the area four Buccaneer were launched, a pair of Maxi tankers and a pair to fly over Belmopan. After a long flight which included a brush with NORAD F102s near Florida, the Buccaneers undertook several low passes over the city making a clear message before heading home to ‘mother’.
While the TSR2 production line wound down the first Jaguar prototype took to the air. The need for this aircraft was becoming acute, in recent years RAF Germany had closed two bases and 3 of the 4 remaining were in the far west of the country. With the short range of both the Harrier and Lightning RAF Gutersloh was packed to capacity while the location of the remaining bases would mean the Lightning operating at the limits of it’s range in the event of a Soviet attack. The range of the Jaguar would mean a major reorientation of RAF Germany to the 3 westernmost bases, drastically reducing vulnerability while increasing operational effectiveness.
- IOTL this was relinquished in 1969
- ITOL the Vulcan remained in service until replaced by the Tornado in the early 80s
- IOTL Victor 24 B2 were converted to K2 with the first entering service in March 1972
- IOTL only 13 of 14 VC10 C1 were converted, in the 80s
- IOTL 5 VC10 and 4 Super VC10 were converted to 3 point tankers with main deck tanks, another 5 Super combis were converted to 3 point but no main deck tanks, in the 80s
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