Does anyone have any details re how "stick bombing" with several free fall nuclear bombs would have worked ? Did they plan on dropping them far enough appart so the detonation of the first one wouldn't damage the subsequent ones or did they plan to detonate them all at the same time using very accurate timers (sort of like a "time on target"). I can see possible issues with both approaches but presumably this was thought thru by experts. I wonder if this concept was ever actually tested (using either above ground or under ground nuclear tests ?)
I also wonder if the bombs they planned on using were specifically designed for this application (perhaps they were designed to be particularly resistant to the prompt radiation from near by nuclear explosions ?)
You've laid out the problem succinctly, and I don't know if there is a solution to it in practical terms hence its impact on the TSR2 programme. I think not having the yeild cap from 1962 might be a good AH thread, but I don't know if enough people know anything about it to get traction.
I'm thinking that having a credible "stick bombing" capability would imply a fairly advanced UK nuclear weapons program.
Yes they do. They demonstrated that they independently could create advanced thermonuclear weapons by their 1957 tests so the US entered into the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement with the US and used US warhead designed. However they found the US designs to be a bit shit so after their first attempt never directly copied a US design again and have always ensured that they have something advanced to offer the US as their part of the bargin; Three-dimensional quartz phenolic (3DQP) developed for the Chevaline and since used on US RVs is a prime example of this contribution.