"Overseas bases for Vulcan Bombers?" Topic

Just curious where the Vulcan, and other V-Bombers were sent to, during the Cold War, e.g. overseas bases?

I know about Cyprus, and Singapore, but am curious about others. Supposedly, there was one in the Middle East. I assume Cyprus is the Mediterranean base, but would like to know if there were others as well.

Anyone have any info on possible targets, and attack routes against the Sovier Union?

For anyone that is a fan of the big Vulcan, I ran across some video footage of several, in white camo, on Liveleak:

link

Very maneuverable for such a large plane – the roll scene is incredible. Must have been a joy to fly.

Akrotiri was the ME base after the pull back from the rest of the ME. That had some problems as overflight of both Turkey and Israel had been refused during times of crisis.

Presumably from the 1970s Diego Garcia could have staged Vulcans with US co-operation.

I thought maybe Ascension or Diego Garcia, but seems we Yanks kind of usurped them from you via long-term leases and such…

Gotta suck, you get the "imperialist" colonialism shame-baggage without actually getting any benefits besides "helping" an ally…

How about Canada? Any TMPers from the GWN verify any Vulcans stationed there at times past?

I just saw the last flying vulcan at RAF cosford yesterday. Absolutely awesome!! When you see it up close doing manouveres you think it should'nt be able to stay up. And when it turns away and lights up the engine you can just feel the deep bass vibration through your body.

As part of the research for a game I did giving a British perspective on the Cuban missile crisis, I did a bit of fossicking in the PRO, and came up with the following deployment options for the V Force, which I believe would have been current in October 1962. The deployment plans have some splendid code-names:

POLAR BEAR: GARDERMOEN, SOLA or KARUP (4 bombers)

PROFITEER: BUTTERWORTH (4 bombers)

MASTODON: KANO (4 bombers)

WESTERN RANGER: GOOSE BAY, OFFUTT (2 bombers)

LONE RANGER: Single bombers to EASTLEIGH, IDRIS, NAIROBI, WILDENRATH, EL ADEM, BAHREIN, AKROTIRI, KHORMAKSAR, SALISBURY or LUQA.

Ground equipment exists at LUQA, AKROTIRI, BUTTERWORTH and CHANGI.

So they seem to have counted on the Vulcans getting about a bit.

All the best,

John.

B-47s B-52s and Vulcans were regular visitors to CFB Goose Bay (CYYR) during the cold war. Currently there is a Vulcan (XL361) on display at Goose Bay.

This weekend the last Vulcan will attend the airshow at Volkel, here in the Netherlands. I've never seen one for real, let alone heard, and I just can't wait :)

In researching this, I ran across an on-line article which mentioned the British were "on board" during the Cuban Missile Crisis as well, and had 40 Vulcans bombed up, and ready for launch, if the word was given.

About a dosen B-52's were supposedly orbiting just outside Soviet airspace, presumably being escorted by air tankers, since they don't exactly have a low fuel consumption rate, or loiter capability.

Thankfully, it never came to that.

It is an interesting bit of info though, since I had never heard of it before.

Top Gun Ace wrote:

In researching this, I ran across an on-line article which mentioned the British were "on board" during the Cuban Missile Crisis as well, and had 40 Vulcans bombed up, and ready for launch, if the word was given.

If my orbat for Bomber Command is correct, the V-Force at the time consisted of eight squadrons of Vulcans (3 sqns of B2s at Scampton, 2 sqns of B2s at Coningsby, 3 sqns of B1As at Waddington) and six squadrons of Victors (2 sqns of B2s at Wittering, 2 sqns of B1As at Cottesmore, 2 sqns of B1s at Honington). A few more airframes would have been available from the OCUs if necessary, so the total number of bombers available would have been considerably more than 40. The number actually bombed up and on Romeo alert would have been fewer; I don't know what numbers were actually held at that state, but two aircraft per squadron would probably be the most that could be sustained, and I think two per wing more likely. Although in October 1962 aircraft were bombed up (one Yellow Sun Mk 2 each, I would imagine) with engines started, it was decided not to disperse the V-Force, because of the risk of it being seen as a provocative move.

There was also the Medium Bomber Force, with four squadrons of Valiant B1s at Marham. These used "Project E" weapons loaned from the United States. US law required these weapons to remain in the custody of a US officer, and so it was not possible to disperse this force. It was not part of the UK's "independent deterrent", but was to come under the control of SACEUR in the event of war.

The third element of the RAF's nuclear capabilities, which has been curiously neglected by history, was the Thor force. This consisted of 20 squadrons each with 3 SM-75 Thor missiles, held under dual-key arrangements with the United States. Although the Thor was of questionable reliability, it did have the ability to keep the bulk of the force at high readiness for protracted periods in a way that manned bombers did not. It was also impossible for Soviet air defences to intercept, although, in 1962, I think they would also have found it practically impossible to stop V-bombers, especially the B2 models.

The total amount of instant sunshine Bomber Command could have delivered would have been something over a hundred free-fall bombs and maybe forty-five missile warheads (assuming 75% reliability for Thor), all in the megaton range. This disregards the Project E bombs -- 350 kt apeice, I believe -- and Red Beard tactical weapons, footling little things of 15kt, a mere Nagasaki's worth.

On the 40th anniversary of the Cuban missile crisis, I remember a Bomber Command pilot who had served at the time being asked by an interviewer if they would have gone and dropped the nukes if so ordered. he said "We'd have gone, no question."

All the best,

John.

When I was stationed at Offut AFB(Bellevue,NE)in 70-71, the RAF had a 2-3 plane Vulcan contingent based there. About all I recall were the start-up compressors had the most God awful high pitched shriek and those huge planes could turn on a dime in mid-air.

I saw them at Offutt AFB too. They left around 84 (I think) and put on a real impressive farewell show.

The account I read seemed to have been written by a Vulcan crew member, or pilot, so I imagine he would have had decent info on the subject.

How many Vulcans/Valiants are in a squadron?

I read that 70 Vulcans were available in 1965, at the high point of their force levels, in conjunction with the Victors, and Valiants too.

They used to fly low over my house, Blue Steel proudly on display, when I was a kid in the 1960s but I've not seen one flying since then. The one at Duxford is nice to walk under.

Top Gun Ace wrote:

The account I read seemed to have been written by a Vulcan crew member, or pilot, so I imagine he would have had decent info on the subject.

You might be able to keep 40 Vulcans out of 64 at a high alert state for quite a while, as long as you don't do any flying, but it is way above the usual QRA levels. I suspect he must have meant all V-bombers, not just Vulcans.

Twigge and Scott ("The Other Other Missiles of October: The Thor IRBMs and the Cuban Missile Crisis", Electronic Journal of International History, can't find the blasted date) say that the number of QRA aircraft was doubled at most bomber command bases and tripled at Waddington, giving 6 or 9 aircraft at each base in what they call alert condition 3, which I think means Alfa alert. Assuming two QRA aircraft per squadron and three per squadron for the Waddington wing would give a total of 31 "cocked" bombers; I suppose if you added in two per squadron for the MBF Valiants you could get to 39, which is as near as dammit 40, although only 19 of those are actually Vulcans.

How many Vulcans/Valiants are in a squadron?

This is something I have seen remarkably little mention of; but it's eight for a V-force squadron, according to a 1965 Cabinet paper on the proposed Atlantic Nuclear Force.

I read that 70 Vulcans were available in 1965, at the high point of their force levels, in conjunction with the Victors, and Valiants too.

That seems about right -- eight Vulcan squadrons with eight aircraft each, plus a few odds and sods from the OCUs. The Victor force would add another 48, plus any OCU aircraft used operationally. I believe that would have been enough airframes to deliver pretty much the UK's entire 1962 stock of Yellow Sun Mk 2s in one sortie each, but unfortunately reliable information about that sort of thing is still pretty scarce in the UK. I suspect that in 1962 a few Yellow Sun Mk 1s would still have been in service, using the old Green Grass physics package from Violet Club.

To my mind the absolute best thing about 1962 RAF kit is the colour code names. Who could resist flying a Vulcan to Moscow in the face of the IA-PVO, knowing that you are protected by a defensive RCM suite including Orange Putter, Red Shrimp and Indigo Bracket.

All the best,

John.