Are there any good on-line sources, or books on the subject of the routes and tactics the Vulcan bombers were expected to use, to attack the Soviet Union, if it ever came to that?
About all I have found on-line is info that the Vulcans were initially expected to fly above the interceptors, before the advent of SAMs. The B.1 didn't even carry ECM initially, just a radio jammer to prevent GCI communications with the fighters.
In the late 1950's, and early 1960's, that tactic went out the window with the introduction of SAMs and more capable interceptors and radar ground control, so they produced the B.1A and B.2 models, which did include ECM.
Later, they had to plan for a low-level ingress, and egress, despite the increase in fuel consumption, in order to have any hope of avoiding enemy radar sites, and SAM and flak batteries.
So, I'm curious about the routes the bombers planned to take to get to the heart of the USSR. I imagine in the late 1950's, it might not have been wise to overfly East Germany, or Poland, so would they take a more indirect route, e.g. over the Baltic, or Mediterranean to attack (the Cyprus basing would seem to make sense in the latter case)?
Any info and details on the Valiants and Victors would be appreciated too.
As far as books go on the subject, which one(s) discuss Cold War tactics in detail, if any for the V-Bombers?
