RAF ELINT Buccaneers

[GeorgeC]

Had an interesting trip down to the UK National Archives today, reading Plan P, the Spotswood Report and other documents from the 63-66 period.  Lot of Whif ammunition obtained, but one little snippet may interest you.  In the 1966 Squadron Patterns, after the CVA01, TSR2 and P1154 cancellations but before the F111K termination, there are figures for ex-FAA Buccaneers moving to the RAF in 75 to contunue thier maritime strike role from land.  

However, 3 aircraft were also earmarked to replace the ELINT Canberra B6s operated by 51 Sqn.  Extra aerials and bumps anyone?  

[Archibald]

you mean a kind of Prowlaneer ?  ^_^  Sounds loical... if the A6 could do the job, why not the Bucc ?  

[GeorgeC]

ELINT listen rather than emit

[Shasper]

What GC sez, although as a sidenote a EW Bucc is doable too.

Shas B)

[elmayerle]

Got any info on the "lumps and bumps" that would apply?  I've enough Bucc kits to use one or two that way.  My first thought would be some interchangeable weapons bay doors that would allow any Bucc with appropriate wiring to fly an ELINT mission fairly quickly and then be reconfigured for strike.

Note, I can see a lot of the same thinking applied to an EW version, too, with the wing hardpoints left open for drop tanks and/or offensive means of shutting down emitters.

[GeorgeC]

The document was written in 1966 and related to 10-year Long Term Costings / Squadron Patterns. The proposed introduction to service was in 1972 so the document represented the high-level plan which would secure funding to start the design work.  Bearing in mind this aircraft would have been in a passive, listening role - the RAF gave up support jamming in favour of self-protection in 63 when the V force moved to low level - take your pick of lumps, bumps and dangling wires!  Logically, the aircraft would have flown in standards camoflage like all the other Buccaneers, but why not a nice 'hemp' aircraft to go with the Nimrods scheme?

   

[Jeffry Fontaine]

The document was written in 1966 and related to 10-year Long Term Costings / Squadron Patterns. The proposed introduction to service was in 1972 so the document represented the high-level plan which would secure funding to start the design work.  Bearing in mind this aircraft would have been in a passive, listening role - the RAF gave up support jamming in favour of self-protection in 63 when the V force moved to low level - take your pick of lumps, bumps and dangling wires!  Logically, the aircraft would have flown in standards camoflage like all the other Buccaneers, but why not a nice 'hemp' aircraft to go with the Nimrods scheme?

The date of the document would indicate possible collaboration with the US for procurement of the AGM-45 and the AGM-78 missiles for use on the Buccaneer in the SEAD mission since those weapons were just coming in to the US inventory around that time.  AGM-78 on a Buccaneer sounds good, and might look good too!  And don't leave out the possibility of the Martel being carried on the Buccaneer either.  

[Zen]

We can get some idea of the EW machine from the Canberra version of the same.

ELINT is liable to be more restrained in external changes, a few fin arials here, a few small descrete bumps there, sort of thing.

[GeorgeC]

Well I just found this with a profile, 7 rows down, of a 51 Sqn B6

http://www.bywat.co.uk/canb08.html

However, it looks surprisingly 'lumpy' to me.  I will search more, but 51 were noticably unphotogenic .  

[TsrJoe]

re 51's unphotogenic qualities, i spent most of my time when with the RAF. (JARIC.) at Wyton and took very few cursory photo snaps of whatever happened to be there.
I get the impression most folks in the forces just see aircraft however unusual, as 'normal', and after a while ignore them or just tsee them as a noise nusiance!

[GeorgeC]

re 51's unphotogenic qualities, i spent most of my time when with the RAF. (JARIC.) at Wyton and took very few cursory photo snaps of whatever happened to be there.
I get the impression most folks in the forces just see aircraft however unusual, as 'normal', and after a while ignore them or just tsee them as a noise nusiance!

I hope you took those pictures with a properly authorised camera and the Station Commander's approval  The 51 Sqn web site as a pic of the 'big-nosed' B6

http://website.lineone.net/%7Eredgoose/history.htm

and another good one here

http://www.bywat.co.uk/canframes.html

On this basis you can build as big lumps on your ELINT Buccaneer as your putty will stand!

[TsrJoe]

but of course...