HS 1154

[uk 75]

I notice from a recent SAM article that Freightdog's new HS 1154 Harrier kit will feature the makings for 1 and 17 Squadron.

As some will know I have always been interested in the idea of the RAF in 1975 when it might have received all three (TSR 2, 1154 and 681) types cancelled in the 60s.

Michael Pryce mentions that it was envisaged to have 2 squadrons in the UK, 2 in Germany and others in the Middle East and the Far East. No numbers had been allocated when HS 1154 was dropped.

1154 seems to have been envisaged as a Hunter replacement in both the fighter and ground attack roles.  Red Top equipped aircraft could have been used to augment Lightning units in certain scenarios.

Looking at the real types deployed in 1975 it seems logical to assume that UK units with Jaguar and Harrier would have been equipped with 1154s. RAF Germany presumably would have used the 1154 instead of the Harrier.  I have always tended to assume that the Germany Jaguar units would have been TSR 2 equipped (as would the Buccaneer units). Paul Lucas explains that these TSR 2 units would have been based in the UK rather than Germany.

I am trying to update my UK 75 orbat for the RAF at the moment, and would wlecome any thoughts on the above, especially as Freightdog's kit is imminent.

UK 75