Regulus Missile RN Query

[Cobra]

Hey Guys, while doing Some research using Google, a Question Jumped out at me! Did the Royal Navy ever look at Regulus for it's own Submarines or Building Something Similar? what Say You? Think it might make a Good Whif to have a Regulus I or II in RN Markings? thanks for Looking. Dan

[PR19_Kit]

AFAIK the RN never did think about such missiles, although the A, P and O class boats were certainly large enough to carry them, being of a similar size to the USS Grayback. They didn't get into the strategic missile business until the Polaris Agreement in the early '60s.

That doesn't prevent it being done in WhiffWorld of course......... 

[Weaver]

In the Vulcan's Hammer book, there's a drawing of alternative applications for one of the many Blue Steel-based cruise missile proposals, which includes launching them from an RN aircraft carrier, a converted fast minelayer (Abdiel class, presumably) and, I think, a submarine. Of course, this is probably more a case of Avro thinking about it hopefully than the RN thinking about it seriously....

An RN Regulus would be a fine Whiff though - I'd say go for it!

[PR19_Kit]

How about launching the ubiquitous Blue Water from a sub? It's been launched from everything else in Whiff World. 

[rickshaw]

You'd need to either convert it to thrust vector control or add pop-out fins.  The existing fins would be too easily damaged while exiting the launch tube.  You could launch it from the surface but that has its attendant problems.  Perhaps a M class-style sub with missile containers on the fore or after deck with an erecting launcher?

[PR19_Kit]

You could launch it from the surface but that has its attendant problems.  Perhaps a M class-style sub with missile containers on the fore or after deck with an erecting launcher?

That's how the USN launched the Regulus 1s and 2s, surfaced the boat, translated the missile backwards out of the monster 'hangars' on the foredeck, unfolded the wings and 5-4-3-2-1-Launch! I bet it took a while, but the vids available don't show the whole sequence. I can just see a couple of Blue Waters in launch tubes on the deck of an Oberon or Porpoise boat.

[rickshaw]

Yes, I know that was how the USN launched Regulus but as Regulus was a cruise missile and Bluewater was a ballistic one, you could improve the time on how the missile was erected and launched.  To me, it appears the USN adapted what it knew about catapult launched aircraft to Regulus.  Effectively you had to move the launch rail to the container and move the missile onto the launch rail and rotate the launch rail to the desired direction and light blue touch paper and smartly retire.   After which everything was struck down or another missile was loaded for launching.   That takes time and that was the major reason why its use was eventually abandoned.  Soviet response times improved, along with ASW abilities and so it became suicidal to use them.

I'd envisage each Bluewater would have its own launcher and it would form part of the containing tube.  Basically you unplug each end, erect and launch.  The guidance system takes over the rest.  Now, as this would be effectively Armageddon, in order to increase the speed at which I'm-a-gedding-outa-here , I'd just jettison the whole tube, launcher and all over the side as I submerged and that in turn would increase the speed and manoeuvrability of the boat.  Then sail for Australia and await matters "on the beach," so to speak.

Bluewater though, is really a bit short on legs.  I think I'd prefer Blue Streak.  4000 km for Blue Streak versus only 89 km for Blue Water.  My method would still work.  Although it might be better to store them vertically in the submarine Sail and fuel them while submerged, just before surfacing and launching (not a task I would relish, even on land).   Alternatively, if you wanted a submerged launch, put them inside containers and jettison the container to the surface where it would then launch automatically.   You could set a delay until the submarine had retired some distance, before it surfaced and launched.

[PR19_Kit]

A sail large enough for one or more Blue Streaks would make for one AWESOMELY sized submarine! I'm not sure I'd like to be in the space immediately underneath it when the count reached zero too!

I take your point about the range of the Blue Water, it was really tactical rather than strategic, and an SLM is almost strategic by definition. if you're close enough to launch a tactical missile you're TOO close to the enemy coast for safety.....

For all that a Regulus 2 in Extra Dark Sea Grey with blue-white-red roundels would look pretty darn good. 809 NAS perhaps?

[Jschmus]

My ex's dad served two tours as gunnery officer on a Regulus boat, the USS Halibut.  He said they only fired the missiles during tests, but they still completed two war cruises just outside Soviet territorial waters.  He said that he's glad they never fired one in anger, because the sub had to surface, and the launch generated lots of noise and tons of billowing white smoke, which tended to make the submarine both visible and audible for miles around, greatly reducing their potential survival odds.

http://youtu.be/Nsj8lmUUcZ8