Nimrod's Genisis - RAF Maratime Patrol projects and weapons since 1945

[Thorvic]

A new book due in October from Chris Gibson 

To counter the threat from a Soviet 'blue water' navy, a large investment was made in the years from 1945 until the 1960s, to develop maritime patrol aircraft. For years the Air Staff and Ministries had argued over what type should replace the Shakleton, including variants of the Vulcan, Britannia, VC10 and Trident, before one man strode into the MoD building in 1964, settling the argument with what became Nimrod.

To seek and destroy Soviet submarines, Shackletons and Nimrods carried many advanced weapons and sensors, but also played a role in saving lives at sea. Then, after forty years' service, the Nimrods were withdrawn without replacement after one of the most expensive procurement disasters.

Chris Gibson examines the post-war genesis of the RAF's maritime patrol aircraft, a process that led to Nimrod. From the last flying boats, attempts to improve then replace the Shackleton and ultimately the Nimrod itself, Gibson provides a fascinating insight into the aircraft, weapons and sensors developed to counter the Soviet submarine threat.


Available October 2014


Product description

ISBN: 978 19021 09473

Binding: Hardback

Dimentions: 297 x 210

Pages: 176

Photos/Illus: Over 150

http://www.crecy.co.uk/nimrod-s-genesis

[Mossie]

Another present to my self, don't think I can wait till Christmas for this one.

MR Vulcan, lovely! 

[rickshaw]

Oh, dear.  Another hole in my wallet...

[PR19_Kit]

At least two copies of which should be hand delivered to our Prime Minister and Defence Mnister.

By opening their mouths and stuffing the books in, sideways! 

[Captain Canada]

Looks interesting ! A Vulcan MPA ? Nice !

[kitnut617]

Hmm! I'll have to get a copy myself and see what Chris has found out.  I've a project I'm working on that looks rather like that front cover pic ----

[JayBee]

At least two copies of which should be hand delivered to our Prime Minister and Defence Mnister.

By opening their mouths and stuffing the books in, sideways! 

Good grief Kit do NOT give them any chance to open their mouths! 

[Thorvic]

At least two copies of which should be hand delivered to our Prime Minister and Defence Mnister.

By opening their mouths and stuffing the books in, sideways! 

Actually they could do with it next year before the nexr SDSR afer the election.

Anyway current indicators appear to show we are seriously eyeing up our original preferred solution of the USN orion replacement in the form of the P-8 Poseidon. Only trouble is the option s are pretty clear cut making a new chapter to the book somewhat limited

I suspect they will be renewing the missing MPA capability post 2015 and I bet the next SDSR document will be less specific in its statements to allow for greater flexibility as the last one waa too rigid making revisions rather difficult to implement

[Rheged]

At least two copies of which should be hand delivered to our Prime Minister and Defence Mnister.

By opening their mouths and stuffing the books in, sideways! 

Good grief Kit do NOT give them any chance to open their mouths! 

Other  orifices are available............

[McColm]

They sell out too fast, must get a copy.

[lancer]

Just in time for a decent birthday pressie to myself.....

[Howard of Effingham]

one wonders with this MPA title, just what mr gibson will come up with next?   

still can't keep me mitts off of his last title...

oh! thorvic! how's the kit bashing going for the Vulcan MR model on the cover? 

[Kelly Bushings]

Evening chaps,

Bad news on two counts.

1) Nimrod's Genesis has been delayed. There's various reasons, but I think Crecy's expanding catalogue prompted a reassessment of the production timings. Looking at early next year. I'll just have to get on with something else. (ahem)

2) I won't make it to Telford this year. The dreaded day job. I always enjoy my day at Telford and look forward to seeing you next year.

Good news

Dave Forster is hoping to be at Telford and I'm sure you'll offer him the same hospitality as I get.

Thanks

Chris

[Howard of Effingham]

thanks chris for the heads up.

say if dave forster is at SMW do yer suppose he will mind autographing my copy of listening in? 

[Kelly Bushings]

Morning All,

It's been handed over for printing, hopefully available in March

Geoff - can you add in the images from SPF please? ta

NIMROD'S GENESIS  - Chapter Summaries

Introduction – The Cold War and the burgeoning Soviet submarine threat, the need for new technologies and aircraft to keep pace with the threat. The ever-changing requirements and the need to address the SSBN and SLBM. New tasks such as SAR and EEZ patrol. There's a Russian carrier in the Firth!

1 Voenno-morskoj flot SSSR and the Threat from Below – The rise of the Soviet submarine service, how these forces developed and what threats they posed, firstly to NATO convoys and later to the cities and populace in the West. The developments in SLBMs and how these influenced Soviet strategy and the NATO ASW response. How Russia's maritime power evolved, the aspirations for a blue water navy and how the Soviets addressed NATO's improving ASW capabilities.

2 Hunter/Killer: Sensors and Weapons for Aircraft – How to find submarines by technical means; radar, MAD, infrared, sonar and sniffers. How many of these developments have had unusual offshoots in the civil and military world. How to sink submarines; rockets, depth charges, torpedoes and nuclear depth bombs. Why Tallboy disappeared, the Z-series torpedoes, the 3in rocket and its bigger, faster uncle. The Lulu, WE.177 and B57 nuclear depth bombs and how to use them. Underwater hittiles – homing torpedoes such as Zeta, Bidder Pentane and Stingray. Woodford's torpedo delivery vehicle. Green Cheese and other air-launched missiles including the 'disappointing MARTel', SS.12 and Sea Eagle, with the eventual acquisition of the Harpoon.

3 Old Men and Airships: The Last Flying Boats – The flying boat factions fight it out over R.2/48. Why flying boats disappeared from the scene. The R.2/48 Sunderland replacement saga and decade-long argument on flying boats. The various R.2/48 proposals from Shorts, Saro and Supermarine, how and why Saro said 'We wuz robbed' and how engine choice affected the various designs. The Nomad and Slessor's  'tramp steamer'.

4 The Kipper Fleet: Short and Medium Range MR – The Admiralty's concerns about inshore maritime security, the threat from mining and reason for short-range MR such as the Seamew and anything with wings. The medium-range proposals for variants of the Varsity, Viscount, Freighter, Ambassador. The Neptunes from American and how these were viewed by the Air Staff.

5 Avro's Bespoke Maritime Landplane – The Shackleton, the RAF's displeasure with the MR.1 and how Avro addressed these criticisms. The first Shackleton replacement - larger Type 716 and 719, the Bristol 175MR and 189 and how Bristol won but lost. Canadian developments in maritime patrol aircraft.

6 Sideshows: NATO and the Trinity – NBMR.2 and replacing the Neptune. The UK's relationship with NBMR.2 and how the Atlantic came about. Avro's considerable influence on the Atlantic. The politics behind NBMR.2, how the oceanic participants dropped out and RAF rejected Atlantic. English Electric's DC.7 proposal, Armstrong Whitworth's maritime wheelbarrow, Bristol and Fairey's design studies and Saro's last military flying boat. Dorniers P340 designs at the cutting edge of flying boat design. Avro's Type 745, its relationship with the Atlantic and the finances of building the Atlantic. Trinity – the RAF's wish for a three-role 'Goldilocks' type and how each role was compromised by the other two. The multirole VC10, HS.1011, Vickers VG SST and HP's laminar flow SST. Canada's later attempt to emulate Trinity with the LRPA.

7 Following Trinity: OR.350 – The first real attempt to replace the Shackleton. Design studies from almost every aircraft firm in the land.  The content of OR.350 and the need to tackle the SSBN with the next generation of ASW sensors that never appeared. The attempts to interest overseas air forces and the RAF's bar-raising requirement. The effect of transit speed on designs; the VC10 again, and RAF reject Atlantic again, Avro's many studies (bespoke and converted), including the swept-wing Atlantic and Vickers jet-propelled Vanguards. The conversions of tactical transports such as HS.681 and Belfast. Compromises such as the Vanguard studies from Weybridge.

8 Plus Ça Change:OR.357 – The changes made for the new requirement and reduction in the number of runners, but the usual suspects re-appear. The VC10 again, RAF reject Atlantic again and a firm favourite in the Avro's 776. Vickers' and BAC's attempts to address the criticisms of the VC10 with numerous design studies from Weybridge including VG, laminar flow and what could be described as the ultimate VC10. A new Belfast/Britannia hybrid with regenerative turboprops. A redesigned HS.681MR and the HS Trident developments.    

9 Not So Interim MR: OR.381 – The cost time-bomb with the Big Three and the plot to acquire the Atlantic under ASR.381. Dealing with the French, an industry in revolt and the Air Staff's surprise at the Maritime Comet amongst others and RAF reject Atlantic again. The VC10 again, HS.800, Trident MR, BAC 10-11 and the Vanguard. What to call the Maritime Comet and what colour to paint it. The Mighty Hunter arrives.

10 Replacing the Maritime Comet – The Nimrod MR.2 upgrade providing OR.357 capabilities and improvements in sensors for the 80s. Post-Falklands add-ons to the weapons suite and the Nimrod's nemesis. A new MR type – design studies from the 70s and 80s such as the Mercure- and BAe.146-derived BAe.829 studies and the clean-sheet BAe.830. The VC10 again and BAC's One-Eleven studies for Japan. A return to multirole aircraft with the MRSA and the BAe.849. George's Comets and SR(A).420 – the RAF reject Atlantic again, Orions galore and Nimrod 2000. The MRA.4, the end of the Nimrod and dedicated RAF maritime patrol.

Conclusion - A 21st Century Swordfish – The possibilities for an RAF maritime patrol aircraft post-2011 such as the Poseidon or converted commuter airliner.

Glossary and Selected Bibliography

Appendix 1 Requirements & Specifications

Appendix 2 Rescue and Tapestry – Fishing people out of the drink and maritime aircraft in the SAR role. Airborne lifeboats and the RAF's area of SAR responsibility. Tapestry - protecting the Crown's jewellery. The Cod Wars, the implementation of Exclusive Economic Zones and the many types for patrolling the EEZ. The British cheap response and the ultimate expensive solution.

Appendix 3 The Blind Alley – The RAF's brief dalliance with rotary-winged ASW types. Too small, too noisy and too complicated. The Sycamore, the Rotodyne and the flying saucer.

Incidentally I've been liaising with Mel at S+M Models who have produced a series of 1/144 scale conversion kits to produce many of the types described in Nimrod's Genesis. These include:
Viscount MMR, Viscount MMR with Tail Turret, VC-10 to OR381, VC-10 Scheme B,
Vanguard MMR, Trident MR1, Britannia MR