Black Buck 1 - TV documentary C4 Sunday 8pm
Discussion
I think jonny142 has posted this in the XH558 thread but it's worth a heads-up
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/falklands-most-...
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/falklands-most-...
Did the Vulcan raid really change the outcome of the Falklands War by putting Port Stanley's runway out of action for Argentine fighter jets? Was it long enough for them to operate?
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/falklands-most-...
The Falklands' Most Daring Raid
The humorous, heroic story of how a Cold War-era Vulcan flew the then-longest-range bombing mission in history with a Second World War bomb that changed the outcome of the Falklands War.
On 30 April 1982, the RAF launched a secret mission: to fly a Vulcan bomber to the Falkland Islands and bomb Port Stanley's runway, putting it out of action for Argentine fighter jets. The safety of the British Task Force depended on its success.
However, the RAF could only get a single plane - a crumbling, Cold War-era Vulcan - 8000 miles south to the Falklands, because just one bomber needed an aerial fleet of 13 Victor tanker planes to refuel it throughout the 16-hour round-trip. At the time it was the longest-range bombing mission in history.
From start to finish, the seemingly impossible mission was a comedy of errors, held together by pluck and ingenuity.
On the brink of being scrapped, only three of the ageing nuclear bombers could be fitted out for war, one to fly the mission and two in reserve. Crucial spare parts were scavenged from museums and scrap yards - one vital component had been serving as an ashtray in the Officers' Mess.
In just three weeks, the Vulcan crews had to learn air-to-air refuelling, which they hadn't done for 20 years, and conventional bombing, which they hadn't done for 10 years either.
The RAF scoured the country for Second World War iron bombs, and complex refuelling calculations were done the night before on a £5 pocket calculator.
With a plan stretched to the limit and the RAF's hopes riding on just one Vulcan, the mission was flown on a knife-edge: fraught with mechanical failures, unreliable navigation, electrical storms and lack of fuel.
Of the 21 bombs the Vulcan dropped, only one found its target. But it was enough to change the outcome of the war.
Astonishingly, this great feat has been downplayed into near obscurity by history, but this documentary brings it back to life, providing a thrilling and uncharacteristically upbeat account from the Falklands War: the Dambusters for the 1980s generation.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/falklands-most-...
The Falklands' Most Daring Raid
The humorous, heroic story of how a Cold War-era Vulcan flew the then-longest-range bombing mission in history with a Second World War bomb that changed the outcome of the Falklands War.
On 30 April 1982, the RAF launched a secret mission: to fly a Vulcan bomber to the Falkland Islands and bomb Port Stanley's runway, putting it out of action for Argentine fighter jets. The safety of the British Task Force depended on its success.
However, the RAF could only get a single plane - a crumbling, Cold War-era Vulcan - 8000 miles south to the Falklands, because just one bomber needed an aerial fleet of 13 Victor tanker planes to refuel it throughout the 16-hour round-trip. At the time it was the longest-range bombing mission in history.
From start to finish, the seemingly impossible mission was a comedy of errors, held together by pluck and ingenuity.
On the brink of being scrapped, only three of the ageing nuclear bombers could be fitted out for war, one to fly the mission and two in reserve. Crucial spare parts were scavenged from museums and scrap yards - one vital component had been serving as an ashtray in the Officers' Mess.
In just three weeks, the Vulcan crews had to learn air-to-air refuelling, which they hadn't done for 20 years, and conventional bombing, which they hadn't done for 10 years either.
The RAF scoured the country for Second World War iron bombs, and complex refuelling calculations were done the night before on a £5 pocket calculator.
With a plan stretched to the limit and the RAF's hopes riding on just one Vulcan, the mission was flown on a knife-edge: fraught with mechanical failures, unreliable navigation, electrical storms and lack of fuel.
Of the 21 bombs the Vulcan dropped, only one found its target. But it was enough to change the outcome of the war.
Astonishingly, this great feat has been downplayed into near obscurity by history, but this documentary brings it back to life, providing a thrilling and uncharacteristically upbeat account from the Falklands War: the Dambusters for the 1980s generation.
Standard practice when dropping dumb bombs on a runway is to do it at an angle, aiming to get one or two on the runway, rather than running parallel to the runway and risk missing it entirely, so they did achieve what they set out to do. The mission also showed the Argentinians that the RAF could hit mainland Argentina if they wanted, so they kept a lot of aircraft back to defend their cities too.
It also wasn't just one raid, I think there were 5 in total. Vulcan 607 is a good read.
It also wasn't just one raid, I think there were 5 in total. Vulcan 607 is a good read.
RizzoTheRat said:
Standard practice when dropping dumb bombs on a runway is to do it at an angle, aiming to get one or two on the runway, rather than running parallel to the runway and risk missing it entirely, so they did achieve what they set out to do. The mission also showed the Argentinians that the RAF could hit mainland Argentina if they wanted, so they kept a lot of aircraft back to defend their cities too.
It also wasn't just one raid, I think there were 5 in total. Vulcan 607 is a good read.
IIRC, three bombing raids, 63 bombs, 42 explosions, one on target (at the edge of the runway).It also wasn't just one raid, I think there were 5 in total. Vulcan 607 is a good read.
But could the Argentinian fast jets have operated from Port Stanley?
Black Buck 1 - bombing raid on Stanley airfield. XM598 was the lead with XM607 as the reserve. XM598 had a problem and 607 (preserved at Waddington) took over. 21 bombs dropped, one direct hit on the runway and 2 Argentinians killed.
Black Buck 2 - 2nd bombing raid on Stanley airfield. XM607 lead, XM598 as reserve. Runway missed.
Black Buck 3 - cancelled due to strong headwinds. Lead would have been XM612 with XM607 as reserve.
Black Buck 4 - cancelled due to refueller problems with a tanker refuelling drogue 5 hours after mission took off, XM597 lead XM598 reserve.
Black Buck 5 - Lead XM597 armed with AGM-45A Shrike anti-radar missiles. Target was the Argentinian's Westinghouse AN/TPS-43 long range 3D radar. Radar had to be operating for the missiles to lock on, one missile hit 10m from the radar damaging it. Fearing more attacks they didn't switch it on again. Success. XM598 was reserve.
Black Buck 6 - XM597 again with Shrike missiles attacked and destroyed a Skyguard fire-control radar station killing it's crew of 8. Refuelling probe problem meant it diverted to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil landing at the Galeo Air Force Base. Remaining Shrikes were confiscated but the Brazilians let us have the Vulcan back if we promised not to use it again
XM598 was reserve.
Black Buck 7 - Last raid on Stanley airfield. XM607 armed with bombs hit the eastern end of the airfield destroying buildings and Argentinian stores. XM598 was reserve.
Argentine Ground forces surrendered 2 days after the last raid. So there could have been more planned.
Black Buck 2 - 2nd bombing raid on Stanley airfield. XM607 lead, XM598 as reserve. Runway missed.
Black Buck 3 - cancelled due to strong headwinds. Lead would have been XM612 with XM607 as reserve.
Black Buck 4 - cancelled due to refueller problems with a tanker refuelling drogue 5 hours after mission took off, XM597 lead XM598 reserve.
Black Buck 5 - Lead XM597 armed with AGM-45A Shrike anti-radar missiles. Target was the Argentinian's Westinghouse AN/TPS-43 long range 3D radar. Radar had to be operating for the missiles to lock on, one missile hit 10m from the radar damaging it. Fearing more attacks they didn't switch it on again. Success. XM598 was reserve.
Black Buck 6 - XM597 again with Shrike missiles attacked and destroyed a Skyguard fire-control radar station killing it's crew of 8. Refuelling probe problem meant it diverted to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil landing at the Galeo Air Force Base. Remaining Shrikes were confiscated but the Brazilians let us have the Vulcan back if we promised not to use it again
XM598 was reserve.Black Buck 7 - Last raid on Stanley airfield. XM607 armed with bombs hit the eastern end of the airfield destroying buildings and Argentinian stores. XM598 was reserve.
Argentine Ground forces surrendered 2 days after the last raid. So there could have been more planned.
Ps, Vulcans now.
XM597 - National Museum of Flight. Scotland
XM598 - RAF Museum Cosford
XM607 - preserved at RAF Waddington
XM612 - City of Norwich Aviation Museum
Some good photos of Ascension Island activity here - http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.ph...
XM597 - National Museum of Flight. Scotland
XM598 - RAF Museum Cosford
XM607 - preserved at RAF Waddington
XM612 - City of Norwich Aviation Museum
Some good photos of Ascension Island activity here - http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.ph...
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff