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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 1584.PDF
hydraulic and power supply; three-tonner towing a container forthe missile body; three-tonner towing a generator; vehicles for tactical control radar, T.I. radar and battery command post; testvehicle for radar receiver; and vehicles for launcher control post and launcher loader. These form a numerous convoy, and itmust continually be a haunting thought in R.A. minds that the knocking-out of only one vehicle could upset the whole opera-tional balance of the system. Where formerly one gun was a self- contained unit, the despatch of missiles is now a complicatedelectronic process and a Thunderbird battery takes a great deal of moving around. The Royal Artillery, however, seems confidentin their ability to sustain in practice the claims for mobility made for Thunderbird by its manufacturers. At Manorbier, all concerned have been to immense pains in thepast five months to learn about the system and to suggest possible modifications, so that when the first regiment comes for trainingthe routines will have been well worked out. These range from assembly and testing to the firing procedures. For training pur-poses, drill missiles are used; and those officers and N.C.O.s handling them at the School are gunnery instructors who withthis indoctrination have become G.W. instructors whose task it will be to train the new regiments. What appears to be an alarm-ing preponderance of staff officers at Manorbier is explained by the fact that all the officer instructors wear red bands round theircaps. For N.C.O. instructors, white bands are the rule. When a missile is received it is subjected to tests to determine itsprobable behaviour in flight. These tests at present take about half an hour; but it is explained at the School that "things are stillbeing worked out," with the implication that this time may be reduced. After testing is complete the nose cone, fins and wingsare fitted; the four boost motors are put into position and latched; and the missile is ready for loading onto its launcher by a specialtrailer. Loading is an operation requiring great care, and could be especially tricky in poor light or high winds. Normally this work of assembly and testing will be carried outlong before the deployment stage, and the missiles sent forward to replenish a ready use area as* required. But for training pur-poses, the whole sequence of operations is carried out within the same location. 777 In the mobile role the very powerful tactical radar it mounted on a vehicle. All radar equipment is similarly mounted, and one of the displays is pic- tured on the right Quite a small detachment of men (six, including two NationalServicemen in the demonstration at Manorbier) is needed to bring the missile launcher into action; and in this operation theArmy's genius for reducing quite complicated procedures into a comparatively simple drill routine was clearly exemplified.These half-dozen artillerymen, led by a corporal, went through their routine with the precision and swiftness of a turn at theRoyal Tournament. Markers are set to indicate the launching site; the base of the launcher is checked to ensure that it is level; theassembled and tested missile arrives from the field assembly test point and is backed onto the launcher; cables are connected bring-ing power supply from the launch control point; the Thunderbird is elevated hydraulically and the vehicle which brought it sentaway for another. The mobile launcher control post is the focal point of the firingsection of a battery, and the launcher control officer supervises the final missile preparation and fires it. The three-ton vehicle fromwhich he works contains a complex lamp order signal system which has already been mentioned in referring to the demonstra-tion model at Manorbier. In its official description of Thunderbird, the Guided WeaponsWing at the School of Anti-Aircraft Artillery describes it as a "medium to high altitude" SAGW system using the semi-activehoming principle, the missile using radar reflectons to home onto its target. Radar, in the older and more limited role of tracking atarget, is being increasingly used at Manorbier for light A.A. work also. Manorbier is essentially an instructor-producing unit, and dur-ing the summer months acts as host to heavy and light ack-ack units for training. The Director of the R.A., Maj-Gen. Howard-Vyse, said at die conclusion of last week's demonstration that there are still "teething troubles" with the new SAGW system; but theunit is doing its best to carry out its task of training on new equip- ment as it comes into service.Close by the site of the School stand the ruins of Manorbier Castle, whose mute walls bear witness to the days when battle-ments were considered impregnable defences. The Thunderbirds standing on die nearby cliff tops form a sharp contrast to thecastle; but rockets are not new as military weapons and the Chinese apparently used some such type of missile about the timeManorbier Castle was built. Not, however, in such an effective form as Thunderbird. This product of English Electric Aviationand associated companies manufacturing the radar equipment,. Metropolitan Vickers and B.T.H., has given the Royal Artillerygreater range and accuracy than it ever previously possessed in its long military history. H. w. A mobile launcher is here in- stalled on the cliff-top at Manorbier. The elevating frame has just been trans- ferred from the transporter
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