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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 2057.PDF
Bloodhound 2 launcher in model form, showing the back- reference TIR-link aerial mast Undoubtedly the most powerful British target-illuminating radar is the AEI Scorpion, scheduled for use with Bloodhound 2 ROUND THE STANDS . . . MISSILES IT is now possible to form a long-term picture of the overall development of British surface-to-air missile systems. In the years immediately following World War 2, the field was so new that there was little attempt at specialization. Three broadly similar systems were undertaken not only to meet the needs of the three Services, but also to provide an element of duplication, considered necessary in view of the considerable element of tech nical risk involved. Today it is possible with much greater assurance to develop special-purpose systems or multi-purpose missiles according to operational requirements. On the one hand may be cited Seacat, CF.299 and PT.428 (development of which was not continued), while the outstanding general-purpose long-range weapon appears to be Bloodhound. The Ministry of Defence recently stated that "'further work" is to be carried out on Bloodhound 2; "this will facilitate the eventual development of a third-generation large surface-to-air guided weapon which might be required by all three Services." This sug gests that the Bloodhound family, which has already achieved great success both in RAF service and in export to Sweden, Swit zerland and Australia, may fairly be regarded as the most important in the entire field of British defensive weapons. At the same time, it is certainly premature to suggest that the "large" weapon en visaged will replace Seaslug and Thunderbird. in the Royal Navy and Army respectively. Fundamental design concepts are: radar semi-active homing; kerosine-fuelled ramjet propulsion; and "twist-and-steer" moving- wing control. Future development of the family is based on these fundamentals. In contrast to the pulse techniques of Bloodhound 1, Bloodhound 2 uses the latest continuous-wave radar—"in the development of which," say the manufacturers, "Great Britain has taken the lead." The complete Bloodhound 2 system is trans portable by road or air and can be deployed at a prepared site in a short space of time. Compared with Bloodhound 1, the Bloodhound 2 missile is seen to have the following: at least 4ft of additional body length, presumably devoted to increased kerosine tankage; a more pointed nose radome, probably giving less drag at high Mach numbers; much larger Bristol Aerojet boost motors; additional fin area attached to the rear of the ramjet engines, to counterbalance the longer nose; and (obviously) much improved Bristol Siddeley ramjets, although the fore-part of the latter is shrouded. Comparable advances have taken place in the non-flying portions of the system. The launcher has been entirely redesigned, and now incorporates its own hydraulic and pneumatic power supplies (which in the Mk 1 system are contained in a box, about as large as an average caravan, adjacent to each launcher). The weight of the launcher has probably been slightly reduced, despite the fact that it has to support a bigger weapon, and—in place of the heavy knuckle beam—rigidity is provided by twin hydraulic rams which also elevate the missile to the firing angle. The elevation is somewhat less than the 45 employed in Bloodhound 1. At the rear of the launcher is attached a mast-mounted back-reference aerial which is employed in setting up the missile prior to firing. Bloodhound (like Thunderbird 2, discussed below) can employ either of two types of CW target-illuminating radar. The smaller is vehicle-mounted Firelight, by Ferranti (Crewe Toll, Edinburgh), which is officially described as having "greater range; increased mobility; better low-level performance; increased flexibility" com pared with the Sting Ray TIR of Bloodhound 1. For use in more static situations, AEI (Leicester) have produced the extremely powerful Scorpion TIR, which is stated to have all the advantages of Firelight coupled with "very much greater range." Even this equip ment is designed for dismantling and airlifting. Finally, the launch control post, which in the Mk 1 system is a large single-storey building, is now accommodated in an air- portable cabin no larger than the missile. As well as this dramatic reduction in size, which is achieved partly by complete transistoriza tion, the Bloodhound 2 LCP has improved operational flexibility and digital-computer control. Although its initial period of development was aimed at pro ducing a weapon which might suit the RAF, Thunderbird 1 was evolved along the lines of the heavy anti-aircraft organization of the British Army as it existed in 1945. The basic unit is a "battery," which operates like its gun-armed predecessor. The No 3 Mk 7 radar, developed for 3.7in and 5.25in guns, has been adopted as the standard target-illuminating set, the missile launcher incorporates existing gun mountings, and, instead of the vehicles being designed to carry the equipment, all components of the system have been arranged to be mounted in or on existing Royal Artillery vehicles and ground equipment. By the time Thunderbird 1 became operational, the system had been developed to an extremely high degree, and troop firing trials have achieved phenomenal success, which bears witness not only to the quality of the hardware, but also to the training of the men concerned (for men play a big part in Thunderbird I). For example, two batteries moved from Piddlehinton, Dorset, to the Army range at Ty Croes, Anglesey—going much of the way across country—and immediately upon arrival deployed for action. Each battery fired four rounds against jet targets, and seven of the eight drones were destroyed. Mention should at this point be made of the No 3 Mk 9 radar, which was originally developed for use with guns and would have been employed in such a manner had not AA Command been dis banded some eight years ago. This radar has now materialized as Sting Ray, by AEI, Leicester, and it can be regarded as an equip ment which bridges the gap between guns and missile radars. In the event, the availability and mobility of the No 3 Mk 8 set (No 3 Mk 7 modified for missile use) resulted in its selection for Thunder bird I, and this equipment fully meets the requirement to train soldiers on GW operation, while at the same time having a useful operational performance. Although it is not yet in Royal Artillery hands, the Thunderbird 2 system was conceived at virtually the same time as Thunderbird I. as part of an overall scheme for national defence. The use of con tinuous-wave radar techniques was understood at the end of World War 2, and the enormously increased resistance to countermeasures
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