An RAF Whiff

[nev]

Plus you'd still have RNAS tanks on the battlefield    

The British Army has always been a bit of a spare part, when it hasn't been fighting, and the Navy has men to do it anyway. If we've got a big fleet, why not go back to Britannia ruling the waves? Now, that is crazy.

Well, the RAF Regiment were used as an offensive force to seize and hold key targets in OIF, and they are currently being used as  ground pounders in Afghanistan.......

[Tornado]

Here is my take on a possible postwar timeline for the RFC and RNAS with some never-were and what-ifs included.

RFC

Fighters: Used for top-cover of strike aircraft and from 1948 the defence of Britain from Soviet nuclear bombers. In 1957 the manned interceptor fleet was replaced by missiles and only fighter-bombers were operated by the RFC after the Defence White Paper. The Violet Friend ABM system, Bloodhound and Thunderbird SAMs were used to protect the UK from aerial attack.

Hawker Tempest: 1945-55 as a ground attack aircraft as part of 2 TAF.

Bristol Brigand: Fighter-bomber developed from the aborted RNAS torpedo-bomber and used until the late 1960s.

Gloster Meteor: Designed as the first RFC jet fighter this type was developed further postwar into the F.Mk.4, FB.Mk.8, FR.Mk.9 and PR.Mk.10 types and these served until replaced by the Hunter series of fighters. A radar equipped Meteor was trialled but rejected by the RFC under serious pressure from the RNAS to do so.

DH Vampire: Designed as the first RFC fighter-bomber carrying two 1,000lb bombs or eight 3in RP. Aslo followed by the larger Venom from 1948. Both replaced by the Hunter in the late 1950s.

NA F-86 Sabre F.Mk.1: Flown 1953-56 while waiting for the Hunter to arrive in service by 2 TAF RFC units in Germany.

Hawker Hunter: The RFC rejected the Supermarine Type 541 (Swift) and government intervention trying to force the RFC to accept Sapphire powered versions. The F.Mk.1 and 2 suffered some problems but the definitive F.Mk.4 became the main day fighter of the RFC from 1954. The NF.Mk.5 was based on the T.Mk.7 trainer and featured two crew side-by-side and was an all-weather escort fighter. From 1956 these entered service with AI Mk.21 radar and only two 30mm ADEN cannon. Most of these were upgraded from 1962 with Ferranti Airpass and four Red Top AAMs. The FB.Mk.6 was the main ground-attack variant form 1957 with two 1500lb and two 500lb capacity hardpoints and from 1960 a tropical FB. Mk.9 was also built. The FR.Mk.10 was the main tactical recon variant. The RNAS sued the Hunter T.Mk.8 and F.Mk.11 variants for training and base defence, none were ship-based.

Gloster Javelin: Entered service from 1951 as the main RFC interceptor but development stopped in 1957 and from 1958 removed from service.

Vickers 585 Falcon: Developed alongside the similar 587 for the RNAS the 585 was a single-engined variant with a single RB.168. Capable of M2.2 it was a single-seat fighter-bomber equipped with Airpass II radar and armed with two 30mm ADEN and coauld carry 4,000lb on ventral hardpoints and 4,000lb on two wing root hardpoints or four IR/radar guided Red Top. It entered RFC service in 1972 in the fighter role, by 1975 the FGA.Mk.2 had LRMTS instead of the radar for precision strike with LGBs had entered service.

Hawker Harrier: Developed as part of the Kestrel VTOL research programme. About 200 were built and used until the late 1980s replacing the Hunter as the main ground attack force. From 1985 the newer GR.Mk.5 entered service with the bigger composite Douglas McDonnell designed wing. Some 120 of these and the GR.Mk.7 were built.

BAe P.1233 Jaguar: Developed from 1987 as a SABA (Small Agile Battlefield Aircraft) to attack Soviet tanks and helicopters this small aircraft was powered by a Lycoming T-55 propfan and armed with one 27mm Mauser and six hardpoints for ASRAAM or Sidewinder or eight TOW. Germany based squadrons received fifty from 1991.

HSA Hawk 200: From 1990 the first of thirty single-seat Hawk COIN aircraft entered service equipped with APG-66 radar and armed with both Sea Eagle, Sidewinders and Skyflash to serve as multi-role aircraft.


Bombers: The RFC used tactical bombers for bombing main interdiction sorties against Soviet transport networks and troop concentrations. In 1951 the RFC was given a tactical nuclear capability.

DH Mosquito: Used until the mid 1950s in both bomber and night-fighter roles.

EE Canberra: The main RFC bomber of the postwar fleet. Marks were B.Mk.2, PR.Mk.3, T.Mk.4, B.Mk.5 with pathfinder equipment, B.Mk.6 with Red Beard capability, PR.Mk.7, FB.Mk.8 with four ADEN cannon and five 1,000lb bombs and only two crew, FB.Mk.9 with afterburning Avons for better performance.

Panavia Tornado: Replaced the Canberra B.Mk.10 (modernised Mk.6) and FB.Mk.9. This was built for strike and recon with podded systems. The RNAS used the MB.Mk.2 with four Sea Eagle ASMs from shore bases and carrier based versions.

Transports: Vickers Valetta in the tactical role replaced by, Blackburn Beverley and Argosy which were replaced by the Hercules. A few Short Belfasts were built for strategic transportation as were VC-10s which by 1988 were all refuelling-tankers to support longer ranged operations. Lighter transport was handled by the Twin Pioneer until replaced by the Avro Andover from 1966. Helicopters were a few Belvedere twin-rotor helicopters, the Puma and Chinook for transport and Westland Scouts and Gazelles for recon and scouting. The Lynx has progressively replaced these in the transport and recon roles. A two-seat gunship Lynx AHG.Mk.9 version with 16xTOW and a 20mm cannon turret was produced from 1988.


RNAS

Fighters: Most fighter types used by the RNAS were carrier-capable designed to protect the fleet from enemy strike aircraft and to escort RNAS strike forces.

WW2 types: The Seafire was used until the late 1940s, as were some of the American Hellcats. The Firefly Mk.5 single-seat fighter was in use until 1950. Two-seat radar-equipped versions lasted until the late 1940s.

Hawker Sea Fury: Developed solely for the RNAS after the RFC chose the Tempest. They lasted until 1954 in both pure fighter and fighter-bomber roles.

DH Sea Hornet: Designed as a long-range escort fighter and used until 1960 in its radar equipped version with strike capability.

DH Sea Vampire: Navalised in 1947 and in service form 1949 these jet fighters were the first in the RNAS and in use until 1955.

Hawker Sea Hawk: Used in two fighter and three fighter-bomber variants and used until 1960.

Westland W.37 Pirate: Entered service in 1954 as the main RNAS all-weather fleet fighter. Powered by a rehreated Sapphire Sa.4 it could reach M1.01 and was armed with four 30mm ADEN and four Firestreak AAM. Later variants had more powerful engines and these served until the late 1960s.

Supermarine Scimitar: Used as the first nuclear bomb equipped strike fighter. The FAW.Mk.2 of 1960 had reheated RB.146 engines (plus two Spectre rockets) and Airpass radar with four IR or Radar-guided Red Top AAMs or 6,000lbs of bombs or one TNB. Top speed was M1.8 and two crew were carried. This was in service until 1977.

BAC Type 587 Barracuda: Developed from 1962 as a new two-seat multi-role carrier based aircraft with VG wings and new AI.19 radar. It entered service in 1972 equipped with AI.20 radar and six Radar guided Red Top AAMs. It could reach M2.5 at attitude. The FAW.Mk.2 of 1977 added Skyflash AAMs and more powerful RB.153 engines and better STOL performance. The associated strike version was cancelled to save money in 1967. The RFC trialled the type but did not order it.

Douglas McDonnell F/A-18 Hornet: Entered service from 1989 to replace the aging Barracuda fighters and offering a back-up strike capability to the Sea Tornado.


Strategic Bombers: After patchy success during WW2 the RNAS bomber arm found itself pitched as the future nuclear deterrent of the UK after the USA refused to sell Savage carrier-based bombers to equip the new Malta class carriers. Allied to this from 1965 the RFC operated the new Blue Streak silo based IRBM system.

Vickers Valiant: After rejecting the Short Sperrin the RNAS ordered 45 Valiant bombers and 12 strategic reconnaissance variants. Wing-spar cracks were discovered in 1965 but by rotation and some repairs about 12 were kept in service until 1969 when the Polaris submarines took over the strategic nuclear role. The RFC were prevented by powerful Navy lobbying to government from purchasing any.

Douglas Skywarrior: In 1963 the RNAS received 28 under NATO funding as carrier based nuclear strike bombers. In 1969 all became ECM (EM.Mk.2) escort aircraft and AEW (AEW.Mk.3) aircraft and were in service until 1986.


Strike Bombers and ASW aircraft: The main postwar role of the RNAS was to sink Soviet warships and stop their SSN and SSBN fleet breaking out into the Atlantic.

WW2 Types: The Barracuda was in use until 1955 and the Avengers were replaced by modernised versions from 1952 and used until 1960 in the ASW role. The Firebrand was scrapped in favour of the Firecrest which served from 1950-60 in the fighter bomber role with 2x 1,000lb bombs and eight 3in RP.

Blackburn Buccaneer: From 1962 some 150 were eventually built in three marks as the main RNAS anti-ship and nuclear strike force. The S.Mk.2 (B.108) had more powerful Gyron Junior engines, new wing and upgraded radar and weapon systems and was in service from 1961. Some sixty were also built for the RFC nuclear strike squadrons from 1974 as the B.Mk.3. A Spey powered S.Mk.4 entered service from 1967 in RNAS squadrons.

Panavia Sea Tornado: From 1984 the carrier-based strike S.Mk.2 version entered service with Sea Eagle ASMs and a new triple INS for strike roles.

Douglas Skyraider: Used in the AEW role with APS20A radar and supplied under NATO funding. Used until 1960 aboard the carrier fleet.

Fairey Gannet: Used in the ASW, ECM escort and AEW roles until the mid 1960s.

Blackburn 175 Poseidon: This variant of the Britannia airliner was powered by Napier Nomad engines and could carry 8,000lbs of ASW weapons. Search radar and MAD were carried along with sonobuoys. It entered service in 1955 and 45 were built and in service until 1970

HS Nimrod: This Comet derivative entered service from 1967 for ASW and limited strike capability. In 1985 Sea Eagle and Sidewinders were added to give a real anti-ship strike capability.  

Westland Wessex: Used by the RNAS in the rescue (HAR.Mk.2), ASW (HAS.Mk.1 and 3) and troop transport (HAC.Mk.4) roles. The RFC only received twenty for transport work in the HC.Mk.5 variant.

Westland Wasp: The sister to the Scout for the RFC the Wasp performed an ASW duty on the frigates of the RN until 1980.

Vertol Chinook: Used by the RNAS in the ASW role from 1970. The HAS.Mk.1 had a crew of four and carried Plessey Type 195 dunking sonar, towed MAD and twenty sonobuoys. Under the fuselage either six Mk44 torpedoes or Mk 11 depth bombs or two nuclear depth bombs could be carried. Upgraded from 1975 and again in 1990 as the HAS.Mk.3 and 4. They were based on the CVA-01 class carriers and ashore. The Marines in 1974 received 24 HAC.Mk.2 assault transports with outriggers for eight SS.11 missiles and three 12.7mm HMGs.

Westland Lynx: Used as the main destroyer and frigate based ASW helicopter from the 1970s.