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The world according to Charlie


charlie_c67

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In the aftermath of the Korean War, the combined heads of the RAF, FAA and RMaC realised that within a generation the skills gained by pilots during the second world war would be lost. Although the CFE and AFDU were able to devise new tactics, it was believed that the best of each squadron should receive further training in honing their skills further. Initially equipped with Vampires and Meteors, the Specialist Warfare And Tactics School was set up in 1958 flying out of RAF Oakington passing on air-to-air combat skills. This soon grew to encompass air-to ground, maritime and evasion tactics and seconded pilots from all three flying services. In the 1960's the School's compliment consisted of Hunters, Swifts and eventually a few Harriers, with the purchase of a number of T-38 Talons to represent supersonic adversaries. After the TOPGUN program started in America, the UK DACT program soon acquired the nickname "Top Drawer", much to the chagrin of senior officers, and aircrews that come top of the class have always been sent to the Red Flag exercises since their inception in 1975. In 1977 the Talon's were supplemented with the F-5E Tiger, known as the Tiger F.3 in RAF service, due to the use of the F-5A and RF-5E in Brunei whilst the Harriers were upgraded to GR.3 standard. The Hunters lasted until 1985 when they were replaced with the Hawk GR.3 which was itself based on the Hawk 200 single seater. With defence cuts at the end of the cold war, the decision to downsize the school led to the retirement of all types except for the Hawks and the procurement of the Focke-Wulf Tiger FGR.4 as part of a Commonwealth initiative to ensure member states did not suffer mass unemployment in the defence sector.

 

From the outset, instructors were allowed to choose their own scheme for their mount leading to many varied colours being worn over the years. In addition, a member of the school has been the display pilot for the year which has seen a number of commemorative schemes worn for events such as the 75th anniversary of the RAF's founding and the Queen's Golden Jubilee. 

 

In addition to the little fluff story above I've also had a go at doing a profile for a future project. Thoughts at my first attempt are welcome!

 

RMaC_fury%20profile_zpsav6sxc8h.jpg

RMaC_fury%20profile%202_zpsi8u4z1yn.jpg

Edited by charlie_c67
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  • 2 weeks later...

Whilst shifts mean real modelling is slow, I do have the chance to dip in and out with the profiles as an alternative. As such, here is another example from the Royal Marine Air Corps.

 

RMaC%20Mir%20PR.2%20profile_zpsxstyrcid.

 

"At the start of 1940, Stalin thought it profitable to prolong the war in the west, weakening the German forces, allowing the Red Army sweep all before it and him be declared the saviour of Europe. With this in mind, the British were offered material to replace that lost on the beaches of Dunkerque and in the Battle of Britain. Initially suspicious of the offer, Churchill eventually accepted the offer to use as leverage in obtaining a good deal with the US which was concluded remarkably swiftly after the deliveries of the first Soviet equipment. Most of the aircraft in the deliveries of 1941 were passed over by first the RAF and then the FAA as unsuitable. However the fledgling RMaC saw them as a good way of bolstering their thinly spread forces.

 

One type that was considered by the RAF before being passed over were the MiG-1 and -3's due to their performance at high altitude. However, the light armament and need for careful handling at times precluded them from being taken on as a high level fighter to combat the Ju-86's that were rumoured to soon be appearing over the UK. The FAA also rejected the types as they wasn't remotely suitable for use from carriers and instead passed them over to the RMaC, seen by many military planners as the dumping ground for the unwanted. Although initially thought to be redundant, the types found their niche in the reconnaissance role linked to the newly formed Plymouth Strike Wing, set up to counter the E-boat menace prevalent in the Channel and to take the fight to the Kriegsmarine in the French ports. Stripped of all weaponry and refitted with British radios the type was able to reach over 400mph at 8,000ft and had a ceiling of 12,000ft high above many Axis fighters. Both the MiG-1 and -3 were known as the Mir PR.I and PR.II respectively in RMaC service and continued until 1944 when a lack of parts and the resultant cannibalisation led to them being replaced by the Spitfire PR.XIX."

 

So what next? More RMaC, RAF Brun or something....new. Decisions, decisions.

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Whoops, realised I hadn't written the back story for the Sea Sabre. So here goes...

 

"During the Korean War it was realised the Sea Vampires and Sea Furys  used by the RMaC were not up to the standard of the new MiG-15's employed by the Communist forces. A number had been captured or recovered and were being tested at RAE Farnborough for use in future aircraft design and tactics. Although both the RAF and FAA had new designs lined up to counter the threat, the RMaC purchasing committee decided to order the naval version of the RAF's F.4 Sabre and an arrangement was made for Focke-Wulf to make the FJ-4 in addition to the F-86s ordered for several European Air Forces. First delivered in 1954, the type was known as the Sea Sabre F.2 and differed from the basic design by utilising the Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire Turbojet engine and ADEN 30mm cannons and gained the ability to carry the newly developed AIM-9 Sidewinders in time. There was further development during and after the Suez Crisis when a number of Sea Sabre's were fitted with rocket pods due to the overwhelming air superiority enjoyed by the British, French and Israeli forces reducing the need for CAP missions. The type was upgraded in 1959 to the Sea Sabre FB.3 which was the equivalent of the FJ-4B and allowed the carriage of AGM-12 Bullpup missiles as the type was being transferred to the ground attack role after the Crusader F.1 was introduced in late 1957. The Sea Sabres were to soldier on until 1963 when the last Squadron replaced the type with the Sea Petrel S.1."

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