PaulR Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Evening all, Well, it would seem(yet to be confirmed though!) that the tranche 1 typhoons are to be retained after all for dedicated air defence, and for red air aggressor duty... so, as modellers, the important question is ; which squadrons will be resurrected? I rather hope 100sqn will stay as red air (would some US style aggressor camo schemes be too much to hope for?), but as regards the other two air defence units... 19sqn? 23sqn? Or could it even be 74sqn? Oh the agony of choice! Hope xtradecal are at the ready... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 111 & or 43? 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 As per raf policy it will be the lowest number not allocated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Hopefully 19 Sqn,...........too much to ask for 249 Sqn,.....which I believe was the highest scoring RAF fighter sqn of WW2,...or am I totally wrong on this? Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 As per raf policy it will be the lowest number not allocated Sensible and logical if wholly lacking in romance and style 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 74 squadron without a doubt should be a fighter squadron, and although the nameplates are already taken so should 5sqn 56sqn!! . . . Kes (Frangas non flectas . . . Quid si coelum ruat ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 As per raf policy it will be the lowest number not allocated I had thought that rather it went to the most senior inactive squadron, regardless of number -- IE the one with the most time spent active. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 I saw 'new typhoon squadrons' and wondered what the heck was going on. Then I remembered that they stole the name of a classic to reuse for a blow torch with wings. It all makes sense now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV107 Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 It'll be the most senior number unallocated, subject to several caveats. 1. Role association - so most unlikely that (say) 207 squadron will reform on a fighter type 2. Re-equipment - the Air Staff may decide to re-equip a squadron, so (say) 9 Squadron might re-equip with Typhoon. This is often done to avoid killing off a very senior squadron. 3. Numberplate becoming available - for instance, 5 Squadron loses the Sentinel; it is, though, a very senior squadron, so the Air Staff would almost certainly seek to reform it. The list of seniority amongst fighter-associated number plates that are free goes something like this: 19, 25, 20, 23, 43, 111 and 74 If one of the Tranche 1 squadrons is to have a target facilities/ 'Red Air' role, then 100 could easily be re-equipped from the Hawk, but I would imagine that this would be a secondary role and that 100 would continue with a cheaper-to-operate type than the Typhoon to fulfil its dedicated role. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bunker Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 It may well depend on which squadrons the CAS served with - he may choose the squadrons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 It may well depend on which squadrons the CAS served with - he may choose the squadrons. So 72 looks likely then..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inverted Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Maybe a good clue from SP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 According to the BBC news, the airframes will be upgraded to allow for air to ground weapons. Is this the tranche 1 airframes or newer airframes not yet upgraded to tranche 4? My understanding was the tranche 1 airframes couldn't be upgraded which was why they were going to be retired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 If I recall correctly status as a reserve squadron does not count for seniority when deciding the sqns with the longest heritage. Therefore in view of 19 and 20 being reserve sqns in their later guises, then that might suggest 25 and 43 for the new Typhoon sqns. Any my money is on 5 as the first P-8 sqn Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 I had thought that rather it went to the most senior inactive squadron, regardless of number -- IE the one with the most time spent active. possibly, but that was how I was told it is, maybe it is done on seniority, which logically would also fall to the lower numbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Surely the new P-8 squadron should come from the old RNAS 200 series as these are just as senior as the ex RFC units yet there are hardly any in use? I`d like to see 19 & 43 Sqns reformed on Typhoon`s but I`m just relieved in general that the RAF is expanding slightly at last! Hopefully the Fleet Air Arm will get another one or two extra squadrons reformed for F-35`s too, but it will probably end up being 2 x RAF & 2 x RN sqns? Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 (edited) P-8 Sqn will be 120 or 201 I'd bet (Or maybe both with shared aircraft as per 8 and 23 for a while on the Sentry) Edited November 23, 2015 by Dave Fleming 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtd350 Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 111 & or 43? Indeed, and back at Leuchars would be perfect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Indeed, and back at Leuchars would be perfect A chequer board one and an all black one with yellow flashes would look cool don't you think? Still MOD not as sentimental bunch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Why not make 617 Sqn one of the new Typhoon squadrons and then give the Fleet Air Arm responsibility for all three of the proposed F-35 units. After all the F-35 is primarily destined for the new aircraft carriers as a naval asset and if they are required for land based operations too then naval pilots can do that too on behalf of the MoD! It doesn`t need to be a Joint Force. Most other navies in the world wouldn`t involve the air force in its air defence and strike operations,.....so why should the RN? Cheers, Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Why not make 617 Sqn one of the new Typhoon squadrons and then give the Fleet Air Arm responsibility for all three of the proposed F-35 units. After all the F-35 is primarily destined for the new aircraft carriers as a naval asset and if they are required for land based operations too then naval pilots can do that too on behalf of the MoD! It doesn`t need to be a Joint Force. I don't see the RAF being terribly enthused about giving up all stake in what might well be the very last manned fighter aircraft used by Great Britain. More importantly, the UK's military is now too small not to be sentimental, IMO. Britain is still a medium power, which is no small thing, but when your armed forces are this small, you should embrace the emotive aspects of it, and the rule of cool. So what I'm saying is, 74 Squadron or bust. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dambuster Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Judging by the likely non-availability of stick-jockeys, my bet is for 601/602 Sqn RAuxAF..... Peter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtd350 Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 A chequer board one and an all black one with yellow flashes would look cool don't you think? Still MOD not as sentimental bunch Got decals for both sqn's kicking about some place, I just need to get a kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Foster60 Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 It will be interesting to see which of the remaining airfields these new assets will be shoe horned into. Given the proposed sell off of MOD land cannot see any airfields being restored. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Just stick the F-35`s at Yeovilton under Naval Air Command, 3 x NAS`s plus the OCU, just like it used to be! One of the extra Typhoon Sqn`s at Lossie to cover Northern QRA, the other at Coningsby for Southern QRA or form another third Typhoon Wing at Wyton. Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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