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Falklands War Reference thread


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If anyone who is planning to build a Black Buck Vulcan needs info on them:

 

The tail numbers of the Vulcans involved:

XM597

primary BB4, 5, 6.

5 and 6 performed, diverted to Brazil on 6

XM598

primary on BB1

reserve on BB2, 4, 5, 6, 7

XM607

reserve on BB1

primary on BB2, 3, 7

performed BB1, 2, 7

XM612

reserve on BB3

XL391

spare aircraft kept at RAF Waddington 

 

All except XL391 survive today (391 was scrapped in 2006).

XM597 is outdoors at the National Museum of Flight in Scotland, not in a good condition though. XM598 is indoors at Cosford, not great for reference photos due to poor lighting and cramped hangar. XM607 is at RAF Waddington, but is not currently on display as it is undergoing a restoration currently. XM612 is the best one if you want reference photos or to photograph a Black Buck Vulcan in general. There is a Facebook page ran by the people looking after her and they have posted a lot of very useful photos. 

 

If you're using references from other non Black Buck Vulcans, the best ones would be  XM605 and XM606 (both in the US though) as these were from the same batch as the Black Buck aircraft and had the same configuration. XM603 of course is now white and has been cosmetically reverted an early configuration, so may not be the best one despite being from the same batch. If not those then XM655 is the closest fit (same engine type, ECM fit and jammers, it just lacks some of the relevant skybolt bits the pylons attached to). 

 

All had Sqn markings overpainted during the conflict (reinstated afterwards, so appear on the preserved airframes). Underside was Dark Sea Grey, upper surfaces were Medium Sea Grey and Dark Green, matte finish (museum gloss finish is incorrect).

 

On recent photos of XM607, you will see the DSG underside wrapping over the leading edge of the wing. I believe this to be incorrect as photos of XM607 taken shortly after the Falklands War do not show this, and photos of XM597 in Brazil very clearly show a standard demarcation between the underside and top surface camo.

 

To get the pylons to fit correctly, you need to remove the twin teardrop shaped blisters under the wings (these were covers for hardpoints and will clash with the pylon if left in place), the 1/200 Cyberhobby kit is missing one so only has a single Teardrop shaped blister

 

BB1, 2, 3 and 7 were targeting the runway with conventional bombs

BB4, 5 and 6 were targeting radars with Shrike missiles

 

If using the new Airfix kit, the old kit's pylons should just about fit. You should remove the tailcone tip and replace it with the alternative version provided but not used (Red Steer Mk2), use the short and wide jetpipes (Olympus 301), only the right ECM plate (flat plate between the engines, like with the white scheme in the kit) and later aerials provided in the kit but not used. The Dash 10 ECM pod came from a Buccaneer, so you can probably find aftermarket in the correct scale.

 

The above point on the ECM plates applies to all Vulcan B2 kits for Black Buck (if you are adapting a Trumpeter one, some external piping should be visible but it's moulded to the ECM plates so you may want to source some new ones).

 

If using the old Airfix kit, it was based on XM607 so the configuration is correct for black buck, just remove the twin blisters as previously mentioned and you'll need to source a Dash 10 ECM pod.

 

And finally, XH558 did not play a part in the conflict despite being on the box art of the Cyberhobby kit carrying Shrikes. It has the wrong engine type so was never considered. At the time of the Falkands it was converted to a K2 single point tanker.

 

Edited by Adam Poultney
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Thanks for your comprehensive guidance @Adam Poultney 

Just to make sure that I've understood, is this the correct under-wing configuration for BB1, 2, 3 and 7 aircraft?

  • just one ECM plate under starboard engines
  • Dash10 ECM pod on starboard pylon
  • Nothing attached to the port pylon

Cheers

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2 hours ago, CliffB said:

Thanks for your comprehensive guidance @Adam Poultney 

Just to make sure that I've understood, is this the correct under-wing configuration for BB1, 2, 3 and 7 aircraft?

  • just one ECM plate under starboard engines
  • Dash10 ECM pod on starboard pylon
  • Nothing attached to the port pylon

Cheers

All correct 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Falklands The Air War  By Burden & Draper

Air War South Atlantic by Alfred Price & Jerry Ethell

Skyhawks Over the South Atlantic By Santiago Rivas

 Wings of the Malvinas: The Argentine Air War Over the Falklands By Santiago Rivas

Air Power in the Falklands Conflict: An Operational Level Insight into Air Warfare in the South Atlantic  By John Shields

Hostile Skies By David Morgan

RAF Harrier Ground Attack By Jerry Pook

Scram!: The Gripping First Hand Account of the Helicopter War in the Falklands By Harry Benson

Vulcan 607 By Rowland White

Harrier 809 By Rowland White

The Pucara Story By Dr. Ricardo Caballero & Phil Cater

Handbrake!: Dassault Super Etendard Fighter-Bombers in the Falklands/Malvinas War, 1982 By Mariano Sciaroni & Alejandro Amendolara(Forthcoming)

 

Hope this can be of some help.

 

James

 

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19 hours ago, James S. said:

Vulcan 607 By Rowland White

Just going to add

The Vulcan B.Mk2 from a different angle by Craig Bulman

It's pretty thin on Black Buck specific content but it is the single best book as a reference for Vulcans there is.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I think I have what you're looking for. From Falklands The Air War by Burden & Draper. Also listing squadron and date of loss.

 

Sea Harrier FRS.1

 

XZ450 - 800 Sqdn May 5, 1982

XZ452 - 801 Sqdn May 6, 1982

XZ453 - 801 Sqdn May 6, 1982

ZA192 - 800 Sqdn May 23, 1982

ZA174 - 801 Sqdn May 29, 1982

XZ456 - 801 Sqdn June 1, 1982

 

Harrier GR.3

 

XZ972 - 1(F) Sqdn May 21, 1982

XZ988 - 1(F) Sqdn May 27, 1982

XZ963 - 1(F) Sqdn May 30, 1982

XZ989 - 1(F) Sqdn June 8, 1982

 

Chinook HC.1

 

ZA706 - 18 Sqdn May 25, 1982

ZA716 - 18 Sqdn May 25, 1982

ZA719 - 18 Sqdn May 25, 1982

 

Scout AH.1

 

XT629 - 3 CBAS 'B' Flight May 28, 1982

 

More to follow.......

Edited by James S.
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Sea King HC.4/HAS.5

 

ZA311 - 846 Sqdn April 23, 1982

ZA132 - 826 Sqdn May 12, 1982

XZ573 - 826 Sqdn May 18, 1982

ZA290 - 846 Sqdn May 18/19, 1982

ZA294 - 846 Sqdn May 19, 1982

 

Wessex - HAS.3/HU.5

 

XT464 - 845 Sqdn 'C' Flight April 22, 1982

XT473 - 845 Sqdn 'C' Flight April 22, 1982

XS480 - 848 Sqdn 'D' Flight May 25, 1982

XS495 - 848 Sqdn 'D' Flight May 25, 1982

XS499 - 848 Sqdn 'D' Flight May 25, 1982

XS512 - 848 Sqdn 'D' Flight May 25, 1982

XT476 - 848 Sqdn 'D' Flight May 25, 1982

XT483 - 848 Sqdn 'D' Flight May 25, 1982

XM837 - 737 Sqdn 'Glamorgan' Flight June 12, 1982

 

Lynx HAS.2

 

XZ251 - 815 Sqdn 'Ardent' Flight May 21, 1982

XZ242 - 815 Sqdn 'Coventry' Flight May 25, 1982

XZ700 - 815 Sqdn 'Newcastle' Flight May 25, 1982

 

Gazelle AH.1

 

XX411 - 3 CBAS 'C' Flight May 21, 1982

XX402 - 3 CBAS 'C' Flight May 21, 1982

XX377 - 3 CBAS 'C' Flight June 6, 1982

 

Hope this helps my friend. I'll also go through some other books I have on the Falklands Air War and see what else I can find.

 

James

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Some musings about the Harrier GR3, copied from my own Harrier build thread.

 

The Harrier GR3 went through a number of modication states.  By the time the Falklands war came along, the entire fleet had been upgraded to Phase 4 standard, with Phase 6 in the planning stage.  Operation Corporate led to a rethink of Phase 6.

 

Phase 4 jets did not have Sidewinder capability. That was planned for Phase 6.  However, the capability was added in very quickly to what became known as the "Corporate fit".  The cables required actually ran down the outside of the outboard pylons!  They were covered with speedtape and green paint.   Another problem with Phase 4 jets is that they could not operate from an aircraft carrier as the INAS system needed a perfectly still platform while it was running up, known as "in align".  Put a Phase 4 jet on a moving deck and it would autorev in align. Basically, this meant that the INAS system could not settle on the current position as its base point.

 

This problem was overcome with some Nasty magic.  There was a small fairing added to the underside of the LRMTS nose which had a small antenna.  This allowed the jet to align on a moving deck.  The term "Nasty" referred to the avionics groundcrew who provided a lot of TLC to the INAS system.  In the rest of the RAF, these people were referred to as "Fairies" but on Harrier squadrons they were called "Nasties".

 

After the war, the next step was a "post-Corporate fit".  The outboard pylons were replaced with new ones that allowed the Sidewinder cables to run down the removeable leading edge. Fitting this was a total pain as there were forty hi-torque screws needed.   Post-Corporate jets still had the Nasty magic fairing.  That wasn't an official name, by the way...

 

The intention was to upgrade the entire Harrier fleet to post-Corporate fit, but Phase 6 got in there first.

 

Phase 6 was a major upgrade to the Harrier fleet.  By rights, the Phase 6 aircraft should have had a new mark number, but GR5 was reserved for the Harrier II.  Phase 6 jets had another new outboard pylon which did away with all the hi-torque screw pain.  The Sidewinder control panel was intergrated into the instrument panel in the cckpit rather than being a bodged up add-on.  The INAS system was modified to operate from a carrier deck, so the fairing under the LRMTS nose was removed.

 

Most importantly, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) system was removed which saved a lot of weight.  Phase 6 jets also had a whacking great antenna added to the dorsal centreline and this is the main recognition feature.

 

The Phase 6 programme moved rapidly so that by late 1985 about 90% of the fleet had been upgraded to Phase 6 standard.  There were still a handful of post-Corporate Phase 4 jets around and they always caused problems for the younger pilots who had only ever flown Phase 6 jets.   On startup, the liney running the see-off would run the pilot through a few functional checks.  On a Phase 4 jet that meant the jockey had to stir the stick, causing the RAT to cycle up and then down.  It was hilarious to see the look of bewilderment on the faces of the younger jockeys when you gave them the RAT instruction. They just didn't have a clue   Eventually Ops would simply assign the younger lads to Phase 6 jets to avoid that problem.  

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  • 4 weeks later...
On 08/04/2022 at 01:12, James S. said:

Falklands The Air War  By Burden & Draper

Air War South Atlantic by Alfred Price & Jerry Ethell

Skyhawks Over the South Atlantic By Santiago Rivas

 Wings of the Malvinas: The Argentine Air War Over the Falklands By Santiago Rivas

Air Power in the Falklands Conflict: An Operational Level Insight into Air Warfare in the South Atlantic  By John Shields

Hostile Skies By David Morgan

RAF Harrier Ground Attack By Jerry Pook

Scram!: The Gripping First Hand Account of the Helicopter War in the Falklands By Harry Benson

Vulcan 607 By Rowland White

Harrier 809 By Rowland White

The Pucara Story By Dr. Ricardo Caballero & Phil Cater

Handbrake!: Dassault Super Etendard Fighter-Bombers in the Falklands/Malvinas War, 1982 By Mariano Sciaroni & Alejandro Amendolara(Forthcoming)

 

Hope this can be of some help.

 

James

 

Also Sea Harrier over the Falklands by 'Sharkey' Ward

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  • 3 months later...

Sorry to resurrect this thread...

 

Following on from the post above of aircraft lost during the war, does a definitive list exist anywhere of all the registrations of naval aircraft deployed to the Falklands in '82? Specifically the Sea Kings and Wessex'....

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18 hours ago, NavyWessex said:

Sorry to resurrect this thread...

 

Following on from the post above of aircraft lost during the war, does a definitive list exist anywhere of all the registrations of naval aircraft deployed to the Falklands in '82? Specifically the Sea Kings and Wessex'....

I could recommend ''Falklands The Air War''.  

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  • 1 month later...

Hi sorry this is late to the party but there are some great shots in here. Was talking to a colleague about my Vulcan build and he said, check this album from his granddad.
(also sorry if I shouldn't post this in here, I got permission for the flicker link)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/26502588@N02/albums/72157607131707577/with/2830794643/

spacer.png


 

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