Andrew Brookes

Valiant Units of the Cold War (eBook, PDF)

Illustrator: Davey, Chris

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

The RAF's first Cold War strategic bomber, the Vickers Valiant, was procured as an insurance measure in case either the Vulcan or Victor was found to have a serious flaw. The Valiant was the equivalent of the US B-47 Stratojet, and it blazed the trail for the British airborne nuclear deterrent as the aircraft enjoyed a far more active service career than later V-bombers. It was the launch platform for all British free fall nuclear weapons tests both in the Pacific and in central Australia, it took part in the Suez campaign in 1956 and it was the only V-bomber to drop (conventional) weapons in anger until the Falklands operation in 1982. The Valiant was modified to serve in the electronic warfare, strategic reconnaissance and airborne tanker role, but it had to be grounded in early 1965 when the aircraft succumbed to metal fatigue.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury UK eBooks
• Seitenzahl: 96
• Erscheinungstermin: 20. August 2012
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781849087544
• Artikelnr.: 38360003

Autorenporträt

Steven J Zaloga received his BA in History from Union College and his MA from Columbia University. He has worked as an analyst in the aerospace industry for over two decades, covering missile systems and the international arms trade, and has served with the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federal think-tank. He is the author of numerous books on military technology and military history, with an accent on the US Army in World War II as well as Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Henry Morshead is a design consultant in the European automotive and aerospace sectors, with clients including Jaguar, Bentley, Citroën and Airbus. He is also a technical sponsor of the Bloodhound supersonic car, contributing digital surfacing and design services. A former officer in the Royal Engineers and illustrator for Jane's, he maintains a keen interest in the design and use of military land and air vehicles.

Inhaltsangabe

Valiant creation
The first V-bomber into service ¿ trailblazer for high level Cold War bombing tactics
The Suez Campaign
Christmas Island nuclear weapons tests
High level bombing capability and Cold War organisation
The Versatile Valiant (strategic reconnaissance and tanking)
Allocation to SACEUR for low-level operations in the tactical nuclear role
Metal fatigue and sudden demise
Appendices: Detailing all units equipped with the Valiant and where they were based; Comprehensive plate commentaries