Nimrod or Breguet Atlantic

[POL]

Could a Nimrod drop bombs? Fairly sure the Atlantique can.

[colt99]

Could a Nimrod drop bombs? Fairly sure the Atlantique can.

Wasn't it the largest bomb bay in NATO as the "slogan"
Know the could have Harpoons, but interesting question EGVP

[T_J]

Could a Nimrod drop bombs? Fairly sure the Atlantique can.

During the Falkands in 1982 Nimrod was trialled with carrying and dropping bombs (UK testing). Paveway was also apparently tested for bomb bay fit.

Great changes were wrought to our weapons capability. The Nimrod,
already blessed with a cavernous bomb bay plus underwing hard points,
now gradually added to its armoury: 1000 lb HE retarded bombs; up to
three of the new (still on trials) Stingray ASW torpedo; up to two
Harpoon anti-ship missiles; two or four Sidewinders; and IR flares.
Although none of these were used in anger, it did represent quite an
arsenal. It gave a real sense of capability to operate 3500 nms from home
with the ability to hit anything that moved under, on or above the water,
and still be able to offer SAR assistance!

.....

New tactics and procedures were
learned at speed as the Nimrod force settled into its new-found roles,
including low-level bombing and fighter evasion. The bombing was a
real step change from 8 lb break-up bombs to 1000 lb HE, although the
bombsight remained a chinagraph line on the windscreen.

See pages 79 and 80

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/ ... mpaign.pdf


From PPRuNe.

https://www.pprune.org/military-aviatio ... ost1934890

https://www.pprune.org/military-aviatio ... post373688

https://www.pprune.org/military-aviatio ... ost1925020

[Vulcanone]

Atlantique 2 has been used on bombing ops, but I'm fairly sure the first generation never did any.

[C24]

I recall being informed that one advantage of the Nimrod was that submarines could not detect jet engine resonance whereas they could detect propellor sound/vibrations

No idea of the veracity of the statement.

[Hunter42]

Patently it's a no-brainer if talking about the operational effectiveness of the 2 aircraft (ASW and ASuW missions), so we'll park that one right there.

However, when it comes to the gastronomic performance of the crews, it becomes more of a contest, at which I would grudgingly concede our Gallic allies had the edge. Whereas we in the Mighty Hunter would eat and drink as and when the opportunity arose, including in the middle of an intense close tracking pattern or MAD hunting scenario, it was alleged that the French would come to a natural pause in proceedings, climb to a more comfortable level, and take a very convivial lunch break including (it is again alleged) wine.

I once witnessed evidence that this may have been accurate, while ordering in-flight rations one day on the Cornish Riviera. While i filled in the complex form and pondered how much milk, chocolate bars and what combination of curries, chiilies, roast chicken etc meals to order, a young Atlantique crewman breezed in and asked the staff in his best Franglais if they stored steaks and bottles of red wine for their return transit to Lann-Bihoue, less than an hours hop across the Channel. The in-flight SAC almost choked and politely pointed out that they didn't stock wine (more's the pity) but they did have frozen steaks. The Frenchman cheered up slightly although the SAC said the steaks would require many hours defrosting and presumably that wouldn't be suitable for the short transit home. No problem says Jacques, we lower ze radar and stick in ze steks pour le microwave.

To this day, I still wonder which poor French avionics ground trade was tasked to clean out the pool of fat coating the DRAA-10 radome.

[willow70]

The NATO users of the Atlantique could easily have ended up with the similar Avro 745 which also use 2 Tynes and had a similar layout. The RAF waited a further 10 years and ordered the Nimrod. I spoke to an old Avro designer and
the industry wanted to use the Trident as a basis for the Nimrod but the RAF insisted on 4 engines so the Comet was chosen.

[Hunter42]

Willow, from an operator's POV, I can assure you it gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling out at 30W and 250ft on a dark and stormy night, to know there were 4 of Mr Rolls and Mr Royce's finest turbofans supporting me and my mates. I therefore applaud the RAF's decision to hang out for 4 rather than 2 or 3

Certainly vindicated by the ditching of 2 Atlantiques in the 70s and 80s, although I don't think either of them were engine related.

[willow70]

I think you could easily have been flying in an Avro 776 rather than the HS801 .The designer of the project at Manchester told me it was a very close decision and it was a late night phone call that stopped the Trident option going ahead.
There are some pics on the web that give some idea of what it would look like . Some Tridents had a 4th engine but I think the plan for the Maritime version was to have something more powerful than the Speys. I remember that the Trident was one of the fastest aircraft on Airways only beaten by a Convair 990.

[Sparts99]

Willow can you post links to the Trident pics please? I can't find any, I'm really curious about it.

[Snoop 95]

Some pics and discussion here: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thread ... ects.1674/

[Agent K]

Could a Nimrod drop bombs? Fairly sure the Atlantique can.

Yes, and it could carry Sidewinder AAM's too!

[Hunter42]

We carried 1000lb dumb bombs during Op Corporate, as well as torpedoes. Harpoon ASM came just too late for the war as did the AIM-9s. Dropped bombs on the Cape Wrath range in Summer 82, and torpedoes a number of times on the AUTEC range in the Bahamas (which was nice). Even saw a Stingray attempt to hack a hovering recovery helicopter. I don’t think anyone told it, that was not part of it’s job description as it discovered when gravity took effect!

Flew quite a few fighter affiliation sorties against F4s from Leuchars, using Sidewinder acquisition heads. That was quite embarrassing for them when we got a growl on them at low level.

[Sparts99]

Thanks Snoop. In didn't know anything about that lot, ASW Belfast? Crikey.

[Bluetail]

We carried 1000lb dumb bombs during Op Corporate, as well as torpedoes. Harpoon ASM came just too late for the war as did the AIM-9s. Dropped bombs on the Cape Wrath range in Summer 82, and torpedoes a number of times on the AUTEC range in the Bahamas (which was nice). Even saw a Stingray attempt to hack a hovering recovery helicopter. I don’t think anyone told it, that was not part of it’s job description as it discovered when gravity took effect!

Flew quite a few fighter affiliation sorties against F4s from Leuchars, using Sidewinder acquisition heads. That was quite embarrassing for them when we got a growl on them at low level.

A couple of adjustments, The Nimrod was cleared to use the AIM-9L during Op Corporate, they were fitted (up to 4 could be carried) to counter the Argentinian AF Recce B-707s if it came across one (to be honest the 707 would just open the taps and scoot away). It was also cleared to drop Dumb bombs should the Vulcan fail to do so, it was also fitted with a very simple bombsite in the cockpit. Doing FA against RAF Phantoms was excellent, the Nimrod could easily out turn the Phantom and most levels and get a growl. But in reality the Phantom would just stand off and shoot the Nimrod down with its Radar guided missile.