Britain’s V-force: the early years

Nov
6:00pm
Britain’s V-force: the early years

By RAF Museum
For the V-force to be effective, it had to be armed and airborne before a Soviet strike could destroy it on the ground. This required defence of the V-force bases, their dispersal airfields and weapon stores, and readiness of the bombers, weapons, and crews.
Topics will include:
Fighter Command’s capability and availability to intercept attacking Soviet bombers before they were able to attack the V-force on the ground.
The Soviet and home-grown threats to the bases and their aircraft and weapons. The developing capability of Soviet bomber and missile forces will be analysed, as will more local risks including the potential for sabotage.
The following will be described and analysed:
Airborne and ground-based early warning radar development.
Reaction to threats: command and control; quick reaction alert (QRA).
The development of interceptors, their weapons, and their capability.
The availability of interceptors and weapons.
The end of anti-aircraft artillery as a means of defence
The development and deployment of surface-to-air missiles.
The impact of the developing electronic counter-measures on both sides.
Active and passive local defence of the bases themselves, and of their nuclear weapons.
Threats to be guarded against.
Guarding the bases and weapons stores.
Getting the V-force airborne in the event of a Soviet attack.
Command and control.
Readiness and the development of QRA.
Much changed, for example in terms of weapon technology, international relations, and threat level, during the period studied here. The lecture will present an overview of the period, and highlight periods of crisis.
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RAF Museum