Thunderbird Windscreen Article


	Thunderbirds are Go \| Thunderbird Missile System \| Thunderbird Launch \| Thunderbird Windscreen Article Thunderbird Windscreen Article This Article was written by Geoff Fletcher on the History of Thunderbird System and is worthy of publication here. Thunderbirds are go! After dealing with Honest John and Corporal, both tactical missile systems of United States origin, I decided to look next at a wholly British missile system used by the British Army throughout the sixties and well into the seventies for Air Defence. Who could resist titling the article the way I have? As you will see there were definitely overtones of Tracy Island about the whole concept. Development The origins of Thunderbird lie in a post-war requirement for a ground-launched anti-aircraft weapon. The specification which was drawn up in fairly loose terms was called "Red Heathen". Later, in August 1949, the recommendations for the guidance and radar systems were made and differentiations between two possible propulsion systems - liquid fuel and ram-jet. "Red Heathen" split into two projects along these lines with "Red Duster" (later Bloodhound) being developed at Bristol (ram-jet) and "Red Shoes" (later Thunderbird) being developed at Luton (liquid fuel) by English Electric from about 1950. The two missiles also had different ranges and the army system was intended to be field-deployable whereas the RAF system was intended to be largely static. Development and trials of "Red Shoes" took many years and the first production orders for Thunderbird were not placed until 1957. It was handed over as Thunderbird for trials at the Royal Artillery Trials Establishment at Ty Croes in Anglesey during 1958 some ten years from the original requirement. The missile was about 20 feet in length and 21 inches in diameter and had four wings mounted around the central section. These wings were mounted alongside the sustainer motor and had a span of 64 inches. The core missile had an overall weight of around 1 ton but the four boosters almost doubled this to two tons for the initial launch phase and, more importantly, ground handling. These boosters were designed to provide the initial thrust but disengaged after three seconds and fell away leaving the main sustainer motor in the centre of the fuselage to power the missile to the target. The main sustainer motor fired just two seconds after launch once the missile was clear of the launcher. There was a radar receiver in the nosecone designed to pick up the radar waves reflected by the target from the target illuminating radar (TIR) and this fed adjusting signals to the control surfaces at the rear of the missile. In Service Thunderbird 1 (as it became known later) entered service in April 1959, and eventually equipped a number of units, as follows: 36 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment at Horseshoe Barracks, Shoeburyness (redesignated Guided Weapons (Anti-Aircraft) September 1959) 37 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment at Evans Lines, Blandford Camp (redesignated Guided Weapons (Anti-Aircraft) September 1959) 324 (Northumbrian Artillery) Heavy Anti-aircraft (HAA) Regiment (TA) with HQ at Gosforth (redesignated Heavy Air Defence (HAD) 18 March 1964). 457 (Wessex) Heavy Anti-aircraft Regiment (TA) with HQ at Southsea (redesignated Heavy Air Defence 18 March 1964). 36 Regiment had returned home from Malta in November 1956 and was based on the old artillery proving ranges at Shoeburyness in Horseshoe Barracks. It equipped with Thunderbird 1 in April 1959. 168 Battery went into suspended animation leaving it with two firing batteries: 56 (Olphert's) Battery and 60 Battery. 36 Regiment moved to Glamorgan Barracks, Duisburg in November 1961 as part of the NATO response to the Berlin crisis of that year. In BAOR, it joined 7 Artillery Brigade (AA) and subsequently moved again to Napier Barracks, Dortmund in 1966. It was retitled Heavy Air Defence in March 1964. 37 Regiment had followed 36 Regiment in Malta and returned to Evans Lines in Blandford Camp in September 1959. It equipped with Thunderbird 1 in November 1959. 171 (The Broken Wheel) Battery went into suspended animation leaving it with two firing batteries: 10 (Assaye) and 111 (Dragon) Batteries. For a while based in a transit camp at Piddlehinton, Dorset during 1960, it moved to Llanion Barracks, Pembroke Dock in May 1964. It was retitled Heavy Air Defence in May 1964. 324 (Northumbrian Artillery) HAD Regiment had its RHQ in Gosforth and consisted of P (Elswick), Q (Blyth) and R Batteries. It would have only had two firing batteries so one must have disbanded at some point but I am unable to confirm which. If anyone knows any details of this regiment's involvement with Thunderbird please contact me via the editor. 457 (Wessex) HAD Regiment was also to equip with Thunderbird. P Battery on the Isle of Wight became Headquarters Battery and R Battery at Gosport was re-titled P Battery and with Q Battery in Cosham became the two firing batteries. 324, 457 Regiment and a Bofors L40/70 Regiment based in London formed the new 33 Artillery Brigade. The two TA Regiments did not equip with Thunderbird until 1962 and 457 Regiment was not pronounced fit to fire a live missile until 1965. This was delayed because of adverse weather on the ranges until 1966 when the last three Thunderbird 1 missiles were fired at Ty Croes. I am unaware of 324 Regiment's progress with Thunderbird 1. Prior to equipping with Thunderbird, all these regiments had been equipped with the venerable 3.7" Anti-aircraft gun of World War 2 fame. The final 3.7" guns retired from service with 57 HAA Regiment in February 1960, with the regiment itself disbanding in May 1960. The School of Artillery at Manorbier in South Wales undertook the training role and had a quantity of Thunderbird 1 equipment for this purpose. Eventually, the Air Defence Wing transferred in 1970 when the Air Defence Training role and eventually (November 1971) the equipment moved to Larkhill. Manorbier continues to be used as an Air Defence Range. Syrena was the name of a mermaid associated with early greek mythology famous for her beauty and her signing. Many sailors sought her affection, but were lured to their deaths when their ships were wrecked upon the rocks where she dwelt. She is associated with Poland as there was a staue of her in Warsaw. 37 Regiment's predecessor 26 Field Regiment fought with distinction in 2 Polish Corps and wore her badge to signify the link. 36 Regiment wore "141" on a Royal Artillery (RA) arm-of-service with the Southern Command marking whilst in the UK. 36 Regiment also wore "Syrena" which..... Eventually the marking was worn as black on a smaller white square with only the Union Jack. 37 Regiment wore "142" in a similar fashion with the Centaur marking of 7 Air Defence Brigade. Each regular regiment had a Guided Missile (GM) Platoon Royal Army Ordnance Corps to support it. 36 Regiment was supported by 2 GM Platoon and 37 Regiment by 3 Guided Missile Platoon. 3 GM Platoon also supported training in the UK. These platoons were formed at CAD Bramley in 1966, and 2 GM Platoon moved to 154 Forward Ammunition Depot at Wulfen in 1966, becoming operational on 26 February 1967. 3 (GM) Platoon wore "146" on a RAOC arm-of-service with Southern Command. It was recognised that the regular Thunderbird regiments were dependent on signals to communicate with Corps or Division and so Troops of Royal Corps of Signals were formed to support each regiment. 654 Signal Troop was formed in 1965 to support 36 Regiment - it was retitled 654 Surface to Air Guided Weapon Troop on 15 January 1966. 655 Signal Troop was formed on 3 October 1966 to support 37 HAD Regiment. 6 GT Company Royal Army Service Corps (from 1965 6 Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport) provided second line transport support to the Thunderbird Regiments in BAOR. To support this it used Missile Transport Trailers which it could tow behind its Bedford RL 3-tonners and these were drawn from storage sites as needed. It was based in Glamorgan Barracks, Duisburg. The organisation and equipment of a regiment Although not large in terms of manpower (34 officers, 488 other ranks, plus 28 attached) the equipment holdings of a Thunderbird regiment were formidable and required considerable accommodation. A Thunderbird regiment consisted of a Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) and Headquarters Battery, and two Firing Batteries. The Regimental Command Post (RCP) (designated Command Post, SAGW No 1 Mk 1 (RCP) and asset code 4100-0171) was a modified version of the Bedford RL 3-ton signals truck. Its functions were to act as a link between the Air Control Centre (normally at Corps or Divisional HQ) for the passage of orders and situation reports (sitreps). It was also responsible for providing target recognition and target height to batteries if height restrictions were in force and to provide overall tactical control. The RCP had two radars attached - a surveillance radar (Radar AA No 4 Mark 7/2) codenamed "Yellow River" and a height-finding radar (Radar Type 13 Mark 7/1). The displays for both these radars were housed in the RCP. The Battery Command Post (RCP) (designated Command Post, SAGW No 2 Mk 1 (BCP) and asset code 4105-0171) was also a modified version of the Bedford RL 3-ton signals truck. Its functions were to act as a link with the RCP, provide a tactical display from which the Tactical Control Officer detected, recognize and select targets and to re-transmit present position target data from the Target Illuminating (TI) Radar to the Launcher Control Posts (LCP's). Each battery had four launchers, each one with its own tractor and missile ready for launch. In addition, it had two Launcher Control Posts (LCP) (designated Command Post, SAGW No 3 Mk 1 (LCP) and asset code 4110-0171) again a modified version of the Bedford RL 3-ton signals truck. Each of the LCP's was capable of controlling the four launchers or they could be split between them. Each of the radars, the BCP/LCP's and the launchers was provided with power by a 4-wheel generator trailer. In all a battery would need around nine generator trailers to provide the various voltages required. The launcher unit was the "Launcher, Mobile, Guided Missile, K1A1". Each launcher required power - 415 volts 3 phase and 230 volts single phase from a Generator Trailer as well as 115 volts single phase and 50 volts DC from the LCP. The launcher could rotate under the control of the LCP but was fixed in elevation at 50 degrees. It provided a zero-length launching platform, as well as electric and hydraulic supplies for final testing and preparation. The missile was connected to the launcher for these services by a fly off head enabling the cables to remain connected until the moment when the missile is launched and is capable of taking over power supplies. Missiles would be re-supplied to the launchers from a Field Assembly and Test Point (FATP). Here the missiles would arrive in containers on their 4-wheel transport trailers towed by a Bedford RL 3-ton Cargo truck. A mobile crane - either a Taylor Jumbo 4-ton Semi-slewing crane or a much larger Jones KL66 6-ton crane mounted on an AEC 0860 chassis - would move the missile and container onto a stand so the missile could be unpacked. The missile would then be placed on the Missile Assembly and Boosting Trolley. Around this trolley's track a roller conveyor to carry the radome, wings and control surfaces. As can be seen from the diagram one end of the track was covered by a "Shelter, Portable, No 33" - a tent 20 feet by 51 feet. Eight Bedford RL 3-ton trucks were used to bring the missile accessories to the FATP and each towed a trailer with a missile in a container. Two Austin K9 signals type vehicles were used as "Sensitivity Test Vehicle" Asset Code 3845-0099 and "Missile Test Vehicle" Asset Code 3835-0099, the former testing the missile radar homing head and the latter the missile control, hydraulic and fuze systems. The test vehicles relied on a "Power Supplies Trailer" which provided an alternator, hydraulic pressure and compressed air. In addition, the FATP also required a 27.5 kVA Meadows Generating set mounted on a 4-wheel trailer. So a total of eight launchers gave the regiment a total firing strength of eight missiles, plus a further eight held in reserve at the (FATP). The unit held 139 powered vehicles, predominantly 3-ton trucks, and 116 trailers. The ratio 8/500 of ready-to-fire missiles (8) to personnel (around 500) and vehicles makes an interesting comparison with a Rapier regiment. I intent to cover towed Rapier in detail in a future article but early Rapier Regiments had similar numbers of personnel and had around 72 missiles ready to launch in each of three batteries (and a similar number in reserve) - a ratio of around 216/500. The Surveillance and Tactical Control Radar No 4 Mk 7/2 was a trailer mounted radar and used for acquiring targets prior to their illumination by the No 3 Mk 8. The trailer was a four twin wheel trailer of 16 tons capacity produced by Metro-Vickers. It was based at both the Regimental Command Post and the Battery Control Post. In order to find the height of the target a Radar No 13 Mk 7/1 was used. It was an ex-RAF radar transferred to the Army in 1958 or 1959 and based on a standard RAF Leyland 19H/7 6X4 chassis. Three such radars were transferred from the RAF, but this would only have equipped three regiments with no allowance for training or reserves. It is possible that only the two regular regiments had this radar with one in reserve/for training. Another oddity about this radar is its numbering, as can be seen, it is numbered after Radars No 10, 11 and 12 - the Thunderbird 2 radars - suggesting that it was acquired after Thunderbird 2 had been conceived although it appears in the 1962 training manual. Target Illumination was carried out by the No 3 Mk 8 Radar. Target Illumination allowed the missile to "see" the target aircraft as it reflected the signal from the ground-based radar. This radar was mounted on a 5 ton four-wheel trailer by Taskers with the circular radar dish on top and a cabin for the single operator. It would have been attached to the Battery Control Post. Thunderbird 2 arrives Initially codenamed "Green Flax" and later "Yellow Temple", Thunderbird 2 began to enter service, although probably only trials, in 1965. As part of the Thunderbird 2 re-equipment 37 Regiment went into suspended animation and was disbanded on 1 April 1968. In fact, 36 Regiment seems not to have been fully equipped with Thunderbird 2 until some time later in 1968. 36 Regiment had returned from BAOR in February 1968 as part of "a BAOR redeployment" to save foreign exchange - a move that had been set out in Dennis Healey's 1967 Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy. This BAOR redeployment also included 6 Brigade and, of course, 36 Regiment's supporting units except for 6 (GT) Squadron RCT. The move was reversed in 1971 when the regiment moved back to Napier Barracks, Dortmund. 56 (Olphert's) Battery moved to 50 Missile Regiment whilst 60 Battery went into suspended animation leaving 36 Regiment with 10 (Assaye) Battery and 111 (Dragon) Battery from 37 Regiment. With only one Thunderbird regiment each RAOC GM platoon supported a battery. However despite 3 Platoon's support for a battery in Germany, it did not move to BAOR until 1970. The GM Platoons merged as 7 (GM) Company on 1 April 1971 at Wulfen. The signal troops merged on 1 April 1968 to form 260 Signal Squadron at Shoeburyness. The squadron moved with the regiment in July 1971 to Napier Barracks, Dortmund. Thunderbird 2 equipment Thunderbird Mark 2 used continuous wave radar for target illumination and this led to a revised radar but in practice new radars were issued for all three roles. Externally, the missiles appeared very similar but most the vehicles associated with it were changed. The designations for all the Mark 2 associated equipment contain the appellation "SAGW2" for Surface to Air Guided Weapon Mk 1 and all the Mark 1 equipment was amended to be SAGW1. Most of the new vehicles were displayed at FVRDE Chertsey as part of the 1966 British Military Vehicles display. A new handler or crane was introduced in the form of the Thornycroft APLE or as it was designated "Crane, Truck Mounted, 2 ton, F/Slewing, VR725, Simon Engrs APLE-Bedford 3-ton 4X4 (Engine Type: Bedford 330 ci Dsl)". The designation indicates that Simon Engineering were involved in the lifting equipment whilst the engine was provided by Bedford. Thornycroft presumably provided the engineering for the chassis! In all, only six such APLE were built, of which five went to 36 Regiment and the other to the School of Artillery. Also used in the transport and preparation of the missile a new transport trailer had been acquired in 1963 well before Thunderbird 2 entered service. This replaced the earlier Sentinel trailer conversions and presumably could carry both Marks of missile. These trailers were used by 36 Regiment, 2 and 3 GM platoons RAOC anmd sthe School of Artillery. Some were also held at 3 Army Vehicle Pool for use by Sponsored Squadrons RCT of the TA on exercise. In war, the Sponsored Squadrons would have re-supplied 36 Regiment in the same way as 6 GT Squadron RCT. Three new radars were procured for Thunderbird 2. The Radar No 10 Mk 1was known commercially as Fireflight but its codename was "Indigo Corkscrew". It was produced by Ferranti and mounted on a Rubery Owen 7½ ton 6 wheel trailer and it was the Target Illumination radar. Only eight of these radars were acquired by the British Army. The chassis was by Rubery Owen and the bodywork was of welded steel with rivetted aluminium panels. The interior could be air-conditioned by sill-mounted units. Radar No 11 Mk 1 was carried on two trailers. The antenna was carried on a 5-ton four wheel trailer manufactured by T askers and known as FV2826a. The radar equipment was carried on a 5-ton 4-wheel trailer produced by both Mickleover and Taskers. For reasons best known to the army 10 equipment trailers were acquired but only 5 antennae trailers! The troops referred to this Radar as "Big Ears" for obvious reasons. The radar was manufactured by Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co Ltd of Chelmsford. Radar No 12 Mk 1 was codenamed "Green Ginger" and it was the height-finding radar. However, to the troops it was "Noddy" and the two names together make even more sense as "Noddy" and "Big Ears" would have operated together at regimental level. Based on a chassis by Rubery Owen the radar was manufactured by Marconi. For Thunderbird 2 the command posts were trailer-mounted rather than mounted in Bedford RL Signal Trucks. These command posts were used for various functions such as radar processing and missile control. They were manufactured by Mickleover and Rubery Owen and equipped by Marconi, Cossor and Ferranti. The command post shown below was based on a demountable body for flexibility on air transportation. The missile was very different from Thunderbird 1 although appearing similar externally. A revised Sensitivity Test vehicle was developed based on a Land Rover 3/4 ton Station Wagon. The rear door and rear windows around the cargo area were blanked out or never cut giving it a rather clandestine air. At the rear there was a hatch and also on the offside rear where the cables were connected to the missile whilst doing checks. The other test vehicle for testing the Missile motor was intended to be revised and based on an Austin Series 3 Multi-fuel (see recent discussions in Letters and OP). Although one was designed and tested at FVRDE it never entered service and it seems the Test Stations for Thunderbird 1 based on the Austin K9 were retained. The redesigned vehicle had a demountable body by Mickleover that was located by retractable ball units. This vehicle YUV 890 was used at Chertsey for trials and in 1967 re-serialled 59 EP 90 and sold at Ruddington in February 1969. There is also a photo in the Phil Moth Collection. The end 36 Regiment remained in BAOR until disbanded on 31 December 1977, when the Thunderbird system was withdrawn, having never been used in conflict. Its role was taken over by the new Rapier regiments - 12, 16 and 22 Regiments. 260 Signal Squadron and 7 (GM) Coy RAOC were also disbanded at the same time. During 1977, as the regiment closed down equipment was moved to store. Many of the Thunderbird 2 missile launchers ended up as air-to-ground targets at RAF Spadeadam by December 1978 although some were preserved as gate guards or museum exhibits. Much of the other equipment was either passed to the RAF to be used in conjunction with other missile systems (Bloodhound/Tigercat). Acknowledgements My thanks must go to Clive Elliott, David Fletcher and Bovington Tank Museum, Keith Holderness, the R E Smith Collection, and Robert Swan. Bibliography FVRDE British Military Vehicles 1966 FVRDE/SMMT 1966 Jackson Britain's Defence Dilemma Batsford 1990 James Gunners at Larkhill Gresham 1983 Lord & Watson The Royal Corps of Signals Helion 2003 Phelps A history of the RAOC 1945-1982 Trustees of the RAOC 1991 Smith British Army Vehicles and Equipment Ian Allan 1968 Watson & Rinaldi The British Army in Germany Tiger Lily 2005 WO9748 Artillery Training Volume 4 Air Defence Pamphlet No 1 The War Office 1962 http://www.36regimentra.org.uk/ Webmaster: Keith Holderness