8 replies to this topic

[General Koskov]

Do (or did) aeroplanes carry atomic weapons? I know u-boats do, and I think some ships, but I would think this is a dangerous practice, should the aeroplane crash.

Of course, if planes don't carry atomic bombs, that makes Thunderball's plot unrealistic, and thus less fun for me. (Yeah, that's right, I like my Bond films realistic.)

[Hardyboy]

Of course planes carry atomic bombs. . .the bomb that hit Hiroshima was dropped by the Enola Gay. And who could forget Slim Pickens riding the bomb in "Dr. Strangelove?"

[Blue Eyes]

Yes they do. Always have and always will. Look at TND's deployable nuclear weapon on the MIG! All of those things (sadly) do exist. However, they aren't deployed, or rather aimed to be, by planes anymore. We have ICBMs now. It's all as simple turning on a light and some city disappears.

[General Koskov]

Yeah I know about the American-Japanese bombs. I meant if they're regularly carried on training missions by aeroplanes. So BE, you're saying that the MiGs carry nuclear weapons for no reason because we have ICBMs...? Sorry, I'm just not following you.

[Jeremy]

Unlike the USA or USSR, Britain never developed land based ICBMs. Instead the nuclear deterrent - consisting of free fall nuclear bombs - was carried by the RAF V-Bombers (the Victor, Valiant and Vulcan aircraft). This was the case until the 1960s when the responsibility for the nuclear deterrent transferred to the Royal Navy, in the shape of the Polaris submarines. The last free fall nuclear bombs were withdrawn from service around 1997.

Incidently, four Polaris missile submarines (H.M. Ships Resolution, Repulse, Renown and Revenge) were constructed - a fifth vessel (Ramillies) was cancelled. Hence, HMS Ranger, which appears in the Spy Who Loved Me, was a fictional name.

[Roebuck]

I'm probably being pedantic here, but the principle weapon of the Vulcan was the Blue Steel Mark 1, a missile with a range of about 240 kilometres (150 miles). Forgive me If I've misinterpreted Jeremy's use of the term 'free fall nuclear bomb'.

[Carver]

Well, I think that planes have been able to carry atomic bombs since WW2. The plane used in Thunderball was the Avro Vulcan, part of a 'threesome' of atom bombers, the other two being the Valient and the Victor, all British made of course;)

[mrmoon]

Incidentally, has anyone stood next to a vulcan, they are absolutely frickin huge.

[Carver]

Yeah, I've stood next to a Vulcan, they would make good cover for rain, the wingspan is massive! I've also stood next to a Victor, equally as huge!