Britain: An official handbook > 1966

122
The Polaris
Programme
Fleet Air Arm
The Army
BRITAIN: AN OFFICIAL HANDBOOK
Afloat support to the Fleet for replenishment at sea, or in harbours or
anchorages, is provided by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, comprising
tankers, store-issuing ships, tugs and salvage vessels. These ships fly the Blue
Ensign and are manned by Merchant Navy officers and seamen.
The dockyards at Portsmouth, Devonport, Chatham and Rosyth provide
the Navy with major supplies and repair facilities at home. Singapore and
Gibraltar are the main dockyards overseas.
It is intended that the first Polaris submarine should be ready for patrol
in mid-1968, and three by the end of the decade. Work is in hand on the
construction on the Gareloch (north of the Clyde Estuary) of a Polaris base,
part of which will be a training school for crews; until the school is ready, in
1966, crews will be trained in the United States.
The Buccaneer, Sea Vixen and Scimitar provide the main strike and fighter
strength of the Fleet Air Arm. The United States air-to-surface guided
missile, Bullpup, is fitted to all three aircraft, improving the accuracy of high-
explosive delivery. The Buccaneer II is a long-range low-level strike aircrafl
now in squadron service; ultimately all Scimitar aircraft will be replaced bj
the Buccaneer. The Mark I version of the Sea Vixen fighter carries the air-to-
air missile Firestreak but this is being replaced by a Mark II version, whicl
has an improved weapon system incorporating the new Red Top air-to-aii
missile, giving increased effectiveness against high-flying ana supersonic
targets. The United States Phantom aircraft, powered by Rolls-Royce Spey
engines, will eventually replace the Sea Vixen.
Helicopters are being increasingly employed by the Navy. Reinforcing the
Whirlwind, a more powerful all-weather helicopter, the Wessex 5, is in fron
line service as the Navy’s main anti-submarine aircraft. It carries both homing
torpedoes and dipping sonar (sound navigation and ranging) submarin*
detection equipment. It is in service with carriers and the guided missile
carrying destroyers, and a commando troop-carrying version armed with the
SSII, a French anti-tank guided missile, is serving with the commando ships
The Wasp helicopter forms part of an advanced anti-submarine weapoi
system for the Leander and Tribal classes of frigates. With the latest detectioi
equipment and a new lightweight homing torpedo it greatly increases th|
effectiveness of the Navy’s escort forces against high-speed submarines
United States Sioux helicopters, built under licence in Britain, are beini
used by the Royal Marines.
A new range of weapons, vehicles and other equipment is coming into servio
with the Army. To achieve strategic mobility much of the Army s new equip
ment is, or is planned to be, transportable by air. Many items of equipmenl
such as tanks and self-propelled guns designed for use in BAOR, can b
deployed in war overseas only if they are stockpiled in the area of opefatio
or are transported there by sea. Equipment transportable by air includes, 0
will include, all the infantry battalion weapons, the 105 mm. pack howitzer fo
close artillery support, medium-level surface-to-air guided weapons, armoure
scout and reconnaissance vehicles, and certain engineer equipment includin
bridging.
Increased emphasis is being laid on the provision of suitable equipment t
improve the ability of our forces to undertake counter-insurgency operation
such as that currently taking place in Borneo. A new lightweight rifle will b
issued in quantity to Far East Land Force (FARELF) this year for trials, a
part of a plan to lighten the load of the fighting soldier.