Britain: An official handbook > 1977

BRITAIN 1977: AN OFFICIAL HANDBOOK
armed with automatic guns, surface-to-air missile systems, underwater
detection and anti-submarine weapons. Most carry the Wasp helicopter which
is to be replaced, where appropriate, by the Lynx. The balance of the fleet is
made up of the minesweeper and mine-hunter forces, patrol vessels, survey and
trials ships. Under construction is the Invincible, the first of a new class of anti¬
submarine cruiser, which will be equipped to operate Sea King helicopters and
will have the additional capability of operating maritime vertical-short-take-
off-and-landing (V/STOL) aircraft. In addition six of the new Type 42
Seadart destroyers and three of the Type 21 frigates are being built. The first
of a new class of frigate. Type 22, to be armed with the Seazcolf surface-to-air
missile system, is under construction, with a second on order and work is in
hand on a new class of mine countermeasures vessel in glass-reinforced plastics.
Besides the four Polaris submarines (see above) there are eight nuclear-
powered fleet submarines in service with a ninth due to enter service in i97^»
together with 19 conventional patrol submarines. A further two nuclear sub¬
marines are under construction. Tankers and store ships of the Royal Fleet
Auxiliary Service provide worldwide logistic support afloat.
European The European theatre ground forces consist of the BAOR, and the forces
Theatre Ground stationed in Britain, the main elements of which have primary roles in support
Forces of NATO (see p. no).
Other Army Other Army combat forces comprise land forces stationed abroad to meet
Combat Forces treaty commitments to Commonwealth and other countries (see p. 109).
Equipment
Armoured regiments are equipped with the Chieftain main battle tank and the
Swingfire long-range anti-tank guided missile. A new series of tracked combat
reconnaissance vehicles are in service: the Scorpion and the Scimitar, mounting
respectively a 76-mm and a 30-mm gun, which will shortly be joined by the
Striker, carrying the Szcingfire anti-tank missile. The primary tracked armoured
personnel carriers used by mechanised infantry battalions are the FV 432> some
of which are fitted with 81-mm mortars or Wombat 120-mm anti-tank guns.
Artillery units are equipped with the Abbot 105-mm gun, 155-mm and 175-mm
self-propelled guns, and Field Artillery Computer Equipment (FACE).
Tactical nuclear support is provided by the Lance missile system (replacing
the Honest John) and the 203-mm self-propelled howitzer.
Air defence is provided by the Rapier low-level surface-to-air missile system
(replacing the Thunderbird mobile surface-to-air missile) and the L40/70 gun.
Royal Air Force
General
Purpose
Forces
The Royal Air Force general purpose forces consist of aircraft for air defence,
strike/attack, reconnaissance, offensive support and tactical reconnaissance,
maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare, transport and in-flight refuelling,
together with RAF Regiment field squadrons.
Equipment Lightning and Phantom FGi and FGR2 aircraft, together with Bloodhound,
Tigercat and Rapier surface-to-air missiles, are employed in air defence.
Reporting and control are provided by the computerised Linesman system,
and a number of Shackletons have been converted to provide airborne early
warning over the sea. Jaguars, Vulcans and Buccaneers operate in the strike/
attack role. The primary role of some of the strike/attack and air defence
aircraft is the shore-based protection of naval forces at sea. I ulcans, Canberras
and Phantom FGR2S are employed in the reconnaissance role; Harrier