Blackburn Buccaneer
S1 Strike Bomber
In the mid 1950's the RN identified a requirement for a low-level high-speed nuclear strike aircraft capable of attacking the Soviet fleet. The contract for these aircraft was won in 1955 by Blackburn (later Hawker Siddeley) with their B.109 design. The B.109 was developed into the NA.39 which was the prototype for the Buccaneer. A boundary-layer control system allowed exceptional low-level agility, ideal for the delivery of weapons against enemy warships. The main problems with the S1 were its underpowered Gyron Junior engines, requiring an extremely long take-off run when not being used with a catapult, and the lack of an inertial navigation system.
The first prototype flew on 30th April 1958 and entered service in 1961, partially replacing the Supermarine Scimitar. The last S1 was delivered in December 1963. Towards the end of the 1960's the S1 was gradually replaced with the S2.
A total of 20 NA.39 and 30 S1 were built.
Dimensions: Span 13.41 m (44ft) ; Length 19.33 m (63ft 5in) ; Height 4.95 m (16ft 3 in) ; Wing Area 47.83 sq.m (514.7 sq.ft)
Weights: Empty 13608 kg (30,000 lb)
Powerplant: two De Havilland Gyron Junior turbojets - 3220 kg (7,100 lb) thrust each.
Performance: Maximum speed at sea level unknown ; Service ceiling 40,000 ft (9144 m)
Avionics: Gyro and doppler navigation
Armament: Internal bomb bay for 4 1000lb or 500lb bombs or 1 nuclear bomb ; 4 underwing pylons for AGMs, AAMs and 500lb or 1000lb bombs
S2 Strike Bomber
The Buccaneer S2 corrected several of the problems of the S1, in particular replacement of the Gyron Junior turbojets for much more powerful Rolls Royce Spey (for which the engine inlets were enlarged, allowing easy differentiation between the two types). Other improvements included strengthened wings (allowing a greater bomb load) and an inflight-refueling probe, although the lack of an inertial navigation system was not corrected. The first S2 prototype, converted from an S1, flew on 17th May 1963 with the first production S2 flying in June 1964 and entering service in 1965. The last production aircraft was delivered in December 1968.
The S2 was probably the best aircraft ever built for the RN and one of the greatest strike aircraft of all time. It remained in RN service until December 1978 when HMS Ark Royal was decommissioned. Some aircraft were transferred to the RAF when the RN's fleet carriers were phased out during the 1970's.
84 S2 were built for the Royal Navy (the S2 was also built for the RAF). No S1, other than the prototype, were converted.
Dimensions: Span 13.41 m (44ft) ; Length 19.33 m (63ft 5in) ; Height 4.95 m (16ft 3 in) ; Wing Area 47.83 sq.m (514.7 sq.ft)
Weights: Empty 13608 kg (30,000 lb) ; Maximum Take-off 28123 kg (62,000 lb)
Powerplant: two Rolls Royce Spey RB168-1A Mk 101 turbojets - 5035 kg (11,100 lb) thrust each.
Performance: Maximum speed at sea level 691 mph (1112 kph, 600 kt) ; Service ceiling 40,000 ft (9144 m)
Avionics: Gyro and doppler navigation
Armament: Internal bomb bay for 4 1000lb or 500lb bombs or 1 nuclear bomb ; 4 underwing pylons for Bullpup or Martel AGMs, Sidewinder AAMs, 12000lbs of bombs (500lb or 1000lb, up to 3 per pylon) or drop tanks (inner two pylons only)