By Gibson Chris
Gibson Chris, 2015
This book examines the post-war development of the Royal Air Force's maritime patrol aircraft, a process that culminated in the Nimrod project. Facing the threat of a Soviet blue-water navy, significant investment was made in maritime patrol aircraft from 1945 through the 1960s. The Air Staff and ministries debated replacements for the Shackleton, considering variants of the Vulcan, Britannia, VC10, and Trident. In 1964, a single proposal led to the development of the Nimrod. The book details the aircraft, weapons, and sensors developed to counter Soviet submarines, noting their role in search and rescue operations. It also covers the Nimrod's forty years of service and its eventual withdrawal without a replacement, marking a costly procurement failure.