To counter the threat from a Soviet blue water navy, a large investment
was made in the years from 1945 until the 1960s to develop maritime
patrol aircraft. For years the Air Staff and the ministries argued over
what type should replace the Shackleton, including variants of the
Vulcan, the Britannia, VC10 and Trident, before one man strode into the
MoD building in 1964, settling the argument with what became Nimrod.
To seek and destroy Soviet submarines, Shackletons and Nimrods carried
many advanced weapons and sensors, but also played a role in saving
lives at sea. Then, after forty years' service, the Nimrods were
withdrawn without replacement after one of the most expensive
procurement disasters.
Chris Gibson examines the post-war genesis of the RAF's maritime patrol
aircraft, a process that led to Nimrod. From the last flying boats,
attempts to improve then replace the Shackleton and ultimately the
Nimrod itself, Gibson provides a fascinating insight into the aircraft,
weapons and sensors developed to counter the Soviet submarine threat.