HMS ARK ROYAL

Post 1974. Interestingly the two forward Buccaneers are armed with Martel missiles, the aft Bucc carrying the Martel acquisition pod. Not too many images around of them being carried at sea. The Live Martel missile was produced in varying colours hence not easy to ascertain if these are live rounds, however having the Buccaneers parked forward facing seaward would suggest they are live. The area forward of the island was generally used for armed aircraft.

Good info FG, the Flight-Deck would of been a very interesting and exciting work environment, if not extremely dangerous at times if attention wavered. I was saddened to hear this week of the death of a US sailor, who was struck by a Hawkeye Prop whilst working the deck, which brought home the risks involved in that very dynamic environment.
Nige

It is hard to imagine what it’s like on the flight deck during flight ops, especially at night. I’ve seen docos of night ops on the USN carriers. No place for ‘sleepy head’ sailors who have just come on watch.

I was also pleased to see this picture of Martel armed Buccaneers on Ark Royal which I don't think I've come across before. Being a member of the Martel Trials Unit at Boscombe Down I've always kept an eye open for photos showing the system in service, but I haven't seen many, so thanks for posting this one.

By way of interest, the trials were completed in July 1973 when the 25th and final missile was fired at the Aberporth range just off the coast of Wales. Seventeen were fired from our Sea Vixens and the rest from our Buccaneer aircraft. Although the usual target was a 20 foot square-sided triangular structure mounted on a 60 foot tethered raft, the old Type 15 frigate HMS Venus was also used. I seem to remember that a barrel of beer always seemed to appear after a successful firing - although we sometimes went home thirsty!

Thanks again for showing the photo. Regards.....Paul

I'm impressed with just how far forward they parked the first Buccaneer! Does seem to be a light grey raised "bump" to slow them from rolling straight off the bow but still a good effort!

The nearest aircraft is coded "651". This code was allocated to 736 Naval Air Squadron, and the tail appears to carry 736's insignia. The aricraft is probably serialled XV869, which wore "651" until 1974; XV869 served at A&AEE Boscombe Down on Martel trials in 1972 and (again with A&AEE) on catapult launch and arresting gear trials with Martels on Ark Royal in 1974. It is wearing older-style roundels, whereas the next two aircraft in the range have the newer roundels with no white ring; I suspect, therefore, that 651 had not been re-marked when allocated to A&AEE in 1972, and this photo therewfore may have been taken in the 1974 trials period.

Thanks for above info Tim. It was interesting to read that the nearest Buccaneer in the picture would be one that I would have been familiar with at the Martel trials unit at Boscombe Down in the early 1970's. I never noted aircraft serial numbers during my RAF service and the only photo I have of the unit's Buccaneer and Sea Vixen aircraft shows them with what you have described as older-style roundels but devoid of any large identification numbers. Thanks to your help, after 45 years I can now properly caption the photo by entering details of the Buccaneer I'm stood in front of!

I should have mentioned that our small Boscombe Down unit (No 22 JSTU) trialled the TV guided version of the missile whilst the French did the same for the Anti-Radar variant, although 22 JSTU staff were involved in the AR Buccaneer firing programme in southern France. Surprisingly, I do know that XW529 was the Buccaneer used during the French firings.The name MARTEL by the way was derived from Missile Anti-Radar/Television.

A&AEE Boscombe Down was a very interesting place with various other units heavily involved in all sorts of aviation testing programmes. I think I'm right in saying that every type of RAF aircraft then in service were based at the airfield at the time. Our immediate neighbours on the pan had Harvards, Twin pioneer, Britannia, Hercules, Hunter, Lightning and Javelin aircraft so it could be quite noisy! Anyway, Thanks again for the info. Regards.....Paul

Many thanks for the detail gents. Very interesting. From this photo it would appear that ARK is altering to the flying course with steam on the catapults and an aircraft being moved to the strbd cat for launch. I presume the photo was taken from the SAR helo.