La historia del bombardero Vulcan: la fuerza disuasoria militar británica | Nuestra historia
Video from the channel Our History about Avro Vulcan, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 9:18. Language: English. Video type: Archive footage.
What it shows
British television report on the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent. It presents the Avro Vulcan within the V-force, alongside the Valiant and the Victor, with scramble launches in which the bombers take off within minutes: in a demonstration for the prime minister, four Victors were airborne in under five. It explains the demanding requirements for crews, whose captain had to have logged at least 1,800 hours as first pilot, and the complexity of maintenance. The second part covers the Thor missile, deployed in compounds with fencing and guard dogs: 65 feet long, eight in diameter and a range of 1,700 miles, powered by kerosene and liquid oxygen, with extreme cleanliness precautions when handling the fuel.
When and where it was filmed
It is a piece from the period when the Thor entered service, filmed at British bomber and missile bases.
Context
The narration argues that the manned bomber remained useful alongside the missile: it could take off on a simple radar warning without being committed to attack until the threat was confirmed, reducing the risk of war triggered by a false alarm. The Thor was integrated into the deterrent force less than two years after the agreement with the United States.