Short Belfast

The Short Belfast is a heavy lift turboprop freighter that was built by British manufacturer Short Brothers at Belfast. Only 10 aircraft were constructed, all of which entered service with the Royal Air Force.

There are two left, one in Cairns Australia and the other at RAF Cosford.

Upon its entry into service, the Belfast held the distinction of becoming the largest aircraft that the British military had ever operated up to that time.

Bandvagn 202

Bandvagn 202 (Bv 202) is an amphibious oversnow tracked articulated, all-terrain vehicle developed by Bolinder-Munktell, a subsidiary of Volvo, for the Swedish Army in the early 1960’s. The Bv 202 carries a driver and a commander in the front unit and up to 8 troops or 800 kg in the trailer unit. It can be adapted for other applications.

This Bv 202 was on display at RAF Cosford.

Bandvagn 202

Once the British Army took over its NATO role of Northern Flank defence of Norway it selected this fully-tracked and articulated Swedish vehicle for its over-snow performance. 

Bandvagn 202

Since its introduction into British service in the late 1960s it became an indispensable maid-of-all work load carrier.

Bandvagn 202

The Bv 202 was replaced by the Bv 206 and this was then replaced by the BvS10 or as it is known by UK forces, Viking.

Handley Page Hastings

Handley Page Hastings TG511 (T5) on display in the National Cold War Exhibition at the RAF Museum Cosford.

The Handley Page Hastings was a British troop-carrier and freight transport aircraft designed and built by Handley Page Aircraft Company for the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Upon its introduction to service during September 1948, the Hastings was the largest transport plane ever designed for the service.

Development of the Hastings had been initiated during the Second World War in response to Air Staff Specification C. 3/44, which sought a new large four-engined transport aircraft for the RAF. The aircraft was designed to be capable of carrying a payload of up to 30 tons, and to have a range of 2,500 miles.

The first prototype Hastings took to the air on 7 May 1946, and the aircraft entered service with the RAF in September 1948. The Hastings quickly became a workhorse of the RAF, and was used in a variety of roles, including troop transport, freight carriage, and paratroop dropping.

The Hastings saw extensive service during the Berlin Airlift, when it was used to deliver supplies to the beleaguered city. The aircraft also saw service in the Suez Crisis, the Malayan Emergency, and the Cold War.

The Hastings was retired from RAF service in 1977, and was replaced by the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. However, the aircraft remained in service with other air forces for some years, and was used by the Portuguese Air Force until 1991.

The Handley Page Hastings was a capable and versatile aircraft, and served the RAF with distinction for over 30 years. The aircraft was well-liked by its crews, and was known for its ruggedness and reliability.

More photographs of the Handley Page Hastings at RAF Cosford.

Krauss-Maffei Leopard 1

This Krauss-Maffei Leopard 1 was on display at RAF Cosford.

Krauss-Maffei Leopard 1

The Kampfpanzer Leopard is a main battle tank designed by Porsche and manufactured by Krauss-Maffei in West Germany, first entering service in 1965. Developed in an era when HEAT warheads were thought to make conventional heavy armour of limited value, the Leopard design focused on effective firepower and mobility instead of heavy protection. It featured moderate armour, only effective against low caliber autocannons and heavy machine guns, giving it a high power-to-weight ratio. This, coupled with a modern suspension and drivetrain, gave the Leopard superior mobility and cross-country performance compared to most other main battle tanks of the era, only being rivaled by the French AMX-30 and Swedish Strv 103. The main armament of the Leopard consisted of a German license-built version of the British Royal Ordnance L7 105 mm rifled gun, one of the most effective and widespread tank guns of the era.

Leopard 1 at The Tank Museum.

Tracked Rapier

The Tracked Rapier was a self-propelled surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed in the United Kingdom in the 1970s. It was based on the towed Rapier system, but mounted on the chassis of a modified American M548 tracked carrier. This gave the Tracked Rapier greater mobility and speed than the towed system, making it more suitable for deployment in forward areas.

This Tracked Rapier unit was on display at RAF Cosford.

The Tracked Rapier was armed with four Rapier missiles, which could be fired against a variety of targets, including aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles. The missiles were guided by a semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) system, which allowed the operator to track the target using a sight mounted on the vehicle. The missile was then guided towards the target by a radio link.

The Tracked Rapier entered service with the British Army in 1981 and saw action in the Gulf War in 1991. It was also exported to a number of other countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Tracked Rapier was retired from British service in the early 1990s, but it remains in service with some other countries. It has since been replaced by the Starstreak missile system.

RAF Green Goddess Fire Engine

RAF Green Goddess Fire Engine

The Green Goddess is a colloquial name for the RLHZ Self Propelled Pump manufactured by Bedford Vehicles. It was originally used by the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS), and latterly held in reserve by the Home Office until 2004. The Green Goddess was called into service on two occasions, in 1977 and 2002, to provide fire cover during fire-fighters’ strikes.

The Green Goddess is a large, green-painted vehicle that is based on a Bedford RL series British military truck. It is powered by a 6-cylinder petrol engine that produces 150 horsepower. The Green Goddess has a top speed of 50 mph and a range of 200 miles.

The Green Goddess is equipped with a powerful water pump that can deliver up to 1,000 gallons of water per minute. It also has a variety of other fire-fighting equipment, including hoses, ladders, and axes.

The Green Goddess was used by the RAF during both of the fire-fighters’ strikes. In 1977, the RAF deployed 1,000 Green Goddesses to provide fire cover for the UK. The Green Goddesses were also used during the 2002 fire-fighters’ strike, when the RAF deployed 800 vehicles.

The Green Goddess is a versatile fire engine that can be used in a variety of situations. It is well-suited for providing fire cover during large-scale emergencies, such as fire-fighters’ strikes or natural disasters. The Green Goddess is also a valuable asset for the RAF, as it can be used to provide fire cover at military bases and other strategic locations.

Hunter T.7A XL568

Hunter T.7A XL568

The Hawker Hunter is a transonic British jet-powered fighter aircraft that was developed by Hawker Aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It was designed to take advantage of the newly developed Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engine and the swept wing, and was the first jet-powered aircraft produced by Hawker to be procured by the RAF.

XL568 was first flown, as a T.7, in 1958. She was delivered to 74 Squadron and later converted to a T.7A. Continuing to serve with 74, she also passed through the hands of 237 OCU before ending her active duty days with 208 and later 12 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth, where she was painted in Black Arrows colours in her final years of flying.

She was retired to ground instructional duties at RAF Cranwell and in early February 2002 was acquired by the RAF Museum for display at Cosford. Losing her black scheme and being repainted in early training colours, she is now on display in a dramatic pose inside the Cold War Exhibition.

More photographs of the Hunter T.7A.

Photographs of the Hawker Hunter F.6A at Duxford.

Photographs of the Hawker Hunter FGA9 at RAF London.

Hungarian MiG-21PF Fishbed

A Hungarian MiG-21PF at RAF Cosford.

Hungarian MiG-21PF Fishbed

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name: Fishbed) is a supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was one of the most successful and numerous aircraft ever built, with over 10,000 produced. The MiG-21 was the first successful Soviet aircraft combining fighter and interceptor characteristics in a single airframe.

Hungarian MiG-21PF Fishbed

The MiG-21 was introduced into service in 1959 and was used by the Soviet Union and many other countries around the world. It saw extensive combat use in the Vietnam War, the Arab-Israeli Wars, and the Indo-Pakistani War. The MiG-21 was retired from Soviet service in 1993, but it is still in use by a number of countries, including India, China, and Vietnam.

Hungarian MiG-21PF Fishbed

The MiG-21 is a small, lightweight aircraft with a delta wing. It is powered by a single Tumansky R-13M-300 turbojet engine, which gives it a top speed of Mach 2.1. The MiG-21 is armed with a variety of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and cannons.

The MiG-21 is a highly maneuverable aircraft, and it was known for its ability to perform high-g turns. However, it was also criticized for its lack of range and its limited avionics.

Despite its shortcomings, the MiG-21 was a highly successful aircraft. It was simple to fly and maintain, and it was relatively inexpensive to produce. This made it a popular choice for many countries, and it helped to shape the course of air combat during the Cold War.

More photographs of the MiG-21 Fishbed.

National Cold War Exhibition at RAF Cosford

Some photographs from the National Cold War Exhibition at RAF Cosford.

By employing the atomic bomb for the first time against Japan, humanity demonstrated its newfound capability to annihilate itself completely. Winston Churchill remarked, following the conclusion of World War II, that an “Iron Curtain” had descended upon Europe.

Following more than five years of intense warfare in Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East, there ensued a period of over 40 years during which the East and West found themselves on opposite sides of an ideological chasm, with the terrifying specter of nuclear devastation keeping them apart. This era became known as “The Cold War.”

During the early years of the Cold War, the responsibility for Britain’s nuclear deterrent rested with the Royal Air Force, utilizing the “V Force” and “Thor” missiles. Eventually, this deterrent was transferred to the submarines of the Royal Navy. The National Cold War Exhibition explores the ideologies of both sides, delves into the social history of the era, showcases the technological advancements born out of the East-West competition, and examines the eventual dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, which has shaped the world we inhabit today.

Consequently, the Cold War narrative extends far beyond aviation alone. This national exhibition strives to enlighten and educate present and future generations about the immense threat that jeopardised global peace and security during this pivotal period of the 20th century.

 

Centurion Mark 3 Tank

This Centurion Mark 3 Tank was on display at RAF Cosford.

The Centurion tank was one of the most successful post-war tank designs. It was introduced in 1945, just too late to see combat in the Second World War. However, it went on to serve in a number of conflicts, including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Arab-Israeli wars.

The Centurion was a well-balanced tank with a good mix of armament, armor, and mobility. It was armed with a 105mm rifled gun, which was capable of firing both high-explosive and armor-piercing rounds. The Centurion’s armor was also very effective, and it was able to withstand the fire of most enemy tanks. The tank was also highly mobile, and it was able to keep up with the latest advances in tank warfare.

The Centurion’s success was due to a number of factors. First, it was a very well-designed tank. The designers took into account the lessons learned from the Second World War, and they incorporated a number of features that made the Centurion a formidable fighting machine. Second, the Centurion was well-maintained and well-equipped. The British Army took great care of its Centurion tanks, and they were always ready for action. Third, the Centurion was used by a number of different countries. This gave the tank a wide range of experience, and it helped to identify and correct any weaknesses in the design.

The Centurion tank was a major success, and it played a significant role in a number of conflicts. It was a well-designed, well-maintained, and well-equipped tank that was able to withstand the fire of most enemy tanks. The Centurion’s success is a testament to the British Army’s engineering prowess and its ability to learn from the lessons of the past.

More photographs of the RAF Cosford Centurion Tank.

Photographs of the Centurion Tank Mk 3 at Duxford.

Photographs of the Centurion Mk I at Bovington.

Team Yankee Centurion Mk 5 Miniatures Gallery

Centurion Mk 5 Workbench