This one started as an idea for the Maritime Patrol GB but morphed into something off-topic ...
'Canopus' - A South Atlantic Comet Story
At the start of the 1982 Falklands Conflict, Fuerza Aérea Argentina Boeing 707s seemed to lead a charmed life. In the last two weeks of April alone, FAA recce/elint 707-387Cs TC-91 and TC-92 were both intercepted a number of times by Sea Harrier fighters. But, on each occasion, RN pilots were denied permission to fire on the Argie reconnaissance jets. But it became obvious that the 707s were leading FAA attack aircraft to the Royal Navy formations and orders changed. On 22 May, HMS Bristol and HMS Cardiff both fired Sea Dart surface-to-air missiles at TC-92. Those four missiles missed TC-92 but the FAA now 'on notice'.
Early on, there had been a random inflight encounter between an RAF Nimrod MR2 and an Argie 707. Thereafter, the RAF decided to arm its deployed MR2s with Sidewinder missiles from pylons on the Nimrods' otherwise unused wing hardpoints. An interim 'fix' was also adopted to forward-deploy the A&AEE's missile-test de Havilland Comet 4C. This aircraft - Comet XS235 'Canopus' (c/n 6473) - had been testing HS Red Top air-to-air missiles from an underbelly fairing (which also mounted its Ferranti AI.23 Airpass targeting radar). Loaded with older, surplus Firestreak IR-seeking AAMs, XS235 was despatched to Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island with orders to actively hunt Argentine long-range aircraft.
Both Firestreak and the more modern US Sidewinder were rear-aspect infrared-guided missiles. Whereas an ongoing supply of the US missiles was uncertain at this juncture, the British Firestreak was readily available. But the aged Firestreak also had another blandishment. The AIM-9L was best employed against an unaware target from no more than 1.85 miles (3 km) out. By contrast, Firestreak could be realistically fired from as much as 4 miles (6.4 km) range. As far as RAF intel knew, the FAA 707s carried no active countermeasures in form of chaff or, more importantly here, IR flares. But this would be no 'turkey shoot'. The Boeing 707 had a 100 mph speed advantage over the British Nimrods and Comet.
Gun Runners - Intercepting Arms-Carrying Cargo Aircraft
By this stage, the vulnerability of its 707s was apparent to the FAA and the recce/elint Boeings were being steered well away from the British Task Force. In the meantime, however, other 707s of the national carrier - Aerolíneas Argentinas - were known to be returning from Israel with loads of weapons. But no offensive moves were made against the Aerolíneas Argentinas Boeings. These were civilian-registered airliners, after all - no matter the nature of their cargo. But the Fuerza Aérea Argentina’s third 707-387C - the cargo door-fitted TC-93 - was judged a valid military target.
TC-93 had just flown to Libya to collect weaponry gifted to Argentina by Colonel Gaddafi. The 707 had routed through Recife in Brazil enroute to Tripoli. British intelligence were able to confirm that, among TC-93's collected load of weapons were Soviet SA-7 MANPADS destined for las Malvinas. By comparison with the Blowpipe SAM used by both sides in the Falklands, the SA-7 Grail was light and handy. If deployed by the Ejército Argentino at Port Stanley, these lightweight, shoulder-launched SAMs would be a game-changer. This could not be allowed to happen.
Predicting that TC-93 would retrace its steps back to Recife, standing RAF patrols were established. Circling 1,000 km ENE of Recife, missile-armed Nimrods and the Comet 'Canopus' traded turns waiting to pounce. It was a Nimrod MR2P which first detected TC-93 but wiring problems rendered both of its Sidewinder missiles inoperable. Instead, 'Canopus' was directed onto the target by the Nimrod. The Argentine aircraft had already initiated its descent into REC (Guararapes Airport at Recife). Having already passed through 25,000 feet, the FAA flight crew had throttled back to slow their rate of descent. Even still, the 'Canopus' pilot had to begin a shallow dive from 31,000 feet just to catch up with the speedier Boeing. At 35 miles out, the ASOp located the 707 with the pannier's AI.23 Airpass set and locked on.
At an IAS of over 550 mph, the WSO aboard 'Canopus' loosed the first Firestreak. It was a 'miss' but the FAA crew were now alerted and veered violently to port. The second Firestreak functioned perfectly. As TC-93 jinked left, the second Firestreak struck its No.4 engine and detonated. The ruined JT3 turbojet parted company with its pylon and drew a flaming arc downwards. TC-93 continued a hard roll to port until its damaged starboard wing folded just beyond its outboard pylon. The striken 707 plunged through cloud-cover at 15,000 feet - those clouds briefly illuminated by fierce flames spewing from its ruptured fuel tanks. Although unobserved directly by its British pursuers, the doomed TC-93 and its armaments cargo came down in the South Atlantic approximately 650 km ENE of Recife. At 7:25 am GMT, 'Canopus' radioed RAF Ascension Island control with the terse message “Splash one Tagine" - the agreed-upon code for Libyan transport down. [1]
"I am a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill ..."
Its downing of TC-93 secured the reputation of 'Canopus' - forever now the 'Killer Comet' in the press. However, the aged 'Canopus' was also a stand-alone type sitting at the end of a very long supply chain. Invariably, she was plagued with maintenance issues. However, the hunt for the remaining FAA 707s had intensified and 'Canopus' had to soldier on. Two days after the downing of TC-93, 'Canopus' was aloft, once again circling off the coast of South America. This time the intended victims were the 707 recce aircraft. And there was a lure. The Argentines had received planted reports from Uruguayan sources of the British fleet replenishment ship, RFA Fort Grange, sailing alone off the Río de la Plata. In fact, this vessel was a container ship mocked up to resemble the general outline of the Fort Grange. But it did the trick.
Following their intelligence lead, the FAA sent up TC-91 to search for this British ship. And the Argentine crew were able to spot the 'Fort Grange' through a gap in the clouds as she sailing south off of Buenos Aires. Fortunately, those same clouds would then hamper the FAA Canberras sent to attack the supposed British fleet replenishment ship. Alas, these clouds also thwarted the RAF 'interceptors' sent to close the decoy trap. Neither Nimrod MR2P nor armed Comet were able to detect - let alone intercept - TC-91 over the decoy ship. 'Canopus' then lost an engine on return to Ascension and had to limp home on three. A replacement Avon was flown in by RAF Hercules but the Comet's mechanical problems were compounding.
That Río de la Plata flight would prove to be the last combat mission for 'Canopus'. At the beginning of June, she was flown home to Boscombe Down. The Falklands Conflict ended two weeks later. It was hoped that 'Canopus' would be fully airworthy again in time for the flypast scheduled for the London Victory Parade held on 12 October 1982. That was not to be. 'Canopus' had done her bit. She now seemed quite determined to remain on the ground.
(Fin)
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[1] Tagine is a traditional Libyan dish of minced lamb in spiced tomato sauce. Perhaps a 'making a hash' reference?
