Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Group and Themed Builds => Fabulous '50s GB => Topic started by: Jonesthetank on September 30, 2025, 12:55:54 AM
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Hi,
I had a mass of grand schemes for this group build, but sadly real life got in the way, so I have narrowed down my entries to one land based effort and one very large number of aerial ones.
First off - The Albion Missile
On Wernher’s wings………
In 1945 the British, like the rest of the Allies, captured a range of German hardware, which would be examined, disassembled, and copied as necessary. German technology and research would feed into a number of British post war projects.
Among these was the V2 rocket. Like the USA and the USSR, Britain was intrigued with the idea of long range missiles, particularly as the UK had seen the results of V2 attacks first hand.
Initial tests were focused on using existing V2s, with launches undertaken under Operation Backfire. The Backfire Report of 1946 would be the foundation of the next British rocket programme.
Several whole rockets were shipped back to the UK, along with design drawings, and were put in the hands of Vickers, who were given a mandate to build a British version of the V2 for extended testing and then develop the design to extend the range of the rocket and improve the reliability of the engines. The ultimate goal would be to provide the British Armed Forces with a missile capable of hitting targets in Europe (if fired from the UK) or deeper into Eastern Europe (if fired from BAOR sites).
The first British V2, now named as the Albion, was completed in 1947. The Mk1 version was a direct clone of the original V2, but the Mk2 version would include British components, particularly for guidance and control. Further versions would follow, the programme accelerated by the upturn in defence spending following the outbreak of the Korean War, before the definitive Mk7 version. The Mk7 was an enlarged version, XX feet longer than the original. It featured all British designed electronics and an Armstrong Siddeley rocket engine. Test firings were undertaken from 1952, which would eventually prove the validity of the engineering and the range predictions, with the best recorded landing being 426 miles from the firing point.
The Albion missiles entered army service in 1954, equipping the newly retitled 24 Missile Regiment, based at Luneberg in West Germany. The separate batteries were trained to work separately, each equipped as a self-contained unit, with all the resources needed to transport, base and launch their missiles.
The Albion would remain in service until 1961, by which time the US made Honest John would fill the army tactical missile role and British rocketry would have moved on to larger weapons.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54809672986_bb7b94bbd0_b.jpg)
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Looks nice. For those wondering about Operation Backfire: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Backfire_(World_War_II) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Backfire_(World_War_II))
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:smiley:
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I hope Vickers found a less dangerous fuel!
Great story.
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Great idea and great backstory. :smiley: