The Royal Navy/RAF F-15E[K] Eagle
In 1988 the Royal Navy discovered that the Polaris Missiles which equipped their Resolution Class submarines [ HMS Resolution, Repulse, Renown, Revenge and Retribution] which provided the UK with its nuclear deterrent, had developed serious faults due to metal fatigue, and that trying to launch the missiles would possibly result in the destruction of the launching Submarine. This proved to be true in early 1989 when, during a test launch, a Polaris missile exploded before clearing the launch tube of HMS Retribution, resulting in the loss of the submarine despite desperate efforts by the crew to overcome the flooding and save the vessel. Fortunately all the crew managed to escape the sinking submarine and the Captain was awarded the George Medal for his Bravery and Leadership during the crisis.
Further inspection of the Polaris missiles showed that the problem was more widespread than originally thought and this meant that the all the vessels would have to be withdrawn from service with immediate effect, leaving the UK without a functioning nuclear deterrent until the replacement Vanguard Class could be brought into service in 1993-4 at the earliest.
The MoD looked at returning the Vulcan to the Nuclear Strike role, but the aging bombers were not really suitable for this, as too much work would be needed to refurbish them to the required standards. Various options were looked at, with the F-15E being the RAF’s preferred solution as it would have the required range and be able to carry either the Red Beard or WE177 weapon systems.
The UK Government was able to put some pressure on the US to arrange a delivery of these aircraft on loan until the Vanguards could all be brought into service, as the RN’s problems, including the loss of HMS Retribution, were caused by the Polaris missile reliability problems.
As this was being negotiated with the U.S. Government, the Royal Navy were actively campaigning to retain the Nuclear Deterrent role, in the face of strong opposition from the RAF, arguing that the F-15’s should come under Royal Navy command rather than RAF. Meanwhile the RAF strongly maintained that as these were going to be purely land based aircraft, the control of them should be theirs. The MoD resolved the issue by deciding that both views should prevail, and that the Squadron would be 1/3rd Royal Navy, 2/3rds RAF with the chain of command made up of Officers from both services, which both services agreed was a recipe for disaster.
RAF and RN pilots and RAF technicians were dispatched to RAF Lakenheath to start training on the USAF F-15’s. Shortly afterwards an initial 6 standard F-15E’s were delivered to RAF Marham, accompanied by USAF technicians from the USA, enabling the RN/RAF to start working up on the aircraft with the aim of getting it into squadron service before the Resolution submarines were retired from service by the RN. Following on from these initial 6 aircraft, a further 18 F-15E’s were ordered, to be delivered to Bae Warton where they would be modified to a more specific British requirement, to be known as the F-15E[K]. Once these were delivered, the first 6 would be sent to Warton for modification
Two Squadrons of 12 F-15E[K] would be formed, 696 for the RAF contingent and 1789 for the Fleet Air Arm one. After both Squadrons had completed initial training periods at RAF Marham, 1789 transferred to RNAS Lossiemouth, whilst 696 Squadron remained based at Marham.
1789 Squadron Fleet Air Arm
Ultio Surgere
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander Arlo “Skid” Marks
The Squadron formed at RAF Marham in 1989 to operate the F-15E[K] in the nuclear deterrent role in conjunction with an RAF Squadron, 696, whilst the Royal Navy waited for its Vanguard Class Poseidon Missile submarines to enter service. The rivalry between 1789 and 696 was intense, and this helped both units attain operational readiness much quicker than expected, and to Captain Marks’s relief it was the Royal Navy who took the honour of being declared fully operational first. To celebrate this, the Navy pilots took to wearing red Phrygian caps like those which had been worn by Revolutionairies during the French Revolution in 1789, and it was Lieutenant Commander Marks who approved the Unit Badge of that other symbol of 1789, the Guillotine. The Unit motto roughly translates as Retribution Rises, as a nod to the loss of HMS Retribution, which led to the need to form the unit.
After the initial training and working up period, the Squadron transferred to RNAS Lossiemouth in Scotland, whilst 696 Squadron remained at RAF Marham.
