Service as a nuclear force No. 15 Squadron RAF

blackburn buccaneer s2b of no.15 squadron in 1977

in 1970 squadron reformed blackburn buccaneer s.2b @ raf honington, shortly afterwards moving raf laarbruch in germany. 1971 task @ raf laarbruch, assigned saceur, support of army in european land battle, first in conventional role, , later in tactical nuclear delivery role, if required. raf planning staff expected squadron s twelve buccaneer s2b aircraft suffer attrition of 1 third strength, leaving sufficient survivors, held in reserve conventional phase, deliver squadron s allocation of eighteen we.177 nuclear bombs.

in 1983 squadron s twelve buccaneer s2s exchanged twelve tornado gr.1s, use in similar role 1984 squadron subsequently became first panavia tornado gr.1 squadron in germany. tornados able carry 2 we.177 nuclear bombs, , raf staff expected there enough survivors of conventional war phase deliver increased stock of eighteen bombs. squadron s nuclear delivery role assigned saceur continued @ strength until 1991, when disbanded.