Cold Warriors: The Essex Class in the Cold War

February 1, 1958
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

The process of winnowing the wheat from the chaff begins at the ministry of defense. Multiple aircraft are submitted for each specification issued. To meet the fighter specification, the United Kingdom offered the English Electric Lightning while Hawker submitted their proposed P.1121 design and Saunders-Roe their SR.177 both of which had been suspended as a result of the Defense White Paper. France offered a modified Dassault Mirage III that could be fitted with a Rolls Royce Avon engine. From Sweden, Saab offered their Draken. While from the United States, a virtual avalanche of designs were offered. From Republic Aviation, the F-105 Thunderchief was offered. From Lockheed came a proposal for their F-104 Starfighter. Vought offered three different versions of their Crusader while McDonnell Aircraft submitted their in development F4H Phantom II. Convair submitted a proposal to supply the RAAF with their F-106 Delta Dart pending government approval to export the design. The final design offered was from Grumman for their proposed Super Tiger. The work of narrowing down the options promised to be long and tiring.

Much as the fighter specification had, the bomber specification also resulted in a plethora of designs being submitted. North American offered their A3J Vigilante while McDonnell and Vought both offered modified versions of their Phantom and Crusader fighter entrants. Boeing and General Dynamics each submitted a design that was little more than speculation and doodling. Boeing concurrently offered an updated version of their B-47 subsonic bomber. Republic submitted their F-105 in a bid to fill both the fighter and bomber specification. While Convair, again subject to government approval, offered the B-58 Hustler.

The United Kingdom submitted a rough proposal from BAC for a high speed penetrator that would meet the offered specification. They also proposed supplying the Avro Vulcan, which met all the Australian requirements with the exception of speed. The final submission offered was from France who proposed supplying their Dassault Mirage IV. The Royal Australian Air Force would have their hands full for many months trying to narrow down their options.

For the bombers i go for this lady.



But then again, this one also look good.

So the TSR-2 is out of the running then, then i go for the Vulcan still and my second option would be the McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II.

Well i would say as fast as possible due Indonesia getting armed to the teeth with Soviet and Chinese made hardware on all fronts.

Why have a feeling i have heard that before.

I had to think about the north Vietnamese pilot when typing this, that is why i agree, never underestimate a pilot from what ever country he comes from until you have flown against them in combat as that will determine how good they are.