Cold War Kit. Vampire and Meteor

The first novel in my ‘Cold War’ trilogy, The Red Effect, published by SilverWood Books, is now available. Thoroughly enjoyed writing it, as i do with all my novels. There will be three books in total, covering the hypothetical invasion of West Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany, by the Warsaw Pact in the mid 1980’s. Book 1, ‘The Red Effect’, encompasses part of the intelligence build up leading to the initial Warsaw Pact strike against the NATO forces lined up against them. The purpose of the next few posts is to cover some of the Iconic pieces of equipment that would have played a part, should the Cold War have turned Hot.

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‘The Red Effect’ by Harvey Black – Available now. The Cold War that became a Hot War.

The Cold War era started very soon after the end of the second world war, when the communist east, led by the Soviet Union, and the Western world, led by the United States and its NATO allies, faced each across what became known as the ‘Iron Curtain’.

The perception of a potential Third World War, was generally one of a nuclear war. It may have come to that. In reality we will never know. But, one scenario is that of a conventional war. The massed forces of the Warsaw Pact against the supposedly technically superior, but weaker, NATO armies, that may well have escalated into a nuclear exchange. But a pure conventional war was just as likely.

The Vampire and Meteor were very much a part of the early days of the Cold War. Both were actively involved in Korea  and  Egypt.

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Gloster Meteor.

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A 50s Cold War Jet Fighter.

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The first British Jet Fighter.

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Night Fighter variant, NF.11.

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First night-fighter prototype flew on 31 May 1950.

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Due to the extended nose to house the radar, the 20mm cannons were moved from the nose to the wings.

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Powered by two, ‘Derwent 8’ engines.

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The Meteor was the mainstay of RAF Fighter Command between 1950 and 1955.

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Top speed of around 450mph.

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A replacement for the Spitfires and Mosquitos.

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Initially dependant on the ground-breaking turbojet engines.

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The engines designed by Sir Frank Whittle.

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The Gloster Meteor.

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Manufactured by the Gloster Aircraft Company

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de Havilland Vampire

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Following the Gloster Meteor, the Vampire was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF.

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Served with the RAF until 1953.

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Its distinctive all metal, twin boom.

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The use of a twin boom kept the jet pipe short, avoiding the power loss of a longer pipe.

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Initially powered by a Halford H1 engine, called the ‘Goblin’.

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A total of 3,268 Vampires were built.

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The first RAF fighter to exceeding a top speed of 500mph.

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Although their roles should have been reversed, the Vampire was employed as a ground-attack fighter-bomber and the Meteor as an Interceptor

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A Sea-Vampire became the first pure-jet aircraft to land and take-off from an aircraft carrier.

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Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire.

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Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire.m

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Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire.

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mGloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire

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Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire.

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i hope this has given you a further insight into what kit was around during the Cold War. On this occasion, the 50s. The equipment Photographs and Blog are copyrighted to Harvey Black.

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‘The Red Effect’ by Harvey Black – Kindle and Paperback version out now! The Cold War that became a Hot War. 

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The Black Effect – Paperback now out.