description
Physical description
bomb
This is a fully weighted training example of the WE 177 Type B air-dropped nuclear bomb, and is 133in long, with a fin span of 24.5in.
Label
The WE 177 bomb was Britain's last air-dropped, free-fall, nuclear weapon, and was withdrawn from use on 31 March 1998, having been in service for some 32 years. The last WE 177 warhead was dismantled in August 1998, and so for the first time in 45 years, the RAF no longer had a nuclear capability.
The WE 177 was a versatile weapon, capable of operating in a strategic and tactical role, and the first WE 177 (the thermonuclear Type B) was delivered to RAF Cottesmore in 1966. A single stage version (Type A) was delivered to the Royal Navy in 1972, Over the following years, a remarkable range of RAF aircraft was fitted to carry the weapon, including the Vulcan, Jaguar and Tornado, and in the Naval role, the Sea King, Scimitar, Buccaneer and Sea harrier.
The submarine-launched Trident missile system is now Britain's sole nuclear weapon.
History note
The WE 177 bomb was Britain's last air-dropped, free-fall, nuclear weapon, and was withdrawn from use on 31 March 1998, having been in service for some 32 years. The last WE 177 warhead was dismantled in August 1998, and so for the first time in 45 years, the RAF no longer had a nuclear capability.
The WE 177 was a versatile weapon, capable of operating in a strategic and tactical role, and the first WE 177 (the thermonuclear Type B) was delivered to RAF Cottesmore in 1966. A single stage version (Type A) was delivered to the Royal Navy in 1972, Over the following years, a remarkable range of RAF aircraft was fitted to carry the weapon, including the Vulcan, Jaguar and Tornado, and in the Naval role, the Sea King, Scimitar, Buccaneer and Sea harrier.
The submarine-launched Trident missile system is now Britain's sole nuclear weapon.
