"David Nicholls" wrote in message ...

snip

It is fascinating that the only supply chain for spares to the task force in
1982 was to fly the spare part to Wideawake, then do the 28 hour round trip
by C130 (with multiple refuelings from Victors) to drop the part in a water
tight bag (and float) to be picked up by a RN helo and transfered to the
required ship!! It was of note that the maximum speed of the C130 was below
the stall speed of a Victor unless both were in a dive - so that's how you
refueled. The RN was kept fully operational in this manner with no ships
falling out of the line for lack of spares! It is a bit like invading Japan
from California with only the Midway airfield available in the middle!

I've always thought that the RN could have really used something like
a V-22 COD in 1982. The ability to land vertically on a large number
of ships would sure make a lot of sense for those countries that can't
afford a CTOL carrier. KV-22 tankers would have really made things
sweet, because that would have allowed the V-22 CODs to land on many
ships midway between Ascension and the TF, or even land and refuel at
Tristan da Cunha'. If the a/c has to take off vertically, limiting
its fuel load, it can immediately top-off from the KV-22 (which would
also takeoff vertically from the same place), eliminating all that
tedious round-trip flying to and from Ascension by Victors and/or
C-130s.

Guy