Blue Water

:"The phrase "blue water" also refers to deep water; see Maritime geography.":"For the Amtrak route, see Blue Water (passenger train).":"see also Bluewater (disambiguation)"

Blue Water was the Rainbow Code name for a British nuclear missile under development in the 1960s. Blue Water, like Blue Streak, was a planned homegrown nuclear deterrent for use against the Soviet Union. Unlike Blue Streak, Blue Water was envisaged as a surface-to-surface missile to be used against ground troops: a battlefield nuclear weapon. Blue Water was planned to be operational by 1966 but in 1962 the then Prime Minister Harold Macmillan scrapped the project.

Developed by English Electric Blue Water during the 1950s it was cancelled in 1962 having completed several test flights/trials.

This missile was 25 ft (7.6 m) in length and weighed-in at 3,000 lb (1,361 kg). The launcher was a modified Bedford lorry.

Originally called Red Rose it was to be fitted with a 10 kiloton nuclear warhead under development at Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWRE). Codenamed ‘Tony’, this was a UK version of the US W44 Tsetse primary.

This missile was intended to provide a mobile short range Nuclear capability for the British Army and it had a range of approx 55 miles (88.5 km). However, it was also to be used in RAF service on the ill-fated BAC TSR-2 aircraft in the stand-off attack role.

Although the modified Cuckoo solid rocket motor was made by Bristol Siddeley Engines Ltd, it was designed by the Propellant and Explosives Research and Manufacturing Establishment (PERME) to give a thrust of 1,700lb (7.6 kN),

ee also

* List of Rainbow Codes