Blue Water missile system
The Blue Water missile was a portable battlefield ballistic nuclear missile system utilized by the armies of the New Commonwealth during the 1960s until the late 1970s.
Design[]
Intended as an air-portable mobile missile it was mounted on a 3-ton Bedford truck which gave the system the ability to shoot-and-scoot. Originally called Red Rose, Blue water was fitted with a modified Red Beard nuclear warhead giving it a maximum yield of around 25kt. Powered by a modified Cuckoo rocket motor, Blue Water had a range of 55 miles in the Mark 1 version and 68 miles in the Mark 2. Blue Water was superior to the US Honest John.
Operators[]
Beacuse of its nuclear role the system was deployed exclusively by New Commonwealth nations.
Australia[]
The Australian Army had 38 units and regularly deployed these along their county's northern frontier to defend against an expected large scale Soviet or Chinese invasion.
Britain[]
The British Army had 13 units and deployed them exclusively in Hannover to defend against Soviet aggression.
Canada[]
The largest user of the weapon was Canada who had 56 units to defend against an expectant Soviet invasion.
South Africa[]
South Africa had 13 units but retired them all by 1969.