Profiles and Logos
The Hawker Siddeley Nimrod was a jet powered maritime patrol aircraft operated by the United Kingdom between 1969 and 2011. Developed from the Comet 4 airliner, with the prototypes converted from the two final unfinished airliners.
The Nimrod was powered by Rolls Royce Spey engines rather than the Rolls Royce Avon engines of the airliner giving it more power. The MR1 version first flew in May 1967 and XV230 entered service in October 1969 with a total of 46 aircraft delivered. Starting in 1975 35 MR1 aircraft were updated to MR2 standard which included a new search radar and other electronic updates. A provision for Air to Air Refuelling was introduced during the Falklands War of 1982, the modification was undertaken in weeks.
The MR carried out three main roles, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Unit Warfare (ASUW) and Search and Rescue (SAR), during operations the aircraft often shut down two engines to increase the duration and range of the aircraft. Three aircraft were converted to a Signal Intelligence (SigInt) role, the main visual difference being the removal of the MAD Boom on the tail. The R1 was the last version of the aircraft to leave service on 28th June 2011.