As an armed fighter, the Sea Vixen was cleared to field up to 4 x "Firestreak" air-to-air missiles. This then broadened to include the "Red Top" series in time. Additionally, the aircraft could instead take on a stock of 4 x Matra rocket pods with rockets numbering 72 in total (18x each pod). As with other aircraft of the Cold War years, the Sea Vixen was also granted provisions for carrying a single "Red Beard" freefall nuclear bomb should the "Cold War" ever go "hot". interestingly, the Sea Vixen was the first British aircraft to not feature internal cannons for close-in fighting. Instead, the mount was to survive through all-missile/rocket armament which limited some of its tactical value. There proved a total of six hardpoints to carry a mix of available ordnance options.
With the 1952 crash, the Sea Vixen was not made operational until July 1959 as engineers worked to rectify the design for the better. From this point forwards, the aircraft became the spearhead of the British carrier air groups for a good decade before its replacement was found. Initial aircraft was designated as FAW. Mk 1 models and these served through five squadrons as well as the 766B Training Sqn from 1958 to 1966. In 1963, an improved form then appeared as the FAW.Mk 2 which were either new-builds or converted Mk 1 models. Mk 2 mounts were upgraded with Firestreak AAMs as well as extended tail boom sections for more internal fuel and, thusly, improved service ranges. The Sea Vixen served exclusively with the British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA) and was never exported.
Despite a rather lengthy career during a tumultuous period in history, the Sea Vixen did not participate in official direct actions of any war during its service with the FAA. It undertook patrols during the Iraq attempt to take over Kuwait in 1961 and support during the instability in Tanganyika during early 1964. Later that year, the Sea Vixen was used in anger against rebel forces in the Persian Gulf region. Beyond an additional few years of patrolling and support sorties, the Sea Vixen's time as a combat aircraft was limited when compared to contemporaries of the period. Nevertheless, she formed a vital component to British Navy operations wherever she was needed - including "show of force" initiatives.
Some Sea Vixens were saved as museum pieces in the years following their retirement while a limited set were converted to drones under the designation of "D.Mk 3". Converted target tugs became "TT.Mk 2". Rising costs and aging technology eventually did the line in, as Sea Vixens were replaced by the incoming stock of American-originated McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs.
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