combat
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I went up specially to RAF Neatishead , a four hour journey to specifically find out about the NRC post after ROC standown , having briefly spoken to a former employee at a Subbrit meeting. Not a lot of information is generally available about the NRC role in RAF terms, after they took it over. They were operational until 1995. RAF Neatishead was one of the two remaining sites available for access, the other RAF Holmpton.(yet to visit)
What info about NRC that i have been able to find is posted briefly below.
While the main body of the Royal Observer Corps was stood down from operational service a decision was taken by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to retain the Nuclear Reporting Cell (NRC) element of the Corps, in order to continue providing a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) service for all three armed forces.
From October 1991 17 (later reduced to 16 RAF Bawtry was closed) NRCs were retained and staffed by 240 other ranks and 16 spare-time officers with control of the NRC groups being transferred from the UKWMO to the administration of Headquarters ROC (HQROC) based at RAF Bentley Priory. At the same time the name of the NRC’s changed to Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Cell (NBCC) to reflect their main role of the provision of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Assessments for the military forces.
The control of the Corps had therefore gone full circle; the Corps was once again fully funded and controlled by the Royal Air Force and became part of Headquarters No 11 Group at RAF Bentley Priory. HQROC, which comprised two whole-time officers and two MOD civilian staff, continued to administrate the remaining NBC cells which were now based at various RAF / military installations throughout the UK.
Operations within the Cells were based on the NATO NBC procedures (ATP45) which generally consisted of;
Prediction of chemical hazard areas and meteorological considerations.
The estimation of the yield of a nuclear device.
The prediction of nuclear fallout onshore and at sea.
General Information relating to the nature and importance of nuclear fallout.
From 1991 the ever diminishing threat to the UK continued with the ROC staff providing a high level of service to their clients within the Cells. At the same time however many believed there to exist power struggles within the RAF / RAF Regiment and especially in the senior elements of the RAF Regiment who felt that it was not right that spare time civilians undertook the NBC role, when cuts to full-time servicemen was a possibility. Ultimately the decision was finally taken to stand-down the remaining element of the Royal Observer Corps on the 31st December 1995.
So when i arrived at rnn NEATISHEAD , there was an opportunity to ask the museums curator, and the reply was "there was no nuclear reporting here and no cell" , however asking one someone else who had been operational , in the aircraft ground control intercept operations, a ROC type presence was verified!. So some picts below and i would appreciate some information from those who may have actual insight, of having worked operationally in the NRC (NBCC)
Q. In what way did the NBC cell operate compared to the ROC procedures.?
Q. What was the staffing and reporting structure?
Q. What equpment was in use ?
Q. What new training/skills were learnt, and in what areas?
Q. What reasons were you given for final closure?
Despite having successfully built upon the extensive NBC reporting trials carried out earlier with the RAF Regiment, meeting full NATO standards and evalutions (STANAGs and OPEVALs), and the total support of the RAF for keeping the ROC in the orbat, the conclusion reached by the UK MoD was that retention of the Corps in its NBC Cell role was "desirable but not essential in the existing format".
As a consequence, the remaining part-time members of the ROC were stood-down in a Corps Banner laying-up ceremony at RAF College Cranwell on 8 Dec 1995. The ROC Banner hangs in the Rotunda at RAFC Cranwell alongside other stood-down Air Force units and squadrons that are subject to liability for reactivation in the future.
ROC room exhibit labelled Nuclear Reporting Cell
Attack warning red
Finally getting a hands on unit to operate the Alarm signal and local sirens
The WB 1400 speaker
Cold war ground control intercept operations .This room has survived intact, a great achievement
Directing Jaguars for intercept on Russian bear.
One of the surviving tote boards
What info about NRC that i have been able to find is posted briefly below.
While the main body of the Royal Observer Corps was stood down from operational service a decision was taken by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to retain the Nuclear Reporting Cell (NRC) element of the Corps, in order to continue providing a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) service for all three armed forces.
From October 1991 17 (later reduced to 16 RAF Bawtry was closed) NRCs were retained and staffed by 240 other ranks and 16 spare-time officers with control of the NRC groups being transferred from the UKWMO to the administration of Headquarters ROC (HQROC) based at RAF Bentley Priory. At the same time the name of the NRC’s changed to Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Cell (NBCC) to reflect their main role of the provision of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Assessments for the military forces.
The control of the Corps had therefore gone full circle; the Corps was once again fully funded and controlled by the Royal Air Force and became part of Headquarters No 11 Group at RAF Bentley Priory. HQROC, which comprised two whole-time officers and two MOD civilian staff, continued to administrate the remaining NBC cells which were now based at various RAF / military installations throughout the UK.
Operations within the Cells were based on the NATO NBC procedures (ATP45) which generally consisted of;
Prediction of chemical hazard areas and meteorological considerations.
The estimation of the yield of a nuclear device.
The prediction of nuclear fallout onshore and at sea.
General Information relating to the nature and importance of nuclear fallout.
From 1991 the ever diminishing threat to the UK continued with the ROC staff providing a high level of service to their clients within the Cells. At the same time however many believed there to exist power struggles within the RAF / RAF Regiment and especially in the senior elements of the RAF Regiment who felt that it was not right that spare time civilians undertook the NBC role, when cuts to full-time servicemen was a possibility. Ultimately the decision was finally taken to stand-down the remaining element of the Royal Observer Corps on the 31st December 1995.
So when i arrived at rnn NEATISHEAD , there was an opportunity to ask the museums curator, and the reply was "there was no nuclear reporting here and no cell" , however asking one someone else who had been operational , in the aircraft ground control intercept operations, a ROC type presence was verified!. So some picts below and i would appreciate some information from those who may have actual insight, of having worked operationally in the NRC (NBCC)
Q. In what way did the NBC cell operate compared to the ROC procedures.?
Q. What was the staffing and reporting structure?
Q. What equpment was in use ?
Q. What new training/skills were learnt, and in what areas?
Q. What reasons were you given for final closure?
Despite having successfully built upon the extensive NBC reporting trials carried out earlier with the RAF Regiment, meeting full NATO standards and evalutions (STANAGs and OPEVALs), and the total support of the RAF for keeping the ROC in the orbat, the conclusion reached by the UK MoD was that retention of the Corps in its NBC Cell role was "desirable but not essential in the existing format".
As a consequence, the remaining part-time members of the ROC were stood-down in a Corps Banner laying-up ceremony at RAF College Cranwell on 8 Dec 1995. The ROC Banner hangs in the Rotunda at RAFC Cranwell alongside other stood-down Air Force units and squadrons that are subject to liability for reactivation in the future.
ROC room exhibit labelled Nuclear Reporting Cell
Attack warning red
Finally getting a hands on unit to operate the Alarm signal and local sirens
The WB 1400 speaker
Cold war ground control intercept operations .This room has survived intact, a great achievement
Directing Jaguars for intercept on Russian bear.
One of the surviving tote boards
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