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{{Short description|British military research project code names}}
The '''Rainbow Codes''' were a series of ]s used to disguise the nature of various British military research projects. They were mainly used from after the ] until 1958, when they were replaced by an ] code system.
{{about|the British early Cold War military codenames|the pre-WW2 US military war plans|United States color-coded war plans#Rainbow plans|the cryptographic hash system|Rainbow table}}
{{Refimprove|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2015}}
The '''Rainbow Codes''' were a series of ]s used to disguise the nature of various British military research projects. They were mainly used by the ] from the end of the ] until 1958, when the ministry was broken up and its functions distributed among the forces. The codes were replaced by an ] code system, consisting of two letters followed by three digits.


==History== ==History==
The ] (MoS) initiated the idea because, during World War II, the British realised that although the code-names of some German secret projects could be cryptic, they often provided useful clues as to their nature. For example, basic characteristics of a new German radio navigation device known as '']'' (which used a single radio beam) were inferred by the British before it entered service with the Luftwaffe. This was because the system was named after the one-eyed ], which offered British scientists a useful hint.<ref>{{cite book |title=Most Secret War |last=Jones |first=R |authorlink=Reginald Victor Jones |year=1978 |publisher=Hamish Hamilton Ltd. |location=London |isbn=0-241-89746-7 |page=120}}</ref> The intention of rainbow codes was to clearly and uniquely identify British projects, whilst not providing any hints or clues regarding their characteristics. During World War II, British intelligence was able to glean details of new German technologies simply by considering their code names. For instance, when they heard of a new system known as '']'', ] asked around and found that ]. Based on this, he guessed it was a ] system using a single radio beam. This proved correct, and the ] was able to quickly render it useless through jamming.<ref>{{cite book |title=Most Secret War |last=Jones |first=R. |author-link=Reginald Victor Jones |year=1978 |publisher=Hamish Hamilton |location=London |isbn=0-241-89746-7 |page= |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/mostsecretwar0000jone/page/120 }}</ref>


Each rainbow code name was constructed from a randomly selected colour, plus a randomly selected noun taken from a list, for example: Wishing to avoid making this sort of mistake, the ] (MoS) initiated a system that would be entirely random and deliberately unrelated to the program in any way,<ref>{{cite book |first= Vince |last= Houghton |title= Nuking the Moon |date= 2019 |publisher= Penguin |page=54}}</ref> while still being easy to remember. Each rainbow code name was constructed from a randomly selected colour, plus an (often appropriate) noun taken from a list, for example:
* “Blue” + “Steel” = ], a nuclear-armed ] * "Blue" + "Steel" = ], a nuclear-armed ]
* “Green” + “Mace” = Green Mace, an anti-aircraft (AA) gun. * "Green" + "Mace" = ], an anti-aircraft (AA) gun.


While most colour and noun combinations were meaningless, some were real names, although quite unrelated to the project they designated. For example, “Black Maria” is also a name for a ] and the “Red Duster” is a name for the ], the flag flown by British ]s. While most colour and noun combinations were meaningless, some combinations produced real names, although quite unrelated to the project they designated. For example, "Black Maria" is also a nickname for a ] and the "Red Duster" is a nickname for the ], the flag flown by British ]s. Some code names were not assigned through the official system, but created to sound like it. The ] radar is an example, an unofficial name created by combining the names of two other projects, ] and ].


The names were mostly dropped with the end of the Ministry in 1959. Its functions were transferred to the ], the ] that handled military aviation, and the newly-created ] in charge of civil aviation. After the reorganization, projects were mostly named with randomly-selected codes comprising two letters and three digits, e.g. ], ]. However, rainbow codes continue to be used with some modern systems; current examples include the Blue Vixen radar<ref>{{cite web The names were mostly dropped with the end of the Ministry in 1959. Its functions were split between the ], the ], and the newly created ], which was responsible for civil aviation. After the reorganization, projects were mostly named with randomly selected codes comprising two letters and three digits, e.g. ], ].<ref>{{cite book |title= Fallout |first= Jonathan |last=Guppy |page=170 |date=2008 |publisher= Lulu.com |isbn= 9781409239734 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zIAZAwAAQBAJ}}</ref> Rainbow codes, or at least names that look like them without being official, have occasionally been used for some modern systems; current examples include the Orange Reaper ] system and the ] radar<ref>{{cite web
| publisher = Jane's Avionics | publisher = Jane's Avionics
| title = Blue Vixen radar (United Kingdom), AIRBORNE RADAR SYSTEMS | title = Blue Vixen radar (United Kingdom), Airborne Radar Systems
| url=http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Avionics/Blue-Vixen-radar-United-Kingdom.html | url=http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Avionics/Blue-Vixen-radar-United-Kingdom.html
| access-date = 2009-08-08 }}</ref>—the latter most likely so named because it was a replacement for the ] radar.
| accessdate = 2009-08-08 }}</ref>
and the Orange Reaper ] system.


==Projects== ==Projects==
{{Refimprove|list of projects|date=November 2010|talk=y}}
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}} {{Expand list|date=August 2008}}


===Black=== ===Black===
* ] {{Anchor|Black Arrow}} - a satellite launch vehicle derived from ]/] * ] {{Anchor|Black Arrow}} – satellite launch vehicle derived from ]/]
* ] {{Anchor|Black Knight}} - a launch vehicle used to test re-entry vehicles for ] * ] {{Anchor|Black Knight}} – launch vehicle used to test re-entry vehicles for ]
* ] {{Anchor|Black Maria}} - fighter ] interrogator * ] {{Anchor|Black Maria}} – fighter ] interrogator
* ] {{Anchor|Black Prince}} - proposed satellite launch vehicle based on ]/] — a.k.a. ] * ] {{Anchor|Black Prince}} – proposed satellite launch vehicle based on ]/] – a.k.a. ]
* ] {{Anchor|Black Rock}} - surface to surface guided missile * ] {{Anchor|Black Rock}} – surface-to-surface guided missile


===Blue=== ===Blue===
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Anchor}} - ] ] target illumination radar for ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Anchor}} – ] ] target illumination radar for ] – a.k.a. AMES Type 86
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Badger}} - truck-mounted ] - later renamed ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Badger}} – truck-mounted ] – later renamed ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Bishop}} - portable 2.5 ] nuclear-powered ] - previously ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Bishop}} – portable 2.5 ] nuclear-powered ] – previously ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Boar}} - ]-guided bomb <ref></ref><ref></ref> * ] {{Anchor|Blue Boar}} – ]-guided bomb<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/blueboar.htm |title=Blueboar |access-date=2012-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411022540/http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/blueboar.htm |archive-date=11 April 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/reviews/books/review7.htm |title=Aviation Book Review |website=Aeroflight.co.uk |access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Boy}} - ] speech ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Boy}} – ] speech ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Bunny}} - ten-kiloton nuclear mine, see '']'' * ] {{Anchor|Blue Bunny}} – ten-kiloton nuclear mine; see '']''
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Cat}} - nuclear warhead a.k.a. ''Tony'' - UK version of US ], a.k.a. '']'' * Blue Cat {{Anchor|Blue Cat}} – nuclear warhead, a.k.a. ''Tony'' – UK version of US ], a.k.a. '']''
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Cedar}} - ] ] radar * ] {{Anchor|Blue Cedar}} – AA No. 3 Mk. 7 mobile ] radar
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Danube}} - the first British nuclear weapon in service * ] {{Anchor|Blue Danube}} – the first British nuclear weapon in service
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Devil}} - T4 optical ] - drift and ] from ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Devil}} – T4 optical ] – drift and ] from ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Diamond}} - AA No7 Radar - anti aircraft radar * ] {{Anchor|Blue Diamond}} – AA No. 7 anti-aircraft radar
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Diver}} - ARI (Airborne Radio Installation) 18075 airborne low-band ] ] - against metric frequency radar such as Tall King * ] {{Anchor|Blue Diver}} – ARI (Airborne Radio Installation) 18075 airborne low-band ] ] – against metric frequency radar such as Tall King – fitted to ] and ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Dolphin}} - ] for ] - see ] * Blue Dolphin {{Anchor|Blue Dolphin}} – ] for ] – see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Duck}} - Anti-Submarine Warfare missile, entered service as ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Duck}} – anti-submarine warfare missile, entered service as ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Envoy}} - surface to air missile to OR.1140 * ] {{Anchor|Blue Envoy}} – ] to OR.1140, replaced Green Sparker as "Stage 2" SAM
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Fox}} - kiloton range nuclear weapon, later renamed Indigo Hammer - not to be confused with the later Blue Fox radar * ] {{Anchor|Blue Fox}} – kiloton-range nuclear weapon, later renamed Indigo Hammer – not to be confused with the later Blue Fox radar
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Fox}} - airborne radar * ] {{Anchor|Blue Fox}} – airborne radar
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Jacket}} - ARI (Airborne Radio Installation) 5880 airborne ] navigation radar fitted to ] aircraft. * ] {{Anchor|Blue Jacket}} – ARI (Airborne Radio Installation) 5880 airborne ] navigation radar fitted to ] aircraft
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Jay}} - air-to-air missile - entered service as ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Jay}} – air-to-air missile – entered service as ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Joker}} - balloon-borne Early Warning radar - a.k.a. ] Type 87 * ] {{Anchor|Blue Joker}} – balloon-borne early warning radar – possibly also known as ] Type 87
* Blue Kestrel – search radar
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Moon}} - see ]
* Blue Label – ] radar
* Blue Oak {{Anchor|Blue Oak}} - ] ] super-computer used for simulation of nuclear explosions
* Blue Lagoon – infra-red air-to-air detector
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Parrot}} - ARI 5930 ] automatic contour-following radar for Buccaneer - also known as AIRPASS II (AIRPASS=Airborne Interception Radar & Pilot's Attack Sight System)
* Blue Mercury – Centurion Crocodile flamethrower tank
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Peacock}} - ten-kiloton ] - also known as '']'' and '']''; it used the ] ].
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Rapier}} - ] - missiles - see ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Moon}} – nuclear-armed cruise missile project, replaced by ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Riband}} - large anti-jamming radar - cancelled 1958 and supplanted by smaller version as Blue Yeoman * Blue Oak {{Anchor|Blue Oak}} – ] ] super-computer used for simulation of nuclear explosions
* Blue Orchid – Marconi doppler navigation equipment for helicopters
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Rosette}} - short-case nuclear weapon bomb casing for reconnaissance bomber to spec R156T, including the ], ], ], ] and various others.
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Parrot}} – ARI 5930 ] automatic contour-following radar for Buccaneer – also known as AIRPASS II (acronym for Airborne Interception Radar & Pilot's Attack Sight System)
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Saga}} - ARI 18105 airborne radar warning receiver (RWR)
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Peacock}} – ten-kiloton ] – also known as '']'' and '']''; it used the ] ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Sapphire}} - ] system - see also Orange Tartan
* Blue Perseus – flamethrower kit for the Centurion Crocodile tank
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Sky}} - see ]
* Blue Ranger – delivery of Blue Steel to Australia
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Silk}} - airborne ] navigation radar unit with lower speed range than ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Slug}} - heavy ship-to-ship missile using ] launcher, nuclear or conventional * ] {{Anchor|Blue Rapier}} – ] – missiles – see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Star}} - satellite launcher - see ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Riband}} – large jamming-resistant radar. Cancelled 1958 and replaced by a smaller version as Blue Yeoman
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Rosette}} – short-case nuclear weapon bomb casing for reconnaissance bomber to spec R156T, including the ], ], ], ] and others
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Steel}} - an air-launched rocket propelled nuclear stand-off missile
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Stone}} - Unit 386D ENI (Electronic Neutron Initiator) - nuclear weapon component * ] {{Anchor|Blue Saga}} – ARI 18105 airborne radar warning receiver (RWR) – fitted to ] and ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Streak}} - a ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Sapphire}} – ] system – see also Orange Tartan
* Blue Shadow – navigation equipment for Canberra B.16, developed as Yellow Aster
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Study}} - automatic blind bombing system for V-bombers
* Blue Shield – see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Sugar}} - air-droppable target marking radio beacon developed by ].<ref name="Vulcan’s Hammer, p.18" ></ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Vesta}} - a later version of the ] air to air missile * ] {{Anchor|Blue Silk}} – airborne ] navigation radar unit with lower speed range than ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Vixen}} - ] for ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Sky}} – see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Water}} - see ] * ] {{Anchor|Blue Slug}} – heavy ship-to-ship missile using ] launcher, nuclear or conventional
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Yeoman}} - Early Warning radar, also known as AMES Type 85, a component '']'' * ] {{Anchor|Blue Star}} – satellite launcher – see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Steel}} – an air-launched rocket propelled nuclear stand-off missile
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Stone}} – Unit 386D ENI (Electronic Neutron Initiator) – nuclear weapon component
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Streak}} – a ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Study}} – automatic blind bombing system for V-bombers
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Sugar}} – air-droppable target marking radio beacon developed by ]<ref name="Vulcan’s Hammer, p.18" >{{cite web|url=http://www.crecy.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=573 |title=Vulcan's Hammer |website=Crecy.co.uk |access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Vesta}} – later version of the ] air-to-air missile
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Vixen}} – ] for ]
* ] – countermeasure to use of radar AA shells
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Water}} – nuclear-armed tactical surface-to-surface missile intended for ] in West Germany; also see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Blue Yeoman}} – early warning radar, also known as ], a component '']''; name created from the "Blue" of Blue Riband and the Yeoman of Orange Yeoman. Potentially non-official name.


===Brown=== ===Brown===
* ] {{Anchor|Brown Bunny}} - original, unofficial name for ] * ] {{Anchor|Brown Bunny}} – original, unofficial name for ]


===Green=== ===Green===
* Green Apple – related to '']'' for measuring drift at sea
* ] {{Anchor|Green Archer}} - ]-locating radar
* ] {{Anchor|Green Bamboo}} - nuclear weapon<ref>PRO. AVIA 65/1193 E10A. Tech Note GW375 p.2</ref> * ] {{Anchor|Green Archer}} – ]-locating radar
* Green Bacon – experimental anti-aircraft radar for Bofors units
* ] {{Anchor|Green Cheese}} - nuclear anti-ship missile<ref>{{Cite web
* ] {{Anchor|Green Bamboo}} – "hybrid" nuclear weapon design similar to Soviet ]<ref>PRO. AVIA 65/1193 E10A. Tech Note GW375 p.2</ref>
|title=Fairey Green Cheese Air to Surface missile
* Green Bottle – 1944 device for homing on U-boat radio signals (ARI.5574)
|url=http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/greencheese.htm
* ] {{Anchor|Green Cheese}} – nuclear anti-ship missile<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/greencheese.htm |title=Greencheese |access-date=2005-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050911102227/http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/greencheese.htm |archive-date=11 September 2005 |df=dmy }}</ref>
|publisher=Skomer
* ] {{Anchor|Green Flash}} – ]'s replacement
}}</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Green Flax}} – surface-to-air guided weapon (]) or surface-to-air missile (SAM); see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Green Flash}} - ]’s replacement
* ] {{Anchor|Green Flax}} - Surface-to-Air Guided Weapon (]) or surface to air missile (SAM); see ] * ] {{Anchor|Green Garland}} – infrared proximity fuze for ]
* ] {{Anchor|Green Garland}} - infrared proximity fuze for ] * ] {{Anchor|Green Garlic}} – early warning radar, also known as the AMES Type 80
* ] {{Anchor|Green Garlic}} - Early Warning radar, also known as the AMES Type 80 * ] {{Anchor|Green Ginger}} – surveillance radars – combined installation of AMES Type 88 and AMES Type 89
* ] {{Anchor|Green Ginger}} - surveillance radars - combined installation of AMES Type 88 and AMES Type 89 * ] {{Anchor|Green Granite}} – thermonuclear warheads: Green Granite (small) and Green Granite (large), both tested at ]
* ] {{Anchor|Green Granite}} - nuclear weapons: Green Granite (small), and Green Granite (large) * ] {{Anchor|Green Grass}} – nuclear warhead for ] and ] Mark 1 bombs
* ] {{Anchor|Green Grass}} - nuclear weapon * ] {{Anchor|Green Hammock}} – low-altitude bomber, Doppler navigation
* ] {{Anchor|Green Janet}} - portable, nuclear power plant; see ] * ] {{Anchor|Green Janet}} – portable, nuclear power plant; see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Green Light}} – SAGW or SAM – see ]<ref>Cullen, Tony & Foss, Christopher F. (1991) ''Jane’s Land-Based Air Defence 1990–91''. London: Jane's Information Group. {{ISBN|0-7106-0915-9}}</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Green Hammock}} - low-altitude bomber, Doppler navigation
* ] {{Anchor|Green Lizard}} – tube-launched SAM with variable geometry wings
* ] {{Anchor|Green Light}} - SAGW or SAM - see ]<ref>Cullen, Tony & Foss, Christopher F. (1991) ''Jane’s Land-Based Air Defence 1990–91'', Jane’s Information Group, London: ISBN 0-7106-0915-9</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Green Mace}} – 5-inch rapid firing anti-aircraft gun<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/greenmace.htm |title=Green Mace Anti-Aircraft Gun |access-date=2008-04-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504021136/http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/greenmace.htm |archive-date=4 May 2008 |df=dmy }}</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Green Lizard}} - tube-launched SAM with variable geometry wings
* Green Minnow – radiometer imager
* ] {{Anchor|Green Mace}} - 5-inch rapid firing anti-aircraft gun<ref></ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Green Palm}} - airborne ] voice channel jammer with four pre-set channels, replaced in the ] by the ] jammer * ] {{Anchor|Green Palm}} – ARI 18074 airborne ] voice channel jammer with four pre-set channels, replaced in the ] by the ] jammer
* Green Salad – ARI 18044 wide-band VHF Homing equipment for the ]
* ] {{Anchor|Green Satin}} - airborne ] navigation radar unit
* ] {{Anchor|Green Sparkler}} - advanced SAM for the “Stage 2” program * ] {{Anchor|Green Satin}} – ARI 5851 airborne ] navigation radar unit
* ] {{Anchor|Green Water}} - pilotless interceptor/SAGW * ] {{Anchor|Green Sparkler}} – advanced SAM for the "Stage 2" program, became ]
* ] – infra-red homing system based on the German wartime {{lang|de|Kielgerät}}
* ] {{Anchor|Green Walnut}} - blind bombing equipment
* ] {{Anchor|Green Walnut}} – blind bombing equipment
* ] {{Anchor|Green Willow}} - ] AI Mk. 20 Fire Control radar, backup to ARI.5897 AI Mk. 23 Airborne Interception radar for the ] fighter
* ] {{Anchor|Green Wizard}} - instrument for calibrating anti-aircraft guns, by measuring their muzzle-velocity * ] {{Anchor|Green Water}} – pilotless interceptor/SAGW
* ] {{Anchor|Green Willow}} – ] AI Mk. 20 Fire Control radar, backup to ARI 5897 AI Mk. 23 Airborne Interception radar for the ] fighter
* ] {{Anchor|Green Wizard}} – instrument for calibrating anti-aircraft guns by measuring their muzzle velocity


===Indigo=== ===Indigo===
* ] {{Anchor|Indigo Corkscrew}} - continuous wave radar, used with the ] and ] SAMs * ] {{Anchor|Indigo Bracket}} – S-band radar jamming system
* ] {{Anchor|Indigo Bracket}} - radar jamming system * ] {{Anchor|Indigo Corkscrew}} – ], used with the ] and ] SAMs
* ] {{Anchor|Indigo Hammer}} - nuclear weapon * ], formerly Blue Fox {{Anchor|Indigo Hammer}} – nuclear weapon


===Jade=== ===Jade===
* ] {{Anchor|Jade River}} - continuous wave radar, developed from ] * ] {{Anchor|Jade River}} – continuous wave radar, developed from ]


===Orange=== ===Orange===
* Orange Blossom – probably a deliberate mis-identification of the Orange Crop pods fitted to 1312 Flight Hercules aircraft, possibly pod-mounted electronic support measures used on the Hercules{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Crop}} - ] MIR 2 ] system for Royal Navy ] helicopters
* Orange Cocktail – experimental homing radar weapon from the 1950s
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Harvest}} - S and X band warning receiver fitted to ]s
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Crop}} – ] MIR 2 ] system for Royal Navy ] and Royal Navy ] helicopters (HAS.5 onwards but not Mk 4 "Junglies", who had the ] Prophet lightweight RWR fitted to some, or to the Royal Navy SAR) and some Royal Air Force Hercules aircraft
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Herald}} - nuclear weapon
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Nell}} - SAGW - surface to air missile * ] {{Anchor|Orange Harvest}} – S and X band warning receiver fitted to ]s
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Pippin}} - Ferranti, anti-aircraft, fire-control radar * ] {{Anchor|Orange Herald}} – large boosted fission nuclear warhead, tested at ] in 1957
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Poodle}} - low altitude, OTHR (Over-the-Horizon) early-warning radar - abandoned * ] {{Anchor|Orange Nell}} – short-range surface-to-air missile (SAGW)
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Putter}} - Tail Warning radar fitted to ] and ] * ] {{Anchor|Orange Pippin}} – Ferranti, anti-aircraft, fire-control radar
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Reaper}} - Electronic Support Measures system for Royal Navy ] helicopters * ] {{Anchor|Orange Poodle}} – low altitude, OTHR (Over-the-Horizon) early-warning radar – abandoned
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Putter}} – ARI 5800 airborne passive radar warning receiver tuned to Soviet AI radars and fitted to ] and ]
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Tartan}} - 'Auto-Astro' automated ] system (day) - see also Blue Sapphire (night).<ref name="Vulcan's Hammer, p17" ></ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Orange William}} - ''Swingfire'', anti-tank missile * ] {{Anchor|Orange Reaper}} – ] "Kestrel" ] system for Royal Navy ] helicopters
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Tartan}} – 'Auto-Astro' automated ] system (day) – see also Blue Sapphire (night)<ref name="Vulcan's Hammer, p17">{{cite book |publisher=Crecy |url=http://www.crecy.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=573 |first=Chris |last=Gibson |title=Vulcan's Hammer |access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Yeoman}} - Early Warning radar & guidance for Bristol Bloodhound SAGW - a.k.a. AMES Type 82
* Orange Toffee – radar for ]
* ] {{Anchor|Orange William}} – heavy anti-tank missile, canceled, later replaced by ''Swingfire''
* ] {{Anchor|Orange Yeoman}} – early warning radar and guidance for Bristol Bloodhound SAGW – a.k.a. ]


===Pink=== ===Pink===
* ] {{Anchor|Pink Hawk}} - early name for ] missile. As this was a "reduced" version of the ], it is a rare example of Rainbow Codes having some implied meaning, rather than their usual purely deliberately meaningless choice. * ] {{Anchor|Pink Hawk}} – early name for ] missile. As this was a "watered down" version of the ], and thus pink, it is an example of Rainbow Codes having some implied meaning, rather than their usual purely deliberately meaningless choice.


===Purple=== ===Purple===
* ] {{Anchor|Purple Granite}} - nuclear weapon - see ] * ] {{Anchor|Purple Granite}} – nuclear weapon – see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Purple Passion}} - Sub-kiloton demolition mine project related to ]. * ] {{Anchor|Purple Passion}} – sub-kiloton demolition mine project related to ]
* ] {{Anchor|Purple Possum}} - ]. * Purple Possum {{Anchor|Purple Possum}} – ]


===Red=== ===Red===
* Red Achilles – flamethrower kit for the CT 25 armoured carrier
* ] {{Anchor|Red Angel}} - air-launched anti-ship weapon or "special bomb"<ref>''British Secret Projects: Jet Bombers Since 1949'' Tony Buttler Midland Publishing 2003</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Beard}} - nuclear weapon * ] {{Anchor|Red Angel}} – air-launched anti-ship weapon or "special bomb"<ref>''British Secret Projects: Jet Bombers Since 1949'' Tony Buttler Midland Publishing 2003</ref>
* Red Bacchus – mobile mixing plant for Red Vulcan flamethrower fuel
* ] - Naval radar<ref name="Skomer"/>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Beard}} – nuclear weapon
* ] - X-band radar jammer<ref name="Skomer"/>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Cat}} - Air-launched nuclear stand-off missile cancelled 11/54.<ref name="Skomer">{{cite web | * Red Biddy – infantry platoon anti-tank missile, cancelled 1953
* Red Brick – experimental continuous-wave target illuminating radar
url=http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/start.htm | title = United Kingdom Aerospace and Weapons Projects | work = Skomer | accessdate=2012-09-28}}</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Cheeks}} - inertially guided bomb<ref name="Skomer"/> * ] – naval radar<ref name="Skomer"/>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Dean}} - large air to air missile * ] – X-band radar jammer<ref name="Skomer"/>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Cat}} – air-launched nuclear stand-off missile cancelled 11/54.{{clarify inline|reason=Does this mean "November 1954"? If so, say that: ]|date=October 2023}}<ref name="Skomer">{{cite web|url=http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/start.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-09-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024123107/http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/start.htm |archive-date=24 October 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Drover}} - airborne radar - see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Duster}} - ''Bristol Bloodhound'' surface to air missile * ] {{Anchor|Red Cheeks}} – inertially guided bomb<ref name="Skomer"/> based on the work of ]
* Red Cyclops – flamethrower kit for the FV201 tank
* ] {{Anchor|Red Flag}} - free-fall nuclear bomb - 'Improved Kiloton Bomb' - ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Flannel}} - experimental ] ] * ] {{Anchor|Red Dean}} – large air-to-air missile
* Red Devil – experimental blind bombing system using Green Satin and Red Setter radars together
* ] {{Anchor|Red Hawk}} - large missile "downrated" to give ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Drover}} – airborne radar – see ]
* Red Heathen{{Anchor|Red Heathen}} - early name for ]<ref>http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1959/1959%20-%202460.html</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Hebe}} - air to air missile, a replacement for ] * ] {{Anchor|Red Duster}} – ''Bristol Bloodhound'' surface-to-air missile
* Red Elsie – AP No. 8 anti-personnel mine, developed jointly with Canada.
* ] {{Anchor|Red Light}} - ] jammer for V Bombers, entered service as ARI 18146
* ] (Redeye) – An American general-purpose infra-red homing missile
* ] {{Anchor|Red Neck}} - airborne side-looking radar (SLAR)
* ] {{Anchor|Red Rapier}}, Blue Rapier missiles - see ] * ] {{Anchor|Red Flag}} – free-fall nuclear bomb – 'Improved Kiloton Bomb' – ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Rose}} - short-range, battlefield nuclear missile for the ] - later known as '']''; cancelled 1962 * ] {{Anchor|Red Flannel}} – experimental ] ]
* Red Garter – ] ARI 5818 airborne ] for the ], did not enter service
* ] {{Anchor|Red Queen}} - rapid fire 42&nbsp;mm ] anti-aircraft gun <ref> accessed 22nd April 2008</ref><ref></ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Hawk}} – large air-to-air missile "downrated" to give Pink Hawk which became ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Sea}} - the AA predictor designed for use with the ''Green Mace'' automatic AA gun<ref>Jobson P. (2008) ''Royal Artillery Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations'', The History Press, Stroud: 316 pp.</ref>
* Red Heathen{{Anchor|Red Heathen}} – early SAM project, became ] and ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1959/1959%20-%202460.html |title=1959 &#124; 2460 &#124; Flight Archive |website=Flightglobal.com |date=1959-09-25 |access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Setter}} - experimental side-looking radar for ]s
* ] {{Anchor|Red Shoes}} - see ] * ] {{Anchor|Red Hebe}} – air-to-air missile, a replacement for ]
* Red Hermes – FV3702 armoured fuel trailer for flamethrower tanks
* ] {{Anchor|Red Shrimp}} - ARI 18076 airborne high-band jammer fitted to ] & ]
* Red Indian – analogue anti-aircraft fire control computer for Bofors L/70 gun.
* ] {{Anchor|Red Snow}} - nuclear weapon ] - Unit 10,000 fitted to ] and ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red King}} – two-barrel ], developed alongside Red Queen. The name is likely not random, but instead a reference to its ] factory designation, RK, for Revolver Kanone.
* ] {{Anchor|Red Steer}} - ] ARI 5919/ARI 5952 airborne tail-warning radar - development of AI 20 ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Top}} - air to air missile also known as ] * ] {{Anchor|Red Light}} – ] jammer for V Bombers, entered service as ARI 18146
* ] {{Anchor|Red Neck}} – airborne side-looking radar (SLAR), tested on the ], a 40 foot long aerial under each wing. Flexing in flight corrupted the resolution. Cancelled 1962.<ref>Roger R. Brooks (2007), ''The Handley Page Victor'', Pen & Sword, {{ISBN|978 1 84415 411 1}} p.197</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Ticket}} - associated with AI 17 radar
* Red Planet – infantry platoon anti-tank missile
* ] {{Anchor|Red Tulip}} - phase coherent radar Moving Target Indicator (MTI)
* ] {{Anchor|Red Queen}} – rapid fire 42&nbsp;mm ] anti-aircraft gun<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/RED%20QUEEN.htm |title=The Red Queen and the Vigilante |website=Quarryhs.co.uk |date=13 May 2011 |first=Anthony G. |last=Williams |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-date=13 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513125849/http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/RED%20QUEEN.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/redqueen.htm |title=Red Queen Anti-Aircraft Gun |access-date=2008-10-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008013132/http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/redqueen.htm |archive-date=8 October 2008 |df=dmy }}</ref>
* ]{{Anchor|Red Rapier}}, Blue Rapier missiles – see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Rose}} – short-range, battlefield nuclear missile for the ] – ] – later known as '']''; cancelled 1962
* ] {{Anchor|Red Sea}} – the AA predictor designed for use with the ''Green Mace'' automatic AA gun<ref>Jobson P. (2008) ''Royal Artillery Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations'', The History Press, Stroud: 316 pp.</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Red Setter}} – experimental side-looking radar for ]s
* ] {{Anchor|Red Shoes}} – see ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Shrimp}} – ARI 18076 airborne high-band jammer fitted to ] and ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Snow}} – nuclear weapon ] – fitted to ] and ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Steer}} – ] ARI 5919/ARI 5952 airborne ] – development of AI 20 ] – fitted to ] and ]. The name likely refers to Jerry Steer at the RRE
* ] {{Anchor|Red Ticket}} – associated with AI 17 radar
* ] {{Anchor|Red Top}} – air-to-air missile developed from the ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Tulip}} – phase coherent radar Moving Target Indicator (MTI)
* Red Vulcan – flamethrower fuel mixture


===Violet=== ===Violet===
* ] {{Anchor|Violet Banner}} - ] for ] * ] {{Anchor|Violet Banner}} – ] for ]
* ] {{Anchor|Violet Club}} - nuclear weapon * ] {{Anchor|Violet Club}} – nuclear weapon
* ] {{Anchor|Violet Friend}} - simple ] system * ] {{Anchor|Violet Friend}} – simple ] system ordered under AST.1135
* ] {{Anchor|Violet Mist}} - truck-mounted ] - formerly ]. Used the ] ]. * ] {{Anchor|Violet Mist}} – truck-mounted ] – formerly ]. Used the ] ]
* ] {{Anchor|Violet Picture}} - UHF Homer, built by ] - Fitted to many RAF aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web * ] {{Anchor|Violet Picture}} – UHF Homer, built by ] – Fitted to many RAF aircraft<ref>{{cite web
|title=Airborne DF has existed for over 50 years. |title=Airborne DF has existed for over 50 years
|url=http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/428119-adf-can-tell-you-where-elt-coming-2.html#post5950039 |url=http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/428119-adf-can-tell-you-where-elt-coming-2.html#post5950039
|date=22 September 2010 |date=22 September 2010
|publisher=] - Professional Pilots Rumour Network |publisher=] – Professional Pilots Rumour Network
}}</ref> }}</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Violet Vision}} - nuclear warhead for ] missile - based on ] * ] {{Anchor|Violet Vision}} – nuclear warhead for ] missile – based on ]


===Yellow=== ===Yellow===
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Anvil}} - ] ] warhead * ] {{Anchor|Yellow Anvil}} – ] ] warhead
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Aster}} - ] bombing radar, fitted to ] and ] aircraft * ] {{Anchor|Yellow Aster}} – ] bombing radar, fitted to ]s
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Barley}} - ] * ] {{Anchor|Yellow Barley}} – ]
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Duckling}} - infra-red submarine detector * ] {{Anchor|Yellow Duckling}} – infra-red submarine detector
* ] – missile seeker
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Gate}} - ] ] for ] and ]
* Yellow Fever – fire control system for the Bofors L/70 anti-aircraft gun, comprising a Blue Diamond radar and a Red Indian analogue computer
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Jack}} - ]'s radar component
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Gate}} – ] ] for ] and ]
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Lemon}} - naval aircraft, Doppler-navigation system
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow River}} - mobile tactical control radar for ] - a.k.a. AMES Type 83 * ] {{Anchor|Yellow Jack}} – ]'s radar component
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Sand}} - anti-ship missile, possibly a precursor to ] * ] {{Anchor|Yellow Lemon}} – Doppler-navigation system for naval aircraft. Valve-based precursor to the transistorised ].<ref >{{Cite book
|title=Black Box Canberras
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Sun}} - nuclear weapon casing
|first=Dave |last=Forster
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Temple}} - nuclear-armed SAGW development of ]
|year=2016
|publisher=Hinoki
|isbn=978-1902109534
|pages=210,249
}}</ref>
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow River}} – mobile tactical control radar for ] – a.k.a. AMES Type 83
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Sand}} – anti-ship missile, possibly a precursor to ]
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Sun}} – nuclear weapon casing
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Temple}} – nuclear-armed SAGW development of ]
* ] {{Anchor|Yellow Tiger}} – Target illuminating radar used with the Thunderbird missile
* Yellow Veil – ALQ-167 pod for Royal Navy Lynx


==Non-Rainbow codes== ==Non-Rainbow codes==


Several British military related terms have a similar format to Rainbow Codes, but are not since they do not refer to classified research projects. These include: Several British military-related terms have a similar "colour" format to Rainbow Codes, but are not true examples since they do not refer to classified research projects and/or were adopted long after Rainbow Codes went out of use. Others are entirely unofficial (sometimes humorous) nicknames. These include:


* Black Banana – unofficial nickname for the ]. The name "ARNA" (allegedly an acronym for "A Royal Navy Aircraft") was submitted to a Blackburn in-house naming competition. It was only when "Blackburn ARNA" was said out loud that the joke became clear. The initial service aircraft were painted ] and were thus nicknamed "Peeled Nanas".<ref>{{Cite book
*Blue Circle - sardonic name for concrete ballast for ] while awaiting Blue Parrot radar - later also used for ] ballast - from the ] cement company
|title=Modern Combat Aircraft 7 - Buccaneer
* ] {{Anchor|Green Goddess}} - Colloquial name for Civil Defence ]
|last=Allward |first=Maurice
* ] {{Anchor|Green Porridge}} - RAF aircrew nickname for green-tinted ] bombing radar display ] image in ] & ]
|publisher=Ian Allan
* ] {{Anchor|Red Arrows}} - RAF display team
|year=1982
* ] {{Anchor|Red Devils}} - Parachute Regiment display team
|isbn=0 7110 1076 5
* Red Slab - joke name for a large ballast weight replacing the nose radar in ] in its return to flight as a civil display aircraft.
|page=52
* ] {{Anchor|Violet Fire}} - ] light ] for ] engine bays.<ref>{{Cite journal
}}</ref>
* Black Beacon – The Orfordness Rotating Wireless Beacon, known simply as the Orfordness Beacon or sometimes the Black Beacon, was an early radio navigation system
* Blue Circle – sardonic name for concrete ballast for Buccaneer while awaiting Blue Parrot radar. Also used for ] ballast in place of ] radar, and ] ballast. From the ] cement company.
* Blue Eric – improvised ] ] jammer against the ] anti-aircraft gun control radar used by Argentine forces during the Falklands War. Installed in the ]'s starboard 30mm gun pod.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Falklands 25
|website=Fast Air Photography
|url=http://www.fast-air.co.uk/falklands-25/
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book
|title=Hostile Skies
|last=Morgan |first=David
|publisher=Hachette
|year=2012
|isbn=978-1780225005
|page=165
}}</ref>
* Blue Yeoman – unofficial name for an experimental radar made from components of the Blue Riband and Orange Yeoman
* ] {{Anchor|Green Goddess}} – colloquial name for Civil Defence ]
* ] – a 'spoof' SAM programme reported in the 1976 ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=htOKQwAACAAJ |title=Royal Air Force Yearbook 1976 |access-date=2016-07-25|last1=Green |first1=William |last2=Swanborough |first2=Gordon |year=1976 }}</ref>
* Green Parrot – unconfirmed low yield nuclear weapon mentioned in a 1981 '']'' article by ]<ref>{{cite news|title=The Wings of the Green Parrot|last=Campbell|first=Duncan|publisher=New Statesman|page=9|date=17 April 1981}}</ref> who later claimed that it was "probably" a copy of the US ].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier: American Military Power in Britain|page=104|author=Duncan Campbell|publisher=Paladin Grafton Books|year=1986}}</ref> The ] has incorrectly been referred to as the Green Parrot by some authors. However Green Parrot was a NATO codename for the Soviet ] anti-infantry mine. Green Parrot was also the term for an admiral's barge, traditionally with a green-painted hull.
* ] {{Anchor|Green Porridge}} – RAF aircrew nickname for green-tinted ] bombing radar display ] image in ], ] & ]
* ] {{Anchor|Red Arrows}} – RAF display team
* ] {{Anchor|Red Devils}} – Parachute Regiment display team
* Red Slab – joke name for a large ballast weight replacing the nose radar in ] in its return to flight as a civil display aircraft.
* ] {{Anchor|Violet Fire}} – ] light ] for ] engine bays.<ref>{{Cite journal
|title=Concorde Power Plant Fire Protection System |title=Concorde Power Plant Fire Protection System
|journal=Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology |journal=Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology
Line 207: Line 273:
|issue=5 |issue=5
|pages=26–30 |pages=26–30
|doi=10.1108/eb034768
}}</ref>
}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
An allusion to the Rainbow codes was made in the title of the 1961 ] Cold War novel '']'', even more so in the American edition's title ''The Black Shrike''. Both names were based on Blue Streak (which was mentioned in the novel); the title was of a fictional solid-fueled ICBM which was the object of a covert theft operation at an isolated Fijian test site.<ref>{{cite book|first=Jack|last=Webster|title=Alistair MacLean: A Life|year=1991|publisher=Chapmans|pages=113–115}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
Line 216: Line 286:
==References== ==References==
;Notes ;Notes
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}} {{Reflist|30em}}
;Bibliography ;Bibliography
*
*Public Record Office, London. TNA AIR 2/17322 E51B (a) *Public Record Office, London. TNA AIR 2/17322 E51B (a)
* - Chris Gibson - 2011 - ISBN 978-1-902109-17-6 * – Chris Gibson – 2011 – {{ISBN|978-1-902109-17-6}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *

*
{{UKColdWarProjects}} {{UKColdWarProjects}}


]
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Rainbow Codes}}
]
]
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 13:49, 16 September 2024

British military research project code names This article is about the British early Cold War military codenames. For the pre-WW2 US military war plans, see United States color-coded war plans § Rainbow plans. For the cryptographic hash system, see Rainbow table.
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The Rainbow Codes were a series of code names used to disguise the nature of various British military research projects. They were mainly used by the Ministry of Supply from the end of the Second World War until 1958, when the ministry was broken up and its functions distributed among the forces. The codes were replaced by an alphanumeric code system, consisting of two letters followed by three digits.

History

During World War II, British intelligence was able to glean details of new German technologies simply by considering their code names. For instance, when they heard of a new system known as Wotan, Reginald Victor Jones asked around and found that Wotan was a one-eyed god. Based on this, he guessed it was a radio navigation system using a single radio beam. This proved correct, and the Royal Air Force was able to quickly render it useless through jamming.

Wishing to avoid making this sort of mistake, the Ministry of Supply (MoS) initiated a system that would be entirely random and deliberately unrelated to the program in any way, while still being easy to remember. Each rainbow code name was constructed from a randomly selected colour, plus an (often appropriate) noun taken from a list, for example:

While most colour and noun combinations were meaningless, some combinations produced real names, although quite unrelated to the project they designated. For example, "Black Maria" is also a nickname for a police van and the "Red Duster" is a nickname for the Red Ensign, the flag flown by British merchant ships. Some code names were not assigned through the official system, but created to sound like it. The Blue Yeoman radar is an example, an unofficial name created by combining the names of two other projects, Blue Riband and Orange Yeoman.

The names were mostly dropped with the end of the Ministry in 1959. Its functions were split between the War Office, the Air Ministry, and the newly created Ministry of Aviation, which was responsible for civil aviation. After the reorganization, projects were mostly named with randomly selected codes comprising two letters and three digits, e.g. BL755, WE.177. Rainbow codes, or at least names that look like them without being official, have occasionally been used for some modern systems; current examples include the Orange Reaper electronic support measures system and the Blue Vixen radar—the latter most likely so named because it was a replacement for the Blue Fox radar.

Projects

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

Black

Blue

Brown

Green

Indigo

Jade

Orange

  • Orange Blossom – probably a deliberate mis-identification of the Orange Crop pods fitted to 1312 Flight Hercules aircraft, possibly pod-mounted electronic support measures used on the Hercules
  • Orange Cocktail – experimental homing radar weapon from the 1950s
  • Orange Crop – Racal MIR 2 ESM system for Royal Navy Lynx and Royal Navy Sea King helicopters (HAS.5 onwards but not Mk 4 "Junglies", who had the Racal Prophet lightweight RWR fitted to some, or to the Royal Navy SAR) and some Royal Air Force Hercules aircraft
  • Orange Harvest – S and X band warning receiver fitted to Shackletons
  • Orange Herald – large boosted fission nuclear warhead, tested at Operation Grapple in 1957
  • Orange Nell – short-range surface-to-air missile (SAGW)
  • Orange Pippin – Ferranti, anti-aircraft, fire-control radar
  • Orange Poodle – low altitude, OTHR (Over-the-Horizon) early-warning radar – abandoned
  • Orange Putter – ARI 5800 airborne passive radar warning receiver tuned to Soviet AI radars and fitted to Canberra and Valiant
  • Orange Reaper – Racal "Kestrel" ESM system for Royal Navy Merlin helicopters
  • Orange Tartan – 'Auto-Astro' automated star navigation system (day) – see also Blue Sapphire (night)
  • Orange Toffee – radar for Blue Envoy
  • Orange William – heavy anti-tank missile, canceled, later replaced by Swingfire
  • Orange Yeoman – early warning radar and guidance for Bristol Bloodhound SAGW – a.k.a. AMES Type 82

Pink

  • Pink Hawk – early name for Fairey Fireflash missile. As this was a "watered down" version of the Red Hawk, and thus pink, it is an example of Rainbow Codes having some implied meaning, rather than their usual purely deliberately meaningless choice.

Purple

Red

  • Red Achilles – flamethrower kit for the CT 25 armoured carrier
  • Red Angel – air-launched anti-ship weapon or "special bomb"
  • Red Bacchus – mobile mixing plant for Red Vulcan flamethrower fuel
  • Red Beard – nuclear weapon
  • Red Biddy – infantry platoon anti-tank missile, cancelled 1953
  • Red Brick – experimental continuous-wave target illuminating radar
  • Red Cabbage – naval radar
  • Red Carpet – X-band radar jammer
  • Red Cat – air-launched nuclear stand-off missile cancelled 11/54.
  • Red Cheeks – inertially guided bomb based on the work of Tubby Vielle
  • Red Cyclops – flamethrower kit for the FV201 tank
  • Red Dean – large air-to-air missile
  • Red Devil – experimental blind bombing system using Green Satin and Red Setter radars together
  • Red Drover – airborne radar – see Avro 730
  • Red Duster – Bristol Bloodhound surface-to-air missile
  • Red Elsie – AP No. 8 anti-personnel mine, developed jointly with Canada.
  • Red Eye (Redeye) – An American general-purpose infra-red homing missile
  • Red Flag – free-fall nuclear bomb – 'Improved Kiloton Bomb' – WE.177
  • Red Flannel – experimental Q band H2S
  • Red Garter – Cossor ARI 5818 airborne tail warning radar for the Vulcan, did not enter service
  • Red Hawk – large air-to-air missile "downrated" to give Pink Hawk which became Blue Sky
  • Red Heathen – early SAM project, became Red Shoes and Red Duster
  • Red Hebe – air-to-air missile, a replacement for Red Dean
  • Red Hermes – FV3702 armoured fuel trailer for flamethrower tanks
  • Red Indian – analogue anti-aircraft fire control computer for Bofors L/70 gun.
  • Red King – two-barrel revolver cannon, developed alongside Red Queen. The name is likely not random, but instead a reference to its Oerlikon factory designation, RK, for Revolver Kanone.
  • Red Light – X band jammer for V Bombers, entered service as ARI 18146
  • Red Neck – airborne side-looking radar (SLAR), tested on the Victor, a 40 foot long aerial under each wing. Flexing in flight corrupted the resolution. Cancelled 1962.
  • Red Planet – infantry platoon anti-tank missile
  • Red Queen – rapid fire 42 mm revolver cannon anti-aircraft gun
  • Red Rapier, Blue Rapier missiles – see UB.109T
  • Red Rose – short-range, battlefield nuclear missile for the British Army – English Electric – later known as Blue Water; cancelled 1962
  • Red Sea (AA) – the AA predictor designed for use with the Green Mace automatic AA gun
  • Red Setter – experimental side-looking radar for V bombers
  • Red Shoes – see English Electric Thunderbird
  • Red Shrimp – ARI 18076 airborne high-band jammer fitted to Victor and Vulcan
  • Red Snow – nuclear weapon physics package – fitted to Yellow Sun Mk2 and Blue Steel
  • Red Steer – EKCO ARI 5919/ARI 5952 airborne tail warning radar – development of AI 20 Green Willow – fitted to Victor and Vulcan. The name likely refers to Jerry Steer at the RRE
  • Red Ticket – associated with AI 17 radar
  • Red Top – air-to-air missile developed from the Firestreak Mk 4
  • Red Tulip – phase coherent radar Moving Target Indicator (MTI)
  • Red Vulcan – flamethrower fuel mixture

Violet

Yellow

Non-Rainbow codes

Several British military-related terms have a similar "colour" format to Rainbow Codes, but are not true examples since they do not refer to classified research projects and/or were adopted long after Rainbow Codes went out of use. Others are entirely unofficial (sometimes humorous) nicknames. These include:

  • Black Banana – unofficial nickname for the Blackburn Buccaneer. The name "ARNA" (allegedly an acronym for "A Royal Navy Aircraft") was submitted to a Blackburn in-house naming competition. It was only when "Blackburn ARNA" was said out loud that the joke became clear. The initial service aircraft were painted Anti-flash white and were thus nicknamed "Peeled Nanas".
  • Black Beacon – The Orfordness Rotating Wireless Beacon, known simply as the Orfordness Beacon or sometimes the Black Beacon, was an early radio navigation system
  • Blue Circle – sardonic name for concrete ballast for Buccaneer while awaiting Blue Parrot radar. Also used for Sea Harrier ballast in place of Blue Fox radar, and Tornado F.2 ballast. From the Blue Circle cement company.
  • Blue Eric – improvised I band ECM jammer against the Fledermaus anti-aircraft gun control radar used by Argentine forces during the Falklands War. Installed in the Harrier GR.3's starboard 30mm gun pod.
  • Blue Yeoman – unofficial name for an experimental radar made from components of the Blue Riband and Orange Yeoman
  • Green Goddess – colloquial name for Civil Defence fire pump
  • Green Meat – a 'spoof' SAM programme reported in the 1976 RAF Yearbook
  • Green Parrot – unconfirmed low yield nuclear weapon mentioned in a 1981 New Statesman article by Duncan Campbell who later claimed that it was "probably" a copy of the US B57 nuclear bomb. The WE.177 has incorrectly been referred to as the Green Parrot by some authors. However Green Parrot was a NATO codename for the Soviet PFM-1 anti-infantry mine. Green Parrot was also the term for an admiral's barge, traditionally with a green-painted hull.
  • Green Porridge – RAF aircrew nickname for green-tinted H2S bombing radar display PPI image in Valiant, Victor & Vulcan
  • Red Arrows – RAF display team
  • Red Devils – Parachute Regiment display team
  • Red Slab – joke name for a large ballast weight replacing the nose radar in Avro Vulcan XH558 in its return to flight as a civil display aircraft.
  • Violet Fire – Ultraviolet light fire detection system for Concorde engine bays.

In popular culture

An allusion to the Rainbow codes was made in the title of the 1961 Alistair MacLean Cold War novel The Dark Crusader, even more so in the American edition's title The Black Shrike. Both names were based on Blue Streak (which was mentioned in the novel); the title was of a fictional solid-fueled ICBM which was the object of a covert theft operation at an isolated Fijian test site.

See also

References

Notes
  1. Jones, R. (1978). Most Secret War. London: Hamish Hamilton. p. 120. ISBN 0-241-89746-7.
  2. Houghton, Vince (2019). Nuking the Moon. Penguin. p. 54.
  3. Guppy, Jonathan (2008). Fallout. Lulu.com. p. 170. ISBN 9781409239734.
  4. "Blue Vixen radar (United Kingdom), Airborne Radar Systems". Jane's Avionics. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  5. "Blueboar". Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  6. "Aviation Book Review". Aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  7. "Vulcan's Hammer". Crecy.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  8. PRO. AVIA 65/1193 E10A. Tech Note GW375 p.2
  9. "Greencheese". Archived from the original on 11 September 2005. Retrieved 2005-11-07.
  10. Cullen, Tony & Foss, Christopher F. (1991) Jane’s Land-Based Air Defence 1990–91. London: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0915-9
  11. "Green Mace Anti-Aircraft Gun". Archived from the original on 4 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
  12. Gibson, Chris. Vulcan's Hammer. Crecy. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  13. British Secret Projects: Jet Bombers Since 1949 Tony Buttler Midland Publishing 2003
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "1959 | 2460 | Flight Archive". Flightglobal.com. 25 September 1959. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  16. Roger R. Brooks (2007), The Handley Page Victor, Pen & Sword, ISBN 978 1 84415 411 1 p.197
  17. Williams, Anthony G. (13 May 2011). "The Red Queen and the Vigilante". Quarryhs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  18. "Red Queen Anti-Aircraft Gun". Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  19. Jobson P. (2008) Royal Artillery Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations, The History Press, Stroud: 316 pp.
  20. "Airborne DF has existed for over 50 years". PPRuNe – Professional Pilots Rumour Network. 22 September 2010.
  21. Forster, Dave (2016). Black Box Canberras. Hinoki. pp. 210, 249. ISBN 978-1902109534.
  22. Allward, Maurice (1982). Modern Combat Aircraft 7 - Buccaneer. Ian Allan. p. 52. ISBN 0 7110 1076 5.
  23. "Falklands 25". Fast Air Photography.
  24. Morgan, David (2012). Hostile Skies. Hachette. p. 165. ISBN 978-1780225005.
  25. Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1976). "Royal Air Force Yearbook 1976". Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  26. Campbell, Duncan (17 April 1981). "The Wings of the Green Parrot". New Statesman. p. 9.
  27. Duncan Campbell (1986). The Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier: American Military Power in Britain. Paladin Grafton Books. p. 104.
  28. Davis, R.A. (1993). "Concorde Power Plant Fire Protection System". Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology. 43 (5): 26–30. doi:10.1108/eb034768.
  29. Webster, Jack (1991). Alistair MacLean: A Life. Chapmans. pp. 113–115.
Bibliography

External links

Cold War military projects of the United Kingdom
list of code names used for projects (Rainbow Codes)
air-to-air missiles
air-to-surface missiles
surface-to-air missiles
surface-to-surface missiles
satellite launch vehicles
nuclear bombs
nuclear warheads
Cold War military equipment of the United Kingdom
Categories: