Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.12

After the brief post about the Japanese airplane, we're back in the United Kingdom with the Meteor.

The Meteor NF.12 was a development of the previous NF.11 fitted with the new American APS-21 radar system. It made it's maiden flight on 21st April 1953 and was similar to the NF.11 albeit a bit longer, 43.2cm longer to be more precise. As the keel area was bigger the fin was enlarged to compensate.
In order to counter the wig-wag effect that affected the gunsight, an anti-tramp that opperated the rudder was fitted midway up to the front leading edge of the fin.

It was powered by the new version of the Rolls-Royce Derwent 9 engines, so the wings were reinforced to cope with that new engine. The deliveries of this variant started in 1953 and it started serving with the squadrons in early 1954. The armament remained the same as the NF.11.

The depicted squadrons below are:

• No.46 Squadron RAF: This squadron was reformed from the transport role to the night-fighter role on 15th August 1954 at RAF Odiham. The squadron was composed by 12 NF.12, 12 NF.14 and one Meteor T.7 for training. They were gradually replaced by the Gloster Javelin in January 1956 and the Meteors that were in service with this squadron passed on to the No.72 Squadron RAF.
• No.85 Squadron RAF: This squadron had the Meteor NF.12 in service during the 1950s when based at RAF Church Fenton.
• No.152 Squadron RAF: This squadron received the Meteor NF.12 together with some NF.14 on 1st June 1954 when it was reformed as a night-fighter unit at RAF Wattisham and was disbanded at RAF Stradishall on 11th July 1958.
• No.153 Squadron RAF: This unit received both Meteors NF.12 and NF.14 in 1955 and was disbanded at RAF West Mailing in 1957.

Also, we haven't drawn them, but the NF.12 served also with these other squadrons:

• No.25 Squadron RAF: This squadron was dedicated to the night fighting duties and received the Meteor NF.12 as a replacement for the De Havilland Vampire NF.10 in February 1951. Then, in 1954 they were starting to be replaced by the Meteor NF.14.
• No.29 Squadron RAF: This squadron had the NF.12 in active until 1957 when they were replaced by the Gloster Javelin.
• No.64 Squadron RAF: The Meteor NF.12 and NF.14 replaced the Meteor F.8 of this squadron on September 1956. The Meteors remained in active service until September 1958 when they were replaced by the Gloster Javelin.
• No.72 Squadron RAF: In 1952 this unit was reformed as a night-fighter role and received the Meteor NF.12 and NF.14. They were replaced in 1959 by the Gloster Javelin.
• No.264 Squadron RAF: On October 1954 this squadron received the Meteor NF.12 together with the NF.14. They served until 30th September 1957 when the squadron was disbanded and was re-numbered as No. 33 Squadron RAF.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_Meteor

2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

3. Hall Park Books - Warpaint Series No.22 - Gloster Meteor.

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._46_Squadron_RAF

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._85_Squadron_RAF

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._152_Squadron_RAF

7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._153_Squadron_RAF

8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._25_Squadron_RAF

9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._29_Squadron_RAF

10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._64_Squadron_RAF

11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._72_Squadron_RAF

12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._264_Squadron_RAF