This list of Operational Requirements for nuclear weapons shows known Operational Requirements (ORs) specifically for nuclear bombs intended for use by the Royal Navy (RN) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom (UK).
An Operational Requirement, commonly abbreviated OR, was a UK Air Ministry document setting out the required characteristics for a future (i.e., as-yet unbuilt) military aircraft or weapon system. The numbered OR would describe what type of weapon was required. Operational Requirements were carried over with the dissolution of the Air Ministry and the creation of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Table of Operational Requirements Operational RequirementyearServiceDescriptionWeaponOR.10011946Royal Air ForceAtomic bombBlue DanubeOR.11271953Royal Air Force / Royal NavySmall kiloton bombRed BeardOR.11321954Royal Air ForcePowered guided bombBlue SteelOR.11391954Royal Air ForceMedium range ballistic missileBlue StreakOR.11401954Royal Air ForcePowered guided bombBlue SteelOR.11411954Royal Air Forcewarhead for the powered guided bombGreen BambooOR.11421954Royal Air ForceMegaton warheadViolet Club ? 1955Royal NavyKiloton warhead for Seaslug missileIndigo Hammer ? 1957British ArmyKiloton 8-inch artillery shellYellow Anvil ? 1958British ArmyGuided missile warheadBlue Water ? 1958British ArmyAtomic demolition chargeViolet MistOR.11531958Royal Air ForceFree-fall megatonbombOR.11551958Royal Air ForceMegaton warhead for anti-ballistic missileOR.11561958Royal Air Force / Royal NavyNuclear depth chargeOR.11571958Royal Air ForceMegaton warhead for anti-ballistic missile ? 1958Royal NavyMegaton warhead for naval useOR.11591958Royal Air ForcePowered guided bombBlue SteelOR.11601958Royal Air ForceMegaton warhead for powered guided bombOR.11611958Royal Air Force / Royal NavyLightweight warhead for powered guided bombOR.11661958Royal Air ForceWarhead for Bloodhound missileIndigo HammerOR.11711959Royal Air ForceMegaton warhead for bomb or missileRed SnowOR.11721959Royal Air ForceKiloton warhead for Seaslug, Bloodhound and Blue WaterRO106/TonyOR.11761960Royal Air ForceVariable-yield kiloton warheadWE.177OR.11771960Royal Air ForceKiloton Red Beard replacementWE.177OR.11781960Royal Air ForceNuclear depth chargeOR.11791960Royal Air ForceMegaton warhead for SkyboltOR.11821960Royal Air ForceLong-range air-surface missileOR.11871960Royal Air ForceSkyboltSkybolt
Further reading
See also List of Rainbow Codes List of Air Ministry Specifications