156:
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476:
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from the 1,000 hp to the 2,000 hp class during the war produced single-engine fighters with greater performance, offensive and defensive capabilities than the light bombers of only a few years earlier. This gave rise to the
619:(both introduced in 1937). A weakness of the fast bomber design concept was that improvements in the speed of bombers were, in most cases, quickly matched in subsequent fighter designs (which would additionally eclipse the
331:
and a cylindrical bomb carrier in the lower forward fuselage capable of carrying 12 x 10 lb (12 x 4.5 kg) bombs, which could be dropped individually or all together. The T.B.8 was purchased for use both by the
670:. Light bombers were selected as a basis for night fighters during this time because early airborne radar systems, used to find and track targets in the dark, were bulky and often required a dedicated operator in the
525:
designs. Specialised light bomber designs were single-engine or twin-engine aircraft with a bomb load of about 500–1,000 kg. Typical single-engine light bombers of this era included the
802:
initially differed little in armament and operational role from light bombers. As World War II progressed, specialised attack designs became increasingly focused on low altitude
1145:
635:, the above-mentioned designs of the late 1930s often saw considerable action. In some cases, they became the basis of newer, faster light bombers, such as the
534:
1138:
708:
were light bombers according to their size and warload and it was common for these aircraft to also be used for level bombing missions. The
611:), which prioritised speed as a self-defense measure; even the bomb load was minimised towards this design goal. Early examples were the
681:
Many other aircraft which originally had been designed as fighters or other mission-specific bombers but fit the size, performance and
1131:
850:
dive bomber adopted later in World War II when that design role was beginning to disappear) also was assigned to ground attack
230:
and similar missions. After World War I, attack aircraft were typically identifiable by their ability to carry multiple fixed
1046:
100:
155:
72:
720:, while designed as torpedo bombers, saw some action purely in the light bomber role. Types designed before the war as
167:. Its crew and ground staff pose for the photographer, prior to loading the Hudson with its bomb load in the foreground.
1226:
374:, operating the T.B.3, carried out the first bombing attack of World War I: on 25 November 1914, under the command of
1111:
1071:
702:
were light bombers by definition, as these aircraft typically carried bomb loads of one ton or less. Likewise, many
643:
designation A-23/A-30 developed from the
Maryland), as well as medium bombers with more powerful engines and heavier
119:
79:
685:
requirements for the light bomber role would also be adapted to perform such missions during World War II. Most
651:
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57:
249:
Purpose-built light bombers disappeared from military aviation by the end of World War II, as advancements in
86:
915:
859:
769:
588:, it was a land-based day bomber with bomb loads as small as 800 kg (1,800 lb) and had a secondary role as a
53:
865:
The light bomber, as a discrete aircraft type, began to be superseded as World War II opened. The growth of
967:
819:
453:
441:
17:
674:; most smaller day fighters of that era were unsuited to such extra weight and personnel. Conversely, the
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1237:
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are types which today carry out technologically enhanced equivalents of the former light bomber role.
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934:-carrying ability, and multirole versatility of new combat aircraft designs (including the advent of
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320:
262:
1451:
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951:
597:
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889:
888:. Multirole twin-engine designs capable of hauling bomb loads greater than 2,000 lbs such as the
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Bomber class made for attacking ground targets with small bomb loads over short distances
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and defensive capabilities. Modern aircraft carrying out similar missions include light
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584:("Nell"). While the Mitsubishi G3M was classified by the Imperial Japanese Navy as a
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223:
176:
922:(which had the same engines and a similar bomb load as the Invader) medium bomber.
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938:) by the end of World War II signaled the end of the dedicated light bomber type.
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light bomber. Introduced at the end of World War II, it would go on to serve in
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592:. Many of these aircraft were also used in other non-offensive roles, such as
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678:, which had been designed as a night fighter, was often used a light bomber.
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began to distinguish between light bombers and the earliest purpose-built
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1038:
Aerial
Interdiction: Air Power and the Land Battle in Three American Wars
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also supplanted earlier 1930s-era light bomber designs during the war.
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413:
405:
235:
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522:
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324:
246:. Light bombers have often served as attack aircraft and vice versa.
213:
903:
One of the last light bombers to be introduced in World War II, the
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The first aircraft purposely designed for bombing missions were the
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803:
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623:-carrying ability of light bomber aircraft within a few years).
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404:
with a bomb load of 50–400 kg. Two of the most famous were the
179:
144:
650:
Twin-engine light bombers were successful when converted into
132:
726:
were also frequently adapted as light bombers, including the
299:
1153:
830:
for ground strafing missions. Later variants of the Ju 87
603:
A sub-type of light bomber also emerged in the 1930s, the
397:
battlefields were in fact light bombers: typically single-
378:, the squadron attacked coastal gun batteries operated by
556:. Contemporaneous twin-engine light bombers included the
366:" type, the C.III was also a light bomber of World War I.
190:
753:
200:
The earliest light bombers were intended to drop their
834:
dive bomber were adapted to the role of ground attack
185:that was primarily employed before the 1950s. Such
60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
826:) each had variants with 8 or more forward-firing
1443:
1061:
362:, circa 1916. While it was designed as a "armed
1101:
269:loads while also having superior performance,
1139:
312:, both built in 1913. The T.B.8 was a single
1146:
1132:
930:The substantial increases in performance,
658:during World War II; examples include the
521:) with more modern and higher performance
810:, heavy machine guns and newly-developed
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
961:
752:
474:
347:
189:would typically not carry more than one
154:
131:
1091:. London: Studio Editions. p. 204.
175:is a relatively small and fast type of
14:
1444:
1086:
257:enabled newer attack/strike aircraft,
1127:
1066:. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books.
1028:
970:in flight over the Amazon Rainforest.
420:. The same type often also served as
1034:
925:
914:type and also was designated by the
499:were seeking to replace their older
58:adding citations to reliable sources
29:
1106:(Fourth ed.). London: Putnam.
24:
1227:Airborne early warning and control
783:Light attack aircraft such as the
456:was even modified as a pioneering
265:types to deliver equal or greater
143:was the main light bomber used by
25:
1468:
1104:British Naval Aircraft since 1912
323:. It was fitted with a prismatic
222:which carried out ground attack,
34:
1089:Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation
806:of surface targets, armed with
768:as the B-26 (and also replaced
626:
424:aircraft; examples include the
45:needs additional citations for
1095:
1087:Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989).
1080:
1055:
479:1937. Turkish air force pilot
343:
293:
136:Circa 1937. The single-engine
13:
1:
1064:The British Bomber since 1914
1021:
470:
454:Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2
442:Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
7:
1016:Counter-insurgency aircraft
957:
948:counter-insurgency aircraft
631:During the early stages of
503:aircraft (for example, the
283:counter-insurgency aircraft
147:forces at the beginning of
10:
1473:
1035:Mark, Eduard (July 1995).
968:Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos
572:(also known as the A-22),
460:in attempts to shoot down
288:
1370:
1219:
1212:
1163:
1062:Mason, Francis K (1994).
918:as a replacement for its
886:Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
321:Bristol Aeroplane Company
495:By the early 1930s many
372:Eastbourne RNAS Squadron
1102:Thetford, Owen (1994).
910:, replaced the earlier
890:Lockheed P-38 Lightning
748:Lockheed P-38 Lightning
334:Royal Naval Air Service
971:
844:Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
780:
492:
367:
208:over a target. During
168:
152:
965:
898:de Havilland Mosquito
779:of that designation).
756:
535:Allied reporting name
487:as it is loaded with
478:
410:Geoffrey de Havilland
393:Most bombers used on
376:Charles Rumney Samson
351:
158:
135:
966:Brazilian Air Force
920:Martin B-26 Marauder
908:Douglas A-26 Invader
758:Douglas A-26 Invader
728:Messerschmitt Bf 110
533:(later known by the
159:1943. A twin-engine
54:improve this article
1297:Electronic warfare
822:(type-classed as a
744:Bristol Beaufighter
718:Grumman TBF Avenger
666:(as the P-70), and
562:Douglas B-23 Dragon
255:aeronautical design
165:No. 2 Squadron RAAF
1238:Counter-insurgency
972:
876:type, notably the
781:
664:Douglas A-20 Havoc
493:
368:
338:Royal Flying Corps
263:multirole aircraft
169:
153:
1439:
1438:
1435:
1434:
1292:Close air support
1156:military aircraft
1048:978-0-7881-1966-8
1041:. pp. 9–10.
1006:Strategic bombing
926:Post-World War II
808:automatic cannons
236:automatic cannons
224:close air support
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16:(Redirected from
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1011:Tactical bombing
1001:Strategic bomber
880:F and G models,
710:Bristol Beaufort
700:Vultee Vengeance
660:Bristol Blenheim
637:Martin Baltimore
613:Bristol Blenheim
558:Bristol Blenheim
543:Mitsubishi Ki-51
539:Mitsubishi Ki-30
359:Luftstreitkräfte
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1342:Maritime patrol
1315:Air superiority
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1158:types and roles
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976:Attack aircraft
960:
944:strike fighters
940:Attack aircraft
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774:Martin Marauder
705:torpedo bombers
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598:maritime patrol
574:Lockheed Hudson
570:Martin Maryland
473:
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336:(RNAS) and the
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279:strike fighters
275:attack aircraft
259:fighter-bombers
242:in addition to
219:attack aircraft
161:Lockheed Hudson
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986:Fighter-bomber
983:
981:Strike fighter
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882:Hawker Typhoon
873:fighter-bomber
740:Kawasaki Ki-45
723:heavy fighters
691:, such as the
676:Petlyakov Pe-3
656:night fighters
652:airborne radar
628:
625:
594:reconnaissance
590:torpedo bomber
582:Mitsubishi G3M
566:Kawasaki Ki-48
531:Kawasaki Ki-32
519:Polikarpov R-5
472:
469:
426:Albatros C.III
422:reconnaissance
364:reconnaissance
356:of the German
354:Albatros C.III
345:
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128:
127:
69:"Light bomber"
42:
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26:
9:
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3:
2:
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1457:Light bombers
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1265:Medium bomber
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1113:0-85177-861-5
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1073:0-85177-861-5
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991:Medium bomber
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894:Junkers Ju 88
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861:
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853:
849:
845:
841:
837:
836:against tanks
833:
829:
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824:medium bomber
821:
820:B-25 Mitchell
817:
813:
809:
805:
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797:
796:Northrop A-17
793:
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789:Ilyushin Il-2
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778:
777:medium bomber
775:
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737:
733:
729:
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724:
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715:
711:
707:
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697:
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693:Junkers Ju 87
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673:
669:
668:Dornier Do 17
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624:
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618:
617:Dornier Do 17
614:
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609:Schnellbomber
606:
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586:medium bomber
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579:
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536:
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528:
527:Fairey Battle
524:
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516:
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510:
506:
502:
498:
490:
486:
483:inspects her
482:
481:Sabiha Gökçen
477:
468:
466:
463:
459:
458:night fighter
455:
451:
447:
443:
439:
435:
431:
427:
423:
419:
418:Louis Breguet
415:
411:
407:
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389:
385:
381:
380:German Empire
377:
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365:
361:
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355:
350:
341:
339:
335:
330:
327:in the front
326:
322:
319:built by the
318:
315:
311:
310:Bristol T.B.8
308:
304:
303:Caproni Ca 30
301:
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284:
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272:
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228:anti-shipping
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81:
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74:
71: –
70:
66:
65:Find sources:
59:
55:
49:
48:
43:This article
41:
37:
32:
31:
19:
1400:Surveillance
1378:Experimental
1260:Light bomber
1259:
1255:Heavy bomber
1103:
1097:
1088:
1082:
1063:
1057:
1037:
1030:
996:Heavy bomber
936:jet aircraft
929:
902:
871:
867:engine power
864:
858:, bombs and
840:37 mm cannon
831:
828:machine guns
791:
782:
721:
714:Nakajima B5N
703:
695:
688:dive bombers
686:
680:
649:
633:World War II
630:
627:World War II
608:
602:
548:
513:
494:
416:designed by
408:designed by
392:
369:
357:
297:
248:
232:machine guns
217:
206:level flight
199:
173:light bomber
172:
170:
149:World War II
139:
116:
110:January 2013
107:
97:
90:
83:
76:
64:
52:Please help
47:verification
44:
18:Light Bomber
1352:Interdictor
1320:Interceptor
1229:(AEW&C)
950:and combat
838:armed with
800:Vultee V-11
785:Breda Ba.65
605:fast bomber
554:Sukhoi Su-2
545:("Sonia"),
509:Hawker Hart
446:Rumpler C.I
395:World War I
384:Middelkerke
382:forces, at
344:World War I
294:Before 1914
210:World War I
1446:Categories
1371:Non-combat
1347:Multi-role
1280:Pathfinder
1275:Penetrator
1191:Helicopter
1181:Fixed-wing
1022:References
912:A-20 Havoc
854:using its
842:, and the
736:Fokker G.I
654:-equipped
578:Tupolev SB
568:("Lily"),
497:air forces
485:Breguet 19
450:Voisin III
414:Breguet 14
412:, and the
406:Airco DH.4
251:propulsion
214:air forces
80:newspapers
1427:Transport
1325:Emergency
1270:Strategic
1196:Unmanned
848:U.S. Navy
792:Šturmovík
766:Indochina
732:Potez 633
541:("Ann"),
537:"Mary"),
523:monoplane
471:1918–1939
465:Zeppelins
325:bombsight
1305:Intruder
958:See also
804:strafing
645:payloads
607:(German
438:LVG C.II
430:Avro 504
402:biplanes
195:ordnance
187:aircraft
183:aircraft
177:military
1422:Trainer
1417:Testbed
1383:Liaison
1310:Fighter
1287:Carrier
1243:Gunship
1204:Stealth
1176:Balloon
1171:Airship
1154:Modern
860:rockets
852:sorties
812:rockets
683:payload
547:PZL.23
501:biplane
434:DFW C.V
388:Belgium
340:(RFC).
329:cockpit
317:biplane
307:British
300:Italian
289:History
240:rockets
138:PZL.23
94:scholar
1412:Tanker
1330:Escort
1250:Bomber
1233:Attack
1220:Combat
1186:Glider
1110:
1070:
1045:
878:Fw 190
856:cannon
814:; the
798:, and
746:, and
580:, and
552:, and
462:German
452:. The
399:engine
314:engine
281:, and
261:, and
180:bomber
145:Polish
96:
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82:
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67:
1405:Scout
1393:Scout
1335:Night
1213:Roles
1198:(UAV)
1164:Types
916:USAAF
832:Stuka
770:USAAF
762:Korea
696:Stuka
549:Karaś
489:bombs
271:range
244:bombs
212:some
202:bombs
140:Karaś
101:JSTOR
87:books
1299:(EW)
1108:ISBN
1068:ISBN
1043:ISBN
952:UAVs
932:load
905:U.S.
896:and
884:and
818:and
816:A-20
764:and
716:and
698:and
672:crew
641:U.S.
621:load
615:and
596:and
511:and
448:and
370:The
305:and
267:bomb
253:and
238:and
73:news
846:(a
772:'s
517:'s
514:VVS
507:'s
505:RAF
352:An
204:in
193:of
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163:of
56:by
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