History Bomber

1 history

1.1 first bombers
1.2 strategic bombing
1.3 world war ii
1.4 cold war
1.5 modern era

history

the first use of air-dropped bomb (actually hand grenade) carried out italian lieutenant giulio gavotti during 1911 italo-turkish war in libya, although plane not designed task of bombing, , improvised attack had little impact.

the first bombers

albatros f-2, first aircraft used bomber

in 1912, during first balkan war, bulgarian air force pilot christo toprakchiev suggested use of aircraft drop bombs (called grenades in bulgarian army @ time) on turkish positions. captain simeon petrov developed idea , created several prototypes adapting different types of grenades , increasing payload.

on 16 october 1912, observer prodan tarakchiev dropped 2 of bombs on turkish railway station of karağaç (near besieged edirne) albatros f.2 aircraft piloted radul milkov, first time in campaign. deemed first use of aircraft bomber.

bristol t.b.8, first purpose-built british bomber, 1913

the first heavier-than-air aircraft purposely designed bombing italian caproni ca 30 , british bristol t.b.8, both of 1913. bristol t.b.8 british single engined biplane built bristol aeroplane company. fitted prismatic bombsight in front cockpit , cylindrical bomb carrier in lower forward fuselage capable of carrying twelve 10 lb (4.5 kg) bombs, dropped singly or salvo required.

the aircraft purchased use both royal naval air service , royal flying corps (rfc), , 3 t.b.8s, being displayed in paris during december 1913 fitted bombing equipment, sent france following outbreak of war. under command of charles rumney samson, bombing attack on german gun batteries @ middelkerke, belgium executed on 25 november 1914.

the dirigible, or airship, developed in 20th century. airships prone disaster, airship became more dependable, more rigid structure , stronger skin. prior outbreak of war, zeppelins, larger , more streamlined form of airship designed german count ferdinand von zeppelin, outfitted carry bombs attack targets @ long range. these first long range, strategic bombers. although german air arm strong, total of 123 airships end of war, vulnerable attack , engine failure, navigational issues. german airships inflicted little damage on 51 raids, 557 britons killed , 1,358 injured. german navy lost 53 of 73 airships, , german army lost 26 of 50 ships.

caproni ca.3, italian world war heavy bomber, 1915.

the caproni ca 30 built gianni caproni in italy. twin-boom biplane 3 67 kw (80 hp) gnome rotary engines , first flew in october 1914. test flights revealed power insufficient , engine layout unworkable, , caproni adopted more conventional approach installing 3 81 kw (110 hp) fiat a.10s. improved design bought italian army , delivered in quantity august 1915.

while used trainer, avro 504s briefly used bombers @ start of first world war royal naval air service (rnas) when used raids on german airship sheds.

strategic bombing

the sikorsky ilya muromets, strategic heavy bomber.



british handley page type o, 1918

bombing raids , interdiction operations carried out french , british forces during war german air arm forced concentrate resources on defensive strategy. notably, bombing campaigns formed part of british offensive @ battle of neuve chapelle in 1915, royal flying corps squadrons attacking german railway stations in attempt hinder logistical supply of german army. early, improvised attempts @ bombing characterized part of war gave way more organized , systematic approach strategic , tactical bombing, pioneered various air power strategists of entente, major hugh trenchard; first advocate there should ... sustained [strategic bombing] attacks view interrupting enemy s railway communications ... in conjunction main operations of allied armies.

when war started, bombing crude (hand-held bombs thrown on side) yet end of war long-range bombers equipped complex mechanical bombing computers being built, designed carry large loads destroy enemy industrial targets. important bombers used in world war french breguet 14, british de havilland dh-4, german albatros c.iii , russian sikorsky ilya muromets. russian sikorsky ilya muromets, first four-engine bomber equip dedicated strategic bombing unit during world war i. heavy bomber unrivaled in stages of war, central powers had no comparable aircraft until later.

long range bombing raids carried out @ night multi-engine biplanes such gotha g.iv (whose name synonymous multi-engine german bombers) , later handley page type o; majority of bombing done single-engined biplanes 1 or 2 crew members flying short distances attack enemy lines , immediate hinterland. effectiveness of bomber dependent on weight , accuracy of bomb load, ever larger bombers developed starting in world war i, while considerable money spent developing suitable bombsights.

world war ii










avro lancaster 22,000-pound (10,000 kg) grand slam bomb, 1945.

with engine power major limitation, combined desire accuracy , other operational factors, bomber designs tended tailored specific roles. start of war included:

dive bomber — specially strengthened vertical diving attacks greater accuracy.
light bomber, medium bomber , heavy bomber — subjective definitions based on size.
torpedo bomber — specialized aircraft armed torpedoes.
ground attack aircraft — aircraft used against targets on battlefield such troop or tank concentrations.
night bomber — specially equipped operate @ night when opposing defences limited.
maritime patrol — long range bombers used against enemy shipping, particularly submarines.

bombers not intended attack other aircraft although fitted defensive weapons. world war ii saw beginning of widespread use of high speed bombers dispensed defensive weapons able attain higher speed, such de havilland mosquito, philosophy continued many cold war bombers.

some smaller designs have been used basis night fighters, , number of fighters, such hawker hurricane used ground attack aircraft, replacing earlier conventional light bombers proved unable defend while carrying useful bomb load.

cold war

russian tupolev tu-95 bear american fighter escort

at start of cold war, bombers means of carrying nuclear weapons enemy targets, , had role of deterrence. advent of guided air-to-air missiles, bombers needed avoid interception. high-speed , high-altitude flying became means of evading detection , attack. designs such english electric canberra fly faster or higher contemporary fighters. when surface-to-air missiles became capable of hitting high-flying bombers, bombers flown @ low altitudes evade radar detection , interception.

once stand off nuclear weapon designs developed, bombers did not need pass on target make attack; fire , turn away escape blast. nuclear strike aircraft finished in bare metal or anti-flash white minimize absorption of thermal radiation flash of nuclear explosion. need drop conventional bombs remained in conflicts non-nuclear powers, such vietnam war or malayan emergency.

the development of large strategic bombers stagnated in later part of cold war because of spiraling costs , development of intercontinental ballistic missile (icbm) – felt have similar deterrent value while being impossible intercept. because of this, united states air force xb-70 valkyrie program cancelled in 1960s; later b-1b lancer , b-2 spirit aircraft entered service after protracted political , development problems. high cost meant few built , 1950s-designed b-52s projected remain in use until 2040s. similarly, soviet union used intermediate-range tu-22m backfire in 1970s, mach 3 bomber project stalled. mach 2 tu-160 blackjack built in tiny numbers, leaving 1950s tupolev tu-16 , tu-95 bear heavy bombers continue being used 21st century.

the avro vulcan part of raf v bomber force

the british strategic bombing force largely came end when v bomber force phased out; last of left service in 1983. french mirage iv bomber version retired in 1996, although mirage 2000n , rafale have taken on role. other nation fields strategic bombing forces china, has number of xian h-6s.

modern era

transferring 2,000 pound joint direct attack munition (jdam) lift truck loading onto b-1b lancer supersonic strategic bomber in southwest asia in 2007.

in modern air forces, distinction between bombers, fighter-bombers, , attack aircraft has become blurred. many attack aircraft, ones fighters, optimized drop bombs, little ability engage in aerial combat. indeed, design qualities make effective low-level attack aircraft make distinctly inferior air superiority fighter, , vice versa. conversely, many fighter aircraft, such f-16, used bomb trucks, despite being designed aerial combat. perhaps 1 meaningful distinction @ present question of range: bomber long-range aircraft capable of striking targets deep within enemy territory, whereas fighter bombers , attack aircraft limited theater missions in , around immediate area of battlefield combat. distinction muddied availability of aerial refueling, increases potential radius of combat operations.

at present, u.s. , russia involved in developing replacements legacy bomber fleets, usaf northrop grumman b-21 , russian air force pak da. 1999 usaf report calls bomber fleet remain in service until late 2030s-early 2040s, , b-21 scheduled reach deployment in 2020s. u.s. considering bomber in 2037. b-21, however, required provide answer fifth generation defense systems (such sa-21 growlers, bistatic radar , active electronically scanned array radar). also, has been chosen able stand against rising superpowers , other countries semi-advanced military capability. finally, third reason role of long-term air support areas low threat level (iraq, afghanistan), latter referred close air support global war on terror (cas gwot). b-21 able stay extended periods on same location (called persistence).