Light bomber

Light bomber

Light bomber is a relatively small and fast class of military bomber aircraft which was employed mainly before the 1950s. Such aircraft would probably not carry more than one ton of ordnance.

Light bombers of World War I were single-engine aircraft with a bomb load about 50-400 kg. They could often also serve as reconnaissance aircraft. eg Avro 504

Prior to WWII, engine power was so scarce that there were several types of bombers, light, medium and heavy, all tuned to a particular performance niche. As fighters grew to be able to carry the same sorts of loads at even greater speeds, light bombers were replaced around the 1950s and the term fell from use.

Light bombers of World War II were single-engine or, less commonly, twin-engine aircraft with a bomb load of about 500-1,000 kg. Designs that could be described as light bombers included the Fairey Battle.

Some of them were dive bombers. Light bombers were also the only type of bombers operating from aircraft carriers. Some twin-engine light bomber designs were also successful when converted into heavy fighters or nightfighters. eg Bristol Blenheim.

The light bomber was tasked with missions similar to that of modern attack aircraft and fighter-bombers.

ee also

*medium bomber
*heavy bomber
*tactical bombing
*strategic bombing


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • light bomber — noun : a bomber of relatively light weight (as under 100,000 pounds) that is designed primarily to carry a moderate bombload against tactical targets (as bridges, barracks, convoys, and supply dumps) and is used also for strafing and rocketing… …   Useful english dictionary

  • light bomber — Mil. a small airplane designed to carry light bomb loads relatively short distances, esp. one having a gross loaded weight of less than 100,000 lb. (45,000 kg). Cf. heavy bomber, medium bomber. * * * …   Universalium

  • light bomber — small airplane used for short range bombing missions …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Bomber (disambiguation) — Bomber commonly refers to: * Bomber, a military aircraft that delivers bombs or other explosives: ** Light bomber, Medium bomber, Heavy bomber ** Strategic bomber, Tactical bomber ** Dive bomber, Torpedo bomberBomber may also refer to: * Bomber… …   Wikipedia

  • Bomber — For other uses, see Bomber (disambiguation). The B 17 Flying Fortress is a heavy bomber from World War II. A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by… …   Wikipedia

  • bomber — I (Roget s IV) n. Syn. bombing plane, heavy bomber, medium bomber, light bomber, aerial attack plane, bombardier; see also aviator , pilot 1 , plane 3 . II (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) n. terrorist, revolutionary, demolition expert, bombardier,… …   English dictionary for students

  • Bomber B — was a German project dating to just before the start of World War II to develop a second generation high speed bomber that would replace all medium and heavy bombers then in service with the Luftwaffe. The RLM was so hopeful about the outcome… …   Wikipedia

  • bomber — n. 1) a dive bomber; fighter; heavy; light; long range; medium bomber 2) an enemy bomber * * * [ bɒmə] fighter heavy light long range medium bomber a dive bomber an enemy bomber …   Combinatory dictionary

  • Bomber Brigade — The Bomber Brigade ( pl. Brygada Bombowa) was a Polish World War II unit of the Polish Air Force. It resisted the Invasion of Poland in 1939 as the main aerial reserve of the commander in chief and was used for bombing enemy units in central… …   Wikipedia

  • Bomber destroyer — A bomber destroyer is a former type of fighter aircraft dedicated to destroying enemy bomber aircraft. It is similar in purpose to the interceptor, but differs primarily in formndash while interceptors tend to be small, fast climbing planes,… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”