GB-8

Infobox Weapon
name= GB-8


caption=
origin= United States
type= anti-ship missile / guided bomb
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=
is_vehicle=
is_missile=yes
is_UK=
service= never used operationally
used_by=
wars= World War II
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
unit_cost=
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight= 2555 lb (1150 kg)
length= 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)
part_length= 12 ft (3.66 m) wingspan
width=
height=
diameter=24 in (61 cm)
crew=
filling= amatol explosive
filling_weight= 2000 pounds (907 kg)
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine= none
engine_power=
transmission=
payload_capacity= 2000 pounds (907 kg)
fuel_capacity=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
clearance=
vehicle_range= 17 mi (27 km)
speed=
guidance= television and radio command

GB-8 was a precision guided munition developed by the United States during World War Two. It was one of the precursors of modern anti-ship missiles.

Following German success with the Hs-293 and Fritz-X, the U.S. began developing several similar weapons, such as Felix, Azon, Gargoyle, GB-4, and GB-8.

GB-8 was intended as a clear weather, good visibility weapon to attack heavily-defended targets. It featured a plywood airframe with twin booms and fins with a single elevator. The warhead was a 2000 lb (907 kg) general purpose (GP) bomb.

The bomb was steered by radio command guidance, the operator tracking it by means of red and white flares in the booms. It was intended to be carried externally, under the wing of a B-17 or B-25. Release was at about 175 mph (280 km/h) and between 10,000 and 15,000 ft (3,000–4600 m) altitude, giving a range of 17 mi (27 km), with an average flight time of four minutes.

The Pacific War ended before it entered combat.

ources

* Fitzsimons, Bernard, editor. "GB-8", in "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare". Volume 10, p.1101. London: Phoebus Publishing, 1978.

ee also

* Fritz X
* Azon
* Razon
* GB-4
* VB-6 Felix
* Bat
* LBD-1 Gargoyle
* List of anti-ship missiles

External links

* [http://www.vectorsite.net/twbomb_04.html Allied & German guided weapons of WW2]
* [http://www.ausairpower.net/WW2-PGMs.html The Dawn of the Smart Bomb]
* [http://www.1jma.dk/articles/1jmaarticleshardware.htm Guided weapons of WW2]
* [http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/gb.html GB series weapons]