Light bomber

Polish PZL.23 Karaś, the main light bomber in the Invasion of Poland.

The B-66 Destroyer, a 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.

See also

• Medium bomber
• Heavy bomber
• Tactical bombing
• Strategic bombing