A medium bomber is a bomber aircraft designed to operate with medium bombloads over medium distances; primarily to distinguish them from the much larger heavy bombers and smaller light bombers. The term was used primarily prior to and during World War II, when engine power was so scarce that designs had to be carefully tailored to their missions. The medium bomber was generally considered to be any design that delivered about 4,000 pounds (1.8 t) over ranges of about 1,500 to 2,000 miles (2,400 to 3,200 km). Heavy bombers were those with a nominal load of 8,000 pounds (3.6 t) or more, and light bombers carried 2,000 pounds (0.91 t) loads. These distinctions were already disappearing by the middle of WWII, when the average fighter aircraft could now carry a 2,000 pounds (0.91 t) load and ever more powerful engines allowed "light" designs to largely take over the missions formerly filled by mediums.
After the war the term disappeared from use almost instantly. Although a number of aircraft were designed in this performance range, they were now almost universally referred to as tactical bombers instead. Famous examples of post-war mediums include the English Electric Canberra (and its US counterpart, the Martin B-57) and Ilyushin Il-28 Beagle.
Examples
- WWII
- De Havilland Mosquito
- Heinkel He 111, considered a heavy by the Luftwaffe
- Junkers Ju 88
- B-25 Mitchell
- B-26 Marauder
- Handley Page Hampden - similar bomb load but much shorter range than the Wellington, nearly as fast as a Bristol Blenheim light bomber.
- Vickers Wellington
- Bristol Beaufort - torpedo bomber, used more often as mine layer.
- Post war
- English Electric Canberra - post war jet bomber
- Ilyushin Il-28 - USSR jet bomber
- Martin B-57 - US development of the Canberra
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