Torpedo bomber - Revision history

Onel5969: Disambiguating links to Okinawa (link changed to Okinawa Prefecture) using DisamAssist.

2024-08-30T08:48:17Z

Disambiguating links to Okinawa (link changed to Okinawa Prefecture) using DisamAssist.

← Previous revision		Revision as of 08:48, 30 August 2024
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	[[File:Explosion of the Japanese battleship Yamato, 7 April 1945 (NH 62584).jpg\|thumb\|Explosion of the [[Japanese battleship Yamato\|battleship ''Yamato'']] after being attacked by [[US Navy]] aircraft.]]		[[File:Explosion of the Japanese battleship Yamato, 7 April 1945 (NH 62584).jpg\|thumb\|Explosion of the [[Japanese battleship Yamato\|battleship ''Yamato'']] after being attacked by [[US Navy]] aircraft.]]

	Action continued in the Pacific, where the last notable torpedo bomber attack took place on 7 April 1945. Avengers from ''Yorktown'' were searching between [[Okinawa]] and [[Honshu]] for the Japanese battleship [[Japanese battleship Yamato\|''Yamato'']], which was escorted by cruisers and destroyers. Her mission was to run aground on Okinawa to provide floating heavy artillery for the defending troops in the expected Allied seaborne invasion. Her 18.1 inch guns could have created havoc among frail landing craft. ''Yamato'' and her sister the [[Japanese battleship Musashi\|''Musashi'']] were the largest, most powerful battleships in the world. The squadron led by Lieutenant Tom Stetson found the cruiser, which was the prime target, already sinking, so six planes were detached to attack the ''Yamato'' instead. One in which Frederick E. Wicklund was the tail gunner and radar/radio operator became detached from the formation whilst climbing in heavy cloud cover. The pilot, Lieutenant Grady Jean, asked each crewman in turn if they wished to make a solo attack, which was likely to prove suicidal. The crew referred the decision to the skipper, who deftly dodged anti-aircraft fire and 18-inch shell splashes from the ''Yamato''{{'}}s big guns to release their torpedo. Wicklund had recalled from a briefing that the ''Yamato'' had [[torpedo blister]]s to a depth of {{convert\|22\|ft\|abbr=on}}, so he crawled back in the fuselage to reset the torpedo's running depth from the {{convert\|10\|ft\|abbr=on}} preset for the cruiser to {{convert\|23\|ft\|abbr=on}}. He later explained that he heard no command to do this and doubted whether the other five planes had done so. In their case, their torpedoes would have exploded harmlessly against the blisters. A crewman photographed the explosion, in which debris rose to their altitude of {{Convert\|300\|ft\|m}}. Possibly a torpedo had hit the fuel storage. The ''Yamato'' rolled over and sank, with the loss of 90 percent of the crew. The ''Yorktown'' lost ten planes and twelve aircrew. All pilots involved in the attack were awarded the [[Navy Medal]] and every crewman the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)\|Distinguished Flying Cross]].<ref>"The Real Story of the ''Yamato'' Sinking". March 6, 2008 edition of ''Grosse Pointe News'', Grosse Pointe, Detroit, Michigan</ref>		Action continued in the Pacific, where the last notable torpedo bomber attack took place on 7 April 1945. Avengers from ''Yorktown'' were searching between [[Okinawa Prefecture\|Okinawa]] and [[Honshu]] for the Japanese battleship [[Japanese battleship Yamato\|''Yamato'']], which was escorted by cruisers and destroyers. Her mission was to run aground on Okinawa to provide floating heavy artillery for the defending troops in the expected Allied seaborne invasion. Her 18.1 inch guns could have created havoc among frail landing craft. ''Yamato'' and her sister the [[Japanese battleship Musashi\|''Musashi'']] were the largest, most powerful battleships in the world. The squadron led by Lieutenant Tom Stetson found the cruiser, which was the prime target, already sinking, so six planes were detached to attack the ''Yamato'' instead. One in which Frederick E. Wicklund was the tail gunner and radar/radio operator became detached from the formation whilst climbing in heavy cloud cover. The pilot, Lieutenant Grady Jean, asked each crewman in turn if they wished to make a solo attack, which was likely to prove suicidal. The crew referred the decision to the skipper, who deftly dodged anti-aircraft fire and 18-inch shell splashes from the ''Yamato''{{'}}s big guns to release their torpedo. Wicklund had recalled from a briefing that the ''Yamato'' had [[torpedo blister]]s to a depth of {{convert\|22\|ft\|abbr=on}}, so he crawled back in the fuselage to reset the torpedo's running depth from the {{convert\|10\|ft\|abbr=on}} preset for the cruiser to {{convert\|23\|ft\|abbr=on}}. He later explained that he heard no command to do this and doubted whether the other five planes had done so. In their case, their torpedoes would have exploded harmlessly against the blisters. A crewman photographed the explosion, in which debris rose to their altitude of {{Convert\|300\|ft\|m}}. Possibly a torpedo had hit the fuel storage. The ''Yamato'' rolled over and sank, with the loss of 90 percent of the crew. The ''Yorktown'' lost ten planes and twelve aircrew. All pilots involved in the attack were awarded the [[Navy Medal]] and every crewman the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)\|Distinguished Flying Cross]].<ref>"The Real Story of the ''Yamato'' Sinking". March 6, 2008 edition of ''Grosse Pointe News'', Grosse Pointe, Detroit, Michigan</ref>

	=== Replacement and obsolescence ===		=== Replacement and obsolescence ===

Keith-264: /* Notable torpedo bomber pilots */

2024-08-21T09:09:28Z

Notable torpedo bomber pilots

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	==Notable torpedo bomber pilots==		==Notable torpedo bomber pilots==
			{{div col}}
	* [[Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia]]		* [[Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia]]
	* [[George H. W. Bush]]		* [[George H. W. Bush]]
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	* [[Ulvert M. Moore]]		* [[Ulvert M. Moore]]
	* [[John C. Waldron]]		* [[John C. Waldron]]
			{{div col end}}

	==See also==		==See also==

BillHPike: /* Tactics */Caps not needed

2024-03-17T16:19:39Z

Tactics: Caps not needed

← Previous revision		Revision as of 16:19, 17 March 2024
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	In the 1930s, the Imperial Japanese Navy developed the best way for torpedo bombers to achieve a hit. They used an "anvil attack", in which two groups of torpedo planes approached the target ship's bow from behind at an angle of about 45 degrees,{{clarify\|date=April 2015\|reason=45 degrees to the bow or to each other?}} one on each side of the ship. The torpedoes were to be launched at the same distance from the ship; this would have ensured a hit no matter where the ship tried to maneuver. In practice, this kind of attack was difficult to coordinate and therefore extremely rare. Usually, combat air patrols and anti-aircraft fire quickly broke up approaching plane formations, forcing each aircraft to attack on its own. At Pearl Harbor, the ships were lined up and basically stationary, so the first attack wave of 40 torpedo bombers armed with [[Type 91 torpedo]]es, out of 183 planes, were able to hit the ships broadside, as the defenders were caught by surprise.		In the 1930s, the Imperial Japanese Navy developed the best way for torpedo bombers to achieve a hit. They used an "anvil attack", in which two groups of torpedo planes approached the target ship's bow from behind at an angle of about 45 degrees,{{clarify\|date=April 2015\|reason=45 degrees to the bow or to each other?}} one on each side of the ship. The torpedoes were to be launched at the same distance from the ship; this would have ensured a hit no matter where the ship tried to maneuver. In practice, this kind of attack was difficult to coordinate and therefore extremely rare. Usually, combat air patrols and anti-aircraft fire quickly broke up approaching plane formations, forcing each aircraft to attack on its own. At Pearl Harbor, the ships were lined up and basically stationary, so the first attack wave of 40 torpedo bombers armed with [[Type 91 torpedo]]es, out of 183 planes, were able to hit the ships broadside, as the defenders were caught by surprise.

	Torpedo bombers were best used as part of a coordinated attack with other types of aircraft. For instance, during the attack on the [[Japanese battleship Yamato\|battleship ''Yamato'']], fighter planes strafed the ship with [[machine gun]]s to suppress its anti-aircraft gun fire, while [[dive bomber]]s tried to cause havoc and inflict topside damage, thus leaving the torpedo bombers unmolested in their attack runs, In total she took 12 torpedoes and 8 bombs to destroy the ~~Pride~~ of the imperial Japanese Navy.		Torpedo bombers were best used as part of a coordinated attack with other types of aircraft. For instance, during the attack on the [[Japanese battleship Yamato\|battleship ''Yamato'']], fighter planes strafed the ship with [[machine gun]]s to suppress its anti-aircraft gun fire, while [[dive bomber]]s tried to cause havoc and inflict topside damage, thus leaving the torpedo bombers unmolested in their attack runs, In total she took 12 torpedoes and 8 bombs to destroy the pride of the imperial Japanese Navy.

	Another instance, during the attack on [[Japanese battleship Musashi\|battleship ''Musashi'']], fighter planes strafed the ship with [[machine guns]] to suppress its anti-aircraft gun fire, while [[dive bomber]]s caused major topside damage, She holds the distinction of taking 19 torpedoes and 17 bombs before she sank to the bottom of the Sibuyan Sea.		Another instance, during the attack on [[Japanese battleship Musashi\|battleship ''Musashi'']], fighter planes strafed the ship with [[machine guns]] to suppress its anti-aircraft gun fire, while [[dive bomber]]s caused major topside damage, She holds the distinction of taking 19 torpedoes and 17 bombs before she sank to the bottom of the Sibuyan Sea.

Joconnor: Clarified timeline.

2024-01-23T20:57:38Z

Clarified timeline.

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	During the war, Japanese torpedo bombers (mainly the [[Nakajima B5N]]) played a key role in the fatal crippling of the carriers [[USS Lexington (CV-2)\|USS ''Lexington'']] (scuttled as a result of an internal explosion), [[USS Yorktown (CV-5)\|USS ''Yorktown'']] (sunk by a Japanese submarine while being towed), and [[USS Hornet (CV-8)\|USS ''Hornet'']] (abandoned and finished off by US and Japanese surface ships).		During the war, Japanese torpedo bombers (mainly the [[Nakajima B5N]]) played a key role in the fatal crippling of the carriers [[USS Lexington (CV-2)\|USS ''Lexington'']] (scuttled as a result of an internal explosion), [[USS Yorktown (CV-5)\|USS ''Yorktown'']] (sunk by a Japanese submarine while being towed), and [[USS Hornet (CV-8)\|USS ''Hornet'']] (abandoned and finished off by US and Japanese surface ships).

	Three days ~~later~~, Admiral Sir [[Tom Phillips (Royal Navy officer)\|Tom Phillips]] was returning to [[British Singapore\|Singapore]] on board the new battleship {{HMS\|Prince of Wales\|53\|6}} after an unsuccessful attempt to impede Japanese landings in [[British Malaya\|Malaya]]. His fleet included the First World War [[battlecruiser]] {{HMS\|Repulse\|1916\|6}} and should also have had the new aircraft carrier {{HMS\|Indomitable\|92\|6}} with a squadron of [[Sea Hurricane]]s. But the carrier was delayed for repairs after running aground in the harbour at [[Kingston, Jamaica]]. Eight [[Mitsubishi G3M]] ''Nell'' twin-engine level bombers and 17 Nell torpedo bombers found the two capital ships without air cover in broad daylight. They scored just a single bomb hit on ''Repulse'' and a single torpedo hit on ''Prince of Wales''. The torpedo struck where the outer port propeller shaft exited the hull and ''Prince of Wales'' took on {{convert\|2400\|t\|abbr=on}} of water through a ruptured stern gland. The battleship listed 12 degrees to port preventing the starboard side 5.25 inch anti-aircraft guns from depressing low enough to deter more torpedo bombers. A second squadron, this time of [[Mitsubishi G4M]] ''Betty'' torpedo bombers, now attacked both ships. ''Repulse'' had dodged 19 torpedoes by skillful steering, but now G4Ms attacked the bow from both sides and scored another hit. At about this point, ''Repulse'' radioed for defensive fighters. A squadron of 10 [[Royal Australian Air Force]] [[Brewster Buffalo]]s arrived an hour later to watch ''Prince of Wales'' sink. ''Repulse'' had already sunk. Each ship had been hit by four torpedoes out of 49 fired. The Japanese lost four aircraft. Neither G3Ms nor G4Ms carried defensive armament, which had been stripped to extend their range. The presence of modern Allied fighters to defend the two capital ships might have led to a different outcome.<ref>Stephen, Martin: Sea battles in close-up Shepperton, England. Ian Allan 1988</ref>		Three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Sir [[Tom Phillips (Royal Navy officer)\|Tom Phillips]] was returning to [[British Singapore\|Singapore]] on board the new battleship {{HMS\|Prince of Wales\|53\|6}} after an unsuccessful attempt to impede Japanese landings in [[British Malaya\|Malaya]]. His fleet included the First World War [[battlecruiser]] {{HMS\|Repulse\|1916\|6}} and should also have had the new aircraft carrier {{HMS\|Indomitable\|92\|6}} with a squadron of [[Sea Hurricane]]s. But the carrier was delayed for repairs after running aground in the harbour at [[Kingston, Jamaica]]. Eight [[Mitsubishi G3M]] ''Nell'' twin-engine level bombers and 17 Nell torpedo bombers found the two capital ships without air cover in broad daylight. They scored just a single bomb hit on ''Repulse'' and a single torpedo hit on ''Prince of Wales''. The torpedo struck where the outer port propeller shaft exited the hull and ''Prince of Wales'' took on {{convert\|2400\|t\|abbr=on}} of water through a ruptured stern gland. The battleship listed 12 degrees to port preventing the starboard side 5.25 inch anti-aircraft guns from depressing low enough to deter more torpedo bombers. A second squadron, this time of [[Mitsubishi G4M]] ''Betty'' torpedo bombers, now attacked both ships. ''Repulse'' had dodged 19 torpedoes by skillful steering, but now G4Ms attacked the bow from both sides and scored another hit. At about this point, ''Repulse'' radioed for defensive fighters. A squadron of 10 [[Royal Australian Air Force]] [[Brewster Buffalo]]s arrived an hour later to watch ''Prince of Wales'' sink. ''Repulse'' had already sunk. Each ship had been hit by four torpedoes out of 49 fired. The Japanese lost four aircraft. Neither G3Ms nor G4Ms carried defensive armament, which had been stripped to extend their range. The presence of modern Allied fighters to defend the two capital ships might have led to a different outcome.<ref>Stephen, Martin: Sea battles in close-up Shepperton, England. Ian Allan 1988</ref>

	[[File:Sea Battle off Malaya, Japanese painting, 1942 (SC 301094).jpg\|thumb\|An artist rendition of the [[Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse\|sinking of HMS ''Prince of Wales'' and HMS ''Repulse'']] ]]		[[File:Sea Battle off Malaya, Japanese painting, 1942 (SC 301094).jpg\|thumb\|An artist rendition of the [[Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse\|sinking of HMS ''Prince of Wales'' and HMS ''Repulse'']] ]]

USS Alter Ego I at 03:21, 21 November 2023

2023-11-21T03:21:32Z

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	[[File:Fairey_Swordfish_Torpedo_Bomber_at_Shoreham_1_(9843129164).jpg\|thumb\|A [[Fairey Swordfish]] carrying a dummy torpedo]]		[[File:Fairey_Swordfish_Torpedo_Bomber_at_Shoreham_1_(9843129164).jpg\|thumb\|A [[Fairey Swordfish]] carrying a dummy torpedo]]

	A '''torpedo bomber''' is a [[military aircraft]] designed primarily to attack ships with [[aerial torpedo]]es. Torpedo bombers came into existence just before the [[World War I\|First World War]] almost as soon as aircraft were built that were capable of carrying the weight of a torpedo, and remained an important aircraft type until they were rendered obsolete by [[anti-ship missile]]s. They were an important element in many famous [[World War II\|Second World War]] battles, notably the [[United Kingdom\|British]] [[Battle of Taranto\|attack at Taranto]], the sinking of the German battleship [[German battleship Bismarck\|''Bismarck'']], the sinking of the British battleship [[~~British~~ ~~battleship~~\|''HMS Prince Of Wales'']] and the British battlecruiser [[~~British~~ ~~battlecruiser~~\|''HMS Repulse'']] and the [[Japan]]ese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].		A '''torpedo bomber''' is a [[military aircraft]] designed primarily to attack ships with [[aerial torpedo]]es. Torpedo bombers came into existence just before the [[World War I\|First World War]] almost as soon as aircraft were built that were capable of carrying the weight of a torpedo, and remained an important aircraft type until they were rendered obsolete by [[anti-ship missile]]s. They were an important element in many famous [[World War II\|Second World War]] battles, notably the [[United Kingdom\|British]] [[Battle of Taranto\|attack at Taranto]], the sinking of the German battleship [[German battleship Bismarck\|''Bismarck'']], the sinking of the British battleship ''[[HMS Prince of Wales (53)\|HMS Prince Of Wales]]'' and the British battlecruiser ''[[HMS Repulse (1916)\|HMS Repulse]]'' and the [[Japan]]ese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].

	==Types==		==Types==

USS Alter Ego I at 03:19, 21 November 2023

2023-11-21T03:19:25Z

← Previous revision		Revision as of 03:19, 21 November 2023
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	====Multi-role attack/strike aircraft====		====Multi-role attack/strike aircraft====
	[[File:B7A-Ryusei torpedo.jpg\|thumb\|A Japanese [[B7A Ryusei]] (~~Shooting Star~~) torpedo dive bomber.]]By the beginning of the Second World War, aircraft technology had increased to the extent that specialised torpedo bombers were no longer necessary.		[[File:B7A-Ryusei torpedo.jpg\|thumb\|A Japanese [[B7A Ryusei]] (Comet) torpedo dive bomber.]]By the beginning of the Second World War, aircraft technology had increased to the extent that specialised torpedo bombers were no longer necessary.

	Multi-role designs were often adapted from either: single-engined, carrier-based dive-bombers like the [[Aichi B7A\|Aichi B7A ''Ryusei'']], [[Curtiss SB2C Helldiver]] and [[Fairey Barracuda]], or; land-based twin-engined [[light bombers]]/[[attack aircraft]], such as the [[Bristol Beaufighter]], [[Douglas A-20\|Douglas A-20C]] (Boston IIIA), [[Junkers Ju 88]], and [[Tupolev Tu-2]].		Multi-role designs were often adapted from either: single-engined, carrier-based dive-bombers like the [[Aichi B7A\|Aichi B7A ''Ryusei'']], [[Curtiss SB2C Helldiver]] and [[Fairey Barracuda]], or; land-based twin-engined [[light bombers]]/[[attack aircraft]], such as the [[Bristol Beaufighter]], [[Douglas A-20\|Douglas A-20C]] (Boston IIIA), [[Junkers Ju 88]], and [[Tupolev Tu-2]].

HeyElliott: MOS:CQ

2023-11-19T20:57:29Z

MOS:CQ

← Previous revision		Revision as of 20:57, 19 November 2023
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	==History==		==History==
	Many naval staffs began to appreciate the possibility of using aircraft to launch torpedoes against moored ships in the period before the First World War. Captain [[Alessandro Guidoni]], an Italian naval captain, experimented with dropping weights from a [[Farman MF.7]] in 1912.<ref>Chant, Chris. The world`s great bombers. Barnes and Noble, New York. 1990. {{ISBN\|978-0-7607-2012-7}}</ref> which led to [[Raúl Pateras Pescara]] and Guidoni developing a purpose-built torpedo bomber from which a 375 lb dummy torpedo was dropped in February 1914 but they abandoned their work shortly afterwards when the aircraft's performance proved inadequate. Admiral [[Bradley A. Fiske]] of the [[United States Navy]] took out a patent in 1912 for a torpedo carrying aircraft entitled "Method of and apparatus for delivering submarine torpedoes from [[airship]]s." He suggested that aircraft would attack at night.<ref>US patent 1032394.</ref> [[Winston Churchill]], as [[First Lord of the Admiralty]] from October 1911 to May 1915, was a strong proponent of naval air power. He established the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] in April 1912 and took flying lessons to foster aviation development. Churchill ordered the RNAS to design reconnaissance spotters and torpedo bombers for the Fleet.<ref>Roskill. Steven Wentworth: Documents relating to the Royal Naval Air Service 1908-18, Navy Records Society, London, 1969.</ref>		Many naval staffs began to appreciate the possibility of using aircraft to launch torpedoes against moored ships in the period before the First World War. Captain [[Alessandro Guidoni]], an Italian naval captain, experimented with dropping weights from a [[Farman MF.7]] in 1912.<ref>Chant, Chris. The world's great bombers. Barnes and Noble, New York. 1990. {{ISBN\|978-0-7607-2012-7}}</ref> which led to [[Raúl Pateras Pescara]] and Guidoni developing a purpose-built torpedo bomber from which a 375 lb dummy torpedo was dropped in February 1914 but they abandoned their work shortly afterwards when the aircraft's performance proved inadequate. Admiral [[Bradley A. Fiske]] of the [[United States Navy]] took out a patent in 1912 for a torpedo carrying aircraft entitled "Method of and apparatus for delivering submarine torpedoes from [[airship]]s." He suggested that aircraft would attack at night.<ref>US patent 1032394.</ref> [[Winston Churchill]], as [[First Lord of the Admiralty]] from October 1911 to May 1915, was a strong proponent of naval air power. He established the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] in April 1912 and took flying lessons to foster aviation development. Churchill ordered the RNAS to design reconnaissance spotters and torpedo bombers for the Fleet.<ref>Roskill. Steven Wentworth: Documents relating to the Royal Naval Air Service 1908-18, Navy Records Society, London, 1969.</ref>

	=== First torpedo bombers ===		=== First torpedo bombers ===

2A02:C7C:AA58:7B00:15D0:F1A8:6FD1:30E8 at 23:40, 23 October 2023

2023-10-23T23:40:26Z

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	[[File:Fairey_Swordfish_Torpedo_Bomber_at_Shoreham_1_(9843129164).jpg\|thumb\|A [[Fairey Swordfish]] carrying a dummy torpedo]]		[[File:Fairey_Swordfish_Torpedo_Bomber_at_Shoreham_1_(9843129164).jpg\|thumb\|A [[Fairey Swordfish]] carrying a dummy torpedo]]

	A '''torpedo bomber''' is a [[military aircraft]] designed primarily to attack ships with [[aerial torpedo]]es. Torpedo bombers came into existence just before the [[World War I\|First World War]] almost as soon as aircraft were built that were capable of carrying the weight of a torpedo, and remained an important aircraft type until they were rendered obsolete by [[anti-ship missile]]s. They were an important element in many famous [[World War II\|Second World War]] battles, notably the [[United Kingdom\|British]] [[Battle of Taranto\|attack at Taranto]], the sinking of the German battleship [[German battleship Bismarck\|''Bismarck'']], the sinking of the British battleship [[British battleship\| ''HMS Prince Of Wales'']] and the British battlecruiser [[British battlecruiser\| ''HMS Repulse'']] and the [[Japan]]ese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].		A '''torpedo bomber''' is a [[military aircraft]] designed primarily to attack ships with [[aerial torpedo]]es. Torpedo bombers came into existence just before the [[World War I\|First World War]] almost as soon as aircraft were built that were capable of carrying the weight of a torpedo, and remained an important aircraft type until they were rendered obsolete by [[anti-ship missile]]s. They were an important element in many famous [[World War II\|Second World War]] battles, notably the [[United Kingdom\|British]] [[Battle of Taranto\|attack at Taranto]], the sinking of the German battleship [[German battleship Bismarck\|''Bismarck'']], the sinking of the British battleship [[British battleship\|''HMS Prince Of Wales'']] and the British battlecruiser [[British battlecruiser\|''HMS Repulse'']] and the [[Japan]]ese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].

	==Types==		==Types==

2A02:C7C:AA58:7B00:15D0:F1A8:6FD1:30E8 at 23:39, 23 October 2023

2023-10-23T23:39:38Z

← Previous revision		Revision as of 23:39, 23 October 2023
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	[[File:Fairey_Swordfish_Torpedo_Bomber_at_Shoreham_1_(9843129164).jpg\|thumb\|A [[Fairey Swordfish]] carrying a dummy torpedo]]		[[File:Fairey_Swordfish_Torpedo_Bomber_at_Shoreham_1_(9843129164).jpg\|thumb\|A [[Fairey Swordfish]] carrying a dummy torpedo]]

	A '''torpedo bomber''' is a [[military aircraft]] designed primarily to attack ships with [[aerial torpedo]]es. Torpedo bombers came into existence just before the [[World War I\|First World War]] almost as soon as aircraft were built that were capable of carrying the weight of a torpedo, and remained an important aircraft type until they were rendered obsolete by [[anti-ship missile]]s. They were an important element in many famous [[World War II\|Second World War]] battles, notably the [[United Kingdom\|British]] [[Battle of Taranto\|attack at Taranto]], the sinking of the German battleship [[German battleship Bismarck\|''Bismarck'']], the sinking of the [[British battleship [[British battleship\|''HMS Prince Of Wales'']] and the British battlecruiser [[British battlecruiser\| ''HMS Repulse'']] and the [[Japan]]ese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].		A '''torpedo bomber''' is a [[military aircraft]] designed primarily to attack ships with [[aerial torpedo]]es. Torpedo bombers came into existence just before the [[World War I\|First World War]] almost as soon as aircraft were built that were capable of carrying the weight of a torpedo, and remained an important aircraft type until they were rendered obsolete by [[anti-ship missile]]s. They were an important element in many famous [[World War II\|Second World War]] battles, notably the [[United Kingdom\|British]] [[Battle of Taranto\|attack at Taranto]], the sinking of the German battleship [[German battleship Bismarck\|''Bismarck'']], the sinking of the British battleship [[British battleship\| ''HMS Prince Of Wales'']] and the British battlecruiser [[British battlecruiser\| ''HMS Repulse'']] and the [[Japan]]ese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].

	==Types==		==Types==

2A02:C7C:AA58:7B00:15D0:F1A8:6FD1:30E8 at 23:37, 23 October 2023

2023-10-23T23:37:54Z

← Previous revision		Revision as of 23:37, 23 October 2023
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	[[File:Fairey_Swordfish_Torpedo_Bomber_at_Shoreham_1_(9843129164).jpg\|thumb\|A [[Fairey Swordfish]] carrying a dummy torpedo]]		[[File:Fairey_Swordfish_Torpedo_Bomber_at_Shoreham_1_(9843129164).jpg\|thumb\|A [[Fairey Swordfish]] carrying a dummy torpedo]]

	A '''torpedo bomber''' is a [[military aircraft]] designed primarily to attack ships with [[aerial torpedo]]es. Torpedo bombers came into existence just before the [[World War I\|First World War]] almost as soon as aircraft were built that were capable of carrying the weight of a torpedo, and remained an important aircraft type until they were rendered obsolete by [[anti-ship missile]]s. They were an important element in many famous [[World War II\|Second World War]] battles, notably the [[United Kingdom\|British]] [[Battle of Taranto\|attack at Taranto]], the sinking of the German battleship [[German battleship Bismarck\|''Bismarck'']], the sinking of the [[British battleship ''HMS Prince Of Wales\|'']] and the British battlecruiser [[British battlecruiser ''HMS Repulse\|'']] and the [[Japan]]ese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].		A '''torpedo bomber''' is a [[military aircraft]] designed primarily to attack ships with [[aerial torpedo]]es. Torpedo bombers came into existence just before the [[World War I\|First World War]] almost as soon as aircraft were built that were capable of carrying the weight of a torpedo, and remained an important aircraft type until they were rendered obsolete by [[anti-ship missile]]s. They were an important element in many famous [[World War II\|Second World War]] battles, notably the [[United Kingdom\|British]] [[Battle of Taranto\|attack at Taranto]], the sinking of the German battleship [[German battleship Bismarck\|''Bismarck'']], the sinking of the [[British battleship [[British battleship\|''HMS Prince Of Wales'']] and the British battlecruiser [[British battlecruiser\| ''HMS Repulse'']] and the [[Japan]]ese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].

	==Types==		==Types==

← Previous revision		Revision as of 16:19, 17 March 2024
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	In the 1930s, the Imperial Japanese Navy developed the best way for torpedo bombers to achieve a hit. They used an "anvil attack", in which two groups of torpedo planes approached the target ship's bow from behind at an angle of about 45 degrees,{{clarify\|date=April 2015\|reason=45 degrees to the bow or to each other?}} one on each side of the ship. The torpedoes were to be launched at the same distance from the ship; this would have ensured a hit no matter where the ship tried to maneuver. In practice, this kind of attack was difficult to coordinate and therefore extremely rare. Usually, combat air patrols and anti-aircraft fire quickly broke up approaching plane formations, forcing each aircraft to attack on its own. At Pearl Harbor, the ships were lined up and basically stationary, so the first attack wave of 40 torpedo bombers armed with [[Type 91 torpedo]]es, out of 183 planes, were able to hit the ships broadside, as the defenders were caught by surprise.		In the 1930s, the Imperial Japanese Navy developed the best way for torpedo bombers to achieve a hit. They used an "anvil attack", in which two groups of torpedo planes approached the target ship's bow from behind at an angle of about 45 degrees,{{clarify\|date=April 2015\|reason=45 degrees to the bow or to each other?}} one on each side of the ship. The torpedoes were to be launched at the same distance from the ship; this would have ensured a hit no matter where the ship tried to maneuver. In practice, this kind of attack was difficult to coordinate and therefore extremely rare. Usually, combat air patrols and anti-aircraft fire quickly broke up approaching plane formations, forcing each aircraft to attack on its own. At Pearl Harbor, the ships were lined up and basically stationary, so the first attack wave of 40 torpedo bombers armed with [[Type 91 torpedo]]es, out of 183 planes, were able to hit the ships broadside, as the defenders were caught by surprise.

	Torpedo bombers were best used as part of a coordinated attack with other types of aircraft. For instance, during the attack on the [[Japanese battleship Yamato\|battleship ''Yamato'']], fighter planes strafed the ship with [[machine gun]]s to suppress its anti-aircraft gun fire, while [[dive bomber]]s tried to cause havoc and inflict topside damage, thus leaving the torpedo bombers unmolested in their attack runs, In total she took 12 torpedoes and 8 bombs to destroy the ~~Pride~~ of the imperial Japanese Navy.		Torpedo bombers were best used as part of a coordinated attack with other types of aircraft. For instance, during the attack on the [[Japanese battleship Yamato\|battleship ''Yamato'']], fighter planes strafed the ship with [[machine gun]]s to suppress its anti-aircraft gun fire, while [[dive bomber]]s tried to cause havoc and inflict topside damage, thus leaving the torpedo bombers unmolested in their attack runs, In total she took 12 torpedoes and 8 bombs to destroy the pride of the imperial Japanese Navy.

	Another instance, during the attack on [[Japanese battleship Musashi\|battleship ''Musashi'']], fighter planes strafed the ship with [[machine guns]] to suppress its anti-aircraft gun fire, while [[dive bomber]]s caused major topside damage, She holds the distinction of taking 19 torpedoes and 17 bombs before she sank to the bottom of the Sibuyan Sea.		Another instance, during the attack on [[Japanese battleship Musashi\|battleship ''Musashi'']], fighter planes strafed the ship with [[machine guns]] to suppress its anti-aircraft gun fire, while [[dive bomber]]s caused major topside damage, She holds the distinction of taking 19 torpedoes and 17 bombs before she sank to the bottom of the Sibuyan Sea.

← Previous revision		Revision as of 20:57, 23 January 2024
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	During the war, Japanese torpedo bombers (mainly the [[Nakajima B5N]]) played a key role in the fatal crippling of the carriers [[USS Lexington (CV-2)\|USS ''Lexington'']] (scuttled as a result of an internal explosion), [[USS Yorktown (CV-5)\|USS ''Yorktown'']] (sunk by a Japanese submarine while being towed), and [[USS Hornet (CV-8)\|USS ''Hornet'']] (abandoned and finished off by US and Japanese surface ships).		During the war, Japanese torpedo bombers (mainly the [[Nakajima B5N]]) played a key role in the fatal crippling of the carriers [[USS Lexington (CV-2)\|USS ''Lexington'']] (scuttled as a result of an internal explosion), [[USS Yorktown (CV-5)\|USS ''Yorktown'']] (sunk by a Japanese submarine while being towed), and [[USS Hornet (CV-8)\|USS ''Hornet'']] (abandoned and finished off by US and Japanese surface ships).

	Three days ~~later~~, Admiral Sir [[Tom Phillips (Royal Navy officer)\|Tom Phillips]] was returning to [[British Singapore\|Singapore]] on board the new battleship {{HMS\|Prince of Wales\|53\|6}} after an unsuccessful attempt to impede Japanese landings in [[British Malaya\|Malaya]]. His fleet included the First World War [[battlecruiser]] {{HMS\|Repulse\|1916\|6}} and should also have had the new aircraft carrier {{HMS\|Indomitable\|92\|6}} with a squadron of [[Sea Hurricane]]s. But the carrier was delayed for repairs after running aground in the harbour at [[Kingston, Jamaica]]. Eight [[Mitsubishi G3M]] ''Nell'' twin-engine level bombers and 17 Nell torpedo bombers found the two capital ships without air cover in broad daylight. They scored just a single bomb hit on ''Repulse'' and a single torpedo hit on ''Prince of Wales''. The torpedo struck where the outer port propeller shaft exited the hull and ''Prince of Wales'' took on {{convert\|2400\|t\|abbr=on}} of water through a ruptured stern gland. The battleship listed 12 degrees to port preventing the starboard side 5.25 inch anti-aircraft guns from depressing low enough to deter more torpedo bombers. A second squadron, this time of [[Mitsubishi G4M]] ''Betty'' torpedo bombers, now attacked both ships. ''Repulse'' had dodged 19 torpedoes by skillful steering, but now G4Ms attacked the bow from both sides and scored another hit. At about this point, ''Repulse'' radioed for defensive fighters. A squadron of 10 [[Royal Australian Air Force]] [[Brewster Buffalo]]s arrived an hour later to watch ''Prince of Wales'' sink. ''Repulse'' had already sunk. Each ship had been hit by four torpedoes out of 49 fired. The Japanese lost four aircraft. Neither G3Ms nor G4Ms carried defensive armament, which had been stripped to extend their range. The presence of modern Allied fighters to defend the two capital ships might have led to a different outcome.<ref>Stephen, Martin: Sea battles in close-up Shepperton, England. Ian Allan 1988</ref>		Three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Sir [[Tom Phillips (Royal Navy officer)\|Tom Phillips]] was returning to [[British Singapore\|Singapore]] on board the new battleship {{HMS\|Prince of Wales\|53\|6}} after an unsuccessful attempt to impede Japanese landings in [[British Malaya\|Malaya]]. His fleet included the First World War [[battlecruiser]] {{HMS\|Repulse\|1916\|6}} and should also have had the new aircraft carrier {{HMS\|Indomitable\|92\|6}} with a squadron of [[Sea Hurricane]]s. But the carrier was delayed for repairs after running aground in the harbour at [[Kingston, Jamaica]]. Eight [[Mitsubishi G3M]] ''Nell'' twin-engine level bombers and 17 Nell torpedo bombers found the two capital ships without air cover in broad daylight. They scored just a single bomb hit on ''Repulse'' and a single torpedo hit on ''Prince of Wales''. The torpedo struck where the outer port propeller shaft exited the hull and ''Prince of Wales'' took on {{convert\|2400\|t\|abbr=on}} of water through a ruptured stern gland. The battleship listed 12 degrees to port preventing the starboard side 5.25 inch anti-aircraft guns from depressing low enough to deter more torpedo bombers. A second squadron, this time of [[Mitsubishi G4M]] ''Betty'' torpedo bombers, now attacked both ships. ''Repulse'' had dodged 19 torpedoes by skillful steering, but now G4Ms attacked the bow from both sides and scored another hit. At about this point, ''Repulse'' radioed for defensive fighters. A squadron of 10 [[Royal Australian Air Force]] [[Brewster Buffalo]]s arrived an hour later to watch ''Prince of Wales'' sink. ''Repulse'' had already sunk. Each ship had been hit by four torpedoes out of 49 fired. The Japanese lost four aircraft. Neither G3Ms nor G4Ms carried defensive armament, which had been stripped to extend their range. The presence of modern Allied fighters to defend the two capital ships might have led to a different outcome.<ref>Stephen, Martin: Sea battles in close-up Shepperton, England. Ian Allan 1988</ref>

	[[File:Sea Battle off Malaya, Japanese painting, 1942 (SC 301094).jpg\|thumb\|An artist rendition of the [[Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse\|sinking of HMS ''Prince of Wales'' and HMS ''Repulse'']] ]]		[[File:Sea Battle off Malaya, Japanese painting, 1942 (SC 301094).jpg\|thumb\|An artist rendition of the [[Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse\|sinking of HMS ''Prince of Wales'' and HMS ''Repulse'']] ]]