Area bombardment
Encyclopedia
In military aviation
, area bombardment (or area bombing) is aerial bombardment targeted indiscriminately at a large area, such as a city block or an entire city.
Area bombing is a form of strategic bombing
. It could serve two distinct purposes: terrorizing civilians (see terror bombing), and diverting enemy's industrial and military resources from the primary battlefield to air defense.
The term "area bombing" came into prominence during World War II
, most notably in Britain's Area Bombing Directive
, and it quickly became de facto synonym of aerial bombing of cities
. The public has commonly adopted the term "carpet bombing
" (also "saturation bombing" and "obliteration bombing") for heavy area bombings. At the time area bombing was contrasted with precision bombing
. The latter was directed at a selected target – not necessarily a small, and not necessarily a tactical target, as it could be an airfield or a factory - and it did not intended to inflict a widespread damage (at least by appearance).
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
, area bombardment (or area bombing) is aerial bombardment targeted indiscriminately at a large area, such as a city block or an entire city.
Area bombing is a form of strategic bombing
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
. It could serve two distinct purposes: terrorizing civilians (see terror bombing), and diverting enemy's industrial and military resources from the primary battlefield to air defense.
The term "area bombing" came into prominence during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, most notably in Britain's Area Bombing Directive
Area bombing directive
The Area Bombing Directive was a directive from the wartime British Government's Air Ministry to the Royal Air Force which ordered RAF bombers to attack the German industrial workforce and the morale of the German populace through bombing German cities and their civilian inhabitants.- Background...
, and it quickly became de facto synonym of aerial bombing of cities
Aerial bombing of cities
A species of strategic bombing, the aerial bombing of cities began in 1915 during World War I, grew to a vast scale in World War II, and continues to the present day. The development of aerial bombardment marked an increased capacity of armed forces to deliver explosive weapons in populated areas...
. The public has commonly adopted the term "carpet bombing
Carpet bombing
Carpet bombing is a large aerial bombing done in a progressive manner to inflict damage in every part of a selected area of land. The phrase invokes the image of explosions completely covering an area, in the same way that a carpet covers a floor. Carpet bombing is usually achieved by dropping many...
" (also "saturation bombing" and "obliteration bombing") for heavy area bombings. At the time area bombing was contrasted with precision bombing
Precision bombing
Precision bombing is bombing of a small target with extreme accuracy, to limit side-effect damage. An example would be destroying a single building in a built up area causing minimal damage to the surroundings...
. The latter was directed at a selected target – not necessarily a small, and not necessarily a tactical target, as it could be an airfield or a factory - and it did not intended to inflict a widespread damage (at least by appearance).
See also
- Aerial bombardment and international lawAerial bombardment and international lawAir warfare, must comply with laws and customs of war, including international humanitarian law by protecting the victims of the conflict and refraining from attacks on protected persons....
- Aerial bombing of citiesAerial bombing of citiesA species of strategic bombing, the aerial bombing of cities began in 1915 during World War I, grew to a vast scale in World War II, and continues to the present day. The development of aerial bombardment marked an increased capacity of armed forces to deliver explosive weapons in populated areas...
- Carpet bombingCarpet bombingCarpet bombing is a large aerial bombing done in a progressive manner to inflict damage in every part of a selected area of land. The phrase invokes the image of explosions completely covering an area, in the same way that a carpet covers a floor. Carpet bombing is usually achieved by dropping many...
- Civilian casualties of strategic bombingCivilian casualties of strategic bombing-See also:* Aerial bombardment and international law* Aerial bombing of cities* Civilian casualties* Roerich Pact* Strategic bombing* Terror bombing* The Blitz...
- FirestormFirestormA firestorm is a conflagration which attains such intensity that it creates and sustains its own wind system. It is most commonly a natural phenomenon, created during some of the largest bushfires, forest fires, and wildfires...
- High-level bombing
- Precision-guided munitionPrecision-guided munitionA precision-guided munition is a guided munition intended to precisely hit a specific target, and to minimize damage to things other than the target....
- Strategic bombingStrategic bombingStrategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
- Tactical bombingTactical bombingTactical bombing is the aerial bombing aimed at targets of immediate military value, such as troops, military installations or equipment. This is in contrast to strategic bombing, attacking enemy's cities and factories to debilitate the enemy's capacity to wage war, the enemy's future military...