Strafing
Encyclopedia
Strafing is the practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft using aircraft-mounted automatic weapons. This means, that although ground attack using automatic weapons fire is very often accompanied with bombing or rocket
fire, the term "strafing" does not specifically include the last two.
Less commonly, the term can be used—by extension—to describe high-speed firing runs by any land or naval craft (e.g. fast boats) using smaller-caliber weapons and targeting stationary or slow-moving targets.
strafen, to punish, specifically from the World War I
humorous adaptation of the German catchphrase "Gott strafe England
".
. The trenches and supply columns were routinely attacked from the air. Strafing with machine gun
s was used when precision was needed (facing small targets), but non-strafing attack methods (primarily small bombs) were preferred for larger targets, area targets, or when low-altitude flying was too risky.
For example, American ace Eddie Rickenbacker
attacked a German artillery column at the Battle of St. Mihiel. More importantly, the war saw the advent of entire class of German ground-attack aircraft specifically designed for the task of strafing.
This essentially continued through the World War II
. In 1960s, when precision-guided weapons became popular, strafing temporarily fell out of favor as unnecessarily risky—some American fighter aircraft
or attack aircraft of that time had by design neither cannon nor machine gun. Most known examples are F-4 Phantom and A-6 Intruder
. Vietnam war
experiences proved this was a dead-end—at that time, military had to employ improvised "gunship
s" in strafing missions.
Planes built specifically for strafing include the German World War I Junkers J.I
, the World War II Soviet Ilyushin Il-2
and the modern American A-10 Thunderbolt.
Rocket (weapon)
A rocket is a self propelled, unguided weapon system powered by a rocket motor.- Categorisation :In military parlance, powered munitions are broadly categorised as follows:* A powered, unguided munition is known as a rocket....
fire, the term "strafing" does not specifically include the last two.
Less commonly, the term can be used—by extension—to describe high-speed firing runs by any land or naval craft (e.g. fast boats) using smaller-caliber weapons and targeting stationary or slow-moving targets.
Etymology
The word is an adaptation of GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
strafen, to punish, specifically from the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
humorous adaptation of the German catchphrase "Gott strafe England
Gott strafe England
"Gott strafe England" was a slogan, during World War I, used by the German Army. The phrase means "May God punish England". It was created by the German-Jewish poet Ernst Lissauer , who also wrote the poem Hassgesang gegen England "Gott strafe England" was a slogan, during World War I, used by the...
".
History
Although the earliest use of military aircraft was for observation and directing of artillery, strafing was frequently practiced in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The trenches and supply columns were routinely attacked from the air. Strafing with machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
s was used when precision was needed (facing small targets), but non-strafing attack methods (primarily small bombs) were preferred for larger targets, area targets, or when low-altitude flying was too risky.
For example, American ace Eddie Rickenbacker
Eddie Rickenbacker
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.-Early...
attacked a German artillery column at the Battle of St. Mihiel. More importantly, the war saw the advent of entire class of German ground-attack aircraft specifically designed for the task of strafing.
This essentially continued through the 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...
. In 1960s, when precision-guided weapons became popular, strafing temporarily fell out of favor as unnecessarily risky—some American fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
or attack aircraft of that time had by design neither cannon nor machine gun. Most known examples are F-4 Phantom and A-6 Intruder
A-6 Intruder
The Grumman A-6 Intruder was an American, twin jet-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built by Grumman Aerospace. In service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps between 1963 and 1997, the Intruder was designed as an all-weather medium attack aircraft to replace the piston-engined A-1 Skyraider...
. Vietnam war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
experiences proved this was a dead-end—at that time, military had to employ improvised "gunship
Gunship
The term "gunship" is used in several contexts, all sharing the general idea of a light craft armed with heavy guns.-In Navy:In the Navy, the term originally appeared in the mid-19th century as a less-common synonym for gunboat.-In military aviation:...
s" in strafing missions.
Planes built specifically for strafing include the German World War I Junkers J.I
Junkers J.I
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Flight 18 March 1920* Grey, C. G. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1919. London: Putnam, 1919.* Grosz, P.M. Junkers J.I, Windsock Datafile 39. Hertfordshire, UK: Albatros Productions Ltd., 1993. ISBN 0-948414-49-9.* Taylor, Michael J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia...
, the World War II Soviet Ilyushin Il-2
Ilyushin Il-2
The Ilyushin Il-2 was a ground-attack aircraft in the Second World War, produced by the Soviet Union in very large numbers...
and the modern American A-10 Thunderbolt.
External links
- AROUND THE WORLD; Manila Acknowledges Strafing Japanese Ship, January 19, 1982, The New york Times.
- Major Andrew Duncan DFC, SAAF no. 103023V, Biplane fighter aces : The Commonwealth 16 May 1920 – 31 May 1942, surfcity.kund.dalnet.se
- Slaughterhouse Five,\, November 18, 2009, lettersofnote.com