World War II involved both strategic and tactical air warfare. Strategic air
warfare is the use of bombers to destroy an enemy's industry, cities, and
morale. Tactical air warfare is the use of planes to attack the enemy's troops
on the battlefield, usually in support of one's own troops. The
heavy bomber was used to conduct strategic air raids, most notably by British
and American forces in the war against Germany. The development of long-range
aircraft made bombing raids deep into German-occupied Europe possible, but
daytime missions were dangerous, and night raids proved inaccurate and
ineffective. The development of long-range fighter planes, which could offer
protection to the vulnerable bombers, made it possible to carry out daylight
raids, which were more accurate, without heavy losses. Japan was also attacked
in strategic raids.
The primary weapon of tactical strikes was the fighter-bomber. The
fighter-bomber was a fast, heavily armed and armored plane, sturdy enough to
withstand steep dives, rapid maneuvers, and some of the ground fire that its
low-level attacks would encounter. The normal loadout included bombs, heavy
machine guns, automatic cannon, and air-to-ground rockets. Fighter-bombers were
used to strike enemy armor and defensive positions, destroy supply and
communications centers close to battlefields, and harass enemy troops behind the
lines. They were often called upon by ground troops to attack entrenched enemy
positions, or to lay down a barrage of fire before an attack.
Airborne Assault
The military value of paratroops and glider troops was
proved in World War II. Airborne combat troops could be dropped
behind enemy lines to seize or sabotage key positions and installations. The
Germans were the first to make successful assaults with paratroops and gliders,
during the Battle of Flanders. The Allies launched around 700
gliders, loaded with troops and equipment, and three divisions of paratroops
during the landings at Normandy.
Naval Warfare
Submarines. Just like in World War I, the menace to shipping at sea was the
submarine. Beginning in 1940, German submarines used the "wolf-pack" method of
attack, with large groups of submarines making coordinated assaults on shipping
convoys. American submarines adopted the wolf-pack techniques against Japanese
shipping in the Pacific with great success.
The principal weapon of the submarine, and of some surface vessels, was the
torpedo. One of the most successful torpedoes was the Japanese "Long Lance,"
which was used to sink four cruisers at the Battle of Savo Island (1942). Late
in the war, the Germans introduced homing torpedoes guided by the sound of the
target ship's propellers. Aircraft Carriers; The most significant development in
naval warfare in World War II was the use of aircraft carriers
as the main warships of a fleet. Before the war, aircraft
carriers were normally viewed as support ships, intended to provide air
protection and air reconnaissance for battleships. The Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor showed the carrier's potential as an offensive weapon. In May, 1942, the
Battle of the Coral Sea, fought entirely by carrier-based aircraft, took place.
It was the first naval confrontation in history where the opposing fleets never
came within sight of each other and were never close enough to exchange gunfire.
From that point on, the carrier was the dominant warship in the war in the
Pacific.
Amphibious Tactics. By 1934 the U.S. Marines had developed methods for
landing troops and equipment on strongly defended shores. Key elements of
amphibious assault were the use of landing craft designed to be beached for easy
unloading, close support by naval gunfire and aircraft, and carefully planned
logistical support that allowed a rapid buildup of equipment and troops on the
beachhead. Nearly all the fighting on land in the Pacific was preceded by
amphibious assaults, and the lessons learned were applied to the landings at
Normandy, the largest amphibious assault ever attempted.
Land Warfare
Tanks. Instead of being used to accompany and protect advancing troops or
to break the stalemate of trench warfare, new tanks were designed for
independent offensive action as the spearheads of blitzkrieg attacks. They were
fast, low, heavily armored, and armed with powerful large and small-caliber
guns. The Soviet T-34, considered by some to be the finest tank of the war, had
an 85-mm main gun and two machine guns and could reach speeds of more than 30
miles per hour (48 km/h). The Germans so respected the T-34 that they copied its
design to build their Panther tank.
Artillery. Advances in artillery weapons included the adaptation of artillery
pieces for easy mobility, often by mounting the guns on tracked, self-propelled vehicles.
The recoilless rifle, a lightweight weapon capable of firing a
powerful shell, was introduced. Hand-carried rocket launchers, such as the
American bazooka were used frequently, especially against tanks. Larger rockets,
mounted in arrays and fired simultaneously, were used as anti-aircraft weapons and
to lay down barrages. The German V-2 ballistic missile was used as a long-range
artillery weapon against England, France, and the Netherlands.
Small Arms. In general, the firepower of the individual soldier in World War
II was higher than in previous conflicts. Most American soldiers,
and some troops of other nations, were equipped with semi-automatic weapons.
These weapons only required the trigger to be pulled repeatedly to shoot; no
lever or bolt needed to be worked to reload the gun from its magazine. Many
troops, particularly those of the Soviet Union, were equipped with submachine
guns. Light machine guns were also more widely used than in previous
conflicts.
warfare is the use of bombers to destroy an enemy's industry, cities, and
morale. Tactical air warfare is the use of planes to attack the enemy's troops
on the battlefield, usually in support of one's own troops. The
heavy bomber was used to conduct strategic air raids, most notably by British
and American forces in the war against Germany. The development of long-range
aircraft made bombing raids deep into German-occupied Europe possible, but
daytime missions were dangerous, and night raids proved inaccurate and
ineffective. The development of long-range fighter planes, which could offer
protection to the vulnerable bombers, made it possible to carry out daylight
raids, which were more accurate, without heavy losses. Japan was also attacked
in strategic raids.
The primary weapon of tactical strikes was the fighter-bomber. The
fighter-bomber was a fast, heavily armed and armored plane, sturdy enough to
withstand steep dives, rapid maneuvers, and some of the ground fire that its
low-level attacks would encounter. The normal loadout included bombs, heavy
machine guns, automatic cannon, and air-to-ground rockets. Fighter-bombers were
used to strike enemy armor and defensive positions, destroy supply and
communications centers close to battlefields, and harass enemy troops behind the
lines. They were often called upon by ground troops to attack entrenched enemy
positions, or to lay down a barrage of fire before an attack.
Airborne Assault
The military value of paratroops and glider troops was
proved in World War II. Airborne combat troops could be dropped
behind enemy lines to seize or sabotage key positions and installations. The
Germans were the first to make successful assaults with paratroops and gliders,
during the Battle of Flanders. The Allies launched around 700
gliders, loaded with troops and equipment, and three divisions of paratroops
during the landings at Normandy.
Naval Warfare
Submarines. Just like in World War I, the menace to shipping at sea was the
submarine. Beginning in 1940, German submarines used the "wolf-pack" method of
attack, with large groups of submarines making coordinated assaults on shipping
convoys. American submarines adopted the wolf-pack techniques against Japanese
shipping in the Pacific with great success.
The principal weapon of the submarine, and of some surface vessels, was the
torpedo. One of the most successful torpedoes was the Japanese "Long Lance,"
which was used to sink four cruisers at the Battle of Savo Island (1942). Late
in the war, the Germans introduced homing torpedoes guided by the sound of the
target ship's propellers. Aircraft Carriers; The most significant development in
naval warfare in World War II was the use of aircraft carriers
as the main warships of a fleet. Before the war, aircraft
carriers were normally viewed as support ships, intended to provide air
protection and air reconnaissance for battleships. The Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor showed the carrier's potential as an offensive weapon. In May, 1942, the
Battle of the Coral Sea, fought entirely by carrier-based aircraft, took place.
It was the first naval confrontation in history where the opposing fleets never
came within sight of each other and were never close enough to exchange gunfire.
From that point on, the carrier was the dominant warship in the war in the
Pacific.
Amphibious Tactics. By 1934 the U.S. Marines had developed methods for
landing troops and equipment on strongly defended shores. Key elements of
amphibious assault were the use of landing craft designed to be beached for easy
unloading, close support by naval gunfire and aircraft, and carefully planned
logistical support that allowed a rapid buildup of equipment and troops on the
beachhead. Nearly all the fighting on land in the Pacific was preceded by
amphibious assaults, and the lessons learned were applied to the landings at
Normandy, the largest amphibious assault ever attempted.
Land Warfare
Tanks. Instead of being used to accompany and protect advancing troops or
to break the stalemate of trench warfare, new tanks were designed for
independent offensive action as the spearheads of blitzkrieg attacks. They were
fast, low, heavily armored, and armed with powerful large and small-caliber
guns. The Soviet T-34, considered by some to be the finest tank of the war, had
an 85-mm main gun and two machine guns and could reach speeds of more than 30
miles per hour (48 km/h). The Germans so respected the T-34 that they copied its
design to build their Panther tank.
Artillery. Advances in artillery weapons included the adaptation of artillery
pieces for easy mobility, often by mounting the guns on tracked, self-propelled vehicles.
The recoilless rifle, a lightweight weapon capable of firing a
powerful shell, was introduced. Hand-carried rocket launchers, such as the
American bazooka were used frequently, especially against tanks. Larger rockets,
mounted in arrays and fired simultaneously, were used as anti-aircraft weapons and
to lay down barrages. The German V-2 ballistic missile was used as a long-range
artillery weapon against England, France, and the Netherlands.
Small Arms. In general, the firepower of the individual soldier in World War
II was higher than in previous conflicts. Most American soldiers,
and some troops of other nations, were equipped with semi-automatic weapons.
These weapons only required the trigger to be pulled repeatedly to shoot; no
lever or bolt needed to be worked to reload the gun from its magazine. Many
troops, particularly those of the Soviet Union, were equipped with submachine
guns. Light machine guns were also more widely used than in previous
conflicts.