Tactical bombing

Tactical bombing is a type of aerial bombing that targets important battle sites. These targets can be soldiers, military installations, or military equipment. This is different from strategic bombing, which attacks places like enemy cities and factories.

Tactical bombing has two main jobs. First, it helps soldiers on the ground by attacking enemies nearby. This is called close air support and works like having extra artillery in the sky. The second job is called air interdiction. This means attacking important enemy targets far from where soldiers are fighting.

History

Tactical bombing was the first type of aerial bombing. It began during the Italo-Turkish War when pilots dropped small bombs from their planes onto enemy troops. One early example was at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in 1915, when the Royal Flying Corps bombed German rail lines. By World War II, special aircraft were built for this job, including different kinds of fighter-bombers. During the Korean War, older piston-powered fighters like the Vought F4U Corsair were sometimes used. In the Vietnam War, missions were often guided by Forward air controllers (FACs) in small propeller-driven planes. These controllers would mark targets with smoke, usually working with infantry on the ground. Then, nearby bombers would drop their bombs on the target.

Today, precision-guided munitions, often called "smart bombs," can hit targets very accurately. Now, fighter-bombers and strike aircraft are more common for tactical bombing than special bomber planes.