ROCKET BOMBS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 287, 2 September 1942, Page 8

ROCKET BOMBS

New Weapon Against Tanks

The Red Air Force has a powerful new air weapon with which it is destroying German tanks —the rocket bomb, says a writer in the “Manchester Guardian.” British Hurricane fighters and Russian Stormovik bombers are using the new bomb with devastating effect. ■ The new Russian invention was recently described as “possibly the most important tactical advance in air weapons;” and it: y/. s added that there can be no doubt that for close support work with troops the Russians have evolved a. very- fine weapon.” The' rocket bomb is slung on a guide 'i-ail under the wing, of a plane: intended for low-attack work. The machine is flown low and aimed at the target in much the manner, of a ground-StraL ing, cannon-fighter. When the sights are on' the target the electrical firing button is pressed and the bomb is projected forward by rocket apparatus in Its tail.' / ■

. The advantages are great hitting power, sufficient to knock out tanks an end which dive-bombing can only achieve by sheer fluke —;and greater accuracy of bomb delivery than either dive-bombing or low-level-attack bombing.