LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Light Bomber: Aircraft
built 632 days ago
In the mid-30's the single-engined, fast light bomber enjoyed some popularity. Britain built the Fairey Battle, the USSR the Suchoi Su-2, the U.S.A. the Northrop A-17, and Japan the Ki.15 and Ki.30. All these aircraft looked impressive at the time when most fighters were still biplanes, but were hacked down in large numbers when they encountered modern fighters. The Ki.30 with fixed landing gear was one of the major types in the war with China, but was retired in 1942 after contributing to the attack on the Philippines. Nevertheless, some were used as Kamikaze aircraft in 1945. 704 built.
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Early in the Sino-Japanese War of 1937, China deployed numbers of Russian-built Tupolev SB-2 light bombers, sometimes crewed by Soviets, on hit-and-run attacks against the Japanese invaders. The Japanese were surprised by this aircraft's speed; it was faster than the Ki-10 biplane fighter, and was nearly as fast as the Ki-27 monoplane fighter which was just entering service with the Japanese Army Air Force. Certain air staff officers were so impressed by the SB-2's performance that they obtained the go-ahead to begin development of a similar light bomber for the JAAF. Kawasaki Aircraft Ltd. was issued the specifications in December 1937. These called for a twin-engined light bomber with (a) a top speed of 298 mph at 9,845 feet; (b) a cruising speed at the same altitude of 217 mph; (c) climb to 16,405 feet in 10 minutes; (d) a bombload of 882 pounds; (e) engines to be Nakajima Ha-25 radials; (f) defensive armament of three or four flexible 7.7mm machine guns; and (g) ability to operate under the extreme winter conditions prevailing in Manchuria and North China.
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The Baltimore was a light bomber built to British specifications by the American aircraft company, Martin. It was intended as a replacement for the Martin Maryland and served primarily in support of ground operations throughout the Mediterranean theatre from January 1942; it served in no other theatre. A total of 1,575 Baltimores were produced between June 1941 and May 1944. They were ... employed on maritime patrol and reconnaissance tasks.
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The Museum aircraft was built in 1937 as a light bomber for the RAF. In 1938 it was one of 19 Hinds delivered to the Royal Afghan Air Force. It served with the RAAF into the 1940s and was an instructional airframe in the 1950s. By 1975 it was derelict when it was acquired by the Canada Aviation Museum.
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This light bomber was built to an uninspired requirement for a light bomber similar to the Soviet Tupolev SB. The Ki.48 was a mediocre aircraft that could only operate at night or under total air superiority and carried less bombs than many fighter-bombers. Nevertheless production continued until 1944. 1977 built.
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Developed from the Pintail, the Fawn was a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft designed to fill the gap between the de Havilland D.H.9A and Hawker Horsley/Fairey Fox. First flown in prototype form in March 1923, subsequent production Fawns had poor performance and, unlike their Virginia heavy-bomber contemporary, remained in service with the RAF for only a few years. Production amounted to 75 aircraft, made up of five prototype/pre-production aircraft, 50 350kW Napier Lion II-engined Fawn Mk IIs and 20 Lion V-engined Mk Ills.
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