GB-8

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GB-8
Type	anti-ship missile / guided bomb
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	never used operationally
Wars	World War II
Specifications
Weight	2555 lb (1150 kg)
Length	11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)
length	12 ft (3.66 m) wingspan
Diameter	24 in (61 cm)

Warhead	amatol explosive
Warhead weight	2000 pounds (907 kg)

Engine	none
Operational range	17 mi (27 km)
Guidance system	television and radio command

GB-8 was a precision guided munition developed by the United States during World War Two. It was one of the precursors of modern anti-ship missiles.

Following German success with the Hs-293 and Fritz-X, the U.S. began developing several similar weapons, such as Felix, Azon, Gargoyle, GB-4, and GB-8.

GB-8 was intended as a clear weather, good visibility weapon to attack heavily-defended targets. It featured a plywood airframe with twin booms and fins with a single elevator. The warhead was a 2000 lb (907 kg) general purpose (GP) bomb.

The bomb was steered by radio command guidance, the operator tracking it by means of red and white flares in the booms. It was intended to be carried externally, under the wing of a B-17 or B-25. Release was at about 175 mph (280 km/h) and between 10,000 and 15,000 ft (3,000–4600 m) altitude, giving a range of 17 mi (27 km), with an average flight time of four minutes.

The Pacific War ended before it entered combat.

[edit] Sources

Fitzsimons, Bernard, editor. "GB-8", in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare. Volume 10, p.1101. London: Phoebus Publishing, 1978.