Fire Effects of Bombing Attacks: The Firebombing and Destruction of Hamburg and Dresden in World War II by Incendiary Attack, Fire Storms, Effectiveness of Barriers, Japanese Fire Bombing

Nonfiction, History, Military, World War II
Cover of the book Fire Effects of Bombing Attacks: The Firebombing and Destruction of Hamburg and Dresden in World War II by Incendiary Attack, Fire Storms, Effectiveness of Barriers, Japanese Fire Bombing by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781301442027
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: February 6, 2013
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781301442027
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: February 6, 2013
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

The great fire attacks on the cities of Germany and Japan were scientifically planned with emphasis placed on the susceptibility of the target and the type and quantity of munitions necessary to produce maximum damage. The lessons learned from these attacks and later from the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki should provide valuable guidance to planners in designing measures to minimize the effects of fire damage to American cities in any future war.

Complete appraisal of the fire damage in German cities may never be made. The best figures for total damage due to high-explosive and incendiary bombs were compiled from aerial surveys made by the British Air Ministry. Although admittedly incomplete, records of the principal attacks on most cities were included. Of the 49 cities studied, 39 percent of the individual dwelling units (2,164,800 out of a total of 5,554,500) were seriously damaged.

Both high-explosive and incendiary bombs were used in the great attacks on German targets by the U. S. Army Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The high-explosive bombs varied in size from 100 to 2,000 pounds (with heavier bombs for special targets). The incendiary bombs varied from 4 to 100 pounds (with some 500-pound bombs used on industrial installations) and were of two general types, namely: (1) Those in which the container was combustible and served as incendiary material, and (2) those in which the case was merely a container capable of placing the incendiary filling at the desired place in the target.

In the principal city attacks the total load of bombs dropped consisted of an approximately equal weight of high explosives and incendiaries. High-explosive bombs deterred firefighting, disrupted communications, broke water-main networks, created road blocks, opened up buildings, broke windows, and displaced roofing. In some places they caused fires, but this was a secondary and relatively minor factor. The incendiaries started most of the fires.

Bomb loads of 1,000 to 2,000 tons were dispatched over German cities in one night. A total of over 7,000 tons was dropped on Hamburg, and an even heavier bomb load was dropped on Dresden in the closing days of the war. In contrast, the heaviest single attack on an English city was 457 tons of incendiary and high-explosive bombs dropped on London on the night of April 16-17, 1941. These figures show that the German attacks on England were relatively light despite the great damage they caused.

Contents: Section I * Fire Warfare in World War II * Fire Warfare on German Cities * The Pattern of German Cities * Characteristics of Fire Storms * Fire Spread * Fire Defense Operations * Casualties * Fire Warfare on Japanese Cities * The Pattern of Japanese Cities * Characteristics of Conflagrations * Fire Spread * Firebreaks * Fire Defense Operations * Casualties * Fire from the Atomic Bomb Attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan * The Pattern of the Cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki * Fires Caused by the Atomic Bomb * Fire Defense Operations * Casualties * Section II * Principal Factors Involved in the Fire Susceptibility of American Cities * Factors Having the Greatest Influence on Fire Initiation and Fire Spread * 1. Building Density * 2. Combustibility of Structures * 3. Firebreaks * 4. Size of Target Area * Contributing Factors to Fire Initiation and Fire Spread * 1. Continuity of Combustible Construction * 2. Occupancy Combustibility * 3. Size of Buildings * 4. Topography * Weather Factors * 1. Humidity * 2. Rain and Snow * 3. Wind * Conclusions * Bibliography

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The great fire attacks on the cities of Germany and Japan were scientifically planned with emphasis placed on the susceptibility of the target and the type and quantity of munitions necessary to produce maximum damage. The lessons learned from these attacks and later from the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki should provide valuable guidance to planners in designing measures to minimize the effects of fire damage to American cities in any future war.

Complete appraisal of the fire damage in German cities may never be made. The best figures for total damage due to high-explosive and incendiary bombs were compiled from aerial surveys made by the British Air Ministry. Although admittedly incomplete, records of the principal attacks on most cities were included. Of the 49 cities studied, 39 percent of the individual dwelling units (2,164,800 out of a total of 5,554,500) were seriously damaged.

Both high-explosive and incendiary bombs were used in the great attacks on German targets by the U. S. Army Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The high-explosive bombs varied in size from 100 to 2,000 pounds (with heavier bombs for special targets). The incendiary bombs varied from 4 to 100 pounds (with some 500-pound bombs used on industrial installations) and were of two general types, namely: (1) Those in which the container was combustible and served as incendiary material, and (2) those in which the case was merely a container capable of placing the incendiary filling at the desired place in the target.

In the principal city attacks the total load of bombs dropped consisted of an approximately equal weight of high explosives and incendiaries. High-explosive bombs deterred firefighting, disrupted communications, broke water-main networks, created road blocks, opened up buildings, broke windows, and displaced roofing. In some places they caused fires, but this was a secondary and relatively minor factor. The incendiaries started most of the fires.

Bomb loads of 1,000 to 2,000 tons were dispatched over German cities in one night. A total of over 7,000 tons was dropped on Hamburg, and an even heavier bomb load was dropped on Dresden in the closing days of the war. In contrast, the heaviest single attack on an English city was 457 tons of incendiary and high-explosive bombs dropped on London on the night of April 16-17, 1941. These figures show that the German attacks on England were relatively light despite the great damage they caused.

Contents: Section I * Fire Warfare in World War II * Fire Warfare on German Cities * The Pattern of German Cities * Characteristics of Fire Storms * Fire Spread * Fire Defense Operations * Casualties * Fire Warfare on Japanese Cities * The Pattern of Japanese Cities * Characteristics of Conflagrations * Fire Spread * Firebreaks * Fire Defense Operations * Casualties * Fire from the Atomic Bomb Attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan * The Pattern of the Cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki * Fires Caused by the Atomic Bomb * Fire Defense Operations * Casualties * Section II * Principal Factors Involved in the Fire Susceptibility of American Cities * Factors Having the Greatest Influence on Fire Initiation and Fire Spread * 1. Building Density * 2. Combustibility of Structures * 3. Firebreaks * 4. Size of Target Area * Contributing Factors to Fire Initiation and Fire Spread * 1. Continuity of Combustible Construction * 2. Occupancy Combustibility * 3. Size of Buildings * 4. Topography * Weather Factors * 1. Humidity * 2. Rain and Snow * 3. Wind * Conclusions * Bibliography

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book 2012 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Research, Development and Demonstration Roadmap of the Next Generation Air Transportation System - Domestic UAV and Drone Operations by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Decisionmaking in Operation Iraqi Freedom: Removing Saddam Hussein by Force - The Surge, General Casey, General Raymond Odierno, General David Petraeus, Ambassador Khalilzad by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Russia, the United States, and the Caucasus; The Security Concerns of the Baltic States as NATO Allies: Estonia, Latvia, Dagestan, Armenia, Chechen, Nagorno Karabakh, U.S. - Russian Reset by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Fusion Center Challenges: Why Fusion Centers Have Failed to Meet Intelligence Sharing Expectations - Case Studies of National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book National Defense Intelligence College Paper: The Blue Planet - Informal International Police Networks and National Intelligence - Transnational Crime, Terrorism and Policing, Al Qaeda by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century FEMA Study Course: Improving Preparedness and Resilience through Public-Private Partnerships (IS-662) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Eisenhower: Comparative Analysis of the Military Leadership Styles of George C. Marshall and Eisenhower, Can Judgment Be Developed: A Case Study of Three Proven Leaders (Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Military and Veterans Suicide: Air Force Guide for Managing Suicidal Behavior, A Clinical Guide with Strategies, Resources and Tools, and the 2012 VA Suicide Data Report by Progressive Management
Cover of the book U.S. Fire Administration Technical Report Series Special Report: Rail Emergencies, Amtrak Sunset Limited Domestic Terrorism, Amtrak Derailment, Eleven Case Studies by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Human Space Flight Industrial Base in the Post-Space Shuttle/Constellation Environment: Industry Viability, NASA-Dependent HSF Suppliers, Sustainable HSF Supply Chain by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Hearts and Minds: The Political and Military Effectiveness of the Rhode Island Militia in the American Revolution - War of Independence, Revolutionary War, Indian Threats, Colonial Wars, Gaspee by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Third War: Irregular Warfare on the Western Border 1861-1865 - Civil War, Confederate Guerrillas, Abolitionists, Bushwhackers, Cherokee, Jayhawkers, Highwaymen, Indian Territory-Arkansas by Progressive Management
Cover of the book In Service to the Nation: Air Force Research Institute Strategic Concept for 2018-2023 - U.S. Air Force Strategy Past, Present, and Future, Base Closures, Natural Disaster Threats to Air Force Bases by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century FEMA Study Course: Introduction to Residential Coastal Construction (IS-386) - Beach Nourishment and Replenishment, Flood and Wind, Codes and Siting, Wildfires, Tsunami and Hurricane by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Pocket Guide to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point: USMA Programs, Admissions, Cadet Life, History by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy