Hamburg

Equipment issues

RAF was limited in size and bomber capacity

Wellingtons were medium bombers but lacked: electronic navigation, defensive armament

542 destroyed and only 106 replaced

Butt report

1 in 5 planes reached target with perfect visibility

Hazy nights - 1 in 15

August 1941

Arthur Harris

Head of bomber command in Feb 1942

Idealised saturated bombing

Focussed on 1000 bomber raids with heavy bombers such as Lancaster

New techniques and technology

Bombers: B24, Halifax, Lancaster

Navigations: 1942- Gee, Pathfinders, 1943- H2S radar

Techniques: 1941 - Cookie bombs, 1942 - 1000 bomber raids and bomber streams, 1943 - Use of window to disrupt enemy radar

Why was Hamburg targetted

U-boat shipyard - Blohn and Voss

Germany’s 2nd largest city

Port City

Close to allied bomber bases, less fuel and fatigue

Operation Gomorrah

1943

Used : Window, Bomber streams, Day and night raids, Delayed bombs

Impacts : 24th - Window disrupted RADAR, 26th July - Blohn and Voss attacked, 27th - Firestorm worsened the damages done to bombing

Outcomes of Gomorrah - Allies

104 Bombers lost

Celebrated success and revenge for Coventry

Kammhuber line failed

Outcomes of Hamburg - Axis

40k killed and 37k injured

900k evacuated

61% houses damaged or destroyed