ASM-N-2 BAT guided bombs under wings of PB4Y-2
The ASM-N-2 Bat, also known as the SWOD-9, was an anti-shipping glide bomb developed near the end of World War II. It was designed to be carried by the PB4Y-2B Privateer, a variant of the B-24 Liberator modified to accommodate the new weapon. The Bat was a significant advancement in naval warfare, representing one of the first instances of an automatic homing weapon used in combat.
Explanation of the Bat’s purpose:
- Targeting Ships: The Bat was specifically designed to target enemy ships. The bomb was carried under the wings of the PB4Y-2B and released over the ocean.
- Radar Guidance: Once released, operators inside the Privateer used radar to guide the Bat toward its target. This allowed for more accurate attacks, especially at night or in bad weather.
- Internal Radar Lock: As the Bat approached the target, its own internal radar would lock onto the ship, guiding the bomb the rest of the way. This autonomous homing capability made the Bat more likely to hit its target, even if the Privateer lost contact.
- Sinking Vessels: The Bat’s 1000-lb (454-kg) bomb was powerful enough to sink or severely damage enemy warships. In one instance, a Bat bomb launched from a PB4Y-2B of VPB-109 destroyed a Japanese destroyer by blowing off its bow.