Inmilitary aviation,area bombardment orarea bombing is a type ofaerial bombardment in which bombs are dropped over the general area of a target.[1] The term "area bombing" came into prominence duringWorld War II.[2] Area bombing is a form ofstrategic bombing.[2] It can serve several intertwined purposes: to disrupt the production of militarymateriel, to disruptlines of communications, to divert the enemy's industrial and military resources from the primary battlefield toair defence and infrastructure repair, and todemoralize the enemy's population (seeterror bombing).[2]
Carpet bombing,[3] also known as "saturation bombing" and "obliteration bombing," refers to a type of area bombing that aims to effect complete destruction of the target area by exploding bombs in every part of it. The term "area bombing” refers toindiscriminate bombing of an area and also encompasses cases of carpet bombing, including obliteration bombing. It was used in that sense especially duringWorld War II and theKorean War. Area bombing is contrasted withprecision bombing. The latter is directed at a selected target – not necessarily a small, and not a necessarily tactical target, as it could be an airfield or a factory – and it does not intend to inflict widespread damage.
