Charge of the foam-sprayed maniacs

Of all air force missions, torpedo bombing was the most perilous; In 1942, the RAF estimated a crew had only a 3% chance of surviving a 2nd tour. The reason was simple: they flew low and relatively slowly along a predictable path towards often-fiercely defended ships, yet they were also deadly to their enemies. Across the vast oceans of the Second World War, torpedo bombers became instruments of sudden maritime doom, striking battleships and convoys alike from wave-top height. From fragile biplanes to powerful twin-engined attackers, these aircraft shaped naval warfare, deciding campaigns in seconds of impact, courage and precision flying under unimaginable defensive fire. These are ten of the greatest.

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10: Heinkel He 115 ‘Der Seedoppelagent’

Unlike the Junkers Ju 88 and He 111, which were Germany’s most successful torpedo bombers, the He 115 was purpose-designed for the maritime role; it was also distinctive as the only seaplane (an aircraft that can operate directly from water) on our list.

The He 115 was a rather large twin-engined floatplane powered by two BMW radial engines. It first flew in 1937 and garnered a string of world records. Its prototype set eight international seaplane speed-and-payload records in March 1938, carrying loads of up to 2,000 kg over 1,000-km and 2,000-km courses.

The Heinkel He 115 was valued for its long range and dependable handling in rough seas. Its top speed was about 327 km/h (203 mph), which proved adequate early in the war. However, it became increasingly vulnerable to enemy fighters, while its large float-equipped design made concealment and escape difficult.

The Heinkel He 115 served with the German Luftwaffe as a torpedo bomber, minelayer, reconnaissance aircraft, and transport. It operated extensively in Norway and the North Atlantic, attacking Allied shipping and supporting special missions. Some captured aircraft later flew with British forces for covert operations and intelligence missions. Though the He 115 is added at the He 111’s expense, we think it is an interesting aircraft worthy of inclusion.

9: Aichi B7A Ryusei ‘Grace’ ‘Grace under fire’

The B7A was a large, advanced carrier-based torpedo-dive bomber developed for the Imperial Japanese Navy, intended to combine strike roles in a single high-performance aircraft. It was designed specifically to deliver a Type 91 aerial torpedo against enemy shipping while also carrying conventional bombs for dive-bombing attacks. It was meant to be Japan’s next-generation naval strike aircraft; in practice, it arrived too late and in too few numbers to matter.

Chief Engineer Toshio Ozaki’s design centred on a mid-wing configuration with an inverted gull-wing layout, chosen to provide clearance for a large propeller while still allowing a capacious internal bomb bay and the structural considerations required for carrier operations. Powered by the Nakajima Homare 12 radial engine, the Ryusei achieved impressive speed for a carrier bomber—around 352 mph—allowing it to outrun or at least evade many contemporary interceptors after a torpedo or bombing run.

First flown in 1942, the B7A suffered from prolonged engine reliability issues and continual airframe refinement, delaying meaningful production until 1944. By that stage, Japan’s carrier fleet and strategic position had already collapsed. Roughly 80 aircraft were completed at Aichi before a major earthquake destroyed its manufacturing facilities, with a further 25 assembled at alternative sites. Its limited production run severely restricted any chance of operational impact.

In theory, the Ryusei was intended to operate from the fleet carrier Taihō, but she was sunk before ever embarking the type. The last viable carrier, Shinano, was also lost shortly after commissioning, leaving the B7A to operate from land bases. As a result, its intended role as a carrier strike torpedo bomber, delivering coordinated attacks against enemy shipping formations, was never fully realised. Despite its promise and performance on paper, the “Grace” ultimately remained a weapon of unrealised potential in the closing stages of the war.

8: Nakajima B6N Tenzan ‘Jill’ ‘Me Tenzan, you Jill’

The Nakajima B6N Jill was Japan’s main late-war carrier torpedo bomber. It replaced the B5N Kate and was built for attacks against well-defended fleets. Impressively, it was almost one-third faster than the B5N. Its role was to deliver torpedoes at sea against enemy task forces under heavy fighter cover.

The Nakajima B6N Tenzan used the Nakajima NK7A Mamoru engine, which produced nearly double the horsepower of the engine in its predecessor, the Nakajima B5N Kate. The B5N’s Sakae engine produced about 1,000 hp, while the Mamoru generated around 1,850 hp on paper. This gave the B6N higher speed and better performance, though engine unreliability often reduced its real-world advantage.

B6N formations took part in the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf battles. They launched torpedo attacks against United States carrier groups and escort vessels. They achieved limited confirmed sinkings but did record torpedo hits on escort carriers and destroyers. As losses mounted, some surviving crews were later reassigned to kamikaze missions as well as reckless attacks with near-suicidal odds.

It had high wing loading and a high landing speed, which restricted it to Japan’s larger fleet carriers such as the Taiho class. It could not safely operate from smaller decks. Its combat record shows fewer successes than earlier types, but it remained Japan’s most capable dedicated torpedo bomber in sustained fleet action

7: Bristol Beaufort & Beaufighter ‘The Filton Felons’

Rommel later acknowledged that