A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and abrupt release of energy. Explosions cause damage mainly due to mechanical stress transmitted from the ground and atmosphere, impact and penetration of pressure controlled projectiles, pressure damage and effects caused by the explosion. Bombs have been used since the 11th century, starting in East Asia.

The term “bomb” does not usually apply to explosive devices used for civilian purposes, such as construction or mining, although the people who use these devices may sometimes refer to them as “bombs.” The military use of the term “bomb,” or more specifically an aerial bomb action, usually refers to an airdropped, powerless explosive weapon that is most commonly used by the air force and naval aviation. Other military explosive weapons that are not classified as “bombs” include shells, depth charges (used in water), or landmines. In unconventional warfare, other names may refer to a range of offensive weapons. For example, in recent conflicts in the Middle East, homemade bombs called improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been used by insurgent fighters with great efficiency.

In 1221 in East Asia, Jurchen Jin’s army used explosive bombs against the Chinese Song city. Bombs built from bamboo tubes date back to the 11th century. Cast iron shell bombs filled with explosive powder date from the 13th century in China. The term was coined for this bomb (ie “Thunder -crash Bomb”) during the Jin dynasty a naval battle against the Mongols (1115–1234).

The Jin History (compiled in 1345) states that in 1232, when the Mongol general Subutai (1176–1248) descended into the Jin stronghold of Kaifeng, the defenders had a “thunder crash bomb” consisting of gunpowder placed in an iron container .. Then, when the fuse ignited (and the projectile shot off), there was a big explosion, the noise of which was like thunder, heard more than thirty miles, and the vegetation was burned and blown away by the heat over the area for more than half a mou. Even the iron armor was quite pierced on impact. ”

In 1257, The Song Dynasty official Li Zengbo wrote that arsenals should have several hundred thousand iron bombs shells available, and that when he was in Jinzhou, one to two thousand were produced every month to send ten to twenty thousand in time to Xiangyang and Yingzhou. The Ming Dynasty text Huolongjing describes the use of poisonous gunpowder bombs, including “wind and dust” bombs.

During the Mongol invasions of Japan, the Mongols used explosive “thunder-crash bombs” against the Japanese. Archaeological evidence of the existence of “thunder-crash bombs” was found by the Kyushu Okinawa Society for Underwater Archeology off the coast of Japan. X-rays of shells excavated by Japanese scientists confirmed that they contained gunpowder.

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