The most prominent and popular missile the US developed in the Second World War was the Bazooka rocket-powered grenade that was built in 1940. Giving the soldier an effective defense against a tank, they were used by many during the war. It shot a 3.5 lb 21 inch long missile from a 7 inch long tube. The bazooka could destroy a tank from 200 meters away and any stationary object from up to 750 meters away. A positive aspect about the bazooka was that the missile gained its speed after launch, limiting the recoil.
The US also worked on some missile guided bombs. One bomb, the GB-1(Guided Bomb) was a 2,000 pound bomb that had wings and was controlled by a radio guidance system. The VB-1(Vertical Bomb), named Azon, was also guided by radio but had tail fins that were moveable in order to adjust angle and the path of flight controlled by an airborne bombardier.
After the VB-1 came a series of VB bombs. The VB-3, named Razon, had a variable range while the VB-6 was able to home in its target through a thermal guidance system. Tarzon, the VB-13 was the most elegant of the VB series rockets. The missile weighed 20,000 lbs with a 54 inch diameter lift shroud. Measuring in at 20 feet long, it was used to attack battleships that were heavily shielded.
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