Birth of Strategic Bombing: Britain's Heavy Bombers That Changed Warfare Forever The Handley Page O/400, introduced in 1918, was Britain's answer to long-range strategic threats. Reaching a top speed of 97 mph, this twin-engine giant could carry a massive 2,000-pound bomb load deep into enemy territory. Alongside the later Vickers Vimy, which hit 103 mph, these "bloody parallel" bombers pioneered independent air operations. By shifting focus from tactical support to industrial and urban targets,