How would the Second World War change if Tallboy-like bombs were widespread from the outset?
Short answerThe necessary heavy bombers and engines would reshape the war more profoundly than the bombs alone.
NotesThe premise cannot be isolated from the aircraft needed to carry such weapons. Lancaster-, B-17-, B-24-, or B-29-class capability available at the outset would also transform maritime patrol, the mid-Atlantic air gap, city bombing, and long-range operations. For Germany, developing a credible carrier aircraft would demand major engine and bomber programs, with possible knock-on effects for turboprops and jets. The thought experiment therefore changes propulsion and long-range aviation development before it changes the targets selected for Tallboy-like bombs.