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Subject: Nakajima B5N
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakajima_B5N
The Nakajima B5N (Japanese: ?? B5N, Allied reporting name "Kate") was the
standard carrier torpedo bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) for much of
World War II.
Although the B5N was substantially faster and more capable than its Allied
counterparts, the TBD Devastator, Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Albacore, it was
nearing obsolescence by 1941. Nevertheless, the B5N operated throughout the
whole war, due to the delayed development of its successor, the B6N. In the
early part of the Pacific War, flown by well-trained IJN aircrews and as part of
well-coordinated attacks, the B5N achieved particular successes at the battles
of Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Midway, and Santa Cruz Islands.
Primarily a carrier-based aircraft, it was also occasionally used as a
land-based bomber. The B5N carried a crew of three: pilot,
navigator/bombardier/observer, and radio operator/gunner.
The B5N was designed by a team led by Katsuji Nakamura in response to a 1935
specification by the Navy for a torpedo bomber to replace the Yokosuka B4Y.
Internally designated Type K by Nakajima, it successfully competed with the
Mitsubishi B5M for a production contract. The first prototype flew in January
1937 and was ordered into production soon afterwards with the full designation
Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber (kyu-nana-shiki kanjo kogeki-ki or kanko for
short.
Role
Torpedo and dive bomber
National origin
Japan
Manufacturer
Nakajima Aircraft Company
First flight
1937
Retired
1945
Status
Retired
Primary user
Imperial Japanese Navy
Number built
1,149
The B5N soon saw combat, first in the Sino-Japanese War, where combat experience
revealed several weaknesses in the original B5N1 production model. These were
mainly concerned with the lack of protection that the design offered its crew
and its fuel tanks. Keen to maintain the high performance of the type, the Navy
was reluctant to add weight in the form of armor, and instead looked to
obtaining a faster version of the aircraft in the hopes of outrunning enemy
fighters. The B5N2 was given a much more powerful engine - Nakajima's own Sakae
Model 11, 14-cylinder twin-row radial, as used in the initial models of the
Although its performance was only marginally better, and its weaknesses remained
un-remedied, this version replaced the B5N1 in production and service from 1939.
It was this version that would be used by the Navy in the Attack on Pearl
Harbor. The B5N2 Kate carried Mitsuo Fuchida, the commander of the attack on
Pearl Harbor, with one from the carrier Hiryu credited with sinking the
battleship Arizona. Five torpedo bombers were shot down in the first wave. Apart
from this raid, the greatest successes of the B5N2 were the key roles it played
in sinking the United States Navy aircraft carriers Lexington and Hornet, and
the disabling of the Yorktown, which led to its sinking by the Japanese
submarine I-168.
Specifications (Nakajima B5N2)
General characteristics
Crew: 3 (1 pilot, 1 commander and 1 backgunner/radio operator)
Wingspan: 15.52 m (50 ft 11 in)
Height: 3.70 m (12 ft 1? in)
Empty weight: 2,279 kg (5,024 lb)
Loaded weight: 3,800 kg (8,380 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 4,100 kg (9,040 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 378 km/h (204 kn, 235 mph)
Range: 1,992 km (1,075 NM, 1,237 mi)
Service ceiling: 8,260 m (27,100 ft)
Rate of climb: 6.5 m/s (1,283 ft/min)
Power/mass: 0.20 kW/kg (0.12 hp/lb)
Armament
by hand loaded drum magazines of 97 rounds. A number of B5N1s were equipped with
*
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