Yokosuka P1Y

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The Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (銀河, "Galaxy") was a twin-engine, land-based bomber developed for the Japanese Imperial Navy in World War II. It was the successor to the Mitsubishi G4M and given the Allied codename "Frances".

The P1Y was designed by the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal to Navy specifications calling for speed matching the Zero, range matching the G4M, a 1-ton bomb load, and the ability to dive-bomb as well as carry torpedoes. As a result, the construction suffered from excess complexity, difficulty of manufacture, and poor serviceability. Problems with the Nakajima Homare engine led to its replacement by the Mitsubishi Kasei.

The first flight was in August 1943. Nakajima manufactured 1,002 examples.

A night-fighter version, the P1Y2-S Kyokko (極光, "Aurora") was equipped with radar and upward-firing, as well as forward-firing, 20 mm cannon. A total of 97 were produced by Kawanishi, but due to inadequate high-altitude performance against B-29s, many were converted back to Ginga bombers.

[edit] Versions

• Prototypes: six examples with NK9C Homare 11 1820 hp engines.

• P1Y1 Ginga (Milky Way) Model 11 Japanese Navy land bomber Model 11: first model of the series.

• P1Y1 Ginga Kai Model 11 Special: modified version capable of transporting one Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka "Baka" (model 22).

• P1Y1-S Byakko (White Light), Japanese Navy Night Fighter: night fighter version armed with four type 99 20 mm cannons firing obliquely forward, and one type 2 13 mm machine gun in the back defensive position.

• P1Y2-S Kyokko (Aurora) Japanese Navy Night Fighter: other night fighter version with new Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25a 1850 hp engines. Armed with two type 99 20 mm cannons firing obliquely forward, and one type 2 13 mm machine gun in the back defensive position.

• P1Y2 Model 16: conversions of previous night fighter version.

• P1Y1a/P1Y12a: similar to P1Y1/P1Y2 with one type 99 20 mm cannon in nose cabin and one type 2 13 mm machine gun in back defensive position.

• P1Y1b/P1Y2b: version armed with dorsal turret with two type 2 13 mm machine guns and one type 99 20 mm cannon in nose cabin.

• P1Y1c/P1Y2c: similar to P1Y1b/P1Y2b but the front nose cabin cannon is replaced with one type 2 13 mm machine gun.

• P1Y3-P1Y6:Different engine and turbocompressors, only projects.

Total production:

1,002 or 1,098 examples.

[edit] Specifications (P1Y1a)

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 15.00 m (49 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 20.00 m (65 ft 7 in)
• Height: 4.30 m (14 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 592 ft² (55 m²)
• Empty weight: 7,265 kg (16,020 lb)
• Loaded weight: 13,500 kg (29,750 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 547 km/h (340 mph)
• Range: 5,370 km (3,337 miles)
• Service ceiling: 9,400 m (30,840 ft)
• Rate of climb: 7,300 shaku/min (2,210 m/min, 7,250 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 50 lb/ft² (245 kg/m²)

Armament

• 1x flexible, nose-mounted 20 mm Type 99 cannon
• 1x flexible rear-firing 13 mm Type 2 machine gun
• up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of bombs or
• 1x torpedo

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Designation sequence

P1Y