Aichi D1A

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Aichi D1A
Type Dive bomber
Manufacturer Aichi Kokuki KK
Maiden flight 1930s
Retired 1942
Primary user IJN Air Service
Number built Total - 590
D1A1 - 162
D1A2 - 428[1]

The Aichi D1A (code named 'Susie'[2]) was an early dive bomber produced by Aichi for the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Contents

[edit] Design and development

The Susie came out of the Imperial Japanese Navy's need for an advanced carrier-based dive bomber, and in late 1934 the IJN ordered the finalisation of the Aichi AB-9 design which was produced as the early model D1A1.[1] However, the D1A1 was not designed by Aichi Tokei Denki Kabushiki Kaisha aircraft company, but was actually designed by Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke at the request of the Aichi company.[3] The initial version designed by Heinkel was the He 50, a similar model equipped with floats instead of landing gear.[3] The subsequent model, the He 66 was provided to Aichi who immediately began production of it as the D1A1.[3]

[edit] Operational history

The D1A was primarily used in the Second Sino-Japanese War and up to the time Japan entered World War II in 1941, but few were actually used in combat. All of the remaining D1A1s were decommissioned and most of the D1A2s were retired from the front lines and served primarily as training units. The exception was 68 of the D1A2 model that operated as a second-line support until being retired in 1942.[1]

[edit] Variants

D1A1
Powered by 580 Hp (432.5 kW) Nakajima Kotobuki 2 Kai 1 or Kotobuki 3 radial engines, 162 built [1].
D1A2
Improved version fitted with spatted wheels and a higher powered engine, 428 built [1].

[edit] Operators

Flag of Japan Japan

[edit] Specifications

[edit] Construction

The design of the D1A was based on the He 66 and was designed as a biplane constructed of metal, with a fabric covering, a fixed landing gear and a conventional type tail landing skid.[3] Original models had 365 kW engines and it was not until later models that more powerful 433 kW engines were included in the construction. [3]

Data from [1][4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2: pilot and gunner
  • Length: 9.3 m (30 ft 6.125 in)
  • Wingspan: 11.4 m (37 ft 4.75 in)
  • Height: 3.41 m (11 ft 2.25 in)
  • Wing area: 34.7 m² (374 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 1,516 kg (3,342 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 2,610 kg (5,754 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,610 kg (5,754 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1× Nakajima Hikari piston engine, 730 hp (545 kW)

Performance

Armament

  • Guns:
  • Bombs:
    • 1× 250 kg (550 lb) bomb
    • 2× 30 kg (66 lb) bombs

[edit] See also

Related lists

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Chant, 17
  2. ^ Allied Code Names for.... Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
  3. ^ a b c d e Aichi D1A - Susie - Dive Bomber. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
  4. ^ JPN Aichi D1A Suzie.
  • Chant, Chris (1999). Aircraft of World War II - 300 of the World's Greatest aircraft 1939-45. Amber Books Lts. ISBN 978-0-7607-1261-0. 

[edit] External links

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