Yokosuka B3Y

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Yokosuka B3Y
Type Torpedo Bomber
Manufacturer Yokosuka
Introduced 1933
Primary user Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Number built 129

The Yokosuka B3Y, or Navy Type 92 Carrier Attack Bomber was a Japanese carrier based torpedo bomber of the 1930's. Designed by the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal, while unimpressive during testing, it was ordered into service by the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was used until replaced by more capable aircraft.

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[edit] Development and design

In 1932, the Imperial Japanese Navy had a requirement for a new torpedo bomber to replace the Mitsubishi B2M. The air arsenal at Yokosuka prepared its own design to meet this requirement, competing against designs by Mitsubishi and Nakajima.

The resulting aircraft was a three seat single engined biplane, with a fuselage of steel tube construction and two bay wooden wings that could fold rearwards for storage aboard aircraft carriers. It was powered by a single Hiro Type 91 W engine rated between 450 to 600 kW (600 to 750 hp).[1]

Testing proved that the aircraft had poor stability and control, and that the engine was unreliable. The competing Mitsubishi and Nakajima aircraft were even less successful however, and after modifications, the aircraft was accepted by the Navy in August 1933 as the Type 92 Carrier Attack Bomber, with a short designation of B3Y1, with production by Aichi, Watanabe and the Hiro Naval Arsenal, 129 being produced by the time that production finished in 1936.[1]

[edit] Operational history

The B3Y1 continued to be prone to engine problems, which frequently caused the type to be grounded. It served operationally in the early part of the Second Sino-Japanese War, [2] [3] gaining a good for accurate level bombing against small targets.[1] The B3Y was gradually phased out of operational service, being replaced by the Aichi D1A dive bomber and Yokosuka B4Y torpedo bomber.

[edit] Operators

Flag of Japan Japan

[edit] Specifications (B3Y1)

Data from Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Length: 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.51 m (44 ft 3¾ in)
  • Height: 3.73 m (12 ft 2¾ in)
  • Wing area: 50 m² (538 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 1,850 kg (4,087 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 3,200 kg (7,045 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1× Type 91 12 cylinder W-block, 447 kW (600 hp)

Performance

Armament

  • One forward firing 7.7 mm machine gun and one flexible mounted machine gun in observer's cockpit
  • One 800 kg (1,763 lb) torpedo or 500 kg (1,102 lb) bombs

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Mikesh 1990, p.261
  2. ^ Chinese Air Force vs. the Empire of Japan, Fly Boys of the Generalissimo (part 2). The Warbird's Forum. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
  3. ^ Sino-Japanese Air War 1937. Håkans Aviation page. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
  • Mikesh, Robert C; Abe, Shorzoe (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0 85177 840 2. 

[edit] See also

Comparable aircraft Mitsubishi B2M
Yokosuka B4Y
Blackburn Shark
Fairey Swordfish
Martin BM

[edit] External links

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Japanese Navy Torpedo Bomber designations
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