Mitsubishi K3M

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The Mitsubishi K3M2 (九〇式機上作業練習機, Kyūrei-shiki kijō sagyō renshūki) was a trainer built by Mitsubishi which was used widely in the Imperial Japanese Navy from World War I through the end of World War II in an extremely wide variety of roles, including light transport, liaison aircraft, utility aircraft and occasionally light bomber. Its Allied reporting name was Pine.

Design & Development

The Mitsubishi K3M was designed by British aeronautical engineer and aircraft designed Herbert Smith, from Sopwith working in Japan for Mitsubishi. The prototype, designated Mitsubishi 4MS1, made its maiden flight in 1930. The aircraft was strut-braced high-wing cabin monoplane, with fixed wide-track landing gear, and was powered by a single 300 hp (220 kW) water-cooled radial piston engine. Pilot and gunner were located in separate open cockpits, with an instructor and two pupils in the enclosed cabin in the fuselage. Later passenger variants seated five passengers in the cabin.

Total production of all versions was around 625 aircraft, with production mostly undertaken by Kyushu Hikoki K.K. and Aichi Kokuki. Production continued until 1941, and examples pressed into service as liaison aircraft in the postwar period were found in a variety of national markings.

Operational history

The first version of the K3M offered to the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service was prone to stability problems, and more importantly, problems with the water-cooled 340 hp (250 kW) Mitsubishi-built Hispano-Suiza eight-cylinder liquid-cooled engine driving a two-blade wooden propeller.

The improved K3M2 used a Hitachi Amakaze 11 nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, rated at 340 hp (250 kW) for take-off and 300 hp (220 kW) at sea level, driving a two-blade wooden propeller. The first K3M2 production version entered service in 1932 as the Navy Type 90 Crew Trainer. It was superseded in production with the K3M3, using a Nakajima Kotobuki 460 hp (340 kW) air-cooled engine.

The Navy Type 90 Crew Trainer was primarily a land-based aircraft; however, a few were converted with floats for use as seaplanes.

The Imperial Japanese Army Air Force had an interest in the aircraft as part of its modernization program, and as a potential supplement to the Nakajima Ki-6. Two examples were acquired and tested, and the airframe was given the designation of Ki-7. One prototype used a 475 hp (350 kW) Mitsubishi Type 92 nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine and the other a 450 hp (340 kW) Nakajima Kotobuki nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine. However, the IJAAF opted not to go into production with either version.

The civil version offered to commercial operators was with a 420 hp (310 kW) Nakajima-built Bristol Jupiter VI nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine. The Mitsubishi K3M was used for both civil and military roles with some remaining in operation until well after World War II.

Variants

Mitsubishi K3M1: Initial test version
Mitsubishi K3M2 (Japanese Navy Type 90 Crew Training Aircraft): Initial production version for Imperial Japanese Navy
Mitsubishi K3M3 (Japanese Navy Type 90 Crew Training Aircraft): Final production version for Imperial Japanese Navy
Mitsubishi K3M3-L: Military transport used by Imperial Japanese Navy
Ki-7: Proposed version for Imperial Japanese Army, 2 built
Mitsubishi MS-1: Civil transport version

Operators

Military operators

Japan

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

Specifications (K3M3)

General characteristics

Crew: 4
Capacity: 6
Length: 9.54 m (31 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 15.78 m (51 ft 9 in)
Height: 3.82 m (12 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 34.5 m² (371.35 ft²)
Empty weight: 1360 kg (2998 lb)
Gross weight: 2200 kg (4850 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Kotobuki-2, 435 kW (580 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 230 km/h (143 mph)
Range: 790 km (491 miles)
Service ceiling: 6389 m (20,950 ft)
Rate of climb: 8.77 m/s (1726 ft/min)

Armament

1 × 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun, rear-mounted
4 × 30 kg (66 lb) bombs

References

Notes

Bibliography

Francillon, Ph.D., René J. (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
Mikesh, Robert C.; Shorzoe Abe (1990). Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-563-2. Cite uses deprecated parameters (help)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitsubishi K3M.

Combined Fleet.com site

Aircraft produced by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,
and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation

Company designations

1MF
1MF9
1MF10
1MT
2MB1
2MB2
2MR
2MR8
2MT
3MT5
3MT10
Ka-8
Ka-12
4MS1
MC-1
MC-20
MH2000
MU-2
MU-300
MRJ
RP-1

Imperial Japanese Army short designations

Imperial Japanese Navy short designations

Carrier fighters	A5M A6M A7M

Carrier Torpedo Bombers	B1M B2M B4M B5M

Reconnaissance aircraft	C1M C5M

Carrier dive bombers	D3M

Observation seaplanes	F1M

Land-based Attack Bombers	G1M G3M G4M G6M G7M

Interceptors	J2M J4M J8M

Transports	L4M

Trainers	K3M K6M K7M

Patrol Aircraft	Q2M

Japanese Self-Defense Force designations

World War II Allied reporting names

v t e Japanese Navy Trainer Aircraft designations

K1Y K2Y K3M K4Y K5Y K6K/K6M/K6W K7M K8K/K8Ni/K8W K9W K10W K11W KXA KXBu KXC KXJ KXL

v t e Imperial Japanese Army Air Force aircraft designations

1-50	Ki-1 Ki-2 Ki-3 Ki-4 Ki-5 Ki-6 Ki-7 Ki-8 Ki-9 Ki-10 Ki-11 Ki-12 Ki-13 Ki-14 Ki-15 Ki-16 Ki-17 Ki-18 Ki-19 Ki-20 Ki-21 Ki-22 Ki-23 Ki-24 Ki-25 Ki-26 Ki-27 Ki-28 Ki-29 Ki-30 Ki-31 Ki-32 Ki-33 Ki-34 Ki-35 Ki-36 Ki-37 Ki-38 Ki-39 Ki-40 Ki-41 Ki-42 Ki-43 Ki-44 Ki-45 Ki-46 Ki-47 Ki-48 Ki-49 Ki-50

51-100	Ki-51 Ki-52 Ki-53 Ki-54 Ki-55 Ki-56 Ki-57 Ki-58 Ki-59 Ki-60 Ki-61 Ki-62 Ki-63 Ki-64 Ki-66 Ki-67 Ki-68 Ki-69 Ki-70 Ki-71 Ki-72 Ki-73 Ki-74 Ki-75 Ki-76 Ki-77 Ki-78 Ki-79 Ki-80 Ki-81 Ki-82 Ki-83 Ki-84 Ki-85 Ki-86 Ki-87 Ki-88 Ki-89 Ki-90 Ki-91 Ki-92 Ki-93 Ki-94 Ki-95 Ki-96 Ki-97 Ki-98 Ki-99 Ki-100

100-	Ki-101 Ki-102 Ki-103 Ki-105 Ki-106 Ki-107 Ki-108 Ki-109 Ki-110 Ki-111 Ki-112 Ki-113 Ki-114 Ki-115 Ki-116 Ki-117 Ki-118 Ki-119 Ki-148 Ki-167 Ki-174 Ki-200 Ki-201 Ki-202 Ki-230

v t e World War II Allied reporting names for Japanese aircraft

Aircraft in Japanese service	Abdul Alf Ann Babs Baka Belle Betty Bob Buzzard Cedar Cherry Clara Claude Cypress Dave Dick Dinah Dot Edna Emily Eva Eve Frances Frank Gander George Glen Goose Grace Gwen Hamp Hank Hap Helen Hickory Ida (Tachikawa Ki-36) Ida (Tachikawa Ki-55) Irving Jack Jake Jane Jean Jerry Jill Jim Judy Kate Kate 61 Laura Lily Liz Lorna Loise Louise Luke Mabel Mary Mavis Myrt Nate Nell Nick Norm Oak Oscar Pat Patsy Paul Peggy Perry Pete Pine Rex Rita Rob Rufe Ruth Sally Sally III Sam Sandy Slim Sonia Spruce Stella Steve Susie Tabby Tess Thalia Thelma Theresa Thora Tina Tillie Toby Tojo Tony Topsy Val Willow Zeke Zeke 32

Nonexistent aircraft thought to be in Japanese service	Adam Ben Doris Gus Harry Ione Joe Joyce Julia June Norma Omar Ray

Foreign aircraft erroneously thought to be in Japanese service	Bess (Heinkel He 111) Doc (Messerschmitt Bf 110) Fred (Focke Wulf Fw 190A-5) Irene (Junkers Ju 87A) Janice (Junkers Ju 88A-5) Mike (Messerschmitt Bf 109E) Millie (Vultee V-11GB) Trixie (Junkers Ju 52/3m) Trudy (Focke Wulf Fw 200 Kondor)

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Accidents/incidents	Commercial airliners by location Fatalities by death toll General aviation Military

Records	Airspeed Altitude Distance Endurance Firsts Large Most-produced aircraft Most-produced rotorcraft

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