Carrier Based Torpedo Bomber Imperial Japanese Navy, 1,268 B6N1 and B6N2 built Development: Replacing the “Kate” In 1942 at Midway and before that at Cora Sea and in many other operations including Pearl Harbor, the Nakajima B5N (allied code “Kate”), proved to be the successful first line aircraft carrier torpedo bomber of the Imperial Japanese … Read more
Floatplane Fighter, Imperial Japanese Navy Imperial Japanese Navy (1942-45), 327 built The world’s best seaplane fighter ? The A6M2-N floatplane was developed as requested by the Navy to support amphibious operations (operated by one of the many IJN seaplane tenders), or defend remote bases. Based on the A6M-2 Model 11 technically, it had a modified … Read more
Imperial Japanese Navy, 1,048 built Ka-15, Type 96 Rikko, G3M1, G3M2, G3M3 by Mitsubishi, Nakajima and YokosukaBomber/Recce codename “Nell”, Transport codename “Tina” The main twin engine torpedo bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1941 was the Mitsubishi G3M. It was soon codenamed by the allies “Nell”. After an already well-filled career in China, it … Read more
Yokosuka D4Y Suisei “Judy” (1942) Imperial Japanese Navy, 1,085 built Design development The Yokosuka deserves attention not only because it is considered one of the most beautiful aircraft of the Second World War but also because of her heavy burden: Replacing the legendary Aichi D3A “Val” in service with the IJN since 1939. The famous … Read more
Nakajima C6N saiun “Myrt” (1944) Imperial Japanese Navy 1943-45, 463 built The Nakajima C6N Saiun (彩雲, “Iridescent Cloud”) was the fastest IJN carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft of the war. Very advanced for its time, it first flew on 15 May 1943, and was produced and introduced from September 1944 on the few surviving carriers. Allied reporting … Read more
Kawanishi E7K “Alf” (1933) Imperial Japanese Navy, 533 built IJN main cruiser reconnaissance floatplane in 1941 In 1932, the Imperial Japanese Navy requested Kawanishi Aircraft to replace its previous E5K (1931) as part of the 7-Shi requirement. The new design was designated E7K1, powered by a 462 kW (620 hp) Hiro Type 91 W-12 inline … Read more
Carrier Borne Fighter, Imperial Japanese Navy Imperial Japanese Navy, 10,939 built The legendary Japanese fighter Just named colloquially “zero” and still popularly known as such today, the A6M, or “Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 carrier fighter” (零式艦上戦闘機) hence the number used as nickname, was the brainchild of superstar aviation designer Jiro Horikoshi. A superb dogfighter, combined … Read more
Imperial Japanese Navy, 1,149 built The Main IJN Carrier Torpedo Bomber in 1939-42 The Nakajima B5N was completely unknown by US Intel before 1941, and vastly underrated (like most Japanese aviation, seen as mediocre western copies). Little was known that this model, albeit of the same generation, vastly outperformed the Douglas TBD Devastator, its rival … Read more
Mitsubishi F1M “Pete” (1936) Imperial Japanese Navy, 944 built The last IJN Biplane Genesis for this model started in 1935 when first planned to succeed the Nakajima E8N as main catapult-launched navy spotter, mostly based on cruisers (The E13N was for battleships and succeed the E7K). The E8N (assigned the identifier “Dave” by US Intel) … Read more
Aichi D3A (1938) Imperial Japanese Navy, 1,495 built The D3A2 “Val” main IJN Dive Bomber in 1941 The “Val” as it was referred in the USN, was the main Imperial Japanese Dive Bomber of WW2, until replaced gradually from 1942 onwards by the Yokosuka D4Y Suisei, far more modern by all standards and benefiting from … Read more
