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Aichi D1A1 Model 11( 九四式艦上爆撃機)
The Aichi D1A1 Model 11 was a Japanese dive bomber based on the Heinkel He 66 (He 50) aircraft in 1934. This aircraft was used by aircraft carriers as a dive bomber. It was produced from 1934 to 1937, when 162 D1A1 (Model 11 and Model 12) aircraft were produced.
History
Since the early 1930s, the Japanese Navy had been looking for new aircraft that would be used to sink enemy aircraft carriers. It was assumed that dive bombers would be well suited for this thanks to better precision than ordinary bombers. To this end, the Shi-6 specifications were issued in 1931, but none of the aircraft taking part in it were put into service. The following year (1932) a new specification of the Shi-7 was released, but in this case no aircraft was selected. Both of these competitions were attended by Nakajima and Yokosuka, the main aircraft suppliers to the Japanese Navy at that time. In 1933, a new open competition was announced for everyone with the Shi-8 specification. Nakajima, Yokosuka and Aichi plants entered the competition. At that time, Aichi produced either small seaplanes or planes produced under license from Heinkal. Therefore, the Aichi plant decided to use the “help” of German colleagues from the Heinkal plant. At that time, the Heinkel works were working on the He 50 reconnaissance aircraft. In order to bypass the Treaty of Versailles and help their partner, the Heinkel plant modified the second prototype of the He 50 to the He 50b standard, which could attack from a dive flight. This aircraft was then sent to Japan as He 66, where it was handed over to the Aichi works. In Japan, the engineers looked at the He 66 and decided that they could improve it. With the consent of the Heinkel factory, the He 66 began to be modified to Japanese requirements. Instead of the Siemens-Halske Sh 22 (SAM 22) radial engine with a power of 490 hp, the aircraft was equipped with a Japanese Nakajima Kotobuki 2 Kai-1 radial engine with a take-off power of 427 kW (580 hp). The four-bladed wooden propeller was replaced with a two-bladed metal propeller. A trapezoidal bomb rack was added, the landing gear structure was strengthened and the necessary equipment for landing on aircraft carriers was added. The wing advances and rudder were also slightly modified. The engine also received a cylinder cover. The modified aircraft was designated AB-9 and in mid-1934 it was sent to the Japanese Navy for tests. In tests, the Aichi AB-9 massacred the nodule by towering over it, which led to the aircraft being introduced into service as the Aichi D1A1 model 11 or Type 94 carrier-based bomber in December 1934. In January 1935, production of the Aichi D1A1 began, which was first used on the aircraft carrier Ryoju and then on the aircraft carrier Kaga. In 1937, D1A1 planes went to China, where they supported the Japanese army and navy in the fight against the Chinese. However, it was also noticed then that the planes lacked power, so most were modified to the D1A2 variant or withdrawn from service. By the end of 1938, all Aichi D1A1 were withdrawn from the front line, and some were sent to Manchukuo as planes of the Manchukuo Maritime Police.
Construction description
The Aichi D1A1 Model 11 is a dive bomber in a biplane system with fixed landing gear. The aircraft had structures made of metal and fabric. The crew consisted of two people. The aircraft was powered by an air-cooled Nakajima Kotobuki 2 Kai 1 nine-cylinder radial engine with a take-off power of 427 kW (580 hp), which drove a two-bladed metal propeller with a diameter of 2,740 mm. The armament consisted of two fixed Type 92 7,7mm machine guns firing between the engine cylinders and a mobile Type 92 7,7mm machine gun for self-defense in the rear gunner/navigator station. The bomb load is one 250 kg bomb under the fuselage and two 30 kg bombs under the wings.
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 9,40 m
- Wingspan: 11,37 m
- Height: 3,45 m
- Wing area: 34,05m2
- Empty weight: 1400 kg
- Gross weight: 2400 kg
- Maximum Take-off Weight: 2510 kg
- Powerplant: 1 x Nakajima Kotobuki 2 Kai 1 air-cooled radial nine-cylinder engine with a take-off power of 427 kW (580 hp)
- Propellers: Two-blade propeller with a fixed angle of attack with a diameter of 2,740 mm.
Performance
- Maximum speed: 281 km/h
- Cruising speed: ?
- Range: 1050 km
- Maximum Range: ?
- Service ceiling: 7000m
- Climb Rate: ?
- Rate of climb: 9,5 min to 3000 m
Armament
- Guns:
- 2 x Type 92 fixed machine gun 7,7mm in the nose
- 1 x Type 92 7.7mm movable machine gun in the rear gunner’s position
- Bombs
- 1 x 250 kg bombs (Under the fuselage)
- 2 x 30 kg bombs (Under the wings)
Special thanks
@Rowiek
Summary
The Aichi D1A1 Model 11 is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. Someone may ask why add D1A1 if D3A1 is faster, there are several answers:
- The D1A1 aircraft will be more maneuverable due to being a biplane
- The D1A1 will be a good complement to Japan’s air support capabilities
- This aircraft would be the initial aircraft for Japanese aircraft carriers
This aircraft can be added to the game as an aircraft of any category (Tech Tree, Navy, Event, or Premium). I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.
Internet sources
九四式艦上爆撃機 - Wikipedia
Aichi D1A - Wikipedia
Aiči D1A1 11 [Susie] : Aiči
Imperial Japanese Aviation Resource Center - A Warbirds Resource Group Site
Aichi D1A “Susie” (1934)
Warplanes of Japan: Aichi D1A
Aichi D1A. Shipborne Dive Bomber
Aichi D1A Susie - dive bomber
Aichi D1A Susie
Aichi D1A
Уголок неба ¦ Aichi D1A
Book sources
- Japanese Aircraft of Wolrld War II : 1937-1945 ,Thomas Newdick, Edition 2 2017, page 56
- La Aviación Japonesa en la Segunda Guerra mundial (Japanese aviation in World War II) page 137-138
Aviones Japonese | PDF | Fuerzas aéreas del ejército de los Estados Unidos | Avión de combate - Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War page 268-271
- Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 (Japanese naval aircraft 1912-45) page 110-112
Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 | PDF
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
