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Aichi D1A2 Model 21 (九六式艦上爆撃機)
The Aichi D1A2 Model 21 is the last variant of the Aichi D1A dive bomber (there were also D1A1 Model 11 and D1A1 Model 12) created in 1936. This aircraft received a new engine and a few improvements compared to its predecessor. The aircraft was introduced into service in 1936 and were used until 1945. During the production period between 1936 and 1940, 428 D1A2 Model 21 aircraft were built.
History
At the turn of 1935 and 1936, the Japanese Navy noticed that the performance of the Aichi D1A1 Model 11 aircraft was insufficient. It was decided to improve this in two ways. The first solution was to replace the engine with a slightly more powerful one, so that I would not have to change the design too much. At that time, a more powerful engine was installed on the D1A1 Model 11, which increased its top speed from 281 km/h to 192 km/h and this is how the D1A1 Model 12 version was created. However, the Navy was still not satisfied with the performance of the aircraft, so it was decided that the design should be modified more by installing a more powerful and larger engine. It was also decided to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the aircraft. In order to meet the expectations of the Navy, the AB-10 (D1A1 Kai) aircraft was created at the Aichi works. The aircraft was equipped with a 9-cylinder Nakajima Hikari 1 air-cooled radial piston engine, with a take-off power of 540 kW (730 hp) instead of the Nakajima Kotobuki 2 Kai 1 engine. The engine got a new, larger cover, and the wheels were equipped with fairings. The fuel supply was also increased from 535L to 750L and the rear gunner/navigator cover was modified. In October 1936, the AB-10 aircraft was completed and handed over to the Navy for testing. Tests showed better performance than the D1A1, so in November the AB-10 was accepted into service as the D1A2 or Type 96 carrier-based bomber. Production of the D1A2 dive bombers began immediately, which quickly began to replace the inferior D1A1s. When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, the D1A2 aircraft were an indispensable support for Japanese soldiers. These planes were also responsible for the USS Panay incident. Production of the D1A2 lasted from 1936 to 1940, during which 428 aircraft were produced. With the introduction of the D3A1 aircraft in 1939, the D1A2 aircraft began to be withdrawn from the first line, and at the outbreak of the Pacific War, there were still 68 D1A2s in the second line units and a large number of D1A2 aircraft in training units. The aircraft was used for training and other tasks such as anti-submarine warfare until the end of the war. An unspecified number of D1A2 aircraft were sent to the Manchukuo Maritime Police.
Construction description
The Aichi D1A2 is similar to the D1A1 version, but there are a few important differences between them.
- The aircraft is powered by a 9-cylinder Nakajima Hikari 1 air-cooled radial piston engine, with a take-off power of 540 kW (730 hp) instead of a Nakajima Kotobuki 2 Kai 1 engine with a take-off power of 427 kW (580 hp)
- The aircraft has a new engine cover
- The plane has new wheel fairings
- Increased fuel tanks from 535L to 750L
- Modified the rear gunner/navigator cover
- Installed a propeller with a diameter of 3 m
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 9,30 m or 9,40 m
- Wingspan: 11,40 m
- Height: 3,41 m
- Wing area: 34,70 m2
- Empty weight: 1775kg or 1516 kg (?)
- Gross weight: 2800 kg
- Maximum Take-off Weight: 2610 kg
- Powerplant: 1 x Nakajima Hikari 1 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, with a take-off power of 540 kW (730 hp)
- Propellers: Two-blade propeller with a fixed angle of attack with a diameter of 3,000 mm.
Performance
- Maximum speed: 309 km/h
- Cruising speed: 222 km/h
- Range: 920 km
- Maximum Range: 1,330km
- Service ceiling: 6980m
- Climb Rate: ?
- Rate of climb: 3,000 m in 7 minutes 51 seconds
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 D1A2 Model 21 is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft would be a good complement to the D3A1 bomber. The D1A2 aircraft, due to the fact that it is a biplane, would be a very maneuverable aircraft. 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
九六式艦上爆撃機 - Wikipedia
Aichi D1A2 [Susie] : Aichi
Aichi D1A - Wikipedia
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
Уголок неба ¦ Aichi D1A
九六式艦上爆撃機
Aichi D1A2 Typ 96 (Susie) Informacje
Aichi D1A2 - Japan - War Thunder - Official Forum
Aichi D1A Susie Aichi D1A (Bombardero en picado embarcado) - La Segunda Guerra Mundial
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
