Japanese Bristol Blenheim Mk.I

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Japanese Bristol Blenheim Mk.I
In late 1941 and early 1942, the Japanese captured a small number of Bristol Blenheim Mk.I and Mk.IV bombers at Seltar (Singapore), Sungei Patani (Malay Peninsula) and airfields on other Pacific islands (mainly the Dutch East Indies). These aircraft have been tested.
History
In 1939, the British, fearing a Japanese invasion, sent to Singapore and Malaya, first No. 34 and No. 62 Squadrons RAF, then in 1940 No. 60 Squadron RAF and in 1941 No. 27 Squadron RAF. All these squadrons were equipped with Bristol Blenheim aircraft in the Mk. I or Mk.IV version. When Japan started the war in the Pacific on December 8, 1941, all four squadrons immediately began hostilities. By the end of 1941, No. 62 Squadron RAF, suffering high losses, withdrew to Sumatra, where it was rearmed with Lockheed Hudson aircraft, then after the Japanese landed on Java, the squadron was disbanded. No. 34 Squadron RAF was disbanded after two months of fighting due to huge losses, No. 27 Squadron RAF fought fiercely for Singapore and then in Java where it was disbanded, picking up huge losses. No. 60 Squadron RAF was the only one not to be disbanded, but due to losses it lost operational capability and was sent to India. Thanks to these successes, the Japanese captured a large number of Bristol Blenheim aircraft over these four squadrons, most of which were not operational. Probably the Japanese managed to repair 5 or 6 Blenheim Mk.I and Mk.IV aircraft. These aircraft were then put under the magnifying glass of the Institute of Technical Research of Military Aviation, which opened its additional test facility in Singapore, like any other captured aircraft. There, during tests, it was shown that these planes had very poor performance and it was decided to use them as transport aircraft. For this purpose, all armament was removed. It is interesting that one Bristol Blenheim Mk.I and two Mk. IVs were laid in Java until 1945 for this purpose.

Photos of British Bristol Blenheim (27, 34, 60, 62 Squadrons RAF)

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330px-Bristol_Blenheims_62_Squadron_Singapore_Feb_1941
Bristol_Blenheims_62_Sqn_Malaya_1941


Photos of Japanese Bristol Blenheim Mk.I


Bristol Blenheim Mk.I shortly after captured by the Japanese in 1941/1942 ^
semarang-1
A Japanese Bristol Blenheim Mk.I on Java in August 1947 ^

Art about the Japanese Bristol Blenheim Mk.I




Technical description
The Bristol Blenheim Mk.I is a light twin-engine medium-wing bomber with a partially retractable main landing gear. The plane is equipped with a characteristic glass nose. The crew of the aircraft consists of three people: pilot, bombardier/navigator and rear gunner/radio operator. The aircraft is powered by two 840 hp (630 kW) Bristol Mercury VIII engines, which drive three-bladed propellers. The aircraft was armed with a fixed 7.7mm Browning or Vickers Mk.V machine gun in the left wing and a mobile 7.7mm Lewis or Vickers K machine gun in a turret on the back. The aircraft could carry up to 1000 lb (454 kg) of bombs in the bomb bay.

Technical sketches

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Cockpit Photos

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Length: 12,12 m
  • Wingspan: 17,17 m
  • Height: 3,91 m
  • Wing area: 43,57 m2
  • Empty weight: 3674 kg
  • Take-off Weight: 5670 kg
  • Powerplant: 2 × Bristol Mercury VIII with a take-off power of 840 hp (630 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 426 km/h
  • Cruise Speed: 354 km/h
  • Range: 1802 km
  • Service ceiling: 7772 m
  • Time to Climb to: 11,5 min to 4572 m

Armament

  1. Guns:
  • 1 x 7.7mm Browning or Vickers Mk.V fixed machine gun in left wing
  • 1 x 7.7mm Lewis or Vickers K movable machine gun in turret on the back
  1. Bombs:
  • Maximum payload: 1000 pounds (454 kg) of bombs

Summary
The Bristol Blenheim Mk.I would have been an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This fast bomber would make a great Premium or event vehicle that would introduce some British technology to Japan. Ideally, it would be added with the addition of the British and Finnish Bristol Blenheim Mk.I . 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

Bristol Blenheim - Wikipedia
ブリストル ブレニム - Wikipedia
Facebook
Japan Bristol Blenheim Mk I - Nevington War Museum
Aviation of Japan 日本の航空史: Japanese Blenheims at Semarang, Java
War Machines Drawn: Bristol Blenheim, foreign users, part one
Bristol Blenheim in Japanese Service - Destination’s Journey
Bristol Blenheim Mk.I : Bristol
Уголок неба ¦ Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim MK.1 - Passed for Consideration - War Thunder - Official Forum

Book sources
  • 日本軍鹵獲機秘録 (Secret records of captured aircraft of the Japan army) page 48

fun
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
gigachad

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