Japanese Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV

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Japanese Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV
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. No. 27 and No. 62 Squadrons RAF were equipped with older Bristol Blenheim Mk.I aircraft and No. 34 and 60 Squadrons RAF were equipped with newer Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV aircraft. On 8 December 1941, with the start of the war in the Pacific, Blenheim Mk.IV aircraft from No. 34 Squadron RAF began hostilities against the Japanese. After two months of fierce defensive fighting, No. 34 Squadron RAF withdrew from Singapore to Java and Sumatra, where the squadron was disbanded shortly after the Japanese invasion. The squadron was re-formed in April 1942 in India. No. 60 Squadron RAF met a worse fate, within 16 days it lost all its aircraft and the remnants of this squadron evacuated to Burma on 24 December 1941. The 60th Gun Squadron remained in Burma until the end of January 1942, after which it was declared unfit for further combat and withdrawn to India. Then in May he abandoned the action over Burma. Thanks to these successes, the Japanese captured a small number of Blenheim Mk.IV bombers, of which probably three aircraft were repaired. 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. Tests showed that these planes are quite weak (in the eyes of Japanese experts), so it was decided to redirect them to transport planes serving in the place where there are most parts for them (in Java, Sumatra and Malaya). One aircraft received Japanese Nakajima Sakae engines as part of the experiment, but little is known about this modification. These planes were probably in service until the end of the war. After the war, the Indonesians received one Blenheim Mk.IV, which was also equipped with the Nakajima Sakae engine.

Photos of British Blenheim Mk.IVs (34, 60 Squadrons RAF)

Photos of the Japanese Blenheim Mk.IV

Technical description
The Japanese Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV would have been exactly the same as the British one, except that both versions should have 145 kg (320 lb) bomb holders under the wings.

Technical sketches

Cockpit photo

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 12,98 m
• Wingspan: 17,17 m
• Height: 3,91 m
• Wing area: 43,57 m2
• Empty weight: 4441 kg
• Take-off Weight: 6532 kg
• Powerplant: 2 × 9-cylinder Bristol Mercury XV air-cooled radial engines rated at 920 hp (690 kW) each
• Propellers: Three-bladed metal propeller with variable pitch

Performance

• Maximum speed: 428 km/h
• Cruise Speed: 362 km/h
• Range: 2350 km
• Maximum Range: 3138 km
• Service ceiling: 6706 m
• Time to Climb to: 5,4 min to 2987 m
• Climb Rate: 7,5 m/s

Armament

1. Guns:

• 1 x 7.7mm Browning or Vickers Mk.V fixed machine gun in left wing
• 2 x 7.7mm Browning or Vickers K movable machine gun in turret on the back
• 2 x 7.7mm Browning movabale machin gun in a remote-controlled turret under your nose

2. Bombs:

• 454 kg (1000 lb) of bombs in the bomb bay
• 145 kg (320 lb) of bombs under the wings

Summary
The Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft is great as a premium or event aircraft. The Blenheim Mk.IV is a very useful Br. 1.3 light bomber that would be a good support for Japan. 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

ブリストル ブレニム - Wikipedia
List of Bristol Blenheim operators - Wikipedia
Bristol Blenheim - Wikipedia
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.IV : Bristol
Уголок неба ¦ Bristol Blenheim

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