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Mitsubishi G3M3 / 九六式陸上攻撃二三型
The G3M was a Japanese land-based bomber built in 1935 for the Navy. The Japanese used it to sink the battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse during the Malayan Campaign. The aircraft has several production versions, and the G3M3 version is the final version.
History
G3M1
Work on the G3M aircraft began in 1935 under the terms of the Second London Treaty, which forbade increasing the number of aircraft carriers for Japan (it could only have 3 aircraft carriers). The Japanese Navy felt threatened that aircraft from enemy aircraft carriers would attack its bases with impunity, so it announced a competition for a new long-range land torpedo plane during the London conference. Mitsubishi and Hiro Naval Arsenal (Hiroshi) entered the competition, both of which already had experience in building large aircraft. Two models of aircraft were made, 10 prototypes each Mitsubishi made the G3M1, and the Hiroshi company made the G2H.The Mitsubishi design turned out to be much better and its production began under the name G3M1. The aircraft was powered by two 840 hp Kinsei 3 engines, which accelerated the aircraft to 348 km/h at an altitude of 2000m. To reduce weight, the aircraft did not have armor or self-sealing fuel tanks.The capacity of the tanks was 3805 l, which allowed for a maximum range of 4550 km. For defense, it had three 7.7 mm Type 92 rotating machine guns (front up, back up, back down).34 aircraft of this version were produced.
G3M2 Model 21
The G3M2 model 21 was created in 1937 to increase the performance of the machine, the weak Kinsei 3 engine was replaced by the more powerful Kinsei 42 with 990 hp, which accelerated this version to 373 km/h at an altitude of 4,180 m. Changing the engine changing the propeller diameter from 3.50m to 3.20m.The capacity of the tanks was 3874 l, which allowed for a maximum range of 4380 km.The total weight of the aircraft increased from 7,003kg to 7,642kg.343 aircraft were built in this version.
G3M2 Model 22
This version was created after learning a lesson from the raids in China, where the G3M flew unescorted and suffered heavy losses. The lower turret was removed and a 20mm cannon was mounted in the rear upper turret. Side gunners armed with 7.7 mm machine guns were also added.This resulted in an increase in the crew from 5 to 7 people.The weight increased from 7,642 kg to 7,778 kg. To compensate for the increase in weight, a new 1070 hp Kinsei 45 engine was assembled, which accelerated the G3M2 Model 22 tomaximum 373 km/h at an altitude of 4180 m.The capacity of the tanks was 3874 l, which allowed for a maximum range of 4670 km. 238 aircraft were built or converted to this version.
G3M3
The G3M3 version was created at the beginning of 1941. The engines were replaced with powerful Kinsei 51s with a take-off power of 1,300 km, which allowed a maximum speed of 416 km/h. The diameter of the propeller has been increased to 3.40m. The cockpit has been modified to allow an additional MG to be mounted in the side window. The fuel volume was increased from 3,874 litres to 5,182 litres, increasing the maximum range to 6,228 km. The weight of the machine increased to 8,000 kg.There are no other changes in this version compared to previous versions. This aircraft entered wider use in 1942 and received positive reviews from the crews. It served as a front-line bomber until mid-1943, when they began to be phased out to secondary roles. Some were converted to transport aircraft, but most began to fly as patrol aircraft. It was only made by Nakajima because Mitsubishi switched to producing the G4M.About 400 aircraft of this version were built.
Armament
It carried 800 kg of bombs (12 x 60 kg bombs, 2 x 250 kg bombs, 1
500 kg or 800 kg bomb or 1 800 kg torpedo) that were not in the bomb bay but attached to the bottom of the fuselage.It was armed with 1x Type 99 Model 1 20 mm mobile cannon in the upper teardrop-shaped turret, 3-4x Type 92 mobile 7.7 mm machine gun(1x in the retractable turret on the ridge in front of the teardrop turret,2x in the side teardrop turret,1x in the cabin for firing from the side windows this weapon was additional)
Structure description
The Mitsubishi G3M was a medium torpedo bomber, designed to attack naval targets with torpedoes and bombs, with a crew of five or seven. The span of the aircraft was 25 meters, the length was 16.45 meters, the maximum height was 3.68 meters, and the wing area was 75 square meters.
General characteristics
- Crew: 7
- Length: 16.45 m (54 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 25 m (82 ft 0 in)
- Height: 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 75 m2 (810 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 5243 kg (11,558 lb)
- Maximum take-off weight: 10,300 kg (22,707 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 5,182 L (1,368 US gal)
- Powerplant: 2 × Mitsubishi Kinsei 51 with a take-off power of 956 kW (1300 hp) at 2600 rpm, 883 kW (1200 hp) at h= 3000 m and 809 kW (1100 hp) at h= 6,200 m
- Propellers: three-bladed metal with constant rotational speed
Performance
- Maximum speed: 416 km/h (258 mph, 224 kn)
- Cruise speed: 278 km/h (172 mph, 150 kn)
- Range: 6,156 km (3,825 mi, 3,323 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 10,280 m (33,727 ft)
Summary
The G3M3 is an aircraft with a great range and good performance. In its time it was a very good torpedo plane (sinking two battleships), but it was outclassed by modern Allied aircraft. In the game, it would be a great rank 1 aircraft that would be quite useful. Feel free to discuss in the comments.
Sources
Уголок неба ¦ Mitsubishi G3M (airwar.ru)
九六式陸上攻撃機 - Wikipedia
Mitsubishi G3M - Wikipedia
Mitsubishi G3M [Nell] : Mitsubishi (valka.cz)
Mitsubishi G3M3 23 [Nell] : Mitsubishi (valka.cz)
Imperial Japanese Aviation Resource Center - A Warbirds Resource Group Site
Mitsubishi G3M | Zdjęcia z wojny światowej (worldwarphotos.info)
Mitsubishi G3M NELL - bombowiec (aviastar.org)
Mitsubishi G3M Rikko (Nell) Medium Bomber / Torpedo Bomber Dane techniczne i zdjęcia (militaryfactory.com)