- Yes
- No
Mitsubishi G4M3 Model 34 (三菱 地上攻撃機三四型)
The Mitsubishi G4M3 Model 34 is the last mass-produced model of the Mitsubishi G4M aircraft. This airplane first took to the air in January 1944, and in October 1944 it entered series production. By the end of the war, about 60 Mitsubishi G4M3 Model 34 aircraft were produced.
History
In November 1942, when work on the prototype Mitsubishi G4M2 Model 22 was still ongoing, the Japanese navy assessed the first year of the war and concluded that the G4M2 Model 22 bombers would soon become obsolete, which is why it ordered the beginning of work on its future successor at this point. The Japanese navy issued specifications for a new variant of the aircraft, which were as follows:
- It was required to increase the safety of the crew by armoring the crew cabin.
- Protection of tanks against ignition was required.
- It was required that despite the increased weight of the aircraft, it should achieve an operational range of 1112 km in bombing missions and 1297 km in reconnaissance flights.
- The range was supposed to be at least 3889 km.
Work on the aircraft progressed smoothly, but rather slowly. The aircraft received many significant modifications in its design (which will be discussed later). The first prototype of the Mitsubishi G4M3 Model 34 was ready by the end of 1943 and took its first flight on January 1, 1944. The next two prototypes were ready in January and February 1944. On February 20, the third G4M3 prototype, during a flight test, achieved 464 km/h at an altitude of 2400m and 481 km/h at an altitude of 5065m. However, the prototypes still had design issues that required modifications. On March 30, 1944, approval was granted to begin production of the next prototypes with an increased takeoff weight of 13000 kg. However, at that time, requirements were sent to the Mitsubishi factories for the aircraft to be armed with Type 99 Model 2 cannons in the side windows, a turret on the back, and in the tail, which led to further delays in production. The delay was caused by the redesign of the tail turret structure. Ultimately, after the subsequent improvements in the design, mass production began in October 1944. However, on December 7, the Mitsubishi plants were seriously damaged by an earthquake, and then until the end of the war, the Mitsubishi factories were plagued by American air raids. This led to the production of only about 60 Mitsubishi G4M3 Model 34 aircraft. These planes were highly valued by Japanese crews due to their high crew safety, survivability, and high speed. To this day, a piece of the G4M3 fuselage along with the cockpit is preserved in the Smithsonian’s National Air Museum.
The art of Mitsubishi G4M3 Model 34
Construction description
The Mitsubishi G4M3 model 34 is heavily modified in comparison to the Mitsubishi G4M2A model 24. I will try to describe all the changes that took place in it.
- The wing structure has been changed from a double spar to a single spar.
- The aircraft was equipped with 1
0 main fuel tanks with a capacity of 4000 dm3, all of which were equipped with a self-sealing system. - In the motor gondolas, there are two additional fuel tanks installed with a capacity of 490 dm3.
- The tail turret has a changed construction, resembling the turrets of B-17G or B-26 airplanes and is armored.
- The height of the horizontal stabilizer position has been modified.
- The aircraft fuselage was shortened by 50 cm.
- A Type 2 13.2mm machine gun was installed in the nose of the airplane.
- Type 99 Model 2 guns were installed in the side positions.
- The crew cabin and the positions of the side gunners have been reinforced.
- The aircraft was equipped with an H-6 radar.
Technical sketches
Tail turret of Mitsubishi G4M3 Model 34
General characteristics
- Crew: 7
- Length: 19,50 m
- Wingspan: 24,89 m
- Height: 4,00 m
- Wing area: 78,125 m2
- Empty weight: 8391 kg
- Gross weight: 12590 kg
- Maximum Take-off Weight: 14772 kg
- Powerplant: 2 x Mitsubishi MK4T Kasei 25 engines with take-off power of 1,342 kW (1,825 hp)
- Propellers: four-bladed fixed speed propeller with a diameter of 3,400 mm
Performance
- Maximum speed: 479,7 km/h
- Cruising speed: ?
- Range: 2340 km
- Maximum Range: 4334 km
- Service ceiling: 9026 m
- Climb Rate: 7,01 m/s
- Rate of climb: 20,17 min to 7000 m
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 x Movable Type 2 13.2mm machine gun on the tip of the nose
- 2 x Type 92 movable machine gun caliber 7.7 mm on the sides of the nose (582 rounds)(optional)
- 2 x Type 99 Model 2 movable cannons behind the wings on the sides of the fuselage (270 rounds for each cannon)
- 1 x Type 99 Model 2 Dorsal Turret Mobile Cannon (270 rounds)
- 1 x Type 99 Model 2 Tail Turret Mobile Cannon (270 rounds)
- Bombs
- 1 x 800 kg bombs
- 2 x 500 kg bombs
- 4 x 250 kg bombs
- 12 x 60 kg bombs
- 1 x Type 91 aerial torpedo (all versions)
Radar equipment
- 1 x H6 radar
Armour
- Self-sealing fuel tanks
- Armored positions of the shooters and the rest of the crew
- Bulletproof glass is probably in the front windshield of the cockpit and in the front windshields of the dorsal and tail turrets.
Special thanks
Summary
The Mitsubishi G4M3 Model 34 is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft is the best version of the G4M bomber, equipped with powerful defensive armament, armor, and self-sealing fuel tanks. It can also be equipped with powerful versions of the Type 91 torpedoes, which can deal lethal blows to enemy ships. This aircraft is perfectly suited to be added to the game as a plane that combines the features of the G4M1 and G8N1. 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
一式陸上攻撃機 - Wikipedia
Mitsubishi G4M - Wikipedia
一式陸上攻撃機/三菱Mitsubishi G4M | 大日本帝国軍 主要兵器
Mitsubishi G4M3 Model 34 BETTY Forward Fuselage | Smithsonian Institution
Mitsubishi G3M & G4M
Уголок неба ¦ Mitsubishi G4M
Mitsubishi G4M Betty
Micubiši G4M3 34 [Betty] : Micubiši
G4M, Betty Long Range Bomber, Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi G4M
基地航空隊、太平洋の戦い
Book sources
- Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War page 378-387
- Japanese Aircraft of Wolrld War II : 1937-1945 ,Thomas Newdick, Edition 2 2017, page 25-28
- (Wydawnictwo Militaria No.67) Mitsubishi G4M “Betty”
(Wydawnictwo Militaria No.67) Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” | PDF - (Aircraft Profile 210) - Mitsubishi G4M Betty
(Aircraft Profile 210) - Mitsubishi G4M Betty PDF | PDF - MARU MECHANICS Yokosuka P1Y & Mitsubishi G4M Betty
MARU MECHANICS Yokosuka P1Y & Mitsubishi G4M Betty | PDF - Bunrindo - Famous Airplanes of The World 59 - Mitsubishi G4M 'Hamaki ’ Army Type 1 Attack Bomber
Bunrindo - Famous Airplanes of The World 59 - Mitsubishi G4M 'Hamaki ’ Army Type 1 Attack Bomber | PDF
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
