| B2M | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Torpedo bomber |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi |
| First flight | 28 December 1929 |
| Introduction | 1932 |
| Primary user | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Number built | 206 |
| Developed from | Blackburn Ripon |
The Mitsubishi B2M was a Japanese carrier-based torpedo bomber of the 1920s and 30s. It was built by Mitsubishi to a design by Blackburn Aircraft of Britain and was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Design and development[]
In 1927, the Japanese company Mitsubishi commissioned the British aircraft manufacturer Blackburn Aircraft to design an aircraft, which would be built under licence by Mitsubishi if successful, to enter a competition held by the Imperial Japanese Navy for a carrier-based reconnaissance and torpedo bomber to replace its B1M. Blackburn developed a design, the Blackburn T.7B, which was an enlarged development of their Ripon, which was under development for Britain's Fleet Air Arm.[1] The T.7B was a three-seat biplane of steel tube construction and with high aspect ratio wings fitted with Handley Page slats, powered by a 466 kW (625 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Lbr engine. The design was declared the winner of the competition, with a prototype (referred to as the 3MR4) being ordered from Blackburn. This first flew on 28 December 1929 at Blackburn's factory at Brough, Yorkshire,[1] and was shipped to Japan in February 1930.[2]
Three development prototypes were built by Mitsubishi in Japan before the aircraft was adopted as the Navy Type 89-1 Model 1 Carrier Attack Plane or Mitsubishi B2M1.[3]
Operational history[]
The B2M1 entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in March 1932,[3] serving aboard the carriers Akagi, Kaga and Hōshō. Modifications to improve maintainability resulted in the B2M2 or Navy Type 89-2 Carrier Attack Plane, which otherwise showed little improvement in performance over the B2M1. Production of both versions totalled 204 aircraft.[3]
B2Ms were extensively used for high- and low-level bombing attacks against China in the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937.[3][4]
Variants[]
Mitsubishi B2M carrier-based torpedo bomber
- Blackburn T.7B
- Prototype aircraft built by Blackburn Aircraft.
- Mitsubishi 3MR4
- Three Japanese built prototypes.
- Misubishi B2M1
- Initial production aircraft.
- Mitsubishi B2M2
- Improved production variant with reduced wingspan and modified tail.
Operators[]
Japan
Specifications (B2M1)[]
Data from World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft [2]
General characteristics
- Crew: Three
- Length: 10.27 m (33 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 15.22 m (49 ft 11 in)
- Height: 3.71 m (12 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 55 m² [5] (592 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,260 kg[5] (4,982 lb)
- Loaded weight: 3,600 kg (7,900 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Lbr V-12, 485 kW (650 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 213 km/h (115 kn, 132 mph)
- Range: 1,779 km (960 nmi,[5] 1,105 mi)
- Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,700 ft)
Armament
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mason, Francis K (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Angelucci, Enzo (1981). World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing. ISBN 0-7106-0148-4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Donald, David (Editor) (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
- ↑ "Håkans Aviation page – Sino-Japanese Air War 1937". http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/sino-japanese-1937.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Mikesh, Robert C; Abe, Shorzoe (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. pp. 167–168. ISBN 0-85177-840-2.
External links[]
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