Yokosuka P1Y

The Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (銀河, "Milky Way") was a twin-engine, land-based bomber developed for the Japanese Imperial Navy in World War II. It was the successor to the Mitsubishi G4M and given the Allied codename "Frances".

Development

The P1Y was designed by the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal to Navy specifications calling for speed matching the Zero, range matching the G4M, a 907 kg (2,000 lb) bombload, and the ability to dive-bomb as well as carry torpedoes. As a result, the construction suffered from excess complexity, difficulty of manufacture, and poor serviceability. Problems with the Nakajima Homare engine led to its replacement by the Mitsubishi Kasei.

Operational history

The first flight was in August 1943. Nakajima manufactured 1,002 examples, which were operated for five kokutais, and acted as land-based medium and torpedo bombers from airfields in China, Taiwan, Marianas, Philippines, Ryukyu, Shikoku, and Kyūshū. During the last stages of the war the P1Y was utilized as a kamikaze aircraft against the United States Navy during the Okinawa Campaign.

A night fighter version, the P1Y2-S Kyokko (極光, "Aurora") was equipped with radar and upward-firing - as well as forward-firing - 20 mm cannon. A total of 97 were produced by Kawanishi, but due to inadequate high-altitude performance against B-29s, many were converted back to Ginga bombers.

Variants

Prototypes

six examples with 1,357 kW (1,820 hp) NK9C Nakajima Homare 11 engines.

P1Y1 Ginga ("Milky Way") Model 11 Japanese Navy land bomber Model 11

first model of the series.

P1Y1 Ginga Kai Model 11 Special

modified version capable of transporting 1 × Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka "Baka" (model 22).

P1Y1-S Byakko ("White Light"), Japanese Navy Night Fighter

night fighter version armed with 4 × 20 mm Type 99 cannons firing obliquely forward, and 1 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2 machine gun in the back defensive position.

File:P1Y Kyokkou Aurora or Ginga Milky Way Frances P1Y-11s.jpg

Radar equipped P1Y

P1Y2-S Kyokko ("Aurora") Japanese Navy Night Fighter

other night fighter version with new 1,380 kW (1,850 hp) Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25a engines. Armed with 2 × 20 mm Type 99s firing obliquely forward, and 1 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2 in the back defensive position.

P1Y2 Model 16

conversions of previous night fighter version.

P1Y1a/P1Y12a

similar to P1Y1/P1Y2 with 1 × 20 mm Type 99 in nose cabin and 1 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2 in back defensive position.

P1Y1b/P1Y2b

version armed with dorsal turret with 2 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2s and 1 × 20 mm Type 99 in nose cabin.

P1Y1c/P1Y2c

similar to P1Y1b/P1Y2b, but the front nose cabin cannon is replaced with 1 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2.

P1Y3-P1Y6

Different engine and turbochargers, only projects.

MXY10 Yokosuka Navy Bomber Ginga

Ground Decoy Non-flying replica of Yokosuka P1Y1

Specifications (P1Y1a)

Data from

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 15.00 m (49 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 20.00 m (65 ft 7 in)
• Height: 4.30 m (14 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 55 m² (582 ft²)
• Empty weight: 7,265 kg (16,020 lb)
• Loaded weight: 13,500 kg (29,750 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 547 km/h (295 kn, 340 mph)
• Range: 5,370 km (2,900 nmi, 3,337 mi)
• Service ceiling: 9,400 m (30,840 ft)
• Wing loading: 245 lb/m² (50 lb/ft²)

Armament

• Guns: * 1 × flexible, nose-mounted 20 mm Type 99 cannon
• 1 × flexible rear-firing 13 mm Type 2 machine gun
• Bombs: up to 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of bombs or 1 × torpedo

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Yokosuka P1Y

Related development

• Yokosuka Tenga

Comparable aircraft

• Junkers Ju 88
• Petlyakov Pe-2
• Saab 18

References

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Yokosuka P1Y".