| Mitsubishi B5M |
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| Country:
Japan |
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Type: Attack |
| Manufacturer:
Mitsubishi |
| Service:
1937 - 1945 |
| First
Flight: 1937 |
| Production:
270 |
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The Mitsubishi B5M was an Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) land-based attack aircraft with an Allied reporting name of Mabel. The IJN designation was Type 97 Number 2 Carrier Attack Bomber. The number two was to distinguish it from the Nakajima B5N, which was called Type 97 Number 1.
The B5M was designed in response to a 1935 specification for a new bomber for use on the IJN aircraft carriers. The machine was to have a crew of three, folding wings for flight deck storage, a speed of not less than 200 mph, a flight endurance of not less than 7 hours, and the ability to carry at least 1,760 pounds of bombs. A total of 270 aircraft were manufactured by Mitsubishi in two variants: 125 B5M and 145 B5M1.
Although designed as a carrier based aircraft, it was relegated to land-based torpedo bomber duties in World War II. These machines ended their careers as trainers, target tugs, and kamikaze bombers.
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| TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS ( Mitsubishi B5M1) |
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General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Length: 10.23 m (33 feet 9 inches)
- Wingspan: 15.3m (50 feet 2 inches)
- Height: 4.32 m (14 feet 2 inches)
- Wing area: 37.95 m ()
- Max takeoff weight: 4000 kg (8,819 pounds)
- Powerplant: 1 x Mitsubishi Kinsei 43, 746 kW (1,000 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 379km/h (203 mph)
- Range: 2,350 km (1,460 miles)
- Service ceiling 8,260 m (27,100 feet)
Armament
- Guns: Two fixed forward-firing 7.7 mm Type 97 machine guns(0.303 inch) mounted in wings, one 7.7 mm (0.303 inch) Type 89 machine gun in flexible mount in rear cockpit
- Bombs: up to 1,000kg (2,204lbs) of bombs carried externally
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