https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokosuka_P1Y
The Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (??, "Galaxy") 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 reporting name "Frances".
The P1Y was designed by the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal to Navy
specification 15-Shi, calling for a fast bomber with 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 the result, the construction suffered
from excess complexity, difficulty of manufacture, and poor serviceability.
Problems with the availability of enough reliable Nakajima Homare engines led to
their replacement by the Mitsubishi Kasei in the P1Y2-S night-fighter version.
The streamlined design of the Ginga is attributed to Miki Tadanao, an engineer
who after World War II went on to create a similar aerodynamic design for
Japan's earliest `bullet trains` (Shinkansen), while working with the Japan
National Railways (JNR).
Role
Attack bomber
National origin
Empire of Japan
Manufacturer
Nakajima
Kawanishi (P1Y2 series only)
First flight
August 1943
Introduction
October 1944[1]
Retired
1945
Primary user
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Number built
1,102
The first flight was in August 1943. Nakajima manufactured 1,002 examples, which
were operated by five Kokutai (Air Groups), and acted as land-based medium and
torpedo bombers from airfields in China, Taiwan, Marianas, Philippines, Ryukyu,
Shikoku, and Kyushu. During the last stages of the war the P1Y was utilized as a
kamikaze aircraft against the United States Navy during the Okinawa Campaign in
Operation Tan No. 2.
A night fighter version, the P1Y2-S Kyokko (??, "Aurora"), with Mitsubishi Kasei
as forward-firing 20 mm cannon. A total of 96 were produced by Kawanishi,[5] but
due to inadequate high-altitude performance against B-29s, many were converted
back to Ginga bombers
Specifications (P1Y1a)
General characteristics
Crew: 3
Length: 15.00 m (49 ft 2? in)
Empty weight: 7,265 kg (16,020 lb)
Loaded weight: 10,500 kg (23,149 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 13,500 kg (29,762 lb)
(1,825 hp) (take-off) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 547 km/h (295 knot, 340 mph) at 5,900 m (19,400 ft)
Cruise speed: 370 km/h (200 knots, 230 mph) at 4,000 m (13,125 ft)
Range: 5,370 km (2,900 nmi, 3,337 mi)
Service ceiling: 9,400 m (30,840 ft)
Power/mass: 0.20 kW/kg (0.16 hp/lb)
Armament
Guns:
*
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