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Subject: Mitsubishi G4M
Date: 8 Nov 2016 18:15:35 -0800
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_G4M
The Mitsubishi G4M (long designation: Mitsubishi Navy Type 1 attack bomber:
???????, ???? Isshiki rikujo kogeki ki, Isshikirikko) was the main twin-engine,
land-based bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War
II. The Allies gave the G4M the reporting name Betty. Japanese Navy pilots
called it "??" "hamaki" ("cigar", literally "leaf roll"), due to its cylindrical
shape.
The G4M had very good performance, especially range, which was achieved by its
structural lightness and an almost total lack of protection for its crew, with
no armor plating or self-sealing fuel tanks. These omissions proved to be its
weakness when confronted with American fighter aircraft during the Pacific War.
The G4M was designed for a long range and high speed at the time of its
introduction. Consequently, several weight-saving measures were incorporated
into the design, such as dispensing with self-sealing fuel tanks and armor,
which caused Allied fighter pilots to give it derisive nicknames such as "the
one-shot lighter", "the flying Zippo" and "the flying cigar" because of their
tendency to explode or catch on fire from any slight damage to the wing fuel
tanks after being hit by aerial machine gun fire or ground-based anti-aircraft
fire. Similarly, pilots of the Imperial Japanese Navy despairingly called the
G4M the "type one lighter", the "flying lighter" and the "hamaki" ("cigar").
This was partially due to the fact that on many occasions, the G4M was used for
low-altitude torpedo attacks on ships during which their performance advantages
were negated. The G4M was frequently shot down by anti-aircraft artillery fire,
and even by small arms. The G4M's relatively large size made it an easy gunnery
target, and the predictable approach path required for a torpedo run made for a
generally easy interception by Allied fighter aircraft.
Role
Medium bomber
Manufacturer
Mitsubishi
Designer
Kiro Honjo
First flight
1940
Introduction
June 1941
Retired
1945
Primary user
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Number built
2,435
The G4M was similar in performance and missions to other contemporary
twin-engine bombers such as the German Heinkel He 111 and the American North
American B-25 Mitchell. These were all commonly used in anti-ship roles. The G4M
Model 11 was prominent in attacks on Allied shipping from 1941 to early 1944,
but after that it became increasingly easy prey for Allied fighters.
As a torpedo bomber, the G4M's most notable use was in the sinking of Prince of
Wales and Repulse off the eastern coast of British Malaya on 10 December 1941.
The G4Ms carried out the attacks along with the older Japanese bombers, the
Mitsubishi G3M "Nells" which were doing high-level bombing runs. The battleship
Prince of Wales and the battle cruiser Repulse were the first two large capital
ships to be sunk exclusively by air attacks during a war, while in open waters.
Probably the best-known incident involving a G4M during the war was the attack
attacked and shot down by Lockheed P-38 Lightnings from the 339th Fighter
Squadron of the 347th Fighter Group, Thirteenth Air Force, USAAF on 18 April
1943.
Specifications (G4M1, Model 11)
General characteristics
Crew: 7 (main-pilot, co-pilot, navigator/bombardier/nose gunner, captain/top
turret gunner, radio operator/waist gunner, engine mechanic/waist gunner, tail
gunner)
Height: 4.9 m (16 ft 1 in (in a horizontal position))
Airfoil: Mitsubishi type
Empty weight: 6,741 kg (14,860 lb)
Loaded weight: 9,500 kg (20,944 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 12,860 kg (28,350 lb)
(1,530 hp) each
Propellers: 4-bladed Hamilton Standard licensed Sumitomo constant speed
variable-pitch
Performance
Maximum speed: 428 km/h (230 knots, 265 mph)
Cruise speed: 315 km/h (175 knots, 196 mph)
Stall speed: 120 km/h (75 mph)
Range: 2,852 km, one way (1,540 nmi, 1,771 mi, one way (overloaded: 5,040 km
(2721 nmi, 3,132 mi)))
Service ceiling: 8,500 m (27,890 ft)
Rate of climb: 550 m/min (1,800 ft/min)
Armament
*
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