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Subject: Aichi D3A
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aichi_D3A
The Aichi D3A, (Allied reporting name "Val") was a World War II carrier-borne
dive bomber. It was the primary dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN),
and participated in almost all IJN actions, including the attack on Pearl
Harbor. The Aichi D3A was the first Japanese aircraft to bomb American targets
in the war, commencing with Pearl Harbor and U.S. bases in the Philippines, such
as Clark Air Force Base. Vals sank more Allied warships than any other Axis
aircraft, despite being considered obsolescent when the war started.
The Aichi design started with low-mounted elliptical wings inspired by the
Heinkel He 70 Blitz. It flew slowly enough that the drag from the landing gear
was not a serious issue, so fixed gear was used for simplicity. The aircraft was
to be powered by the 529 kW (709 hp) Nakajima Hikari 1 nine-cylinder radial
engine.
The second aircraft was extensively modified prior to delivery to try to address
the problems. Power was increased by replacing the Hikari with the 626 kW (839
hp) Mitsubishi Kinsei 3 in a redesigned cowling, and the vertical tail was
enlarged to help with the directional instability. The wings were slightly
larger in span and the outer sections of the leading edges had wash-out to
combat the snap rolls, and strengthened dive brakes were fitted. These changes
cured all of the problems except the directional instability, and it was enough
for the D3A1 to win over the Nakajima D3N1.
Role
Carrier-based dive bomber
Manufacturer
Aichi Kokuki KK
First flight
January 1938
Introduction
1940
Primary user
Imperial Japanese Navy
Number built
1,486
(470 D3A1)
(1,016 D3A2)
Starting with the attack on Pearl Harbor, the D3A1 took part in all major
Japanese carrier operations in the first 10 months of the war. They achieved
their first major success against the Royal Navy during their Indian Ocean raid
in April 1942. Val dive bombers scored over 80% hits with their bombs during
attacks on two heavy cruisers and an aircraft carrier during the operation.
During the course of the war, Val dive bombers often combined their attacks upon
enemy warships with the IJN Kate torpedo bomber; consequently enemy vessels were
often sunk by a combination strike of bombs and torpedoes. However, there were
occasions when just the Vals would make the attacks, or at least score the
sinking hits. Discounting the Pearl Harbor strike, which also used the Nakajima
B5N for level bombing and torpedo attacks, Val dive bombers were credited with
sinking the following Allied warships:
Allied warships sunk by Aichi D3As; type, nation, date of loss, location
USS Peary, American destroyer, 19 February 1942 - Australia (Darwin)
USS Pope, American destroyer, 1 March 1942 - Pacific Ocean
HMS Cornwall, British heavy cruiser, 5 April 1942 - Indian Ocean
HMS Dorsetshire, British heavy cruiser, 5 April 1942 - Indian Ocean
HMS Hector, British armed merchant cruiser, 5 April 1942 - Indian Ocean
HMS Tenedos, British destroyer, 5 April 1942 - Indian Ocean
HMS Hermes, British aircraft carrier, 9 April 1942 - Indian Ocean
HMAS Vampire, Australian destroyer, 9 April 1942 - Indian Ocean
USS Sims, American destroyer, 7 May 1942 - Pacific Ocean
USS De Haven, American destroyer, 1 February 1943 - Pacific Ocean
USS Aaron Ward, American destroyer, 7 April 1943 - Pacific Ocean
USS Brownson, American destroyer, 26 December 1943 - Pacific Ocean
USS Abner Read, American destroyer, sunk by kamikaze 1 November 1944 - Pacific
Ocean
USS William D. Porter, American destroyer, sunk by kamikaze 10 June 1945 - Japan
(Okinawa)
Specifications (D3A1)
General characteristics
Crew: Two (pilot and gunner)
Length: 10.2 m (33 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 14.37 m (47 ft 2 in)
Height: 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in)
Empty weight: 2,408 kg (5,309 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,650 kg (8,047 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 389 km/h (205 kn, 242 mph (389 km/h))
Range: 1,472 km (795 nmi, 915 mi (1,473 km))
Service ceiling: 9,300 m (30,500 ft)
Armament
Specifications (D3A2)
General characteristics
Crew: Two (pilot and gunner)
Length: 10.2 m (33 ft 5.4 in)
Wingspan: 14.37 m (47 ft 2 in)
Height: 3.8 m (12 ft 7.5 in)
Empty weight: 2,570 kg (5,666 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 4,122 kg (9,100 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 430 km/h (232 kn, 267 mph (430 km/h))
Range: 1,352 km (730 nmi, 840 mi (1,350 km))
Service ceiling: 10,500 m (34,450 ft)
Rate of climb: 8.62 m/s (1,869.685 ft/min)
Armament
*
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