Mitsubishi G4M

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", lit. "leaf roll") due to its cylindrical shape.

The G4M had very good performance, especially in respect of range; this was
achieved by its structural lightness and an almost total lack of protection for
the crew, with no armor plating or self-sealing fuel tanks. These omissions
proved to be the aircraft's 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.

When used for medium- to high-altitude bombing against stationary land targets
like supply depots, seaports or airfields, it was much harder to intercept.
Using its long range and high speed, the G4M could appear from any direction,
and then it could be gone before any fighters intercepted them. The 20 mm cannon
in its tail turret was much heavier armament than was commonly carried by
bombers of either side, making aerial attacks from the rear quite dangerous for
the Allied fighter aircraft. Sometimes, assuming they did not catch fire after
being hit in the wings by flak from the ground or by machine gun bullets from
enemy fighters, G4Ms also proved to be able to remain airborne despite being
badly damaged. For example, after the attack of the 751 Kokutai (air group) on
the USS Chicago (CA-29) during the Battle of Rennell Island, three out of four
surviving aircraft (of the original eleven) returned despite flying with only
one engine.

Production

* G4M1 Model 11: 1172 examples (including prototypes)

* G4M2 models 22, 22 Ko and 22 Otsu: 429 examples

* G4M2a, models 24, 24 Ko, 24 Otsu, 24 Hei, and 24 Tei: 713 examples

* G4M3 models 34 Ko, 34 Otsu, and 34 Hei: 91 examples

* G6M1: 30 examples

Total production of all versions: 2,435 examples


Role
Medium bomber

Manufacturer
Mitsubishi

Designer
Kiro Honjo

First flight
23 October 1939

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.

The G4M was first used in combat on 13 September 1940 in Mainland China, when 27
"Bettys" and Mitsubishi C5Ms of 1st Rengo Kokutai (a mixed force including
elements of the Kanoya and Kizarazu Kokutai) departed from Taipei, Omura, and
Jeju City to attack Hankow. The bombers and the reconnaissance aircraft were
escorted by 13 A6M Zeros of 12thKokutai led by the IJN lieutenant, Saburo
Shindo. A similar operation occurred in May 1941. In December 1941, 107 G4Ms
based on Formosa of 1st Kokutai and Kanoya Kokutai belonging to the 21st Koku
Sentai (air flotilla) crossed the Luzon Strait en route to bombing the
Philippines; this was the beginning of Japanese invasions in the Southwest
Pacific Theater.

The G4M's most notable use as a torpedo bomber was in the sinking of Prince of
Wales and Repulse off the eastern coast of Malaya on 10 December 1941. The G4Ms
attacked along with older Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" bombers, which made high-level
bombing runs. Prince of Wales and Repulse were the first two capital ships to be
sunk exclusively by air attacks during a war, while in open waters. The bomber
crews were from the Kanoya Air Group of Kanoya Kokutai (751 Ku), Genzan Air
Group of Genzan Kokutai (753 Ku), and the Mihoro Air Group of Mihoro Kokutai
(701 Ku), trained in torpedo attacks at an altitude of less than 10 metres (30
ft), and in long-range over-ocean navigation, so they could attack naval targets
moving quickly at sea. Nine G4Ms participated in the long range bombing raid of
Katherine, Northern Territory, on 22 March 1942 (the deepest inland attack on
Australian territory during the war at over 200 miles from the coast). G4Ms
later made many attacks against Allied ships and also land targets during the
six-month-long Guadalcanal Campaign (in the Solomon Islands) in late 1942.

On 8 August 1942, during the second day of the U.S. Marine landings on
Guadalcanal, 23 IJNAF torpedo-carrying G4M1s attacked American ships at Lunga
Point. 18 of the G4M1s were shot down, by very heavy anti-aircraft fire and
carrier-based F4F fighters. In all 18 Japanese crews – approximately 120
aviators – were lost at the beginning of August 1942. More than 100 G4M1s and
their pilots and crews were lost (with no replacements or substitutes available)
during the many battles over and near Guadalcanal (August to October 1942). In
the two days of the Battle of Rennell Island, 29 and 30 January 1943, 10 out of
43 G4M1s were shot down during night torpedo attacks, all by U.S. Navy
anti-aircraft fire. About 70 Japanese aviators, including Lieutenant Commander
Higai, were killed during that battle.

Probably the best-known incident involving a G4M during the war was the attack
resulting in the death of Admiral Yamamoto. On 18 April 1943, sixteen P-38
Lightnings of the 339th Fighter Squadron of the 347th Fighter Group, Thirteenth
Air Force, shot down a G4M1 of the 705th Kokutai with the tailcode "T1-323",
carrying Admiral Yamamoto.

Specifications (G4M1, Model 11)

General characteristics
Crew: 7 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator/bombardier/nose gunner, captain/top turret
gunner, radio operator/waist gunner, engine mechanic/waist gunner, tail gunner)
Length: 19.97 m (65 ft 6¼ in)
Wingspan: 24.89 m (81 ft 7¾ in)
Height: 4.9 m (16 ft 1 in (in a horizontal position))
Wing area: 78.13 m² (840.9 ft²)
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)
Powerplant: 2 × Mitsubishi MK4A-11 "Kasei" 14 cylinder radial engines, 1,141 kW
(1,530 hp) each
Propellers: 3-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

Guns: 1× 20 mm Type 99 cannon (tail turret), 4× 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun (nose
turret ×1, waist positions ×2, top turret ×1)
Bombs: 1× 858 kg (1,892 lb) Type 91 Kai-3 (improved model 3) aerial torpedo or
1× 800 kg (1,764 lb) bomb or 4× 250 kg (551 lb) bombs





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