Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" IJN Carrier Soryu, Pearl Harbor, 1941 (1:72)

The Nakajima B5N1 first flew in January 1937. It was quite unique for a carrier-aircraft with its low mono wing that folded for storage and wide-track inward folding retractable landing gear. The new Kates were far superior to its competition, the TBD Devastator and the Fairey Swordfish however it did have its shortcomings. It was very poorly armed for self defense and required A5M escort protection. Also the crew and fuel tanks had no protection. The B5N1 was replaced by the improved B5N2.

For this mission aircraft from the Siryu wore BI- and a single blue band around the rear of the fuselage. The BI-312 was believed to be flown by Juzo Mori, Lt Nagai's #2 wingman at Pearl Harbor. The Soryu had a complement of 60 aircraft comprised of 24 Zekes, 18 Vals, 18 Kates. As part of the first wave to attack Pearl Harbor their mission was to strike the battleships USS Nevada, Tennessee and West Virginia with armor piercing bombs. The battleships USS Utah, California and the light-cruisers Helena and Raleigh were to be destroyed with torpedoes. Another target were the grounded aircraft at Barbers Point. As well as the newer B5N2's there were 103 of the older B5N1's used at pearl Harbor.

Specifications Nakajima B5N2

Type 97, model 3

Allied Reporting Name - Kate

Crew - 3 X (pilot, commander, reargunner/radio operator)

Dimensions
Length - 33 ft 9.5 in (10.30 m)
Wingspan - 50 ft 11 in (15.52 m)
Height - 12 ft 1.6 in (3.70 m)

Weights
Empty weight - 5,024 lb (2,279 kg)
Loaded weight - 8,380 lb (3,800 kg)
Max takeoff weight - 9,040 lb (4,100 kg)

Performance
Engine - 1 X Nakajima Sakae 11 radial engine, 750 kW (1,000 hp)
Maximum speed - 235 mph (378 km/h, 204 kn)
Range - 1,237 mi (1,992 km, 1,075 NM)
Service ceiling - 27,100 ft (8,260 m)
Rate of climb - 1,283 ft/min (6.5 m/s)

Armament

Guns
1 X 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun 'Ru' (Lewis) rear dorsal, hand-loaded drum magazines - 97 rounds.

Bombs
1 X 1,760 lb (800 kg) type 91 torpedo
or
1 X 1,760lb (800kg) bomb
or
3 X 550 lb (250 kg) bombs
or
6 X 293 lb (132 kg) bombs