Aichi D1A

Last updated
D1A
Aichi D1A2.jpg
General information
Type Dive bomber
National originJapan
Manufacturer Aichi Kokuki KK
StatusRetired
Primary user Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Number built590 [1]
History
First flight1934 [2]
Retired1942

The Aichi D1A or Navy Type 94/96 Carrier Bomber (Allied reporting name "Susie" [3] ) was a Japanese carrier-based dive bomber of the 1930s. A single-engine, two-seat biplane based on the Heinkel He 50, the D1A was produced by Aichi for the Imperial Japanese Navy, remaining in service as a trainer at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The D1A was produced in two variants, the D1A1 (Navy Type 94 Carrier Bomber), and the D1A2 (Navy Type 96 Carrier Bomber, sometimes referred to as the D2A).

Contents

Design and development

The D1A came out of the Imperial Japanese Navy's need for an advanced carrier-based dive bomber, and in late 1934 the IJN ordered the finalisation of the Aichi AB-9 design which was produced as the early model D1A1. [1] However, the D1A1 was not designed by Aichi Tokei Denki Kabushiki Kaisha  [ ja ] aircraft company (later Aichi Kokuki), but by Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke at the request of the Aichi company. The initial version designed by Heinkel was the He 50, a similar model equipped with floats instead of landing gear. The subsequent model, the He 66 was provided to Aichi who immediately began production of it as the D1A1.

The design of the D1A, based on the Heinkel He 66, an export model of the He 50, was designed as a biplane constructed of metal, with a fabric covering, a fixed landing gear and a conventional type tail landing skid. Original models had 365 kW (490 hp) engines and it was not until later models that more powerful 433 kW (580 hp) engines were included in the construction.

Operational history

The D1A was primarily used in the Second Sino-Japanese War and up to the time Japan entered World War II in 1941. At the beginning of the Pacific War, all of the remaining D1A1s were decommissioned and most of the D1A2s were retired from the front lines and served primarily in training units. The exception was 68 of the D1A2 model that operated as a second-line support until being retired in 1942. [1]

Variants

D1A1 Type 94
Powered by 433 kW (580 hp) Nakajima Kotobuki 2 Kai 1 or Kotobuki 3 radial engines; 162 built. [1]
D1A2 Type 96 (Sometimes referred to as the D2A)
Improved version fitted with spatted wheels and a higher powered Nakajima Hikari 1 engine; 428 built. [1]
AB-11
Proposed development with retractable undercarriage. Not built. [4]

Operators

Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg Empire of Japan
Flag of Manchukuo.svg Manchukuo

Specifications (D1A2)

3-view drawing of the Aichi D1A Aichi D1A 3-view line drawing.png
3-view drawing of the Aichi D1A

Data fromJapanese Aircraft of the Pacific War [5] and Aircraft of World War II - 300 of the World's Greatest aircraft 1939-45 [1]

General characteristics

500 kW (670 hp) at 3,500 m (11,500 ft)

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aichi D3A</span> Imperial Japanese carrier-borne dive bomber

The Aichi D3A is a World War II carrier-borne dive bomber. It was the primary dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and was involved in almost all IJN actions, including the attack on Pearl Harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aichi B7A</span> Japanese carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber

The Aichi B7A Ryusei was a large and powerful carrier-borne torpedo-dive bomber produced by Aichi Kokuki for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during the Second World War. Built in only small numbers and deprived of the aircraft carriers it was intended to operate from, the type had little chance to distinguish itself in combat before the war ended in August 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitsubishi A5M</span> Japanese carrier-borne fighter aircraft

The Mitsubishi A5M, formal Japanese Navy designation Mitsubishi Navy Type 96 Carrier-based Fighter (九六式艦上戦闘機), experimental Navy designation Mitsubishi Navy Experimental 9-Shi Carrier Fighter, company designation Mitsubishi Ka-14, was a WWII-era Japanese carrier-based fighter aircraft. The Type number is from the last two digits of the Japanese imperial year 2596 (1936) when it entered service with the Imperial Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakajima B5N</span> Japanese attack aircraft family

The Nakajima B5N was the standard carrier-based torpedo bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) for much of World War II. It also served as a high level bomber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aichi Kokuki</span> 1898–1966 aircraft, engine and automobile manufacturer in Japan

Aichi Kokuki KK was a Japanese aerospace manufacturer which produced several designs for the Imperial Japanese Navy. After the war, the company was reorganized as Aichi Machine Industry Co., Ltd (愛知機械工業) where they made small kei cars until 1966 when they were integrated into Nissan and developed the Nissan Sunny and Nissan Vanette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakajima G8N</span> 1944 bomber aircraft family by Nakajima

The Nakajima G8N Renzan was a four-engined long-range bomber designed for use by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Navy designation was "Type 18 land-based attack aircraft" (十八試陸上攻撃機); the Allied code name was "Rita".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitsubishi Ki-57</span> Japanese transport aircraft

The Mitsubishi Ki-57 was a Japanese passenger transport aircraft, developed from the Ki-21 bomber, during the early 1940s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kawasaki Ki-32</span> Japanese light bomber

The Kawasaki Ki-32 was a Japanese light bomber aircraft of World War II. It was a single-engine, two-seat, mid-wing, cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage. An internal bomb bay accommodated a 300 kg (660 lb) offensive load, supplemented by 150 kg (330 lb) of bombs on external racks. During the war, it was known by the Allies by the name Mary. It was, however, mistakenly identified by the British as the Kawasaki Army KB-97 Mary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakajima A1N</span> Japanese carrier-based fighter

The Nakajima A1N, or Navy Type 3 Carrier Fighter, was a Japanese carrier-based fighter of the late-1920s and early-1930s. It was a licensed copy of the British Gloster Gambet fighter, built by the Nakajima Aircraft Company for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Approximately 150 were built in two versions, the A1N1 and A1N2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yokosuka B4Y</span> Japanese carrier-borne torpedo bomber

The Yokosuka B4Y was a carrier-borne torpedo bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1936 to 1943. The B4Y replaced the Mitsubishi B2M2 and the Yokosuka B3Y, and was the last biplane bomber used operationally by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Allied reporting name was "Jean". This aircraft was mistakenly identified by the British as the Nakajima Navy G-96.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakajima E4N</span> Japanese reconnaissance aircraft

The Nakajima E4N was a Japanese shipboard reconnaissance aircraft of the 1930s. It was a two-seat, single-engine, equal-span biplane seaplane used primarily by the Imperial Japanese Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakajima A2N</span> 1930s Japanese carrier-based fighter aircraft

The Nakajima A2N or Navy Type 90 Carrier Fighter was a Japanese carrier-borne fighter of the 1930s. It was a single-engined biplane of mixed construction, with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakajima E8N</span> Type of aircraft

The Nakajima E8N was a Japanese ship-borne, catapult-launched, reconnaissance seaplane of the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was a single-engine, two-seat biplane with a central main-float and underwing outriggers. During the Pacific War, it was known to the Allies by the reporting name "Dave". This aircraft was identified by the British as the Nakajima KT-95 Dave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakajima Ki-34</span> Japanese military transport aircraft

The Nakajima Ki-34 was a Japanese light transport of World War II. It was a twin-engine, low-wing monoplane; the undercarriage was of tailwheel type with retractable main units. During the Pacific War, the Allies assigned the type the reporting name Thora.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitsubishi Ki-15</span> 1936 Japanese reconnaissance aircraft

The Mitsubishi Ki-15Army Type 97 Command Reconnaissance aircraft was a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft and a light attack bomber of the Second Sino-Japanese War and Pacific War. It began as a fast civilian mail-plane. It was a single-engine, low-wing, cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage; it carried a crew of two. It served with both the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. During World War II it was code-named "Babs" by the Allies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kugisho B3Y</span> Japanese torpedo bomber

The Kugisho B3Y, or Navy Type 92 Carrier Attack Bomber, also popularly titled Yokosuka B3Y, was a Japanese carrier-based torpedo bomber of the 1930s. It was designed by the Naval Air Technical Arsenal at Yokosuka, and while unimpressive during testing, it was ordered into service by the Imperial Japanese Navy and used until replaced by more capable aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitsubishi K3M</span> Japanese trainer aircraft

The Mitsubishi K3M was a trainer built by Mitsubishi which was used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in an extremely wide variety of roles, including light transport, liaison aircraft, utility aircraft and occasionally light bomber. Its Allied reporting name was Pine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitsubishi Ki-18</span> Japanese fighter prototype

The Mitsubishi Ki-18 was an unsuccessful and unsolicited attempt by Mitsubishi to meet a 1934 requirement issued by the Japanese Army for a modern single-seat monoplane fighter suitable to the needs of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. During this competition, Nakajima entered the Nakajima Ki-11, and Kawasaki entered the more maneuverable Kawasaki Ki-10 biplane. The competition was won by Kawasaki, but the new fighter was not accepted by the IJAAF with much enthusiasm.

The Nakajima LB-2 was a long-range, land-based bomber developed in Japan for use by the Imperial Japanese Navy. When rejected for military service, the sole prototype was converted into an airliner and, known as the Akatsuki-go, was operated by Manchukuo National Airways.

The Nakajima D3N was a Japanese carrier-based dive bomber of the 1930s. Three prototypes were built for the Imperial Japanese Navy, but no production followed, with the Aichi D3A being selected instead.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Chant 1999, p.17
  2. "www.hikotai.net". Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-07-04.
  3. "Allied Code Names for..." Retrieved 2007-04-17.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 79.
  5. Francillon, René (March 1987). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War (2nd (American) ed.). Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 268–271. ISBN   978-0870213137.