©
1997 Joao Paulo Juliao Matsuura
Mitsubishi G3M
Allied Code Name: "Nell"
(Scanned from René J. Francillion "Japanese
Aircraft of the Pacific War" - Putnam - 1979)
UNITS ALLOCATED
- 762nd, 1001st, Chitose, Genzan, Kanoya, Kisarasu, Matsushima, Mihoro,
Misawa, Ominato and Takao Kokutais.
TECHNICAL DATA
Description: Twin-engined bomber (G3M series) and transport
(L3Y series). All-metal construction with fabric-covered control surfaces.
Accommodation: Normal crew of five (Ka-15, G3M1 and G3M2 Model
12) or seven (G3M2 Model 22 and G3M3).
- Powerplant:
- Two Hiro Type 91 twelve-cylinder liquid-cooled engines, rated at
750 hp for take-off and 600 hp at sea level, driving a four-blade fixed-pitch
propellers (1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th Ka-15 prototypes).
- Two Mitsubishi Kinsei 2 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated
at 830 hp for take-off and 680 hp at 1,500 m, driving four-blade fixed-pitch
wooden propellers (3rd, 7th to 10th and 12th through 21st Ka-15 prototypes).
- Two Mitsubishi Kinsei 3 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated
at 910 hp for take-off and 790 hp at 2,000 m, driving either four-blade
fixed-pitch wooden propellers or three-blade variable-pitch metal propellers
(4th and 11th Ka-15 prototypes, G3M1 and L3Y1).
- Two Mitsubishi Kinsei 41 or 42 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials,
rated at 1,075 hp for take-off and 990 hp at 2,800 m, driving three-blade
variable-pitch metal propellers (G3M2).
- Two Mitsubishi Kinsei 45 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated
at 1,075 hp for take-off and 1,000 hp at 4,180 m, driving three-blade variable-pitch
metal propellers (G3M2 and L3Y2).
- Two Mitsubishi Kinsei 51 fourteen-cylinder air cooled-radials, rated
at 1,300 hp for take-off and 1,200 hp at 3,000 m, driving three-blade variable-pitch
metal propellers (G3M3).
- Armament:
- One flexible 7.7 mm Type 92 machine-gun in each of the two retractable
dorsal turrets and one retractable ventral turret (Ka-15, G3M1 and G3M2
Model 21).
- One flexible 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon in a dorsal turret, and
one flexible 7.7 mm Type 92 machine-gun in each of the lateral blisters
and a retractable dorsal turret. A fourth flexible 7.7 Type 92 machine-gun
could be fired from cockpit windows (G3M2 Model 22 and G3M3).
- One flexible 7.7 mm Type 92 machine-gun in a dorsal turret (L3Y1
and L3Y2).
- Bomb-load: one 800 kg torpedo or 800 kg of bombs carried externally
under the fuselage.