| B1M | |
|---|---|
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| Role | Torpedo bomber
Type of aircraft
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| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi |
| First flight | 1923 |
| Introduction | 1924 |
| Primary user | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Number built | 443 |
| Variants | Mitsubishi 2MB1 |
The Mitsubishi B1M was a Japanese torpedo bomber of the 1920s, also known as the Navy Type 13 Carrier-Borne Attack Aircraft. It was designed and built by Mitsubishi and used in combat against China. The aircraft was used by the air services of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army.
While working with the Mitsubishi company, the British aircraft designer Herbert Smith designed the 2MT1 two-seat biplane torpedo bomber which flew for the first time in January 1923.[1] It went into Japanese Navy service as the Type 13-1 carrier-borne attack aircraftorB1M1, and was followed by the 2MT2 and 2MT3 variants (also designated B1M1). The redesigned Type 13-2 was designated B1M2. The final version, the Type 13-3orB1M3, had the company designation 3MT2 and was a three-seater. Total production was 443.[1] The B1M was powered by a 450 hp (340 kW) Napier LionorHispano-Suiza engine according to version.
The type entered service in 1924 and served into the 1930s, 32 flying from the aircraft carriers Kaga and Hōshō during the Shanghai Incident in 1932.[1] An aircraft from Kaga was lost during an aerial engagement between an American air force adviser and demonstration pilot to the Chinese government, Robert Short, who also lost his life, and regarded as a hero defending the Chinese city against the Japanese aircraft.[2] Four days later, a 15-aircraft formation composed of Nakajima A1N fighters and B1Ms attacked Qiaosi Airbase in Hangzhou, and in the ensuing dogfight, at least one Chinese Junkers K 47 fighter was shot down.[3]
From 1929, a number of surplus B1Ms were converted for civilian use, being fitted with an enclosed cabin for passengers or cargo.
JapanData from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft [1]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
容克斯K-47首战上海: 1932年"1·28"事变爆发后，中国派出9架各型军机调往上海虹桥机场增援, 并与当日与日本发生空战, 但战斗双方都无损失. 2月26日集中在杭州附近乔司机场待命的我国25架战机突遭日军"中岛"3式战斗机和"中岛"13式攻击机组成的15机编队偷袭, 第2队队长石邦藩、射击手沈延世驾驶P-7号容克斯K-47双座战斗机率先起飞应敌, 淞沪之战以来最激烈的一场空战由此展开.
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Mitsubishi aircraft
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| Imperial Japanese Army short designations |
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| Imperial Japanese Navy short designations |
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| Fighters (A) |
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| Torpedo bombers (B) |
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| Shipboard reconnaissance (C) |
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| Dive bombers (D) |
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| Reconnaissance seaplanes (E) |
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| Observation seaplanes (F) |
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| Land-based bombers (G) |
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| Flying Boats (H) |
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| Land-based Fighters (J) |
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| Trainers (K) |
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| Transports (L) |
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| Special-purpose (M)1 |
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| Floatplane fighters (N) |
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| Land-based bombers (P) |
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| Patrol (Q) |
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| Land-based reconnaissance (R) |
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| Night fighters (S) |
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1 X as second letter is for experimental aircraft or imported technology demonstrators not intended for service, 2 Hyphenated trailing letter (-J, -K, -L, -N or -S) denotes design modified for secondary role, 3 Possibly incorrect designation, but used in many sources | |
