Crew: 1
Performance:
Powerplant: 1 × 710 hp Nakajima Ha-1b Army Type 97 engine
Max Speed At 11,480 Feet: 292 mph
Cruising Speed: 217 mph
Maximum Range: 1,060 miles
Ceiling: 40,190 feet
5 minutes, 22 seconds to 16,400 feet
Weight: 2,447 lbs empty
3,946 lbs loaded
Dimensions:
Wing Span: 37 feet, 1¼ inches
Length: 24 feet, 8½ inches
Height: 10 feet, 8 inches
Wing Area: 199.777 square feet
Armament: 2 × 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns, 220 pounds of bombs.
Comments: Although obsolescent, “Nates” were highly maneuverable and formed the backbone of the JAAF during the early months of the Pacific War. At the outbreak of hostilities it was being phased out and replaced by Ki-43 “Oscars.” Though it had fixed landing gear, the “Nate” remained competitive against Allied fighter opposition well into the latter years of the war.
Crew: 1
Performance:
Powerplant: 1 × 980 hp Nakajima Ha-25, Army Type 99 engine
Max Speed At 13,120 Feet: 308 mph
Cruising Speed: 199 mph
Maximum Range: 745 miles
Ceiling: 38,500 feet
5 minutes, 30 seconds to 16,400 feet
Weight: 3,483 lbs empty
5,695 lbs loaded
Dimensions:
Wing Span: 37 feet, 6¼ inches
Length: 28 feet, 11¾ inches
Height: 10 feet, 8¾ inches
Wing Area: 236.805 square feet
Armament: 2 × 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns with maximum bomb load of 66 pounds.
Comments: Just as maneuverable as the A6M “Zero,” “Oscar” was an extremely dangerous opponent for Allied fighters, although it suffered the same weaknesses as its naval counterpart, including a substantial lack of armor. It was just entering service and replacing the “Nate” during the initial drive into the Pacific. Among the “Oscar’s” other primary shortfalls was an initially weak armament.
Crew: 1
Performance:
Powerplant: 1 × 785 hp Nakajima Kotobuki 41 or 41 KAJ engine
Max Speed At 9,840 Feet: 270 mph
Maximum Range: 746 miles
Ceiling: 32,150 feet
3 minutes, 35 seconds to 9,840 feet
Weight: 2,681 lbs empty
3,684 lbs loaded
Dimensions:
Wing Span: 36 feet, 1¼ inches
Length: 24 feet, 9¾ inches
Height: 10 feet, 8¾ inches
Wing Area: 191.597 square feet
Armament: 2 × 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns, maximum bomb load of 132lbs.
Comments: Similar to the JAAF’s “Nate” in performance and armament, “Claude” was the IJN’s first monoplane fighter. Although almost entirely replaced by the A6M “Zero” in December 1941, the “Claude” still equipped squadrons aboard three light carriers.
Crew: 1
Performance:
Powerplant: 1 × 950 hp Nakajima NK1C Sakae 12 engine
Max Speed At 14,930 Feet: 332 mph
Cruising Speed: 207 mph
Maximum Range: 1,930 miles
Ceiling: 32,810 feet
7 minutes, 27 seconds to 19,685 feet
Weight: 3,704 lbs empty
6,164 lbs loaded
Dimensions:
Wing Span: 39 feet, 4½ inches
Length: 29 feet, 8¾ inches
Height: 10 feet
Wing Area: 241.541 square feet
Armament: 2 × 20mm Type 99 cannon, 2 × 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns with provisions for a 264-pound bomb load.
Comments: The “Zero” comprised over 60 percent of all IJN fighter units when Pacific War broke out and formed backbone of the IJN fighter corps for entire war. It was a primary reason for the overwhelming success of Japanese onslaught during early days of the Pacific War.
Type: Heavy Bomber
Crew: 5-7
Performance:
Powerplant: 2 × 1,500 hp Mitsubishi Ha-101, Army Type 1 engines
Max Speed At 15,485 Feet: 302 mph
Cruising Speed: 236 mph
Maximum Range: 1,680 miles
Ceiling: 32,810 feet
13 minutes, 13 seconds to 19,685 feet
Weight: 13,382 lbs empty
23,391 lbs loaded
Dimensions:
Wing Span: 73 feet, 9¾ inches
Length: 52 feet, 6 inches
Height: 15 feet, 11 inches
Wing Area: 749.165 square feet
Armament: 5 × 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns, 1 × 12.7mm Type 1 machine gun, maximum bomb load of 2,205lbs.
Comments: The primary JAAF bomber during the early months of the Pacific War. Although successful in the early months of the war due to weak Allied fighter forces, performance fell dramatically as superior fighter resistance unmasked limitations of the “Sally.”
Mitsubishi G4M1 Model 11 “Betty”
Type: Medium Bomber
Crew: 7
Performance:
Powerplant: 2 × 1,530 hp Mitsubishi MK4A Kasei 11 engines
Max Speed At 13,780 Feet: 266 mph
Cruising Speed: 196 mph
Maximum Range: 3,748 miles
Ceiling: ?
18 minutes to 22,965 feet
Weight: 14,991 lbs empty
20,944 lbs loaded
Dimensions:
Wing Span: 82 feet, ¼ inch
Length: 65 feet, 7½ inches
Height: 19 feet, 8¼ inches
Wing Area: 840.927 square feet
Armament: 4 × 7.7mm Type 92 machine guns, 1 × 20mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon and a maximum bomb load of 1,764 pounds or one torpedo.
Comments: The “Betty” formed the backbone of the IJN’s bomber force throughout the Pacific War and was the most frequently encountered bomber in the East Indies. There were 120 operational at the time of Pearl Harbor. As with the “Sally” the “Betty” provided excellent service in the early stages of the war; however, as Allied fighter resistance stiffened, performance dropped dramatically.
Type: Bomber
Crew: 7
Performance:
Powerplant: 2 × 1,075 hp Mitsubishi Kinsei 41, 42 or 45 engines
Max Speed At 13,715 Feet: 232 mph
Cruising Speed: 173 mph
Maximum Range: 2,722 miles
Ceiling: 29,950 feet
8 minutes, 19 seconds to 9,840 feet
Weight: 10,936 lbs empty
17,637 lbs loaded
Dimensions:
Wing Span: 82 feet, ¼ inch
Length: 53feet, 11½ inches
Height: 12 feet, 1 inch
Wing Area: 807.3 square feet
Armament: 4 × 7.7mm Type 92 machine guns, 1 × 20mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon, maximum bomb load of 1,764 pounds or 1 torpedo.
Comments: First entered service 1937 and was obsolete by 1941. 200+ were operational and on front-line duty at outbreak of the Pacific War, but were in the process of being phased out and replaced by G4M1s.
Type: Long-Range Reconnaissance Floatplane
Crew: 3
Performance:
Powerplant: 1 × 1,080 hp Mitsubishi Kinsei 43 engine
Max Speed At 7,155 Feet: 234 mph
Cruising Speed: 138 mph
Maximum Range: 1,298 miles
Ceiling: 28,640 feet
6 minutes, 5 seconds to 9,840 feet
Weight: 5,825 lbs empty
12,192 lbs loaded
Dimensions:
Wing Span: 47 feet, 7 inches
Length: 37 feet, 1 inch
Height: 15 feet, 5 inches
Wing Area: 387.5 square feet
Armament: 1 × 7.7mm Type 92 machine gun; maximum bomb load of 551 pounds.
Comments: Entered service late 1941, serving aboard large warships and aircraft tenders. Was replacing the E8N2 “Dave.”
Type: Short-Range Reconnaissance Floatplane
Crew: 2
Performance:
Powerplant: 1 × 630 hp Nakajima Kotobuki 2 KAI 2 engine
Max Speed At 9,840 Feet: 186 mph
Cruising Speed: 115 mph
Maximum Range: 559 miles
Ceiling: 23,850 feet
6 minutes, 31 seconds to 9,840 feet
Weight: 2,901 lbs empty
4,189 lbs loaded
Dimensions:
Wing Span: 36 feet, ¼ inch
Length: 28 feet, 10¾ inches
Height: 12 feet, 7¾ inches
Wing Area: 285.24 square feet
Armament: 2 × 7.7mm machine guns; maximum bomb load of 132 pounds.
Comments: “Dave” was found aboard virtually all capital ships, heavy cruisers and seaplane tenders, together with the “Jake,” which was in the process of replacing it.
Type: Short-Range Reconnaissance Floatplane
Crew: 3
Performance:
Powerplant: 1 × 870 hp Mitsubishi Zuisei 11 engine
Max Speed At 9,840 Feet: 171 mph
Cruising Speed: 115 mph
Maximum Range: 1,147 miles
Ceiling: 23,165 feet
9 minutes, 6 seconds to 9,840 feet
Weight: 4,360 lbs empty
7,275 lbs loaded
Dimensions:
Wing Span: 45 feet, 11¾ inches
Length: 34 feet, 5½ inches
Height: 15 feet, 10½ inches
Wing Area: 469.31 square feet
Armament: 3 × 7.7mm machine guns; maximum bomb load of 264 pounds.
Comments: Despite being obsolete at the start of the Pacific War, “Alf” was both rugged and easy to fly, making it highly popular with aircrews that flew it. This versatile aircraft operated aboard older Japanese Navy cruisers, seaplane tenders and with shore-based units in a wide range of roles, including reconnaissance, A/S support and convoy escort until mid-1943 when replaced by the “Jake.”