Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga (Frances)

History of Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga (France)

The twin-engine combat platform was popular with the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II (1939-1945) - it provided a viable bomb load, powerful performance and the operational range needed to cover the Pacific. The mid-war development of the twin-engine bomber became the Yokosuka P1Y "Ginga" (meaning "Galaxy"), which was developed for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) but intended to serve on established land bases. By the end of the war, production had reached 1,102.

The Allies gave the bomber the codename "Francis".

The Yokosuka Naval Aviation Technical Arsenal is driving a new modernization that will combine the operational range, firepower and performance of the best platforms available to the IJN at the time. In addition to conventional-level bombing, it should include dive-bombing and torpedo-bombing capabilities to create a more diverse range of battlefield performers. Engineers opted for a traditional single-wing design, with two engines integrated into the leading edge of each wing. The nose section of the aircraft is glass to allow for a good view from the cockpit and bombardment.

The main-wing aircraft is a mid-mounted attachment, while the tail has a traditional single-rudder shape. "Tail" landing gear was used. The operator will be in third place. Dimensions include a length of 49 feet, a wingspan of 65.5 feet and a height of 14 feet.

Curb weight is 16,000 lbs and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 29,765 lbs.

The engines are 2 x Nakajima NK9C "Homare 12" series 18 cylinder radial piston engines, each producing 1,825 hp. Performance specs include a top speed of 340 mph, a cruising speed of 230 mph, a range of up to 3,340 miles, and a service ceiling of up to 30,840 feet.

In addition to an internal bomb load of 2,205 lb (or 1 x 1,800 lb torpedo), the aircraft typically carries defensive armament such as 1 x 20mm Type 99 gun in the nose and 1 13mm Type 2 rear mounted with Guns with trainable brackets).

The first flight of the P1Y prototype took place in August 1943, which resulted in a contract order for 1,002 aircraft from the Nakajima plant. In the end, a total of 12 prototypes were built for testing, mainly equipped with the Homare 11 series radial.

Production ranged from the original P1Y1 with a Homare 11 or Homare 12 engine to 30 P1Y1 ground attack forms (these were armed with a 20x20mm Type 99 cannon and were designed to target American B-29s on the ground). A non-flying ground replica, designated "MXY10", was also built for decoy purposes.

Production peaked in 1944, with 620 of all models delivered, followed by another 434 in the first half of 1945.

The P1Y was introduced in October 1944 and the model remained in service until the end of the war in August 1945. By this time, the situation in Japan had deteriorated to the point where P1Y bombers were being used as kamikaze weapons against Allied warships. This was demonstrated in the Okinawa attack, which paved the way for the Japanese surrender.

At the end of the war, at least three P1Y prototypes were shipped to the United States for testing.

A notable offshoot of the P1Y program became the P1Y2 "Kyokko" ("Aurora"), which was the Night Fighter/Night Raider version of the original. Kawanishi undertook the construction of 96 of these aircraft, powered by Mitsubishi Kasei engines (due to the increasing scarcity of Homare engines) and equipped with radar suites. The armament includes an oblique firing system that allows the bomber to be attacked from a more vulnerable underbelly.

However, this design did not perform well in engagements with enemy Boeing B-29 Superfortresses and was therefore reconfigured into a traditional bomber role before the end.

Over 20 IJN squadrons deployed the P1Y, including the 302nd National Body which became the only night battle group.

Specification

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