Mitsubishi G1M

G1M
Role	Long-range reconnaissance aircraft and attack bomber
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi
First flight	April 1934
Status	Prototype only
Number built	1

The Mitsubishi G1M was a long-range twin-engined Attack Bomber built by Mitsubishi for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the 1930s.

Design and development

The sole prototype G1M, initially designated Mitsubishi Navy Experimental 8-Shi Special Reconnaissance Aircraft and re-designated Mitsubishi Navy Experimental 8-Shi Land based Medium Attack Aircraft before first flight, was a predecessor of the Mitsubishi G3M, an important step for the Navy air force towards more capable land-based bombers such as the Mitsubishi G4M "Betty".

There is sometimes confusion between this aircraft and the Mitsubishi 3MT5 (also designated 'Mitsubishi G1M' and 'Navy Experimental 7-shi Carrier Attack Bomber'). The 3MT5 was a biplane and the 8-shi experimental Attack Bomber was a monoplane, two entirely different aircraft.

Specifications

Data from Japanese Aircraft, 1910–1941^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 5
• Length: 15.83 m (51 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 25 m (82 ft 0 in)
• Height: 4.53 m (14 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 75 m² (810 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 4,775 kg (10,527 lb)
• Gross weight: 7,003 kg (15,439 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Hiro Type 91 water-cooled W12 engine, 480 kW (650 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 266 km/h; 143 kn (165 mph)
• Range: 4,408 km; 2,380 nmi (2,739 mi)
• Service ceiling: 4,600 m (15,092 ft)
• Time to altitude: 16 min 54 sec to 3,000 m (9,800 ft)

Armament

• Guns: 2× flexibly mounted 7.7 mm machine guns (one mounted in the nose and one in dorsal position)

References

Notes

1. Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 172.

Bibliography

• Mikesh, Robert C. and Shorzoe Abe. Japanese Aircraft, 1910–1941. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1990. ISBN 0-85177-840-2.
• Peattie, Mark R. Sunburst: The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power, 1909-1941. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1-59114-664-3.