Aichi D1A
Template:Infobox Aircraft The Aichi D1A (code named 'Susie'[1]) was an early dive bomber produced by Aichi for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Development
The Susie came out of the Imperial Japanese Navy's need for an advanced carrier-based dive bomber, and in late 1934 the IJN ordered the finalisation of the Aichi AB-9 design which was produced as the early model D1A1.[2] However, the D1A1 was not designed by Aichi Tokei Denki Kabushiki Kaisha aircraft company, but was actually designed by Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke at the request of the Aichi company.[3] The initial version designed by Heinkel was the He 50, a similar model equipped with floats instead of landing gear.[3] The subsequent model, the He 60 was provided to Aichi who immediately began production of it as the D1A1.[3]
The D1A1s were powered with 580 Hp (432.5 kW) Nakajima Kotobuki 2 Kai 1 or Kotobuki 3 radial engines. [2]. After the initial delivery of 162 D1A1s, Aichi then built 428 of the second, improved D1A2 model. The D1A2 was fitted with spatted wheels and a higher powered engine.[2]
Usage
The D1A was primarily used in the Second Sino-Japanese War and by the time Japan entered World War II in 1941, but few were actually used in combat. All of the remaining D1A1 got decomissioned and most of the D1A2 had been retired from the front lines and served primarily as training units. The exception was 68 of the D1A2 model that operated as a second-line support until being retired in 1942.[2]
Construction
The design of the D1A was based on the He 66 and was designed as a bi-plane constructed of metal, with a fabric covering, a fixed landing gear and a conventional type tail landing skid.[3] Original models only had 365 kW engines and it was not until later models that more powerful 433 kW engines were included in the construction. [3]
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 2: pilot and gunner
Performance
Armament
- Guns:
- 2× fixed 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 92 machine guns
- 1× flexible 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 92 machine gun
- Bombs:
- 1× 250 kg (550 lb) bomb
- 2× 30 kg (66 lb) bombs
Related content
Related lists
Notes
- ^ "Allied Code Names for..." Retrieved 2007-04-17.
- ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference
chant-17was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e "Aichi D1A - Susie - Dive Bomber". Retrieved 2007-02-17.
- ^ "JPN Aichi D1A Suzie".
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References
- Chant, Chris (1999). Aircraft of World War II - 300 of the World's Greatest aircraft 1939-45. Amber Books Lts. ISBN 978-0-7607-1261-0.