Aichi B7A Ryusei

Promising torpedo bomber

Estimates of the appearance of a promising ship torpedo bomber for the timely replacement of the Suisei ^[5] and Tenzan machines already being developed at that time ^[6] began at the Aichi aircraft factory in 1941 in the group of the chief designer N. Ozaki under the code AM 23 ". From the spring of 1942 to the beginning of 1944, 9 experimental units were built by the Aichi aircraft plant. The serial construction of a torpedo bomber began in the spring of 1944, just before the end of the war, 105 units were built at the Ayti Kokuki aircraft factories in the cities of Funakat and Omura .

TTZ No. 16 Navy

The technical task (TTZ Navy) No. 16 ^{[7] [8]} for the creation of a deck bomber to replace the previous-generation Tenzan and Suisei vehicles was issued by the State Naval Aviation Administration of Imperial Japan in 1941. It included the following requirements:

• Small arms: 2 units. synchronized air cannons, large-caliber turret machine gun.
• Outboard armament: 800 kg torpedo (torpedo bomber), 2/6 units of 250/50 kg aerial bombs (dive-gunner)
• The maximum speed of 555 km / h ^[9] , range up to 1,800 nautical miles
• Maneuverability, allowing to interact with the main naval interceptor of the Navy "0" and the promising interceptor "Repu" ^[10]

It was planned to share the torpedo bombers / dive bombers "Ryusei" and the prospective ship interceptor "TTZ No. 17" ("Repu") ^[10] in the new-generation Shinano heavy aircraft carrier 's air group, and therefore the latest generation of naval-based aircraft of the Imperial Navy Japan did not apply the limit on the maximum wingspan of 11 m. ^[11] .

Designing

The project was carried out under the guidance of the chief engineer N. Ozaki together with the specialists M. Mori and J. Ozawa, according to the issued technical assignment in the design bureau of the Aichi aircraft factory. Based on the requirements for speed, range and bomb load, a two-row ^[12] radial air-cooled engine “Homare” ^[13] developed by the Nakadzim Design Bureau was chosen as the power plant. Due to the diameter of the VISH and the internal suspension of the torpedo, the aircraft is designed constructively as a midplane with a “return gull” wing. The wing had a large ailerons (used as auxiliary flaps) and folding tips. Aerodynamic shields were mounted on the ailerons and fuselage to ensure stability. In the group of the chief designer, the project received the factory code "AM-23" ^[14] .

The assembly lines were deployed at the Aiti Aviation Plants (Nagoya) ^[15] and Navy No 21 ( Sasebo District ). The pace grew slowly, although the car was more technologically advanced for mass production than the previously developed Suisei torpedo bomber. In the spring of 1945, the naval aircraft fleet number 21 was severely damaged by an earthquake, and production was interrupted.

Rusey-1

The first flight prototype of a promising naval torpedo bomber was completed at the Aiti aircraft factory (Nagoya) in the spring and summer of 1942. It was equipped with an experimental Ha-45-1-1 engine ^[16] developed by Nakadzim Design Bureau. After finishing the engine, the car showed very high LTH, thanks to the aerodynamic quality, a speed of 574 km / h was achieved. By the winter of 1944, nine experimental machines were built, with gradually modified glider and equipment ^[17] . On machines of later series, instead of the machine gun "1" (7.92 mm), a large-caliber machine gun "2" (13.2 mm) was installed.

"Rusey-2"

In the spring of 1944, under the designation “Ryusei-2” (B7A2), a modification with the engine “Kha-45-1-2” ^[18] developed by the Nakadzim Design Bureau (1825 hp) was launched. 1 unit It was reequipped for the Homare-23 engine (2000 hp.), there also existed an анRusei-Kai ’design project ^[19] (B7A3) with the MK9A engine (a variant of the Kinsey engine) of the Mitsubishi Design Bureau (2200 hp .) ^[20] .

Volumes

Total until the end of the war was built 105 units. torpedo bombers: 80 units. at the aircraft factory "Aichi" (Nagoya) and 25 units. at aircraft factory number 21 of the Navy ^[21] .

In connection with the loss of the Imperial Japanese Navy of all the major heavy aircraft carriers suitable for the basing of torpedo bombers, the “Ryusei” torpedo bombers did not enter into service with naval naval squadrons, being immediately transferred to the coastal air regiments.

The first coastal air regiments of the naval forces , which received the ryusei torpedo bombers, were the AP Yokosuka and the 752nd (coastal) naval aviation regiment.

After the end of hostilities, the Ryusei captured vehicles were tested in the US Air Force Agency . The only surviving copy of the torpedo bomber "Ryusei" is on display at the National Museum of Aviation and Cosmonautics in Washington .

Comments

Footnotes

in English

• René J. Francillon. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. - London: Putnam, 1979. - 566 p. - ISBN 370-00011-1.