Mitsubishi 2MR

In the early 1920s, the Imperial Navy of Japan began to develop its program for constructing an aircraft carrier fleet. The development of deck aircraft was entrusted to the company Mitsubishi . The management of the company invited a group of seven Sopwith designers to its new aircraft manufacturing plant under the leadership of Herbert Smith, a leading engineer ^[1] . The designers were tasked with developing the entire range of aircraft for deployment on aircraft carriers: fighter, torpedo bomber, reconnaissance aircraft.

Aircraft were developed almost in parallel, and the technical solutions incorporated in the fighter project were often automatically transferred to the reconnaissance project. Unlike the Mitsubishi 1MF fighter, the Mitsubishi 2MR reconnaissance aircraft was a two-seater and had large dimensions. Wingspan increased by 3 meters, length - per meter. But the mass did not increase very much, so it was decided to use the same engine - Mitsubishi Hi V-8 ( licensed version of the Hispano-Suiza-8 engine from Hispano-Suiza )

Structurally, the 2MR was a solid wood biplane with linen sheathing. In the bow there was an engine, on top of which two 7.7 mm Vickers-E machine guns were installed. In the open rear cockpit of the observer arrow there were two coaxial 7.7 mm machine guns on the turrets . In addition, under the wing and fuselage, three 30-kg bombs could be suspended.

The first prototype took off on January 12, 1922. It had a car-type radiator, a blunt nose and keel, characteristic of Sopwith aircraft. The tests were successful and the aircraft was put into service under the name "Type 10 Model 1 marine reconnaissance aircraft" ( 2MR1 ). In April 1923, tests began on the aircraft aboard the aircraft carrier " Jose ", which were also successful.

Soon, a new improved version of the 2MR2 , or “Type 10 Model 2”, appeared, which had a new rounded nose and a “Lamblin” radiator under the lower wing, as well as a redesigned vertical tail design. The cockpit was shifted forward under the upper wing.

Version 2MR3 had a redesigned keel and a modified radiator.

The main, most popular version of the 2MR4 was also the last combat model. She had rounded wing tips, the wing area was increased, the pilot's seat was shifted back, as in the first version.

In 1928, 2M scouts received a new designation according to the “short” aircraft designation system, similar to the one used until 1962 by US naval aviation - an alphanumeric combination.

In addition, several types of training aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft for the Air Force of the Imperial Army of Japan 2MR7 and Mitsubishi 2MR8, as well as a torpedo bomber Mitsubishi B2M were developed on the basis of 2MR .

Specifications

• Crew : 2 people
• Length : 7.93 m
• Wingspan : 12.04 m
• Wing area: 37.7 m2
• Empty weight: 980 kg
• Curb weight: 1,320 kg
• Engines: Mitsubishi Hi V-8
• Power : 300 l. with.

Flight performance

• Maximum speed : 204 km / h
• Flight Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes

Armament

• Machine gun:
  • 2 × 7.7 mm stationary machine gun (firing forward)
  • 2 × 7.7 mm turret machine guns
• Bomb : 3x30 kg bombs

• 2MR1 - the initial version with automotive-type radiators; navy designation “Type 10 Model 1”
• 2MR2 - version with Lamblin radiators, the cockpit is shifted forward; navy designation “Type 10 Model 2”
• 2MR3 - version with increased wing area
• 2MR4 - final version; rounded flaps; cockpit is shifted back
• Karigane - An improved version of the reconnaissance prototype, designed for both the navy and the army (1 copy)
• 2MRT1 - Interim Tutorial 2MR1
• 2MRT1A - interim training version, keel changed
• 2MRT2 - Interim Tutorial 2MR2
• 2MRT2A - training option 2MR3
• 2MRT3 - an intermediate educational version; the radiator is placed under the wings
• 2MRT3A - Final Tutorial
• R-1.2 Trainer - civilian training version of the 2MR1 aircraft
• R-2.2 Trainer - civilian training version of the 2MR2
• Mitsubishi R-4 - a revised version of the 2MR4 for civilian use with a closed cabin (2 copies recycled)
• 2MR7 - Close Range Army Scout
• 2MR8 - Army reconnaissance monoplane ( not associated with the 2MR biplane )

Mitsubishi 2MR scouts were actively used in the second half of the 20s of the 20th century, being part of the aircraft groups of the aircraft carriers “ Hosho ”, “ Akagi ”, “ Kaga ” and “ Ryujo ”. A total of 159 aircraft were built ^[2] . Usually there were 3-4 2MR scouts in the air group. In 1932, 2MRs began to gradually withdraw from deck-based air groups, but some of them took part in the fighting during the Shanghai incident in 1932 (an armed conflict between Japan and China ).

After removal of the armament in combat units, 2MR aircraft were used mainly as training aircraft. In the early 30s, the design of this successful machine became the basis for the development of a new generation of combat aircraft.

• Tadeusz Januszewski, Krzysztof Zalewski. Japońskie samoloty marynarki 1912-1945 ISBN 83-86776-50-1

• Mitsubishi 1MF
• Mitsubishi 1MT
• Mitsubishi B1M