B6N (Family) - Revision history

U17577377: Undo revision to last approved

2024-03-22T10:12:54Z

Undo revision to last approved

U105065006 at 17:29, 22 February 2024

2024-02-22T17:29:09Z

U38088265 at 11:44, 22 February 2024

2024-02-22T11:44:12Z

U105065006: /* Description */

2024-02-21T15:32:53Z

‎Description

U17577377: /* History */

2023-12-11T15:17:29Z

‎History

U17577377: /* Description */

2023-12-11T15:14:00Z

‎Description

U17577377: /* Vehicles */

2023-09-20T14:55:42Z

‎Vehicles

U44629479: /* Media */ Added Shooting Range episode

2022-03-13T23:28:05Z

‎Media: Added Shooting Range episode

U17577377: /* Description */

2022-01-05T08:59:05Z

‎Description

U17577377: Edits

2021-05-25T15:39:57Z

Edits

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:B6N family.gif|right|thumb|500px|Visual comparison of the Nakajima B6N bombers]]
 {{Break}}
 ==Description==
-The B6N, known by its Allied reporting name as "Jill," was a Japanese carrier-based torpedo bomber used during World War II. As a successor to the earlier B5N "Kate", the B6N was designed with improvements aimed at enhancing speed, range, and payload capacity to meet the demanding requirements of naval aviation warfare. Despite its advanced design intentions, the B6N faced several challenges throughout its development and operational deployment.
+The '''Nakajima B6N''', designated as '''Tenzan ({{Annotation|天山|Heavenly Mountain}})''', was a carrier-based torpedo bomber developed for the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. It was designed to replace the '''B5N''', but faced many technical problems and delays. It had a crew of three, a maximum speed of 460 km/h, and a range of 1,900 km. It could carry a torpedo or a rack of bombs under its fuselage. It entered service in 1943 but saw limited action due to the loss of Japanese carriers and air superiority.
-One of the primary issues encountered with the B6N was its powerplant. The initial engine selection proved problematic, leading to reliability issues that hindered the aircraft's performance. It wasn't until the adoption of a more reliable engine, the Mitsubishi Kasei, that the B6N began to fulfill its intended role more effectively. This engine switch improved the aircraft's overall performance, offering better speed and range compared to its predecessor.
+Nicknames being:
 * ▅ - ''Tenzan'' (天山, Heavenly Mountain)
@@ Line 20: / Line 13: @@
 ==Vehicles==
 ===Rank I===
 * [[B6N1 Model 11]] - <small>Tenzan Model 11</small>
 ===Rank II===
 * [[B6N2 Model 12]] - <small>Tenzan Model 12</small>
 * [[B6N2a Model 12Ko]] - <small>Tenzan Model 12 Ko</small>
@@ Line 30: / Line 21: @@
 ==History==
 ===Development===
 In 1939, the Navy requested a new torpedo bomber to replace the quickly ageing B5N. The design team, led by Matsumura Kenichi, met the 1939 Navy specification to replace the B5N almost entirely by using a much more powerful engine and tweaked wing design. Stowage restrictions on carriers ruled out significant improvements in the airframe, other than eliminating the forward sweep of the vertical tail surface on the B6N. Like the B5N, the B6N had no bomb bay, carrying its torpedo under the fuselage offset to the side (to clear the oil cooler).
 The prototypes were ready in the spring of 1941, but it was found that the vertical tail surface had to be tilted slightly to compensate for propeller torque. The modified aircraft handled well, but the Nakajima NK7A ''Mamoru'' engine had serious teething problems as Nakajima was stubborn on using an engine of its design instead of complying with the navy's suggestion of using the Mitsubishi ''Kasei'' engine, and carrier acceptance trials at the end of 1942 showed the landing hook was too weak. Carrier trials were completed in early 1943, and the aircraft was finally accepted for production. Even then, there were reports of rudders tearing loose during takeoff due to turbulence from the engine, requiring further redesign of the rudders. But because of the complications of the engine hurt the economic side of the production and thus outweighed the benefits of its reliability and long range. The full-scale production of the B6N could only be introduced by 1943. In the end, Nakajima grudgingly agreed to replace its engine with that of Mitsubishi to allow full production.
@@ Line 42: / Line 33: @@
 With the fewer remaining Japanese carriers, the B6N was used often from land-based units, with prime examples being its debut year seeing first combat at Bougainville in November 1943, operating from land bases around Rabaul. It was so common for B6Ns to be used as a regular bomber instead of a carrier-based bomber that Nakajima had to revise a 3rd model of the B6N, being the [[#B6N3 mod.13|B6N3]] to have a modified undercarriage to give it a better rough field capability. However, this variant didn't get produced as the war ended.
 By 1944, B6N's operating from Japanese carriers engaged in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, but with the lack of experienced Japanese pilots, allied air power and air defence, little damage was sustained to enemy ships and results were averaged for the B6N.
 By late 1944/1945, like most Japanese aircraft, the B6N was launched from land-based airfields to be used as Kamikaze as a last resort of the plane, as chances of coming back from a conventional attack were already as slim.
@@ Line 52: / Line 43: @@
 Main production variant of the B6N featuring a Mitsubishi MK4T ''Kasei'' 25 engine. 1,131 Built as B6N2/B6N2a
 ====[[B6N2a Model 12Ko|B6N2a mod. 12A]]====
 Revised tail armament, [[Type 92 (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Navy Type 92]] was replaced with a [[Type 2 (13 mm)|13 mm Navy Type 2]].
 ===B6N3 mod.13===
 Performance improved by using the Mitsubishi MK4T-B Kasei 25b. Modified landing gear for land-based take-off and landing. 2 prototypes built.
@@ Line 58: / Line 49: @@
 == Media ==
 <!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 ;Videos
 {{Youtube-gallery|qsHfTef-Xvg|'''The Shooting Range #293''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:22 discusses the B5N and B6N torpedo bombers.}}

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 Despite these improvements and challenges, the B6N played a crucial role in Japanese naval aviation during the latter part of the war. Its deployment in significant battles highlighted the evolution of naval air tactics and the continuous push for technological advancements in aircraft design during World War II.
-Nicknames being:
+Nicknames:
 * ▅ - ''Tenzan'' (天山, Heavenly Mountain)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:B6N family.gif|right|thumb|500px|Visual comparison of the Nakajima B6N bombers]]
 {{Break}}
 ==Description==
-The B6N, known by its Allied reporting name as "Jill," was a Japanese carrier-based torpedo bomber used during World War II. As a successor to the earlier B5N "Kate," the B6N was designed with improvements aimed at enhancing speed, range, and payload capacity to meet the demanding requirements of naval aviation warfare. Despite its advanced design intentions, the B6N faced several challenges throughout its development and operational deployment.
+The B6N, known by its Allied reporting name as "Jill," was a Japanese carrier-based torpedo bomber used during World War II. As a successor to the earlier B5N "Kate", the B6N was designed with improvements aimed at enhancing speed, range, and payload capacity to meet the demanding requirements of naval aviation warfare. Despite its advanced design intentions, the B6N faced several challenges throughout its development and operational deployment.
 One of the primary issues encountered with the B6N was its powerplant. The initial engine selection proved problematic, leading to reliability issues that hindered the aircraft's performance. It wasn't until the adoption of a more reliable engine, the Mitsubishi Kasei, that the B6N began to fulfill its intended role more effectively. This engine switch improved the aircraft's overall performance, offering better speed and range compared to its predecessor.
-In terms of maneuverability, the B6N was designed to be agile, allowing it to undertake the complex maneuvers required for torpedo bombing runs as well as to evade enemy fighters. Its speed was an improvement over the B5N, making it a more formidable adversary and a harder target for Allied fighters. However, like many aircraft designed for one specific role, its versatility was limited, and under heavy anti-aircraft fire or when engaged by enemy fighters, the B6N's survivability was challenged.
+In terms of manoeuvrability, the B6N was designed to be agile, allowing it to undertake the complex manoeuvres required for torpedo bombing runs as well as to evade enemy fighters. Its speed was an improvement over the B5N, making it a more formidable adversary and a harder target for Allied fighters. However, like many aircraft designed for one specific role, its versatility was limited, and under heavy anti-aircraft fire or when engaged by enemy fighters, the B6N's survivability was challenged.
 The aircraft's payload capacity was a significant upgrade, allowing it to carry a larger torpedo or a greater number of bombs. This made the B6N a more versatile asset in the Japanese Navy's arsenal, capable of performing both torpedo attacks against Allied shipping and bombing runs against ground targets. However, the B6N's increased capabilities also made it a larger and heavier aircraft, which impacted its handling characteristics, especially at low speeds and during takeoff and landing.
@@ Line 31: / Line 30: @@
 ==History==
 ===Development===
 In 1939, the Navy requested a new torpedo bomber to replace the quickly ageing B5N. The design team, led by Matsumura Kenichi, met the 1939 Navy specification to replace the B5N almost entirely by using a much more powerful engine and tweaked wing design. Stowage restrictions on carriers ruled out significant improvements in the airframe, other than eliminating the forward sweep of the vertical tail surface on the B6N. Like the B5N, the B6N had no bomb bay, carrying its torpedo under the fuselage offset to the side (to clear the oil cooler).
 The prototypes were ready in the spring of 1941, but it was found that the vertical tail surface had to be tilted slightly to compensate for propeller torque. The modified aircraft handled well, but the Nakajima NK7A ''Mamoru'' engine had serious teething problems as Nakajima was stubborn on using an engine of its design instead of complying with the navy's suggestion of using the Mitsubishi ''Kasei'' engine, and carrier acceptance trials at the end of 1942 showed the landing hook was too weak. Carrier trials were completed in early 1943, and the aircraft was finally accepted for production. Even then, there were reports of rudders tearing loose during takeoff due to turbulence from the engine, requiring further redesign of the rudders. But because of the complications of the engine hurt the economic side of the production and thus outweighed the benefits of its reliability and long range. The full-scale production of the B6N could only be introduced by 1943. In the end, Nakajima grudgingly agreed to replace its engine with that of Mitsubishi to allow full production.
@@ Line 43: / Line 42: @@
 With the fewer remaining Japanese carriers, the B6N was used often from land-based units, with prime examples being its debut year seeing first combat at Bougainville in November 1943, operating from land bases around Rabaul. It was so common for B6Ns to be used as a regular bomber instead of a carrier-based bomber that Nakajima had to revise a 3rd model of the B6N, being the [[#B6N3 mod.13|B6N3]] to have a modified undercarriage to give it a better rough field capability. However, this variant didn't get produced as the war ended.
 By 1944, B6N's operating from Japanese carriers engaged in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, but with the lack of experienced Japanese pilots, allied air power and air defence, little damage was sustained to enemy ships and results were averaged for the B6N.
 By late 1944/1945, like most Japanese aircraft, the B6N was launched from land-based airfields to be used as Kamikaze as a last resort of the plane, as chances of coming back from a conventional attack were already as slim.
@@ Line 53: / Line 52: @@
 Main production variant of the B6N featuring a Mitsubishi MK4T ''Kasei'' 25 engine. 1,131 Built as B6N2/B6N2a
 ====[[B6N2a Model 12Ko|B6N2a mod. 12A]]====
 Revised tail armament, [[Type 92 (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Navy Type 92]] was replaced with a [[Type 2 (13 mm)|13 mm Navy Type 2]].
 ===B6N3 mod.13===
 Performance improved by using the Mitsubishi MK4T-B Kasei 25b. Modified landing gear for land-based take-off and landing. 2 prototypes built.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 ==Description==
-The '''Nakajima B6N''', designated as '''Tenzan ({{Annotation|天山|Heavenly Mountain}})''', was a carrier-based torpedo bomber developed for the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. It was designed to replace the '''B5N''', but faced many technical problems and delays. It had a crew of three, a maximum speed of 460 km/h, and a range of 1,900 km. It could carry a torpedo or a rack of bombs under its fuselage. It entered service in 1943 but saw limited action due to the loss of Japanese carriers and air superiority.
+The B6N, known by its Allied reporting name as "Jill," was a Japanese carrier-based torpedo bomber used during World War II. As a successor to the earlier B5N "Kate," the B6N was designed with improvements aimed at enhancing speed, range, and payload capacity to meet the demanding requirements of naval aviation warfare. Despite its advanced design intentions, the B6N faced several challenges throughout its development and operational deployment.
 Nicknames being:
@@ Line 13: / Line 21: @@
 ==Vehicles==
 ===Rank I===
 * [[B6N1 Model 11]] - <small>Tenzan Model 11</small>
 ===Rank II===
 * [[B6N2 Model 12]] - <small>Tenzan Model 12</small>
 * [[B6N2a Model 12Ko]] - <small>Tenzan Model 12 Ko</small>
@@ Line 49: / Line 59: @@
 == Media ==
 <!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 ;Videos
 {{Youtube-gallery|qsHfTef-Xvg|'''The Shooting Range #293''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:22 discusses the B5N and B6N torpedo bombers.}}

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 ==History==
 ===Development===
-From 1939, the navy requested a new torpedo bomber to replace the quickly ageing B5N.
+In 1939, the Navy requested a new torpedo bomber to replace the quickly ageing B5N. The design team, led by Matsumura Kenichi, met the 1939 Navy specification to replace the B5N almost entirely by using a much more powerful engine and tweaked wing design. Stowage restrictions on carriers ruled out significant improvements in the airframe, other than eliminating the forward sweep of the vertical tail surface on the B6N. Like the B5N, the B6N had no bomb bay, carrying its torpedo under the fuselage offset to the side (to clear the oil cooler).
-The design team, led by Matsumura Kenichi, met the 1939 Navy specification to replace the B5N almost entirely by using a much more powerful engine and tweaked wing design.
+The prototypes were ready in the spring of 1941, but it was found that the vertical tail surface had to be tilted slightly to compensate for propeller torque. The modified aircraft handled well, but the Nakajima NK7A ''Mamoru'' engine had serious teething problems as Nakajima was stubborn on using an engine of its design instead of complying with the navy's suggestion of using the Mitsubishi ''Kasei'' engine, and carrier acceptance trials at the end of 1942 showed the landing hook was too weak. Carrier trials were completed in early 1943, and the aircraft was finally accepted for production. Even then, there were reports of rudders tearing loose during takeoff due to turbulence from the engine, requiring further redesign of the rudders. But because of the complications of the engine hurt the economic side of the production and thus outweighed the benefits of its reliability and long range. The full-scale production of the B6N could only be introduced by 1943. In the end, Nakajima grudgingly agreed to replace its engine with that of Mitsubishi to allow full production.
-Stowage restrictions on carriers ruled out significant improvements in the airframe, other than eliminating the forward sweep of the vertical tail surface on the B6N. Like the B5N, the B6N had no bomb bay, carrying its torpedo under the fuselage offset to the side (to clear the oil cooler).
+===Design===
+The B6N had a maximum range of around 1,900 km with a service ceiling of about 9,000 m. The plane itself had a total length of around 10.8 m and a total weight of 3,010 kg. The reliability of the B6N in the field was excellent, thanks to the engine power being much better than the B5N.
 ===Combat History===
-After the [[#B6N1 mod. 11|B6N1]] was introduced in mid-1943, examples were immediately issued to the last remaining aircraft carrier groups, such as on the Japanese carrier Zuikaku. By late 1943, the [[#B6N2 mod. 12|B6N2]] was in full service within naval and land-based units around the south pacific, even though it still didn't immediately replace all older B5Ns in service.
+After the [[#B6N1 mod. 11|B6N1]] was introduced in mid-1943, examples were immediately issued to the last remaining aircraft carrier groups, such as on the Japanese carrier Zuikaku. By late 1943, the [[#B6N2 mod. 12|B6N2]] was in full service within naval and land-based units around the South Pacific, even though it still didn't immediately replace all older B5Ns in service.
 With the fewer remaining Japanese carriers, the B6N was used often from land-based units, with prime examples being its debut year seeing first combat at Bougainville in November 1943, operating from land bases around Rabaul. It was so common for B6Ns to be used as a regular bomber instead of a carrier-based bomber that Nakajima had to revise a 3rd model of the B6N, being the [[#B6N3 mod.13|B6N3]] to have a modified undercarriage to give it a better rough field capability. However, this variant didn't get produced as the war ended.

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 ===B6N3 mod.13===
 Performance improved by using the Mitsubishi MK4T-B Kasei 25b. Modified landing gear for land-based take-off and landing. 2 prototypes built.
-<!--==Media==
-Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.-->
+== Media ==
 {{AirManufacturer Nakajima}}