G4M1

G4M1

H8K2

G4M1

H8K2

Japan

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	2.7	3.0

Class:

Bomber

Frontline bomber

Torpedo bomber

Research:7 900

Purchase:10 000

Description

The G4M1 is a rank II Japanese bomber with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/SB) and 2.7 (RB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. The Americans nicknamed it "Betty", whilst the Japanese called it "Hamaki" ("cigar" or "leaf roll").

This vehicle is more dangerous the longer it stays in the battle- this is because, whilst its armament of 4 x 250 kg bombs is a small one for its BR and rank, it can destroy most targets that it will encounter with these bombs, so more bombing runs make it more devastating to the enemy ticket counter. This plane can be used as a base bomber, but this normally results in death, as the enemy climbs to meet you and it only takes a few shots to destroy you. The G4M1's most effective play is destroying ground targets like Light Pillboxes, tanks and gun emplacements; the 250 kg bombs work on ships well too. It is not suggested to climb in the G4M1, as you need the protection of air superiority to be secure higher up, but the Allied aircraft you face will engage your fighters before they reach you.

Accuracy is everything with the G4M1. You need to be on target with your rear gunner, otherwise an enemy sitting behind you will make quick work of you. The 20 mm cannon is devastating if you hit- this can be hard for novice bomber pilots, but expert bomber pilots will know where to aim. The other guns on the G4M1 have little effect, but try to use them if the enemy is closing in in that direction.

General info

Flight performance

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 6,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	431	422	8000	33.2	33.6	5.1	5.1	314
Upgraded	471	452		31.2	32.0	10.2	7.2

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
540	300	450	450	250	~4	~3

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 360	< 360	< 310	> 324

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
2,600 m	2,800 hp	3,125 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
5,600 m	2,560 hp	2,857 hp

Survivability and armour

The bomber has no dedicated armor protection, however, it still features relatively good survivability for a Japanese bomber. All of its fuel tanks are self-sealing, making it likely to survive burning wings, and significantly increasing survival chances under low to medium-caliber gunfire. Furthermore, 20mm rear gunner provides an opportunity to quickly dispatch tailing fighters. This, in a combination with a narrow silhouette, makes rear aspect engagement the preferable way of dealing with incoming enemy fighters.

What should be avoided are enemies incoming from top and bottom, especially those equipped with 20mm cannons, as the large and fragile wing area makes for an easy target.

Armaments

Suspended armament

The G4M1 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 12 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (720 kg total)
• 4 x 250 kg Navy Type Number 25 Model 2 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 4 x 250 kg Navy Type 98 Number 25 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 1 x 500 kg Navy Type Number 50 Model 2 bomb (500 kg total)
• 1 x 835 kg Type 91 Model 2 torpedo
• 1 x 850 kg Type 91 Model 3 torpedo
• 1 x 800 kg Navy Type 99 Number 80 AP bomb (800 kg total)
• 1 x 800 kg Navy Type Number 80 Model 1 bomb (800 kg total)

Defensive armament

The G4M1 is defended by:

• 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon, tail turret (1,000 rpg)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun, nose turret (1,000 rpg)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun, dorsal turret (1,000 rpg)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (1,000 rpg)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Auto control available	Controllable Auto control available	Separate	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Turret 7 mm	12 in (mod30)
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs (turret)	17 3/4 in (mod45)
III	Wings repair	Engine		Turret 20 mm	Improved torpedo
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 20 mm cannons (turret)	14 in (mod35)

• This plane needs to be fast to avoid trouble and good at defending itself- stock, it can do both things, but not very well. It is suggested that you research Engine and flight performance modifications as quickly as possible so you can skirt around the edge of the map, away from fighters. Alternatively, if you believe you can handle fighters, research the defensive armament lines first. Bomb load-outs are the next most important thing- fortunately, since research at this rank costs very little time, you can research defensive armament and bomb load-outs alternately; this will make the G4M1 an effective weapon. Protection is non-existent for the G4M1, so you should research survivability upgrades last, as it will not help you survive fighter attacks.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Large armament variety, for different targets
• Fast
• Good manoeuvrability
• Good defensive capability with 1 x 20 mm cannon

Cons:

• No armour means it can't take very many hits without adverse effects
• Large wings means larger targets for the enemy
• No fuel tank protection, if ignited, it will burn until destroyed

History

Designed as a lightweight medium bomber, the G4M1 sacrificed protection in order to achieve high-speed and an operational range of 2,850 km. Unfortunately, this made the plane extremely vulnerable to Allied fighters and anti-aircraft fire who found the engines and fuel tanks particularly flammable. The plane's finest hour was the sinking of the HMS Repulse and HMS Prince Of Wales, the first two capital ships sunk in open waters by aircraft during wartime.

The plane also played a role in the final hours of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Two G4M1 bombers of the Kōkūtai 705, escorted by 6 A6M2 fighters Kōkūtai 204, were to carry him from Rabaul to Balalae Airfield near Bougainville Island. Admiral Yamamoto's purpose in traveling to Balalae Airfield was to inspect Japanese aircraft participating in Operation I-Go, and to boost morale following the intense battles at Guadalcanal. However, U.S. naval intelligence decrypted orders sent to Japanese commanders regarding the itinerary, escorting forces, and which units were be toured. In Operation Vengeance, 18 P-38G Lightnings were sent to intercept Yamamoto, which ended in both G4M1 bombers shot down. The bomber with Yamamoto crashed in the jungle, killing him, and the other, holding his staff, crashed at the sea.

In-game description

The long-range twin-engine Mitsubishi G4M torpedo bomber had a relatively small bomb load of 1000 kg but a long flight range of about 6000 km.

Because of the Washington Naval Agreement, Japan was far behind in fleet construction. Therefore, to guard against potential enemy warships, the 10-Shi specification was created, calling for a long-range, twin-engine torpedo bomber.

The power plant consisted of two engines with 1530 horsepower. The plane was the first Japanese plane in history to use retractable landing gear.

Needing to make weight cutbacks to construct a high-speed and long-range bomber, the designers abandoned fuel tank protection, assuming that the G4M1 would be able to flee from enemy fighters. The designers' hopes did not materialize: the wings (where the fuel tanks were located) easily caught fire, and at the war's start, fighters which could catch up to the bombers without much difficulty were already in the air.

All in all, 1170 G4M1s were constructed.

Media

The Shooting Range #183 - Pages of History section at 03:40 discusses the G4M "Betty".

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.

Mitsubishi Company (三菱商会)
Fighters	A5M4 · Hagiri's A5M4
	A6M2 mod. 11 · A6M2 · A6M3 · A6M3 mod. 22 · A6M3 mod. 22Ko · A6M5 · A6M5 Ko · A6M5 otsu · A6M5 Hei · A6M6c
	A7M1 (NK9H) · A7M2
	J2M2 · J2M3 · J2M4 Kai · J2M5 · J2M5 (30 mm)
Hydroplanes	F1M2
Interceptors	Ki-83 · Ki-109
Bombers	G4M1
	Ki-21-Ia · Ki-21-I hei · Ki-67-I Ko · Ki-67-I otsu
Jet Fighters	Ki-200
Captured	▃A6M2 · ␗A6M2
See also	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Post-War)

Japan bombers
Navy
Carrier-based attack bomber
B5N	B5N2
B6N	B6N1 · B6N2 · B6N2a
B7A	B7A2 · B7A2 (Homare 23)
Carrier-based dive bomber
D3A	D3A1
D4Y	D4Y1 · D4Y2 · D4Y3 Ko
Shipboard Observation seaplane
F1M	F1M2
Land-based Attack bomber
G4M	G4M1
G5N	G5N1
G8N	G8N1
Flying boat
H6K	H6K4
H8K	H8K2 · H8K3
Land-based Bomber
P1Y	P1Y1
Army
Light	Ki-32
	Ki-48-II otsu
Heavy	Ki-21-Ia · Ki-21-I hei
	Ki-49-I · Ki-49-IIa · Ki-49-IIb · Ki-49-IIb/L
	Ki-67-I Ko · Ki-67-I otsu
Other countries	▅B-17E