Main Menu
Japan's Aichi B7A Ryusei (shooting star)1
Allied Code Name: Grace1
Design
The Aichi B7A was developed for a specification for a high performance aircraft to replace the Nakajima B6N torpedo bomber and Yokosuka D4Y dive bomber.1
The B7A could fly almost as fast as the Mitsubishi A6M fighter and had good manoeuverability.1
Engine
The Homare engine caused delays to the development of the B7A.1
Prototype
The B7A1 prototype first flew in May 1942.1
Production
- B7A1: 91
- B7A2: 1141 (Aichi: 105, Omura Naval Air Arsenal: 25)1
Due to an earthquake in May 1945, the Aichi Funakata plant was destroyed.1
Variants
- B7A1: Development and test version.1
- B7A2:
- B7A3: Was designed to have a Nakajima Homare 23 engine (2,000 HP).1 Was never produced.1
Usage
By the time the B7A2 was reaching front line units in 1944 the war situation was going against Japan.1 There were no aircraft carriers for the B7A to fight from.1
Only two land based Kokutais were equipped with the B7A2s.1
| Aichi B7A1 | Aichi B7A11 | Aichi B7A21 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Dive-bomber1 Torpedo bomber1 |
||
| Crew | 21 | ||
| Engine (Type) | Nakajima NK9B Homare 111 | Nakajima NK9C Homare 121 | |
| Cylinders | Radial 181 | ||
| Cooling | |||
| Net HP | 1,8001 | 1,8251 | |
| Propeller blades | 41 | ||
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 47' 3"1 14.4 m1 |
||
| Length | 37' 8.5"1 11.49 m1 |
||
| Height | 13' 4.5"1 4.08 m1 |
||
| Wing area | |||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 8,400 lb1 3,810 kg1 |
||
| Normal load | 12,568 lb1 5,700 kg1 |
||
| Maximum load | 14,300 lb1 6,500 kg1 |
||
| Performance | |||
| Speed @ 21,490' / 6,550 m |
352 mph1 566 kph1 |
||
| Climb to 13,120' / 4,000 m |
6.9 minutes1 | ||
| Service ceiling | 29,365'1 8,950 m1 |
||
| Range | 1,888 miles1 3,038 km1 |
||
| Range with full load | 1,150 miles1 1,850 km1 |
||
| Armament | |||
| Wings | 2: 20 mm1 | ||
| Rear cockpit | 1: 7.92 mm or 13 mm MG1 | ||
| Torpedo or bombs | 1,764 lb1 800 kg1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
