Japan's Yokosuka D4Y Suisei dive bomber1,2, "Comet"2
Navy Type 2
Allied Code Name: Judy1,2
Yokosuka D4Y Suisei "Judy" dive bomber: |
Yokosuka D4Y Suisei "Judy" dive bomber: |
Yokosuka D4Y3 Suisei "Judy" dive bomber: |
Yokosuka D4Y1-C Suisei "Judy" reconnaissance plane: |
Design
The design for the Yokosuka D4Y was based on the purchased design of the German He 118.1,2
Engine
The engine was based on an imported Daimler-Benz DB 600G engine.1 Initially there were problems with the Aichi Atsuta model, the DB 601A, and this delayed the D4Y.2
Prototype
The D4Y1 prototype first flew in December 1941.1,2
Production
Aichi's Nagoya plant produced the D4Y1-C.1 660 were delivered by the spring of 1942.1
- Prototypes: 52
- D4Y: 2,0332
- D4Y2 Model 12:
- Production: October 1944 - ?2
- Total: 2,0331, 2,0382
- Manufacturer: Aichi2, 11th Naval Air Arsenal2
Variants
- Prototype: Powered by Daimler-Benz DB 600G (950 HP).2
- D4Y1: First production model.1
- D4Y1 Model 11: Strengthened wing spars.2 Improved dive brakes.2
- D4Y1-C: Reconnaissance.1,2
- D4Y2, D4Y2 Model 122: Had a Aichi Atsuta 32 engine (1,400 HP).1,2
- D4Y2-S: Night fighter.2 Wasn't successful against B-29s.2
- D4Y3, D4Y3 Model 332: Had Kinsei 62 radial engine.1,2
- D4Y4: Suicide bomber.2 Had one crewman.1,2 Had Kinsei 62 radial engine.2 Carried 1,764 lb / 800 kg bomb under the fuselage.2
Usage
Preproduction models were deployed in April 1942.2 Due to its capabilities the D4Y1-Cs were deployed for reconnaissance.2
Midway
The first aircraft to be lost were on the Soryu when it was sunk at Midway in June 1942.1
Battle of the Philippine Sea
The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Kodu Sentais were equipped with 174 D4Ys.1 They sustained heavy casualties before any could reach the American carriers.1
One D4Y, piloted by Rear Admiral Arima, was possibly the first used in a suicide attack against the USS Franklin.2
Last Futile Attack
On August 15, 1945, eleven D4Ys were used in Kamikaze attacks off of Okinawa.2
| Yokosuka D4Y Suisei "Judy"1,2 | Yokosuka D4Y1 Suisei "Judy"2 | Yokosuka D4Y2 Suisei "Judy"2 | Yokosuka D4Y3 Suisei "Judy"1,2 | Yokosuka D4Y4 Suisei "Judy"2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Carrier dive bomber 2, carrier reconnaissance2 | Carrier dive bomber1 | |||
| Crew | 22 | 21 | |||
| Engine (Type) | Aichi AE1A Atsuta 12 (Daimler-Benz DB 601A)2 | Aichi AE1P Atsuta 322 | Mitsubishi MK8P Kinsei 62 piston1 Mitsubishi MK8P Kinsei2 |
Mitsubishi MK8P Kinsei2 | |
| Cylinders | Inverted V-122 | Radial1,2, 142 | Radial 142 | ||
| Cooling | |||||
| Net HP | 1,2002 | 1,4002 | 1,5601,2 | 1,5602 | |
| Propeller blades | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Span | 37' 8.75"2 11.5 m2 |
37' 8.75"2 11.5 m2 |
37' 8.75"2 11.5 m2 |
37' 8.75"1,2 11.5 m1,2 |
37' 8.75"2 11.5 m2 |
| Length | 33' 6.5"2 10.22 m2 |
33' 6.5"2 10.22 m2 |
33' 6.5"2 10.22 m2 |
33' 6 3/8"1, 33' 6.5"2 10.22 m1,2 |
33' 6.5"2 10.22 m2 |
| Height | 12' 3.25"2 3.74 m2 |
12' 3.25"2 3.74 m2 |
12' 3.25"2 3.74 m2 |
12' 3.25"1,2 3.74 m1,2 |
12' 3.25"2 3.74 m2 |
| Wing area | 254.03 ft2 1 23.6 m2 1 |
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| Weight | |||||
| Empty | 5,379 lb2 2,440 kg2 |
5,514 lb1,2 2,501 kg1,2 |
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| Loaded | 9,370 lb2 4,250 kg2 |
10,267 lb1,2 4,657 kg1,2 |
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| Performance | |||||
| Speed @ 15,585' / 4,750 m |
343 mph2 552 kph2 |
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| Speed @ 19,850' / 6,050 m |
357 mph1,2 575 kph1,2 |
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| Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m |
5.2 minutes2 | 4.6 minutes2 | |||
| Climb to 9,845' / 3,000 m |
4.55 minutes1 | ||||
| Service ceiling | 32,480'2 9,900 m2 |
34,450'1,2 10,500 m1,2 |
|||
| Range | 975 - 2,417 miles2 1,570 - 3,890 km2 |
945 miles1, 945 - 1,796 miles2 1,520 km1, 1,520 - 2,890 km2 |
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| Armament | |||||
| Nose | 2: 7.7 mm MG2 | 2: 7.7 mm MG2 | 2: 7.7 mm MG2 2: 7.7 mm Type 97 MG1 |
||
| Cockpit - rear | 1: 7.92 mm MG2 | 1: 7.92 mm MG2 | 1:7.92 mm MG2 1: 13.2 mm Type 21 |
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| Bomb | 1,234 lb2 560 kg2 |
1,234 lb2 560 kg2 |
1,234 lb1,2 560 kg1,2 |
1,764 lb2 800 kg2 |
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
