Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>Kate>HA2001

General Background

When Japan entered WWII the B5N Kate was the standard torpedo bomber and sank more Allied ships than any other type of Japanese aircraft. B5N2's played the main role in sinking the carrier Lexington at Coral Sea,Yorktown at Midway and Hornet at the Battle of Santa Cruz in October 1942. There were 1,150 B5N1 and B5N2 Torpedo Bombers produced but by 1944 the Kate had been replaced by the B6N "Jill". The Kate ended its service being used for Kamikaze attacks leaving no surviving examples.

The Aircraft

The actual attack on Pearl Harbor was commanded by Mitsuo Fuchida. His B5N2 Kate lead the way and at 0749 sent the coded signal "To, To, To" (Totsugeskiseyo - "charge") to his 51 D3A dive bombers, 40 B5N torpedo bombers, 50 B5N high level bombers and 43 A6M fighters. At 0753 he sent the message Tora, Tora, Tora, back to the Japanese Fleet meaning the operation was successful.

Fuchida remained on site to assess the damage from both attack waves and returned to the Akagi with 20 large anti-aircraft holes.

Specifications :

Crew:	3 (pilot, observer, radio operator)
Dimensions
Length:	33ft 10in (10.30 m)
Wingspan:	50ft 11in (15.52m)
Height:	12ft 2in (3.70m)
Wing area:	406ft² (37.7m²)
Weight
Empty weight:	5,024lb (2,279kg)
Loaded weight:	8,380lb (3,800kg)
Maximum take off weight:	9,040lb (4,100kg)
Power-plant:	1 X Nakajima Sakae 11 radial engine - 1,000hp (750kw)
Performance
Maximum speed:	229mph (367 km/h)
Range:	1,202mi (1,935km)
Service ceiling:	27,100ft (8,260m)
Rate of climb:	1,283ft/min (6.5m/s)
Wing loading:	21lb/ft² (101kg/m²)
Power/mass:	0.12hp/lb (0.20kw/kg)
Armament
Guns:	1 X dual flexible 7.7mm in the rear cockpit.
External stores:	1 X 1764 lb (800-kg) torpedo or 3 X 551-lb (250-kg) bombs