Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>Kate>HA2002
Nakajima B5N2 (Kate) Hiryu (flagship), Third Attack Wave, Commander's Aircraft, "Battle of Midway", June 4/5, 1942
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 There were 1,150 B5N1 and B5N2 Torpedo Bombers produced but by 1944 the Kate had been replaced by the B6N "Jill".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
At 0430 on June 4, 1942 the Japanese Strike Force launched a Strike Force of 108 aircraft from four aircraft carriers. The three wave attack consisted of 36 B5N2 Kates armed with 1,770 pound contact bombs, 36 Val dive-bombers with 550 pound armor-piercing bombs and escorted by 36 Zero fighters. Lt. Joichi Tomonaga flying a Kate from the Hiryu was in charge of the airborne operation. Later the same day while leading an attack on USS Yorktown Tomonaga was killed trying to deliver his Kate's torpedo.
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 |