Mitsubishi G3M (Type 96) "Nell" Medium Bomber

The IJNAF used 2 principal Land Based bomber aircraft. The Mitsubishi G3M (Type 96 - Allied Reporting Name - Nell) and the Mitsubishi G4M (Type 1 - Allied Reporting Name - Betty)

Mitsubishi received a specification from the Imperial Japanese Navy for a fast heavy bomber in the early 1930's. Some of the design spec's were unprecedented for the time but Admiral Yamamoto was a big influence in future development of aircraft in the Naval High Command at the time and he set many of the high standards which the design had to meet. With Japan eyeing future conquests in the Pacific & Southeast Asia as well as it's ongoing war with China, The G3M was the embodiment of Japanese aircraft design in the brief period leading up to the Pacific War. It was thought that the aircraft would need to be quick in it's ability to attack a target and then be able to get away again before enemy defenses had a chance to counter attack. So the G3M was at first not fitted with any defensive armament and was not very well protected in the way of armour plate or self sealing fuel tanks. This was a trait in Japanese aircraft design throughout the early Pacific War and would lead to some horrendous casualty rates amongst her aircrews once battle commenced in earnest. The G3M first flew in July 1935. It was first used in anger in the war against China. Flying from bases in Formosa, Kyushu & Jeju Island effectively crossing the East China Sea and terror bombing coastal and inland targets in China, including the infamous bombings of Shanghai & Nanking to aid ground assaults on the 2 cities. It had the ignoble distinction of being the first transoceanic bomber aircraft in history and the first bomber to indiscriminately bomb civilians. Once the Pacific War erupted in full on 7th December 1941 with the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, G3M's were used to bomb Wake Island, The Phillipines & Singapore City. Causing many military & civilian deaths and injuries. One of the more notable attacks it took part in was the sinking of HMS Prince of Wales & HMS Repulse (Force Z) during the invasion of Malaya on 10th December 1941. The 2 ships being the first to be exclusively sunk by air attack. 1048 G3M's were built in 7 major types and saw front line action up until 1943 when they were relegated to secondary duties.


Mitsubishi G3M (Type 96) "Nell" Spec's

Crew : 7

Power Plant : 2 x Mitsubishi Kinsei 45 Radial Engines of 1075 h.p. each

Max Speed : 233 mph

Ceiling : 30,200 feet

Range : 2730 Miles

Armament

1 x Type 99 20mm cannon in rear dorsal turret

4 x Type 92 7.7mm Machine Guns - 1 in cockpit, 1 each in left & right positions and 1 in a retractable forward dorsal turret

Bombload - Up to 800 kg of Bombs or one Torpedo

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Top to Bottom - G3M's in formation, Two G3M2 bombers

 

[YOUTUBE]rN-IKmQT71A[/YOUTUBE]

Japanese film showing G3M's in operation.

 

Great footage, and that music is so corny it's comical ! Nice find Spit :thumb: