Warplanes of Japan: Aichi D1A

Aichi D1A

(IJNAF Photo)

Aichi D1A2, Navy Type 94/96 Carrier Bomber, codenamed Susie.

The Aichi D1A or Navy Type 94/96 Carrier Bomber (Allied reporting name "Susie"[3]) was a Japanese carrier-based dive bomber of the 1930s. A single-engine, two-seat biplane based on the Heinkel He 50, the D1A was produced by Aichi for the Imperial Japanese Navy, remaining in service as a trainer at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The D1A was produced in two variants, the D1A1 (Navy Type 94 Carrier Bomber), and the D1A2 (Navy Type 96 Carrier Bomber, sometimes referred to as the D2A). (Wikipedia)

The D1A came out of the Imperial Japanese Navy's need for an advancedcarrier-based dive bomber, and in late 1934 the IJN ordered the finalisation ofthe Aichi AB-9 design which was produced as the early model D1A1. However,the D1A1 was not designed by Aichi Tokei Denki Kabushiki Kaisha [ja] aircraftcompany (later Aichi Kokuki), but by Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke at the requestof the Aichi company. The initial version designed by Heinkel was the He 50, asimilar model equipped with floats instead of landing gear. The subsequentmodel, the He 66 was provided to Aichi who immediately began production of itas the D1A1.

The design of the D1A, based on the Heinkel He 66, an export model of the He50, was designed as a biplane constructed of metal, with a fabric covering, afixed landing gear and a conventional type tail landing skid. Original models had 365 kW (490 hp) engines and it was not until later models that morepowerful 433 kW (580 hp) engines were included in the construction.

Operational history
The D1A was primarily used in the Second Sino-Japanese War and up to the timeJapan entered World War II in 1941. At the beginning of the Pacific War, all ofthe remaining D1A1s were decommissioned and most of the D1A2s were retired fromthe front lines and served primarily in training units. The exception was 68 ofthe D1A2 model that operated as a second-line support until being retired in1942.

Variants
D1A1 Type 94
Powered by 433 kW (580 hp) Nakajima Kotobuki 2 Kai 1 or Kotobuki 3 radial engines;162 built.
D1A2 Type 96 (Sometimes referred to as the D2A)
Improved version fitted with spatted wheels and a higher powered NakajimaHikari 1 engine; 428 built.
AB-11
Proposed development with retractable undercarriage. Not built. (Wikipedia)

(IJNAF Photos)

Aichi D1A, Navy Type 94/96 Carrier Bomber, codenamed Susie.

(IJNAF Photo)

Aichi D1A2 dive-bombers flying over the Japanese aircraft carrier Ryūjō, in support of Japanese operations in the Shangai and Guangdong regions during the Second Sino-Japanese war.

(IJNAF Photo)

Manchukuo Coast Guard Aircraft Aichi D1A.