Warplanes of Japan: Kugisho P1Y1-C Ginga

Kugisho P1Y1-C Ginga

 (IJAAF Photos)

Kugisho P1Y1-C Ginga, IJAAF.

The Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (銀河, "Galaxy") is a twin-engine, land-based bomber developedfor the Japanese Imperial Navy in World War II. It was the successor to theMitsubishi G4M and given the Allied reporting name "Frances".

The P1Y was designed by the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal to Navyspecification 15-Shi,[2] calling for a fast bomber with speed matching theZero, range matching the G4M, a 907 kg (2,000 lb) bombload, and the ability todive-bomb as well as carry torpedoes. As the result, the construction sufferedfrom excess complexity, difficulty of manufacture, and poor serviceability.Problems with the availability of enough reliable Nakajima Homare engines ledto their replacement by the Mitsubishi Kasei in the P1Y2-S night-fighterversion.

The streamlined design of the Ginga is attributed to Miki Tadanao, an engineerwho after the Second World War went on to create a similar aerodynamic designfor Japan's earliest bullet trains (Shinkansen), while working with the JapanNational Railways (JNR).

Yokosuka P1Y "Frances" shot down next to USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) by0945 on December 15, 1944.
The first flight was in August 1943. Nakajima manufactured 1,002 examples,which were operated by five Kōkūtai (Air Groups), and acted as land-basedmedium and torpedo bombers from airfields in China, Taiwan, the MarianaIslands, the Philippines, the Ryukyu Islands, Shikoku, and Kyūshū. During thelast stages of the war the P1Y was used as a kamikaze aircraft against theUnited States Navy during the Okinawa Campaign in Operation Tan No. 2.

A night fighter version, the P1Y2-S Kyokko (極光,"Aurora"), with Mitsubishi Kasei engines, was equipped with radar andSchräge Musik-style upward-firing as well as forward-firing 20 mm cannon. Atotal of 96 were produced by Kawanishi, but due to inadequate high-altitudeperformance against the B-29 Superfortress, many were converted back to Gingabombers.

Variants

P1Y1 prototype #3 Ko-P1-3, Ishikawajima Tsu-11 testbed in 1944.

P1Y1b, Yokosuka Kōkūtai Yo-206.

P1Y1c, since it has a single forward cannon, and no dorsal turret.

A P1Y1 under attack by United States Navy aircraft and anti-aircraft guns.
[7][8]

P1Y1 Experimental Type 15 land-based bomber (15試陸上爆撃機,15-Shi Rikujō Bakugekiki)
3 of prototypes and 9 of supplementary prototypes[9] with 1,357 kW (1,820 hp)NK9C Nakajima NK9B Homare 11 engines. Prototype #3 was later used forIshikawajima Tsu-11 testbed.
P1Y1 Ginga ("Milky Way") Model 11 (銀河11型, Ginga 11-gata)
First model of the series. Mounted Homare 11 or Homare 12.
P1Y1a Ginga Model 11A (銀河11甲型, Ginga 11 Kō-gata)
Mounted Homare 12, and fitted 1 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2 machine gun in the backdefensive position.
P1Y1b Provisional name Ginga Model 11B (仮称銀河11乙型, Kashō Ginga 11 Otsu-gata)
Converted from P1Y1a, mounted Homare 12, and fitted 2 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2machine guns in the back defensive position.
P1Y1c Provisional name Ginga Model 11C (仮称銀河11丙型, Kashō Ginga 11 Hei-gata)
Converted from P1Y1b, mounted Homare 12, and fitted 1 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2machine gun in the forward position, prototype only.
P1Y1 Ginga Model 11 Night-fighter variant (銀河11型改造夜戦, Ginga 11-gata Kaizō yasen)
Converted from P1Y1. Armed with 2 × 20 mm Type 99 cannons. Equipped 302ndKōkūtai only. This is not a naval regulation equipment.
P1Y1-S Provisional name Ginga Model 21 (仮称銀河21型, Kashō Ginga 21-gata)
Night fighter variant. Armed with 4 × 20 mm Type 99 cannons firing obliquelyforward, and 1 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2 machine gun in the back defensiveposition. Only a project.
P1Y1 Ground attack variant
Converted from P1Y1/P1Y1a, installed up to 20 × 20 mm Type 99 cannons in thebomb bay for land strikes against B-29 bases in the Marianas. Approx. 30rebuilt.
P1Y2-S Provisional name Ginga Model 26/Test production Kyokkō("Aurora") (仮称銀河26型/試製極光, Kashō Ginga 26-gata/Shisei Kyokkō)
Night fighter variant. Initial named Hakkō ("Corona", 白光) in October 1943, renamed Kyokkō in March 1944.[10] Converted fromP1Y1/P1Y1a. Fitted Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25 engines. Armed with 2 × 20 mmType 99 cannons and 1 × 30 mm Type 5 cannon. Later, almost all were convertedto P1Y2. 96 or 97 produced.[11]
P1Y2 Provisional name Ginga Model 16 (仮称銀河16型, Kashō Ginga 16-gata)
Land based bomber. Converted from P1Y2-S. Mounted 1,380 kW (1,850 hp)Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25 Kō engines.
P1Y2a Provisional name Ginga Model 16A (仮称銀河16甲型, Kashō Ginga 16 Kō-gata)
Converted from P1Y1a. Mounted Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25 Kō engines.
P1Y2b Provisional name Ginga Model 16B (仮称銀河16乙型, Kashō Ginga 16 Otsu-gata)
Converted from P1Y1b. Mounted Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25 Kō engines.
P1Y2c Provisional name Ginga Model 16C (仮称銀河16丙型, Kashō Ginga 16 Hei-gata)
Converted from P1Y1c. Mounted Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25 Kō engines.
P1Y2 Ginga Model 16 Night-fighter variant (銀河16型改造夜戦, Ginga 16-gata Kaizō yasen)
Converted from P1Y2. Armed with 2 × 20 mm Type 99 machine guns or 1 × 30 mmType 5 cannon. Equipped 302nd Kōkūtai only. This is not a naval regulationequipment.
P1Y3 Provisional name Ginga Model 13 (仮称銀河13型, Kashō Ginga 13-gata)
Converted from P1Y1. Mounted Homare 21 engines.
P1Y4 Provisional name Ginga Model 12 (仮称銀河12型, Kashō Ginga 12-gata)
Converted from P1Y1. Mounted Homare 23 engines.
P1Y5 Provisional name Ginga Model 14 (仮称銀河14型, Kashō Ginga 14-gata)
Converted from P1Y1. Mounted Mitsubishi Ha-43 engines.
P1Y6 Provisional name Ginga Model 17 (仮称銀河17型, Kashō Ginga 17-gata)
Converted from P1Y2. Mounted Mitsubishi MK4T-C Kasei 25 Hei engines.
Provisional name Ginga Model 33 (仮称銀河33型, Kashō Ginga 33-gata)
Long-range bomber variant. Crew: 4, bombs= up to 3,000 kg. Only a project.
Test production Tenga (試製天河, Shisei Tenga)
Proposed jet-powered bomber variant, mounted Ishikawajima Ne-30. Discontinuedin 1945.
MXY10 Yokosuka Navy Bomber Ginga
Ground decoy non-flying replica of Yokosuka P1Y1. (Wikipedia)

 (IJAAF Photos)

Kugisho P1Y1-C Ginga, IJAAF.

(USAAF Photos)

Kugisho P1Y1-C Ginga in USAAF markings.  Three Kugisho (Yokosuka) P1Y1 were shipped to the USA in 1945, USAAF FE-170 and FE-1701 were scrapped at Newark.  Kugisho P1Y1 (Serial No. 8923), FE-1702 is stored with the NASM.

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