Mitsubishi G1M

G1M
Role	Long-range reconnaissance aircraft and attack bomber Type of aircraft
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi
First flight	April 1934
Status	Prototype only
Number built	1

The Mitsubishi G1M was a long-range twin-engined attack bomber built by Mitsubishi for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the 1930s.

Design and development

The sole prototype G1M, initially designated Mitsubishi Navy Experimental 8-Shi Special Reconnaissance Aircraft and re-designated Mitsubishi Navy Experimental 8-Shi Land based Medium Attack Aircraft before first flight, was a predecessor of the Mitsubishi G3M, an important step for the Navy air force towards more capable land-based bombers such as the Mitsubishi G4M "Betty".

There is sometimes confusion between this aircraft and the Mitsubishi 3MT5 (also designated 'Mitsubishi G1M' and 'Navy Experimental 7-shi Carrier Attack Bomber'). The 3MT5 was a biplane and the 8-shi experimental Attack Bomber was a monoplane, two entirely different aircraft.

Specifications

Data from Japanese Aircraft, 1910–1941^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 5
• Length: 15.83 m (51 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 25 m (82 ft 0 in)
• Height: 4.53 m (14 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 75 m² (810 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 4,775 kg (10,527 lb)
• Gross weight: 7,003 kg (15,439 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Hiro Type 91 water-cooled W12 engine, 480 kW (650 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 266 km/h (165 mph, 143 kn)
• Range: 4,408 km (2,739 mi, 2,380 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 4,600 m (15,100 ft)
• Time to altitude: 16 min 54 sec to 3,000 m (9,800 ft)

Armament

• Guns: 2× flexibly mounted 7.7 mm machine guns (one mounted in the nose and one in dorsal position)

References

• Mikesh, Robert C.; Abe, Shorzoe (1990). Japanese aircraft 1910-1941. Conway Maritime. ISBN 0-85177-840-2. OCLC 20691102.
• Peattie, Mark R. Sunburst: The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power, 1909-1941. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1-59114-664-3.

Company designationsImperial Japanese Army
early designationsImperial Japanese Army
short designationsImperial Japanese Navy
short designations

Carrier fighters	A5M A6M A7M
Carrier Torpedo Bombers	B1M B2M B4M B5M
Reconnaissance aircraft	C1M C5M
Carrier dive bombers	D3M
Observation seaplanes	F1M
Land-based Attack Bombers	G1M G3M G4M G6M G7M
Interceptors	J2M J4M J8M
Transports	L4M
Trainers	K3M K6M K7M
Patrol Aircraft	Q2M

World War II Allied
reporting namesJapanese Self-Defense
Force designationsCompany divisions