The Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (銀河, "Galaxy") was a twin-engine, land-based bomber developed for the Japanese Imperial Navy in World War II. It was the successor to the Mitsubishi G4M and given the Allied reporting name "Frances".
The P1Y was designed by the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal to Navy specification 15-Shi,[2] calling for a fast bomber with speed matching the Zero, range matching the G4M, a 907kg (2,000lb) bombload, and the ability to dive-bomb as well as carry torpedoes. As the result, the construction suffered from excess complexity, difficulty of manufacture, and poor serviceability. Problems with the availability of enough reliable Nakajima Homare engines led to their replacement by the Mitsubishi Kasei in the P1Y2-S night-fighter version.
The streamlined design of the Ginga is attributed to Miki Tadanao, an engineer who after World War II went on to create a similar aerodynamic design for Japan's earliest bullet trains (Shinkansen), while working with the Japan National Railways (JNR).[3]
Operational history
Yokosuka P1Y "Frances" shot down next to USSOmmaney Bay(CVE-79) by 0945 on December 15, 1944.[4]
The first flight was in August 1943. Nakajima manufactured 1,002 examples, which were operated by five Kōkūtai (Air Groups), and acted as land-based medium and torpedo bombers from airfields in China, Taiwan, the Mariana Islands, the Philippines, the Ryukyu Islands, Shikoku, and Kyūshū. During the last stages of the war the P1Y was used as a kamikaze aircraft against the United 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 and Schräge Musik-style upward-firing as well as forward-firing 20mm cannon. A total of 96 were produced by Kawanishi,[5] but due to inadequate high-altitude performance against the B-29 Superfortress, many were converted back to Ginga bombers.[6]
Survivors
A P1Y1 survives at the Smithsonian's Paul Garber Facility of its National Air and Space Museum. While only the fuselage has been photographed several times and can be found on the internet, the wings and engines are confirmed to exist.[7] This was one of three P1Ys that were brought back to the United States after World War II for evaluation.
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.
Converted from P1Y1. Armed with 2 × 20mm Type 99 cannons. Equipped 302nd Kōkūtai 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 × 20mm Type 99 cannons firing obliquely forward, and 1 × 13mm (.51in) Type 2 machine gun in the back defensive position. Only a project.
P1Y1 Ground attack variant
Converted from P1Y1/P1Y1a, installed up to 20 × 20mm Type 99 cannons in the bomb bay for land strikes against B-29 bases in the Marianas. Approx. 30 rebuilt.
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.[11] Converted from P1Y1/P1Y1a. Fitted Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25 engines. Armed with 2 × 20mm Type 99 cannons and 1 × 30mm Type 5 cannon. Later, almost all were converted to P1Y2. 96 or 97 produced.[12]
P1Y2 Provisional name Ginga Model 16 (仮称銀河16型, Kashō Ginga 16-gata)
Converted from P1Y2. Armed with 2 × 20mm Type 99 machine guns or 1 × 30mm Type 5 cannon. Equipped 302nd Kōkūtai only. This is not a naval regulation equipment.
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.
Published translations disagree, and many are simplified, especially for plants, where the Japanese referred to a specific variety and the common translations only to the broader type.
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