[WWII] Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" medium bomber (Japan)

copeab · 09-23-2010, 03:23 PM

Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" medium bomber
Copyright 2010 by Brandon Cope

In the early 1930's, Admiral Yamamoto foresaw the use for a long range naval bomber operated from land bases. Mitsubishi built an unarmed demonstration aircraft. It had excellent range and speed and the company was requested to build an improved model for combat use. This was followed by a score of armed prototypes. In 1935, the G3M1 entered production, but only a few were made before replaced by the superior G3M2. The twin-engine, twin-rudder bomber saw extensive use in China and over 200 were still in frontline service in December 1941 However, those left were quickly relegated to lesser duties (such as glider tug, maritime patrol, and trainer) as the G4M was already available in relatively sufficient numbers. Like most Japanese aircraft, it suffered badly in combat by not having protection for it's crew and fuel tanks, as well as an inadequate defensive armament. A total of 1,022 G3M's were built, of which 343 were of the G3M2 Model 21 subtype starting in 1937.

The G3M2 Model 21 has a crew of five: Pilot, co-pilot, navigator (who also acts as bombardier and mans the forward dorsal turret), radio operator (who also mans the rear dorsal turret) and one gunner (the ventral turret). The G3M2 uses 80 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage. The historical maximum range of the Model 21 was over 2,700 miles.

Subassemblies: Heavy Fighter-Bomber chassis +4, Light Bomber Wings +4, 2xLarge Weapon Engine Pods +2, 3xpartial rotation Medium Weapon turret +1, three retractable wheels +1.
Powertrain: 2x800-kW aerial HP supercharged gasoline engines [Pods] with 2x800-kW props, and 1,022-gallon standard fuel tanks [Body and Wings], 4,000-kw batteries
Occupancy: 5 CS Cargo: 20 Body.

Armor
All: 2/3

Weaponry
Aircraft LMG/Type 92 [Turret#1:F] (1,164)
Aircraft LMG/Type 92 [Turret#2:F] (1,164)
Aircraft LMG/Type 92 [Turret#3:F] (1,164)
8x220-lb bombs [Body:U].

Equipment
Body: Large radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments, autopilot, bombsight, 1,800-lb bomb bay, retractable turret.

Statistics
Size: 54'x82'x12'
Payload: 5.9 tons
Lwt: 8.8 tons
Volume: 448
Maint.: 26 hours
Price: $59,100
HT: 8.
HP: 260 [body], 300 [each wing], 120 [each pod], 25 [each wheel]

aSpeed: 233
aAccel: 5
aDecel: 24
aMR: 6
aSR: 2
Stall: 64

Design Notes
Design speed was 224 mph. The historical speed has been used, as well as the actual wing area (807 square feet). To better match historical weight, chassis and wing cost, weight and HPs were divided by 2. In the end, loaded weight still had to be decreased by 18%

Instead on the internal load, the “Nell” could carry a torpedo on a hardpoint underneath the fuselage.

Variants
The Ka-9 (1934) was the single unarmed prototype. Twenty-one more prototypes, primarily differing in the engines installed, under the designation Ka-15.

The G3M1 (1936) had 680-kW engines achieving 215 mph and the bomb load was carried externally. Fuel was 814 gallons. Only 34 were built.

The G3M2 Model 22 (1939) removed the rear dorsal turret and replaced it with a blister with a 20mm Type 99-1 (20mm Short Aircraft AC) cannon with 125 rounds. The ventral turret, which caused excessive drag when extended, was replaced with two staggered wast blisters (one per side) each with a Type 92 MG. Some sources claim a fixed forward-firing 7.7mm MG was provided, operated by the pilot. Two more gunners were carried. 238 were built by Mitsubishi and an unknown number of the 412 from Nakajima.

The G3M3 Model 23 (1941) was externally similar to the Model 22, but had 970-kW engines providing a top speed of 258 mph. Fuel tankage was increased to 1,367 gallons, giving a 3,700 mile range. An unknown number was made out of the total of 412 built by Nakajima.

“Tina” was the Allied codename given to the transport version of the G3M. Twenty-four (based on the Model 21) were built for civil use in Japan. They carried no armament, had a crew of three and carried eight passengers. An unknown number were converted from Model 22 and 23 planes; these differed from the civilian version by having a retractable dorsal turret with a Type 92 MG.

09-23-2010, 03:23 PM	#1
copeab Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: near Houston	[WWII] Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" medium bomber (Japan) Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" medium bomber Copyright 2010 by Brandon Cope In the early 1930's, Admiral Yamamoto foresaw the use for a long range naval bomber operated from land bases. Mitsubishi built an unarmed demonstration aircraft. It had excellent range and speed and the company was requested to build an improved model for combat use. This was followed by a score of armed prototypes. In 1935, the G3M1 entered production, but only a few were made before replaced by the superior G3M2. The twin-engine, twin-rudder bomber saw extensive use in China and over 200 were still in frontline service in December 1941 However, those left were quickly relegated to lesser duties (such as glider tug, maritime patrol, and trainer) as the G4M was already available in relatively sufficient numbers. Like most Japanese aircraft, it suffered badly in combat by not having protection for it's crew and fuel tanks, as well as an inadequate defensive armament. A total of 1,022 G3M's were built, of which 343 were of the G3M2 Model 21 subtype starting in 1937. The G3M2 Model 21 has a crew of five: Pilot, co-pilot, navigator (who also acts as bombardier and mans the forward dorsal turret), radio operator (who also mans the rear dorsal turret) and one gunner (the ventral turret). The G3M2 uses 80 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage. The historical maximum range of the Model 21 was over 2,700 miles. Subassemblies: Heavy Fighter-Bomber chassis +4, Light Bomber Wings +4, 2xLarge Weapon Engine Pods +2, 3xpartial rotation Medium Weapon turret +1, three retractable wheels +1. Powertrain: 2x800-kW aerial HP supercharged gasoline engines [Pods] with 2x800-kW props, and 1,022-gallon standard fuel tanks [Body and Wings], 4,000-kw batteries Occupancy: 5 CS Cargo: 20 Body. Armor All: 2/3 Weaponry Aircraft LMG/Type 92 [Turret#1:F] (1,164) Aircraft LMG/Type 92 [Turret#2:F] (1,164) Aircraft LMG/Type 92 [Turret#3:F] (1,164) 8x220-lb bombs [Body:U]. Equipment Body: Large radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments, autopilot, bombsight, 1,800-lb bomb bay, retractable turret. Statistics Size: 54'x82'x12' Payload: 5.9 tons Lwt: 8.8 tons Volume: 448 Maint.: 26 hours Price: $59,100 HT: 8. HP: 260 [body], 300 [each wing], 120 [each pod], 25 [each wheel] aSpeed: 233 aAccel: 5 aDecel: 24 aMR: 6 aSR: 2 Stall: 64 Design Notes Design speed was 224 mph. The historical speed has been used, as well as the actual wing area (807 square feet). To better match historical weight, chassis and wing cost, weight and HPs were divided by 2. In the end, loaded weight still had to be decreased by 18% Instead on the internal load, the “Nell” could carry a torpedo on a hardpoint underneath the fuselage. Variants The Ka-9 (1934) was the single unarmed prototype. Twenty-one more prototypes, primarily differing in the engines installed, under the designation Ka-15. The G3M1 (1936) had 680-kW engines achieving 215 mph and the bomb load was carried externally. Fuel was 814 gallons. Only 34 were built. The G3M2 Model 22 (1939) removed the rear dorsal turret and replaced it with a blister with a 20mm Type 99-1 (20mm Short Aircraft AC) cannon with 125 rounds. The ventral turret, which caused excessive drag when extended, was replaced with two staggered wast blisters (one per side) each with a Type 92 MG. Some sources claim a fixed forward-firing 7.7mm MG was provided, operated by the pilot. Two more gunners were carried. 238 were built by Mitsubishi and an unknown number of the 412 from Nakajima. The G3M3 Model 23 (1941) was externally similar to the Model 22, but had 970-kW engines providing a top speed of 258 mph. Fuel tankage was increased to 1,367 gallons, giving a 3,700 mile range. An unknown number was made out of the total of 412 built by Nakajima. “Tina” was the Allied codename given to the transport version of the G3M. Twenty-four (based on the Model 21) were built for civil use in Japan. They carried no armament, had a crew of three and carried eight passengers. An unknown number were converted from Model 22 and 23 planes; these differed from the civilian version by having a retractable dorsal turret with a Type 92 MG. __________________ A generous and sadistic GM, Brandon Cope GURPS 3e stuff: http://copeab.tripod.com Last edited by copeab; 09-23-2010 at 03:50 PM.