The Aichi-produced B7A "Ryusei" (translated to "Shooting Star" and nicknamed "Grace" by the Allies) was a limited-production torpedo/dive bomber in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the late stages of World War 2. Unfortunately for the design, the aircraft arrived too late to be fielded in force as the Japanese Navy was now without any viable carrier options by the time of the B7A's adoption. With just a scant 114 production aircraft resulting, the series became an overlooked Aichi wartime design that would never have a chance to live up to its perceived potential as a new, all-modern carrier-based torpedo/dive bombing platform.
The B7A Ryusei was conceived of to fulfill a new Japanese Navy requirement for a carrier-based torpedo/dive bomber as early as 1941. A prototype was flown during 1942 but the aircraft, seeing prolonged delays from engine development issues and natural causes (an earthquake on the island), was forced to await receiving its official operational status until 1944. By then, the Japanese Navy was all but crippled of her strategic, and vastly important, aircraft carriers across the Pacific Theater that the B7A would instead see limited-duty from land-based airfields.
At its core, the Aichi B7A Ryusei was a single engined, two-seat, low monoplane aircraft design. A dorsal arrangement allowed for the carrying of a single 1,764lb torpedo or an equal amount of standard drop ordnance. Additionally, two forward-firing, fixed 20mm cannons were mounted in the leading wing edges while a single, defensive-minded, 7.92mm or 13mm machine gun was fitted to a flexible mounting at the rear cockpit position for added defense.
Power was served through a Nakajima NK9C Homare 12 model, 18-cylinder, air-cooled, radial piston engine of 1,825 horsepower providing for a top speed of 352 miles per hour, a range out to 1,890 miles and a service ceiling up to 36,910 feet. The engine drove a four-bladed propeller assembly.
Dimensions included a length of 37 feet, 8 inches, a wingspan of 47 feet, 3 inches, and a height of 13 feet, 5 inches. As the B7A was intended for carrier service, it came complete with hinged wing sections to allow for folding on space-strapped aircraft carriers of the IJN.
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GROUND ATTACK
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
37.7 ft (11.50 meters) Length
47.2 ft (14.40 meters) Width/Span
13.4 ft (4.07 meters) Height
8,378 lb (3,800 kilograms) Empty Weight
14,330 lb (6,500 kilograms) Maximum Take-Off Weight
+5,952 lb (+2,700 kg) Weight Difference
1 x Nakajima NK9C Homare 12 series 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine developing 2,000 horsepower driving a four-bladed propeller unit at the nose. Propulsion
STANDARD:
2 x 20mm Type 99 cannons in wings (one gun per wing).
1 x 7,92mm Type 1 OR 13mm Type 2 air-cooled machine gun on trainable mounting in rear cockpit (aft-facing).
OPTIONAL:
Up to 1,765lb of drop-ordnance including 1 x "Long Lance" torpedo or conventional drop bombs (for dive bombing).
3 Hardpoints
B7A "Ryusei" - Base Series Designation
B7A1 - Prototype designation; nine examples completed.
B7A2 - IJN production bomber designation
B7A2X - Experimental mount fitted with Nakajima Jomare 23 series radial piston engine of 1,490 horsepower; single example of B7A2 model.
B7A3 - Proposed variant fitting Mitsubishi MK9A engine of 2,200 horsepower; not produced.
Images
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Image courtesy of the Public Domain. Pictured is an American captured example of the B7A.
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