Nakajima G5N - Wikipedia

Heavy bomber in Japan

G5N Shinzan
A Nakajima G5N2 Shinzan Kai
General information
Type	Heavy bomber
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Nakajima Aircraft Company
Status	Retired
Primary user	Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Number built	6 (2 of G5N1 & 4 of G5N2)
History
First flight	8 April 1941[1]
Retired	1945
Developed from	Douglas DC-4E

The Nakajima G5N Shinzan (深山, deep mountain) was a four-engined, long-range heavy bomber designed and built for the Imperial Japanese Navy prior to World War II. The Navy designation was "Experimental Type 13 Attack Bomber"; the Allied code name was "Liz".

Design and development

[edit] See also: Project Z (bomber project)

The Nakajima G5N Shinzan originated due to the Imperial Japanese Navy's interest in developing a long-range attack bomber capable of carrying heavy loads of bombs or torpedoes a minimum distance of 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi). To meet this requirement, it became apparent a four-engine lay-out would be necessary. As Japanese aircraft manufacturers lacked experience in building such large, complex aircraft, the Navy was forced to search for a suitable, existing, foreign-made model upon which to base the new design. It settled on the American Douglas DC-4E airliner. In 1939, the sole prototype of this airliner (previously rejected by American airline companies) was purchased by Nippon Koku K.K (Japan Airlines Co) and clandestinely handed over to the Nakajima Aircraft Company for dismantling and inspection.[2]

The design that emerged from this study was for an all-metal, mid-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces, powered by four 1,870 hp Nakajima NK7A Mamori 11 air-cooled radial engines driving four-bladed propellers. A long ventral bomb-bay, glazed nose, and twin tailfins, replacing the DC-4E's distinctive triple rudder, were included. The DC-4E's retractable tricycle undercarriage was retained, as well as the original wing form and powerplant arrangement. Defensive armament comprised two 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 autocannon (one in a power-operated dorsal and one in a tail turret), plus single-mount, hand-operated 7.7 mm Type 92 machine guns in the nose, ventral, and waist positions.[3]

The first prototype G5N1 made its maiden flight on 8 April 1941.[1] However, overall performance proved disappointingly poor due to a combination of excessive weight, the low power of the Kasei engines, and the complexity of the design. Only one additional prototype was completed. In an attempt to salvage the project, four additional airframes were built and fitted with 1,870 hp Nakajima NK7A Mamori 11 engines and redesignated G5N2. Although the Nakajima engines were more powerful than the original Kasei 12s, their unreliability and the aircraft’s increased weight led to the termination of further development.[4]

Operational history

[edit]

Of the six completed Shinzans, four were relegated for use as long-range Navy transports under the designation G5N2-L Shinzan-Kai Transport. The Allies allocated the code-name "Liz" to the aircraft, in the expectation it would be used as a bomber.[3]

Variants

[edit]

G5N1 Experimental Type 13 Land-based Attack Bomber Shinzan (13試陸上攻撃機 深山, 13-Shi Rikujō Kōgekiki Shinzan) Prototype, two built. Initial named simply Experimental Type 13 Large-size land-based Attack Bomber (13試大型陸上攻撃機, 13-Shi Ōgata Rikujō Kōgekiki). Four-engined heavy bomber/torpedo bomber. Four-blade propeller (first prototype had three-blade propeller), mounted four Mitsubishi MK4B Kasei 12 (1,530 hp) radial engines. G5N2 Test production Shinzan Kai (試製深山改, Shisei Shinzan Kai) Supplementary prototype, four built. Four-blade propeller, mounted four Nakajima NK7A Mamori 11 (1,870 hp) radial engines. G5N2-L Shinzan Kai Freighter (深山改輸送機, Sinzan Kai Yusōki) Long-range Navy transport conversion. Two G5N1s and both G5N2s were rebuilt to G5N2-L in 1943. All aircraft were deployed to 1021st Kōkutai, Katori Air Base. Ki-68 Proposed Army bomber prototype version of the G5N1. Engines were planned Mitsubishi Ha-101, Ha-104, Ha-107, Nakajima Ha-39 or Ha-103 engines. Discontinued in 1941. Ki-85 Proposed Army bomber version of the G5N1. Four Mitsubishi Ha-111M engines. Full-scale mock-up was built in 1942, discontinued in May 1943.[1][5]

Operators

[edit]  Japan

• Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service[6]
  • 1021st Kōkutai

Specifications (G5N1)

[edit]

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[3]Famous airplanes of the world (1984)[5]

General characteristics

• Crew: 7 (G5N1/2), 6 (G5N2-L)
• Capacity: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) freight (G5N2-L)
• Length: 31.02 m (101 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 42.12 m (138 ft 2 in)
• Height: 8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 201.8 m2 (2,172 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 20,100 kg (44,313 lb)
• Gross weight: 28,150 kg (62,060 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 32,000 kg (70,548 lb)
• Powerplant: 4 × Mitsubishi MK4B Kasei 12 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,140 kW (1,530 hp) each
• Propellers: 4-bladed Sumitomo/Hamilton constant-speed propellers

Performance

• Maximum speed: 420 km/h (260 mph, 230 kn)
• Cruise speed: 278 km/h (173 mph, 150 kn)
• Range: 4,260 km (2,650 mi, 2,300 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 7,450 m (24,440 ft)

Armament

• Guns:
  • 2× 20 mm Type 99 cannons
  • 4× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 92 machine guns
• Bombs:
  • 2,000-4,000 kg (4,408-8,816 lb) bombs or torpedoes
    • 2× 1,500 kg torpedoes
    • 2× 1,500 kg bombs
    • 4× 800 kg bombs
    • 12× 250 kg bombs
    • 24× 60 kg bombs

See also

[edit]

Related development

• Douglas DC-4E

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Avro Lancaster
• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
• Consolidated B-24 Liberator
• Handley Page Halifax
• Heinkel He 277
• Nakajima G8N

References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Famous Airplanes of the World (1984), p. 11.
2. ^ Francillon 1979, p. 423.
3. ^ a b c Francillon 1979, p. 425.
4. ^ Bunrindo (1977-10-10). Famous Airplanes of The World No. 90 (in Japanese). Japan: Bunrindo Co. Ltd. pp. 2, 67.
5. ^ a b Famous Airplanes of the World (1984), p. 32.
6. ^ Famous Airplanes of the World (1984), p. 2.

Bibliography

[edit]

• Collier, Basil. Japanese Aircraft of World War II. New York: Mayflower Books, 1979. ISBN 0-8317-5137-1.
• Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
• Nakajima, Navy heavy experimental attack bomber Shinzan / Renzan, Famous Airplanes of the World No. 90, Bunrindō (Japan) October 1977.
• Nakajima Shinzan / Renzan, Famous Airplanes of the World No. 146, Bunrindō (Japan) November 1984.
• Illustrated warplane history #5 Imperial Japanese Navy warplane, Green Arrow publishing (Japan), June 1994. ISBN 978-4-76633-161-5

External links

[edit]

Media related to Nakajima G5N Shinzan at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Nakajima aircraft
Imperial Japanese Navy types	Carrier fighters A1N A2N A3N A4N Carrier Torpedo Bombers B3N B4N B5N B6N Reconnaissance aircraft C2N C3N C6N Dive bombers D3N Reconnaissance floatplanes E2N E4N E8N Land-based Attack Bombers G5N G8N Fugaku Interceptors J1N J5N Kikka Transports L1N Floatplane fighter A6M2-N Other LB-2 P-1
Imperial Japanese Army types	Army manufacturer type code system Nieuport 83/Nakajima 甲2 (Ko 2) Nieuport 24/Nakajima 甲3 (Ko 3) Nieuport-Delage NiD 29/Nakajima 甲4 (Ko 4) Army type-year Type 91 fighter Type 94 reconnaissance aircraft Type 95 training aircraft Type 97 fighter Type 97 transport Type 100 heavy bomber Type 1 fighter Type 2 single-seat fighter Type 4 fighter Kitai (airframe #) Ki-4 Ki-6 Ki-8 Ki-11 Ki-12 Ki-13 Ki-16 Ki-19 Ki-27 Ki-31 Ki-34 Ki-37 Ki-41 Ki-43 Ki-44 Ki-49 Ki-52 Ki-53 Ki-58 Ki-62 Ki-63 Ki-68 Ki-75 Ki-80 Ki-82 Ki-84 Ki-87 Ki-101 Ki-106 Ki-113 Ki-115 Ki-201 Ki-230
WW2 Allied reporting names	Abdul Bob Dave Frank Helen Irving Jill Jim Kate Liz Myrt Clint Nate Oscar Rita Rufe Thora Tojo

v t e Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft designations (short system)
Fighters (A)	A1N A2N A3N A4N A5M A6M A7He A7M A8V AXB1 AXD1 AXG1 AXH1 AXHe1 AXV1
Torpedo bombers (B)	B1M B2M B3N B3Y B4M B4N B4Y B5M B5N B6N B7A BXN1 C6N1-B2
Shipboard reconnaissance (C)	C1M C2N C3N C4A C5M C6N CXP1 D4Y1-C2 E4N2-C2
Dive bombers (D)	D1A D2A D2N D2Y D3A D3M D3N D3Y D4Y D5Y DXD1 DXHe1
Reconnaissance seaplanes (E)	E1Y E2N E3A E4N E5K E5Y E6Y E7K E8A E8K E8N E9W E10A E10K E11A E11K E12A E12K E12N E13A E13K E14W E14Y E15K E16A
Observation seaplanes (F)	F1A F1M J1N1-F2
Land-based bombers (G)	G1M (I) G1M (II) G2H G3M G4M G5N G6M G7M G8N G9K3 G10N3
Flying Boats (H)	H1H H2H H3H H3K H4H H5Y H6K H7K H8K H9A H10H H11K HXC1 HXD1 HXP1
Land-based Fighters (J)	J1N J2M J3K J4M J5N J6K J7W J8M J9N3 N1K1-J/N1K2-J2
Trainers (K)	K1Y K2Y K3M K4Y K5Y K6K K6M K6W K7M K8K K8Ni N8P K8W K9W K10W K11W KXA1 KXBu1 KXC1 KXJ1 KXHe1 KXL1 A5M4-K2 A6M2-K2 B5N1-K2 D3Y1-K2 E13A1-K2 F1M2-K2 G6M1-K2 M6A1-K2 Q1W1-K2
Transports (L)	L1N L2D L3Y L4M L7P LXC1 LXD1 LXF1 LXG (KR-2)1 LXG (G-21)1 LXHe1 LXJ (Ju 60)1 LXJ (Ju 86)1 LXK1 LXM1 G5N2-L2 G6M1-L2 H6K2-L/H6K4-L2 H8K1-L/H8K2-L/H8K4-L2 H11K1-L2 K3M3-L2
Special-purpose (M)1	M6A MXJ1 MXY1 MXY2 MXY2 MXY4 MXY5 MXY6 MXY7 MXY8 MXY9 MXY10 MXY11 MXZ1
Floatplane fighters (N)	N1K A6M2-N2
Land-based bombers (P)	P1Y P2M
Patrol (Q)	Q1W Q2M Q3W
Land-based reconnaissance (R)	R1Y R2Y D4Y2-R2 J1N1-R2
Night fighters (S)	S1A C6N1-S2 D4Y2-S2 E13A1a-S/E13A1b-S2 J1N1-S2 P1Y1-S/P1Y2-S2
1 X as second letter is for experimental aircraft or imported technology demonstrators not intended for service, 2 Hyphenated trailing letter (-J, -K, -L, -N or -S) denotes design modified for secondary role, 3 Possibly incorrect designation, but used in many sources

v t e Imperial Japanese Navy official aircraft names
Fighters	Naval fighters1 Jinpū (Squall) Kyōfū (Gale) Reppū (Strong wind) Land-based fighters2 Raiden (Lightning bolt) Senden (Flashing lightning) Shiden (Violet lightning) Shinden (Magnificent lightning) Tenrai (Thunder) Nightfighters3 Denkō (Lightning) Gekkō (Moonlight) Hakkō (Corona) Kyokkō (Aurora) Jet/rocket fighters Kikka (Tachibana orange blossom) Shinryū (Divine dragon) Shūsui (Sharp sword)
Heavy bombers4	Fugaku (Mount Fuji) Nanzan (South mountain) Renzan (Mountain chain) Shinzan (Deep mountain) Taizan (Great mountain) Tenzan (Heavenly mountain) Tozan (Eastern mountain)
Bombers5	Ginga (Galaxy) Myōjō (Venus) Ryūsei (Shooting star) Suisei (Comet) Tenga (Milky Way)
Patrol6	Nankai (Southern sea) Tai'yō (Ocean) Tōkai (Eastern sea)
Reconnaissance7	Keiun (Cirrus cloud) Saiun (Iridescent cloud) Seiran (Clear sky storm) Shiun (Violet cloud) Seiun (Dawn cloud) Zuiun (Auspicious cloud)
Trainers8	Momiji (Maple) Shiragiku (White chrysanthemum)
Transports9	Seikū (Clear sky) Sōkū (Blue sky)
Miscellaneous10	Akigusa (Autumn grass) Shūka (Autumn flower) Wakakusa (Young grass)
Special-purpose aircraft11	Baika (Japanese Apricot Blossom) Ohka (Sakura cherry blossom) Tōka (Wisteria flower)
With some exceptions for rockets, jets and repurposed aircraft, names chosen were for: 1. Winds, 2. Lightning, 3. Nighttime lights, 4. Mountains, 5. Stars/constellations, 6. Seas, 7. Clouds, 8. Plants, 9. Skies, 10. Landscapes, and 11. Flowers. 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.

v t e World War II Allied reporting names for Japanese aircraft
Aircraft in Japanese service	Abdul Alf Ann Babs Baka Belle Betty Bob Buzzard Cedar Cherry Clara Claude Cypress Dave Dick Dinah Dot Edna Emily Eva Eve Frances Frank Gander George Glen Goose Grace Gwen Hamp Hank Hap Helen Hickory Ida (Ki-36) Ida (Ki-55) Irving Jack Jake Jane Jean Jerry Jill Jim Judy Kate Kate 61 Laura Lily Liz Lorna Loise Louise Luke Mabel Mary Mavis Myrt Nate Nell Nick Norm Oak Oscar Pat Patsy Paul Peggy Perry Pete Pine Rex Rita Rob Rufe Ruth Sally Sally III Sam Sandy Slim Sonia Spruce Stella Steve Susie Tabby Tess Thalia Thelma Theresa Thora Tina Tillie Toby Tojo Tony Topsy Val Willow Zeke Zeke 32
Foreign aircraftthought to be in Japanese service	Bess (Heinkel He 111) Doc (Messerschmitt Bf 110) Fred (Focke Wulf Fw 190) Irene (Junkers Ju 87) Janice (Junkers Ju 88) Mike (Messerschmitt Bf 109) Millie (Vultee V-11) Trixie (Junkers Ju 52) Trudy (Focke-Wulf Fw 200)