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Japan's Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (milky way) attack bomber, night fighter
Allied code name: Frances

Photos

Yokosuka P1Y Ginga "Frances" attack bomber:
Japan's Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga "Frances" attack bomber		 Yokosuka P1Y Ginga "Frances" attack bomber:
Japan's Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga "'Frances" attack bomber		    
Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga "Frances" attack bomber:
Japan's Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga "'Frances" attack bomber		 Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga "Frances" attack bomber:
Japan's Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga "'Frances" attack bomber		    

Design

The P1Y Ginga was intended to be a multirole military aircraft along the same lines as the Mosquito and Ju 88.1 It has much promise but the war ended before its full potential was realized.1

The P1Y was to meet an Imperial Japanese Navy requirement issued in 1940.1

Prototype

The first prototype to fly was in summer 19432 / August 1943.1 Pilots enjoyed the aircraft, but ground crews disliked its problems with the engines and hydraulic systems.1

Production

  • Prototype: 61
  • Yokosuka P1Y1, Yokosuka P1Y1-S: 9961
    • Manufacturer: Nakajima1
    • Production: mid 1944 - ?1
  • Yokosuka P1Y2, Yokosuka P1Y2-S: 961
    • Manufacturer: Kawanishi1
  • Total: 1,0981,2
    • Manufacturer: Nakajima Hikoki K.K.2
    • Production: ? - October 1944 (453)2

Variants

  • Prototype:
  • Yokosuka P1Y:
  • Yokosuka P1Y1 Model 11:
  • Yokosuka P1Y1a: Primarily changes in armament.1
  • Yokosuka P1Y1b: Primarily changes in armament.1
  • Yokosuka P1Y1c: Primarily changes in armament.1
  • Yokosuka P1Y1-S: Night fighter.1 Four oblique firing 20 mm guns in fuselage.1
  • Yokosuka P1Y2: Bomber.1
  • Yokosuka P1Y2-S Kyokko ("Aurora"): Night fighter.1
  • Yokosuka P1Y3: Was to be parent aircraft for the Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka suicide rocket aircraft.1
  • Yokosuka P1Y4: Better engines.1 Only drawing board.1
  • Yokosuka P1Y5: Better engines.1 Only drawing board.1
  • Yokosuka P1Y6: Better engines.1 Only drawing board.1

Usage

The P1Y1 wasn't used extensively because of engine problems.2

Specifications

  Yokosuka P1Y Ginga1 Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga1,2 Yokosuka P1Y2 Ginga1
Type Attack bomber1, night fighter1 Bomber2  
Crew 31 32  
Engine (Type)   2: Nakajima NK9B Homare 112
2: Nakajima Nk9C Homare 121 		2: Mitsubishi MK4T-A-Kasei 25a1
Cylinders   Radial 181,2 Radial 141
Cooling   Air2  
Net HP   1,8202, 1,8251 1,8501
Propeller blades   31 31
Dimensions      
Span   65' 7"2, 65' 7.5"1
20 m1 		65' 7.5"1
20 m1
Length   49' 2"2, 49' 2.5"1
15 m1 		49' 2.5"1
15 m1
Height   14' 1"2, 14' 1.25"1
4.3 m1 		14' 1.25"1
4.3 m1
Wing area      
Weight      
Empty   16,017 lb1
7,265 kg1 		 
Loaded   29,762 lb1, 30,840 lb2
13,500 kg1 		 
Performance      
Speed      
Speed @ 19,355' /
5,900 m 		  340 mph1,2
547 kph1 		 
Cruising speed   230 mph1
370 kph1 		 
Climb      
Climb to 9,840' /
3,000 m 		  4.3 minutes1  
Service ceiling   30,840'1,2
9,400 m1 		 
Range   1,192 miles1, 3,338 miles2
1,918 km1 		 
Maximum range   3,337 miles1
5,370 km1 		 
Armament   2: 20 mm2  
Nose 1: 20 mm1    
Rear cockpit 1: 13 mm MG1    
OR 2: 13 mm MG1    
Bombs 2,205 lb1
1,000 kg1 		2,200 lb2  
OR      
Torpedo 11    

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
  2. World War II Airplanes Volume 2, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976