Japan's Aichi B7A Ryusei (shooting star, falling star) dive bomber
Allied Code Name: Grace

Photos

Design

The Aichi B7A was developed for a specification for a high performance aircraft to replace the Nakajima B6N torpedo bomber and Yokosuka D4Y dive bomber.^1,2

The B7A could fly almost as fast as the Mitsubishi A6M fighter and had good manoeuverability.¹

Engine

The Homare engine caused delays to the development of the B7A.¹

Prototype

The B7A1 prototype first flew in May 1942.^1,2

Production

• Aichi B7A1 (prototype): 9^1,2
• Aichi B7A2: 114¹ (Aichi: 105, Omura Naval Air Arsenal: 25)¹
• Total: 114²
  • Manufacturer: Aichi Kokuki K.K.²

Due to an earthquake in May 1945, the Aichi Funakata plant was destroyed.¹

Variants

• Aichi B7A1: Development and test version.¹
• Aichi B7A2:
• Aichi B7A3: Was designed to have a Nakajima Homare 23 engine (2,000 HP).¹ Was never produced.¹

Usage

By the time the B7A2 was reaching front line units in 1944 the war situation was going against Japan.¹ There were no aircraft carriers for the B7A to fight from.^1,2

Only two land based Kokutais were equipped with the B7A2s.¹

Specifications

	Aichi B7A1	Aichi B7A11	Aichi B7A21,2
Type	Dive-bomber1 Torpedo bomber1		Bomber2
Crew	21		22
Engine (Type)		Nakajima NK9B Homare 111	Nakajima NK9C Homare 121,2
Cylinders		Radial 181	Radial 182
Cooling			Air2
Net HP		1,8001	1,8251,2
Propeller blades		41
Dimensions
Span	47' 3"1 14.4 m1		47' 3"2
Length	37' 8.5"1 11.49 m1		37' 8"2
Height	13' 4.5"1 4.08 m1		13' 4"2
Wing area
Weight
Empty	8,400 lb1 3,810 kg1
Normal load	12,568 lb1 5,700 kg1		12,401 lb2
Maximum load	14,300 lb1 6,500 kg1
Performance
Speed @ 21,490' / 6,550 m			352 mph1,2 566 kph1
Climb to 13,120' / 4,000 m			6.9 minutes1
Service ceiling			29,365'1 8,950 m1
Range			1,888 miles1,2 3,038 km1
Range with full load			1,150 miles1 1,850 km1
Armament			1: MG2 2: 20 mm2
Wings	2: 20 mm1
Rear cockpit	1: 7.92 mm or 13 mm MG1
Bombs			1,764 lb2
Torpedo or bombs	1,764 lb1 800 kg1