Nakajima B5N Kate

The Nakajima B5N (九七式艦上攻撃機), codenamed "Kate" by the Allies, first flew on January 8, 1937, and was formally adopted in November 1937. It was produced by Nakajima Aircraft's Koizumi factory and was the most advanced carrier torpedo bomber of its era when introduced.

The B5N2 (Type 97 Model 3) featured the powerful Nakajima Sakae 11 engine and could carry one Type 91 aerial torpedo or up to 800 kg of bombs. Its maximum speed was 378 km/h with a combat range of 978 km. Crew consisted of three: pilot, navigator/bombardier, and radio operator/gunner.

During the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, B5N2s flew in two waves. Forty aircraft delivered torpedo strikes against Battleship Row, sinking USS Oklahoma, USS West Virginia and USS California, while USS Arizona was destroyed by an 800 kg armor-piercing bomb dropped by a B5N level bomber. B5Ns also participated in the sinking of USS Lexington at the Coral Sea and USS Hornet at Santa Cruz, and crippled USS Yorktown at Midway (she was later sunk by submarine I-168). Total production was 1,149 aircraft.