Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (Frances)
Open the military map銀河
Aircraft Type
The Yokosuka P1Y Ginga was a fast twin-engine Navy attack bomber designed to replace the G4M Betty. Capable of both level and dive bombing, it was manufactured by Nakajima. 1,102 built.
- Armament
- 20mm機銃×2（機首/尾部）、爆弾1,000kgまたは魚雷800kg
History
The Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (銀河, "Milky Way"), codenamed "Frances" by the Allies, was designed at the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal and manufactured primarily by Nakajima Aircraft Company. It first flew in August 1943 and entered service in October 1944.
Powered by two Nakajima Homare engines (Model 11 or 12) producing about 1,825 hp each, the P1Y achieved a maximum speed of 547 km/h, making it significantly faster than the G4M Betty it was designed to replace. It could carry 1,000 kg of bombs or an 800 kg torpedo, and was armed with two 20mm cannons for defense. The three-man crew consisted of pilot, navigator/bombardier, and radio operator/gunner.
The Ginga was designed as a versatile multi-role bomber capable of torpedo attack, dive bombing, and level bombing. It served during the Philippines and Okinawa campaigns, and in the war's final stages was used in kamikaze attacks. Engine reliability was a constant problem. The P1Y was also adapted as a night fighter variant (P1Y2-S Kyokko). Total production reached 1,102 aircraft.
Related sites (2)
- Deployed31.368, 130.845
Kanoya Naval Air Base, Kagoshima Prefecture – 24 Ginga of the Azusa Special Attack Unit took off from here in March 1945 for the long-range attack on the US fleet anchorage at Ulithi (Operation Tan No. 2).
- Factory36.256, 139.376
Nakajima Aircraft Koizumi Factory (中島飛行機小泉製作所) – primary P1Y production site, Gunma Prefecture.
Sources
- 中島飛行機小泉製作所 - WikipediaWebsite
- Yokosuka P1Y Ginga - WikipediaWebsite
- 銀河 (航空機) - WikipediaWebsite