Mitsubishi Ki-21 (Sally)

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九七式重爆撃機

Aircraft Type
Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" heavy bomber formation of the Imperial Japanese Army
Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" heavy bomber formation of the Imperial Japanese Army — Imperial Japanese Army (Public Domain)

The Mitsubishi Ki-21 Sally was the Imperial Japanese Army's primary heavy bomber from the late 1930s through mid-war. It served in China, Malaya, Burma, and the Pacific. 2,064 built.

Class / type
三菱重工
Complement
5
Launched
18 December 1936
Commissioned / formed
1 January 1938
Armament
12.7mm機銃×1（背面砲塔）、7.7mm機銃×5（各位置）、爆弾1,000kg

History

The Mitsubishi Ki-21 (九七式重爆撃機), codenamed "Sally" by the Allies (later variants "Gwen"), first flew on December 18, 1936, and entered Army service in 1938. It was the primary heavy bomber of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force through the war's first half.

The Ki-21 was powered by two Mitsubishi Ha-101 engines (in the Ki-21-II variant), giving a maximum speed of 485 km/h. It carried up to 1,000 kg of bombs and was defended by one 12.7mm dorsal turret gun and five 7.7mm machine guns in various positions. The five-man crew consisted of pilot, co-pilot, navigator/bombardier, radio operator, and gunner.

The Ki-21 saw extensive action in China from 1938, participated in the Malaya and Burma campaigns in 1941-42, and served in the Dutch East Indies and New Guinea. By 1943, it was increasingly obsolete against Allied fighters but continued in service due to lack of replacements. Total production reached 2,064 aircraft (1,713 by Mitsubishi, 351 by Nakajima).

Related sites (2)

  • Deployed6.190, 100.400

    Alor Star, northern Malaya – Ki-21 units bombed the airfields at Alor Star, Sungai Petani and Butterworth on the opening day of the Malaya campaign, December 8, 1941.

  • Factory35.181, 136.907

    Mitsubishi Aircraft Nagoya Factory (三菱航空機名古屋製作所) – primary Ki-21 production site.

Sources

  1. Mitsubishi Ki-21 - WikipediaWebsite
  2. 九七式重爆撃機 - WikipediaWebsite
  3. Malayan campaign - WikipediaWebsite