Aichi D3A Val
Open the military map九九式艦上爆撃機
Aircraft
The Aichi D3A was the primary carrier-based dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the early Pacific War. It took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor and was responsible for sinking more Allied warships than any other Axis aircraft.
- Armament
- 7.7mm機銃2挺（固定前方射撃）・7.7mm機銃1挺（後方旋回）・250kg爆弾1発＋60kg爆弾2発
History
The Aichi D3A (九九式艦上爆撃機), known to the Allies as "Val," was designed by Aichi Aircraft (愛知航空機) and flew its prototype in January 1938. It entered service in 1940 and became the backbone of Japanese carrier dive-bombing operations.
The Val carried a 250 kg bomb under the fuselage and two 60 kg bombs under the wings, with a maximum speed of 430 km/h. Its fixed undercarriage was aerodynamically fitted with fairings. During the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, 129 D3A1s participated, causing significant damage to US battleships and shore installations.
The D3A was credited with sinking more Allied naval vessels than any other Axis aircraft during the war, including HMS Hermes, HMS Dorsetshire, and HMS Cornwall during operations in the Indian Ocean in April 1942. Total production reached 1,495 aircraft (479 D3A1 and 1,016 D3A2).
Related sites (3)
- Battle21.363, -157.975
Pearl Harbor – 129 D3A1 dive bombers participated in the attack on December 7, 1941.
- Battle7.590, 82.100
Indian Ocean off Batticaloa, Ceylon – D3A Vals sank the carrier HMS Hermes here on April 9, 1942, four days after sinking the cruisers HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Cornwall south-west of Ceylon.
- Factory35.100, 136.880
Aichi Aircraft works, Nagoya – primary production site for the D3A Val.
Sources
- Aichi D3A - WikipediaWebsite
- 九九式艦上爆撃機 - WikipediaWebsite
- HMS Hermes (95) - WikipediaWebsite