Aichi D1A "Susie"
Aichi · Japan · first flew 1934 · bomber
The Aichi D1A was a carrier-based biplane dive bomber operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the mid-1930s, derived from the Heinkel He 66. It represented an important step in Japanese naval aviation before monoplane designs supplanted it.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.3 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Fixed spatted undercarriage on a biplane dive bomber
- Open cockpit for pilot and rear gunner
- Imperial Japanese Navy carrier dive bomber of the mid-1930s
Distinguished by its biplane configuration with fixed spatted undercarriage, single-bay wings, and the characteristic spatted wheel fairings common to 1930s Japanese carrier aircraft.
Specifications
- The Aichi D1A has a length of 9.3 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.4 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 310 km/h (193 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The D1A was based on the German Heinkel He 66 and entered service around 1936, serving as the IJN's primary carrier dive bomber until the D3A monoplane arrived. It saw action in the Second Sino-Japanese War, proving the practicality of dive bombing in Japanese doctrine.
Variants
The D1A1 was the initial version; the D1A2 featured an uprated Kotobuki engine and refinements, and was the more numerous of the two marks.
Where you'll see it
By the time of Pearl Harbor the D1A had been largely retired to training duties, though it saw combat over China in the late 1930s with Japanese carrier groups.
Related aircraft
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