Mitsubishi B1M
Mitsubishi · Japan · first flew 1923 · bomber
The Mitsubishi B1M was a Japanese torpedo bomber of the 1920s, also known as the Navy Type 13 Carrier-Borne Attack Aircraft. It was designed and built by Mitsubishi.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.77 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Biplane torpedo bomber
- Single water-cooled W-12 Napier Lion engine in the nose
- Two or three crew in open cockpits
A large single-engine biplane with a torpedo carried under the fuselage. It was armed with two fixed forward-firing and two pivoted rear 7.7 mm machine guns.
Specifications
- The Mitsubishi B1M has a length of 9.77 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.77 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 210 km/h (130 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The British designer Herbert Smith, working with Mitsubishi, designed the 2MT1 two-seat biplane torpedo bomber, which first flew in January 1923. It entered service in 1924 and total production was 443.
Variants
The B1M1 was the initial two-seat version with a 450 hp Napier Lion. The B1M2 was a three-seater with a Mitsubishi Hi V-12, and the B1M3 was an improved B1M2. From 1929 surplus aircraft were converted for civilian use with an enclosed passenger cabin.
Where you'll see it
The Imperial Japanese Navy and Army air services used it, and it served into the 1930s. Thirty-two flew from the carriers Kaga and Hosho during the Shanghai Incident in 1932.
Related aircraft
- Mitsubishi 1MT
- Mitsubishi 2MR
- Mitsubishi 1MF
- Mitsubishi 2MB2
- Aero A.12
- Boulton Paul Bugle
- Douglas DT-2
- Fairey Fawn
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