Mitsubishi G3M "Nell"
Mitsubishi Aircraft Company · Japan · first flew 1935 · bomber
The Mitsubishi G3M (Allied code name Nell) was the Imperial Japanese Navy's principal land-based medium bomber from 1937, notable for its exceptional range and its role sinking HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin-engine mid-wing land-based bomber with a slim, tapering fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine mid-wing land-based bomber with a slim, tapering fuselage
- Distinctive stepped cockpit with the pilot raised above the bombardier nose
- Retractable undercarriage with main gear fairings partially exposed when retracted
Clean mid-wing twin with a long slim fuselage, tapered wings with nacelles close to the fuselage, and a step in the glazed nose section housing the bombardier below the elevated pilot.
Specifications
- The Mitsubishi G3M Nell has a length of 16.45 m (54 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 25 m (82 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 373 km/h (232 mph).
- Typical crew: 7.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed in 1934 and first flown in July 1935, the G3M was the world's most advanced land-based naval bomber when it entered service and made history in 1937 with combat missions over China at ranges considered impossible by contemporary standards. On 10 December 1941, G3Ms and G4Ms from Indochina sank the British battleship Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse off Malaya, the first time capital ships under way were sunk solely by air power.
Variants
The G3M1 was the initial service version; the G3M2 Model 22 with Mitsubishi Kinsei 45 engines became the main variant; the G3M3 Model 23 added more power and fuel. A transport derivative, the L3Y Tina, was also produced.
Where you'll see it
By 1942 the G3M was relegated to second-line and transport roles, replaced by the G4M Betty. The type served in maritime patrol and transport tasks until 1945. No airworthy examples survive.
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