Yokosuka B4Y
Mitsubishi · Japan · first flew 1935 · bomber
The B4Y was an Imperial Japanese Navy carrier-based torpedo bomber, a biplane holdover built alongside more modern monoplane designs in the mid-1930s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | torpedo/bomb shackle slung under the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- fixed, spatted undercarriage below biplane wings
- single radial engine with three crew positions in tandem
- torpedo/bomb shackle slung under the fuselage
A fixed-gear biplane with a single radial engine and three crew stations in tandem, distinguishable from the later monoplane B5N by its two-wing layout and spatted undercarriage.
Specifications
- The Yokosuka B4Y has a length of 10.15 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 278 km/h (173 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to a 1932 Navy requirement, the B4Y first flew in 1935 and entered fleet service the following year, built in number by Mitsubishi. It served as a stopgap while the monoplane B5N 'Kate' was finalized, and saw early combat over China.
Variants
Produced mainly as the B4Y1 with tandem cockpits for the three-man crew; a number were relegated to training use into the early Pacific War years.
Where you'll see it
Withdrawn from front-line carrier duty by the start of the Pacific War in favor of the B5N, remaining in second-line and training roles.
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