Mitsubishi B1M

While working with the Mitsubishi company, the British aircraft designer Herbert Smith designed the 2MT1 two-seat biplane torpedo bomber, which flew for the first time in January 1923. It went into Japanese Navy service as the Type 13-1 carrier-borne attack aircraft or B1M1 and was followed by the 2MT2 and 2MT3 variants (also designated B1M1). The redesigned Type 13-2 was designated B1M2. The final version, the Type 13-3 or B1M3, had the company designation 3MT2 and was a three-seater. Total production was 443. The B1M was powered by a {{convert|450|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Napier Lion or Hispano-Suiza engine according to version.

File:13sikikankou.jpg

File:Akagi Aircraft Carrier & Mitsubishi B1M c1935.jpg, c1935]]

The type entered service in 1924 and served into the 1930s, with thirty-two flying from the aircraft carriers {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Kaga||2}} and {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Hōshō||2}} during the Shanghai Incident in 1932. An aircraft from Kaga was lost during an aerial engagement between an American air force adviser and demonstration pilot to the Chinese government, Robert Short, who lost his life and was regarded as a hero defending the Chinese city against Japanese aircraft.{{cite web |url=http://www.talesofoldchina.com/shanghai/people/t-short.htm |first=Robert |last=Short |title=Tales of Old Shanghai |access-date=1 December 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507232731/http://www.talesofoldchina.com/shanghai/people/t-short.htm |archive-date=7 May 2010}} Four days later, a 15-aircraft formation composed of Nakajima A1N fighters and B1Ms attacked Qiaosi Airbase in Hangzhou, and, in the ensuing dogfight, at least one Chinese Junkers K 47 fighter was shot down.{{Cite web|last=航空知识|first=澎湃号|date=2020-09-03|title=从陈应明航空画中忆英雄风采！抗战胜利75周年，我们从未忘记_媒体_澎湃新闻-The Paper|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_9024518|access-date=2021-01-02|website=www.thepaper.cn|quote=容克斯K-47首战上海: 1932年“1·28”事变爆发后，中国派出9架各型军机调往上海虹桥机场增援, 并与当日与日本发生空战, 但战斗双方都无损失. 2月26日集中在杭州附近乔司机场待命的我国25架战机突遭日军“中岛”3式战斗机和“中岛”13式攻击机组成的15机编队偷袭, 第2队队长石邦藩、射击手沈延世驾驶P-7号容克斯K-47双座战斗机率先起飞应敌, 淞沪之战以来最激烈的一场空战由此展开.}}

From 1929, a number of surplus B1Ms were converted for civilian use, being fitted with an enclosed cabin for passengers or cargo.

;Navy Type 13-1 Carrier Attack Aircraft

: B1M1

;Navy Type 13-2 Carrier Attack Aircraft

: B1M2

;Navy Type 13-3 Carrier Attack Aircraft

: B1M3

;B1M1

:Initial two seat production version powered by {{convert|450|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Napier Lion engine. . 197 built by Mitsubishi.{{cite book|last=Mikesh|first=Robert C|author2=Abe, Shorzoe|title=Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941|year=1990|publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books|location=London|isbn=0-85177-840-2}}

;B1M2

:Three-seat production torpedo bomber, based on 2MT5, powered by Mitsubishi Hi V-12 engine. 115 built by Mitsubishi.

;B1M3

:Improved B1M2 with revised propeller and reduction gear. 128 built by Mitsubishi and Hiro Naval Arsenal.

;2MT1

: Navy Type 13-1 Carrier Attack Aircraft / B1M1

;2MT2

: Navy Type 13-1 Carrier Attack Aircraft / B1M1

;2MT3

: Navy Type 13-1 Carrier Attack Aircraft / B1M1

;2MT4 Ohtori

:Experimental reconnaissance seaplane version. One built.

;2MT5 Tora

:Prototype of the B1M2 / Navy Type 13-2 Carrier Attack Aircraft, two-seat torpedo bomber powered by {{convert|450|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Mitsubishi Hi V-12 engine (licensed built Hispano-Suiza Lb). One built.

;3MT1

:Navy Type 13-2 Carrier Attack Aircraft / B1M2

;3MT2

:Navy Type 13-3 Carrier Attack Aircraft / B1M3

;Mitsubishi Army Type 87 Light Bomber

:Mitsubishi B1Ms used by the IJAAS .

;T-1.2 Converted Aeroplane

:Civil conversion of B1M. Several variations on type. Enclosed cabin for two or three passengers. Powered by original Lion or Hispano-Suiza engines or converted with licensed built Bristol Jupiter radial engine. Also known as Type 13th Year Converted Aeroplane.

;{{JPN}}

• Imperial Japanese Navy

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft {{cite book |editor1-last=Donald |editor1-first=David |title=The encyclopedia of world aircraft |date=1997 |publisher=Blitz Editions |isbn=1-85605-375-X |edition=Updated}}

|prime units?=met

|crew=2

|length m=9.77

|length note=

|span m=14.77

|span note=

|height m=3.5

|height note=

|wing area sqm=59

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=1442

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight kg=2697

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity=

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Napier Lion

|eng1 type=W-12 water-cooled piston engine

|eng1 hp=500

|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2

|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller

|prop dia m=

|prop dia note=

|max speed kmh=210

|max speed note=

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed note=

|stall speed kmh=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed note=

|range km=

|range note=

|combat range km=

|combat range note=

|ferry range km=

|ferry range note=

|endurance=2.6 hours

|ceiling m=4500

|ceiling note=

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

|wing loading kg/m2=45.7

|wing loading note=

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|power/mass={{cvt|0.14|kW/kg}}

|more performance=

|guns= 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm machine guns and 2 × pivoted 7.7 mm machine guns in rear cockpit

|bombs= 1 × {{cvt|18|in|mm|order=flip}} torpedo or 2 × 240 kg (529 lb) bombs

|avionics=

}}

{{aircontent|

|related=*Mitsubishi 2MB

• Mitsubishi MC-1

|similar aircraft=*Blackburn Dart

|lists=*List of military aircraft of Japan

• List of aircraft of the Japanese Navy

|see also=

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Mitsubishi B1M}}

• [http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/gustin_military/db/index.html entry]

{{Mitsubishi aircraft}}

{{Japanese Navy short aircraft designations}}

B1M, Mitsubishi

B1M

Category:Carrier-based aircraft

Category:Biplanes

Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1923