The Aichi B7A Ryusei was a WW2 dive-bomber employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1944 to 1945. Although it had been designed as carrier-based aircraft, it could only operate from Taiho aircraft carrier, which was large enough to scramble this big and heavy dive-bomber. However, Taiho was sunk during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, in June 1944. As a result, the B7A would operate only from land bases until the end of the war. Since it entered service with the Japanese Navy in early 1944, it did not take part in the major battles of the Pacific that had turned the tide of the war, like the Battle of Midway.
Technical Characteristics
The Ryusei was a two-seat, single-engine aircraft. It was fitted with inverted gull wing, which could be folded for carrier storage. It had an all-metal fuselage and retractable landing gear. It could carry one 800-kg torpedo or a bombload of 800 kg. As defensive armament, the B7A had two 20mm Type-99 cannons, fitted in wings, and one 7.93mm Type-1 machine gun. Aichi Kokuki manufactured a total of 230 dive-bombers in three versions: B7A, B7A1, and B7A2.
Specifications
Wingspan: 14 m
Length: 11.50 m
Heigh: 4 m
Engine: Nakajima NK9C 12, with 18 cylinder and delivering 1,825 hp
Maximum speed: 352 mph (567 km/h)
Range: 1,890 miles (3,044 km)
Below, the Aichi B7A dive bomber in flight over the Pacific. Photo taken at the beginning of 1945
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