Japanese Secret Projects by Edwin M. Dyer

Author:Edwin M. Dyer [Dyer, Edwin M.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Specialty Pr Pub & Wholesalers
Published: 2013-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

GINO MARCOMINI

GINO MARCOMINI

Mitsubishi G7M Taizan

RONNIE OLSTHOORN

The illustration of the G7M1 provided in this book is based upon Kijiro Takahashi’s design. It is shown in the colours of the Yokosuka Kōkūtai.

Prior to the start of World War 2, there were men who foresaw the need for long range strategic bombers capable of striking across vast distances. Men like Generalleutnant Walter Wever of Germany who pushed with urgency the need for such bombers despite the veritable wall of opposition to such endeavours. This was also the case in Japan where it was clear that aggression against the United States would require the capability of hitting the US. Therefore in 1941, the Kaigun Koku Hombu issued its 16-shi specification for a long range bomber.

A review of bombers in service with the IJN by 1941 showed that none were capable of crossing the Pacific to attack distant targets. At the time, the Mitsubishi G3M (codenamed Nell by the Allies) was being phased out to be replaced by the Mitsubishi G4M (known as Betty to the Allies and Hamaki or ‘Cigar’ to the Japanese). Although the G4M1 had a range of 6,043km (3,749 miles) this was insufficient to attack targets in the United States or, if required, deep into Russia. Following this review, the Kaigun Koku Hombu put forth the 16-shi specification for an attack bomber. Only two key specifications were stated. The first was that the maximum speed had to be at least 580km/h (361mph) and the second was a maximum range of at least 7,340km (4,598 miles). Mitsubishi set about the task of designing a bomber capable of meeting these requirements.

Initially, Mitsubishi engineer Kiro Honjo (who designed the G3M and G4M) proposed that the 16-shi bomber should be of a four engine design. Within Mitsubishi the bomber was known as the M-60. His proposal, however, was flatly rejected by the Kaigun Koku Hombu. Instead, another Mitsubishi engineer, Kijiro Takahashi, put forward his own design for the 16-shi bomber which upon review was allowed to proceed.

Takahashi’s version of the M-60 was to use two ‘Nu’ engines. The Nu engine was a 24-cylinder, horizontal-H, liquid-cooled engine. Simply put, a horizontal-H engine is two flat engines placed one on top of the other and geared together (a flat engine is one in which the pistons move horizontally). Despite having a poor power to weight ratio, they offer the advantage of being more compact and, because of this, Takahashi elected to use them on his bomber. Each engine was rated at 2,200hp at 5,000m (16,404ft).

In appearance, Takahashi’s bomber bore a strong resemblance to the Heinkel He 177 Greif (German for ‘Griffon’) heavy bomber that first flew on 19 November 1939. The nose was rounded and fully glazed, a style unlike any Japanese bomber then in service. The wings were mounted mid-fuselage, each wing sporting the Nu engine in a well-streamlined nacelle. On top of the fuselage, fore and aft of the wings, was a turret for a portion of the defensive armament. A fairly spacious tail gunner

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