World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseNicknamed "Betty" by the Allies, the Type 1 Bombers of the G4M family were the heavy bombers of the Japanese Navy. In May 1941 they performed their first missions in southeast China, perfecting the techniques for their future missions in Malaya and the Philippines. During the Malaya campaign, they took part in the shocking sinking of British battleship Prince of Wales and battle cruiser Repulse alongside of the older G3m "Nell" bombers; it was the first time capital ships were sunk by aircraft exclusively while at sea. When unescorted, these bombers with their unprotected fuel tanks were extremely vulnerable to interceptor aircraft, leading to the Allied airmen's nickname "one-shot lighter" for them. Their vulnerabilities were greatly exaggerated by the use of these bombers as low-altitude torpedo bombers. When used as a bomber at higher altitudes, however, they could easily make their attacks and escape before Allied fighters could reach the same altitude.

ww2dbase2,479 Type 1 Bombers were built during the war.

G4M Timeline

SPECIFICATIONS

G4M1

Machinery	Two Mitsubishi Kasei 11 14-cylinder two-row radial engines rated at 1,530 hp each
Armament	3x7.7mm machine guns, 1x20mm tail gun, 1,000kg internal bombs or 800kg external torpedoes
Crew	7
Span	24.89 m
Length	19.97 m
Height	4.90 m
Weight, Empty	6,741 kg
Weight, Loaded	9,500 kg
Speed, Maximum	428 km/h
Service Ceiling	9,144 m
Range, Normal	5,040 km

G4M2

Machinery	Two water/methanol injection Kasei 22 engines rated at 1,850 hp each
Armament	3x7.7mm machine guns, 1x20mm tail gun, 1,000kg internal bombs or 800kg external torpedoes
Crew	7
Span	24.89 m
Length	19.97 m
Height	4.11 m
Weight, Empty	7,994 kg
Weight, Loaded	12,500 kg
Weight, Maximum	15,000 kg
Speed, Maximum	437 km/h
Service Ceiling	9,144 m
Range, Normal	4,800 km

G4M3

Machinery	Two water/methanol injection Kasei 22 engines rated at 1,850 hp each
Armament	3x7.7mm machine guns, 1x20mm tail gun, 1,000kg internal bombs or 800kg external torpedoes
Crew	7
Span	24.89 m
Length	19.97 m
Height	4.11 m
Weight, Empty	8,391 kg
Weight, Loaded	12,500 kg
Weight, Maximum	15,000 kg
Speed, Maximum	455 km/h
Service Ceiling	9,144 m
Range, Normal	3,640 km

Photographs