World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe B1M biplane torpedo bombers were employed by the Japanese Navy as the Navy Type 13 Carrier-borne Attack Aircraft. Within Mitsubishi, the various variants of the B1M design were also known as 2MT1 (B1M1), 2MT2 (B1M1), 2MT3 (B1M1), 3MT1 (B1M2), and 3MT2 (B1M3). British aircraft engineer Herbert Smith played a key role in the design's development. They first took flight in 1923 and entered service in 1924. In 1929, a number of surplus B1M aircraft, modified with enclosed cabins, were sold into the civilian market with new designation T-1.2. 32 B1M torpedo bombers participated in the First Battle of Shanghai in 1932 as members of the air groups aboard carrier Kaga and Hosho. A small number of them were also used by the Japanese Army under the designation Army Type 87 Light Bomber. A total of 443 B1M aircraft were built by Mitsubishi and the Hiro Naval Arsenal in Kure, Japan.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

SPECIFICATIONS

2MT2

Machinery	One Napier Lion 12-cyl broad arrow engine rated at 500hp
Armament	2x7.7mm forward machine guns, 2x7.7mm rear flexible machine guns, 1x18in torpedo or 2x250kg bombs
Crew	2
Span	14.77 m
Length	9.77 m
Height	3.50 m
Wing Area	59.00 m²
Weight, Empty	1,442 kg
Weight, Maximum	2,697 kg
Speed, Maximum	210 km/h
Service Ceiling	4,500 m

Photographs