G4M "Betty"
Long Range Bomber
Mitsubishi
© Michael Bykov
Mitsubishi G4M1 "Betty" from Kisaratzu airgroup, Naval Forces of Japan, Kavieng, August, 1942.
Approximately 2,446 Betty's of all variants were built.
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G4M1mod11 |
G6M1-L2 |
G4M1mod12 |
G4M2mod22 |
G4M2mod24 |
G4M3mod34 |
Crew |
6-7 |
6-7 |
6-7 |
6-7 |
6-7 |
6-7 |
Dimensions |
Fuselage length, m |
19,972 |
19,940 |
19,972 |
19,630 |
19,630 |
19,500 |
Wing span, m |
24,879 |
24,8792 |
24,879 |
24,890 |
24,890 |
25,000 |
Wing area, m2 |
78,125 |
78,125 |
78,125 |
78,000 |
78,000 |
78,000 |
Height, m |
4,898 |
4,898 |
4,898 |
4,898 |
4,898 |
4,898 |
Weight: |
Empty weight, kg |
6800 |
6800 |
7164 |
7300 |
7420 |
8300 |
Маximum takeoff weight, kg |
12500 |
12500 |
14000 |
15395 |
15170 |
1300 |
Capacity of petrol tanks, l |
4780 |
4780 |
5600 |
6200 |
6200 |
4400 |
Power Plant |
Two Mitsubishi Kasei Radial |
Kasei-11 |
Kasei-11 |
Kasei-15 |
Kasei-21 |
Kasei-25 |
Kasei-25 |
Power, hp/at alt. m |
at take-off |
2x1530 |
2x1530 |
2x1530 |
2x1800 |
2x1825 |
2x1825 |
1 border |
1410/2000 |
1410/2000 |
1410/2600 |
1575/1800 |
1680/2100 |
1680/2100 |
2 border |
1340/4000 |
1340/4000 |
1280/6000 |
1410/4800 |
1540/5500 |
1540/5500 |
Performance |
Speed, km/h at altitude m |
maximum |
428/4200 |
435/4200 |
452/6000 |
437/4600 |
438/4600 |
481/5065 |
cruise |
325/4000 |
330/4000 |
350/4000 |
322/4000 |
322/4000 |
376/4700 |
landing |
128 |
128 |
129 |
130 |
130 |
130 |
Rate of climb, m/min |
18/7000 |
18/7000 |
15/7000 |
14/5000 |
13/57000 |
20/7000 |
Ceiling, m |
8240 |
8800 |
9660 |
8950 |
8950 |
9700 |
Maximum range, km |
6034 |
6200 |
5719 |
5400 |
5400 |
4330 |
Armament |
Torpedo, (pc.) |
1 |
3000kg |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Bombs, kg |
1000 |
cargo |
1000 |
1000 |
1000 |
1000 |
Cannon, machine guns |
1x20, 4x7,71 |
- |
1x20, 4x7,71 |
2x20, 3x7,71 |
4x20, 1x7,71 |
4x20, 1x13,1 |
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Modifications
- G4M Prototype with two Mitsubishi Kasei 11 (1,530-hp) radial engines. First flown on October 23, 1939. After satisfactory trials it was ordered into production as the G4M1 Model 11.
- G4M1 Model 11 The first production aircraft entered operational service during the Summer of 1941.
- G4M2 Model 22 is equipped with two Mitsubishi MK4P Kasei 21 (1,800-hp) radial engines, leading to two subvariants, the 22A and 22B models which varied only in armament configurations.
- G4M2a Model 24 is equipped with two Mitsubishi MK4T Kasei 25 (1,825-hp) radial engines and bulged bomb bay doors, leading to two subvariants, the 24A and 24B models which varied only in armament configurations.
- G4M2e Model 24J is a significant modification of navy G4M2a Model 24B & 24C aircraft which allowed the aircraft to carry the MXY7 piloted missle.
- G4M3 Model 34 was intended to fix several design flaws by introducing self-sealing fuel tanks and armor protection. However, this model appeared too late in the war to have any significant impact.
- G6M1 fulfilled an urgent requirement for an long range escort fighter during the Sino-Japanese war. 30 airframes were produced in this major variant but proved to be unsuccessful in this role. Most of the airframes were later converted to G6M1-K trainers or G6M10L2 transports.
References
- "Encyclopedia of military engineering " /Aerospace Publising/
- "Japan Warplanes of World War II" /Oleg Doroshkevich/
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