Aichi D1A

Japanese carrier-borne dive bomber

D1A

Role  | Dive bomber

Type of aircraft

National origin | Japan
Manufacturer  | Aichi Kokuki KK
First flight  | 1934[1]
Retired  | 1942
Status  | Retired
Primary user  | Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Number built | 590[2]

The Aichi D1A or Navy Type 94/96 Carrier Bomber (Allied reporting name "Susie"[3]) was a Japanese carrier-based dive bomber of the 1930s. A single-engine, two-seat biplane based on the Heinkel He 50, the D1A was produced by Aichi for the Imperial Japanese Navy, remaining in service as a trainer at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The D1A was produced in two variants, the D1A1 (Navy Type 94 Carrier Bomber), and the D1A2 (Navy Type 96 Carrier Bomber, sometimes referred to as the D2A).

## Design and development

[edit]

The D1A came out of the Imperial Japanese Navy's need for an advanced carrier-based dive bomber, and in late 1934 the IJN ordered the finalisation of the Aichi AB-9 design which was produced as the early model D1A1.[2] However, the D1A1 was not designed by Aichi Tokei Denki Kabushiki Kaisha [ja] aircraft company (later Aichi Kokuki), but by Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke at the request of the Aichi company. The initial version designed by Heinkel was the He 50, a similar model equipped with floats instead of landing gear. The subsequent model, the He 66 was provided to Aichi who immediately began production of it as the D1A1.

The design of the D1A, based on the Heinkel He 66, an export model of the He 50, was designed as a biplane constructed of metal, with a fabric covering, a fixed landing gear and a conventional type tail landing skid. Original models had 365 kW (490 hp) engines and it was not until later models that more powerful 433 kW (580 hp) engines were included in the construction.

## Operational history

[edit]

The D1A was primarily used in the Second Sino-Japanese War and up to the time Japan entered World War II in 1941. At the beginning of the Pacific War, all of the remaining D1A1s were decommissioned and most of the D1A2s were retired from the front lines and served primarily in training units. The exception was 68 of the D1A2 model that operated as a second-line support until being retired in 1942.[2]

## Variants

[edit]

D1A1 Type 94
Powered by 433 kW (580 hp) Nakajima Kotobuki 2 Kai 1 or Kotobuki 3 radial engines; 162 built.[2]
D1A2 Type 96 (Sometimes referred to as the D2A)
Improved version fitted with spatted wheels and a higher powered Nakajima Hikari 1 engine; 428 built.[2]
AB-11
Proposed development with retractable undercarriage. Not built.[4]

## Operators

[edit]

Empire of Japan

* Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

Manchukuo

* Manchukuo Imperial Navy

## Specifications (D1A2)

[edit]

3-view drawing of the Aichi D1A

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[5] and Aircraft of World War II - 300 of the World's Greatest aircraft 1939-45 [2]

General characteristics

* Crew: 2
* Length: 9.3 m (30 ft 6 in)
* Wingspan: 11.4 m (37 ft 5 in)
* Height: 3.41 m (11 ft 2 in)
* Wing area: 34.7 m2 (374 sq ft)
* Empty weight: 1,516 kg (3,342 lb)
* Gross weight: 2,500 kg (5,512 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 2,610 kg (5,754 lb)
* Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Hikari 1 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 540 kW (730 hp) for take-off

500 kW (670 hp) at 3,500 m (11,500 ft)

* Propellers: 2-bladed metal propeller

Performance

* Maximum speed: 309 km/h (192 mph, 167 kn) at 3,200 m (10,500 ft)
* Cruise speed: 222 km/h (138 mph, 120 kn) at 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
* Range: 926 km (575 mi, 500 nmi)
* Service ceiling: 6,980 m (22,900 ft)
* Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 7 minutes 51 seconds

Armament

* Guns:

* 2 × fixed 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 92 machine guns
* 1 × flexible 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 92 machine gun
* Bombs:

* 1 × 250 kg (550 lb) bomb under fuselage
* 2 × 30 kg (66 lb) bombs under wings

## See also

[edit]

Related development

* Heinkel He 50

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

* Curtiss SBC Helldiver
* Henschel Hs 123
* Polikarpov R-5

Related lists

* List of bomber aircraft
* List of military aircraft of Japan

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "www.hikotai.net". Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-07-04.
2. ^ a b c d e f Chant 1999, p.17
3. ^ "Allied Code Names for..." Retrieved 2007-04-17.[permanent dead link]
4. ^ Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 79.
5. ^ Francillon, René (March 1987). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War (2nd (American) ed.). Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 268–271. ISBN 978-0870213137.

* Chant, Christopher (1999). Aircraft of World War II - 300 of the World's Greatest aircraft 1939-45. Amber Books Lts. ISBN 978-0-7607-1261-0.
* Francillon, R.J. (1970). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-00033-1.
* Mikesh, Robert; Abe, Shorzoe (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910–41. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-840-2.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aichi D1A.

* AirToAirCombat.com: Aichi D1A Susie

* v
* t
* e

Aichi aircraft

Manufacturer
designations|

* AB-1
* AB-2
* AB-3
* AB-4
* AB-5
* AB-6
* AB-7
* AB-8
* AB-9
* AB-10
* AB-11
* AB-12
* AB-13
* AB-14

* AM-7
* AM-10
* AM-15
* AM-16
* AM-17
* AM-19
* AM-20
* AM-21
* AM-22
* AM-23
* AM-24

Imperial Japanese Navy
short designations|

* B7A

* C4A

* D1A
* D3A

* E3A
* E8A
* E10A
* E11A
* E13A
* E16A

* F1A

* H9A

* M6A

* S1A

World War II
Allied reporting names|

* Grace
* Hank
* Jake
* Laura
* Paul
* Susie
* Val

* v
* t
* e

Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft designations (short system)

Fighters (A)|

* Nakajima A1N
* Nakajima A2N
* Nakajima A2N
* Nakajima A4N
* Mitsubishi A5M
* Mitsubishi A6M Zero
* A7He
* Mitsubishi A7M
* Seversky A8V

* AXB1
* AXD1
* AXG1
* AXH1
* AXHe1
* AXV1

Torpedo bombers (B)|

* Mitsubishi B1M
* Mitsubishi B2M
* Nakajima B3N
* Kugisho B3Y
* Mitsubishi B4M
* Nakajima B4N
* Yokosuka B4Y
* Mitsubishi B5M
* Nakajima B5N
* Nakajima B6N
* Aichi B7A

* BXN1

* C6N1-B2

Shipboard reconnaissance (C)|

* Mitsubishi C1M
* Nakajima C2N
* Nakajima C3N
* Aichi C4A
* Mitsubishi C5M
* Nakajima C6N

* CXP1

* Yokosuka D4Y1-C2
* Nakajima E4N2-C2

Dive bombers (D)|

* Aichi D1A
* Nakajima D2N
* Yokosuka D2Y
* Aichi D3A
* Mitsubishi D3M
* Nakajima D3N
* Yokosuka D3Y
* Yokosuka D4Y

* DXD1
* DXHe1

Reconnaissance seaplanes (E)|

* Yokosuka E1Y
* Nakajima E2N
* Aichi E3A
* Nakajima E4N
* Kawanishi E5K
* Yokosuka E5Y
* Yokosuka E6Y
* Kawanishi E7K
* Aichi E8A
* Kawanishi E8K
* Nakajima E8N
* Watanabe E9W
* Aichi E10A
* Kawanishi E10K
* Aichi E11A
* Kawanishi E11K
* Aichi E12A
* Kawanishi E12K
* Nakajima E12N
* Aichi E13A
* Kawanishi E13K
* Watanabe E14W
* Yokosuka E14Y
* Kawanishi E15K
* Aichi E16A

Observation seaplanes (F)|

* Aichi F1A
* Mitsubishi F1M

* J1N1-F2

Land-based bombers (G)|

* Mitsubishi G1M (I)
* Mitsubishi G1M (II)
* Hiro G2H
* Mitsubishi G3M
* Mitsubishi G4M
* Nakajima G5N
* Mitsubishi G4M
* Mitsubishi G7M
* Nakajima G8N
* Kawanishi G9K
* Nakajima G10N

Flying Boats (H)|

* Hiro H1H
* Hiro H2H
* Hiro H3H
* Kawanishi H3K
* Hiro H4H
* Yokosuka H5Y
* Kawanishi H6K
* Yokosuka H7Y
* Kawanishi H8K
* Aichi H9A
* Hiro H10H
* Kawanishi H11K

* HXC1
* HXD1
* HXP1

Land-based Fighters (J)|

* Nakajima J1N
* Mitsubishi J2M
* Kawanishi J3K
* Mitsubishi J4M
* Nakajima J5N
* Kawanishi J6K
* Kyushu J7W
* Mitsubishi J8M
* Nakajima J9N3

* N1K1-J/N1K2-J2

Trainers (K)|

* Yokosuka K1Y
* Yokosuka K2Y
* Mitsubishi K3M
* Yokosuka K4Y
* Yokosuka K5Y
* Kawanishi K6K
* Mitsubishi K6M
* Watanabe K6W
* Mitsubishi K7M
* Kawanishi K8K
* Nippi K8Ni
* Nihon K8P
* Watanabe K8W
* Kyushu K9W
* Kyushu K10W
* Kyushu K11W

* KXA1
* KXBu1
* KXC1
* KXJ1
* KXHe1
* KXL1
* A5M4-K2
* A6M2-K2
* B5N1-K2
* D3Y1-K2
* E13A1-K2
* F1M2-K2
* G6M1-K2
* M6A1-K2
* Q1W1-K2

Transports (L)|

* Nakajima L1N
* Showa/Nakajima L2D
* Mitsubishi L3Y
* Mitsubishi L4M
* Nihon L7P

* LXC1
* LXD1
* LXF1
* LXG (KR-2)1
* LXG (G-21)1
* LXHe1
* LXJ (Ju 60)1
* LXJ (Ju 86)1
* LXK1
* LXM1

* G5N2-L2
* G6M1-L2
* H6K2-L/H6K4-L2
* H8K1-L/H8K2-L/H8K4-L2
* H11K1-L2
* K3M3-L2

Special-purpose (M)1|

* Aichi M6A

* Nihon MXJ1
* Yokosuka MXY1
* Yokosuka MXY2
* Yokosuka MXY3
* Yokosuka MXY4
* Yokosuka MXY5
* Yokosuka MXY6
* Yokosuka MXY7
* Yokosuka MXY8
* Yokosuka MXY9
* Yokosuka MXY10
* Yokosuka MXY11
* Mizuno MXZ1

Floatplane fighters (N)|

* Kawanishi N1K

* Nakajima A6M2-N2

Land-based bombers (P)|

* Yokosuka P1Y
* Mitsubishi P2M

Patrol (Q)|

* Kyushu Q1W
* Mitsubishi Q2M
* Kyushu Q3W

Land-based reconnaissance (R)|

* Yokosuka R1Y
* Yokosuka R2Y

* Yokosuka D4Y2-R2
* Nakajima J1N1-R2

Night fighters (S)|

* Aichi S1A

* Nakajima C6N1-S2
* Yokosuka D4Y2-S2
* Aichi E13A1a-S/E13A1b-S2
* Nakajima J1N1-S2
* Yokosuka P1Y1-S/P1Y2-S2

1 X as second letter is for experimental aircraft or imported technology demonstrators not intended for service, 2 Hyphenated trailing letter (-J, -K, -L, -N or -S) denotes design modified for secondary role, 3 Possibly incorrect designation, but used in many sources

* v
* t
* e

World War II Allied reporting names for Japanese aircraft

Aircraft in Japanese service|

* Abdul
* Alf
* Ann
* Babs
* Baka
* Belle
* Betty
* Bob
* Buzzard
* Cedar
* Cherry
* Clara
* Claude
* Cypress
* Dave
* Dick
* Dinah
* Dot
* Edna
* Emily
* Eva
* Eve
* Frances
* Frank
* Gander
* George
* Glen
* Goose
* Grace
* Gwen
* Hamp
* Hank
* Hap
* Helen
* Hickory
* Ida (Ki-36)
* Ida (Ki-55)
* Irving
* Jack
* Jake
* Jane
* Jean
* Jerry
* Jill
* Jim
* Judy
* Kate
* Kate 61
* Laura
* Lily
* Liz
* Lorna
* Loise
* Louise
* Luke
* Mabel
* Mary
* Mavis
* Myrt
* Nate
* Nell
* Nick
* Norm
* Oak
* Oscar
* Pat
* Patsy
* Paul
* Peggy
* Perry
* Pete
* Pine
* Rex
* Rita
* Rob
* Rufe
* Ruth
* Sally
* Sally III
* Sam
* Sandy
* Slim
* Sonia
* Spruce
* Stella
* Steve
* Susie
* Tabby
* Tess
* Thalia
* Thelma
* Theresa
* Thora
* Tina
* Tillie
* Toby
* Tojo
* Tony
* Topsy
* Val
* Willow
* Zeke
* Zeke 32

Foreign aircraft
thought to be in Japanese service|

* Bess (Heinkel He 111)
* Doc (Messerschmitt Bf 110)
* Fred (Focke Wulf Fw 190)
* Irene (Junkers Ju 87)
* Janice (Junkers Ju 88)
* Mike (Messerschmitt Bf 109)
* Millie (Vultee V-11)
* Trixie (Junkers Ju 52)
* Trudy (Focke-Wulf Fw 200)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template