Nakajima G5N

G5N Shinzan

Role: Heavy bomber
Manufacturer: Nakajima Aircraft Company
First flight: 10 April 1941
Retired: 1945
Primary user: IJN Air Service
Produced: 6
Developed from: Douglas DC-4E

The Nakajima G5N Shinzan ("Mountain Recess") was a four-engined long-range heavy bomber designed and built for the Imperial Japanese Navy prior to World War II. The Navy designation was "Experimental 13-Shi Attack Bomber"; the Allied code name was "Liz".

Design and development

The Nakajima G5N Shinzan originated due to the Imperial Japanese Navy's interest in developing a long-range attack bomber capable of carrying heavy loads of bombs or torpedoes a minimum distance of 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi). To meet this requirement, it became apparent a four-engine lay-out would be necessary. As Japanese aircraft manufacturers lacked experience in building such large complex aircraft, the Navy was forced to search for a suitable existing foreign-made model upon which to base the new design. It settled on the American Douglas DC-4E airliner. In 1939 the sole prototype of this airliner (previously rejected by American airline companies) was purchased by Nippon Koku K.K. (Japan Airlines Co) and clandestinely handed over to the Nakajima Aircraft Company for dismantling and inspection.

The design that emerged from this study was for an all-metal mid-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces and powered by four 1,870hp Nakajima NK7A Mamoru 11 air-cooled radial engines driving four-bladed propellers. Notable features included a long ventral bomb-bay, glazed nose and twin tailfins replacing the DC-4E's distinctive triple rudder. The DC-4E's retractable tricycle undercarriage was retained, as well as the original wing form and powerplant arrangement. Defensive armament comprised one 20mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon each in a power-operated dorsal and tail turret plus single-mount hand-operated 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns in the nose, ventral and beam positions.

The first prototype G5N1 made its maiden flight on 10 April 1941. Overall performance proved disappointingly poor however, due to a combination of excessive weight, the unreliablity of the Mamoru engines and the complexity of the design. Only three more prototypes were completed. In an attempt to salvage the project, two additional airframes were fitted with 1,530hp Mitsubishi MK4B 12 "Kasei" engines and redesignated G5N2s. Although the Mitsubishi engines were more reliable than the original Mamoru 11s, the aircraft was now even more hopelessly underpowered and further development of the type was halted.

Operational history

Of the six completed Shinzans, four of them (two G5N2s and two G5N1s re-engined with the Kasei 12) were relegated for use as long-range Navy transports under the designation Shinzan-Kai Model 12 Transport G5N2-L. The Allies allocated the code-name "Liz" to the aircraft, in the expectation it would be used as a bomber.

Variants

G5N1: Four-engined heavy bomber. Production version, four built.
G5N2: Four Mitsubishi MK4B 12 "Kasei" radial engines in place of Nakajima Mamoru 11 engines. Two built.
G5N2-L: Long-range Navy transport conversion.

Proposed Variants

Nakajima Ki-68: Japanese Army heavy bomber. Four Mitsubishi Ha-101 or Nakajima Ha-103 engines.
Kawanishi Ki-85: Japanese Army heavy bomber. Four Mitsubishi Ha-111M engines.

Operators

Japan

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

Specifications (G5N1)

Data from Virtual Aircraft Museum; Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War

General characteristics

Crew: 7-10
Length: 31.02 m (101 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 42.12 m (138 ft 2 in)
Height: 8.4 m (27 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 201.8 m² (2,171.37 ft²)
Empty weight: 20,100 kg (44,300 lb)
Loaded weight: 28,150 kg (62,060 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 32,000 kg (70,528 lb)
Powerplant: 4x— Nakajima NK7A "Mamoru-11" 14-cylinder air-cooled radial four-blade constant-speed, 1395 kW (1870 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 420 km/h (227 kn, 261 mph)
Cruise speed: 370 km/h (200 kn, 230 mph)
Range: 4,260 km (2,302 nmi, 2,648 mi)
Service ceiling: 7,450 m (24,442 ft)

Armament

Guns

2x— 20 mm Type 99 cannons
4x— 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns

Ordinance

2,000-4,000 kg (4,408-8,816 lb) bombs

Related development

Douglas DC-4E

Comparable aircraft

Avro Lancaster
Boeing B-17
Consolidated B-24
Handley Page Halifax
Heinkel He 277

Bibliography

Collier, Basil. Japanese Aircraft of World War II. New York: Mayflower Books, 1979. ISBN 0-8317-5137-1.
Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 2nd edition 1979. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
Unknown authors. Famous Airplanes of the World: Nakajima Shinzan / Renzan (Volume 11, no.146). Japan: Bunrin-Do, Nov. 1984.

Nakajima G5N Pictures

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia