Back ميتسوبيشي جي 3 إم Arabic Мицубиши G3M Bulgarian Micubiši G3M Czech Mitsubishi G3M German Mitsubishi G3M Spanish میتسوبیشی جی۳ام Persian Mitsubishi G3M Finnish Mitsubishi G3M French Mitsubishi G3M Galician Mitsubishi G3M Hungarian
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (November 2010) |
| G3M | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Medium bomber/torpedo bomber |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi |
| First flight | July 1935 |
| Introduction | 1935 |
| Retired | 1945 |
| Primary user | Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service |
| Number built | 1,048 |
| Variants | Mitsubishi G4M |
The Mitsubishi G3M (九六式陸上攻撃機, Kyūroku-shiki rikujō kōgeki-ki, as Type 96 land-based attack aircraft "Rikko"; Allied reporting name "Nell") was a Japanese bomber and transport aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) during World War II.
The Yokosuka L3Y (Allied reporting name "Tina"), was a transport variant of the aircraft manufactured by the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal.
The G3M bomber saw extensive use in the Pacific War. Attacks by G3M and G4M bombers resulted in the sinking of the Royal Navy battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse, the first time capital ships actively defending themselves were sunk solely by air power while in the open sea. G4Ms and G3Ms also sunk the heavy cruiser USS Chicago in an air attack during the Battle of Rennell Island. In order to maintain the speed and high-altitude performance of the G3M with a heavy payload, it lacked any form of defensive armour or self-sealing fuel tanks. This trait was maintained in the G3M's successor the G4M. The vulnerability of these bombers to fighters and surface gunfire earned them the unofficial nickname of "one shot lighter" or "the flying lighter" by Allied fighter pilots.[1][2][3]
- ^ Francillon 1979, pp. 378–387.
- ^ Ferkl, Martin (2002). Mitsubishi G4M Betty. Revi Publications. p. 6. ISBN 8085957094.
- ^ Murphy, Justin D.; McNiece, Mathew A. (1979). Military Aircraft, 1919-1945: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. London: Putnam & Company Limited. pp. 150–151. ISBN 1851094989.