B6N2a Model 12Ko
| This page is about the Japanese bomber B6N2a Model 12Ko. For other versions, see B6N (Family). |
Contents
Description
The B6N2 mod. 12 Ko, designated as Tenzan 12A (天山一二型甲), was a minor variant of the standard Tenzan 12 that replaced the two Type 92 (7.7 mm) LMGs with the German-inspired 13 mm Type 2 and 7.92 mm Type 1 guns, derived from the MG 131 and MG 15 respectively. It also had an H-6 (Type 3 Ku 6 Mod.4) air-to-surface naval Yagi-antenna radar mounted on the wing leading edges and on the sides of the rear fuselage.
It was introduced in Update "Starfighters". The Tenzan 12A's improved armaments and overall agility of the Tenzan 12 can catch any pursuing aircraft off guard, as it can out-turn most of them and hit them with lethal firepower. The main role remains to be a torpedo-/level bomber, carrying either a single large bomb/torpedo, 2 x 250 kg bombs, or a rack of 6 x 60 kg. The enhanced rear firepower can be used to lure in unsuspecting fighters that might underestimate a torpedo-bomber without forward firepower.
- Nicknames
- Official Designation: 天山 (Tenzan, "Heavenly Mountain")
- Allied reporting name: Jill
General info
Flight performance
The B6N2a Model 12 Ko "Tenzan" is a high performance torpedo bomber, capable of not only ground attack but naval attack, and can successfully outmanoeuvre anything it wishes (excluding biplanes). It has a powerful 1,600 hp engine and a supercharger for high altitude base bombing, and it is a highly capable aircraft.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 4,900 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 454 | 441 | 9600 | 21.6 | 22.3 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 270 |
| Upgraded | 512 | 481 | 20.8 | 21.0 | 16.2 | 11.5 | ||
Details
| Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 650 | 310 | 368 | 354 | 280 | ~11 | ~3 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 300 | < 300 | < 310 | > 300 |
Survivability and armour
- No armour
- Non-self-sealing fuel tanks (3 in each wing)
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Go for all of the bomb loads first, as they are very important, next, research suitability and engine mods, prioritize the Engine. Then unlock the turret and belts, finally, unlock wings repair and wings repair.
Armaments
Suspended armament
The B6N2a Model 12Ko can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- 6 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (360 kg total)
- 2 x 250 kg Navy Type Number 25 Model 2 bombs (500 kg total)
- 1 x 800 kg Number 80 Mod. 1 bomb (800 kg total)
- 1 x 835 kg Type 91 Model 2 torpedo
- 1 x 850 kg Type 91 Model 3 torpedo
The 800 kg bomb will destroy 1 base, it's a good pick for maps with few ground targets! The 250 kg bombs are great for destroying pillboxes and tanks, but you can only have two of them. Make sure to use a slight dive when bombing and use the bombsight for increased accuracy! The 6 x 60 kg bombs are a great option for this plane. Since they weigh so little, you can be super accurate with these bombs, just aim the crosshair where you want the bomb to drop, and pull up. No need for a bomb sight!!! Use these bombs for light targets such as AAA, Vehicles, Armoured Cars, Artillery, Howitzers, Machine Guns, and Bridges. The torpedoes are not really useful for this plane in air battles, as ships only spawn in pacific maps, and this plane is at too low of a BR to be put in a Pacific Theater battle.
Defensive armament
The B6N2a Model 12Ko is defended by:
- 1 x 13 mm Type 2 machine gun, dorsal turret (750 rpg)
- 1 x 7.92 mm Type 1 machine gun, ventral turret (300 rpg)
For the 13 mm machine gun, select "Default" belt because it has the most incendiary potential. It's a great turret for its BR. The 7.92 mm gun is a great gun, use the AP-T belt, as it has the most tracers and the most incendiary potential.
Usage in battles
This plane is great for bombing medium tanks, light pillboxes, howitzers, and vehicles. Since it is so fast, it can make multiple trips to the airfield if a resupply of bombs is needed.
For naval maps and naval gamemode it's best advised to bring the torpedo and hit ships in a quick, close, hit and run style torpedo run, the engine allows for high speeds and Japanese torpedoes are among the highest speed resistant torpedoes in-game at the cost of range of only 2 km. It is also a possibility of squading up with friends / other torpedo carrying planes to dispose of the enemy carriers / battleships in a multiple hit torpedo strike.
With the improved back gunner, experienced pilots can shred foes by baiting them in a dogfight, out-turning them and hitting them hard with the powerful 13 mm.
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Separate | Controllable 2 gears |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- B6N for Carrier-based torpedo bomber
- Bomber spawn
- 1x Type 91 Aerial Torpedo
- Torpedo has the highest drop speed in the game at 580 km/h and is one of the most feared torpedoes in Naval Battles
- 6x Type 97 No.6 Land Bomb (60kg)
- Gets a bomb rack of 6 x 60 kg bombs which can be used to hit multiple targets
- 1x No.80 Land Bomb (800kg)
- Heaviest bomb Japanese Navy can offer
- Common Navy plane construction:
- Excellent manoeuvrability
- B6N Specific:
- Great engine power, produces 1550 hp
- High top speed for a torpedo bomber (481 km/h)
- Ventral gunner
- Model 12 Specific:
- Better performing engine compared to Model 11
- Higher top speed
- Higher altitude
- Better performing engine compared to Model 11
- Model 12 Ko Specific:
- 1x tail defensive 13 mm Type 2 machine gun
- 1x ventral defensive 7.92 mm Type 1 machine gun
Cons:
- B6N for Carrier-based torpedo bomber
- No offensive armament
- No airbrakes
- Relatively Large target
- Common Navy plane construction:
- Fragile, little armour, and no self-sealing fuel tanks
- Exposed tail gunner
- B6N Specific:
- Dead zones directly behind the aircraft, you are better off turn fighting and using your turrets while they struggle to complete the turn
History
An excellent replacement for the Nakajima B5N in the role of on-board torpedo aircraft, the B6N Tenzan entered service very late, after more than two years of testing. Named JILL in the Allied code, this large single-engine plane appeared as a prototype in spring 1941. The first tests revealed serious steering stability problems. Subsequently, there were difficulties in developing the engine and the need to reinforce the landing gear. After 133 units of the first version of the B6N1 were built, the second production model began to be delivered towards the end of 1943. A total of 1,268 units were built.
The B6N2 is the main production model of the B6N series thanks to a more readily available Mitsubishi Kansei engine, instead of a in-house Nakajima Mamori engine trialed on the B6N1.
The B6N2 has seen alot of use in the southern pacific land bases and few remaining carrier groups. Due to lack of experienced pilots and growing allied air power, the B6N couldn't accomplish the same / better feats the B5N has done in its prior years of the war and damage to the enemy fleet were low and overall performance was average.
The B6N2a Model 12Ko is a armament refit of the B6N2 Model 12 where a 7.7 mm Navy Type 92 was replaced with a 13 mm Navy Type 2.
Media
- Skins
- Images
The Tenzan using its superior defensive turrets to successfully down an enemy aircraft
The Tenzan in Japan
See also
- Related Development
- B5N - (predecessor)
- B6N1 mod. 11 - (base model)
- B6N2 mod. 12 - (main production model)
- B6N2a mod. 12A - (revised tail armament)
- Similar aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
External links
| Nakajima Aircraft Company (中島飛行機株式会社 ) | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | Ki-27 otsu · Ki-27 otsu Tachiarai |
| Ki-43-I · Ki-43-II · Ki-43-III otsu | |
| Ki-44-I · Ki-44-I 34 · Ki-44-II otsu · Ki-44-II hei | |
| Ki-84 ko · Ki-84 otsu · Ki-84 hei | |
| Ki-87 | |
| Hydroplanes | A6M2-N* |
| Interceptors | J1N1 · J5N1 |
| Bombers | B5N2 |
| B6N1 Model 11 · B6N2 Model 12 · B6N2a Model 12Ko | |
| G5N1 · G8N1 | |
| Ki-49-I · Ki-49-IIa · Ki-49-IIb · Ki-49-IIb/L | |
| Recon | E8N2 |
| Jet Fighters | Kikka |
| Captured | ␗Ki-27 otsu · ▃Ki-43-II · ␗Ki-43-III ko · ␗Ki-44-II hei · ␗Ki-84 ko |
| *Refit of the Mitsubishi A6M2 mod. 11 | |
| See also | Fuji Heavy Industries (1957-2017) |
| Japan bombers | |
|---|---|
| Navy | |
| Carrier-based attack bomber | |
| B5N | B5N2 |
| B6N | B6N1 · B6N2 · B6N2a |
| B7A | B7A2 · B7A2 (Homare 23) |
| Carrier-based dive bomber | |
| D3A | D3A1 |
| D4Y | D4Y1 · D4Y2 · D4Y3 Ko |
| Shipboard Observation seaplane | |
| F1M | F1M2 |
| Land-based Attack bomber | |
| G4M | G4M1 |
| G5N | G5N1 |
| G8N | G8N1 |
| Flying boat | |
| H6K | H6K4 |
| H8K | H8K2 · H8K3 |
| Land-based Bomber | |
| P1Y | P1Y1 |
| Army | |
| Light | Ki-32 |
| Ki-48-II otsu | |
| Heavy | Ki-21-Ia · Ki-21-I hei |
| Ki-49-I · Ki-49-IIa · Ki-49-IIb · Ki-49-IIb/L | |
| Ki-67-I Ko · Ki-67-I otsu | |
| Other countries | ▅B-17E |
