B5N2

B5N2

D3A1

B5N2

D3A1

Japan

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
1.0	1.3	1.7

Class:

Bomber

Naval aircraft

Torpedo bomber

Research:2 900

Purchase:700

Show in game

Description

The B5N2 is a rank I Japanese naval bomber with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB), 1.3 (RB), and 1.7 (SB). This aircraft has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test in Update 1.27.

General info

Flight Performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 3,600 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
361	348	8260	20.3	20.6	2.6	4.0	270
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 3,600 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
400	378	8260	18.6	19.4	12.1	6.5	270

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
555	450	420	~11	~4

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 320	< 320	< 350	> 210

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
2,500 m	950 hp	1,081 hp

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Armaments

Suspended armament

The B5N2 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 6 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 ground bombs (360 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg Navy Type Number 25 Model 2 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg Type 98 bombs (500 kg total)
• 1 x 800 kg Navy Type Number 80 Model 1 bomb (800 kg total)
• 1 x 800 kg Navy Type 99 Number 80 AP bomb (800 kg total)
• 1 x Type 91 Mod.2 torpedo
• 1 x Type 91 Mod.3 torpedo

Defensive armament

The B5N2 is defended by:

• 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun, dorsal gun turret (1,000 rpg)

Usage in battles

The most important advantage in arcade is the ability to reload bombs and belts midair. This translates especially well with the B5N2.

It is advised against the 800 kg bombs because the H6K can carry twice as many in exactly the same games. Instead, focus on the enemy ships or pillboxes. Make quick diving attacks, and retreat to the safety of your team's fighters to reload. Staying as low as possible can be a viable strategy, as it is difficult to safely conduct a diving attack on an enemy hugging the trees. If limited to 60 kg of bombs, focus on enemy AAA.

Using the 250 kg bombs to destroy enemy ships, or the 60 kg bombs to target AAA, is the most helpful thing you can do for the team. Try to distract any enemy that comes after you, or lead them into the guns of your allies. Every minute an enemy is focused on you is a minute your allies don't have to deal with it. Use the environment to hide your approach. Hills, mountains, and clouds are all great tools to hide from enemy fighters or shield your approach on enemy AAA. If necessary, use the tail gunner to strafe light targets. Shoot any approaching fighter. They know you will probably fail, but they also know people can get lucky.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Separate	Not controllable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator			17 3/4 in (mod45)
II		Compressor	Airframe	Turret 7 mm	Improved torpedo
III	Wings repair	Engine			12 in (mod30)
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 7 mm MGs (Turret)	14 in (mod35)

• When upgrading this plane focus on getting the payload especially the torpedo modification. This is due to the high chance Japan has to get naval maps.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Fast and manoeuvrable (powered by Nakajima Sakae 11 14 Cylinder Radial, the same engine in the A6M)
• Excellent elevator and rudder authority
• Wide variety of bombs and torpedoes + bombsight for any kind of situation

Cons:

• Poor roll rate
• No offensive armament
• Weak defence armament
• No armour or bulletproof glass to protect the pilot or crew
• Tremendous fuel load means this plane is prone to fuel tank fires especially any hits to the wing roots (where the fuel tanks are located)

History

The Nakajima B5N2 (Allied code name: Kate) was a plane first flown in January 1937 for the Imperial Japanese Navy. About ~1149 Nakajima B5N Torpedo bombers were made for the Japanese Navy. It would see service in World war 2 and was the Japanese Navy's primary torpedo bomber for the early part of World war 2. The Nakajima B5N Torpedo bomber was credited with the sinking of three US Carriers the USS Lexington CV-2, USS Yorktown CV-6 and USS Hornet CV-8.

In-game description

Before the advent of the B5N, Japan used the B2M and B4Y as torpedo biplanes. However, the significant limitations of biplanes were obvious, so in 1935, inspired by the monoplane A5M fighter, the Imperial Japanese Navy developed the 10-Shi torpedo bomber specification.

Nakajima and Mitsubishi participated in the competition. Nakajima decided to incorporate many new ideas in their B5N design. The prototype had a hydraulic wing-folding system so that the plane could be stored on an aircraft carrier, and Fowler flaps were used to improve stability while landing. In addition, the B5N had a hydraulic retractable landing gear system.

Although Mitsubishi also received an order for production of its own B5M torpedo bomber, the Nakajima model won the contest and in 1937 was accepted as a production model carrier-based torpedo bomber.

To create a production model, however, some changes had to be made in the prototype’s design. The wing-folding system was changed to a manual one, and the flaps were replaced with conventional ones.

In 1939, the B5N2 was developed. It differed from its predecessor in its more powerful and reliable Sakae engine, which produced 1000 hp instead of the Hikari 3’s 770.

At the beginning of World War II, the B5N torpedo series had no worthy competitors among Allied aircraft and made a great showing in the attack on Pearl Harbor, as well as in subsequent operations, where B5N forces sank four U.S. aircraft carriers within one year.

The most notable pilot of the B5N being Mitsuo Fuchida. Fuchida lead the attack on Pearl Harbor. A miscommunication between him and Kakuichi Takahashi caused them to fire two flares instead of 1. Signalling the dive bombers to attack before the torpedo bombers had positioned for the attack. Despite the miscommunication Fuchida rallied the torpedo bombers into an attack formation and carried out the surprise attack. After the first wave completed their attack, Fuchida told his radio operator Norinobu Mizuki to radio back "Tora! Tora! Tora!" back to the lead aircraft carrier Akagi. Fuchida stayed over Pearl Harbor while the first wave flew back to the carriers and watched the second wave attack. After the second wave finished their attack he flew back to the Akagi and reported the utter destruction of the US navy. This victory granted him the highest of honors available, a personal presence with the emperor Hirohito himself.

The US Military designated the B5N with a call-sign of "Kate" allowing for easy recognition among US pilots.

A total of 5,928 B5Ns were built, with none surviving the war. Two B5N's are know to exist, both made from wreckage's. One can be seen at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, it is missing it's tail, left wing, engine, canopy, and a few other parts.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.

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