The original prototype, flew for the first time in July 1935 powered by two Hiro Type 91 radial engines which could deliver up to 750 hp of power mounted on the mid-set wings, just like in the Ka-9.
Twenty more prototypes and pre-production Ka-15 were completed, of which three were powered by the Hiro engine and remaining 17 by either the Mitsubishi Kinsei 2 (which could deliver up to 830 hp of power) or the Mitsubishi Kinsei 3 (whose power output could reach up to 910 hp), engines which greatly boosted the bomber's performance.
These aircraft were assigned to the IJN and received the unofficial designation of G3M1a, comprising the three original prototypes with Hiro engines and solid nose, G3M1b, to designate two prototypes powered with the Kinsei 2 engine, having solid noses and one of them having been tested with ski undercarriage for winter operations, and G3M1c for the remaining machines featuring a redesigned cockpit and a glazed nose.
They could carry up to 800 kg of bombs externally or a single torpedo. The versions featuring a solid nose were armed with two 0.303 in Type 92 machine guns (a Japanese copy of the famous Lewis machine gun) placed inside retractable dorsal turrets. These pre-production bombers were assigned to various Kokutais (IJN's basic combat group) which used them for various service trials, however, before the completion of the first batch, the IJN ordered the much promising G3M1 Model 11, being itself a more elaborate development of the Ka-15/G3M1a-b-c.
Sources:
1. http://all-aero.com/index.php/contactus/53-planes-l-m-n-o/6919-mitsubishi-g3m--ka-15--l3y
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_G3M
3. https://www.armedconflicts.com/Mitsbishi-Ka-15-1st-2nd-5th-and-6th-prototype-20061-15-1-2-5-a-6-t33046
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