Mitsubishi G3M, part four

 

The Mitsubishi G3M2 Model 21 was a variant with improved Kinsei 41 or 42 engines, yielding 1.075 hp of power each, increased fuel capacity and modified dorsal turrets. The G3M2 Model 22 was fitted with 1.075 hp Kinsei 45 engines (some Model 21 were retrofitted with that engine as well) and featured a complete re-arrangement of the defensive weapons. Retractable ventral and rear dorsal turrets were completely eliminated replacing the later one with a large turtleback enclosure canopy which housed a 20 mm Type 99 cannon. The ventral turret was replaced by two blisters, one on each side of the fuselage, which housed a single Type 92 machine gun. A total of 343 Model 21 were manufactured plus 238 Model 22 between 1937 and 1941.

A special version was made out from a G3M2 Model 21. This version was not armed at all and had the most advanced kind of autopilot Japan had back then. It was commissioned by the newspaper Manichi Shimbun to make a round-the-world flight in 1939. This aircraft took off on 25th August 1939 from Haneda airport, in Tokyo and, after 55 days of flight, on 20th October, it landed back at Haneda.

The Mitsubishi G3M3 Model 23 was a development carried out by Nakajima, when Mitsubishi's production was switched towards the more advanced G4M. A total of 412 G3M3 were manufactured at Koizumi, in Japan. This variant was powered by two Kinsei 51 radial engines yielding 1.300 hp of power each, a further increase in fuel tankage which extended the type's maximum range up to 6.230 km (3.870 milles), compared with the 4.380 km (2.720 milles) of the G3M2 Model 22. 

The L3Y was a transport conversion made by Yokosuka in two models, L3Y1 Model 11 and L3Y2 Model 12. They were converted from outdated G3M1 and G3M2 bombers at First Naval Air Arsenal, at Kasurnigaura, thought the number of converted machines is not known. These could carry up to 10 passengers and some few were fitted with a single defensive Type 92 machine gun. Some were used by commercial companies, and some others were used by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) in the invasion of the Dutch East Indies in late 1941, early 1942.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the G3M2 was already considered as obsolete. However, a total of 204 of them were still in active service with three front-line squadrons, in four Kokutais based in the central Pacific region. Fifty-four of those, belonging to the Takao Kokutai, were deployed to Formosa in the opening phases of the Battle of the Philippines. On 8th December 1941 (7th accross the International Date Line) G3Ms from the Mihoro Kokutai bombed Singapor from bases in Indochina, in one of the many aerial raids of the Battle of Singapore, causing the death of thousands of British and Asian civilians. That same day, Wake Island was also bombed by G3Ms belonging to the Chitose Kokutai causing serious damage to both civilian and US Navy infrastructure present on the atoll. Other G3Ms of that same Kokutai, based at Kwajalein Atoll stroke US Navy and civilian facilities at Howland Island, that same period.

The most famous strike this bomber took part on, along with the more advanced Mistubishi G4M, was in the sinking of two British Capital ships, HMS Prince of Wales (King George V-class Battleship) and HMS Repulse (Renown-class Battlecruiser) on 10th December 1941. Sixty G3Ms belonging to the Genzan and Minoro Kokutais, with 26 G4M of the Kanoya Kokutai, took off from bases in Indochina, found and sank the British ships which were steaming around Malayan coast without fighter protection. They were the first two capital ships to be sunk exclusively by air attack while at sea during war.

The attack on Darwin, Australia, took place on 19th February 1942. A force of 188 Japanese aircraft, among them 27 G3Ms of the 1st Kokutai, based at Ambon, in the Dutch East Indies, attacked the Australian port alongside 27 Mitsubishi G4M bombers. These followed a 81-strong first wave composed of Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters, Aichi D3A dive bombers and Nakajima B5N torpedo bombers.

Later in the war, on 29th January 1943, G3Ms of the 701st Kokutai managed to put two torpedoes into the American Heavy Cruiser USS Chicago, during the Battle of Rennell Island. The ship was sunk the next day by further torpedoes dropped by G4Ms. 

From 1943 until the end of the war, the G3M was greatly regarded as obsolete and most of them served as glider tugs, aircrew and paratroop trainers and VIP transport between Japanese home islands, occupied territories and front-lines.

After the war, it seems that some few of them were used by the Red Army of China during the late periods of the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949) and also by the Indonesian Rebels during the Indonesian War of Independence (1945-1949). However, as we couldn't find pictures of G3Ms with those owners, both models, colours and information should be considered as speculative.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon_(aircraft)

4. http://www.aviastar.org/air/japan/yokosuka_l3y.php