The Mitsubishi 2MR8 was a Japanese short-range reconnaissance aircraft of the 1930s designed and built by Mitsubishi for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF).
Its origins date back to 1930 when the IJAAF issued a requirement for a short-ranged reconnaissance aircraft which would act as a supplement for the long-range Kawasaki Type 88. Mitsubishi developed two designs, a biplane based on their 2MR and B2M reconnaissance aircraft and torpedo bomber designs respectively. The other one was the 2MR8, a high-wing parasol monoplane.
A total of four prototypes were made, the first of which was powered by a Mitsubishi A2 radial engine which yielded 320 hp of power and flew for the first time on 28th March 1931. Successive prototypes were powered by more powerful versions of such engine and, eventually, production version featured a Mitsubishi Type 92 engine which yielded 475 hp and drove a two-bladed propeller. The fourth prototype was modified to have a reduced wing area and a shorter fuselage and it was accepted by the IJAAF and ordered into production as the Mitsubishi Army Type 92 Reconnaissance Aircraft.
The production variant had wide-track divided landing gear and carrier a crew of two, a pilot and an observer in two open cockpits. It was armed with two forward-firing synchronized 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 89 machine guns plus and additional one or two mounted on a ring at the observer's cockpit. A total of 230 machines were manufactured at Mitsubishi's plant in Nagoya from April 1930, when the type was ordered into production until March 1934 when production ceased in favor of the Nakajima Ki-4 and the Kawasaki Ki-3, which showed better performance rates.
In order to meet the requirements of the Japanese Ministry of Railways for a survey aircraft, Mitsubishi developed also a civilian version of the Type 92, which was known as the Hato Survey Aircraft. A single aircraft was ordered in 1935, together with a Fokker Super Universal made by Nakajima and powered by a Mitsubishi A5 engine. The Hato differed from the military version in having a glazed canopy over the rear cockpit, which was also enlarged to accomodate a crew of two, an open forward pilot's cockpit and spat-type main wheel fairings. It was delivered in March 1936 and received the civilian registration of J-AARA.
The Type 92 entered service with the Kwangtung Army Air Corps in their reconnaissance chutais (squadrons) which were also part of the hiko rentais (air regiments of mixed composition). The usage of the Type 92 was very limited as only three hiko rentais (1st, 3rd and 7th) were equipped with the 2MR8. These were also part of the "Kanto" hiko shidan (air corps) and saw active usage during the hostilities in Manchuria in 1932, though during the latest stages, which were just some few skirmishes. They weren't keep on active service with the Kwangtung Army for much longer as they were being replaced. However, by 1937 at the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War, some of them were still active and in Agust-September that year, some of them were listed to have been operated in the ground support role in North-Eastern China. Anyway, by late 1937, they were completely withdrawn from the frontlines. Some disarmed machines were handed over to various organizations, such as "Aikoku-Go" a paramilitary flight school for women.
The Guangxi Clique, a warlord regime that existed in Southern China, bought also some machines in 1934 and 1935, during the brief period of peace between the two countries. They were used against the Kuomintang when these invaded and, when the Guangxi-Kuomintang War was over, some were captured by the Republic of China Air Force and were used during the earlier stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937.
All things consider, the Type 92 didn't shine as an excellent machine. However, it was the first aircraft powered by a completely Japanese engine which was not a licensed copy of a foreign engine.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_2MR8
2. https://www.valka.cz/Micubisi-2MR8-t34884
3. http://www.airwar.ru/enc/other1/2mr8.html (translated)
Further reading (in Chinese - use the translator)
1. http://cwlam2000.epizy.com/caf23.htm
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