Mitsubishi G3M Rikko (Nell) (2024)

Mitsubishi G3M Rikko (Nell) History

The Mitsubishi G3M "Rikko" (Allied codename "Nell") was a front-line twin-engine medium bomber primarily used by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during its non-combat missions during World War II, focusing on naval operations, Patrol, VIP transport, conventional bombing, torpedo bombing, personnel transport (armed and unarmed) and training of aircrews and paratroopers. While in service in Japan, the G3M was used exclusively as a land-based component with the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force, and was used to fatally affect U.S. troops on Wake Island, as well as the British battleships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse.

Production was initially taken over by Mitsubishi, but was later split to include the Nakajima and Yokosuka companies.

Mitsubishi G3M Nell Origin

By 1935, the Imperial Japanese Navy had made a request for a twin-engine land-based reconnaissance platform. In response, Mitsubishi provided a promising Ka-15 prototype whose design was credited to engineer Kiro Honjo. The first flight was recorded in July 1935, and the prototype lived up to expectations and is now being further implemented as a long-range bomber platform by the Japanese authorities. Therefore, Mitsubishi modified parts of its prototype to provide a modified form that was tested and experimented with throughout 1936.

Satisfied with the results, the IJN added the bomber to its inventory as the "Navy Type 96 Attack Bomber Type 11" or the Mitsubishi G3M1. Production was ordered in June 1936, and the operating units received their new mounts later that year.

Thirty-four of these first production formsessentially pre-production service aircrafteventually produced and equipped with Mitsubishi Venus 3-Series radial engines, each producing 910 horsepower.

By 1937, a newer, more powerful form of kinsei appeared. Appropriately, Mitsubishi applied it to its G3M airframe and produced the G3M2 production model designation. The G3M2 brand becomes the final production model of the G3M series.

A further improved version, the G3M3, was introduced in 1941, with Kinsei 51 radial wheels of 1,300 hp each, delivered by Nakajima.

Mitsubishi G3M combat mission

Once the aircraft was complete and operational, it was used in IJN operations. The G3M2 model was first used by IJN Kanoya Kokusai Group in August 1937. These bombers were tasked with destroying targets in Hangzhou and Guangde, China. After making progress against China, at least four G3M2 squadrons were deployed, totaling about 130 aircraft.

About 204 were in circulation at the time of Japan's surprise attack on the U.S. port of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, although they are generally considered "obsolete".

The G3M2 continues to be successfully used in upcoming operations on Wake Island, the Philippines (from the Formosa base) and the Mariana Islands. On December 8, 1941, G3M bombers from their bases in Vietnam attacked the city of Singapore, inflicting thousands of enemy casualties, including the British. On 10 December 1941, a joint team of G4M1 "Betty" and G3M2 "Nell" bombers was responsible for sinking the British battleships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse off the coast of Malaysia.

Operating from forward bases in Indochina, these Nells achieved the first-ever record of attacking a sunken warship by air alone. Additionally, on December 25, 1941, the G3M crew successfully engaged a large U.S. Navy PBY Catalina airship and subsequently shot down a "heavy" melee.

By 1943, Nell had effectively run its course. The war progressed so rapidly that technology quickly surpassed the impressive development and performance statistics that emerged in the mid-to-late 1930s. As a result, the surviving G3Ms were used as vehicles for VIPs, bombing raids, crew trainers for pilot and navigation exercises, and as training platforms for Japanese paratroopers.

She officially retired in 1945, but served until the end of the war - proving that her designs were outstanding.

Mitsubishi G3M Nell Tour

For the most part, the G3M Nell is very traditional by WWII bomber standards. She carried a mid-mounted monoplane wing. These wings are straight along their leading edge and sweep forward along their trailing edge.

The fuselage has a cylindrical shape, the front is covered by a solid or glazed circular nose cone assembly, and the rear tapers to become the surface of the horizontal stabilizer. The co*ckpit features a "stepped" design and uses heavy glass, while still providing generally excellent aerial visibility and visual access to each engine.

The engines are mounted on the trailing edge of each wing and drive a three-bladed propeller, which is either variable pitch or fixed pitch. Just aft of the co*ckpit is a small glass back bubble that holds the defensive machine gun in place. Behind this position is a larger observation/defense position, usually managing a 20mm gun emplacement. Aft of the trailing edge of the wing are glass airbag locations along the sides of the fuselage for additional viewing ports and defensive gun positions. The design tapers to a conventional fin, with the necessary horizontal plane and a pair of vertical fins held inward by the stabilizer tips - the vertical fins are essentially in line with the engine nacelles when viewed from top to bottom.

The landing gear is fully retractable and conventional for this type of aircraft - it is of the "tail drag" type, consisting of two main gear legs (under each engine nacelle) and a tail Consists of a small tail wheel. In every way, the Nell was a solidly constructed bomber of the day.

Engine and Performance

While the G3M typically has only minor changes throughout its production life cycle, one of its main components is the Mitsubishi Kinson range of air-cooled radial piston engines. The final production model, the G3M2 Type 21, was equipped with two Mitsubishi Ha-45 Kinsei series radial piston engines, each producing up to 1,075 horsepower.

This gives Nell a top speed of 233 mph (174 mph at cruising), a range of about 2,730 miles and a service ceiling of 30,200 feet. The climb rate was reported to be 1,180 feet per minute.

Weapons

In keeping with the tradition of bomber design in the 1930s and 1940s, Nell employed a combination of offensive and defensive weapons throughout its structure. When empty, the aircraft displaces 10,923 pounds, but when combat loaded, the fuselage weight nearly doubles to 17,600 pounds. Defensive weapons used 7.7mm Type 92 general purpose aircraft in various positions.

Machine guns are mounted in the co*ckpit, while a pair of machine guns are managed by two crew members in side blister gun positions. Ultimately, there was only one gun in a retractable dorsal turret for a total of four defensive positions. A single 20mm Type 99 gun system is provided for the rear co*ckpit.

The G3M can place a modest bomb load of up to 1,764 pounds externally, or use a single torpedo (equivalent weight) against ship targets.

Mitsubishi G3M variant

In addition to the prototype's Ka-15 designation (which was eventually renamed G3M1a/c), the G3M existed in several notable production forms. The G3M1 Type 11 is a land-based bomber platform with an expanded cabin area with a new canopy.

Some of the 34 examples of this model produced were also equipped with fixed-pitch propeller systems. The G3M1-L is a production G3M1 converted into armed or unarmed military transport aircraft with a 1,075 hp Mitsubishi Kinei 45 series engine.

The G3M Type 21 is the ultimate Nell, with a more powerful upgraded engine as well as extra internal fuel for increased maximum range. A dorsal turret was also added to improve protection against enemy fighters. Production was such that it was split by Mitsubishi and Nakajima, which handled 343 and 412 deliveries respectively. The G3M2 Model 22 removed one of her dorsal turrets and replaced her ventral turret with a single dorsal turret system. Added side bubble defense positions to improve defense, resulting in 238 examples.

The G3M3 Model 23 is equipped with a more powerful engine and an increased internal fuel reserve, which has a positive effect on the operating range. Production is exclusively handled by Nakajima.

Yokosuka produced the L3Y1 Type 11 and L3Y2 Type 12. The former is a modification and improvement of the G3M1 armed transport aircraft, the latter is based on the G3M2 production series but equipped with the Mitsubishi Venus engine.

Production and Future

In the end, Mitsubishi, Nakajima and Yokosuka produced a total of 1,048 G3Ms. While the G3M was widely used in the region during the early days of the Japanese War, it was eventually replaced by the more powerful G4M - an updated design that fulfilled all of the G3M's intended roles.

Nell in Indonesia Service

Apart from Imperial Japan, Indonesia became the only other operator of G3M. In 1945, the last year of World War II, the Indonesian military captured several Nells at a Japanese air base and put them into service as part of its rapidly growing air force program.

However, many of them were destroyed or ceased to be used during the Indonesian National Revolution against the Netherlands from 1945 to 1949.

Mitsubishi G3M Rikko (Nell) Specification

Basic

Year:

1936

Status:

Retired, out of service

Staff:

5 or 7

Production

[1,048 units]:

Mitsubishi / Nakajima / Yokosuka - Japan

Roles

Dimensions

Length:

16.45m

Width:

82.02 ft (25 m)

Height:

3.68m

Weight

Curb Weight:

10,946 lb (4,965 kg)

MTOW:

8,010 kg

(difference: +6,713 pt)

Performance

2 x Mitsubishi Kinsei 45 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, each 1,075 hp driving three-blade propeller units.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

232 mph (374 km/h; 202 knots)

Service Limit:

29,954 ft (9,130??m; 5.67 mi)

Maximum range:

2,722 miles (4,380 km; 2,365 nautical miles)

Rate of climb:

360 m/min

Armor

Changes

Ka-15 - Prototype model; tested with Hiro Type91 750 hp, Mitsubishi Kinsei 2 830 hp or Mitsubishi Kinsei 3 910 hp engines; 21 copies made; solid or glazed nose versions.

L3Y2 Model 12 - An improved G3M2 production model powered by a Mitsubishi Kinsei engine; produced in Yokosuka.