Details:
The Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (Japanese Milky Way) is a Japanese, long-range, twin-engine bomber and torpedo plane with a metal structure in the dorsal wing configuration with a classic tail. Known under the Allied name Frances. The flight of the prototype took place in August 1943, and the first planes hit the line in 1944. About 1,000 of these bombers were built in total. First of all, due to problems caused by underdeveloped engines (Nakajima Homare 12), the Ginga was considered not a very successful plane. P1Y has served in China, Taiwan, and the Philippines, and has operated from its home islands. Attempts were also made to make the P1Y a night fighter (designation P1Y2-S), but they were quickly discontinued. At the end of the war, the P1Y was used extensively as a kamikaze aircraft. Technical data (version P1Y1a): length: 15m, wingspan: 20m, height: 4.3m, maximum speed: 547km / h, maximum range: 5370km, maximum ceiling 9400m, armament: fixed - 1 machine gun, cal.13mm type and 1 cannon Type 99, 20mm caliber, suspended - up to 1000 kg of load.