Nakajima B5N
The Nakajima B5N was a Japanese carrier-based torpedo bomber used during the Second World War by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN).
A Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" in flight. Image courtesy of Wikimedia.

Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: Japan
Type: Bomber Aircraft
Manufacturer: Nakajima Aircraft Company

Nakajima B5N Aircraft Overview

For the majority of World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy’s (IJN) go-to carrier-based torpedo bomber was the Nakajima B5N (Japanese: B5N, Allied reporting name “Kate”).

Despite being significantly faster and more capable than its Allies, the British Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Albacore torpedo biplanes, the American Douglas TBD Devastator monoplane, and the American Douglas TBD Devastator monoplane (the U.S. Navy’s first all-metal, carrier-borne monoplane of any type with retracting gear), the B5N was close to becoming obsolete by 1941. However, because the B6N’s construction was delayed, the B5N continued to function throughout the whole war.

Early in the Pacific War, the B5N saw remarkable success in the engagements of Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Midway, and Santa Cruz Islands when flown by well-trained IJN aircrews and as part of well-coordinated attacks.

Nakajima B5N Specifications

  • Crew: 3
  • Length: 10.3 m (33 ft 10 in)
  • Wingspan: 15.518 m (50 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 37.7 m2 (406 sq ft)
  • Airfoil: root: NN-5 mod (16%); tip: NN-5 mod (8%)
  • Empty weight: 2,279 kg (5,024 lb)
  • Gross weight: 3,800 kg (8,378 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 4,100 kg (9,039 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Sakae 11 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 750 kW (1,000 hp) for take-off. 720 kW (970 hp) at 3,000 m (9,843 ft).
  • Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed metal propeller.

Nakajima B5N Performance

  • Maximum speed: 378 km/h (235 mph, 204 kn) at 3,600 m (11,811 ft)
  • Cruise speed: 259 km/h (161 mph, 140 kn) at 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
  • Range: 978 km (608 mi, 528 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 1,991 km (1,237 mi, 1,075 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 8,260 m (27,100 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 6.5 m/s (1,280 ft/min)
  • Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 7 minutes 40 seconds
  • Wing loading: 100.8 kg/m2 (20.6 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.196 kW/kg (0.119 hp/lb)

Nakajima B5N Armament

  • Guns: 1 × 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun ‘Ru’ (Lewis) in rear dorsal position, fed by hand-loaded drum magazines of 97 rounds. A number of B5N1s were equipped with 2 × 7.7 Type 97 machine guns in the wings.
  • Bombs: 1 × 800 kg (1,760 lb) Type 91 torpedo or 1 × 800 kg (1,760 lb) bomb or 2 × 250 kg (550 lb) bombs or 6 × 60 kg (132 lb) bombs

Nakajima B5N Image Gallery

More Aircraft

German WW1 Aircraft: Fokker G.I

Fokker G.I

The Fokker G.I, or “Le Faucheur” (The Reaper), was a heavy Dutch twin-engine fighter and reconnaissance aircraft developed in the late 1930s.

Read More »
Fokker D.VII - German WW1 Aircraft & Warplanes - Details

Fokker D.VII

The Fokker D.VII was one of the most advanced and effective fighter aircraft of World War I, regarded as the time’s best German fighter.

Read More »
Sopwith Triplane - British WW1 Aircraft and Warplanes

Sopwith Triplane

The Sopwith Triplane (“Tripe” or “Tripehound”) was a British single-seat fighter aircraft that played a pioneering role in World War I.

Read More »
Bloch MB.150 - WW2 French Aircraft & Warplanes

Bloch MB.150

The Bloch MB.150 was a French fighter aircraft that featured an all-metal construction, a retractable undercarriage, and an enclosed cockpit.

Read More »