FACTOIDS & TRIVIA
The Aichi D3A (allied
code name "Val") was the workhorse and, perhaps, most famous dive bomber
for the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II. It took two years
to develop between 1937 and 1939 due to some instability problems, but
the final result was a high maneuverable, albeit slow, aircraft capable
of high-speed, accurate dives. The D3A1 Model 11 was introduced in 1940
and followed the "monoplane with fixed landing gear" design. It was
revised in late 1942 with a more powerful (1,300 hp) engine and larger
fuel tanks. This version was known as the D3A2 Model 22. The remaining
D3A1s were sent back home to be used as trainers. As the war came
to a close, many D3As were used as fighers (remember, they were agile)
and for kamikaze missions. Aichi
produced 479 D3A1 and 1,016 D3A2 models. The D3A1 shown below has
markings for a Val flown from the aircraft carrier Akagi that would have been flown in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Here's a short
clip of me flying a F4F Wildcat against a flock of D3A1 Vals with fighter escort. Exciting!
AICHI D3A1 Model 11 "Val"
Class: Dive Bomber
Crew: 2
Engine: Mitsubishi Kinsei 44
14-cylinder, twin row radial (1,070 hp)
Max Speed: 242 mph at 9,845 ft
Climb Rate: 1,507 ft/min
Service Ceiling: 30,500 ft
Range: 915 miles
Armament: 1 x .303 inch machine gun
(flexible mount rear-firing)
2 x .303 inch machine gun
(wing mount)
1 x 550
lb
bomb and 2 x 132 lb bombs
Model Scale:
1:100
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