Description

Entering service during the Sino-Japanese War, the Nakajima B5N (code-named “Kate”) excelled and went on to achieve surprising and dramatic successes in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It also contributed to the sinking of the U.S. aircraft carriers USS Lexington at the Battle of the Coral Sea, USS Yorktown at the Battle of Midway, and USS Hornet at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Its replacement, the Nakajima B6N “Jill,” while a marked improvement over its illustrious predecessor, was never able to achieve its full potential in combat due to advances in Allied aircraft, finding itself relegated to the dreaded Kamikaze strikes in the latter part of the war.

Using previously unpublished photographs as well as color illustrations, this book will cover the history of the “Kate” and “Jill” torpedo/attack bombers, including their design and development, as well as the combat highs and lows of the Imperial Japanese Navy's premier torpedo bombers.

Table of Contents

Introduction /B5N 'Kate' Development and Early Successes /Midway, the Aleutians and the Solomons /Land Attack Operations and Other Roles /B6N 'Jill' and the Kamikaze /Colour Plate Commentary /Index

Product details

Published Jun 20 2017
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472818744
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 60 b/w; 40 col
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Combat Aircraft
Short code COM 119
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Mark Chambers

Mark Chambers is an avid World War 2 aviation enth…

Author

Tony Holmes

Having initially worked for Osprey as an author in…

Cover illustrator

Mark Postlethwaite

Mark Postlethwaite was born in Leicestershire in 1…

Illustrator

Jim Laurier

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives i…

Resources

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