View source for Mitsubishi B5M

{{Short description|Japanese attack aircraft}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= B5M
 |image= File:B5M Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber Mabel B5M-11.jpg
 |caption=
 |type= [[Attack aircraft]]
 |manufacturer=[[Mitsubishi]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight=1937
 |introduction=1937
 |retired=
 |status=
 |primary_user=[[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service]] (IJNAS)
 |more_users=
 |produced=
 |number_built=125
 |unit cost=
 |developed_from=
 |variants=
}}

The '''Mitsubishi B5M''' was an [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service]] (IJNAS) land-based [[attack aircraft]], originally intended for aircraft carrier use. The B5M was also given the long formal designation {{nihongo|'''Navy Type 97 Mk.2 Carrier Attack Bomber'''|九七式二号艦上攻撃機|lead=yes}} and [[World War II Allied names for Japanese aircraft|Allied reporting name]] of '''Mabel'''. This aircraft was mistakenly known as the Nakajima Army 97 by the British.{{Sfn | Lawrence | 1945 | p =  188}}

The B5M was designed in response to a 1935 specification for a new [[bomber]] for use on the IJNAS [[aircraft carrier]]s ('''Mitsubishi Navy Experimental 10-Shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker'''). The machine was to have a crew of three, [[folding wing]]s for flight deck storage, a speed of not less than 322&nbsp;km/h (200&nbsp;mph), a flight endurance of not less than seven hours, and the ability to carry at least 800&nbsp;kg (1,760&nbsp;lb) of bombs - a tall order for a single-engine aircraft of the mid-1930s. It was intended as a backup for the [[Nakajima B5N]] "Kate" [[torpedo bomber]]. Although designed as a carrier-based aircraft, it was relegated to land-based torpedo bomber duties in World War II. One-hundred twenty-five were built.

==Operational history==
The aircraft that Mitsubishi produced first flew in 1937 and was an all-metal, low-wing [[Cantilever#Aircraft|cantilever]] [[monoplane]] with fixed [[Landing gear|undercarriage]] and large wheel [[Aircraft fairing|spats]]. The crew of three sat in a long [[Aircraft canopy|canopy]] that had a smooth transition to the [[fuselage]]. The B5M1s began equipping Japanese Naval units in late 1937, but their performance was never as satisfactory as other Japanese aircraft carrier-based bombers. The B5M1's performance was considered marginal, and only one-hundred twenty-five were manufactured. While they had originally been intended for aircraft carrier use, the majority were employed during the early months of World War II from land bases in Southeast Asia and China, where they were confronted by weak or no enemy [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]] opposition. These machines ended their careers as [[Trainer (aircraft)|trainer]]s, [[target tug]]s, and ''[[kamikaze]]s''.

==Variants==
*'''B5M1''':Three-seat attack aircraft for the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]].

==Operators==
;{{JPN}}
*[[Imperial Japanese Navy]]

==Specifications (Mitsubishi B5M1)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Air World extra volume, "Photo collection of Japanese Navy Aircraft in the World War II, revised edition" (エアワールド 1987年別冊 World War II 日本海軍機写真集 改訂増補版), Air World INC., 1987, pp.218-219.
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=3
|length m=10.324
|length note=
|span m=15.3
|span note=
|height m=4.24
|height note=
|wing area sqm=39.64
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=<!--'''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA ]]; '''tip:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA ]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |accessdate=16 April 2019}}</ref>-->
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=4000
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name= [[Mitsubishi MK8 Kinsei 43]]
|eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled twin-row radial piston engine
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=1000
|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=3
|prop name=variable-pitch propeller
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=381
|max speed note=at {{cvt|2200|m}}
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=2322
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=8260
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns=1 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) [[Type 92 machine gun]] in flexible mount in rear cockpit
|bombs=up to 800 kg (1,760 lb) of bombs or one 800 kg (1,760 lb) torpedo carried externally


|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related=
|similar aircraft=*[[Nakajima B5N]]
|lists=
* [[List of military aircraft of Japan]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* Francillon, René J. ''Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War''. London: Putnam, 1970. {{ISBN|0370000331}}.
* Francillon, René J. ''Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War''. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. {{ISBN|0-370-30251-6}}.
* {{cite book |last = Lawrence |first = Joseph |title = The Observer's Book Of Airplanes |location = London and New York |publisher = Frederick Warne & Co |year = 1945}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mitsubishi B5M}}

{{Mitsubishi aircraft}}
{{Japanese Navy short aircraft designations}}
{{Allied reporting names}}

[[Category:Carrier-based aircraft]]
[[Category:Mitsubishi aircraft|B5M]]
[[Category:1930s Japanese bomber aircraft|B5M, Mitsubishi]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1937]]