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The '''Nakajima B5N''' (Allied codename: “Kate”) was a single-engine, carrier-based torpedo bomber flown by the [[Japanese]] Navy in the first years of [[World War II]].  In 1941, it was considered the best torpedo plane in the world.

The '''Nakajima B5N''' (Allied codename: “Kate”) was a single-engine, carrier-based torpedo bomber flown by the [[Japanese]] Navy in the first years of [[World War II]].  In 1941, it was considered the best torpedo plane in the world.

In 1935, the Japanese Navy announced a competition for a fast, single-engine [[torpedo]] [[bomber]].  Aircraft companies Mitsubishi and Nakajima both submitted designs, but Nakajima won the contract, and the B5N first flew in 1937.  The new bomber was very advanced for its time, with retractable landing gear, a variable pitch propeller, integral wing tanks, and folding wings to save space.  The plane carried a three-man crew (pilot, navigator/bombardier, radio man/rear gunner).  A Nakajima, air-cooled, 800 hp engine gave it a top speed of 217 mph.  Over 1100 B5Ns were produced.<ref>''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Combat Aircraft of World War II'', by Bill Gunston, Salamander Military Press, 1990</ref>

In 1935, the Japanese Navy announced a competition for a fast, single-engine [[torpedo]] [[bomber]].  Aircraft companies Mitsubishi and Nakajima both submitted designs, but Nakajima won the contract, and the B5N first flew in 1937.  The new bomber was very advanced for its time, with retractable landing gear, a variable pitch propeller, integral wing tanks, and folding wings to save space.  The plane carried a three-man crew (pilot, navigator/bombardier, radio man/rear gunner).  A Nakajima, air-cooled, 800&nbsp;hp engine gave it a top speed of 217&nbsp;mph.  Over 1100 B5Ns were produced.<ref>''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Combat Aircraft of World War II'', by Bill Gunston, Salamander Military Press, 1990</ref>

The Kate first saw action in the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] as a level bomber. The plane performed well, but deficiencies cropped up in combat operations, and the Kate underwent a refinement in 1939.  The new version, the B5N2, had a more powerful engine and better performance.  By late 1941, the B5N2 had largely replaced its predecessor, although some older Kates still served in front-line units and others were used for training.<ref>''Complete book of World War II Combat Aircraft'', by Enzo Angelucci and Paolo Matricardi, VMB Publishers, 2006</ref>

The Kate first saw action in the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] as a level bomber. The plane performed well, but deficiencies cropped up in combat operations, and the Kate underwent a refinement in 1939.  The new version, the B5N2, had a more powerful engine and better performance.  By late 1941, the B5N2 had largely replaced its predecessor, although some older Kates still served in front-line units and others were used for training.<ref>''Complete book of World War II Combat Aircraft'', by Enzo Angelucci and Paolo Matricardi, VMB Publishers, 2006</ref>

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==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFlMo8-6UFE Archival video of the B5N] at Youtube.

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFlMo8-6UFE Archival video of the B5N] at Youtube.

*[http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=374 Nakajima B5N (Kate)]

*[http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=374 Nakajima B5N (Kate)]