D4Y1 KAI Suisei Model 21

[ShindenKai]

While doing some light reading about the Battleships Ise & Hyuga

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Ise

"The ship's air group was intended to consist of a dozen each Yokosuka D4Y Suisei dive bombers (Allied reporting name "Judy"), modified for catapult launching"

Any more info about this? Did the Ise/Hyuga ever carry these special Suisei? Any pics?

**Being that it has a similar fuselage cross-section & profile to the Aichi M6A1 Seiran, I wonder if it was also attached to a catapult in the same way, same catapult dolly... landing gear retracted, of course.

[fontessa]

While doing some light reading about the Battleships Ise & Hyuga

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Ise

"The ship's air group was intended to consist of a dozen each Yokosuka D4Y Suisei dive bombers (Allied reporting name "Judy"), modified for catapult launching"

Any more info about this? Did the Ise/Hyuga ever carry these special Suisei? Any pics?

**Being that it has a similar fuselage cross-section & profile to the Aichi M6A1 Seiran, I wonder if it was also attached to a catapult in the same way, same catapult dolly... landing gear retracted, of course.

Since the Ise-Hyuga air squadron was not completed, there are various theories about the number of planes. The most reasonable combination is 11 Suiseis + 11 Zuiuns. Zuiun was capable of "dive bombing (actually shallow bombing)" with a 250 kg bomb. Of these 22 aircraft, 13 were to be stored in the open air and 9 in hangars. The Suisei was scheduled to be modified to Type 21 Kai, and since it could not land on Ise or Hyuga, it was planned to land on a regular aircraft carrier moving with Ise or Hyuga after returning. By alternately using two Type 1 Mod 2 catapults, it was possible to make a rapid take-off at 15-second intervals. However, since these catapults narrowed the field of fire of the 3rd and 4th turrets, the operation of Ise and Hyuga was so confused that there was a request to remove them. After all, the "Great Renovation", which took a huge amount of money and effort, could not contribute anything to the war situation.

航空戦艦 飛行甲板.jpg

航空戦艦 彗星.jpg

Additional Picture
Unfortunately I couldn't find the photo of D4Y2Kai.

航空戦艦 飛行機配置.jpg

fontessa

[ShindenKai]

Since the Ise-Hyuga air squadron was not completed, there are various theories about the number of planes. The most reasonable combination is 11 Suiseis + 11 Zuiuns. Zuiun was capable of "dive bombing (actually shallow bombing)" with a 250 kg bomb. Of these 22 aircraft, 13 were to be stored in the open air and 9 in hangars. The Suisei was scheduled to be modified to Type 21 Kai, and since it could not land on Ise or Hyuga, it was planned to land on a regular aircraft carrier moving with Ise or Hyuga after returning. By alternately using two Type 1 Mod 2 catapults, it was possible to make a rapid take-off at 15-second intervals. However, since these catapults narrowed the field of fire of the 3rd and 4th turrets, the operation of Ise and Hyuga was so confused that there was a request to remove them. After all, the "Great Renovation", which took a huge amount of money and effort, could not contribute anything to the war situation.

fontessa

Absolutely excellent info, thank you Fontessa! 15sec between launches?! That's quick!

[fontessa]

15sec between launches?!

Yes, by alternate launching between two catapults. Each catapult can launch with 30 seconds of separation.

fontessa