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 (89.65 KiB) Viewed 798 times

航空戦艦 彗星.jpg (44.07 KiB) Viewed 799 times

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

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