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56-627: The Mitsubishi G4M is a twin-engine, land-based medium bomber formerly manufactured by the Mitsubishi Aircraft Company , a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. Its official designation is Mitsubishi Navy Type 1 attack bomber ( 一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻 , Ichishiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikukō ) and was commonly referred to by Japanese Navy pilots as Hamaki ( 葉巻 , "cigar", lit. "leaf roll") due to

112-433: A nominal load of 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) or more, and light bombers carried up to 2,000 lb (907 kg). These distinctions were beginning to disappear by the middle of World War II, when the average fighter aircraft could now carry a 2,000 lb (907 kg) bombload. Advances in powerplants and designs eventually allowed light bombers , tactical bombers , and later jet fighter-bombers to take over

168-653: A position to intercept enemy surface units which attempted to attack Port Moresby , Chicago also provided cover for the arrival of American troops on New Caledonia . On 1 May, Chicago was ordered from Nouméa to join Commander, Southwest Pacific, and on the 4th she supported Yorktown in her strike against the Japanese on Tulagi , Solomon Islands during the Battle of the Coral Sea . On 7 May, she proceeded, with

224-470: A range of 3,700 kilometres (2,300 mi) when carrying an 800 kilograms (1,800 lb) torpedo or the same weight in bombs. The G4M was designed for a long range and high speed at the time of its introduction. In order to meet the Navy's specifications a Mitsubishi team led by Kiro Honjo did not incorporate self-sealing fuel tanks and armor plating to save weight and extend range. This consequently made both

280-504: Is no longer used, development of aircraft that fulfil a 'medium bomber' mission in all but name continued and these have been employed in various post-World War II conflicts; examples include dedicated tactical bombers such as the Su-24 , Su-34 , F-111 , J-16 and F-15E which have greater payload and range capability than fighter-bombers, but less than heavier strategic bombers. USS Chicago (CA-29) USS Chicago (CL/CA-29)

336-492: Is no recorded tail number. The aircraft was part of 145 other Japanese aircraft for tests and evaluations by the U.S. Navy. After being flight tested as "Foreign Equipment Test number T2-2205" the airplane was dismembered by a cutting torch for unknown reasons. The wreck of Admiral Yamamoto's G4M1 Model 11 (Serial #2656) tail code 323 were still present at the crash site in the jungle near Panguna , Bougainville Island , with some parts and artifacts recovered and displayed at

392-581: The Kanoya and Kizarazu Kōkūtai ) departed from Taipei , Omura , and Jeju City to attack Hankow . The bombers and the reconnaissance aircraft were escorted by 13 A6M Zeros of 12th Kōkūtai led by the IJN lieutenant, Saburo Shindo. A similar operation occurred in May 1941. In December 1941, 107 G4Ms based on Formosa of 1st Kōkūtai and Kanoya Kōkūtai belonging to the 21st Koku Sentai (air flotilla) crossed

448-409: The Battle of Rennell Island was underway. During the attacks, two burning Japanese planes silhouetted Chicago , providing enough light for further torpedo attacks; two hits caused severe flooding and loss of power. By the time the attack ended, work by the crew had checked Chicago's list. Louisville took the disabled ship in tow, and was relieved by Navajo the following morning. Fighters from

504-470: The Battle of Savo Island . Early in the engagement a hit from a Japanese destroyer's torpedo caused significant damage to the ship's bow. Chicago fought damage while continuing to engage until contact with the enemy was lost. Capt. Bode's actions during the engagement were questioned in an inquiry headed by Admiral Arthur Japy Hepburn . Though the report was not intended to be made public, Bode learned of its findings and shot himself on 19 April 1943, dying

560-683: The Caribbean , followed in May 1934 by the Presidential Fleet Review in New York Harbor. The Scouting Force operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean until October and then returned to base at San Pedro, California . Chicago was one of six ships to receive the new RCA CXAM radar in 1940. Chicago continued to operate out of San Pedro until 29 September 1940, when she sailed to Pearl Harbor . During

616-721: The English Electric Canberra (along with its derived U.S. counterpart, the Martin B-57 ) and the Soviet Ilyushin Il-28 "Beagle". Subsequent to World War II, only the U.S. Strategic Air Command ever used the term "medium bomber" in the 1950s to distinguish its Boeing B-47 Stratojets from somewhat larger contemporary Boeing B-52 Stratofortress "heavy bombers" in bombardment wings (older B-29 and B-50 heavy bombers were also redesignated as "medium" during this period). This nomenclature

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672-569: The Imperial Japanese Navy called the G4M the " hamaki " ("cigar"), although this was due to its shape. Due to deficiencies of the G3M in warding off concentrated fighter attacks Honjo incorporated 7.7 mm (0.30 in) guns in the nose, on top and both sides of the fuselage and in the tail a 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon was added. When used for medium- to high-altitude bombing against stationary land targets like supply depots, seaports or airfields, it

728-733: The Luzon Strait en route to bombing the Philippines ; this was the beginning of Japanese invasions in the Southwest Pacific Theater . In its first year of combat the G4M was a success. They bombed the U.S. Army air base Clark Field , Philippines on 8 December 1941. The G4M was instrumental in sinking HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse two days later. Nine G4Ms participated in the long-range bombing raid of Katherine, Northern Territory , on 22 March 1942 (the deepest inland attack on Australian territory during

784-616: The Mitsubishi G3M , went into service in 1937 in China. Only two months later the Japanese Navy issued specifications to Mitsubishi. The specifications, unprecedented at the time, called for a twin-engine, land-based, attack bomber with a top speed of 398 kilometres per hour (247 mph), a cruising altitude of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), and a range of 4,722 kilometres (2,934 mi) unloaded (without bombs and torpedoes), and

840-521: The Solomon Islands , on 30 January 1943. Chicago was launched on 10 April 1930 by Mare Island Naval Shipyard under the supervision of Naval constructor Charles W. Fisher Jr. , sponsored by Miss E. Britten; and commissioned on 9 March 1931, Captain Manley H. Simons in command. She was originally classified as a light cruiser , CL-29, because of her thin armor. From 1 July 1931, Chicago

896-480: The surrender of Japan , two demilitarized G4Ms, given the call-signs Bataan 1 and Bataan 2 , flew to Ie Shima , carrying the first surrender delegations on the first leg of their flight to Manila . The G4Ms were painted white with green crosses, and were escorted by American P-38 fighters. The G4M's intended successor was the Yokosuka P1Y Ginga, although because of production problems, the changeover

952-625: The American ships were well-defended by carrier-based F4F fighters and very heavy anti-aircraft fire. 18 of the G4M1s were shot down while all 18 Japanese crews – approximately 120 aviators – were lost at Lunga Point. In the two days of the Battle of Rennell Island , 29 and 30 January 1943, 10 out of 43 G4M1s were shot down during night torpedo attacks, all by U.S. Navy anti-aircraft fire. About 70 Japanese aviators, including Lieutenant Commander Higai, were killed during that battle. Probably

1008-451: The G4M and the Zero, in which Mitsubishi used the same design features, vulnerable to machine gun and cannon fire. Consequently, this led to Allied fighter pilots giving it derisive nicknames such as "the flying lighter" "the one-shot lighter", "the flying Zippo " and "the flying cigar" because of its tendency to ignite from damage to the wing fuel tanks after being hit by gunfire. The pilots of

1064-572: The G4M2 to carry more powerful bombs; one 1,055 kg (2,326 lb) Navy Type 91 Kai-7 aerial torpedo or one 800 kg (1,800 lb) bomb or two 500 kg (1,100 lb) bombs or one 800 kg (1,800 lb) Type 3 No. 31 bomb (ray-detective type bomb) and twelve 60 kg (130 lb) bombs. The G4M2 entered service in mid-1943. No complete or flyable Mitsubishi G4Ms are left, although several wrecks remain scattered in southeast Asia and on Pacific islands, having been left in-situ following

1120-686: The German Heinkel He 111 and the American North American B-25 Mitchell . These were all commonly used in anti-ship roles. The G4M Model 11 was prominent in attacks on Allied shipping from 1941 to early 1944, but after that it became increasingly easy prey for Allied fighters. The G4M was first used in combat on 13 September 1940 in Mainland China , when 27 "Bettys" and Mitsubishi C5Ms of 1st Rengo Kōkūtai (a mixed force including elements of

1176-547: The Model 24j . This model carried the Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka Model 11 suicide flying bomb, beginning on 21 March 1945, with disastrous results due to heavy Allied fighter opposition. After the loss of Okinawa, G4Ms constituted the main weapon of the land-based Japanese naval bomber force. It consisted of 20 Kōkūtai at the end of the war. This included the testing air group, which was equipped in 1944–45 with

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1232-510: The Navy shelved the bomber for the more heavily armed G6M1 variant in hopes it could be used as heavy escort fighter for other bombers. Failing these expectations the G4M1 was ordered into production. The first production G4M was completed in April 1941 and was not discontinued until the end of the war. The G4M was similar in performance and missions to other contemporary twin-engine bombers such as

1288-857: The Scouting Force preliminary to Fleet Problem XIII off the California coast. The fleet was based on the West Coast thereafter and, until 1934, operated in the Pacific, from Alaska to the Panama Canal Zone and the Hawaiian Islands . On 24 October 1933, Chicago collided with the British freighter Silver Palm in dense fog off Point Sur , California. Three officers aboard Chicago were killed in their quarters during

1344-714: The Support Group, to intercept and attack the Japanese Port Moresby invasion group. The following day, the group underwent several Japanese air attacks, during which Chicago suffered several casualties from strafing, but drove off the planes and proceeded ahead until it was clear that the Japanese force had been turned back. On the night of 31 May – 1 June, while in port in Sydney Harbour , Australia, Chicago fired on an attacking Japanese midget submarine . Chicago ' s captain, Howard D. Bode,

1400-474: The best-known incident involving a G4M in the war came during the top secret mission to intercept the aircraft carrying Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto , resulting in Yamamoto's death. On 18 April 1943, sixteen P-38 Lightnings of the 339th Fighter Squadron of the 347th Fighter Group , Thirteenth Air Force , shot down a G4M1 of the 705th Kōkūtai with the tailcode T1-323 , carrying Admiral Yamamoto. In

1456-567: The collision, and an enlisted man's arm had to be amputated as well. Silver Palm penetrated around 18 feet (5.5 m) into the cruiser's port bow, forward of the Number 1 gun mount. At the time of the incident damage was estimated to be around $ 200,000 ($ 4.71 million today). The vessel was repaired at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard , departing there on 24 March 1934. In 1934, the annual fleet exercises were held in

1512-583: The converted ferry HMAS  Kuttabul , nearby, killing 21 sailors, while the second torpedo failed to detonate, and skidded ashore onto Garden Island . During June and July 1942, Chicago continued to operate in the Southwest Pacific. From 7–9 August, she supported the initial landings on Guadalcanal and others of the Solomon Islands, beginning the second US counter-offensive after New Guinea against Japan. On 9 August, she engaged in

1568-566: The crew and better defensive armament was installed. Nevertheless, the G4M would become the Navy's primary land-based bomber. It is the most widely produced and most famous bomber operated by the Japanese during World War II and it served in nearly all battles during the Pacific War . Attacks by G4M and G3M bombers resulted in the sinking of the Royal Navy battleship HMS  Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS  Repulse ,

1624-432: The crew, with no armor plating or self-sealing fuel tanks . The G4M was officially adopted on 2 April 1941 but the aforementioned problems would prove to be a severe drawback, often suffering heavy losses; Allied fighter pilots nicknamed the G4M "The Flying Lighter" as it was extremely prone to ignition after a few hits. It was not until later variants of the G4M2 and G4M3 that self-sealing fuel tanks, armor protection for

1680-421: The cylindrical shape of its fuselage and its tendency to ignite after a hit. The Allied reporting name was " Betty ". Designed to a strict specification to succeed the Mitsubishi G3M already in service, the G4M boasted very good performance and excellent range and was considered the best land-based naval bomber at the time. This was achieved by its structural lightness and an almost total lack of protection for

1736-721: The end of the war. In addition, several G4Ms survive in the form of preserved fuselage sections. Several other locations display pieces of G4Ms including the restored fuselage of a G4M2 is on display at the Kawaguchiko Motor Museum in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan . Additionally the Smithsonian Institution retains the forward fuselage of a G4M3 Betty Model 34. Likely based in Oppama Air Field near Yokosuka , Japan there

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1792-524: The enemy. The Force returned to Pearl Harbor on 12 December; from 14–27 December, Chicago operated with Task Force 11 on patrol and search missions. On 2 February 1942, Chicago departed Pearl Harbor for Suva , where she joined the newly formed ANZAC Squadron , later redesignated as Task Force 44 . During March and April, the cruiser operated off the Louisiade Archipelago , covering the attacks on Lae and Salamaua , New Guinea . In

1848-647: The first time capital ships actively defending themselves were sunk solely by air power while in the open sea. G4Ms and G3Ms are also credited with sinking the heavy cruiser USS Chicago during the Battle of Rennell Island . The aircraft later served as the mothership that carried the Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka , a purpose-built anti-ship suicide weapon during the final years of the war. Of the 2,435 G4Ms produced, no fully intact aircraft have survived, though several airframes exist as unrestored wreckage or in partial states of completion. The G4M's predecessor,

1904-637: The first two capital ships to be sunk exclusively by air attacks during a war, while in open waters. The bomber crews were from the Kanoya Air Group (later 751 Ku), Genzan Air Group (later 753 Ku), and the Mihoro Air Group (later 701 Ku), trained in torpedo attacks at an altitude of less than 10 metres (30 ft), and in long-range over-ocean navigation, so they could attack naval targets moving quickly at sea. G4Ms later made many attacks against Allied ships and also land targets during

1960-539: The latest version G4M3 Models 34 and 36 , though these arrived too late to affect the course of the war. From November 1944 to January 1945, G4Ms were one of the main types of aircraft used in the Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands , and plans to use converted G4Ms to land commandos on the islands were developed in mid-1945 and cancelled only at the end of the war. As part of the negotiations for

2016-825: The museums in Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Japan. The wreck consisted of rear fuselage section and vertical stabilizer along with parts of the wings and engines. The crash site is accessible via prior arrangement to the landowners. Data from Airreview's Japanese Navy Aircraft in the Pacific War, and Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War General characteristics Performance Armament Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists [REDACTED] Media related to Mitsubishi G4M at Wikimedia Commons Medium bomber The term

2072-475: The nearby carrier Enterprise provided CAP for the wounded cruiser as she tried to make her way away from the battle area. During the afternoon, the Japanese attacked again with 20 G4M “Betty” bombers. The ship was hit by four torpedoes, one forward of the bridge and three others in her engineering spaces. The patrolling fighters downed 8 of the attacking planes, but the damage was done. Captain Ralph O. Davis gave

2128-512: The next 14 months, Chicago operated out of Pearl Harbor, exercising with various task forces to develop tactics and cruising formations, and cruising to Australia and to the west coast. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Chicago was at sea with Task Force 12 and the Force immediately began a five-day sweep in the Oahu - Johnston - Palmyra triangle in an effort to intercept

2184-459: The next day. After Savo Island, Chicago was repaired at Nouméa, Sydney, and San Francisco, where she arrived 13 October. Early in January 1943, Chicago departed San Francisco, action-bound once more. On 27 January, she sailed from Nouméa to escort a Guadalcanal convoy. On the night of the 29th, as the ships approached that bitterly contested island, Japanese aircraft attacked the force and

2240-428: The order to abandon ship shortly before Chicago sank stern first, 20 minutes later at 11°25′S 160°56′E  /  11.417°S 160.933°E  / -11.417; 160.933  ( Approximate location of the wreck of USS Chicago ) . Navajo and the escorting destroyers rescued 1,049 survivors from Chicago , but 62 of her crew died. A final attack force of Japanese torpedo bombers failed to find

2296-695: The range to 6,000 km (3,200 nmi; 3,700 mi) (overloaded, one way). An electrically powered dorsal turret featuring a 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 cannon was introduced in place of G4M1's dorsal position with a 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 92 machine gun , total guns armed were two 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 cannons (one tail turret, one top turret), and four 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 92 machine guns (one nose, two waist, and one cockpit side). External differences also included increased nose glazing, flush side gun positions instead of blisters, and rounded tips of wings and tail surfaces. These major improvements also made it possible for

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2352-536: The remaining U.S. ships. The Japanese widely publicized the results of the engagement, claiming to have sunk two battleships and three cruisers. In reality they sank only the heavy cruiser Chicago on 30 January (two days later they also sank the destroyer USS  De Haven much farther north in an air attack off Savo Island). The U.S. did not report the loss of Chicago to the public for some time, with Admiral Chester Nimitz —commander in chief of Allied Pacific forces—threatening to shoot any of his staff who leaked

2408-501: The roles performed by mediums. After the war, use of the term generally vanished; some of this was due to mass demobilization of the participant air forces' existing equipment, and the fact that several of the most-produced medium bomber types were now technologically obsolescent. Although a number of later aircraft were designed in this performance and load-carrying range, they were henceforth referred to as tactical bombers or strike aircraft instead. Examples of post-war mediums include

2464-828: The same battle, another G4M1 carrying Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Matome Ugaki was also downed by the P-38s, although Ugaki survived. The G4M Model 11 was replaced by the Models 22 , 22a/b , 24a/b , 25 , 26 , and 27 from June 1943 onward, giving service in New Guinea , the Solomons , and the South Pacific area, in defense of the Marianas and finally in Okinawa . Other G4Ms received field modifications, resulting in

2520-426: The six-month-long Guadalcanal Campaign (in the Solomon Islands ) in late 1942. More than 100 G4M1s and their pilots and crews were lost (with no replacements or substitutes available) during the many battles over and near Guadalcanal from August to October 1942. On 8 August 1942, during the second day of the U.S. Marine landings on Guadalcanal, 23 IJNAF torpedo-carrying G4M1s attacked American ships at Lunga Point, but

2576-568: The time. Some of these bombers, such as the Heinkel He 111 , Junkers Ju 86 , Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 , Douglas B-18 , and Armstrong Whitworth Whitley were developed from or in conjunction with existing airliners or transport aircraft. The World War II-era medium bomber was generally considered to be any level bomber design that delivered about 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) of ordnance over ranges of about 1,500 to 2,000 mi (2,400 to 3,200 km). Typical heavy bombers were those with

2632-631: The war at over 200 miles from the coast). Against weak fighter opposition the G4M attacked targets ranging as far as the Aleutians to Australia using its long range, the drawbacks of no self-sealing fuel tanks and armor not presenting themselves as problems at this point. The G4M's most notable use as a torpedo bomber was in the sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse off the eastern coast of Malaya on 10 December 1941. The G4Ms attacked along with older Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" bombers, which made high-level bombing runs. Prince of Wales and Repulse were

2688-494: The weakness in the design including various engine and weapon variants. The G4M2 redesign failed to rectify the G4M's vulnerability to weapons fire. The first G4M prototype left Mitsubishi's Nagoya plant in September 1939 disassembled and loaded in five ox-drawn farm carts to Kagamigahara airfield 48 kilometres (30 mi) to the north. On 23 October 1939, test pilot Katsuzo Shima flew the G4M prototype. Despite successful tests

2744-596: The wings by flak from the ground or by machine gun bullets from enemy fighters, they could remain airborne despite severe damage. For example, after the attack of the 751 Kōkūtai (air group) on the USS Chicago during the Battle of Rennell Island , three out of four surviving aircraft (of the original eleven) returned despite flying with only one engine. As the war continued improved bomber designs failed to materialize and Mitsubishi began creating additional versions to fulfill various new missions as well as eliminate

2800-613: Was a Northampton -class cruiser of the United States Navy that served in the Pacific Theater in the early years of World War II . She was the second US Navy ship to be named after the city of Chicago. After surviving a midget submarine attack at Sydney Harbour and serving in battle at the Coral Sea and Savo Island in 1942, she was sunk by Japanese aerial torpedoes in the Battle of Rennell Island , in

2856-492: Was ashore when his ship opened fire. After coming back aboard on his ship, he initially accused all the officers of being drunk. Shortly afterwards, the presence of the submarine was confirmed. Three Japanese midget submarines had attacked Sydney Harbour. One became entangled in an anti-submarine boom net , and two were able to pass through. One was then disabled by depth charges, but the other managed to fire two torpedoes at Chicago. One torpedo passed near Chicago and destroyed

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2912-457: Was much harder to intercept. Using its long range and high speed, the G4M could appear from any direction, and leave before any fighters intercepted it. The 20 mm cannon in its tail turret was much heavier armament than was commonly carried by bombers of either side, making aerial attacks from the rear quite dangerous for the Allied fighter aircraft. If G4Ms did not catch fire after being hit in

2968-779: Was only begun by the time the war ended. Production of the G4M1 ended in January 1944. The first of the four G4M2 prototypes flew in December 1942 ( Mitsubishi Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber Model 22 ). It differed from the preceding model in having Mitsubishi MK4P "Kasei" Model 21 engines with VDM electric four-blade propellers capable of full feathering function, redesigned main wings with LB type laminar flow airfoil. and widened tail horizontal stabilizer wing area, which improved service ceiling to 8,950 m (29,360 ft) and maximum speed to 437 km/h (236 kn; 272 mph). Main wing fuel tanks were enlarged to 6,490 L (1,710 US gal; 1,430 imp gal) which increased

3024-588: Was purely semantic and bureaucratic, however as both the B-47 and B-52 strategic bombers were much larger and had far greater performance and load-carrying ability than any of the World War II-era heavy or medium bombers. Similarly, the Royal Air Force referred at times to its V bomber force as medium bombers, but this was in terms of range rather than load-carrying capacity. Although the term

3080-610: Was redesignated a heavy cruiser , CA-29, because of her 8-inch guns in accordance with the provisions of the London Naval Treaty of 1930. After a shakedown cruise to Honolulu , Tahiti and American Samoa , Chicago departed Mare Island on 27 July 1931 and sailed to the east coast, arriving at Fort Pond Bay, New York , on 16 August. There, she became flagship of Commander, Cruisers, Scouting Force , and operated with that force until 1940. In February 1932, Chicago conducted gunnery exercises with other ships of

3136-617: Was used prior to and during World War II , based on available parameters of engine and aeronautical technology for bomber aircraft designs at that time. After the war, medium bombers were replaced in world air forces by more advanced and capable aircraft. In the early 1930s many air forces were looking to modernize their existing bomber aircraft fleets, which frequently consisted of older biplanes . The new designs were typically twin-engined monoplanes , often of all-metal construction, and optimized for high enough performance and speed to help evade rapidly evolving fighter aircraft designs of

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