Aichi D3A2 model 22 Val
During the early years of the pacific war, the Val was a highly effective and feared aircraft but this gradually changed as the war progressed. When the US Navy sank the 4 of the most important Japanese aircraft carriers during the battle of Midway, many Vals and their experienced pilots were lost. Based on combat experiences, the designers from Aichi tried to improve the top speed of the D3A1 model 11 by replacing its engine with the much more powerful Kinsei 54 (take-off power: 1300 HP). This modification went into mass-production in August of 1942 as the Aichi D3A2 model 22, and was delivered to units during fall of 1942.
By this point however, the new D4Y1 Judy dive bomber was already available and in mass-production. The D4Y became the standard carrier dive-bomber of the Japanese navy. The D3A2 Vals were then stationed on land-based airfields as well as on smaller carriers which the D4Y couldn’t land on because of its higher landing speed.
The increase in speed compared to the D3A1 however did not prevent the D3A2 from being nothing but cannon fodder for the new US fighters like the Hellcat and Corsair. Squadrons equipped with D3A2s suffered catastrophic losses and they weren’t able to deal any significant damage to allied naval vessels anymore. At the beginning of 1944 many D3A2s were modified and sent to training units, receiving the designation D3A2-K, but the D3A2 continued in service until the end of the war mainly as a kamikaze aircraft.
Production of the D3A2 was completely stopped in June 1944. In total 470 D3A1s, and 1016 D3A2s were produced. The D3A remains one of the most iconic planes ever produced by the Japanese. It sank at least 16 allied warships which makes it one of the most successful dive-bombers of all time.
Crew: 2
Length: 10.195 m (33 ft 5 in) -- dimensions are the same as the earlier D3A1
Wingspan: 14.365 m (47 ft 2 in)
Height: 3.847 m (12 ft 7 in)
Wing area: 34.9 m2 (376 sq ft)
Empty weight: 2,570 kg (5,666 lb)
Gross weight: 3,800 kg (8,378 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi Kinsei 54 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 970 kW (1,300 hp) for take-off
Propeller: 3-bladed metal constant-speed
Performance:
Top speed: 430 km/h at 6200 m (267 mph at 20 341 ft)
Cruising speed: 296 km/h at 3000 m (184 mph at 9843 ft)
Climb rate: 8.62 m/s (28.28 ft/s)
Engine: 1x Mitsubishi Kinsei 54 rated at 1300 HP
Empty weight: 2570 kg (5666 lbs)
Loaded weight: 3800 kg (8378 lbs)
Service ceiling: 10 500 m (34 449 ft)
Wing loading: 108.9 kg/m²
Range: 1352 km
Armament: Guns: 2x forward-firing 7.7 mm Type 97 aircraft machine guns in the forward fuselage and 1x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun on a flexible mount in the rear cockpit.
Bombs: 1x 250 kg (550 lb) under the fuselage and 2x 60 kg (130 lb) bombs under the wings.
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Using the D3A1 by Akemi as a starting reference, the D3A2 model and textures were developed by Captain Kurt.
The pilot figures are Wolfi's freeware Japanese pilot .fsc source file.
The prop spinning texture is by Kelticheart.
The 2D panel background image is by Morton, much modified to more closely match the model VC.
The gauges are by Microsoft, FDG, JWB and Martin Klein.
The Bombs are by Allen.
The air files are by Akemi, modified to D3A2 specs.
The rear gunner and canopy opening are activated by the retract gear command.
During the early years of the pacific war, the Val was a highly effective and feared aircraft but this gradually changed as the war progressed. When the US Navy sank the 4 of the most important Japanese aircraft carriers during the battle of Midway, many Vals and their experienced pilots were lost. Based on combat experiences, the designers from Aichi tried to improve the top speed of the D3A1 model 11 by replacing its engine with the much more powerful Kinsei 54 (take-off power: 1300 HP). This modification went into mass-production in August of 1942 as the Aichi D3A2 model 22, and was delivered to units during fall of 1942.
By this point however, the new D4Y1 Judy dive bomber was already available and in mass-production. The D4Y became the standard carrier dive-bomber of the Japanese navy. The D3A2 Vals were then stationed on land-based airfields as well as on smaller carriers which the D4Y couldn’t land on because of its higher landing speed.
The increase in speed compared to the D3A1 however did not prevent the D3A2 from being nothing but cannon fodder for the new US fighters like the Hellcat and Corsair. Squadrons equipped with D3A2s suffered catastrophic losses and they weren’t able to deal any significant damage to allied naval vessels anymore. At the beginning of 1944 many D3A2s were modified and sent to training units, receiving the designation D3A2-K, but the D3A2 continued in service until the end of the war mainly as a kamikaze aircraft.
Production of the D3A2 was completely stopped in June 1944. In total 470 D3A1s, and 1016 D3A2s were produced. The D3A remains one of the most iconic planes ever produced by the Japanese. It sank at least 16 allied warships which makes it one of the most successful dive-bombers of all time.
Crew: 2
Length: 10.195 m (33 ft 5 in) -- dimensions are the same as the earlier D3A1
Wingspan: 14.365 m (47 ft 2 in)
Height: 3.847 m (12 ft 7 in)
Wing area: 34.9 m2 (376 sq ft)
Empty weight: 2,570 kg (5,666 lb)
Gross weight: 3,800 kg (8,378 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi Kinsei 54 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 970 kW (1,300 hp) for take-off
Propeller: 3-bladed metal constant-speed
Performance:
Top speed: 430 km/h at 6200 m (267 mph at 20 341 ft)
Cruising speed: 296 km/h at 3000 m (184 mph at 9843 ft)
Climb rate: 8.62 m/s (28.28 ft/s)
Engine: 1x Mitsubishi Kinsei 54 rated at 1300 HP
Empty weight: 2570 kg (5666 lbs)
Loaded weight: 3800 kg (8378 lbs)
Service ceiling: 10 500 m (34 449 ft)
Wing loading: 108.9 kg/m²
Range: 1352 km
Armament: Guns: 2x forward-firing 7.7 mm Type 97 aircraft machine guns in the forward fuselage and 1x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun on a flexible mount in the rear cockpit.
Bombs: 1x 250 kg (550 lb) under the fuselage and 2x 60 kg (130 lb) bombs under the wings.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using the D3A1 by Akemi as a starting reference, the D3A2 model and textures were developed by Captain Kurt.
The pilot figures are Wolfi's freeware Japanese pilot .fsc source file.
The prop spinning texture is by Kelticheart.
The 2D panel background image is by Morton, much modified to more closely match the model VC.
The gauges are by Microsoft, FDG, JWB and Martin Klein.
The Bombs are by Allen.
The air files are by Akemi, modified to D3A2 specs.
The rear gunner and canopy opening are activated by the retract gear command.
