Hobby Master HA2009 1:72 B5N1 Type 97 Attack Bomber "Kate"

Hobby Master HA2009 1:72 B5N1 Type 97 Attack Bomber "Kate" Aircraft Carrier "Ryujo" Flying Group, 1942

The Nakajima B5N1 first flew in January 1937. It was quite unique for a carrier-aircraft
with its low mono wing that folded for storage and wide-track inward folding retractable landing gear. The new Kates were far superior to its competition, the TBD Devastator and the Fairey Swordfish however it did have its shortcomings. It was very poorly armed for self defense and required A5M escort protection. Also the crew and fuel tanks had no protection. The B5N1 was replaced by the improved B5N2.

This Kate belonged to the 1st Koku Kantai (Daiichi Air Fleet), 4th Koku Sentai (Naval
Carrier Division) assigned to the carrier Ryujo. The Ryujo (Prancing Dragon) was
launched in April 1933 and commissioned in May 1933. It didn’t have a superstructure
and since it was a flush-decked carrier all of the normal equipment and duties were
housed and operated from the front lip under the flight deck. On August 24, 1942 during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons the Ryujo was struck by three 1,000 pound bombs and a torpedo eventually sending it to the bottom.