NAKAJIMA B5N ‘KATE’ AND B6N ‘JI

Entering service during the Sino-Japanese War, the Nakajima B5N (code-named Kate) excelled and went on to achieve surprising and dramatic successes in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It also contributed to the sinking of the U.S. aircraft carriers USSLexingtonat the Battle of the Coral Sea, USSYorktownat the Battle of Midway, and USSHornetat the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Its replacement, the Nakajima B6N Jill, while a marked improvement over its illustrious predecessor, was never able to achieve its full potential in combat due to advances in Allied aircraft, finding itself relegated to the dreaded Kamikaze strikes in the latter part of the war.

Using previously unpublished photographs as well as color illustrations, this book will cover the history of the Kate and Jill torpedo/attack bombers, including their design and development, as well as the combat highs and lows of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s premier torpedo bombers.