Type 96 Carrier Bomber

The Aichi Tokei Denki Type 96 Carrier Bomber, known in Japanese service as the Aichi D3A2, entered production in 1936 as the Imperial Japanese Navy’s primary torpedo‑bomber for fleet carriers. Developed from the earlier D1A, the Type 96 incorporated a low‑drag, all‑metal monoplane wing, a semi‑monocoque fuselage, and a more powerful Nakajima Hikari radial engine delivering 820 hp. Its cockpit was positioned forward of the wing, giving the pilot excellent visibility for low‑level attack runs. The aircraft could carry a single 800 kg bomb or an Type 91 aerial torpedo beneath the centreline, and its defensive armament consisted of a single flexible 7.7 mm machine gun. Maximum speed reached 470 km/h at 4,000 m, with a range of 1,700 km, allowing it to strike targets far beyond the carrier’s horizon. Its sturdy undercarriage proved reliable on the cramped decks of early Japanese carriers, and it was exported in limited numbers to allied air forces for evaluation. The Type 96 saw extensive service during the Second Sino‑Japanese War and the early Pacific campaigns of World War II, notably at the Battle of Midway where its vulnerability to newer fighters became apparent. Despite its eventual replacement by the more advanced Aichi B7A, the Type 96 demonstrated the strategic value of carrier‑borne strike aircraft and influenced post‑war naval bomber concepts worldwide.

Aichi Tokei Denki

Type 96 Carrier Bomber

Classification

Design & Classification