The Aichi D3A "Val": A Pivotal Dive Bomber of the Pacific War I. Basic Information The Aichi D3A, officially designated as the Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber (九九式艦上爆撃機) and codenamed "Val" by Allied forces, was a Japanese dive bomber that played a central role in naval aviation during World War II. Developed by Aichi Kokuki KK, it entered service in 1939, coinciding with the 2,600th anniversary of the legendary founding of Japan (hence the "Type 99" designation, derived from the Japanese imperial year 2599). - Design and Specifications: The D3A was a single-engine, two-seat monoplane with a fixed undercarriage—a design choice that prioritized simplicity and low maintenance, critical for carrier operations. It was powered by a Nakajima Sakae 12 radial engine, delivering 940 horsepower, enabling a maximum speed of approximately 389 km/h (242 mph) and a range of 1,470 km (913 miles). Its armament included two 7.7 mm machine guns in the wings for offensive fire and one flexible 7.7 mm machine gun in the rear cockpit for defense. For bombing missions, it could carry a single 250 kg (551 lb) bomb under the fuselage or four 60 kg (132 lb) bombs under the wings.- Operational Role: As a dive bomber, the D3A was designed to deliver ordnance with pinpoint accuracy by diving at steep angles (up to 80 degrees) toward targets, minimizing the risk of missing ships or ground installations. This precision made it invaluable for attacking enemy warships, particularly in the early stages of the Pacific War. II. Development Background and Pacific War Requirements The development of the D3A was driven by Japan’s strategic ambitions in the Pacific and its need for a modern carrier-based dive bomber to support its expanding naval fleet. By the 1930s, Japan’s imperial strategy emphasized naval dominance, with aircraft carriers at the forefront of projecting power across the vast Pacific theater. Existing dive bombers, such as the older Yokosuka D1A "Susie," were outdated, lacking the speed, r
AG1:Activating the Engine
AG2:Activating the bomb and hanger under the fuselage
AG3:Activating the tail gunner's left and right rotation
AG4:Activating the tail gunner's up and down control
AG5:Activating the tail gun
AG6:None
AG7:None
AG8:None
Trim:Control the tail gunner
VTOL:Control the bomb of the fuselage
Specifications
General Characteristics
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- Wingspan 49.6ft (15.1m)
- Length 34.4ft (10.5m)
- Height 12.2ft (3.7m)
- Empty Weight N/A
- Loaded Weight 7,647lbs (3,468kg)
Performance
- Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.366
- Wing Loading 16.0lbs/ft2 (78.2kg/m2)
- Wing Area 477.5ft2 (44.4m2)
- Drag Points 7035
Parts
- Number of Parts 169
- Control Surfaces 7
- Performance Cost 739