Japanese military aircraft designation systems
The Japanese military aircraft designation systems for the Imperial period (pre-1945) had multiple designation systems for each armed service. This led to the Allies' use of code names during World War II, and these code names are still better known in English-language texts than the real Japanese names for the aircraft. A number of different schemes were simultaneously in use.
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (大日本帝國海軍航空隊, Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Koukuu-tai, IJNAS) used several different aircraft designation systems simultaneously. Between 1931 and 1945, aircraft had Shi numbers designating the specification they were designed to. They also had a long form of Type and Model Number system used between 1920 and 1943, a short designation system akin to that of the United States Navy in use between the late 1920s and 1945, a system of popular names introduced to replace type numbers from 1943 through 1945.
Specification Shi numbers
Japanese Navy specifications from 1931 were given an experimental, or Shi (試) number, based on the year of the Emperor's reign the specification was issued in. Since multiple specifications could be issued in a year, the number was disambiguated with the aircraft purpose.[1]
During the period this designation system was in use, the Emperor in question was Hirohito, the Showa Emperor, thus the years of Showa were those used, which began in 1926.
Thus, the Mitsubishi Zero was designed to meet the 1937 specification called 12-shi carrier fighter.
Long Type and Model Number system
After 1929, aircraft types were given a type number based on the last two digits of the Japanese imperial year (which is counted from the mythical founding of Japan in 660BC by Emperor Jimmu). Added to this was a brief description of the aircraft's function. The Mitsubishi Zero was so-called because entered service in 1940 which was the Japanese year 2600, thus it was designated Type 0 Carrier Fighter.[2]
Model numbers were added to show subtypes. By the late 1930s these were two digits, the first being airframe revisions, the second engine revisions.[3]
The system was abandoned in 1943, when it was decided that it gave away too much information about the aircraft.
Short system
In the late 1920s a short designation scheme was adopted, which was similar to the 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system. This scheme used a letter or two letters to designate a type of aircraft, a number to indicate the Navy Design Request Number in that type of aircraft, and finally a letter to designate the manufacturer. Unlike the US Navy system, the Japanese system did not have a different number series for each manufacturer, and did not omit the number "1".[4]
Thus, the Zero's type in this designation system was A6M, which meant the sixth type of carrier fighter under this designation system, and that it was built by Mitsubishi.
Variants were indicated by an additional number at the end; repurposing an aircraft was indicated by a dash and then the new type letter.[4]
Sometimes two aircraft were ordered from different manufacturers to the same specification at the same time, generally as insurance against the primary design not working out. In this case, the same series number was used for both. Data from:Japanese Military Aircraft Designations[5]
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Official names
After July 1943, names were given to Navy aircraft instead of type designations. These names were given according to a scheme based on the aircraft's role. These were official names, in contrast to Army aircraft whose names were popular nicknames.
- Fighters: Weather and meteorological names
- Carrier fighters and seaplane fighters: Wind names usually ending with pu or fu (風)
- Interceptors: Lightning names ending in den (電)
- Night fighters: Light names ending in ko (光)
- Attack planes: Mountains names ending in zan (山)
- Bombers: Star or constellation names usually ending in sei (星)
- Patrol: Sea or ocean names ending in kai (海) or yo (洋)
- Reconnaissance: Cloud names ending in un (雲)
- Trainers: Trees, plants and flowers
- Transports: Sky names ending in ku (空)
- Miscellaneous: Landscape names
- Purpose-built kamikaze aircraft: Flower names ending in ka (花)
Special cases include aircraft that employed non-conventional (i.e. non-propeller-driven) propulsion scheme like rocket-powered interceptor Shūsui (poetic term meaning "Sharp Sword") and aircraft used for non-conventional deployments such as Special Attacker Seiran ("Mountain Haze"; deployed from submarines to strike targets behind the frontline and expected to be ditched upon returning to motherships).
Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (often called the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (大日本帝國陸軍航空隊、大日本帝國陸軍航空部隊, Dainippon Teikoku Rikugun Kōkūtai, Dainippon Teikoku Rikugun Kōkūbutai) (IJAAS) used a straightforward system based on year of service and type, nearly identical to the Navy's long type and model number system. This system was used from 1927, replacing an earlier system in which a manufacturer type code from a Japanese Kanji ordinal from the Heavenly stems was assigned to the aircraft from each company, as well as a type number. With additional types being added, this system quickly became cumbersome. Assigned letters included 甲 (Ko) for Nieuport, 乙 (Otsu) for Salmson, 丙 (Hei) for SPAD, 丁 (Tei) for Farman, 戊 (Bo) for Caudron, and 己 (Ki) for Hanriot. The "Ki" (キ; abbreviation of kitai = airframe) designation was also used and became prominent in later years.
Long Type and Model Number system
The first part of the designation was a two-digit type number based on the Japanese year in which the aircraft entered service. A minor exception was the year 1940 (2600), for which the type number 100 rather than zero was used. This was followed by a description of the aircraft's function.[7] If there were two or more aircraft with the same type and function, the latter was enhanced to further differentiate them. An example is the Type 2 single-seat fighter (the Nakajima Ki-44) and the Type 2 two-seat fighter (Kawasaki Ki-45).
Major modifications (such as a different engine) were indicated with a subtype number, officially in kanji but often in Roman numerals. Small-scale modifications (such as armament) are indicated with a Japanese Kanji ordinal from the Heavenly stems:- ko (甲), otsu (乙), hei (丙), tei (丁), bo (戊), ki (己), which equate to:- a (first), b (second), c (third), d (fourth), e (fifth), but are NOT direct translations. The character "kai"(改) was used if the modifications were large but not enough for a new type number.[8]
Short designation ("Ki" number)
The "Ki" airframe designation indicates the project number (written in Arabic numerals), and was assigned in sequence to all projects regardless of manufacturer or type.[2]
Popular names
Popular names such as "Hayabusa" (the Nakajima Ki-43) were not part of the official designation.
Calendars and Type numbers
Data from: [9]
Type numbers were assigned by both the Army and Navy followed the Taisho number sequence, the number of years the Emperor Taisho had been on the throne until Emperor Showa replaced him on 25 December 1926, which started the Showa sequence, at which time, the numbering was matched to the last two, or later one digit of the Imperial Japanese calendar year. The Navy began assigning Shisaku numbers to denote experimental types being evaluated by the Navy, whose numbering matched those of the Showa sequence. As no new designs were assigned Type numbers between 26 December 1926 and the end of the year, no aircraft was designated Type 86 under the Showa sequence. The Taisho/Showa sequences were used for almost all equipment developed for both Army and Navy (including weapons, equipment, vehicles and even ships), so there can be many unrelated pieces of equipment covered under a single Type number.
| Year | Japanese Year |
Nengo Era |
Type number |
Shisaku number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 2581 | Taisho 10 | Type 10 | |
| 1922 | 2582 | Taisho 11 | Type 11 | |
| 1923 | 2583 | Taisho 12 | Type 12 | |
| 1924 | 2584 | Taisho 13 | Type 13 | |
| 1925 | 2585 | Taisho 14 | Type 14 | |
| 1926 | 2586 | Taisho 15/Showa 1 | Type 15 | |
| 1927 | 2587 | Showa 2 | Type 87 | |
| 1928 | 2588 | Showa 3 | Type 88 | |
| 1929 | 2589 | Showa 4 | Type 89 | |
| 1930 | 2590 | Showa 5 | Type 90 | |
| 1931 | 2591 | Showa 6 | Type 91 | 6-Shi |
| 1932 | 2592 | Showa 7 | Type 92 | 7-Shi |
| 1933 | 2593 | Showa 8 | Type 93 | 8-Shi |
| 1934 | 2594 | Showa 9 | Type 94 | 9-Shi |
| 1935 | 2595 | Showa 10 | Type 95 | 10-Shi |
| 1936 | 2596 | Showa 11 | Type 96 | 11-Shi |
| 1937 | 2597 | Showa 12 | Type 97 | 12-Shi |
| 1938 | 2598 | Showa 13 | Type 98 | 13-Shi |
| 1939 | 2599 | Showa 14 | Type 99 | 14-Shi |
| 1940 | 2600 | Showa 15 | Type 100 or 0 | 15-Shi |
| 1941 | 2601 | Showa 16 | Type 1 | 16-Shi |
| 1942 | 2602 | Showa 17 | Type 2 | 17-Shi |
| 1943 | 2603 | Showa 18 | Type 3 | 18-Shi |
| 1944 | 2604 | Showa 19 | Type 4 | 19-Shi |
| 1945 | 2605 | Showa 20 | Type 5 | 20-Shi |
Designation table
This is a sortable table giving all the various designations and names of Japanese Military aircraft from circa 1925 to 1945. Data from:[10] and []
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service aircraft designations
| Manufacturer name & Short Designation | Official (long) Designation (All "types" are Navy) | Experimental Designation | Japanese Name | Allied Code Name(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nakajima A1N | Type 3 Carrier Fighter | Biplane | |||
| Nakajima A2N | Type 90 Carrier Fighter | Biplane | |||
| Nakajima A3N | Type 90 Training Fighter | Biplane | |||
| Nakajima A4N | Type 95 Carrier Fighter | Biplane | |||
| Mitsubishi A5M | Type 96 Carrier Fighter | 9-shi Carrier Fighter | CLAUDE/SANDY | ||
| Mitsubishi A5M4-K | Type 96 Training Fighter | trainer variant | |||
| Watanabe A5M4-K | Type 2 Training Fighter | 15-shi Fighter-Trainer | trainer variant | ||
| Mitsubishi A6M | Type 0 Carrier Fighter | 12-shi Carrier Fighter | Reisen (Zero fighter) | ZEKE/HAMP/HAP | Unofficially Zero |
| Mitsubishi A6M2-K/A6M5-K | Training Fighter | ZEKE | Unofficially Zero | ||
| Nakajima A6M2-N | Type 2 Fighter Seaplane | 15-shi Fighter Seaplane | RUFE | ||
| Mitsubishi A7M | 17-shi Ko Type Carrier Fighter | Reppu (Storm Wind) | SAM | ||
| Mitsubishi A7M | 17-shi Otsu(B) Type Interceptor Fighter Reppu Kai | ||||
| Heinkel A7He | Type He Air Defence Fighter | JERRY | |||
| Seversky A8V | Type S Two-seat Fighter | DICK | |||
| Boeing AXB | Type B Carrier Fighter | One tested | |||
| Canadian Car and Foundry AXG | Type G Carrier Fighter | One tested | |||
| Dewoitine AXD | Type D Carrier Fighter | One tested | |||
| Hawker AXH | Type H Carrier Fighter | One tested | |||
| Heinkel AXHe | Type He Interceptor Fighter | Three tested | |||
| Vought AXV | Type V Interceptor Fighter | One tested | |||
| Mitsubishi B1M | Type 13 Carrier Attack Bomber | Biplane | |||
| Mitsubishi B2M | Type 89 Carrier Attack Bomber | Biplane | |||
| Yokosuka B3Y | Type 92 Carrier Attack Bomber | Biplane | |||
| Mitsubishi B4M | 9-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker | Biplane | |||
| Nakajima B4N | 9-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker | Lost to B4Y1 | |||
| Yokosuka B4Y | Type 96 Carrier Attack Bomber | 9-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker | JEAN | ||
| Mitsubishi B5M | Type 97-2 Carrier Attack Bomber | 10-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker | MABEL | ||
| Nakajima B5N | Type 97-1 & 97-2 Carrier Attack Bomber | 10-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker | KATE | ||
| Nakajima B5N1-K | Type 97 Model 1 Attacker-Trainer | KATE | B5N Trainer version | ||
| Nakajima B6N | Carrier Attack Bomber Tenzan | 14-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker | Tenzan (Heavenly Mountain) | JILL | |
| Aichi B7A | Carrier Attack Bomber Ryusei | 16-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker | Ryusei (Shooting Star) | GRACE | |
| Northrop BXN | 2 imported | ||||
| Mitsubishi C1M | Type 10 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft | Biplane | |||
| n/a | Type 10 Carrier Torpedo Bomber | Mitsubishi 1MT | Triplane | ||
| Nakajima C2N | Fokker Reconnaissance Aircraft | licence-built | |||
| Nakajima C3N | Type 97 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft | 10-shi Carrier (Land) Reconnaissance | Not proceeded with | ||
| Aichi C4A | 13-shi High-speed Reconnaissance Plane | Project | |||
| Mitsubishi C5M | Type 98 Reconnaissance Aircraft | BABS | |||
| Nakajima C6N | Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft Saiun | 17-shi Carrier (Land) Reconnaissance | Saiun (Painted Cloud) | MYRT | |
| Nakajima C6N1-S2 | Night Fighter | 17-shi Carrier (Land) Reconnaissance | Saiun (Iridescent Cloud) | MYRT | |
| Potez CXP1 | One tested (diesel) | ||||
| Aichi D1A | Type 94 Carrier Bomber | 8-shi Carrier Dive Bomber | SUSIE | ||
| Aichi D1A2 | Type 96 Carrier Bomber | SUSIE | |||
| Nakajima D2N | 8-shi Carrier Bomber | Lost to D1A1 | |||
| Yokosuka D2Y | 8-shi Carrier Bomber | Lost to D1A1 | |||
| Aichi D3A | Type 99 Carrier Bomber | 11-shi Carrier Dive Bomber | VAL | ||
| Mitsubishi D3M | 11-shi Carrier Bomber | Lost to D3A1 | |||
| Nakajima D3N | 11-shi Carrier Bomber | Lost to D3A1 | |||
| Yokosuka D3Y1-K/D3Y2-K | Training Bomber Myojo | Myojo (Venus) | |||
| Yokosuka D4Y | Carrier Bomber Suisei | 17-shi Carrier Dive Bomber | Suisei (Comet) | JUDY/DOT | |
| Yokosuka D4Y1-C/D4Y2-Ca | Type 2 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft | JUDY | |||
| Yokosuka D5Y | Special Attacker Myojo Kai | ||||
| Douglas DXD | Type D Attack Plane | One tested | |||
| Heinkel DXHe | Type He Attack Plane | One tested | |||
| Yokosuka E1Y | Type 14-1 Reconnaissance Seaplane | Biplane | |||
| Nakajima E2N | Type 15 Reconnaissance Seaplane | Biplane | |||
| Aichi E3A | Type 90-1 Reconnaissance Seaplane | Biplane | |||
| Nakajima E4N | Type 90-2 Reconnaissance Seaplane | Biplane | |||
| Nakajima E4N2-C | Type 90-2-3 Reconnaissance Aircraft | landplane E4N | |||
| Kawanishi E5K | Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane | Biplane | |||
| Yokosuka E5Y | Type 14-2 Kai-1 Reconnaissance Seaplane | Biplane | |||
| Yokosuka E6Y | Type 91 Reconnaissance Seaplane | Biplane | |||
| Kawanishi E7K | Type 94 Reconnaissance Seaplane | 7-shi Sea Reconnaissance | ALF | ||
| Aichi E8A | 8-shi Reconnaissance Seaplane | Lost to E8N1 | |||
| Kawanishi E8K | 8-shi Reconnaissance Seaplane | Lost to E8N1 | |||
| Nakajima E8N | Type 95 Reconnaissance Seaplane | 8-shi Sea Reconnaissance | DAVE | ||
| Watanabe E9W | Type 96 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane | 9-shi Sea Reconnaissance | SLIM | Biplane | |
| Aichi E10A | Type 96 Night Reconnaissance Seaplane | 9-shi Sea Reconnaissance | HANK | Biplane flying boat | |
| Kawanishi E10K | Type 94 Transport Seaplane | 9-shi Sea Reconnaissance | Biplane flying boat | ||
| Aichi E11A | Type 98 Night Reconnaissance Seaplane | 11-shi Sea Reconnaissance | LAURA | ||
| Kawanishi E11K | Type 96 Transport Seaplane | 11-shi Sea Reconnaissance | Lost to E11A1 | ||
| Aichi E12A | 12-shi Two-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane | ||||
| Kawanishi E12K | 12-shi Two-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane | ||||
| Nakajima E12N | 12-shi Two-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane | ||||
| Aichi E13A | Type 0 Reconnaissance Seaplane | 12-shi Sea Reconnaissance | JAKE | ||
| Kawanishi E13K | 12-shi Three-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane | ||||
| Watanabe E14W | 12-shi Small Reconnaissance Seaplane | ||||
| Yokosuka E14Y | Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane | 12-shi Sea Reconnaissance | GLEN | ||
| Kawanishi E15K | Type 2 High-speed Reconnaissance Seaplane Shiun | 14-shi Sea Reconnaissance | Shiun (Purple Cloud) | NORM | |
| Aichi E16A | Reconnaissance Seaplane Zuiun | 16-shi Sea Reconnaissance | Zuiun (Happy Cloud) | PAUL | |
| Aichi F1A | 10-shi Observation Seaplane | Lost to F1M1 | |||
| Kawanishi F1K | 10-shi Observation Seaplane | Lost to F1M1 | |||
| Mitsubishi F1M | Type 0 Observation Seaplane | 10-shi Sea Observation | PETE | ||
| Mitsubishi G1M | Type 93 Attack Bomber | 7-shi Land Attacker | Biplane | ||
| Mitsubishi G1M | 8-shi Land Attacker | Long Range Research, not 7-shi | |||
| Hiro G2H | Type 95 Attack Bomber | 7-shi Land Attacker | Monoplane | ||
| Mitsubishi G3M | Type 96 Attack Bomber | 9-shi Land Attacker | NELL | ||
| Mitsubishi G4M | Type 1 Attack Bomber | 12-shi Land Attacker | BETTY | ||
| Nakajima G5N | 13-shi Attack Bomber Shinzan | Shinzan (Deep Mountain) | LIZ | ||
| Mitsubishi G6M | Type 1 Wingtip Convoy Fighter | BETTY | |||
| Mitsubishi G6M1-K | Type 1 Large Land Trainer | BETTY | |||
| Mitsubishi G6M1-L2 | Type 1 Transport | BETTY | |||
| Mitsubishi G7M | 16-shi Attack Bomber Taizan | Taizan (Great Mountain) | Project | ||
| Nakajima G8N | 18-shi Attack Bomber Renzan | Renzan (Mountain Chain) | RITA | ||
| Kawanishi G9K | Project | ||||
| Nakajima G10N | Super Heavy Bomber Fugaku | Fugaka (Mount Fuji) | |||
| Hiro H1H | Type 15 Flying boat | Biplane | |||
| Hiro H2H | Type 89 Flying boat | Biplane | |||
| Hiro H3H | Type 90-1 Flying boat | Monoplane | |||
| Kawanishi H3K | Type 90-2 Flying boat | BELLE | Biplane | ||
| Hiro H4H | Type 91 Flying boat | Monoplane | |||
| Yokosuka H5Y | Type 99 Flying boat | 9-shi Flying Boat | CHERRY | ||
| Kawanishi H6K | Type 97 Flying boat | 9-shi Flying Boat | MAVIS | ||
| Kawanishi H6K2-L/H6K4-L | Type 97 Transport Flying boat | MAVIS | |||
| Yokosuka H7Y | 12-shi Special Flying boat | TILLIE | Project | ||
| Kawanishi H8K | Type 2 Flying boat | 13-shi Flying Boat | EMILY | ||
| Kawanishi H8K2-L | Kawanishi Navy Transport Flying boat Seiku | Seiku (Sunny Sky) | EMILY | ||
| Aichi H9A | Type 2 Training Flying boat | 13-shi Flying Boat | |||
| Hiro H10H | 14-shi Medium Flying boat | Project | |||
| Kawanishi H11K1-L | Large-size Transport Flying boat Soukuu | Soukuu (Blue Sky) | Project | ||
| Consolidated HXC | Type C Flying boat | One tested | |||
| Douglas HXD | Type D Flying boat | Two tested | |||
| Potez HXP1 | One tested | ||||
| Nakajima J1N | 13-shi Three-seat Fighter | ||||
| Nakajima J1N1-C/J1N1-R | Type 2 Reconnaissance Aircraft | 13-shi Land Reconnaissance | IRVING | ||
| Nakajima J1N1-S | Night Fighter Gekko | 13-shi Night Fighter | Gekko (Moonlight) | IRVING | |
| Mitsubishi J2M | Land Fighter Raiden | 14-shi Interceptor | Raiden (Thunderbolt) | JACK | |
| Kawanishi J3K | 17-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter | ||||
| Mitsubishi J4M | 17-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter Senden | Senden (Flashing Lightning) | LUKE | ||
| Nakajima J5N | 18-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter Tenrai | Tenrai (Heavenly Thunder) | |||
| Kawanishi J6K | 18-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter Jinpu | Jinpu (Squall) | |||
| Kyushu J7W | 18-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter Shinden | Shinden (Resounding Lightning) | |||
| Mitsubishi J8M | 19-shi Rocket-Powered Interceptor Fighter Shusui | Shusui (Sharp Sword) | |||
| Nakajima Kikka | Special Attacker Kikka/Imperial Weapon No.2 | Kikka (Orange Blossom) | First Japanese jet aircraft | ||
| Yokosuka K1Y | Type 13 Training Seaplane | Biplane | |||
| Yokosuka K2Y | Type 3 Primary Trainer | ||||
| Mitsubishi K3M | Type 90 Operations Trainer | PINE | |||
| Yokosuka K4Y | Type 90 Training Seaplane | ||||
| Yokosuka K5Y | Type 93 Advanced Trainer | WILLOW | |||
| Kawanishi K6K | 11-shi Advanced Trainer Seaplane | Cancelled | |||
| Mitsubishi K6M | 11-shi Advanced Trainer Seaplane | Cancelled | |||
| Watanabe K6W | 11-shi Advanced Trainer Seaplane | Cancelled | |||
| Mitsubishi K7M | 11-shi Crew Trainer | Cancelled | |||
| Kawanishi K8K | Type 0 Primary Trainer Seaplane | 12-shi Primary Trainer Seaplane | Biplane | ||
| Nihon K8P | 12-shi Primary Trainer Seaplane | Cancelled | |||
| Watanabe K8W | 12-shi Primary Trainer Seaplane | Cancelled | |||
| Kyushu K9W | Type 2 Primary Trainer Momiji | 14-shi Trainer | Kouyou (Red Leaf) | CYPRESS | |
| Kyushu K10W | Type 2 Intermediate Trainer | 14-shi Land Middle Trainer | OAK | ||
| Kyushu K11W | Operations Trainer Shiragiku | 15-shi Trainer | Shiragiku (White Chrysanthemum) | ||
| North American KXA | Type A Intermediate Trainer | Two tested | |||
| Bücker KXBu | Type Bu Primary Trainer | Bücker Bü 131 | |||
| Caudron KXC | Type C Trainer | One tested | |||
| Heinkel KXHe | Type He Trainer | One tested | |||
| Junkers KXJ | Type J Trainer | One tested | |||
| Lockheed KXL | Type L Trainer | One tested | |||
| Nakajima L1N | Type 97 Transport | THORA | |||
| Showa/Nakajima L2D | Type D Transport & Type 0 Transport | TABBY | licence-built Douglas DC-3 | ||
| Yokosuka L3Y | Type 96 Transport | TINA | Converted G3M | ||
| Mitsubishi L4M | Army Type 100 Transport | TOPSY | |||
| L5? | Unidentified transport | No details | |||
| L6? | Unidentified transport | No details | |||
| Nihon L7P | 13-shi Small Amphibious Transport | Cancelled | |||
| Curtiss-Wright LXC | Type C Amphibious Transport | One tested | |||
| Douglas LXD | Type D Transport | One tested | |||
| Fairchild LXF | Type F Amphibious Transport | One tested. | |||
| Gasuden LXG | Special Liaison Transport | KR-2 for VIP use. | |||
| Grumman LXG | Grumman Amphibian Flying Boat | One Grumman Goose tested | |||
| Heinkel LXHe | Type He Transport | One tested. | |||
| Kinner LXK | Type K Transport | One tested. | |||
| Airspeed LXM | Type M Transport | Two tested. | |||
| Aichi M6A | Special Attack Bomber Seiran] | 17-shi special Attacker | Seiran (Mountain Haze) | ||
| Aichi M6A1-K | Special Attack Training Bomber Nanzan | Nanzan (South Mountain) | |||
| Nihon MXJ1 | Primary Training Glider Wakakusa | 17-shi Exp. Research Plane | Wakakusa (Young Grass) | ||
| Yokosuka MXY1 | Test Aircraft | MXY1 | Research | ||
| Yokosuka MXY2 | Test Aircraft | MXY2 | Research | ||
| Yokosuka MXY3 | Target Glider | MXY3 | Target drone | ||
| Yokosuka MXY4 | Yokosuka Navy Type 1 Target Aircraft | MXY4 | Target drone | ||
| Yokosuka MXY5 | Transport Glider | MXY5 | |||
| Yokosuka MXY6 | Ente-type Glider | MXY6 | |||
| Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka | Special Attack Aircraft Ohka | MXY7 | Ohka (Cherry Blossom) | BAKA | |
| Yokosuka MXY8 | Training Glider Akigusa | MXY8 | Akigusa (Autumn Grass) | ||
| Yokosuka MXY9 | Trainer Shuka | MXY9 | Shuka (Autumn fire) | Glider | |
| Yokosuka MXY10 | Bomber Ginga Ground Decoy | MXY10 | for P1Y | ||
| Yokosuka MXY11 | Type 1 Attack Bomber Ground Decoy | MXY11 | for G4M | ||
| Mizuno MXZ1 | 17-shi Exp. Research Plane | Training glider | |||
| Kawanishi N1K | Fighter Seaplane Kyofu | 15-shi Fighter Seaplane | Kyofu (Gale) | REX | |
| Kawanishi N1K1-J | Land Fighter Shiden | Shiden (Violet Lightning) | GEORGE | Landplane Kyofu | |
| Kawanishi N1K2-J/N1K5-J | Land Fighter Shiden Kai | Shiden (Violet Lightning) modified | GEORGE | Landplane | |
| Kawanishi N1K2-K | Training Fighter Shiden Kai Rensen | Shiden (Violet Lightning) modified | GEORGE | Landplane | |
| Yokosuka P1Y | Bomber Ginga | 15-shi Land Bomber | Ginga (Galaxy) | FRANCES | |
| Yokosuka P1Y1-S | Night Fighter Hakko | 15-shi Night Fighter | Hakko (White light/Corona) | ||
| Yokosuka P1Y2-S | Night Fighter Kyokko]] | 15-shi Night Fighter | Kyokko (Aurora) | ||
| Kyushu Q1W | Patrol Plane Tokai | 17-shi Patrol | Tokai (Eastern Sea) | LORNA | |
| Mitsubishi Q2M | 19-shi Patrol Plane Taiyo | Taiyo (Ocean) | Project | ||
| Kyushu Q3W | Patrol Plane Nankai | Nankai (Southern Sea) | |||
| Yokosuka R1Y | n/a | 17-shi Reconnaissance Plane Seiun | Seiun (Dawn Cloud) | ||
| Yokosuka R2Y | n/a | 18-shi Reconnaissance Plane Keiun | Keiun (Cirrus Cloud) | ||
| Aichi S1A | n/a | 18-shi Hei C Type Night Fighter Denko | Denko (Lightning Bolt) | ||
| n/a | Yasukuni (Shrine) | Ki-67-I loaned from Army | |||
| n/a | n/a | 6-shi Carrier Fighter | Nakajima | ||
| n/a | n/a | 7-shi Carrier Fighter | Mitsubishi 1MF10 | ||
| n/a | n/a | 7-shi Carrier Fighter | Nakajima Army Type 91 Fighter | for Navy | |
| n/a | n/a | 8-shi Carrier Fighter | Mitsubishi Ka-8 | Crashed | |
| n/a | n/a | 8-shi Carrier Fighter | Nakajima, Cancelled | ||
| n/a | n/a | 9-shi Carrier Fighter | IJA Nakajima Ki-11 | ||
| n/a | n/a | 7-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker | Aichi Biplane | ||
| n/a | n/a | 7-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker | Mitsubishi Biplane | ||
| n/a | n/a | 7-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker | Nakajima Biplane | ||
| n/a | n/a | 6-shi Carrier Dive Bomber | Nakajima, Crashed | ||
| n/a | n/a | 7-shi Carrier Dive Bomber | Nakajima | ||
| n/a | n/a | 6-shi Night Reconnaissance Flying Boat | Aichi (flying boat biplane)[12] | ||
| n/a | n/a | 7-shi Reconnaissance Seaplane]] | Aichi, lost to E7K[13] | ||
| n/a | Special Attack | Sukukaze (Cool Breeze) | OMAR | Fictional | |
| n/a | Special Attack Glider Shinryu | Shinryu (Divine Dragon) | Mizuno project | ||
| n/a | Experimental Special Attacker 1 | Toka (Wisteria flower) | Navy Nakajima Ki-115 | ||
| n/a | Experimental Attack Plane 1 | Tozan (Eastern Mountain) | |||
| n/a | Type 97 Reconnaissance Seaplane? | BOB[note 1] | Aichi | ||
| n/a | Type 98 Bomber Float Plane? | IONE[note 1] | Aichi | ||
| n/a | Type 99 Four-Engine Flying Boat? | JOAN[note 1] | Unknown company | ||
| n/a | Type 99 Single-Engine Dive Bomber Seaplane? | Aichi | |||
| n/a | Type 1 Single-Seat Fighter? | ZEKE[note 1] | Mitsubishi | ||
| n/a | Type 96 Carrier Fighter? | SANDY[note 1] | Mitsubishi | ||
| n/a | Type 97 Seaplane Fighter | ADAM | Nakajima, Fictional | ||
| n/a | Type 1 Dive Bomber? | DOT[note 1] | Nakajima | ||
| Nakajima E7K | Type 97 Seaplane Fighter | ADAM[note 1] | |||
| Kayaba Ka-1 | Ka-Gō Artillery spotter | Army autogyro | |||
| n/a | Type 99 Flying Boat | JOAN[note 1] | Unknown company | ||
| n/a | Type T.K.19 Fighter | JOE | Fictional | ||
| n/a | Type 99 Dive Bomber Seaplane | JUNE[note 1] | floatplane D3A | ||
| Nagoya Sento-ki 001 | Sento-ki 001 Carrier Fighter | JUNE | fictional[note 1] | ||
| Kayaba Ka-2 | Army autogyro |
Imperial Japanese Army Air Service aircraft designations
| Ki(キ)/Ku(ク) number | Manufacturer | Official Designation or (Role) | Japanese Popular Name | Allied Code Name(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ka-go | Kayaba | Ka-go Observer (autogyro) | |||
| Ki-1 | Mitsubishi | Type 93 Heavy Bomber | Monoplane | ||
| Ki-2 | Mitsubishi | Type 93-2 Twin-Engine Light Bomber | LOUISE | Monoplane | |
| Ki-3 | Kawasaki | Type 93 Single-Engine Light Bomber | Biplane | ||
| Ki-4 | Nakajima | Type 94 Reconnaissance | Biplane | ||
| Ki-5 | Kawasaki | (Fighter) | Monoplane | ||
| Ki-6 | Nakajima | Type 95 Model 2 Trainer | High-wing Monoplane | ||
| Ki-7 | Mitsubishi | (Operations Trainer) | Lost to Ki-6 | ||
| Ki-8 | Nakajima | (Fighter) | Inverted gull-wing | ||
| Ki-9 | Tachikawa | Type 95 Model 1 Trainer | Churen | SPRUCE | |
| Ki-10 | Kawasaki | Type 95 Fighter | PERRY | Last IJA fighter biplane | |
| Ki-11 | Nakajima | (Fighter) | Lost to Ki-10 | ||
| Ki-12 | Nakajima | (Fighter) | |||
| Ki-13 | Nakajima | (Attacker) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-14 | Mitsubishi | (Reconnaissance) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-15 | Mitsubishi | Type 97 Headquarter Reconnaissance | Karigane – Wild Goose | BABS | Also Navy C5M |
| Ki-16 | Nakajima | (Fuel Transport) | Douglas DC-2 variant | ||
| Ki-17 | Tachikawa | Type 95 Model 3 Trainer | Shoren – Primary Trainer | CEDAR | |
| Ki-18 | Mitsubishi | (Fighter) | Army A5M variant | ||
| Ki-19 | Nakajima | (Heavy Bomber) | Lost to Mitsubishi Ki-19 | ||
| Ki-19 | Mitsubishi | (Heavy Bomber) | Renamed to Ki-21 | ||
| Ki-20 | Mitsubishi | Type 92 Heavy Bomber | Junkers G-38 variant | ||
| Ki-21 | Mitsubishi | Type 97 Heavy Bomber | SALLY/GWEN/JANE | ||
| Ki-22 | Kawasaki | Cancelled | |||
| Ki-23 | Tachikawa | (Training glider) | |||
| Ki-24 | Fukuda | (Primary training glider) | |||
| Ki-25 | Tachikawa | (Training glider) | |||
| Ki-26 | Tachikawa | (Glider) | |||
| Ki-27 | Nakajima | Type 97 Fighter | NATE/CLINT | ||
| Ki-28 | Kawasaki | (Fighter) | Lost to Ki-27 | ||
| Ki-29 | Tachikawa | (Light Bomber) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-30 | Mitsubishi | Type 97 Light Bomber | ANN | Lost to Ki-32 | |
| Ki-31 | Nakajima | (Light Bomber) | Cancelled, lost to Ki-28 & Ki-30. | ||
| Ki-32 | Kawasaki | Type 98 Light Bomber | MARY | Lost to Ki-30 | |
| Ki-33 | Mitsubishi | (Fighter) | Navy A5M variant lost to Ki-27 | ||
| Ki-34 | Nakajima | Type 97 Transport | THORA | Commercial AT-2 | |
| Ki-35 | Mitsubishi | (Reconnaissance) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-36 | Tachikawa | Type 98 Co-operation Reconnaissance | IDA | Fixed undercarriage | |
| Ki-37 | Nakajima | (Fighter) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-38 | Kawasaki | (Fighter) | Became Ki-45 | ||
| Ki-39 | Mitsubishi | (Fighter) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-40 | Mitsubishi | (HQ Reconnaissance) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-41 | Nakajima | (Transport) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-42 | Mitsubishi | (Heavy Bomber) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-43 | Nakajima | Type 1 Fighter | Hayabusa (Peregrine Falcon) | OSCAR | |
| Ki-44 | Nakajima | Type 2 Single-seat Fighter | Shoki (Demon) | TOJO/JOHN | |
| Ki-45 | Kawasaki | (Fighter) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-45 Kai | Kawasaki | Type 2 Two-seat Fighter | Toryu (Dragon Slayer) | NICK | |
| Ki-46 | Mitsubishi | Type 100 HQ Reconnaissance | DINAH | ||
| Ki-47 | Mitsubishi | (Light Bomber) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-48 | Kawasaki | Type 99 Twin-engine Light Bomber | LILY | ||
| Ki-49 | Nakajima | Type 100 Heavy Bomber | Donryu (Storm Dragon) | HELEN | |
| Ki-50 | Mitsubishi | (Heavy Bomber) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-51 | Mitsubishi | Type 99 Attacker/Army Reconnaissance | SONIA | ||
| Ki-52 | Nakajima | (Dive Bomber) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-53 | Nakajima | (Fighter) | Project | ||
| Ki-54a | Tachikawa | Type 1 Twin-engine Advanced Trainer | HICKORY | ||
| Ki-54b | Tachikawa | Type 1 Operations Trainer | HICKORY | ||
| Ki-54c | Tachikawa | Type 1 Transport | HICKORY | ||
| Ki-55 | Tachikawa | Type 99 Advanced Trainer | IDA | Ki-36 variant | |
| Ki-56 | Kawasaki | Type 1 Cargo Transport | THALIA | Type LO/RO variant | |
| Ki-57 | Mitsubishi | Type 100 Transport | TOPSY | Navy L4M | |
| Ki-58 | Nakajima | (Escort fighter) | Ki-49 variant | ||
| Ki-59 | Kokusai | Type 1 Transport | THERESA | Commercial TK-3 | |
| Ki-60 | Kawasaki | (Fighter) | used inline engine | ||
| Ki-61 | Kawasaki | Type 3 Fighter | Hien (Flying Swallow) | TONY | |
| Ki-62 | Nakajima | (Fighter) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-63 | Nakajima | (Fighter) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-64 | Kawasaki | (Fighter) | ROB | Buried engines | |
| Ki-65 | Mitsubishi | (Attacker) | Ki-51 successor project | ||
| Ki-65 | Manshu | (Heavy Fighter) | project | ||
| Ki-66 | Kawasaki | (Dive Bomber) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-67 | Mitsubishi | Type 4 Heavy Bomber | Hiryū (Flying Dragon) | PEGGY | Also interceptor. |
| Ki-68 | Nakajima | (Long-range Bomber) | project | ||
| Ki-69 | Mitsubishi | (Escort fighter) | Ki-67 project | ||
| Ki-70 | Tachikawa | (HQ Reconnaissance) | CLARA | Cancelled | |
| Ki-71 | Manshu | (Attacker) | EDNA | Ki-51 variant | |
| Ki-72 | Tachikawa | (Reconnaissance) | Ki-36 variant project | ||
| Ki-73 | Mitsubishi | (Fighter) | STEVE | Cancelled | |
| Ki-74 | Tachikawa | (Reconnaissance Bomber) | PAT/PATSY | ||
| Ki-75 | Nakajima | (Fighter) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-76 | Kokusai | Type 3 Command Liaison | STELLA | Also used for ASW | |
| Ki-77 | Tachikawa | Long-range experimental | |||
| Ki-78 | Kawasaki | High-speed Experimental | Ken-3 | ||
| Ki-79 | Manshu | Type 2 Advanced Trainer | Ki-27 variant | ||
| Ki-80 | Nakajima | (Formation Commander) | Ki-49 variant | ||
| Ki-81 | Kawasaki | (Formation Commander) | Ki-48 variant project | ||
| Ki-82 | Nakajima | (Heavy Bomber) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-83 | Mitsubishi | (Long-range Fighter) | |||
| Ki-84 | Nakajima | Type 4 Fighter | Hayate (Gale) | FRANK | |
| Ki-85 | Kawasaki | (Bomber) | |||
| Ki-86 | Kokusai | Type 4 Basic Trainer | CYPRESS | Bücker Bü 131 | |
| Ki-87 | Nakajima | (High-altitude Fighter) | |||
| Ki-88 | Kawasaki | (Fighter) | Pusher | ||
| Ki-89 | Kawasaki | (Experimental) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-90 | Mitsubishi | (Long-range Bomber) | project | ||
| Ki-91 | Kawasaki | (Long-range Bomber) | |||
| Ki-92 | Tachikawa | (Transport) | |||
| Ki-93 | Rikugun | (Attacker) | 57 mm gun | ||
| Ki-94 | Tachikawa | (High-altitude Fighter) | |||
| Ki-95 | Mitsubishi | (HQ Reconnaissance) | Ki-83 variant | ||
| Ki-96 | Kawasaki | (Fighter) | |||
| Ki-97 | Mitsubishi | (Transport) | Ki-67 Transport | ||
| Ki-98 | Manshu | (Fighter) | |||
| Ki-99 | Mitsubishi | (Fighter) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-100 | Kawasaki | Type 5 Fighter | Ki-61 variant | ||
| Ki-101 | Nakajima | (Night Fighter) | PERRY | ||
| Ki-102 | Kawasaki | Type 4 Assault Aircraft | RANDY | ||
| Ki-103 | Mitsubishi | (Attacker) | Ki-83 variant | ||
| Ki-104 | Rikugun | (Fighter) | Ki-94 variant | ||
| Ki-105 | Kokusai | (Transport) | BUZZARD | Powered Ku-7 | |
| Ki-106 | Tachikawa | (Fighter) | FRANK | Wood Ki-84 | |
| Ki-107 | Tokyo | (Primary Trainer) | Wood | ||
| Ki-108 | Kawasaki | (High-altitude Fighter) | pressurized cockpit | ||
| Ki-109 | Mitsubishi | Experimental heavy fighter | PEGGY | Ki-67 with 75mm gun | |
| Ki-110 | Tachikawa | (Transport) | Wood Ki-54 | ||
| Ki-111 | Tachikawa | (Fuel Transport) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-112 | Mitsubishi | (Heavy Bomber) | Wood Ki-67 | ||
| Ki-113 | Nakajima | (Fighter) | Steel Ki-84 | ||
| Ki-114 | Tachikawa | (Transport) | Wood Ki-92 | ||
| Ki-115 | Nakajima | (Special Attacker) | Tsurugi – Sabre | ||
| Ki-116 | Manshu | (Fighter) | Ki-84 variant | ||
| Ki-117 | Nakajima | (Fighter) | Ki-84 variant | ||
| Ki-118 | Mitsubishi | (Fighter) | Cancelled | ||
| Ki-119 | Kawasaki | (Dive-bomber/torpedo fighter) | |||
| Ki-147 | Kawasaki | (Radio-guided air to surface missile) | |||
| Ki-148 | Kawasaki | I-gou type 1 othu (Guided Bomb) | launched from Ki-48 | ||
| Ki-167 | Mitsubishi | Special Attack | Sakura-dan (Cherry Blossom) | Kamikaze Ki-67 | |
| Ki-174 | Kawasaki | Special Attack | Single-seat Ki-48 project | ||
| Ki-200 | Mitsubishi | experimental rocket interceptor | Shusui (Sharp Sword) | Navy J8M1 | |
| Ki-201 | Nakajima | (Fighter-Bomber) | Karyu (Fire Dragon) | Project | |
| Ki-202 | Rikugun | (Interceptor) | Shusui–kai (Sharp Sword-Improved) | Advanced Ki-200 | |
| Ki-230 | Nakajima | Special Attack | Ki-115 project | ||
| Ku-1 | Maeda | Maeda Army Type 2 Small Glider | Towed by Ki-51 | ||
| Ku-2 | Tokyo University | (Tailless Research) | |||
| Ku-3 | Tokyo University | (Tailless Research) | |||
| Ku-4 | Tokyo University | (Research) | Powered Ku-2 project | ||
| Ku-5 | Fukuda | (Trainer) | research aircraft | ||
| Ku-6 | Maeda | (Gliding Tank) | Cancelled | ||
| Ku-7 | Kokusai | Experimental Transport Glider | Manazuru (True Crane) | BUZZARD | Became Ki-105 |
| Ku-8 | Kokusai | Type 4 Special Transport | GOOSE | Towed by Ki-21 | |
| Ku-8 | Kokusai | Type 4 Special Transport | GANDER | Towed by Ki-21 | |
| Ku-9 | Fukuda | (Transport) | Cancelled | ||
| Ku-10 | Maeda | (Special Glider Trainer) | |||
| Ku-11 | Nihon | (Transport) | Wood | ||
| Ku-12 | Fukuda | (Glider Trainer) | |||
| n/a | Rikugun | Ta-go Special Attacker | Takeyari (Bamboo-spear) | ||
| n/a | Kobe | Te-go Observer | Lost to Ka-go | ||
| Ka 87 | Kawasaki | Type 87 Heavy Bomber | Dornier Do N | ||
| n/a | Mitsubishi | Type 87 Light Bomber | IJN Type 13 Carrier Attacker for Army | ||
| n/a | Kawasaki | Type 88 Light Bomber | Type 88 Recon. variant | ||
| n/a | Kawasaki | Type 88 Reconnaissance Aircraft | |||
| n/a | Nakajima | Type 91 Fighter | |||
| n/a | Kawasaki | Type 92 Fighter | |||
| n/a | Mitsubishi | Type 92 Reconnaissance | 2MR8 | ||
| n/a | Fiat | Type I Heavy Bomber | RUTH | ||
| n/a | Lockheed | Type LO Transport | THELMA/TOBY | ||
| n/a | Vultee | Type 98 Showa Light Bomber | MILLIE | ||
| n/a | Heinkel | Type 98 Medium Bomber | BESS | ||
| n/a | Focke-Wulf | (Technology demonstrator) | FRED | ||
| n/a | Focke-Wulf | (Technology demonstrator) | TRUDY | ||
| n/a | Junkers | (Technology demonstrator) | IRENE | ||
| n/a | Junkers | (Technology demonstrator) | JANICE | ||
| n/a | Junkers | (Technology demonstrator) | TRIXIE | ||
| n/a | Messerschmitt | (Technology demonstrator) | DOC | ||
| n/a | Messerschmitt | (Technology demonstrator) | TRIXIE | ||
| n/a | Nakajima | Type 97 Fighter? | CLINT | [note 1] | |
| n/a | Nakajima | Type 1 Light Bomber? | JOYCE | [note 1] | |
| n/a | Kawasaki | Type 1 Single-Seat Fighter? | JIM | [note 1] | |
| n/a | Kawasaki | Type 97 Medium Bomber? | JULIA | [note 1] | |
| n/a | Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi Navy Type 97 Fighter | ABDUL | Fictional A5M variant | |
| n/a | Mitsubishi | Type 97 Light Bomber Darai 108 | NORMA | [note 1] Bennett BTC-1 | |
| n/a | Mitsubishi | Type 0 Single-Seat Twin-Engine Fighter | FRANK/HARRY | ||
| n/a | Mitsubishi | Type 0 Medium Bomber? | GWEN | [note 1] | |
| n/a | Medium Bomber | MAISIE | [note 1] | ||
| n/a | Nakajima | Nakajima/Douglas DC-2 transport | TESS | Imported DC-2 | |
| n/a | Nakajima | Type AT-27 twin-engine fighter | GUS | fictional aircraft from magazine | |
| n/a | Mitsubishi | Ohtori | Ohtori (Phoenix) | EVE | Civilian Mitsubishi Ki-2-ii |
| n/a | Kawanishi | Special Attack Aircraft Baika | Baika (Japanese Apricot Blossom) | project |
See also
Notes
- Misidentified
References
- Francillon 1970, pp.50–51.
- Mikesh and Abe 1990, p.2.
- Francillon 1970, pp.52–53.
- Francillon 1970, p.51.
- Beechy, Robert. "Japanese Military Aircraft Designations". hud607.fire.prohosting.com. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- Francillon 1970, pp.549–557.
- Francillon 1970, pp.48–49.
- Francillon 1970, p.49.
- Mikesh, Robert; Shorzoe Abe (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910–1941. london: Putnam. ISBN 978-0-85177-840-2.
- "Aircraft of Imperial Japanese Army". zenibo-milimania.world.coocan.jp. 21 August 2001. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
- Mikesh and Abe 1990, pp. 70–71.
- Mikesh and Abe 1990, pp. 73.