Mitsubishi Experimental Taka-type Carrier Fighter (1MF9)

The Mitsubishi Experimental Taka-type Carrier Fighter (1MF9) was the first carrier fighter to be designed by a Japanese engineer, but failed to gain a production order.

In April 1926 the Japanese Navy asked Aichi, Mitsubishi and Nakajima to design a new fighter to replace the Mitsubishi Type 10 Carrier Fighter. The new aircraft had to have a watertight fuselage, a boat-shaped lower hull and a watertight tight lower wing, improving its ability to float if it was forced to land on the water.

The 1MF9 was designed by Joji Hattori, a designer who had worked under Herbert Smith on the Type 10. He produced a single-span biplane with a fabric covered wooden structure. It was powered by a Mitsubishi Type Hi twelve-cylinder vee water cooled engine and was armed with two fixed forward firing machine guns. The undercarriage could be jettisoned as could the fuel, both features that were intended to improve the aircraft's ability to ditch. The first prototype had flaps, and the 1MF9 was the first Japanese fighter to use split flaps.

The 1MF9 came up against the Aichi HD 23 (designed by Heinkel) while Nakajima submitted a modified version of the light-weight Gloster Gamecock Gambet. This last aircraft didn't have any of the special ditching features requested by the navy, but it was 1,000lb lighter and more manoeuvrable. The Nakajima aircraft was accepted for production as the A1N1 Navy Type 3 Carrier Fighter.

Engine: Mitsubishi Type Hi twelve cylinder vee water cooled engine
Power: 450-600hp
Crew: 1
Span: 35ft 5.25in
Length: 27ft 8.5in
Height: 11ft 2in
Empty weight: 2,645lb
Loaded weight: 4,090lb
Max speed: 152mph
Climb Rate: 6min 10sec to 9,843ft
Service ceiling: 22,965ft
Armament: Two fixed forward firing 7.7mm machine guns

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (4 September 2012), Mitsubishi Experimental Taka-type Carrier Fighter (1MF9) , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_mitsubishi_experimental_taka_type.html

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