Mitsubishi G3M

The Mitsubishi G3M, the Navy Type 96 land-based attack aircraft known as Rikko in Japan and Nell to the Allies, was a twin-engine bomber and transport used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. The navy asked for a bomber with a range and speed unprecedented at the time, able to carry a torpedo against a battleship, and Mitsubishi met it with a light structure that gave up defensive armour and self-sealing fuel tanks. The G3M first flew in 1935 and flew long raids over China, then helped sink the British ships Prince of Wales and Repulse in December 1941. From 1943 most served as trainers, glider tugs and transports. Nakajima built the G3M3 version.