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Japanese military aircraft designation systems

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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]

Aircraft type letters[6]
Letter Characters Western letters Type of Aircraft
A 艦上戦闘機 Kanjyo Sento-ki Carrier-based fighter
B 艦上攻撃機 Kanjyo Kougeki-ki Carrier-based attack bomber
C 艦上偵察機 Kanjyo Teisatsu-ki Carrier-based Reconnaissance
D 艦 上爆撃機 Kanjyo Bakugeki-ki Carrier-based dive bomber
E 水上偵察機 Suijyo Teisatsu-ki Reconnaissance seaplane
F 水上観測機 Suijyo Kansoku-ki Observation seaplane
G 陸上攻撃機 Rikujo Kougeki-ki Land-based attack bomber
H 飛行艇 Hiko-tei Flying boat
J 陸上戦闘機 Rikujyo Sento-ki Land-based fighter
K 練習機 Renshuu-ki Trainer
L 輸送機 Yuso-ki Transport
M 特殊機 Tokushu-ki Special purpose
N 水上戦闘機 Suijyo Sento-ki Fighter seaplane
P 陸上爆撃機 Rikujyo Bakugeki-ki Land-based bomber
Q 哨戒機 Shokaiki Patrol aircraft
R 陸上偵察機 Rikujyo Teisatsu-ki Land-based reconnaissance
S 夜間戦闘機 Yakan Sento-ki Night fighter
X 実験 Tokushu-ki (Jikken) Experiment (used with other designations)
Manufacturer letters
Letter Japanese
Manufacturers
Foreign
Manufacturers
A Aichi North American
B n/a Boeing
C n/a Consolidated
D Showa Douglas
F n/a Grumman
G Hitachi Goodyear
H Hiro Hawker
He n/a Heinkel
J Nihon Junkers
K Kawanishi Kinner
M Mitsubishi Airspeed
N Nakajima n/a
P Nihon n/a
S Sasebo n/a
Si Showa n/a
V n/a Vought
W Watanabe/Kyushu n/a
Y Yokosuka n/a
Z Mizuno n/a

Official names

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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

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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

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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)

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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]

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Popular names such as "Hayabusa" (the Nakajima Ki-43) were not part of the official designation.

Calendars and Type numbers

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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

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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 [[11]]

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service aircraft designations

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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 Floatplane variant of A6M
Mitsubishi A7M 17-shi Ko (A) Type Carrier Fighter Reppū (Strong Wind) SAM
Heinkel A7He Type He Air Defence Fighter JERRY Heinkel He 112
Kawanishi A8K 20-Shi Carrier Fighter
Mitsubishi A8M 20-Shi Carrier Fighter Rikufu (Land Breeze)
Nakajima A8N 20-Shi Carrier Fighter
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
Kugisho 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
Aichi B8A 20-shi Special Torpedo Bomber Mokusei (Jupiter)
Northrop BXN 2 imported
Mitsubishi C1M Type 10 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft Biplane
Nakajima C2N Fokker Reconnaissance Aircraft Army Ki-6
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 (Iridescent Cloud) MYRT
Potez CXP1 One tested (diesel)
Aichi D1A Type 94 Carrier Bomber 8-shi Carrier Dive Bomber SUSIE
Aichi D1A2/D2A Type 96 Carrier Bomber SUSIE
Nakajima D2N 8-shi Carrier Bomber Lost to D1A
Yokosuka D2Y 8-shi Carrier Bomber Lost to D1A
Aichi D3A Type 99 Carrier Bomber 11-shi Carrier Dive Bomber VAL
Mitsubishi D3M 11-shi Carrier Bomber Lost to D3A
Nakajima D3N 11-shi Carrier Bomber Lost to D3A
Yokosuka D3Y1-K/D3Y2-K Type 99 Bomber Trainer Myojo (Venus) Based on D3A
Yokosuka D4Y Carrier Bomber Suisei 13-shi Carrier Dive Bomber Suisei (Comet) JUDY/DOT
Yokosuka D4Y1-C/D4Y2-R Type 2 Reconnaissance Aircraft JUDY
Yokosuka D5Y Special Attacker Myojo Kai Production designation for D3Y2-K
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
Aichi E7A 7-shi Reconnaissance Seaplane Lost to E7K[12]
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 Project
Nakajima E12N 12-shi Two-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane Lost to E12K
Aichi E13A Type 0 Reconnaissance Seaplane 12-shi Sea Reconnaissance JAKE
Kawanishi E13K 12-shi Three-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane Lost to E13A
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 (Violet Cloud) NORM
Aichi E16A Reconnaissance Seaplane Zuiun 16-shi Sea Reconnaissance Zuiun (Auspicious 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 Land-based Attack 7-shi Twin-engine Carrier Biplane
Mitsubishi G1M 8-shi Special Reconnaissance, later 8-Shi Land-based Medium Attack 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 Trainer variant of G6M
Mitsubishi G6M1-L2 Type 1 Transport BETTY Transport variant variant of G6M
Mitsubishi G7M 16-shi Attack Bomber Taizan Taizan (Great Mountain) Project
Nakajima G8N 18-shi Attack Bomber Renzan Renzan (Mountain Range) RITA
Kawanishi G9K Land-based attack bomber based on H8K, project
Nakajima G10N Super Heavy Bomber Fugaku Fugaku (Mount Fuji) Project
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 H8K1-L Type 2 Transport Flying Boat Seikū (Clear Sky) EMILY Armed transport variant of H8K1
Kawanishi H8K2-L Seikū, Model 32 Seikū (Clear Sky) EMILY Armed transport variant of H8K2
Kawanishi H8K4-L Seikū, Model 33 Seikū (Clear Sky) EMILY Armed transport variant of H8K4, project
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 Long-range reconnaissance variant of J1N
Nakajima J1N1-S Night Fighter Gekko 13-shi Night Fighter Gekko (Moonlight) IRVING Night fighter variant of J1N
Mitsubishi J2M Land Fighter Raiden 14-shi Interceptor Raiden (Lightning Bolt) JACK
Kawanishi J3K 17-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter Project
Mitsubishi J4M 17-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter Senden Senden (Flashing Lightning) LUKE Project
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) Project
Kyushu J7W 18-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter Shinden Shinden (Magnificent 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 Lost to K8K
Kyushu K9W Type 2 Primary Trainer Momiji 14-shi Trainer Kouyou (Red Leaf) CYPRESS Bücker Bü 131
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 Naval version of Ki-34
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 TOPSY Naval version of Ki-57-I
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 (Clear Sky Storm)
Aichi M6A1-K Special Attack Training Bomber Nanzan Nanzan (South Mountain) Trainer variant of M6A
Nihon MXJ1 Primary Training Glider Wakakusa 17-shi Exp. Research Plane Wakakusa (Young Grass)
Yokosuka MXY1 Test Aircraft Prototype Experimental Aircraft No. 1 Research
Yokosuka MXY2 Test Aircraft Prototype Experimental Aircraft No. 2 Research
Yokosuka MXY3 Target Glider Target drone
Yokosuka MXY4 Yokosuka Navy Type 1 Target Aircraft Target drone
Yokosuka MXY5 Transport Glider 16-shi Special Transport
Yokosuka MXY6 Ente-type Glider unpowered glider for J7W development
Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka Special Attack Aircraft Ohka Ohka (Cherry blossom) BAKA
Yokosuka MXY8 Training Glider Akigusa Akigusa (Autumn grass)
Yokosuka MXY9 Trainer Shuka Shuka (Autumn flower) Glider
Yokosuka MXY10 Bomber Ginga Ground Decoy for P1Y
Yokosuka MXY11 Type 1 Attack Bomber Ground Decoy for G4M
Mizuno MXZ1 17-shi Exp. Research Plane Training glider
Kawanishi N1K Fighter Seaplane Kyofu 15-shi Fighter Seaplane Kyōfū (Strong Wind) 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 Kyokkō (Aurora)
Yokosuka P1Y2-S Night Fighter Kyokko 15-shi Night Fighter Hakkō (Corona), later Kyokkō (Aurora)
Kyushu Q1W Patrol Plane Tokai 17-shi Patrol Tōkai (Eastern Sea) LORNA
Mitsubishi Q2M 19-shi Patrol Plane Taiyo Tai'yō (Great Sea) ASW derivative of the Ki-67; project
Kyushu Q3W Patrol Plane Nankai Nankai (Southern Sea)
Yokosuka R1Y 17-shi Reconnaissance Plane Seiun Seiun (Dawn Cloud)
Yokosuka R2Y 18-shi Reconnaissance Plane Keiun Keiun (Cirrus Cloud)
Aichi S1A 18-shi Hei C Type Night Fighter Denko Denko (Bolt of Light)
n/a Yasukuni (Shrine) Ki-67-I loaned from Army
n/a n/a 6-shi Carrier Bomber Nakajima
n/a n/a 7-shi Carrier Fighter
n/a n/a 7-shi Carrier Fighter Nakajima Army Type 91 fighter for Navy
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 Type 10 Carrier Torpedo Bomber Triplane
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 17-shi Land Bomber Kawanishi K-100
n/a n/a 6-shi Night Reconnaissance Flying Boat Aichi (flying boat biplane)[13]
n/a n/a 6-shi Two-seat Carrier Fighter Nakajima NAF-1
n/a n/a 8-shi Two-seat Carrier Fighter Mitsubishi Ka-8 Crashed
n/a n/a 8-shi Two-seat Carrier Fighter Nakajima NAF-2, Cancelled
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

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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 License-built Fokker Super Universal
Ki-7 Mitsubishi (Operations Trainer) Navy K3M; 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 (Heavy bomber) Cancelled
Ki-23 Fukuda (Training glider)
Ki-24 Tachikawa (Primary training glider) DFS SG 38 Schulgleiter built under license
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; variant of Ki-62 with radial engine
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) Army bomber version of naval G5N, 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) Army bomber version of naval G5N, project
Ki-86 Kokusai Type 4 Basic Trainer CYPRESS Bücker Bü 131 built under license
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) Cancelled
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-105 Kokusai (Transport) Ohtori (Phoenix) BUZZARD Powered Ku-7
Ki-106 Tachikawa (Fighter) FRANK Wood Ki-84
Ki-107 Tokyo Koku (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 tanker) Cancelled
Ki-112 Mitsubishi (Heavy Bomber) Wood Ki-67
Ki-113 Nakajima (Fighter) Steel Ki-84
Ki-114 Tachikawa (Fuel tanker) Cancelled
Ki-115 Nakajima (Special Attacker) Tsurugi – Sabre
Ki-116 Manshu (Fighter) Re-engined Ki-84
Ki-117 Nakajima (Fighter) Designation for Ki-84N
Ki-118 Mitsubishi (Fighter) Cancelled
Ki-119 Kawasaki (Dive-bomber/torpedo fighter)
Ki-120 Tachikawa (Transport) transport variant based on Ki-74
Ki-147 Kawasaki (Radio-guided air to surface missile)
Ki-148 Kawasaki Igo-1-B (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 (White-naped crane) BUZZARD Became Ki-105
Ku-8 Kokusai Type 4 Special Transport GOOSE, later 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 (Ume Blossom) project

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Misidentified

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Francillon 1970, pp.50–51.
  2. ^ a b Mikesh and Abe 1990, p.2.
  3. ^ Francillon 1970, pp.52–53.
  4. ^ a b Francillon 1970, p.51.
  5. ^ Beechy, Robert. "Japanese Military Aircraft Designations". hud607.fire.prohosting.com. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  6. ^ Francillon 1970, pp.549–557.
  7. ^ Francillon 1970, pp.48–49.
  8. ^ Francillon 1970, p.49.
  9. ^ Mikesh, Robert; Shorzoe Abe (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910–1941. london: Putnam. ISBN 978-0-85177-840-2.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "Aircraft of Imperial Japanese Navy". zenibo-milimania.world.coocan.jp. 21 August 2001. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  12. ^ Mikesh and Abe 1990, pp. 73.
  13. ^ Mikesh and Abe 1990, pp. 70–71.

Bibliography

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  • Francillon, R.J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London:Putnam, 1970. ISBN 0-370-00033-1.
  • Mikesh, Robert C. and Abe, Shorzoe. Japanese Aircraft 1910–1941. London:Putnam, 1990. ISBN 0-85177-840-2.
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