Ryuusei

Introduction

艦攻と艦爆を統合した先進的な"急降下爆撃可能な雷撃機"、それが「流星」です。
発動機不調と重量過大に悩みながらも、開発に成功。高い性能を誇る最新鋭の艦上攻撃機です。
先進的な性能を体現した独特のフォルムも魅力的な本機、ぜひ、新型艦戦「烈風」と共に空母に積んであげてくださいね。

"The Ryuusei is a multi-purpose attack aircraft, equally adept at both dive and torpedo bombing.  Plagued by engine troubles and overweight problems, it somehow saw the light of day as high-end carrier-based attacker. With its instantly identifiable silhouette as symbol of high fidelity, it is highly recommended to equip it on aircraft carrier along with the Reppu fighter."

With its super-distinctive inverted gullwing and sleek fuselage shape looking like an illusory avian came from the past or the future (as appears in a line from Reiji Matsumoto's comic "Ryuusei Fly North"), Ryuusei was an aggressive elaboration of Japanese Navy to synthesise carrier bomber and carrier torpedo-attacker (its designation code B7A have the initial "B" which indicates a torpedo attacker, while its name Ryuusei/shooting star follow the naming rule for bomber). The development was heavily lagged due to its too greedy target specs (maneuverbility of dive bomber, speed of fighter, load capacity for torpedoes as well as big bombs etc.) and its full-scale deployment was not possible before Spring 1945, which by the time most of Japanese aircraft carriers were either sunk or moored. The 5th Attack Squadron of 752nd Air Group was the only squadron to be equipped with Ryuusei in Japanese Navy, and the final sortie of Japanese Navy Air Force carried out was the Kamikaze attack by two of the Ryuusei's from this squadron. Worth noting is that the infamous Douglas A-1 Skyraider ground attack aircraft was initially developed under same concept as Ryuusei, and it served its role as the ultimate prop-driven combat aircraft throughout the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Notes

Buildable. Stock equipment of Taihou Kai.

See Also

Aichi B7A