B6N2 Model 12

Description

The B6N2 mod. 12, designated as Tenzan 12 (天山一二型), was a minor upgrade of the Tenzan 11 that resulted from a change in the engine policy of the Japanese Ministry of Munitions. The ministry decided to reduce the number of different engines used in planes and asked the Navy to standardize the engines used in its aircraft. Nakajima had to replace the Mamoru 11 engine with the 1,850 hp (1,380 kW) Mitsubishi MK4T Kasei 25 engine, which was the Navy's original choice for the B6N1 airframe. The switch of engines required small modifications to the aircraft: the nose was lengthened to balance the weight distribution, the oil cooler and air intakes were adjusted to fit the new engine cowling, and a smaller four-bladed propeller with a shorter spinner was installed to reduce weight. The retractable tailwheel was also fixed in place to simplify the design. Moreover, the single exhaust stacks on each side of the cowling were replaced with multiple smaller ones to reduce night glare and provide a slight thrust boost. The Tenzan 12 became the most produced variant of the series due to the availability of its engine.

It was introduced in Update "Starfighters". Only enjoying a slight performance increase over the earlier B6N1, the B6N2 plays exactly the same, with great manoeuvrability, the same ordnance, and the same mediocre rear defensive armament. The oddity of the single offensive 7.7 mm doesn't return and leaves the B6N2 unfavourable to utilize against other planes unlike its predecessor B6N1 or its uparmed variant B6N2a.

Nicknames

• Official Designation: 天山 (Tenzan, "Heavenly Mountain")
• Allied reporting name: Jill

General info

Flight performance

Details

Survivability and armour

• No armour
• Non-self sealing fuel tanks (3 in each wing)

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Suspended armament

The B6N2 Model 12 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 6 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (360 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg Navy Type Number 25 Model 2 bombs (500 kg total)
• 1 x 800 kg Number 80 Mod. 1 bomb (800 kg total)
• 1 x 835 kg Type 91 Model 2 torpedo
• 1 x 850 kg Type 91 Model 3 torpedo

The 800 kg bomb will destroy 1 base, it's a good pick for maps with few ground targets. The 250 kg bombs are great for destroying pillboxes and tanks, but you can only have two of them. Make sure to use a slight dive when bombing and use the bombsight for increased accuracy. The 6 x 60 kg bombs are a great option for this plane. Since they weigh so little, you can be super accurate with these bombs, just aim the crosshair where you want the bomb to drop, and pull up. No need for a bomb sight. Use these bombs for light targets such as AAA, vehicles, armoured cars, artillery, howitzers, machine guns, and bridges. The torpedoes are not really useful for this plane in air battles, as ships only spawn in pacific maps, and this plane is at too low of a BR to be put in a Pacific Theater battle.

Defensive armament

The B6N2 Model 12 is defended by:

• 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun, dorsal turret (679 rpg)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun, ventral turret (679 rpg)

Usage in battles

This plane is great for bombing medium tanks, light pillboxes, howitzers, and vehicles. Since it is so fast, it can make multiple trips to the airfield if a resupply of bombs is needed.

For naval maps and naval gamemode it's best advised to bring the torpedo and hit ships in a quick, close, hit and run style torpedo run, the engine allows for high speeds and Japanese torpedoes are among the highest speed resistant torpedoes in-game at the cost of range of only 2 km. It is also a possibility of squading up with friends / other torpedo carrying planes to dispose of the enemy carriers / battleships in a multiple hit torpedo strike.

Manual Engine Control

Pros and cons

Pros:

• B6N for Carrier-based torpedo bomber
  • Bomber spawn
  • 1 x Type 91 Aerial Torpedo
    • Torpedo has the highest drop speed in the game at 580 km/h and is one of the most feared torpedoes in Naval Battles
  • 6 x Type 97 No.6 Land Bomb (60 kg)
    • Gets a bomb rack of 6 x 60 kg bombs which can be used to hit multiple targets
  • 1 x No.80 Land Bomb (800 kg)
    • Heaviest bomb Japanese Navy can offer
• Common Navy plane construction:
  • Excellent manoeuvrability
• B6N Specific:
  • Great engine power, produces 1,550 hp
  • High top speed for a torpedo bomber (481 km/h)
  • Ventral gunner
• Model 12 Specific:
  • Better performing engine compared to Model 11
    • Higher top speed
    • Higher altitude

Cons:

• B6N for Carrier-based torpedo bomber
  • No offensive armament
  • No airbrakes
  • Relatively Large target
• Common Navy plane construction:
  • Poor defensive armament: 7.7 mm Type 92 MG
  • Fragile, little armour, and no self-sealing fuel tanks
  • Exposed tail gunner
• B6N Specific:
  • Dead zones directly behind the aircraft, you are better off turn fighting and using your turrets while they struggle to complete the turn

History

An excellent replacement for the Nakajima B5N in the role of on-board torpedo aircraft, the B6N Tenzan entered service very late, after more than two years of testing. Named JILL in the Allied code, this large single-engine plane appeared as a prototype in spring 1941. The first tests revealed serious steering stability problems. Subsequently, there were difficulties in developing the engine and the need to reinforce the landing gear. After 133 units of the first version of the B6N1 were built, the second production model began to be delivered towards the end of 1943. A total of 1,268 units were built.

The B6N2 is the main production model of the B6N series thanks to a more readily available Mitsubishi Kansei engine, instead of a in-house Nakajima Mamori engine trialed on the B6N1.

The B6N2 has seen alot of use in the southern pacific land bases and few remaining carrier groups. Due to lack of experienced pilots and growing allied air power, the B6N couldn't accomplish the same / better feats the B5N has done in its prior years of the war and damage to the enemy fleet were low and overall performance was average.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the B6N2 Model 12 from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related Development

• B5N - (predecessor)
• B6N1 mod. 11 - (base model)
• B6N2 mod. 12 - (main production model)
• B6N2a mod. 12A - (revised tail armament)

Similar aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• B5N2
• TBD-1
• TBF-1C

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance