Japanese Aircraft Designations

Before and during World War II, the Japanese military used aircraft
designation systems which are, in principle, simple. The situation only
becomes complicated only because the Navy and the Army each had two
systems.

Japanese Navy Designation Systems

Officially, Japanese naval aircraft were labeled by a description of their
function and a number, indicating the year the production started. The A6M
was called Carrier-borne Fighter Type 0 because in entered service in the
Japanese year 2600 (1940). A model number was appended to indicate versions
of the basic aircraft. From the mid-thirties two-digit model numbers were
used: the first digit represented changes to the airframe, the second digit
changes to the engine. In 1943 the numbering system was abandoned, because
it was too informative about the year of service entry of an aircraft. From
then aircraft were referred to names.

In the late 1920s the Imperial Japanese Navy introduced a short designation
system for its aircraft, very similar to that of its expected opponent, the
USN. This system had:

   * A function letter.
   * A sequential number for aircraft with this function letter. Numbers
     are sequential in the sense that a number is assigned to each
     requirement. Aircraft can have the same numbers (E11A, E11K) if they
     were built to the same requirement.
   * A manufacturer letter.
   * A number to indicate the subtype.
   * Sometimes a letter to indicate a minor subtype.
   * If a version of the aircraft was developed with another function, the
     appropiate letter was apppended to the designation, with a dash.

Function letters used by the Japanese Navy:

     A   Carrier-borne fighter
     B   Carrier-borne (Torpedo) bomber
     C   Reconnaissance, wheeled undercarriage
     D   Carrier-borne Dive bomber
     E   Reconnaissance seaplane
     F   Observation seaplane
     G   Land-based bomber
     H   Flying boat
     J   Land-based fighter
     K   Trainer
     L   Transport
     M   Special seaplane
     MX  Special purpose
     N   Fighter seaplane
     P   Bomber
     Q   Patrol
     R   Land-based reconnaissance
     S   Night fighter

Manufacturer letters used by the Japanese Navy:

     A     Aichi
     D     Showa
     K     Kawanishi
     M     Mitsubishi
     N     Nakajima
     P     Nihon
     V     Seversky
     W     Watanabe
     W     Kyushu
     Y     Yokosuka (Naval Arsenal)
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Japanese Army Designation Systems

The official designation system of the Japanes Army was similar to that of
the Navy. It also used year but the year 2600 was referred to as year 100,
not 0. Simple model numbers were used with alphabetical suffixes.

From 1932 onwards, the Japanese Army also numbered aircraft that had been
built to its requirements in the 'Ki' (Kitai, airframe) series with a
simple sequential system -- until 1944, when anomalies were introduced for
security reasons. An exception was made later for gliders, that were given
'Ku' (Guraida) numbers. Aircraft that were not designed to an Army
requirement, such as the Ka-1 and the LO, also were not given Ki numbers.
Different versions of an aircraft were indicated with Roman numerals, and
minor modifications were indicated with the Ko, Otsu,... sequence of
suffixes. But a major modififaction would be indicated with a Kaizo symbol,
normally transliterated as KAI.

The letter sequence used for minor modifications is Ko, Otsu, Hei, Tei, Bo,
Ki, Ko, Shin, Jin and Ki -- the first and seven are different characters in
writing. They have no real alphabetic or numerical significance and are
more akin to North, South, East, West in idea. Only the first four were
commonly used.

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Allied Code Names

Allied intelligence officers gave codes names to Japanese WWII aircraft,
whose real designations were often unknown and hard to remember. The
general rules are:

   * Fighters and reconnaissance seaplanes have boys' names.
   * Bombers, dive-bombes, torpedo-bombers, seaplanes and reconnaissance
     aircraft were given girls' names.
   * Transport aircraft were given girls' names beginning with T.
   * Trainers were given the names of trees.
   * Gliders were given the names of birds.

Quite a lot of codenames were given to non-existent aircraft. Also, because
there were initially a belief that Japanese design capabilities were weak,
it was assumed that a lot of German or Italian aircraft were in Japanese
service. Here is the list of code names:

        Abdul    Nakajima Ki.27 (Unofficial)
        Adam     Nakajima SKT-97. Did not exist.
        Alf      Kawanishi E7K
        Ann      Mitsubishi Ki.30
        Babs     Mitsubishi C5M
        Babs     Mitsubishi Ki.15
        Belle    Kawanishi H3K
        Ben      Nagoya-Sento KI-001. Did not exist.
        Bess     Heinkel He 111. Not in Japanese service.
        Betty    Mitsubishi G4M
        Betty    Mitsubishi G6M
        Bob      Aichi 97 seapleane. Did not exist.
        Bob      Kawasaki Ki-28
        Cedar    Tachikawa Ki.17
        Cherry   Yokosuka H5Y
        Clara    Tachikwawa Ki.70
        Claude   Mitsubishi A5M
        Cypress  Kyushu K9W
        Dave     Nakajima E8N
        Dick     Seversky A8V
        Dinah    Mitsubishi Ki.46
        Doc      Messerschmitt Bf 110. Not in Japanese service.
        Doris    Mitsubishi B-97. Did not exist.
        Edna     Mitsubishi Ki.71
        Emily    Kawanishi H8K
        Eva      Not a military aircraft.
        Eve      Not a military aircraft.
        Frances  Yokosuka P1Y Ginga / Kyokko
        Frank    Mitsubihi TK-4. Did not exist.
        Frank    Nakajima Ki.84 Hayate
        Fred     Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Not in Japanese service.
        Gander   Kokusai Ku-8.
        George   Kawanishi N1K1-J and N1K2-J
        Glenn    Yokosuka E14Y
        Goose    Kokusai Ku-8
        Grace    Aichi B7A Ryusei
        Gus      Nakajima AT-27. Did not exist.
        Hamp     Mitsubishi A6M Reisen with clipped wing tips.

        Hap      Mitsubishi A6M Reisen with clipped wing tips,
                 renamed 'Hamp'.
        Hank     Aichi E10A
        Harry    Mitsubishi TK-4. Did not exist.
        Helen    Nakajima Ki.49 Donryu
        Hickory  Tachikawa Ki.54
        Ida      Tachikawa Ki.36
        Ida      Tachikawa Ki.55
        Ione     Aichi AI-104. Did not exist.
        Irene    Junkers Ju 87. Not in Japanese service.
        Irving   Nakajima J1N Gekko
        Jack     Mitsubishi J2M Raiden
        Jake     Aichi E13A
        Janice   Junkers Ju 88. Not in Japanese service.
        Jean     Yokosuka B4Y
        Jerry    Heinkel He 112.
        Jill     Nakajima B6N
        Jim      Nakajima Ki.43 (unofficial)
        Joe      TK-19. Did not exist.
        Joyce    Tachikawa. Did not exist.
        Judy     Yokosuka D4Y
        Julia    Type 97 heavy bomber. Did not exist. (Was Ki.48)

        June     Seaplane version of Aichi D3A. Did not exist.
                 (Was E13A)
        Kate     Nakajima B5N
        Kate 61  Mitsubishi B5M
        Laura    Aichi E11A
        Lily     Kawasaki Ki.48
        Liz      Nakajima G5N
        Loise    Mitsubishi Ki-2
        Lorna    Kyushu Q1W Tokai
        Louise   Mitsubishi Ki-2
        Luke     Mitsubishi J4M
        Mabel    Mitsubishi B5M
        Mavis    Kawanishi H6K
        Mike     Messerschmitt Bf 109. Not in Japanese service.
        Millie   Vultee VG-11. Not in Japanese service.
        Myrt     Nakajima C6N Saiun
        Nate     Nakajima Ki.27
        Nell     Mitsubishi G3M
        Nick     Kawasaki Ki.45 Toryu
        Norm     Kawanishi E15K Shiun
        Norma    Type 97 light bomber. Did not exist. (Was Ki-15)
        Oak      Kawanishi K10W
        Omar     Suzukaze 20. Did not exist.
        Oscar    Nakajima Ki.43 Hayabusa
        Pat      Tachikawa Ki.74
        Patsy    Tachikawa Ki.74
        Paul     Aichi E16A Zuiun
        Peggy    Mitsubishi Ki.67
        Perry    Kawasaki Ki.10
        Pete     Mitsubishi F1M
        Pine     Mitsubishi K3M
        Randy    Kawasaki Ki.102
        Ray      Mitsubishi Type 1. Did not exist. (Was A6M)
        Rex      Kawanishi N1K Kyofu
        Rita     Nakajima G8N Renzan
        Rob      Kawasaki Ki.64

        Rufe     Nakajima A6M, floatplane version of the A6M
                 'Zeke'.
        Ruth     Fiat BR 20
        Sally    Mitsubishi Ki.21
        Sam      Mitsubishi A7M Reppu
        Slim     Watanabe E9W
        Sonia    Mitsubishi Ki.51
        Spruce   Tachikawa Ki.9
        Stella   Kokusai Ki.76
        Susie    Aichi D1A
        Tabby    Showa / Nakajima L2D.
        Tess     Douglas DC-2
        Thalia   Kawasaki Ki.56
        Thelma   Tachikawa LO
        Theresa  Kokusai Ki.59
        Thora    Nakajima Ki.34
        Tina     Mitsubishi L3Y
        Toby     Lockheed 14
        Tojo     Nakajima Ki.44 Shoki
        Tony     Kawasaki Ki.61 Hien
        Topsy    Kawasaki Ki.57
        Trixie   Junkers Ju 52/3m. Not in Japanese service.
        Trudy    Focke Wulf Fw 200. Not in Japanese service.
        Val      Aichi D3A
        Willow   Yokosuka K5Y
        Zeke     Mitsubishi A6M Reisen
        ------------------------------------------------------------

Translations of Some Japanese Names

        Akagi     A mountain near Tokyo.
        Akikusa   Autumn Grass

        Amagi     Castle in the Sky. Also a mountain. Amagi was
                  laid down as a battleship)
        Asakaze   Morning Wind
        Atsuta    Hot Rice Paddy. Geographical name.
        Byakko    White Light
        Chitose   Thousand Years
        Chiyoda   Thousand Generations
        Chuyo     Middle Sea
        Denko     Lightning Bolt
        Donryu    Storm Dragon
        Fugaku    Mount Fuji
        Funryu    Raging Dragon
        Gekko     Moonlight
        Ginga     Milky Way
        Hayabusa  Peregrine Falcon
        Hayate    Gale
        Hien      Swallow
        Hikari    Light
        Hiryu     Flying Dragon
        Hiyo      Bright Sea
        Homare    Honour
        Hosho     Flying Phoenix
        Jinrai    Thunderclap
        Junyo     Deep Sea
        Kaga      A Japanese province.
        Kamikaze  Divine Wind
        Karigane  Wild Goose
        Kasei     Mars
        Katsuragi Eternity
        Kayo      Eternal Sea
        Keiun     Beautiful Cloud
        Kikka     Orange Blossom
        Kinsei    Golden Star
        Kotobuki  Congratulation
        Kyofu     Mighty Wind
        Kyokko    Aurora
        Mamoru    Protector
        Manazuru  Crane
        Momiji    Maple
        Myojo     Venus
        Nankai    South Sea
        Nanzan    Southern Mountain
        Ohtori    Phoenix
        Ohka      Cherry Blossom
        Raiden    Thunderbolt
        Reisen    Zero Fighter, contraction of 'Rei Shiki Sentoki'
        Renzan    Mountain Range
        Reppu     Hurricane
        Ryuho     Mythological Dragon
        Ryujo     Sacred Dragon
        Ryusei    Shooting Star
        Saiun     Painted Cloud
        Sakae     Prosperity
        Seiran    Mountain Haze
        Shoho     Flying Bird
        Shoki     Demon Queller
        Shiden    Violet Lightning
        Shinden   Magnificent Lightning
        Shinyo    Holy Sea
        Shinzan   Mountain Recess
        Shiragiku White Chrysanthemum
        Shiun     Violet Cloud
        Shokaku   Flying Crane
        Shusui    Sword Stroke
        Soryu     Deep Blue Dragon
        Suisei    Comet
        Taiho     Mythological Bird
        Taiyo     Spirit of the Ocean
        Tempu     Heavenly Wind
        Tenzan    Heavenly Mountain
        Tokai     Eastern Sea
        Toryu     Dragon Slayer
        Tsurugi   Sword
        Unryu     Dragon in the clouds
        Unyo      Sea of Clouds
        Zuiho     Auspicious Bird
        Zuikaku   Auspicious Crane
        Zuisei    Holy Star
        Zuiun     Auspicious Cloud

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Written by Emmanuel Gustin
Maintained by Carl Pettypiece
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  [UWO CSD]  [Pettypi's Hurls]  [Elevon]  [Gustin's Database]   [e-mail]
