Aichi Type 99 Carrier Bomber Kanbaku / D3A (Val)
Technical Information

Background
Built by Aichi. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) designation was Type 99 Carrier Bomber / Ku Ku Kamba (Kanbaku) / D3A Val. This low-wing monoplane had fixed landing gear. Its performance characteristics were not impressive, but well-trained Japanese pilots could use it as an effective dive bomber achieving great accuracy. Despite the lower speed of the Val it was highly maneuverable.

Wartime History
During November 1939, a month before the type was accepted by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) the first D3A1 (Model 11) were sent to 14th Kokutai (14th Air Group) on Hainan island and used by Lt. Sadamu Takahashi to support the Japanese Army capture of Nannin and continued to operate in 1940.

During May 1940, the 12th Air Group (12th Air Group) became the second group equipped with the type and were used over Yichang, the Yangtze River and later Chongqing. In late 1940, the 14th Kokutai moved to Hanoi and flew missions against Kunming and the Burma Road.

Meanwhile during 1940, the D3A1 began carrier qualifications aboard Akagi and Kaga. At the start of the Pacific War, the D3A1 began carrier based dive bombing missions against Pearl Harbor and Oahu and every other carrier operation. In April 1942 used against the Royal Navy in the Indian Ocean.

D3A1 (Model 11)
The D3A1 Model 11 was the initial production design in use at the start of the Pacific War against Pearl Harbor and Philippines.

D3A2 (Model 22)
The first D3A2 Model 22 models were assembled in June 1942 and entered service in the later half of 1942.

Production
A total of 1,495 were built.

References
Notes on the Production Record of the Val by Jim Long

Technical Details (D3A2 Model 22)
Crew  Two (pilot, gunner)
Engine  1 x Mitsubishi Kinsei 54 14 cylinder radial engine with three bladed propeller
Wingspan  47' 2" / 14.365m
Length  33' 5" / 10.195m
Height  12' 7" / 3.847m
Maximum Speed  270 mph at 20,300'
Range  840 miles / 1,352 km
Armament  (nose) 2 x 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns (rear) 7.7mm Type 92 machine gun on a flexible mount
Bomb load  (centerline) 250 kg / 550 lb bomb (wings) 2 x 60 kg / 130 lb bombs under the wings