Mitsubishi Type 97 Heavy Bomber / Ki-21 (Sally)
Technical Information

Background
Designed and built by Mitsubishi. The Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) Type 97 Heavy Bomber / Ki-21 was the main long range Army bomber in service at the start of the Pacific War. This bomber was a contemporary of the Mitsubishi Type 96 / G3M Nell. Allied code name "Sally".

Wartime History
During the fall of 1938, the Ki-21-Ia was first used during the Second Sino-Japanese War in China. During the Nomonhan Incident / Battle of Khalkin Gol the Type 97 Heavy Bomber Ki-21 Sally flew missions during June-September 1939. Combat revealed the weaknesses of the design was the weak defensive armament and lack of self-sealing fuel tanks. Production delays prevented the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) from re-equipping the 60th Hiko Sentai and 61st Hiko Sentai with upgraded Ki-21 Sallys until the end of 1939. Although obsolete after the start of the Pacific War and replaced by the marginally superior Nakajima Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber / Ki-49 Donryu (Helen), Sally remained in service until the end of the Pacific War. The bomber was well regarded by personnel because of the ease of maintenance and handling.

Ki-21-IIB
Eventually the Type 97 heavy bombers model 2b was produced with a 12.7mm machine gun in a dorsal turret, armor up to 16mm thick, and other improvements.

MC-21 Transport Version
Transport version of the bomber, with four crew members, that could carry a maximum of nine additional passengers or cargo.

Production
A total of 2,064 built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya and Nakajima at Ota.

References
Production Record for the Type 97 Heavy Bomber (Ki-21) (Sally) by James Long

Technical Details (Type 97 Heavy Bomber Model II / Ki-21-II Sally)
Crew  Five (pilot, co-pilot, navigator/bombardier, radio, gunner) or nine passengers or cargo
Engine  Two x 14 cylinder radial with three bladed propellers
Span  22.5m
Length  16m
Height  4.85m
Maximum Speed  302 mph at 15,485'
Range  (normal) 1,500 miles (maximum) 1,680 miles
Armament  5 x 7.7mm Type TE-4 machine guns (nose, ventral, beam and tail) plus 12.7mm Ho-103 machine cannon in doral turret
Bombload  1,000 kg / 2,200 lb.