by Osamu ("Sam") Tagaya
Below is an initial list of the major late 1930s and WWII aircraft types. I would welcome others to participate and make the list more comprehensive. Truly fanatical purists (if any) who want to pronounce the numbers in Japanese as well should follow the following general guide:
0=Rei, 1=Ichi, 2=Ni, 3=San, 4=Yon, 5=Go, 6=Roku, 7=Nana, 8=Hachi, 9=Kyu, 100=Hyaku. Double digit numbers should simply be read by combining the single digit pronunciations in the case of these designations. Thus, Type 97 is Kyu-Nana [nine-seven] Shiki, NOT Kyu-JUH Nana [ninety-seven] Shiki.
Fighters
Type 96 Carrier Fighter (A5M Claude)
96 Shiki Kanjoh Sentoh-ki Abbrev. 96 Kansen
Type 0 Carrier Fighter (A6M Zeke)
0 Shiki Kanjoh Sentoh-ki Abbrev. 0-sen
Carrier Bombers
Type 99 Carrier Bomber (D3A Val)
99 Shiki Kanjoh Bakugeki-ki Abbrev. 99 Kanbaku
Carrier Attack Aircraft
Type 97 Carrier Attack Aircraft (B5N Kate)
97 Shiki Kanjoh Kohgeki-ki Abbrev. 97 Kankoh
Land-based Attack Aircraft
Type 96 Land-based Attack Aircraft (G3M Nell)
96 Shiki Rikujoh Kohgeki-ki Abbrev. 96 Rikkoh
Type 1 Land-based Attack Aircraft (G4M Betty)
1 Shiki Rikujoh Kohgeki-ki Abbrev. 1 Shiki Rikkoh
Floatplanes
Type 0 Reconnaissance Seaplane (E13A Jake) 0 Shiki Suijoh Teisatsu-ki Abbrev. 0-Sui
Type 0 Observation Seaplane (F1M Pete)
0 Shiki Suijoh Kansoku-ki Abbrev. 0-Kan
Type 2 Fighter Seaplane (A6M2-N Rufe)
2 Shiki Suijoh Sentoh-ki Abbrev. 2 Shiki Sui-sen
Flying Boats [Note: For flying boats, the preferred abbreviated reference deviates slightly from the original full designation, in that the word "tai" meaning large is included for the four-engined examples below, whereas the full formal designation does not include that word.]
Type 97 Flying Boat (H6K Mavis)
97 Shiki Hikoh-tei Abbrev. 97 Taitei
Type 2 Flying Boat (H8K Emily)
2 Shiki Hikoh-tei Abbrev. 2 Shiki Taitei
Land-based Reconnaissance Aircraft
Type 98 Land-based Reconnaissance Aircraft (C5M Babs)
98 Shiki Rikujoh Teisatsu-ki Abbrev. 98 Riku-tei
Fighters
Type 97 Fighter (Ki 27 Nate)
97 Shiki Sentoh-ki Abbrev. 97-sen
Type 1 Fighter (Ki 43 Oscar)
1 Shiki Sentoh-ki Abbrev. 1 Shiki sen
Type 2 Single Seat Fighter (Ki 44 Tojo)
2 Shiki Tan-za Sentoh-ki Abbrev. 2 Shiki Tan-sen
Type 2 Two-seat Fighter (Ki45 Nick)
2 Shiki Fuku-za Sentoh-ki Abbrev. 2 Shiki Fuku-sen
Type 3 Fighter (Ki 61 Tony)
3 Shiki Sentoh-ki Abbrev. 3 Shiki sen
Type 4 Fighter (Ki 84 Frank)
4 Shiki Sentoh-ki Abbrev. 4 Shiki sen
Type 5 Fighter (Ki 100)
5 Shiki Sentoh-ki Abbrev. 5 Shiki sen
Heavy Bombers
Type 97 Heavy Bomber (Ki 21 Sally)
97 Shiki Juh Bakugeki-ki Abbrev. 97 Juh-baku
Type 100 Heavy Bomber (Ki 49 Helen)
100 Shiki Juh Bakugeki-ki Abbrev. 100 Shiki Juh-baku
TYpe 4 Heavy Bomber (Ki 67 Peggy)
4 Shiki Juh Bakugeki-ki Abbrev. 4 Shiki Juh-baku
Light Bombers
Type 97 Light Bomber (Ki 30 Ann)
97 Shiki Kei Bakugeki-ki Abbrev. 97 Kei-baku
Type 98 Light Bomber (Ki 32 Mary)
98 Shiki Kei Bakugeki-ki Abbrev. 98 Kei-baku
Type 99 Twin-engined Light Bomber (Ki 48 Lily)
99 Shiki Soh-hatsu Kei Bakugeki-ki Abbrev. 99 Soh-kei
Reconnaissance Aircraft
Type 97 Command Reconnaissance Plane (Ki 15 Babs)
97 Shiki Shireibu Teisatsu-ki Abbrev. 97 Shi-tei
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (Ki 46 Dinah)
100 Shiki Shireibu Teisatsu-ki Abbrev. 100 Shiki Shi-tei
(Often referred to simply as the Shin Shi-tei, i.e. New Command
Recce)
Type 99 Assault Plane/Type 99 Army (i.e. Tactical) Reconnaissance
Plane (Ki 51 Sonia)
99 Shiki Shuhgeki-ki/99 Shiki Gun Teisatsu-ki Abbrev. 99
Gun-tei
(Crews appear to have referred to the Ki 51 most often as Gun-tei
regardless of the version being referred to.)
Type 98 Direct Cooperation Reconnaissdance Plane (Ki 36 Ida)
98 Shiki Chokusetsu Kyohdoh Teisatsu-ki Abbrev. 98
Chokkyoh
Advanced trainer
Type 99 Advanced Trainer (Ki 55 Ida)
99 Shiki Kohtoh Renshuh-ki Abbrev. 99 Koh-ren
Cheers, Sam
[Copyright © 2008 Osamu T. This document first appeared on the J-Aircraft.com message board.]
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