The Mitsubishi 2MR was a Japanese

carrier-based Carrier-based aircraft, sometimes known as carrier-capable aircraft or carrier-borne aircraft, are naval aircraft designed for operations from aircraft carriers. They must be able to launch in a short distance and be sturdy enough to withstand ...

reconnaissance aircraft A reconnaissance aircraft (colloquially, a spy plane) is a military aircraft designed or adapted to perform aerial reconnaissance with roles including collection of imagery intelligence (including using photography), signals intelligence, as ...

of the 1920s, also known as the Navy Type 10 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft or the C1M in the Navy's short designation scheme.Designation systems FAQ
''Hazegray''. Retrieved 5 April 2008. Designed for

Mitsubishi The is a group of autonomous Japanese multinational companies in a variety of industries. Founded by Yatarō Iwasaki in 1870, the Mitsubishi Group historically descended from the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, a unified company which existed from 1870 ...

by the British aircraft designer

Herbert Smith Herbert Smith LLP was a multinational law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The firm was founded in the City of London in 1882 by Norman Herbert Smith and merged with the Australian law firm Freehills on 1 October 2012, forming Herber ...

, the 2MR was used by the Imperial Japanese Navy through the 1920s and 1930s.

Development and design

In 1921, the Imperial Japanese Navy placed an order with the newly established aircraft subsidiary of

for three types of carrier-based aircraft, consisting of a fighter, reconnaissance aircraft and torpedo bomber. Mitsubishi hired a team of British engineers led by

, formerly of Sopwith Aviation Company to design these aircraft. Smith's design for a reconnaissance aircraft, designated by Mitsubishi the 2MR, first flew on 12 January 1922. The 2MR was of similar layout to the contemporary 1MF fighter (i.e. a single-bay wooden

biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...

), but scaled up to accommodate a two-man crew, and was powered by a similar license-built

Hispano-Suiza Hispano-Suiza () is a Spanish automotive–engineering company. It was founded in 1904 by Marc Birkigt and Damian Mateu as an automobile manufacturer and eventually had several factories in Spain and France that produced luxury cars, aircraft en ...

engine. After successful testing, the 2MR was adopted by the Japanese Navy as the Navy Type 10 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft (Type 10 referring to the year of ordering of 1921, the tenth year of the Taishō period), with production continuing until 1930, a total of 159 being built. In 1930, Mitsubishi developed two aircraft to meet an Imperial Japanese Army Air Force requirement for a short-range reconnaissance aircraft, the 2MR7, a biplane developed from the 2MR and the B2M torpedo bomber and the 2MR8 parasol monoplane, with the 2MR8 being successful and ordered into service as the Type 92 Reconnaissance Aircraft. This aircraft was unrelated to the Navy 2MR aircraft.

Operational history

The biplane series of the 2MR continued in service aboard Japan's

aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...

s through the 1920s and into the 1930s, with versions being used as intermediate trainers until the late-1930s. Many were converted to civil use, being used both as trainers and for communications purposes for newspaper companies. Some remained in civilian service until 1938.

Variants

;2MR1 :Initial version, Navy designation Type 10-1. Fitted with car type honeycomb radiator at front of engine. ;2MR2 :Revised version, with original car type radiator replaced by Lamblin radiator beneath fuselage and relocated pilot's seat. Type 10-2. ;2MR3 :Increased tail area, radiator moved forward. ;2MR4 :Definitive carrier reconnaissance version. Rounded wingtips and re-located pilot's seat. ;''Karigane'' :Improved prototype of 1928 for reconnaissance aircraft for both Navy and Army. One only built. ;2MRT1 :Intermediate trainer version of 2MR1. ;2MRT1A :Intermediate trainer, revised tail surfaces. ;2MRT2 :Intermediate trainer version of 2MR2. ;2MRT2A :Trainer version of 2MR3. ;2MRT3 :Further revised intermediate trainer. Radiators relocated under wings. ;2MRT3A :Final Trainer version. Fitted with night flying equipment and floatation gear. ;R-1.2 Trainer :Civil trainer conversion of Type 10-1. ;R-2.2 Trainer :Civil trainer conversion of Type 10-2. ;Mitsubishi R-4 :Conversion of 2MR4 for civil survey operations with enclosed cockpit. Two converted. ;2MR7 :Short-range reconnaissance biplane for Japanese Army - based on 2MR and B2M ; 2MR8 :Parasol monoplane reconnaissance aircraft for Army - unrelated to 2MR biplane.

Operators

; *

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service The was the Naval aviation, air arm of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). The organization was responsible for the operation of naval aircraft and the conduct of aerial warfare in the Pacific War. The Japanese military acquired their first air ...

Specifications (2MR)

References

External links

SMMLonline
{{Japanese Navy short aircraft designations 1920s Japanese military reconnaissance aircraft 1920s Japanese military trainer aircraft 2MR Carrier-based aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Biplanes Aircraft first flown in 1922