Japan 大日本帝國陸軍航空隊 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun Kokutai Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Aircraft Code Names & Designations 1921 - 1927: First Designation System

The Imperial Japanese Army continued obtaining more advanced aircraft, primarily license-built versions of French origin. Starting in November/December 1921, IJA aircraft were assigned a manufacturer type code (from the 10 Stems of the Japanese zodiac) along with a numerical designation:

Stem (kanji) Pronounciation (romaji) Manufacturer 甲 Ko Nieuport 乙 Otsu Salmson 丙 Hei SPAD 丁 Tei Farman 戊 Bo Caudron 己 Ki Hanriot

Example: Army Type Ko 2 Trainer - license-built Nieuport Nie.83.

Manufacturer Designation Notes SPAD S.XIII Army Type Hei 1 Fighter 100 imported in 1919; new designation in 1921. Farman F.50Bn.2 Army Type Tei 1 Heavy Bomber One imported; new designation in 1921. Farman F.60 Army Type Tei 2 Heavy Bomber Unknown number imported; new designation in 1921. Mitsubishi Army Type Ko 1 Trainer 57 license-built Nieuport Nie.81 in 1922. Nakajima Army Type Ko 2 Trainer 40 license-built Nieuport Nie.83 in 1922. Nakajima Army Type Ko 3 Trainer Re-designation of Army Type Ni-24; 77 Nieuport Nie.24 license-built in 1921 - 1923. Nakajima Army Type Ko 3 Fighter Re-designation of Army Type Ni-24; 25 Nieuport Nie.27 license-built in 1921 - 1923. Kawasaki-Salmson 2A.2 Army Type Otsu 1 Reconnaissance Aircraft License-built Salmson Sal.2A.2 by Kawasaki (300) and Tokorozawa Branch (300) in 1922 - 1927. Morane-Saulnier Type AI - Unknown number imported in 1922. Department of Research Koshiki-2 Experimental Fighter Two built in 1922 - 1923. Nieuport-Delage Ni-D.29C.1 - Several imported in 1923. Nakajima Army Type Ko 4 Fighter 608 license-built Nieuport-Delage Ni-D.29C.1 in 1923 - 1932. Hanriot HD.14 - One or more imported in early 1920's. Mitsubishi Army Type Ki 4 Trainer 145 license-built Hanriot HD.14 in 1924 - 1927. Department of Research Koshiki A-3 Experimental Long-range Reconnaissance Aircraft One built in 1924. Kaibo Gikai All Metal Seaplane KB Experimental Flying Boat One built in 1924. Mitsubishi 2MB2 Experimental Washi-Type Light Bomber One built in 1925. Department of Engineering Army Experimental Model 3 Fighter One built by Tokyo Army Arsenal in 1927. Tokorozawa Branch Army Experimental Three-seat Light Bomber Two built in 1927 by Department of Engineering and Tokyo Army Arsenal. Ishikawajima T-2 Experimental Reconnaissance Aircraft Two prototypes built in 1927. Ishikawajima CM-1 / R-1 Experimental Trainer One built in 1927. Ishikawajima R-2 Experimental Trainer Two built in 1927.

Abbreviations and Translations

• Department of Research: Tokorozawa Aviation School, Department of Research.
• Kaibo Gikai: Teikoku Kaibo Gikai (Imperial Maritime Defense Volunteer Association).
• KB: Kai Bo.
• Koshiki: School Type; aircraft originating from the Tokorozawa Aviation School.
• Tokorozawa Branch: Army Department of Aviation, Department of Supply, Tokorozawa Branch.
• Tokyo Army Arsenal: Tokyo Army Artillery Arsenal.
• Washi: Eagle.

This designation system was replaced in 1927 with a new Type - Number system.

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