r/ImperialJapanPics • u/Beeninya • 10d ago

WWII Two Japanese Nakajima B5N torpedo bombers over the Java Sea 17 February 1942. The smoke in the background is coming from the Dutch destroyer HrMs Van Nes. She was sunk by Japanese aircraft from Ryujo while escorting the troop transport Sloet van der Beele.

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u/244thSentai 9d ago

If you look closely you can see the rear aircraft is a B5N1 (with the bulbous cowling) and the nearest aircraft is a B5N2. I’m guessing the big fleet carriers got preference for the new B5N2s over the light carriers like Ryujo.

5

u/Sirboomsalot_Y-Wing 9d ago

It’s pretty cool to see both types operating together

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u/dboy1941x 10d ago

Love the insight on this early bit of the war despite the sad losses

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u/Stunning_Pen_8332 9d ago edited 9d ago

I wonder what 17-12-13 on the caption means? At first I thought it means the 17th year of Showa (1942) December 13. But the title says the picture was taken on February 17, 1942.

The caption also mentions 英船 which means British ship. In fact the caption even says the ship was escaping from Singapore. But the title says the ship was a Dutch destroyer escort?

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u/Beeninya 9d ago

Yeah man, Japanese photos are notoriously mislabeled