The B7A was designed to a 1941 specification, or 16-shi, for a a fast aircraft that was to supplement and later replace the Nakajima B6N and the Yokosuka D4Y dive-bomber.
(One can almost see some signs of Aichi's pre-war cooperation with Heinkel Flugzeugbau. The wings of the Ryusei seem to bear some resemblance to those of the Ju87 Stuka.)

Though it did not carry any more weapons than its predecessors, the B7A did show itself to be greatly superior. In fact, it displayed maneuverability and speed that was at least as good as that of the A6M Zero. This two-man warbird made its first flight in late 1941, but did not come into service until Japan had not only lost command of the air, but of the sea.

Problems with the engine delayed production, and by the time service deliveries had finally taken place, Japan had lost all of her carriers. This forced the B7A to launch all of it's operational missions from land bases. Total production amounted to only 114 flying examples of this aircraft. This was partly due to massive allied bombing, and mainly because the Aichi Furutaka plant was destroyed in a serious earthquake in May 1945.

Just how much damage the Ryusei (Allied code-name "Grace") attack-bomber could have done is debatable. It was severely hindered by not being able to be used in carrier strikes, thus limiting it's operational value. At the very least, the Ryusei would have become dreaded to the Allies. The Ryusei could not have won the war, but it could have delayed the end of it significantly.

Charles Bain

Technical Specifications

Origin: Aichi Kokuki KK; with second-source production by Dai-Nijuichi Kaigun Kokusho
(Sasebo Naval Air Arsenal)

Type: Two-seat Carrier-based torpedo and dive bomber.

Engine: 1,825hp Nakajima NK9C Homare 12 18-cylinder radial.

Dimensions: Span 47ft 3in (14.40m); length 37ft 8.5in (11.49m); Height 13ft 4 1/4in (4.07m)

Weights: Empty 7,969lbs (3614kg); loaded 12,568lb (5700kg).

Performance: Maximum speed 352mph (566km/h); service ceiling 29,365ft (8950m);
range with full weapons load 1,150 miles (1850km); max range (overload)
1,889 miles (3040km)

Armament: Two 20mm Type 99 Model 2 in wings and single 7.92mm or 13mm gun aimed
from rear cockpit; one 1,764lb (800kg) torpedo or similar weight in bombs.