Normally building for the army, this rare naval venture was quite a success. Entering service in late 1936 this four gun fighter could also carry a light bomb load and still perform well. The first 30 needed a hucks style starter, while the next 120 had a winding system but the props remained
unaltered.
The carrier Soryu carried a total of 82 NF3's in two trips to China where, land based, they assisted the land forces, claiming 77 kills in the air and many ground kills. (Real figure was 28 kills and 11 damaged for an air to air loss of 21.)
Once replaced by new monoplanes in the front line, the NF3 was made an advanced trainer and the last known use was in December '44.