Kawanishi N1K-J

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The Kawanishi N1K1-J "Shiden" (紫電 "Violet Lightning") was an Imperial Japanese Navy land-based version of the company's N1K "Kyōfū" (強風 "Strong Wind") seaplane fighter aircraft. Assigned the Allied codename George, the N1K1-J was considered by both its pilots and opponents to be one of the finest land-based fighters flown by the Japanese during World War II. It not only could dish it out on more than equal terms, it could take it too. The N1K2-J evenly matched the F6F Hellcat and was a match for such aircraft as the F4U Corsair and P-51 Mustang. Despite such ability, it was produced too late and in insufficient numbers to affect the outcome of the war.

Kawanishi's N1K was built as a floatplane fighter to support forward offensive operations where no airstrips were available, but by 1943 when the aircraft entered service, Japan was firmly on the defensive, and there was no need for the N1K. They were used defensively anyway, but were no match for US Navy carrier fighters.

The requirement to carry a bulky, heavy float was what crippled the N1K against modern American fighters. Kawanishi engineers, however, had proposed in late 1941 that the N1K would produce a formidable land-based fighter too, and a land-based version was produced as a private venture by the company. This flew on December 27, 1942, powered by a Nakajima Homare radial engine, replacing the less powerful Mitsubishi Kasei of the N1K. The aircraft retained the mid-mounted wing of the floatplane, and this and the large propeller necessitated long, stalky landing gear. A unique feature was the aircraft's automatic combat flaps that adjusted automatically based on acceleration, freeing up the pilot from having to do this and reducing the chance of stalling in combat.

The Nakajima Homare was powerful but had been rushed into production before it was really ready, and was troublesome. One of the main problems was that due to poor heat-treating of the wheels the landing gear would often simply rip off when landing. It was reported that more George's were lost to this then to Allied forces. Apart from engine problems and the landing gear the flight-test program showed that the aircraft was promising. Prototypes were evaluated by the Navy, and since the plane was faster than the Mitsubishi A6M5 "Reisen" and had a much longer range than the Mitsubishi J2M2 "Raiden", it was ordered into production as the N1K1-J, the -J indicating a land-based fighter modification of the original floatplane fighter.

The aircraft entered service in early 1944 and proved highly effective against American fighters, though mechanically unreliable. The engine was difficult to maintain and, like the complicated undercarriage, plagued by frequent failures.

N1K1-J aircraft were used very effectively over Formosa, the Philippines, and later Okinawa. Before production was switched to the improved N1K2-J, 1,007 aircraft were produced, including prototypes.

The N1K2-J was a complete redesign—begun only four days after the Shiden's first test flight—to address the N1K1-J's major defects, primarily the mid-mounted wing and long landing gear. The wings were moved to a low position, which permitted the use of conventional landing gear legs, the fuselage was lengthened, the tail redesigned, and the whole aircraft was made much simpler to produce and to use fewer critical materials in short supply. The Homare engine was retained, since there was no alternative even though its reliability problems had not been fully corrected. A prototype flew on January 1, 1944 and was rushed into production after Navy trials in April. The aircraft was named the "Shiden-Kai" (紫電改), Kai standing for Modified.

Problems resulted in very few aircraft being produced, but the Shiden-Kai proved to be one of the best fighters fielded by either side. It proved lethal against the F6F Hellcat, and a match for the later P-51 Mustang. Roll rate was 82 deg/sec @ 240 mph. As a bomber interceptor it was less successful, because of a poor rate of climb and poor engine performance at high altitude.

Because of production difficulties and damage caused by B-29 Superfortress raids on Japanese factories, only 415 planes were produced, many of which were used by Minoru Genda's 343 Kokutai ("naval air group"), the Japanese counterpart to Adolf Galland's JV 44 (Jagdverband). Still fighting at a disadvantage to its foes, the Shinden KAI was demostrated its value as a fighter; one N1K2-J shot down four Hellcats and forced anothers eight to retire.

At least three aircraft survive in American museums. One is at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida; the second is at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, while the third is owned by the National Air and Space Museum but was restored by the Champlin Fighter Museum at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona, in return for the right to display the aircraft at Falcon Field for 10 years after restoration.

Contents 1 Versions 2 Specifications (Kawanishi N1K2-J "Shiden-Kai") 3 References 4 Related content

[edit] Versions

• N1K1-J,Prototypes: development of figther hidroplane N1K1 Kyofu,Engine Nakajima Homare 11 of 1.820 hp,9
• N1K1-J Shiden (Violet Tunder) Navy Land Based Interceptor,Model 11: first serie model:engine Nakajima Homare 21 of 1.990 hp with revised cover,armed with 2 type 97 7.7mm MG and 2 type 99 20mm Cannons.modified total vision cockpit
• N1K1-Ja,Model 11A:without frontal 7.7mm MGs,only four 20mm Cannons in wings
• N1K1-Jb,Model 11B:as similar to Model 11A amongst load two 250 Kg Bombs revised wing weapons
• N1K1-Jc,Model 11C:definitive figther-bomber version,derived from Model 11B.four bomb racks under wings.
• N1K1-J KAIa:experimental version with auxiliar rocket.one Model 11 converted,1
• N1K1-J KAIb:operative conversion for dive bombing.one belly receptacle for carried one 250 Kg and six rockets under wings
• N1K2-J,Prototypes: N1K1-Jb redesigned.low wings,engine cover and landing gear modified new fuselage and tail,8
• N1K2-J Shiden KAI(Violet Tunder,Modified) Navy Land Based Interceptor,Model 21: first model of serie
• N1K2-Ja,Model 21A: Figther-bomber version.four 250 Kg bombs.constructed by Kawanishi:393, Mitsubishi:9,Aichi:1,Showa Hikoki:1,Ohmura Navy Arsenal:10,Hiro Navy Arsenal:1.
• N1K2-K Shiden KAI-Rensen (Violet Tunder Figther Trainer,Modified) Trainer version of N1K-J Series with two seats,operative or factory conversions
• N1K3-J Shiden KAI 1,Model 31,Prototypes: Engines displaced to ahead,two Type 3 13,2mm MGs in front,2
• N1K3-A Shiden KAI 2,Model 41:Carrier Based version of N1K3-J,only project
• N1K4-J Shiden KAI 3,Model 3:Prototypes,Engines Nakajima Homare 23 of 2.000 hp,2
• N1K4-A Shiden KAI 4,Model 4:Prototype,experimental conversion of N1K4-J example with Carrier equipment for use in carriers,1
• N1K5-J Shiden KAI 5,Model 25:Higth Altitude Interceptor version.only project

• Total Production (all versions): 1,435 examples.

[edit] Specifications (Kawanishi N1K2-J "Shiden-Kai")

Shiden-Kai Production
Month	Number Produced
1943	1 (prototype)
January 1944	N/A
February 1944	N/A
March 1944	N/A
April 1944	N/A
May 1944	N/A
June 1944	N/A
July 1944	N/A
August 1944	N/A
September 1944	N/A
October 1944	N/A
November 1944	N/A
December 1944	N/A
January 1945	35
February 1945	47
March 1945	56
April 1945	N/A
May 1945	20 (Himeji factory)
June 1945	N/A
July 1945	N/A
August 1945	N/A
Total	415
Sources: Pages 29 and 63–68 of Genda's Blade.

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 30 ft 7 in (9.3 m)
• Wingspan: 39 ft 4 in (12.0 m)
• Height: 13 ft 0 in (3.9 m)
• Wing area: 253 ft² (23.5 m²)
• Empty weight: 5,855 lb (2,656 kg)
• Loaded weight: 8,820 lb (4,000 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 10,710 lb (4,860 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Nakajima Homare NK9H radial engine, 1,990 hp (1,480 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 369 mph (594 km/h)
• Range: 1,066 mi; 1,488 mi ferry (1,716 km / 2,395 km)
• Service ceiling: 35,500 ft (10,800 m)
• Rate of climb: 4,000 ft/min (high octane fuel) (20.3 m/s)
• Wing loading: 34 lb/ft² (166 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.226 hp/lb (0.305 kW/kg)

Armament

• 4× 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 Mk 4 cannon in wings. 200 rounds per gun (up from 100 rounds per gun internally and 70 rounds per gun in underwing boots for the early N1K1-J). The 20×101 mm round had an effective range of 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and a muzzle velocity of 700 m/s (2,297 ft/s). The 128 g shell had 6–8% HE. Rate of fire was about 500 rounds/min per gun. The guns were sychronized to converge at 200 m (656 ft).
• 2× 300 kg bombs

[edit] References

• Sakaida, Henry, and Koji Takaki. Genda's Blade: Japan's Squadron of Aces: 343 Kokutai. Hersham, Surrey, England: Classic Publications, 2003. ISBN 1903223253.

[edit] Related content

Related development

Kawanishi N1K

 

 

Related lists

List of military aircraft of Japan - List of fighter aircraft