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Thread: Why the next two Japanese fighters should be the.....

  1. #1

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    Lucas
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    Default Why the next two Japanese fighters should be the.....

    The Kawanishi N1K and the Mitsubishi J2M. Not only have the Japanese been put on the back burner by Ares but when they have the first fighter released in years it's arguably the weakest of the set. Though not completely bridging the gap these two fighters both had speeds into 400mph/640kmh range. Let's take a look at both in a little detail

    Kawanishi N1K: Speed 408 mph/658 kmh
    Armament: N1K1-J, the first production model, went into service with 2x7.7mm mg and 2x20mm cannon. Quickly phased out of service for the N1K1-Ja which deleted the .30 cals and installed a further 2x20mm cannons bring total armament up to 4x20mm cannons. Further variants would keep this layout while adding wing and fuselage racks for bombs.
    The N1K, originally designed as a float plane fighter, would find it's niche as a land based air superiority fighter as well as a decent fighter bomber once bomb/rocket racks were installed. Both sides of the conflict would go on to say that it was possibly the finest dogfighter available to the Japanese later in the war. Though a fine dogfighter it's rate of climb and mechanical unreliability kept if from being a successful bomber interceptor. Which brings up the J2M.

    Mitsubishi J2M: Speed 407 mph/655 kmh
    Armament: J2M2 Model 11, first went into production with 7.7mm mg in the cowling and 20mm cannons in the wings as with the N1K. Again this was quickly phased out for a total of 4x20mm cannons in the wings with the Model 21 and this would remain the same throughout the conflict. (Though 2x20mm cannons were experimented in a German ''Schräge Music'' layout.)
    Designed by the legendary Jiro Horikoshi and described by Boyington as a ''souped up Zero'', the Zero's influence can be seen in the J2M's design. But having been designed for scratch as a high speed interceptor it had little of the Zero's manoeuvrability. Though have trouble with it's high altitude turbocharger it would see some success against the B-29s plaguing Japan during the day. But with ''too little, too late'' numbers and the American switch to night bombing the J2Ms role would switch to intercepting fighter raids with marginal results.

  2. #2

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    Good proposals Lucas.

    I would like them in different armament versions.


    Let's see what we get after

    Series 6: Yokosuka D4Y

    Series 7: Nakajima Ki.44-IIb and Ki.44-IIc


    Personally I would prefer a Japanese heavy fighter to intercept B-25 and B-17 bombers.
    Voilą le soleil d'Austerlitz!

  3. #3

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    Kawanishi N1K1 Shinden / George


    Mitsubishi J2M Raiden / Jack

  4. #4

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    Both have a unique desing.

    Thank you for the pictures, Dave.
    Voilą le soleil d'Austerlitz!



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