- Yes
- No
Kawanishi N1K1 prototype 1 (15-Shi) (川西 強風)
The Kawanishi N1K1 prototype 1 (15-shi) is a prototype of the Kawanishi N1K1 aircraft equipped with counter-propellers. This plane flew for the first time in May 1942.
History
After the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese Navy used E8N seaplanes in combat. These planes were equipped with machine guns, thanks to which they shot down several Chinese planes. This caused the Japanese naval commanders to begin conceptual work on a new fighter aircraft in 1939. Conceptual work was completed in 1940 and in September of that year the specification of the 15-Shi was issued, which was handed over to the Kawanishi plant. This specification was accurate and was as follows:
- Top speed: over 310 knots (574 km/h) at an altitude of 5,000 meters
- Cruising Range (hours): More than 6 hours at cruise speed
- Armament: Armament: 2 x 20mm machine guns × 2 and 2 x 7.7mm machine guns × or 2 x 13mm machine guns × 2 and 2 × 7.7mm machine guns or 4 x 7.7mm machine guns
- Explosive arm: 2 x 30kg bomb
The design of the new aircraft was to be led by Yoshio Hashiuchi. The design of the future N1K1 was very modern and drew on the technology from the Kawanishi E15K aircraft designed at that time. Hashiuchi decided that the aircraft would be powered by a powerful fourteen-cylinder Mitsubishi MK4D Kasei 14 (Ha-32-14) engine, with a take-off power of 1,074 kW (1,460 hp), he also decided on pioneering laminar profile wings, and unprecedented automatic combat flaps. However, problems have arisen. The Mitsubishi MK4D Kasei 14 engine caused a powerful rotational movement of the propeller, which was very dangerous during take-off and landing on water. It was decided to use counter-rotating propellers, which would cancel out their rotational movements. In mid-1941, the design work on the future Kawanishi N1K1 continued, so the Commander of the Japanese Navy ordered the Nakajim plant to convert the Mitsubishi A6M2 aircraft into a seaplane (the future A6M2-N). It was not until December 1941 that work began on the first prototype of the Kawanishi N1K1 (the Mitsubishi A6M2-N prototype flew in the same month). Work on the first prototype of the Kawanishi aircraft went surprisingly quickly and on April 17, 1942, the first prototype of the N1K1 seaplane was ready. After brief ground tests at the Kawanishi plant, the first prototype of the N1K1 flew on its maiden flight on May 6, 1942. The aircraft was then transferred to the Japanese Navy for testing. The plane did not reach the planned speed of 574 km/h, but 482 km/h. The Japanese Navy saw potential in the Kawanishi N1K1, but not in the configuration of the first prototype, and was ordered to build new prototypes with a classic single three-bladed propeller. It is not known what happened to the first prototype after that. The Kawanishi N1K1 itself did not enter service until December 1943, after a large number of corrections had been made.
Technical description
The first prototype of the Kawanishi N1K1 is similar to the Kawanishi N1K1, but there are huge differences between them, which I will describe here.
- The first prototype of the N1K1 is equipped with a Mitsubishi MK4D engine with a take-off power of 1460 hp (1074 kW) instead of a Mitsubishi MK4C engine with a take-off power of 1460 hp (1074 kW)
- The aircraft has a two-bladed anti-propeller with a diameter of 3,100 mm
- The design of the nose different.
- The core of the cockpit glazing is slightly different.
- The rear mount of the main float is narrower
Technical sketches
Comparison of the first prototype of the N1K1 with the production N1K1
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 10,589 m
- Wingspan: 12,00 m
- Height: 4,78 m
- Wing area: 23,50 m2
- Empty weight: 2590 kg
- Gross weight: 3810 kg
- Maximum Take-off Weight: ?
- Powerplant: 1 x Mitsubishi MK4D Kasei 14 (Ha-32-14), an air-cooled two-cylinder radial fourteen-cylinder engine with a take-off power of 1460 hp (1074 kW)
- Propellers: Two-bladed counter-rotating propeller with adjustable angle of attack with a diameter of 3,100 mm.
Performance
- Maximum speed: 482 km/h
- Cruising speed: 351 km/h
- Range: 1060 km
- Maximum Range: 1970 km
- Service ceiling: 10560 m
- Climb Rate: ?
- Rate of climb: 4 min. 11 sec. to 4,000 m
Armament
- Guns:
- 2 x Type 99 Model 1 Type 3 20mm cannons in wings (60 rounds per cannon)
- 2 x Type 97 7.7mm Machine Guns in the nose (500 rounds per rifle)
- Bombs
- 2 x 60 kg bombs (under the wings)
- 2 x 30 kg bombs (under the wings)
Special thanks
Summary
The Kawanishi N1K1 first prototype is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft is unique thanks to its rare counterpropellers, which are very rare among Japanese aircraft (the only aircraft besides the N1K1 prototype with counterpropellers are the Kawanishi E15K and the Kawaski Ki-64). This aircraft would be an interesting addition to the forder with Japanese seaplane fighters (A6M2-N and N1K1). Due to being a prototype, this aircraft will also work well as a Premium or event aircraft. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.
Internet sources
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/強風_(航空機)
水上戦闘機「強風」
Kawanishi N1K1, 15th Experimental Seaplane Fighter “Kyoufu”, prototype #1 - Passed for Consideration - War Thunder - Official Forum
Kawanishi N1K - Wikipedia
Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū / Shiden Design Evolution – Inch High Guy
Kawanishi N1K Kyofu / Rex - float fighter
Kawanishi N1K1 “Kyofu” 15-Shi Fighter Seaplane (K-20) | Secret Projects Forum
Kawaniši N1K1 15-Ši Kjófú : Kawaniši / Šin-Meiwa
Kawanishi N1K Kyofu (Mighty Wind)
Уголок неба ¦ Kawanishi N1K Kyofu
水上戦闘機 『強風』/川西 | 大日本帝国軍 主要兵器
Book sources
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
