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Kawanishi N1K2-K Shiden-Kai Rensen 1A (仮称紫電練習戦闘機型)
The Kawanishi N1K2-K is a Japanese training aircraft derived from the converted fighter Kawanishi N1K2-J. Only a few N1K2-K aircraft were produced in 1945.
History
After the introduction of the Kawanishi N1K2-J fighter planes into service in June 1944, two important things were confirmed. The first was that the N1K2-J is a great fighter capable of competing with modern American fighters. However, the second was that it is a difficult aircraft for pilots, particularly for young pilots. By the end of 1944 and in 1945, the Japanese (just like the Germans) did not have time for serious training of new aircrews. Young pilots often went directly from flight school to combat units and into battle. This strategy arose because there was a huge demand for the defense of the home islands against American raids. The Japanese naval command, which became aware of this problem, ordered the Kawanishi factory to create a training aircraft based on the N1K2-J fighter. The Japanese were already constructing such training aircraft, for example, the A6M2-K or A5M4-K. The new Kawanishi N1K2-K aircraft (K indicates that it is a training aircraft) was supposed to have a new crew cabin for two people. Behind the pilot, a second seat for the instructor and a second set of control instruments were installed. The cockpit glazing was also extended to provide comfort for the crew. To gain space and reduce the weight of the N1K2-K aircraft, the radio and bomb mounts were removed. The aircraft still had wing-mounted armament to train young pilots in gunnery. Production did not begin in the factories for the new Kawanishi N1K2-K aircraft, but new planes were created by modifying existing N1K2-Js. However, due to the enormous demand for all modern fighters, only a few training aircraft Kawanishi N1K2-K were produced. It is unknown whether any Kawanishi N1K2-Ks survived until the end of the war.
Construction description
The Kawanishi N1K2-K is similar to the N1K2-J, but there are important differences between them that I will describe here:
- An additional seat has been added in a tandem arrangement for the second pilot.
- The cockpit glazing has been extended.
- The radio and bomb armament have been removed.
- The ends of the horizontal stabilizer were trimmed.
Construction details
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 9,346 m
- Wingspan: 12 m
- Height: 3,96 m
- Wing area: 23,50 m2
- Empty weight: 2660 kg
- Gross weight: 4860 kg
- Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima NK9H Homare 21 (Ha-45-21), an air-cooled two-row eighteen-cylinder engine with a take-off power of 1,471 kW (2,000 hp)
- Propellers: Four-bladed fixed-speed VDM 4 propeller with a diameter of 3,300 mm.
Performance
- Maximum speed: 575 km/h
- Cruise Speed: 370 km/h
- Range: 1200 km
- Maximum Range: 1800 km
- Service ceiling: 9000 m
- Climb Rate: ?
- Time to Climb to: 7,48 min to 6000 m
Armament
- 4 x Type 99 Model 2 20mm cannons in the flanks (probably 900 rounds)
Armour
- 12 mm pilot seat (?)
- 70mm thick bulletproof glass (?)
Additional equipment
- Self-sealing fuel tanks (?)
- Engine fire extinguisher and fuel tank fire extinguisher (?)
Special thanks
Summary
Kawanishi N1K2-K is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft, while offering slightly worse performance in the air, provides better survivability during air combat thanks to its two pilots. This aircraft would make a good candidate for a premium aircraft or an event. 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
紫電改 - Wikipedia
Kawanishi N1K - Wikipedia
Kawaniši N1K2-K Šiden-Kai Rensen 1A [George] : Kawaniši / Šin-Meiwa
Уголок неба ¦ Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden
Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden (Violet Lightning) and N1K2-J Shiden Kai
Warplanes of Japan: Kawanishi N1K
Il caccia giapponese Kawanishi N1K Shiden
Kawanishi N1K “Shiden” unbuilt variants and derivatives | Secret Projects Forum
Book sources
- Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War page 320-329
- Japanese Aircraft of Wolrld War II : 1937-1945 ,Thomas Newdick, Edition 2 2017, page 49
- KRYSTIAN KOSECKI - KAWANISHI W BOJU ,1991
- Technika wojskowa historia numer specjalny 4/2012 (Military Technology: History Special Issue 4/2012) page 8
- Aviation (ModelArt) - Kawanishi N1K1, N1K1-J, N1K2-J
(Aviation) - (ModelArt) - Kawanishi N1K1, N1K1-J, N1K2-J PDF | PDF - Bunrindo - Famous Airplanes of The World 53 - Kawanishi N1K ‘Kyofu’, Shiden, Shidenkai
Bunrindo - Famous Airplanes of The World 53 - Kawanishi N1K ‘Kyofu’, Shiden, Shidenkai | PDF - Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 część II (Japanese naval aircraft 1912-45 part II) page 127-128
- 日本航空機辞典 1910年(明治43年)～1945年(昭和20年) 上巻 (Encyclopedia of Japanese Aircraft 1910 (Meiji 43) – 1945 (Showa 20), Volume 1) page 260-262
- 野沢正『日本航空機総集 川西・広廠篇』出版協同社 - page 152-158
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
