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Kawanishi N1K3-J (試製紫電改一)
The Kawanishi N1K3-J is a Japanese fighter aircraft built in February 1945. At least two prototypes were created.
History
In mid-1944, night and day raids by B-29 aircraft caused more and more damage to Japanese industry. The Japanese Navy tried to counter these raids with its own fighters, but the Japanese fighters did not have enough firepower to destroy American bombers quickly. Therefore, they decided to task the Kawanishi Works to upgrade their N1K2-J interceptor to have more firepower. Work on the new aircraft began in the summer of 1944, and the main modification was to install additional Type 3 machine guns in the nose of the aircraft. The addition of these rifles led to the extension of the nose of the machine by 150 mm and the engine mount, which led to a change in the center of gravity of the machine, which turned out to be a beneficial change. In addition, in order to combat the B-29, the fuel tanks were reinforced (they were armored and self-sealing was added), and the aircraft was given additional ventilation slots on the sides of the fuselage to operate at high altitudes. The Kawanishi N1K3-J prototypes were ready in February 1945 (in the meantime, two N1K3-A aircraft were created on the basis of work on the N1K3-J) and the Japanese naval command was delighted with the new aircraft, but the aircraft had some problems due to being a prototype. Although at the beginning it was planned to introduce it into production after 200 N1K2-J aircraft, due to the refinement of the design, it was finally planned to introduce it starting from the 501st N1K2-J aircraft, i.e. in the 5th production series. However, the course of the war changed and a little over 420 N1K2-J/Ja aircraft were produced, which meant that the Kawanishi N1K3-J aircraft did not go into serial production. It is not known what happened to the N1K3-J prototypes, but they were probably destroyed during American air raids.
Technical description
The Kawanishi N1K3-J is similar to the N1K2-J aircraft, but there are a few differences between them, which I will describe here.
- The nose of the machine has been extended by 150mm
- Type 3 model 1 caliber 13.2 mm machine guns were installed in the nose of the aircraft
- Installed electric bomb dropping system
- The aircraft was equipped with self-sealing fuel tanks. The tanks have also been armored
- A second row of vertical vents has been added on both sides of the fuselage
- Changed the propeller of the machine to a different one (the new propeller is VDM 4)
Technical sketches
Comparing Kawanishi N1K3-J with other Kawanishi N1K variants
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: Length: 9,49 m
- Wingspan: 12 m
- Height: 3,96 m
- Wing area: 23,50 m2
- Empty weight: 2697 kg
- Gross weight: 4475 kg
- Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima NK9H Homare 21 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston 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: 598 km/h
- Cruise Speed: 350 km/h
- Range: 1750 km
- Maximum Range: 2395 km
- Service ceiling: 11250 m
- Climb Rate: 13,42 m/s
- Time to Climb to: 7,45 min to 6000 m
Armament
- Guns:
- 4 x Type 99 Model 2 20mm cannons in the flanks (probably 900 rounds)
- 2 x Type 3 Model 1 Machine Guns caliber 13.2mm in nose (600 rounds)
- Bombs:
- 4 x 30 kg bombs
- 4 x 50 kg bombs
- 2 × 250 kg bombs
- Rocket:
- 4 x Type 3 No.1 Mod.28 Mk.1 rockets (?)
- 4 x Type 5 No.1 Mod.9 rockets (?)
- 2 x Type 3 No.6 Mod.27 Mk.1 rockets (?)
- 2 x Type 5 No.6 Mod.9 rockets (?)
- Fuel dump tanks
- 1 x 400 l in additional tanks
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
The Kawanishi N1K3-J is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. It is the second most heavily armed variant of the Kawanish N1K after the N1K4-J, which has the same armament but has a better engine. This aircraft would be a very useful interceptor that would be devastating to enemy bombers. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with self-sealing fuel tanks, which improves its survivability during combat. 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
Kawanishi N1K “Shiden” unbuilt variants and derivatives | Secret Projects Forum
Kawaniši N1K3-J 31 Šiden-KAI 1 [George] : Kawaniši / Šin-Meiwa
Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden (Violet Lightning) and N1K2-J Shiden Kai
Уголок неба ¦ Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden
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
- Lotnictwo 8/2021 (aviation 8/2021) page 92-93
- Technika wojskowa historia numer specjalny 4/2012 (Military Technology: History Special Issue 4/2012) page 6-7
- 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
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