- Yes
- No
- 4 x Type 99 Model 2 20mm cannons
- 4 x Type 99 Model 2 20mm cannons and 2 x Type 3 13.2mm cannons
- No
Kawanishi N1K5-J (試製紫電改五)
The Kawanishi N1K5-J was the last variant of the Shiden-Kai aircraft produced. Only 1 prototype copy was built, which was destroyed in June 1945, before the first flight was made.
History
In 1945, the Japanese army and navy needed aircraft that could intercept the B-29 bombers that were destroying Japanese industry. The easiest way to create a new interceptor aircraft is to convert existing fighters. Therefore, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) decided to convert the very good N1K fighter into a new interceptor. At the beginning of 1945, design work began on the new aircraft, which was designated N1K5-J. It was decided to use the powerful Ha 43-11 Ru (Ha-211Ru) engine, which was to allow for easy interception of B-29 aircraft. It was also decided to change the appearance of the nose of the machine. When the technical drawings were ready, it was decided that in order to speed up the production of the prototype, it was decided to modify the N1K2-J aircraft. Production took place at the Kawanishi plant in Himeji. By June 1945, the prototype of the Kawanishi N1K5-J aircraft was completed and preparations were already being made for flight tests, unfortunately it was in June 1945 that the factory and the prototype were destroyed by an air raid by B-29 aircraft, which resulted in the completion of work on the project.
Structure description
Modifications to the Kawanishi N1K5-J compared to the N1K2-J:
- Replacing the engine with the Ha 43-11 Ru (Ha-211Ru) engine
- The engine cover has been changed to a more streamlined one
No other changes have been made
Sketch of Kawanishi N1K5-J
Armament
The armament consisted of 4 wing Type 99 model 2 20mm cannons. This is where the biggest unknown of the project appears, some sources say that the plane had 2 more Type 3 13.2 mm cannons in the nose. In addition, the aircraft could carry 2 60 kg or 250 kg bombs.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 9.44 m
- Wingspan: 11,95 m
- Height: 3,96 m
- Wing area: 23.5 m2
- Empty weight: 2,630 kg
- Gross weight: 4,860 kg
- Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi MK9A Ru (Ha-43-11 Ru) eighteen-cylinder air-cooled twin-row radial engine with turbocharger, rated at 2,170 hp for take-off, 2,042 hp at 1,000m and 1,726 hp at 10,500 m
- Propellers: Four-blade propeller with constant rotational speed with a diameter of 3,300 mm.
Performance
- Maximum speed: 612 km/h at 7000 m
- Cruising speed: 386 km/h at 6000 m
- Range: 2000 km
- Service ceiling: 12,000 m
- Climb Rate: 13,88 m/s
- Rate of climb: 7,25 min to 6000 m
Armament
- Guns:
4 × 20 mm Type 99 Mark 2 machine guns in the wings (800 or 900 shells )
probably 2 x 13,2 Type 3 machine guns in the nose (480 rounds) - Bombs:
The maximum bomb load is 500 kg
2 × 60 kg bombs or 2× 250 kg bombs
Summary
The Kawanishi N1K5-J would be a very interesting vehicle for Japan in War Thunder. Thanks to the powerful Ha 43-11 Ru (Ha-211Ru) engine, which is already mounted on the Ki-83 in the game, it will be a very fast fighter by Japanese standards. Its armament will also provide it with the ability to effectively destroy enemy aircraft. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this topic.
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 N1K1-J Shiden (Violet Lightning) and N1K2-J Shiden Kai (combinedfleet.com)
Kawanishi N1K5-J Model 25 Shiden KAI 5 / 試製紫電改五(N1K5-J) : Kawanishi / Shin Meiwa (armedconflicts.com)
紫電改 - 航空軍事用語辞典＋＋ (mmsdf.sakura.ne.jp)
Kawanishi N1K “Shiden” unbuilt variants and derivatives | Secret Projects Forum
Book sources
- Bunrindo-Famous-Airplanes-of-the-World-53-Kawanishi-N1K-Kyofu-Shiden-Shidenkai
Bunrindo - Słynne samoloty świata 53 - Kawanishi N1K ‘Kyofu’, Shiden, Shidenkai | PDF (scribd.com) - 最強戦闘機紫電改 - page 118
- 世界の傑作機No.124 強風、紫電、紫電改 - page 42
