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Nakajima J1N1-R/F (version with the G5N turret)
The Nakajima J1N1-R/F (version with the G5N turret) is a Japanese prototype long-range reconnaissance aircraft based on the Nakajima J1N1-C/R. About 12 Nakajima J1N1-R/F planes (various versions) were made, which served in different roles (reconnaissance aircraft, training planes) until the end of the war. (As for the name, it’s not really Nakajima J1N1-R/F but Nakajima J1N1-R or J1N1-F; both names are correct, so I use both terms at once).
History
In 1943, the Japanese Navy decided to introduce survivability improvements for their Nakajima J1N1-R reconnaissance aircraft (previously known as the Nakajima J1N1-C) (around 1943, the designations of Japanese Navy reconnaissance aircraft were changed: planes marked ‘C,’ like the C6N1, were carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft, while those marked with an ‘R,’ like the future R2Y1, were land-based reconnaissance planes). In 1943, the Navy used the Nakajima J1N1-R and Mitsubishi Ki-46 for long-range reconnaissance, with the latter being a faster design that had a chance to escape American fighters. The Japanese command decided that the Nakajima J1N1-R needed better defensive capabilities and concluded that the best solution was to fit it with a turret equipped with a 20 mm gun or a 13.2 mm machine gun. They used unused turrets from the abandoned prototype bomber G5N (which was being converted at the time into the G5N2-L transport plane). The Nakajima engineers were against this modification because the turret from the G5N bomber was too heavy for the Nakajima J1N1 plane, but the Navy command insisted. Under pressure from the Navy command, a turret from Nakajima G5N bombers, armed with a 20 mm Type 99 mark 1 cannon, was installed in place of the radio operator. Due to the installation of the turret, the defensive machine gun used on J1N1-R planes was removed from the observer’s position. This plane was tested with other Nakajima J1N1-R/F from summer to autumn 1943. The aircraft turned out to be disappointing in terms of performance in the air because the overload reduced the plane’s maximum speed. It is not entirely clear how many Nakajima J1N1-R/F planes of this version were made. (It is also uncertain why this version of the planes carries the J1N1-F designation, though it was probably planned to use them as turret fighters depending on the situation). Although the Nakajima J1N1-R/F planes didn’t go into mass production, they still made it to the units. Five J1N1-R/F planes were used in the 321st Air Group and the 210th Air Group.
Construction description
The Nakajima J1N1-R/F is based on the Nakajima J1N1 fighter from the game, but there are important differences between them.
- Removed two remote-controlled turrets and in their place there is an observer station
- A 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 gun was removed from the nose
- A turret from a G5N bomber was installed in the radio operator’s position
- The plane is equipped with self-sealing fuel tanks and 9.5 mm or 15 mm armor in the pilot’s seat
- The radio antenna mast has been removed
Nakajima J1N1-R/F turret
Technical sketch
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Length: 12,17 m
- Wingspan: 16,98 m
- Height: 4,56 m
- Wing area: 40,0 m2
- Empty weight: 4700 kg
- Gross weight: 6900 kg
- Maximum Take-off Weight: 8164 kg (?)
- Powerplant: 2 × 14-cylinder, two-cylinder, air-cooled, Nakajima NK1F Sakae 21 radial piston engine, with 840 kW (1,130 hp) each
- Propellers: Three-bladed propeller with constant rotational speed with a diameter of 3,048 mm.
Performance
- Maximum speed: 507 km/h (?)
- Cruise Speed: 333 km/h
- Range: 2,544 km
- Maximum Range: 3,748 km
- Service ceiling: 9,320 m
- Time to Climb to: 9,6 min to 5000 m
- Climb Rate: ?
Armament
- Guns:
- 2 x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine guns in the nose (600 rounds per gun)
- 1 x 20 mm Cannon Type 99 Mark 1 Model 4 in the turret at the radio operator’s position
- Bombs:
- 2 x 30 kg bombs
- 2 x 60 kg bombs (?)
- 2 x 100 kg bombs (?)
- 2 x 250 kg bombs (?)
- Fuel dump tanks:
- 2 x 310 L dump tanks under wings
- 2 x 330 L dump tanks under wings
Armour
- 15 mm thick armor plate behind the pilot
- Self-sealing fuel tanks
Special thanks
Summary
The Nakajima J1N1-R/F (version with the G5N turret) is an interesting plane for Japan in War Thunder. This plane works well as a forward-attacking fighter with machine guns, and it can also surprise enemies by firing from its turret using either a 20 mm cannon. In the future, this plane could also be used as a reconnaissance aircraft. It, along with the Nakajima J1N1-R/F (improved version), could fit into a shared tree, or be separate vehicles for tech tree, premium, or event use. 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
月光 (航空機) - Wikipedia
Nakajima J1N Gekkō - Wikipedia
WildEagles: Nakajima J1N1-F “Gekko”
Nakajima J1N1-R : Nakajima
www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org - Imperial Japanese Aviation Resource Center - Nakajima J1N Gekko “Moonlight”
中島 J1N1-F 二式陸上観測機(仮称) | TeamBtrb
Nakajima J1N (“Gekko”) Prototypes and Projects | Secret Projects Forum
Book sources
- 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 240-242
- 野沢正『日本航空機総集 中島篇』(Masaru Nozawa ‘Comprehensive Collection of Japanese Aircraft: Nakajima Volume’) page 198-205
- Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 część II (Japanese naval aircraft 1912-45 part II) page 110-115
- Japanese Heavy Fighters 1937-1945 , page 111-128
- Lotnictwo Wojskowe 2/1998 (Military Aviation 2/1998) page 23-39
*『日本軍用機写真集』1 (ファイター) ,文林堂, (“Japanese Military Aircraft Photo Collection 1 (Fighters)”, Bunrindo) page 218-224 - Bunrindo - Famous Airplanes of The World 57 - Nakajima J1N ‘Gekko’ Navy Type 11 Night Fighter
Bunrindo - Famous Airplanes of The World 57 - Nakajima J1N ‘Gekko’ Navy Type 11 Night Fighter | PDF | Language Arts & Discipline | Foreign Language Studies - Model-art-595-Night-fighters.pdf - Dysk Google
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