Nakajima J1N
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The Nakajima J1N1 was a twin-engine aircraft used by the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II and was used for reconnaissance, night fighter, and kamikaze missions. It was given the Allied codename "Irving", since the earlier reconnaissance version the J1N1-C, was mistaken for a fighter.
Originally, the J1N was designed as a fighter, but early prototypes were judged too heavy and production was authorized for a three person crew reconnaissance variant, the J1N1-C and was also known by the Navy designation Type 2 Reconnaissance. One early variant, the J1N1-F, had a spherical turret with one 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon mounted immediately behind the pilot. In 1943, Commander Yasuna Kozono of the 251st Kokutai in Rabaul came up with the idea of converting the J1N1-C into a night fighter. The field modified J1N1-C KAI shot down two B-17's of 43rd Bomb Group attacking air bases around Rabaul on May 21, 1943. The Navy took immediate notice and placed orders with Nakajima for the newly designated J1N1-S nightfighter design. This model was christenned the Model 11 Gekko (月光, "Moonlight"). It required only two crew and like the KAI, had a twin 20mm pair of Type 99 Model 1 cannon firing upward and a second pair firing downward at a forward 30 degree angle, placed in the fuselage behind the cabin, similar to the German Schräge Musik configuration. This arrangement was effective against B-17s and B-24 Liberators, and its existence was not quickly understood by the allies who assumed the Japanese did not have the technology for night fighter designs. Early versions has nose searchlights in place of radar. Later models omitted the lower-firing gun and added a single 20MM cannon (J1N1-Sa Model 11a). Other variants without nose antennae or searchlight added a 20MM cannon to the nose.
The J1N1-S was used against B-29s in Japan, though the lack of good radar and insufficient high-altitude performance handicapped it, since usually only one pass could be made against the higher speed B-29 bombers. However, some skillful pilots had spectacular successes, such as Lt. Sachio Endo- credited with destroying eight B-29s and damaging another eight before he was shot down. A number of Gekkos were relegated to kamikaze attacks, using 250kg bombs attached to the wings.
Survivors
Only one J1N Irving survives today. It is fully restored and on display in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington D.C.
Alternate Versions:
Specifications (J1N1-S)
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 12.77 m (41 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 16.98 m (55 ft 8 in)
- Height: 4.56 m (14 ft 11 in)
- Wing area: 40.0 m² (430 ft²)
- Empty: 4,840 kg (10,648 lb)
- Loaded: 7,010 kg (15,422 lb)
- Maximum takeoff: 8,184 kg (18,005 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Nakajima Sakae, 843 kW (1,130 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 507 km/h (317 mph)
- Range: 3,778 km (2,361 miles)
- Service ceiling: 9,320 m (30,570 ft)
- Rate of climb: 522 m/min (1,712 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 175 kg/m² (36 lb/ft²)
- Power/Mass: 0.24 kW/kg (0.15 hp/lb)
Armament
- 4× 20 mm Type 99 cannon, two each upward- and downward-firing
References
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