Kawaniši N1K Šiden [George]

Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden - přehled verzí

Kawanishi N1K - version overview



Designation Aircraft design - description
Kawanishi N1K1 Kyofu Plovákový stíhač - built 8 prototypes and 89 serial machines. Production from May 1942 to March 1944.
Kawanishi X-1 prototyp Prototype fighter for ground bases, engine NK9A Homare 11,
armament 2x machine gun type 97 above the engine and 2x cannon type 99 model 1 in gondolas under the wings, the first takeoff December 27, 1942.
Kawanishi N1K1-J 11 Shiden [col ] Standard version - Nakajima NK9H Homare 21 engine (1,990 hp); armament 2x machine gun Type 97 caliber 7.7 mm above the engine,
2x cannon Type 99 model 1 caliber 20 mm in gondolas and 2x the same cannon in the wings; deliveries since the end of 1943.
Kawanishi N1K1-Ja 11A Shiden Change compared to the previous one - four cannons type 99 model 2 caliber 20 mm are installed in the wings;
machine guns above the engine are dismantled at the units. Bomb load 2x 60 kg.
Kawanishi N1K1-Jb 11B Shiden Armament identical to N1K1-Ja, but under the wings hangers for two bombs of 250 kg.
Kawanishi N1K1-Jc 11C Shiden Armament identical to N1K1-Ja, but under the wings hangers for four bombs of 250 kg.
Kawanishi N1K1-J 11KAIa Shiden Only one aircraft was rebuilt into this form, at the stern had a rocket engine increasing the climb - designated overflow fighter.
Kawanishi N1K1-J 11KAIb Shiden Only a project for an attack aircraft, carrying a bomb weighing 250 kg under the fuselage and six unguided missiles under the wings.
Kawanishi N1K2-J 21 Shiden-Kai [col ] Fighter aircraft, moving the wing to a low - altitude position, changing the tail surfaces, extending the fuselage and modifying the cabin. First takeoff December 31, 1943.
Kawanishi N1K2-Ja 21A Shiden-Kai Fighter bomber - under the wings hangers for 4pcs 250 kg bombs.
Kawanishi N1K3-J 31 Shiden-Kai [col ] Extension of the fuselage, change the caliber of the fuselage machine guns now 13.2 mm, cannons in the wings remained.
Kawanishi N1K3-A 41 Shiden-Kai [col ] Prototype of a fighter from the previous version.
Kawanishi N1K4-J 32 Shiden-Kai [col ] Prototype fighter for ground bases with engine Nakajima NK9H with an output of 2,000 hp.
Kawanishi N1K4-A 42 Shiden-Kai [col ] On - board fighter originated from the previous version.
Kawanishi N1K5-J 25 Shiden-Kai [col ] Turbocharged engine Mitsubishi MK9ARu (Ha-43-11 Ru) with an output of 2,200 horsepower - a project of high-altitude fighter.
Kawanishi N1K6-J 26 Shinden-Kai[/b ] Project of a high - altitude fighter with a Homare 44 engine supercharged by a two - stage three - speed compressor.
Kawanishi N1K2-K Shinden Ren-sen [col ] Two - digit version designed for pilot training.



Sources used:
René J. Francillon PhD., Kawanishi Kyofu, Shiden and Shiden Kai Variants, Aircraft in Profile No. 213, Windsor, Berkshire, UK, Profile Publications Ltd., 1971.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawanishi_N1K
author's archive
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Production of N1K1 97 float planes
Kawanishi Kokuki Kabushiki Kaisha Naruo:
- 8 N1K1 prototypeů (1942-43)
- 89 N1K1 production machinesů (1943-44)


Production of X-1až N1K5-J 1435 all versions with wheeled landing gear
Kawanishi Kokuki Kabushiki Kaisha Naruo:
- 9 N1K1-J prototypeů (1942-43)
- 530 N1K1-J production aircraft (1943-44)
- 8 N1K2-J prototypeů (1943-44)
- 351 N1K2-J and N1K2-K production aircraft (1944-45)
- 2 N1K4-J prototypes (1945)
- 1 N1K4-A prototype (1945)
[901 total produced
Kawanishi Kokuki Kabushiki Kaisha Himeji:
- 468 N1K1-J serial aircraft (1943-45)
- 42 N1K2-J serial aircraft (1945)
- 2 N1K3-J prototypes (1945)
512 total produced
Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tsurashima:
- 9 N1K2-J serial aircraft (1945)
Aichi Kokuki Kabushiki Kaisha Eitoku:
- 1 N1K2-J serial aircraft (1945)
Showa Hikoki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Shinonoi:
- 1 N1K2-J serial aircraft (1945)
Dai-Juichi Kaigun Kokusho Hiro:
- 1 N1K2-J serial aircraft (1945)
Omura Kaigun Kokusho:
- 10 N1K2-J serial aircraft (1945)
Koza Kaigun Kokusho:
- 0 N1K2-J only přproduction preparation to productioně itž did not occur here
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川西 紫電 と 紫電改/ Kawanishi Shiden and Shiden Kai/ Kawanishi Šiden and Šiden Kai



the Construction of the prototypes X

The history of this fighter aircraft dates back to the end of the year 1941, when the company 川西航空機株式会社 – Kawanishi Kōkūki Kabushiki Kaisha (hereinafter referred to as Kawanishi) offered the japanese naval air force, therefore, his command (海軍航空本部 Kaigun Kōkū Hombu), that starts to work on fighter aircraft for land base. Kawanishi at that time she was working on a prototype float fighters Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū and the design of the airframe gave a hint that the emerging aircraft has considerable potential for output growth, which should according to the calculations made dr. Sizuo Kikuharou, fully manifested right at the machine with wheel landing gear. Kaigun Kōkū Hombu at the time this proposal is rejected because it relied on the overflow jet Mitsubishi J2M Raiden, whose prototype was close to completion, this prototype was built based on the specifications of the 14-Shi from the year 1939. After this rejection decided the board of directors of the company Kawanishi, that will be the development of a ground fighter to be financed from its own funds, the entire project received subsequently, the factory designation X (prototypes have been identified X-1 to X-4). The design team led by engineer Yoshio Hasiuchim received from the management company's instructions, which indicated that the funds for the development of the new machines, however, are not unlimited.

Because of the savings was in what may be the highest possible measure utilized the all-metal dragon float fighters and including, for a land plane, not very suitable středoplošné the concept of the aeroplane. The chassis had to be long and furthermore in the original design of the wings, which had a profile allowing laminar airflow, was not at all calculated with the wheel suspension and thus in a slim wing wasn't too much space for a classic retractable landing gear. The resulting piece was a long, telescoping landing gear, which was complex, nevyznačoval with reliability and for their subtlety was rather prone to damage. Radical change through the power unit, the float plane was using a different version of the čtrnáctiválcového engine Mitsubishi MK4, however, if they stand up performances, had to be installed a more powerful engine and so the choice fell on the then brand new osmnáctiválcový engine Nakajima Homar (Ha-45-11), which the naval air force designated as a NK9A. The engine was přeplňován two-speed compressor and during the take-off was performance 1 820 hp at take-off. The performance was transmitted on a large four-bladed propeller with a constant speed of the speed-VDM, the diameter of this propeller was 3 300 mm. Armament was identical to the float plane, just dvacetimilimetrové cannons no longer fit into the wings and so they were installed into the gondolek under the wings outside of the chassis.

In December 1942 he was in a factory in the city Naruo completed the first prototype, the factory tests have been started before the end of the year (27. 12. 1942). Already in January it was clear that if has a prototype to meet the expectations of the management board of the company has a design team a lot of work. The biggest source of trouble was the power unit, the engines Homar were new and not yet well-tuned, it resulted in their lower performance, overheating of the rear cylinders, a considerable leakage of oil, high vibration, that at higher engine speeds to carry on the whole plane, and perhaps the greatest vices these engines was a sudden decline in performance, causing it to drop boost pressure of the compressor and the japanese motorářům this glitch managed to remove up to early 1945 by introducing a version of the Ha-45-23. When the factory tests did not suit or the propeller, adjusting the angle of attack of the propeller of the sheet didn't go smoothly. The factory pilots have complained about the lack of view during takeoff and during landing, when it was still showed a considerable heeling moment caused by the mass of the spinning propeller. During the flight the aircraft was unstable and the performances were far behind the calculated, for example, the maximum speed is stopped for a value of 570 km/h. Kaigun Kōkū Hombu these tests followed with considerable contempt and persistent indifference. The reason for this lack of interest on the part of the naval air force was next to trouble the prototypes of the X one more – from October to mass-produce the Mitsubishi J2M Raiden, but his production continued only at a modest pace, because the highest priority in the production of had the on-board tank Mitsubishi A6M Reisen. Kaigun Kōkū Hombu, and also the maritime pilots so far favoured the nimble Zeros, before a quick but less deft overflow jet. The company Kawanishi, however, persevered, and continued in his direction built three more prototypes in July 1943 as the factory pilots are testing four prototypes, which are still, but slowly eliminate the detected defects.

N1K1-J Shiden - inclusion in service

At that time, finally changing the look of the navy on the importance and need for the overflow tank, Raidenů however, it produced a small amount of and also these machines have their shortcomings, which the engineers and designers of the company Mitsubishi is gradually removed (the vibration of the engine - end of the blades during injection of water and methanol getting into the area of the speed of sound, the lack of view from cockpit during the take-off and landing, etc.). Finally Kaigun Kōkū Hombu decided that it would not be entirely from the things to have prepared one more type overflow jet fighters for ground base. One of the prototypes (probably the fourth), the navy took over, to test its test pilots, the result of these tests was almost the same with the rating of the factory pilots, maritime pilots kind of in addition have criticized the poor processing quality of the tested prototype. Technical officers Kaigun Kōkū Hombu however, fortunately recognized the potential of this aircraft and entered into negotiations with the company Kawanishi, the navy subsequently vacant finance, moved to the factory in Naruo several tens of experienced aeronautical engineers and technicians from their arsenals and ensure the company 中島飛行機株式会社 - Nakajima Hikōki Kabushiki Kaisha (hereinafter referred to as Nakajima) supply of improved engines Homar and in their latest, more powerful version of NK9H (Ha-45-21). Kawanishi had to take measures in production, to improve the quality of the machines produced. In December 1943 the aircraft was included in the armament of naval aviation and the navy assigned the designation N1K1-J and combat the name Shiden (Violet lightning). The designation N1K1-J is saying that the plane originated from the float of a fighter aeroplane (N), which was adopted as the first in this category (1), making it by Kawanishi (K), as the first production version (1), the letter J behind the dash informs us that the aircraft change was made in the determining, here on the assault fighter for the land base. At the same time it was decided that the mass production will take place in a factory in the city of Naruo and also in the new factory of the company Kawanishi, which was completed in Himei. The production will then run, but ten more months couldn't be Shiden included in operational services, because it did not have permission. In October 1944 it received the naval and air force by this time taken over 662 aircraft. Month it ceased production of this version of the factory in Naruo, production continued only in the factory in Himei. The total was made 1 007 aircraft type N1K1-J in the above versions. An interesting question remain the fuselage machine guns, most of the me to the available sources it is reported that since the version of the N1K1-Ja already have these guns at all mounted, but the latest sources say, that these machine guns were installed in all manufactured version of the N1K1-J, but the combat troops were these weapons for the vast majority of aircraft dismantled.

N1K2-J Shiden Kai - enhancing properties

Already during the tests and at the beginning of the serial production it was clear to all concerned that if it is to be out of the new airplane a really good fighter, there must be fundamental alteration. A constant source of problems and frequent breakdowns remained primarily a long telescopic car chassis, further it was a bad view and also the engine. The first two here mentioned deficiencies prototype N1K2-J carrying a fighting name 紫電改 - Shiden Kai. The designers proceeded to a fundamental modification, in which the wing is moved from the středoplošné position to the conditions the low wing and at the same time, there has been an extension of the hull about 460 mm. Thanks to these changes could be removed long and complex chassis, at the same time, this was amplified by the removal of almost all the troubles with the landing gear, remained perhaps, only a leak in the hydraulic system, but it was a defect inherent in all japanese retractable undercarriage systems. By changing the configuration of the pilots relaxed and the view from the cabin and thanks to the improved fairing of the engine decreased aerodynamic resistance and maximum speed increased by 10 km/h. In terms of technology there has been a simplification of the construction and declined and production performance. The new Shiden Kai was compared to older Shidenům more reliable and more powerful fighter, it is therefore not surprising that Kaigun Kōkū Hombu tried to make this aircraft received to combat units in what may be the highest possible amount. In the production engage the two factories of the company Kawanishi, the factory in the Naruo made in August 1945 361 aircraft, in Himei ran until July still manufacture the older version of the N1K1-J, and so this factory only built 44 aircraft Shiden Kai, their production took place here from march to July 1945. Shiden Kai was to be produced in the form of license production with several producers, but the preparation for the serial production of a new type of aircraft was time-consuming, and it is time the Japanese did not have. The production is so involved, or more rightly should involve other manufacturers, who are listed in a previous post. A total of were produced 428 aircraft Shiden Kai, and again, all versions are described in a previous post.

Rating:

What is certain is that the inclusion of Shidenů and mainly a more modern version of the Shiden Kai received a modern fighter with decent performance, good armament and effective passive protection, this fighter is equalized for example, an on-board Hellcatům and he was also a capable opponent for a fighter the the F4U-1 Corsair. Against Broncos is advocated, even worse, Mustang had been on its side the advantage of the higher speed and better overall high-rise properties. In the attack on the B-29 depend on the operating height of the nalétávajících unions bombers, in large operational altitudes was losing engine Homar 21 breath. Not very big výškovost this engine became the subject for the projects of high-rise versions of the Shidenu, which should be oháněny versions of the engine Homar 44 (Ha-45-44) with třírychlostím a compressor or a motor MK9ARu turbocharged engines. From the allied pilots, however, Shidenům and in particular Shidenům Kai got recognition and well-deserved respect, the aircraft was well armed and, thanks to its solid construction take considerable damage in the fight, which was not the case for the japanese fighters, the usual. The allied intelligence service, both versions of the assigned code name George.
Unlike many other authors, you won't compare Shideny with other contemporary japanese fighters. According to me depend on the sources from which it was drawn. I read that the Shiden and in particular, the Shiden Kai's topped Raideny in all respects, but already by simply comparing the performance, we find that Raideny a better soared, were slightly faster and sometimes slightly surpassed its competitor in dostupu, other times it was vice versa (depend on a specific version). Shiden has always had on its side the advantage of a longer range. Some sources write about the Shidenech as the best naval fighter jets, others state that " ...if a pilot had to choose, prefer, would fighter Raiden." Here, according to me were up to it, with which the pilots, who the author spoke, and it was only a very few pilots (perhaps just the test), who would fly both of these types, to allow such evaluation of the objective. The truth is that the Shiden was more versatile property as a fighter, whereas Raiden was more overflow fighter, he was for this task from the very beginning designed. Another substantial advantage on your side Shideny, which was a total made 1 435, whereas Raidenů only 480, the Shiden was much more widespread than Raiden and the biggest promotion for Shideny was the successful deployment of the "Genda circus" - 343. Kōkūtai (第三四三海軍航空隊 Dai San-Yon-San Kaigun Kōkūtai), let me remind that this was an elite unit, in which was 15% of the most experienced pilots – veterans and approximately 30% already in the fight of best pilots, many of whom have achieved five victories and earned the status of fighter ace.

Operational deployment:

The first unit armed with Shideny was 341. Kōkūtai (401., 402. and 701. Hikōtai), compiled was 15. November 1943, in its arsenal had the first Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen/ Zero, you have been in February 1944 replaced by Shideny. Combat baptism had its first pilots 401. Hikōtai, it happened 12. October 1944 over Taiwan. Indeed, a great struggle took place over the Philippines, here against american aircraft fought 201. Kōkūtai, which had a base on the Cebu and help was sent to 341. Kōkūtai, which operated from a base Mobalacat. These two units, however, could not long withstand the vast superiority of the american aircraft. The highest percentage of losses suffered Shideny on the ground, where they were destroyed by us air raids-flight aircraft, a large proportion of the losses were technical defects and especially defects on the chassis, which harm and use brakes when landing. After three months of fighting were the remnants of both regiments withdrawn on the Okinawa, where were added and dozbrojeny. 6. April 1945, these forces have been once again in the fight and once again, they were heavily decimated by the us outnumbered. After the conquest of Okinawa were the remaining aircraft withdrawn to Japan. The third and undoubtedly the most famous unit, which had in its arsenal particular more modern aircraft Shiden Kai was 343. Kōkūtai under the leadership of (海軍大佐 Kaigun Daisa) sea captain Minoru Gendy. Genda created the unit of the most experienced and successful pilots, ground staff your levels match the quality of the pilots. In its ranks served (海軍少尉 Kaigun Shōi) ensign Mutō Kaneyoshi (28 setřelů), which is at its Shidenu himself faced with a dozen Hellcatů four of which he shot down and others have left the fight. The command staff gets left behind: the chief of staff was (海軍少佐 Kaigun Shōsa) lieutenant commander Shiga Yoshio with 6 kills, commander of the 301. Hikōtai was (海軍中尉 Kaigun Chūi ) lieutenant Kanno Naoshi with 48 kills, commander of the 407. Hikōtai was (海軍中尉 Kaigun Chūi ) lieutenant Yoshishige Hayashi with 5 kills, the commander of 701. Hikōtai was (海軍中尉 Kaigun Chūi ) Oshibuchi Takashi with 6 kills. Officer training was (海軍中尉 Kaigun Chūi) lieutenant Sakai Saburō – a veteran and an ace with 64 victories.
Even outstanding pilots of this unit failed to reverse the dominance of the allied air force over Japan, although the enemy inflicted significant losses..
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Použité prameny:


René J. Francillon Ph.D., Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, Naval Institute Press, 1987, Reprinted 1990, ISBN: 0-87021-313-X.
William Green a Gordon Swanborough, The Complete Book of Fighters, Salamander Books Ltd., New Ed edition, 2001, ISBN-10: 1840652691
Václav Němeček, Vojenská letadla 3 díl, druhé doplněné vydání, Naše Vojsko, Praha 1992, ISBN 80-206-0117-1
Tadeusz Januszewski a Kryzysztof Zalewski, Japońskie samoloty marynarski 1912-1945 tiel 2, Lampart, rok 2000, ISBN 83-86776-00-05
René J. Francillon Ph.D., Kawanishi Kyofu / Rex & Shiden/ George, Aircraft in Profile No. 213, Windsor, Berkshire, UK, Profile Publications Ltd., rok 1971
Famous Airplanes of the World, No.53, Kyofu, Shiden, Shidenkai, 1995-7, Bunrin-Do Co. Ltd., Japan
Henry Sakada a Kódži Takaki, Gendův meč (343.Kókútai-jednotka leteckých es), Deus, 2008, ISBN: 978-80-87087-19-0
Henry Sakaida, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 22. Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937 – 45, First Edition, Published 1998, Osprey Publishing, ISBN: 1-85532-727-9
L+K 21/1974, Letadla 1939-1945
http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijna/n1k-j.htm
http://www.airtoaircombat.com/detail.asp?id=317
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawanishi_N1K-J
www.xs4all.nl
http://www.cofe.ru/avia/K/K-17.htm
http://avions.legendaires.free.fr/n1k1.php
www.daveswarbirds.com
http://www.ijnafpics.com/jbwn1k1.htm
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/n1kj.html
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=99933
en.wikipedia.org
archiv autora
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