©
1997 Joao Paulo Juliao Matsuura
Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden (Violet Lightning) and N1K2-J Shiden Kai
Allied Code Name: "George"
(Scanned from René J. Francillion "Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War" - Putnam - 1979)
UNITS ALLOCATED
201st, 341st, 343rd and Genzan Kokutais.
(Scanned from "Koku Fan Magazine" - Drawing by Kazuaki Koizumi)
TECHNICAL DATA
Description: Single-seat land-based interceptor fighter (N1K1-J, N1K2-J, N1K3-J, N1K4-J and N1K5-J), single-seat carrier-based fighter (N1K3-A and N1K4-A) or two-seat advanced fighter trainer (N1K2-K). All-metal construction.
Accomodation: Pilot in enclosed cockpit (all fighter versions), or pilot and instructor in enclosed tandem cockpits (N1K2-K).
- One Nakajima NK9B Homare 11 eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radial, rated at 1,820 hp for take-off, 1,600 hp at 2,000 m and 1,440 hp at 5,700 m, driving a four-blade metal propeller (N1K1-J prototypes).
- One Nakajima NK9H Homare 21 eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radial, rated at 1,990 hp for take-off, 1,825 hp at 1,750 m and 1,625 hp at 6,100 m, driving a four-blade metal propeller (production N1K1-J, N1K2-J, N1K2-K, N1K3-J and N1K3-A).
- One Nakajima NK9H-S Homare 23 eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radial, rated at 2,000 hp for take-off and 1,570 hp at 6,850 m, driving a four-blade metal propeller (N1K4-J and N1K4-A).
- One Mitsubishi [Ha-43] 11 (MK9A) eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radial, rated at 2,200 hp for take-off, 2,070 hp at 1,000 m and 1,800 hp at 6,000 m, driving a four-blade metal propeller (N1K5-J).
- One Nakajima Homare 44 eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radial, rated at 2,000 hp for take-off, 1,880 hp at 2,000 m and 1,800 hp at 8,000 m, driving a four-blade metal propeller (projected version).
- Two fuselage-mounted 7.7 mm Type 97 machine-guns and two wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannon in wing gondolas (N1K1-J prototypes).
- Two fuselage-mounted 7.7 mm Type 97 machine-guns, two wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannon and two 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannon in wing gondolas (N1K1-J).
- Four wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannon (N1K1-Ja, N1K1-Jb, N1K1-Jc, N1K2-J, N1K2-Ja and N1K2-K).
- Two fuselage-mounted 13.2 mm Type 3 machine-guns and four wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannon (N1K3, N1K3-A, N1K4-J, N1K4-A and N1K5-J).
- External stores: one 400 litre drop tank, or two 60 kg bombs (N1K1-J and N1K1-Ja), or two 250 kg bombs (N1K1-Jb, N1K2-J, N1K3-J, N1K3-A, N1K4-J, N1K4-A and N1K5-J), or four 250 kg bombs (N1K1-Jc and N1K2-Ja). One 250 kg and six air-to-ground rockets in ventral pannier (experimental installation on some N1K1-J).
