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| Japanese Aircraft |
| Kawanishi N1K2-J (Violet Lighting, improved) "George" |
| Specs: Weight- 5,858 empty/ 9,039 fully loaded (2,663/ 4,109 kg) Wing Span- 39 feet 3.75 inches (12m) Length- 30 feet 8 inches (9.3 m) Engine- Nakajima NK9H 21 18 cly. Radial air cooled (1,990 hp) with War Emengancy Power Armament- Four 20 mm Type 99 (Oerlikon) cannon plus wing racks for four 132 lb or 2 550 lb bombs Max Speed @ altitude- 322 kts/370mph (595km/h) @ 18,370 ft (5,599m) Ceiling- 39,698 ft (12,100m) Initial climb rate- 3,300 ft (1,000m)/min Range- 1,069mi (1,720 m) |
| One of the best late war Japanese Navy fighters, the Shiden could match the performance of any Allied fighter in terms of speed, manueverability, and armament.In the original N1K1 Shiden, engine reliability problems and mid wing configuration with long, collapse-prone landing gear were balanced by these elements Mass production plans for the improved N1K2-J Shiden-Kai came to naught as the Allies closed in on Japan, and a total of just 400 of these advanced fighters had been built. Because ot the lack of experanced pilots, some of these execlent aircraft had been expended in the Kamikaze role. any pilot who met this improved "george" in combat had his hands full. |
| Strengths -Excellent speed and maneuverability - four 20mm cannons provide heavy firepower |
| Weaknesses - Poor engine reliabilty - only about 500 rds (125 r.p.g.) |
| Nakajima Ki-43-IIb Hayabusa (Peregrine Falcon) "Oscar" (Japanese Army) |
| Specs: Weight- 4,211 empty/5,710 lbs fully loaded (1,910/2,590 kg) Wing Span-35 feet 6.75 inches (10.8 m) Length- 29 feet 3.3 inches (8.9m) Engine- Nakajima Sakae 21 14 cyl. air cooled radial (1,130hp) Armament- two 12.7mm (.50 cal) Type 1 machine guns on nose w/250 r.p.g.and two 550 lb (250kg) bombs Max Speed @ altitude- 286 kts/329 mph (530 km/h) @ 13,125 ft (4,000m) Ceiling-36,750 ft (11,200 m) Initial climb rate 3,250 ft (990m)/min Range-1,095 mi (1,760km) w/drop tanks 1,990 mi (3200 km) |
| The Hayabusa was Japan's most numerous fighter. This Army equivalant of the Mitsubishi Zero was even more lighter and more maneuverable than its navy counterpart, and it shared many of the same strengths and weaknesses. Japanese Army Air Force pilots used its superb low-speed maneuverability to good effect, but its Spad-like armament of two nose mounted machine guns delivered comparatively little punch even when uprated in the IIb model from 7.7mm to 12.7 mm. Hellcats, Corsairs,and P-38 Lightnings could use there superior speed and firepower to engage the Oscar successfully, and took very few hits to reduce this nimble but fragile fighter to flaming wreckage |
| Strengths - Excellent manueverability up to 261 kts - Superior climb rate up to 15,000 ft - Long range at lower speeds |
| Weaknesses - Light construction, low survivability - No armor or self-sealing tanks - Poor dive characteristics |
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