Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai (George)

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紫電改

Aircraft Type
Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai fighter aircraft preserved at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai fighter aircraft preserved at the National Museum of the United States Air Force — U.S. Air Force (Public Domain)

The Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai was Japan's best late-war Navy fighter. Armed with four 20mm cannons and featuring an automatic combat flap system, only 415 were built before the war ended. It could match the F6F Hellcat and P-51 Mustang.

Class / type
川西航空機
Complement
1
Launched
1 January 1944
Commissioned / formed
1 January 1945
Armament
20mm機銃×4（翼内）、爆弾250kg×2

History

The Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai (紫電改, "Violet Lightning – Modified"), codenamed "George" by the Allies, was a redesigned version of the N1K1-J Shiden with a conventional low-wing layout replacing the troublesome mid-wing design. It first flew on January 1, 1944, was ordered into full production that April, and was formally adopted in January 1945.

The Shiden-Kai was armed with four wing-mounted 20mm Type 99 Mark 2 cannons and could carry two 250 kg bombs. Its Nakajima Homare 21 engine produced 1,990 hp, giving a maximum speed of 594 km/h. The automatic combat flap system, using a mercury-tilt sensor, significantly enhanced maneuverability in dogfights.

The 343rd Naval Air Group (剣部隊, "Sword Unit"), led by Captain Minoru Genda, was the premier Shiden-Kai unit. During the Battle of Kure on March 19, 1945, this unit claimed numerous victories against US Navy carrier aircraft. Only 415 N1K2-J were completed before war's end due to production difficulties and Allied bombing of factories.

Related sites (2)

  • Deployed33.827, 132.700

    Matsuyama Air Base, Ehime Prefecture – main base of the 343rd Naval Air Group (剣部隊), the elite Shiden-Kai unit, from January 1945.

  • Factory34.710, 135.370

    Kawanishi Aircraft Naruo Factory (川西航空機鳴尾工場) – primary N1K2-J production site, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

Sources

  1. 第三四三海軍航空隊 - Wikipedia（日本語版）Website
  2. 紫電改 - WikipediaWebsite
  3. Kawanishi N1K - WikipediaWebsite