Kawanishi N1K2-Ja Shiden Kai (George)
Unit: Yokosuka Kokutai, Yokosuka Airfield, Japan April 1945
Pilot: unknown
The N1K2-Ja Shiden Kai (Japanese for "Violet Lightning") was the best fighter used in significant numbers by the Japanese Navy during World War II. Known by the Allies as the "George," this maneuverable, heavily-armed fighter was a formidable opponent in the closing months of the war.
The Shiden Kai was considerably better than the Japanese Navy's most common fighter, the A6M Zero. With a top speed of 369 mph, the N1K2a was about 20 mph faster than the A6M Zero. It had CO2 fire suppression systems in the fuel tanks so it did not burn easily like other Japanese fighters did. The N1K2-Ja was a further development of the N1K2-J, which incorporated 4 bomb shackles in the wing and a reduced horizontal tail span. The heavier Shiden Kai also possessed surprisingly good maneuverability due to a mercury switch that automatically extended the flaps during turns. These "combat" flaps created more lift, thereby allowing tighter turns. Moreover, its four 20 mm automatic cannon provided greatly increased firepower than earlier Japanese designs. Unlike the A6M Zero, the Shiden Kai could compete against the best late-war U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Air Forces fighters.
The Shiden Kai was developed to counter high-flying B-29s which brings into question why bomb shackles were added. In any case, these may never have been used in combat. It first entered combat early in 1945, and over 400 were produced before the war ended (200 of the N1K2-J and 200 of the N1K2-Ja). The Shiden Kai primarily equipped the 343rd Kokutai, a unit composed of the Japanese Navy's best fighter pilots, commanded by Capt. Minoru Genda, the mastermind of the Pearl Harbor attack. The 343rd Kokutai entered combat in March 1945 in the defense of the Japanese home islands.
The Yokosuka Kokutai, an evaluation and test unit similar in function to the USAAF's flight test unit at Wright Field also had Shiden Kai's on strength.
As a result of Japanese forces being pushed back on the battlefront, by the spring of 1945 Yokosuka Kokutai test pilots entered combat in a desperate defense against overwhelming Allied air attacks.
Credits
Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, VC, paint textures, drop tank, and .dp
Wolfi: Crew figure
Gauges by: ACWai, Wolfi and Microsoft
Prop spinning disc texture by:Kelticheart
Bombs by: Allen
Flight files: Microsoft stock with modifications.
Sound: Microsoft stock
Unit: Yokosuka Kokutai, Yokosuka Airfield, Japan April 1945
Pilot: unknown
The N1K2-Ja Shiden Kai (Japanese for "Violet Lightning") was the best fighter used in significant numbers by the Japanese Navy during World War II. Known by the Allies as the "George," this maneuverable, heavily-armed fighter was a formidable opponent in the closing months of the war.
The Shiden Kai was considerably better than the Japanese Navy's most common fighter, the A6M Zero. With a top speed of 369 mph, the N1K2a was about 20 mph faster than the A6M Zero. It had CO2 fire suppression systems in the fuel tanks so it did not burn easily like other Japanese fighters did. The N1K2-Ja was a further development of the N1K2-J, which incorporated 4 bomb shackles in the wing and a reduced horizontal tail span. The heavier Shiden Kai also possessed surprisingly good maneuverability due to a mercury switch that automatically extended the flaps during turns. These "combat" flaps created more lift, thereby allowing tighter turns. Moreover, its four 20 mm automatic cannon provided greatly increased firepower than earlier Japanese designs. Unlike the A6M Zero, the Shiden Kai could compete against the best late-war U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Air Forces fighters.
The Shiden Kai was developed to counter high-flying B-29s which brings into question why bomb shackles were added. In any case, these may never have been used in combat. It first entered combat early in 1945, and over 400 were produced before the war ended (200 of the N1K2-J and 200 of the N1K2-Ja). The Shiden Kai primarily equipped the 343rd Kokutai, a unit composed of the Japanese Navy's best fighter pilots, commanded by Capt. Minoru Genda, the mastermind of the Pearl Harbor attack. The 343rd Kokutai entered combat in March 1945 in the defense of the Japanese home islands.
The Yokosuka Kokutai, an evaluation and test unit similar in function to the USAAF's flight test unit at Wright Field also had Shiden Kai's on strength.
As a result of Japanese forces being pushed back on the battlefront, by the spring of 1945 Yokosuka Kokutai test pilots entered combat in a desperate defense against overwhelming Allied air attacks.
Credits
Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, VC, paint textures, drop tank, and .dp
Wolfi: Crew figure
Gauges by: ACWai, Wolfi and Microsoft
Prop spinning disc texture by:Kelticheart
Bombs by: Allen
Flight files: Microsoft stock with modifications.
Sound: Microsoft stock
