Mitsubishi J2M

J2M Raiden

Picture - Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (Allied code name "Jack")

Role: Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi
First flight: 20 March 1942
Introduction: December 1942
Retired: August 1945
Primary user: Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (Imperial Japanese Navy)
Number built: 621

The Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (é›·é›», "Thunderbolt") was a single-engined land-based fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allied reporting name was "Jack".

Design and development

The J2M was designed by Jiro Horikoshi, creator of the A6M Zero to meet the 14-Shi (14th year of the Showa reign, or 1939) official specification. It was to be a strictly local-defense interceptor, intended to counter the threat of high-altitude bomber raids, and thus relied on speed, climb performance, and armament at the expense of maneuverability. The J2M was a sleek, but stubby craft with its over-sized Mitsubishi Kasei engine buried behind a long cowling, cooled by an intake fan and connected to the propeller with a long extension shaft. Pilot visibility was poor, but a domed canopy introduced later in production partially alleviated this concern.

Teething development problems stemming from the Kasei engine, unreliable propeller pitch change mechanism and the main undercarriage members led to a slowdown in production. A continual set of modifications resulted in new variants being introduced with the ultimate high-altitude variant, the J2M4 Model 34 flying for the first time in August 1944. It had a 1,420 hp Kasei 23c engine equipped with a turbo supercharger (mounted in the side of the fuselage just behind the engine) that allowed the rated power to be maintained up to 30,000 ft. Two oblique-firing (aimed at 70 degrees) 20 mm cannons were fitted behind the cockpit with the four wing cannons retained. Unresolved difficulties with the turbo supercharger caused the project to be terminated after only two experimental J2M4s were built.

Production

A total of 621 aircraft were built by Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K in Nagoya and Suzuka plants. 128 J2M3 were built by Koza Kaigun Kokusho (Koza Naval Air Arsenal)(based upon USSBS Pacific War, Reports Nos. 16 and 34)

J2M1 - 8 aircraft.
J2M2 - 131 aircraft. (approximately)
J2M3 - 307 aircraft built by Mitsubishi and 128 aircraft built by Koza KK.
J2M4 - 2 aircraft. (including one J2M3 converted to J2M4 standard)
J2M5 - 43 aircraft.
J2M6 - 2 aircraft.

Operational history

The first few produced J2M2 were delivered to the development units in December 1942 but severe problems were encountered with the engines. Trials and improvements took almost a year and the first batch of the serial built J2M2 Model 11 was delivered to 381st Kokutai in December 1943. Parallel with the J2M2, production of the J2M3 Raiden Model 21 started. The first J2M3 appeared in October 1943 but deliveries to combat units started at the beginning of February 1944.

The Raiden made its combat debut in June 1944 during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Several J2Ms operated from Guam and Saipan and a small number of aircraft were deployed to the Philippines. Later, some J2Ms were based in Chosen airfields, Genzan (Wonsan), Ranan (Nanam), Funei (Nuren), Rashin (Najin) and Konan under Genzan Ku, for defending these areas and fighting against Soviet Naval Aviation units.

Primarily designed to defend against the B-29 Superfortress, the lack of a supercharger handicapped the aircraft at high altitude. However, its four-cannon armament supplied effective firepower and the use of dive and zoom tactics allowed it to score occasionally. Insufficient numbers and the American switch to night bombing in March 1945 limited its effectiveness. Even in the most expert hands it was vulnerable to the P-51D Mustang, primarily at high altitude.

Captured J2M was U.S. Technical Air Intelligence Command (TAIC) tested in the 92 octane fuel plus methanol, and J2M2 (Jack11) achieved a speed of 655 km/h (407 mph) at 5,520 m (17,400 ft), and J2M3 (Jack21) achieved a speed of 671 km/h (417 mph) at 4,980 m (16,600 ft).

Variants

J2M1
Prototype fitted with the 1,044 kW (1,400 hp) Mitsubishi MK4C Kasei 13 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, and armed with two 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 97 machine guns in the upper fuselage and two wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model II cannon.
J2M2 Model 11
Fitted with the 1,357 kW (1,820 hp) Mitsubishi MK4R-A Kasei 23a 14-cylinder radial engine, same armament as the J2M1.
J2M3 Model 21
Mitsubishi MK4R-A Kasei 23a engine, two wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model II cannon and two wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model I cannon.
J2M3a Model 21A
Mitsubishi MK4R-A Kasei 23a engine, four wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model II cannon.
J2M4 Model 32
Prototype fitted with the 1,357 kW (1,820 hp) Mitsubishi MK4R-C Kasei 23c engine. Many armament configurations have been reported, e.g., fuselage-mounted oblique-firing 20 mm Type 99 Model I cannon designed to fire upward as it passed underneath a bomber, two wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model II cannon, and two wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model I cannon (some J2M3s were also modified in the field to this configuration). However, no solid evidence exists that the prototypes ever flew armed.
J2M5 Model 33
High altitude version powered by 1,357 kW (1,820 hp) Mitsubishi MK4U-A Kasei 26a engine with mecaically driven supercharger, giving increased speed at height at the expense of shorter range (just over half that of the J2M2 and J2M3). Two 20 mm Type 99 cannon in fuselage, two 20 mm Type 99 Model II cannon in wings.
J2M5a Model 33A
Four wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model II cannon. Now, all four wing cannon were harmonized in trajectory and ballistics performance like the Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden fighters, but with more ammunition than they had (200 v. 70-125 rpg). The 20x101 mm cartridge gave the 128 g HE (6-8%) projectile an effective range of 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and a muzzle velocity of 750 m/s. The rate of fire was only 500 rpm each however (down from 520 rpm for the Type 99 Model I which only had a muzzle velocity of 600 m/s and a range of 730 m/2,400 ft with its 20x72 mm cartridge).
J2M6 Model 31
Chronologically earlier than J2M4 and J2M5 this version was based on J2M3. Had wider cockpit and improved bubble canopy later used in J2M3 built since July 1943.
J2M6a Model 31A
Chronologically earlier than J2M4 and J2M5 this version was based on J2M3a. Had wider cockpit and improved bubble canopy later used in J2M3a built since July 1943. One J2M6a was built.
J2M7 Model 23A
J2M3 powered by Kasei 26a engine, none built.
J2M7a Model 23A
J2M3a powered by Kasei 26a engine, none built.

Survivors

A surviving J2M is on display at the Planes of Fame museum in Chino, California.

Operators

Japan

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
256th Kokutai November 1944 - December 1945
301st Kokutai February 1944 - July 1945
302nd Kokutai March 1945 - August 1945
332nd Kokutai August 1944 - August 1945
352nd Kokutai August 1944 - August 1945
381st Kokutai End 1943 - April 1945
Yokosuka Kokutai
Yatabe Kokutai
Genzan Kokutai
Tainan Kokutai
Konoike Kokutai
Chushi Kokutai

Indonesia

In 1945, the Indonesian People's Security Force (IPSF) (Indonesian pro-independence guerrillas) captured a small number of aircraft at numerous Japanese air bases, including Bugis Air Base in Malang (repatriated 18 September 1945). Most aircraft were destroyed in military conflicts between the Netherlands and the newly proclaimed-Republic of Indonesia during the Indonesian National Revolution of 1945-1949.

Republic of Korea

The South Korean Air Force operated two captured examples after the war. Both aircraft were replaced in 1950 by P-51 Mustangs.

Specifications (J2M5)

Data from Mitsubishi J2m Raiden

General characteristics

Crew: one, pilot
Length: 9.70 m (32 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 10.80 m (35 ft 5 in)
Height: 3.81 m (13 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 20 m² (216 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,839 kg (6,259 lb)
Loaded weight: 3,482 kg (7,676 lb)
Powerplant: 1x— One 1,820 hp Mitsubishi MK4R-A Kasei 23a 14-cylinder two-row radial engine, 1,358 kW (1,820 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 612 km/h (332 kn, 382 mph)
Range: 560 km (302 nmi, 348 mi)
Service ceiling: 11,250 m (36,910 ft)
Rate of climb: 1,170 m/min (3,838 ft/min)
Wing loading: 174 kg/m² (35 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.39 kW/kg (0.24 hp/lb)

Armament

Guns: 4 x— 20 mm Type 99-2 cannons in the wings, two in each wing, inboard guns having 190 rpg, outboard guns 210 rpg.
Ordinance: 2 x— 60 kg (132 lb) bombs or 2 x— 200 L (53 US gal) drop tanks.

Comparable aircraft

Nakajima Ki-44
Nakajima Ki-84
Kawasaki Ki-100
Lavochkin La-7
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
North American P-51 Mustang

Bibliography

Air Enthusiast Magazine, July 1971.
The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft New York: Barnes & Noble, 1977. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London, Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970 ISBN 0-370-00033-1. (2nd edition 1979, ISBN 0-370-30251-6).
Green, William. Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (seventh impression 1973). ISBN 0-356-01447-9.
Pęczkowski, Robert. Mitsubishi J2M Raiden "Jack" (bilingual Polish/English). Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2004. ISBN 83-916327-7-6.

Mitsubishi J2M Pictures

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia