Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: Japan
Type: Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi J2M "Raiden" Aircraft Overview
The Mitsubishi J2M, also known as the “Raiden” (which means “Thunderbolt” in Japanese), was a single-seat fighter aircraft developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was designed to intercept Allied bombers at high altitude and to defend Japan against potential invasion.
The J2M had a unique design with a large, powerful engine mounted behind the cockpit, which gave it a distinctive humpbacked appearance. It was armed with four 20mm cannon and could also carry bombs or rockets for ground attack missions.
The J2M was a fast and agile fighter, with a top speed of around 595 km/h (370 mph) and a climb rate of over 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) per minute. However, it suffered from several design flaws, including poor cockpit visibility and a tendency to overheat in tropical climates.
Despite these issues, the J2M saw action in the latter part of World War II and was particularly effective against Allied bombers. However, it was outnumbered and outgunned by superior Allied fighters such as the P-51 Mustang and the F6F Hellcat.
Today, no J2Ms survive, although some wreckage has been recovered and restored by aviation enthusiasts. The J2M is remembered as a unique and innovative design that helped to advance Japanese fighter technology during World War II.
Mitsubishi J2M3 Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Length: 9.945 m (32 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in)
- Height: 3.81 m (12 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 20.05 m2 (215.8 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 2,839 kg (6,259 lb)
- Gross weight: 3,211 kg (7,079 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi MK4R-A Kasei 23a 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,300 kW (1,800 hp) for take-off. 1,174 kW (1,575 hp) at 1,800 m (5,906 ft). 1,051 kW (1,410 hp) at 4,800 m (15,748 ft)
- Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed metal propeller
Mitsubishi J2M3 Performance
- Maximum speed: 587 km/h (365 mph, 317 kn) at 5,300 m (17,388 ft)
- Cruise speed: 351 km/h (218 mph, 190 kn)
- Range: 1,898 km (1,179 mi, 1,025 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 11,700 m (38,400 ft)
- Time to altitude: 6,000 m (19,685 ft) in 6 minutes 14 seconds
- Wing loading: 171.3 kg/m2 (35.1 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.391 kW/kg (0.238 hp/lb)
Mitsubishi J2M3 Armament
- 2x 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 Mark 2 machine gun inboard wing-mounted with 190 rpg
- 2x Type 99 Mark 1 machine gun outboard wing-mounted with 210 rpg
- 2× 60 kg (132 lb) bombs
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- 2 × 200 L (53 US gal; 44 imp gal) drop tanks or a larger central drop tank.
