N1K2-Ja

This page is about the Japanese fighter N1K2-Ja. For other variants, see N1K (Family).

N1K2-Ja

N1K2-J

Kikka

N1K2-Ja

N1K2-J

Kikka

Japan

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
6.0	6.0	6.3

Class:

Fighter

Research:35 000

Purchase:210 000

Description

The N1K2-Ja, designated as Shiden Kai Mod. 21 Ko (紫電改二一型甲), was a minor modification of the N1K2-J. It increased the bomb load capacity, allowing for either four 60 kg bombs or two 250 kg bombs, and reduced the vertical stabilizer area by 13% by cutting the leading edge. This change improved the aircraft's balance between manoeuvrability and stability, making it an even more versatile fighter.

It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. The Shiden Kai is a challenging aircraft to master. It has superior manoeuvrability over early jets, but they have a significant speed advantage. The only jet that can rival its agility is the Yak-15, but it suffers from low speed, climb rate, and ammunition. The N1K2-Ja can easily outperform most conventional propeller planes, but it faces difficulties against other superprops, which have better overall performance. The N1K2-Ja should rely on its mid-speed handling to gain the upper hand in dogfights. In ground battles, it can excel as a fighter-bomber employing two 250 kg bombs or Type 5 rockets next to its four 20 mm cannons which can load a solid belt of APHE which can reliably destroy soft targets and top-down medium armoured vehicles.

Nicknames

• Official Designation: 紫電改 (Shiden Kai, "Violet Lightning, Improved")
• Allied reporting name: George

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 6 000 m650 km/h

Turn time19 s

Max altitude11 000 m

EngineNakajima Homare 21

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight4 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 6,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	626	610	11000	19.8	20.4	14.2	14.2	300
Upgraded	675	650		18.5	19.0	23.2	18.2

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	450	498	469	320	~12	~10

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 430	< 460	< 400	> 324

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear450 km/h

• 70 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
• 12 mm Steel plate in pilot's seat
• Engine fire system (EFS)

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 050 → 4 099

RB7 069 → 9 500

SB11 223 → 15 083

Total cost of modifications61 800

102 600

Talisman cost1 800

Crew training61 000

Experts210 000

Aces1 200

Research Aces570 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

110 / 240 / 530 %

178 / 178 / 178 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 4 100 Cost: 6 800 310 Radiator Research: 4 100 Cost: 6 800 310 Airframe Research: 3 500 Cost: 5 800 260 Compressor Research: 3 500 Cost: 5 800 260 Wings repair Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 230 Engine Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 230 Cover Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 300 Engine injection Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 300	EFS Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 300	Type 3 No.1 Mod.28 Mk.1 rockets Research: 4 100 Cost: 6 800 310 Type 5 No.1 Mod.9 rockets Research: 3 500 Cost: 5 800 260 7 in (mod20) Research: 3 500 Cost: 5 800 260 type99mk2_belt_pack Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 230 Type 3 No.6 Mod.27 Mk.1 rockets Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 230 12 in (mod30) Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 230 type99mk2_new_gun Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 300 Type 5 No.6 Mod.9 rockets Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 300

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 14 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannon

Ammunition900 rounds

Fire rate490 shots/min

The N1K2-Ja is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons, wing-mounted (250 rpg outer + 200 rpg inner = 900 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (6)

Setup 14 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 ground bomb

Setup 22 x 250 kg Navy Type 98 Number 25 bomb

Setup 32 x Type 3 No.1 Mod.28 Mk.1 rockets

Setup 42 x Type 5 No.1 Mod.9 rockets

Setup 52 x Type 3 No.6 Mod.27 Mk.1 rockets

Setup 62 x Type 5 No.6 Mod.9 rockets

The N1K2-Ja can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 4 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (240 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg Navy Type 98 Number 25 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x Type 3 No.1 Mod.28 Mk.1 rockets
• 2 x Type 5 No.1 Mod.9 rockets
• 2 x Type 3 No.6 Mod.27 Mk.1 rockets
• 2 x Type 5 No.6 Mod.9 rockets

Usage in battles

The N1K2-Ja is a very tricky aircraft to use. It can face early jet fighters such as the F-80A-5, Yak-15/17, He 162, J/A21R, and in Arcade, the F-84B-26. These jet aircraft hold a hefty speed advantage over the Shiden-Kai, but typically have very poor manoeuvrability, meaning the N1K pilot can abuse its excellent handling at medium speeds and shred the previously mentioned jets if their pilots are foolish enough to try and turn-fight. The one exception to this is the Yak-15, which retains the turning abilities of its airframe; the Yak-3. However, the Yak-15 suffers from a relatively low top speed and climb rate for a jet, along with sub-par vertical energy retention. Above all those, its ammunition pool is abysmal at only 120 rounds total, meaning the N1K2 pilot could potentially win an engagement just by remaining difficult to hit.

Although it can fight admirably against jets, the N1K2-Ja will find itself coming up short against many of the other nation's top tier superprops. It cannot keep up with the P-51H, F4U-4B, F8F, I-225, La-9, Tempests, Griffon Spitfires, G.56, late Bf 109s, or Fw 190 D's of its tier. Fortunately, most of the previously mentioned aircraft cannot turn with the N1K2, so the Shiden-Kai can use its superb mid-speed manoeuvrability to turn circles around its opponents. The main exception to this is the uncommon G.56, which is the closest thing the N1K2 has to a hard counter. It can turn with it, outspeed it, out-dive it, beat it in an energy fight and shred it with the triad of 20 mm MG 151s, so it is highly recommended to either avoid the G.56 or take it out while it's preoccupied with a teammate.

The N1K2-Ja can take on a relatively new role for Japanese fighters; a fighter/bomber. With its ability to mount 2 x 250 kg bombs or two of the massive Type 5 No.6 rockets, the N1K2 can be Japan's best ground attacker and will make enemy tanks quake in fear. The Type 98 Number 25 bombs are roughly equivalent to the American AN-M64A1 500 lb bombs, and are mounted on wing racks, allowing for precise bomb placement on targets. On the flip-side, the Type 5 No.6 rockets have no direct comparison but play somewhat similarly to a watered-down American Tiny Tim rocket or Swedish hprak m/49 rocket. Despite their relatively low velocity and higher weight, they are still quite accurate and are able to be launched quite close to the target with minimal threat of self-damage.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Flight performance
  • Reasonable manoeuvrability at medium speeds (300-500 km/h)
  • Great energy retention
  • Solid acceleration once upgraded
  • Combat flaps are efficient while in dogfighting
  • Decent rate of climb
  • Relatively good diving characteristics for a Japanese aircraft
• Armament
  • Absurd amount of ammunition (200-250 rpg with 900 rounds in total)
  • Cannons themselves are reasonable in all aspects, and take far longer to jam than their contemporaries

Cons:

• Flight performance
  • Mediocre roll rate
  • Severely stiffens at higher speeds
  • Can be outmanoeuvred easily by the fighters at its tier if not used correctly
  • Unless approached correctly, completely outclassed by the Spitfire Mk. IX and F8Fs
• Stock grind can be outright painful
  • Weak stock belts, which require a tier III modification to upgrade
• Can catch on fire easily, and often gets destroyed in the process
• Often faces jets
• Slow in comparison of what it has to face

History

Archive of the in-game description

Kawanishi Shiden-Kai Model 21Ko, Kawanishi N1K2-Ja (code name "George") Marine Interceptor-Fighter This fighter-bomber version of the N1K2, the N1K2-Ja Model 21Ko, was developed at the time the N1K2-J began production. The main difference between the two planes was the 21Ko's steel underwing pylons. This Shiden-Kai could carry four 250-kg bombs, two under each wing, or two 500-kg bombs, or two or four 60-kg bombs. It could also carry unguided rockets, like the N1K2-J. The N1K2-Ja could be visibly distinguished from its predecessor by the lower position and reduced area of its horizontal fin. Upon its success in factory testing, the N1K2-J was selected by the Japanese Imperial Navy as its primary fighter and fighter-bomber. The Navy's plan was to launch large-scale mass production of the Shiden-Kai, but its production was always behind schedule. The situation became more critical when American B-29 Superfortress bombers began attacking Japanese industrial sites. The attacks did not target the production facilities containing the Shiden-Kai assembly lines, but supply companies were attacked, leading to a shortage of sheet metal, forged steel, stamped aluminum, and engine and chassis parts. N1K1-J fighters were first used in battle near Lake Sebu in October 1944, then used en masse in the Philippines. From the end of 1944 on, the N1K1-J and N1K2-J aircraft were primarily used for the defense of the Japanese homeland. The most famous squadron of Shiden-Kai was formed in December 1944. Known as the 343rd Kokutai, it was under the command of the most experienced Japanese naval commander, Minoru Genda. His squadron consisted of Japanese aces, and their planes were all N1K2-Js. This "Genda's Blade" squadron was known as a squadron of experts, the elite of the Imperial Navy's aviators. The Americans quickly felt their skill in battle. For instance, in February of 1945, Midshipman Kaneyoshi "Kinsuke" Muto, piloting an N1K2-Ja, single-handedly attacked 10 F6F Hellcats, shooting four of them down and forcing the others to retreat. The Shiden-Kai was an extremely unpleasant surprise for the Americans. The original Shiden was good, but this model, free of its predecessor's "childhood illnesses", was superb. It would soon become clear that even a pilot of average skill in a Shiden-Kai could challenge any Allied fighter, even the P-51 Mustang, which began its fight in the skies over Japan in the spring of 1945. Production of the N1K2-J ended after Japan surrendered. In all, 1,435 Shidens of all variants were constructed, including 998 N1K1-Js and 415 N1K2-Js.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the N1K2-Ja from live.warthunder.com.

Market

Camo "Primary Trainer"

See also

Related Development

• N1K1 - (Kyofu Model 11; Base hydroplane model)
• N1K1-Ja - (Shiden Model 11A; N1K1-J with 7.7mm's removed from the fuselage and 4x20mm in the wings)
• N1K2-J - (Shiden Kai Model 21; Redesigned wings and fuselage)

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

Kawanishi Aircraft Company (川西航空機)
Fighters	J6K1
N1K	N1K1-Ja · N1K2-J · N1K2-Ja
Bombers	H6K4 · H8K2 · H8K3
Hydroplane	N1K1 · E7K2