The SHIDENKAI was a Imperial Japanese Navy Fighter (Interceptor) developed from the earlier Kyofu Floatplane fighter design. The IJN (Imperial Japanese Navy) was a early and enthusiastic proponent for the float plane concept using such designs in reconnaissance, interception and attack roles. In 1940, as planning was underway for further Japanese military thrusts into the Western Pacific and South East Asia, IJN planner foresaw a need for a naval fighter that would 1) be quickly able to seize temporary air superiority from the enemy during rapid advances while the forward front line area could send Japanese engineers to build air bases for more substantial and permanent air operations 2) not to be dependent on aircraft carriers, for which IJN planners had need for other operating missions. Toward this end the IJN determined the need for a new float plane fighter design for the role. In September 1940, the IJN commissioned the Kawanishi Aircraft Company- which had extensive experience in float plane and flying boat manufacturing- to design and construct a prototype which became known as the type 15 Float Plane fighter. IJN design specs for the prototype were ambitious calling for the speed equivalent to the Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden Interceptor design also under development. Forseeing a lengthy gestation period for the Type 15, the IJN called for a float plane version of its mainstay Zero fighter (Model 11) to serve as a transition period/ stop gap design to fulfill its fighter plane role until the Type 15 was ready for mass production and combat operations. In December 1943 the development of the Kawanishi float plane fighter was at last finished, and the design was adopted and christened the Kyofu (Powerful Wind) by the IJN. However, by this point in the war the Japanese were not making rapid advances in the Pacific and were in fact on the defensive role in many areas of the Pacific and the thoughts of 1941 had changed as now the IJN believed a land based fighter would be more effective since many of Japans front line carriers had been sunk by this time of the war. The proposal was approved by the IJN on the spot and the design elements of the Type 15 float plane was immediately incorporated into a land based fighter using the Kyofu design and with modifications the new land based fighter was christened Shiden (Purple Lightning). The floats were disposed of and a new landing gear design was incorporated into the air frame with landing gear wheel wells as well as keeping the Kyoufus innovative combat flap system. Additionally the Kyofus Kasei engine was replaced in the Shiden with a Homare engine which had a smaller circumference thus allowing for the frontal fuselage area to be narrowed considerably thus improving aerodynamic characteristics. The Shiden prototype was completed on December 27th, 1942, making its maiden flight from Osakas Itami Airfield four days later. However some teething problems remained, for one, the Homare engine gave the development team continuous head aches. Also, the overly long and fragile landing gear arrangement required by the mid fuselage placement of the main wings on the original Kyofu design was the cause of several serious accidents during testing. Never the less, due to delays of the development of the Raiden interceptor, the IJN went ahead and pressed the rival Kawanishi design into service as the Shiden Model 11, beginning in July 1943. However the design team was never satisfied with the landing gear design and a new retractable system was put into the next design as the long landing gear when retracted actually reduced its size by periscoping into a tube housing thus making the landing gear smaller upon retracting into the wing and fuselage. After this change the new fighter was christened the Kawanishi N1K2-J ShidenKai Land Based interceptor #1. After improvements were made to the temperamental combat flaps the new fighter had its maiden flight by combat pilots who commented favorably on the fighters performance and Kawanishi was ordered to put into full scale production the N1K2-J Model 21 (ShidenKai- Kai meaning improved or upgraded in Japanese design parlance. The ShidenKai was superior in almost every aspect of the Zero except in operational range. The armament of this fighter was upgraded to 4 20 mm cannons with the most famous group using the new fighter was the 343rd Flying Group based in Matsuyama, Shikoku Perfecture- a strategically important city commanding the southern approaches to Japans Inland Sea. On March 19th, 1945, 343rd FG (Fighter Group) 54 scrambled to intercept a American raiding force of F6F Hellcats, F4U Corsairs and SB2C Helldivers. In the ensuing combat, the ShindenKais shot down a astounding 52 of the attacking American aircraft, as this days performance ensured that the ShidenKai would go down in history as one of the great fighters of the Pacific War!
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 03:37:17 +0000
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