The Mitsubishi J2M Raiden 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".
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.
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. A total of 621 aircraft were built
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, Ranan, Funei, Rashin and Konan under Genzan Ku, for defending these areas and fighting against Soviet Naval Aviation units.
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: 1× 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
- 4 × 20 mm Type 99-2 cannons in the wings, two in each wing, inboard guns having 190 rpg, outboard guns 210 rpg.
- 2 × 60 kg (132 lb) bombs or 2 × 200 L (53 US gal) drop tanks.
** Mitsubishi J2M Raiden - Warbird Fare