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Japan's Nakajima J1N escort fighter1
J1N1-S Model 11 Gekko (moonlight)1
Nakajima Night Fighter Gekkō (moonlight)2
Allied Name: "Irving"1
Nakajima J1N fighter: |
Nakajima J1N fighter: |
Nakajima J1N fighter: |
Mitsubishi G4M bombers surrounding a Nakajima J1N: |
Design
The design of the Nakajima J1N started in 1938 and it was to be a land based long range escort for the Imperial Japanese Navy.1 It was to escort bombers on long range missions.2
Night Fighter
LCDR Kozono equipped a J1N with oblique firing machines guns.2 It proved successful and more planes were converted.2
Prototype
The first flight of the J1N prototype was in May 1941.1
Production
J1Ns were first delivered in August 1942.1 The J1N1-S was first delivered in August 1943.1,2
Production ended in December 1944.1
- Prototypes: 21
- J1N1-S/Sa: ~4201
- Total: 4772, 4791
Variants
- Prototype: Had Sakae 21/22 engines.1 The propellers rotated in opposite directions.1 There were dorsal barbettes that were remotely controlled that contained the armament.1
- J1N1-C: Reconnaissance.1 Armament was removed.1 Drop tanks could be placed under the center sections of the wings.1
- J1N1-C KAI: Night fighter.1 Field modified.1 Obliquely mounted 20 mm cannon.1
- J1N1-R: Reconnaissance.1 The C model became the R model.1
- J1N1-S Model 11: Night fighter.1 The step in the upper rear fuselage was removed.1 Had two downward firing 20 mm cannons, but these were often removed in the field.1
- J1N1-Sa: Night fighter.1 No downward firing guns.1
Usage
Solomons
Allied forces first encountered the J1N over the Solomons.1
Anti-Bomber
The J1N1-S Gekkos were able to go up against the B-24 Liberators used in the southwest Pacific. Later when used as home island defensive fighters the J1N1-S were unable to be effective against the B-29 Superfortresses.1
| Nakajima J1N1 | Nakajima J1N11 | Nakajima J1N1-C/R1 | Nakajima J1N1-S/Sa1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Escort fighter1 | Reconnaissance1 | Night fighter1 | |
| Crew | 2 or 31 | 31 | ||
| Engine (Type) | 2: Nakajima Nk1F Sakae 211 | 2: Homare Model 212 | ||
| Cylinders | Radial 141 | |||
| Cooling | ||||
| Net HP | 1,130 each1 | 1,100 each2 | ||
| Propeller blades | 3 each1 | |||
| Fuel capacity | ||||
| Dimensions | ||||
| Span | 55' 8.5"1 16.98 m1 |
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| Length | 39' 11.5"1 12.18 m1 |
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| Height | 14' 11.5"1 4.56 m1 |
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| Wing area | ||||
| Weight | ||||
| Empty | 10,670 lb1 4,840 kg1 |
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| Loaded | 15,454 lb1 7,010 kg1 |
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| Maximum load | 18,043 lb1 8,184 kg1 |
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| Performance | ||||
| Speed | 500 kph2 | |||
| Speed @ 19,160' / 5,840 m |
315 mph1 507 kph1 |
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| Cruising speed | 207 mph1 333 kph1 |
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| Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m |
9.6 minutes1 | |||
| Service ceiling | 30,610'1 9,330 m1 |
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| Range | 1,585 miles1 2,550 km1 |
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| Maximum range | 2,330 miles1 3,750 km1 |
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| Armament | ||||
| Upward firing | 2: 20 mm1 | |||
| Downward firing | 2: 20 mm1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II, Ikuhiko Hata, Yasuho Izawa, 1989
