Tag: Imperial Japanese Navy

The Survivors: The Last Imperial Japanese Navy Aichi M6A1 Seiran Floatplane Bomber

Aichi M6A1 Seiran Smithsonian NASM

Imagine bomber aircraft being launched from Imperial Japanese Navy submarines at dawns early light or in total darkness, striking targets along the West coast of the United States and spreading chaos in their wake! That was what was intended with the design of the Aichi M6A1 Seiran (“Clear Sky Storm“) floatplane light bomber. The Seiran was… Read More The Survivors: The Last Imperial Japanese Navy Aichi M6A1 Seiran Floatplane Bomber

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The Survivors: Imperial Japanese Navy Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū Floatplane Fighter

Imperial Japanese Navy Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū aka "Rex" floatplane fighter on display at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas (September 2019)

Designed during World War Two to provide air cover for Imperial Japanese forces deployed for amphibious beach landings in advanced locations that lacked prepared airstrips or aircraft carriers, the Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū (“Strong Wind” or “Mighty Wind” depending on the translation, Allied reporting code name “Rex”) floatplane fighter must have seemed a great idea to the Imperial Japanese… Read More The Survivors: Imperial Japanese Navy Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū Floatplane Fighter

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The Survivors: Indonesia’s Imperial Japanese Eagle’s

Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi A6M Zero “Zeke” – Indonesian Air Force Museum, Yogyakarta (May 2018)

By the end of World War Two in 1945, the shackles of 3 years of Imperial Japanese Occupation of Indonesia (the Dutch East Indies) had been broken. A revolution towards independence was underway and despite Dutch efforts to retain their colonial holdings (supported by their British ally and even Japanese troops months after their official… Read More The Survivors: Indonesia’s Imperial Japanese Eagle’s

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The Survivors: Mitsubishi J8M Shusui – Imperial Japan’s Rocket Powered Interceptor

Mitsubishi J8M1 Shusui rocket powered interceptor – the Japanese licence-built version of the Me-163 - Planes of Fame Museum, Chino California 2015

Just as the Allies were keen to gather as much information as they could on German rocket and jet technology during World War Two, the Japanese were likewise seeking this very same technology to aid their war effort. Their need was out of desperation, being constantly pounded by Allied bombing raids and rapidly losing territory… Read More The Survivors: Mitsubishi J8M Shusui – Imperial Japan’s Rocket Powered Interceptor

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The Survivors: Mitsubishi J2M Raiden – The Last Japanese Thunderbolt

Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden (Jack) interceptor at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California in 2013

One of the better fighter designs operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War Two but not built in enough numbers, was the Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (“Thunderbolt” – Allied Code Name: Jack) land based interceptor used to attack Allied bombers such as the USAAF Boeing B-29 Superfortress. It was designed to be fast with… Read More The Survivors: Mitsubishi J2M Raiden – The Last Japanese Thunderbolt

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The Survivors: Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden Kai – When Violet Lightning Strikes!

Kawanishi N1K2-Ja Shiden Kai fighter of the elite Imperial Japanese Navy 343rd Kokutai at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida in 2011 - the powerful armament of 4 x 20mm Type 99 wing mounted cannons are evident

The Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden (“Violet Lightning“, Allied Code Name: George) and N1K2-J Shiden Kai (Modified) are regarded as the best land based fighter operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War Two. The George was reasonably fast (top speed 595 Km/h / 369 mph – a bit less than the planned 656 km/h /… Read More The Survivors: Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden Kai – When Violet Lightning Strikes!

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