The Killer Plane that Could Crush the Allies if it had Arrived Earlier

While the Mitsubishi Zero is Japan’s most famous WWII fighter, the Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden Kai (codenamed “George” by the Allies) holds the title of the country’s most advanced and powerful aircraft.

Japan’s Early Plans

In 1941, with Japan preparing for conflict against the United States, Kawanishi engineers proposed a land-based version of their N1K1 Kyofu floatplane, which had initially performed well in battle. However, the Kyofu’s bulk and awkward floats made it ineffective against newer, more agile American aircraft, forcing a redesign.

Engineers replaced the floats with a standard landing gear and fitted the plane with an 18-cylinder Homare engine, a substantial upgrade over the previous Kasei engine. They also added a bigger propeller and a retractable landing gear with longer legs, transforming the floatplane into the N1K-J Shiden (Violet Lightning). By late 1942, over 1,000 Shidens had been ordered into service.

Challenges and Refinements

The Shiden had several issues: faulty landing gear, an engine that struggled at higher altitudes, and performance limits. The unreliable Homare 11 radial engine, despite its 2,000-horsepower potential, often delivered only 1,300 hp in real combat conditions. Still, with its superior range and speed compared to the Zero, the Shiden was too valuable to abandon.

The Shiden Kai variant was then developed to address these flaws. Engineers mounted the wings lower, redesigned the tail, shortened the landing gear, and lengthened the fuselage. They also introduced groundbreaking combat flaps, which enhanced maneuverability. Using a mercury switch connected to the airspeed system, these flaps automatically adjusted during high-G turns, a feature unique among WWII fighters.

Combat Capabilities

Armed with four 20mm Type 99 Mark 2 cannons and two 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns, the Shiden Kai could carry multiple bombs, depending on the mission.

Weighing nearly 600 pounds less than its predecessor, it became faster and deadlier. First flown in January 1944, the Shiden Kai proved a formidable opponent for American Hellcats and Corsairs.

Performance and Legacy

Despite its advancements, only 400 of the planned 1,400 Shiden Kais were completed, arriving too late to impact the war’s outcome. Against the massive numbers of American aircraft, Japan’s efforts fell short.

Still, the Shiden Kai earned a respected combat record, downing more planes than it lost, and remains a testament to Japan’s ingenuity in aircraft design.