Specifications
Year: 1944
Manufacturer(s): Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal / Kawanishi - Imperial Japan
Production: 96
Capabilities: Fighter; Ground Attack;
Manufacturer(s): Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal / Kawanishi - Imperial Japan
Production: 96
Capabilities: Fighter; Ground Attack;
Crew: 2
Length: 49.21 ft (15 m)
Width: 65.62 ft (20 m)
Height: 14.11 ft (4.3 m)
Weight (Empty): 17,196 lb (7,800 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 29,762 lb (13,500 kg)
Length: 49.21 ft (15 m)
Width: 65.62 ft (20 m)
Height: 14.11 ft (4.3 m)
Weight (Empty): 17,196 lb (7,800 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 29,762 lb (13,500 kg)
Power: 2 x Mitsubishi "Kasei 25" 14-cylinder radial piston engines developing 1,850 horsepower each.
Speed: 326 mph (525 kph; 283 kts)
Ceiling: 32,152 feet (9,800 m; 6.09 miles)
Range: 3,418 miles (5,500 km; 2,970 nm)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,745 ft/min (532 m/min)
Ceiling: 32,152 feet (9,800 m; 6.09 miles)
Range: 3,418 miles (5,500 km; 2,970 nm)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,745 ft/min (532 m/min)
Operators: Imperial Japan
The new aircraft was finalized with 2 x Mitsubishi "Kasei 25" series 14-cylinder radial piston engines of 1,850 horsepower each (the original bomber was outfitted with 2 x Nakajima "Homare 11" 18-cylinder engines). Armament was revised to include 2 x 20mm Type 99 cannons in an oblique installation, allowing upward/forward firepower against the more vulnerable bellies of Allied bombers. Additional armament included a 30mm Type 5 cannon and the ventral bomb bay, the latter giving the new aircraft the potential to conduct night time raids against ground targets of opportunity. A first flight involving a P1Y2-S prototype occurred during June of 1944. AI radar was installed in the nose (along with its external antenna structures) and the type was adopted into the IJN soon after.
The aircraft managed only a short service life in the latter stages of the war, its performance deemed unacceptable when attempting to intercept the high-flying Boeing B-29s. As a result, many of these aircraft saw conversion back to their original medium bomber roles with some serving in the late stages of the war as kamikaze weapons against Allied warships.
Another night-fighter development related to the P1Y1 became the P1Y1-S. This model carried 4 x 20mm cannons in two obliquely-angled mountings, one forward and the other aft of the cockpit, as well as a single 13mm machine gun facing aft for defense. Another change was the inclusion of 2 x Nakajima Homare 12 series engines of 1,825 horsepower output. The variant existed in very limited production and made little impact.
Armament
STANDARD:
1 x 30mm cannon
2 x 20mm cannon in obliquely-angled mounting.
OPTIONAL:
Up to 2,205lb of bombs held in a ventral bomb bay.
Variants / Models
• P1Y2-S "Kyokko" - Base Series Designation; 96 examples completed by Kawanishi; stock later reverted back to medium bomber role.
