The Yokosuka P1Y2-S Kyokko was a night-fighter offshoot of the original P1Y2 medium bomber line - ninety-six were built to the standard during World War 2.
The Yokosuka P1Y2 "Kyokko" ("Aurora") became an offshoot of the original P1Y1 Medium Bomber (detailed elsewhere on this site) introduced for service into the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) of World War 2 during 1944. Performance of the bomber led IJN authorities to pursue a night-fighter variant of the twin-engined platform to contend with the threat had through the American Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" heavy bomber. This work led to the P1Y2-S and saw Kawanishi given the charge to convert the bomber to a night-fighter. Ninety-six aircraft were built to this standard.
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.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
Length
49.2 ft (15.00 m)
Width/Span
65.6 ft (20.00 m)
Height
14.1 ft (4.30 m)
Empty Wgt
17,196 lb (7,800 kg)
MTOW
29,762 lb (13,500 kg)
Wgt Diff
+12,566 lb (+5,700 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Yokosuka P1Y2-S production variant)
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Yokosuka P1Y2-S production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
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.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
P1Y2-S "Kyokko" - Base Series Designation; 96 examples completed by Kawanishi; stock later reverted back to medium bomber role.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Imperial Japan
