Finalized dimensions of the bomber included a running length of 91.8 feet, a wingspan of 106.2 feet, and a height of 2.29 feet. Empty weight was estimated at 57,600lb against an MTOW of 156,000lb when fully loaded to the extreme. Because of its extreme operating weights, coupled with the slim design of both wings and engine nacelles, Kawanishi engineers drew up plans to have the main landing gear legs jettison a pair of its wheels after take-off. The lighter aircraft (taking into account dropped ordnance and mission fuel burn) on the return trip would make do with its remaining wheel sets.
Power would stem from 4 x Nakajima Ha-45 "Homare" 18-cylinder, supercharged (three stage), air-cooled radial piston engines developing 2,100 horsepower each and driving four-bladed propeller units (constant speed). Estimated performance specs included a maximum speed of 375 miles-per-hour, a range out to 15,880 miles (requiring food and water stores as well as sleeping quarters for the crew), and a service ceiling up to 41,665 feet (requiring fuselage pressurization). Another consideration was the Nakajima Ha-43 series radial of 2,000 horsepower output. Fuel would be carried in both wings and in stores about the fuselage proper.
Planned armament consisted of 1 x 13mm Navy Type 2 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) in remote-controlled turrets at both the port side and starboard sides (waist / beam positions) and similar armament was to be fitted at the tail (rear-facing emplacement). This modest armament was acceptable as the bomber was expected to out-fly any potential emerging threat rather than defend against it. Internally, the aircraft was rated to carry up to 12,000lb of conventional drop bombs - limited largely by the slim-line approach of its fuselage and other onboard requirements related to range and crew sustainment. Provision for external hardpoints were also planned to help enhance drop-ordnance options.
Design work on the TB wrapped in mid-January of 1944 under the guise that it was being developed as a cargo / transport airplane. Later that month, the competing Nakajima G10N Fugaku heavy bomber proposal was accepted by representatives of both services ahead of the Kawanishi TB - which led to an immediate end of the TB program.
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