J2M33 RAIDEN (JACK)

The Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (Japanese lightning bolt) is a Japanese single-engine interceptor with a full-metal, half-shell construction from the Second World War period, known by the Allied nickname Jack. The flight of the prototype took place on March 20, 1942, and serial production started at the end of the same year. During the course of the war, several versions of J2M were created. The most widely produced version was the J2M3, armed with 4 20mm cannons powered by the MK4R-A Kasei 13 1870KM engine. This version underwent its baptism of fire during the fighting in the Marianas in September 1944, later the J2M3 was used to defend the Japanese islands against B-29 air strikes. It was one of the few Japanese fighters that, thanks to its great rate of climb and great armament, could take an effective fight against Allied bombers. Pilots from the 302 Air Group (Atsuga base) shot down about 300 planes on these machines from the end of 1944. until the end of the war. Only 476 units of this successful fighter were produced. Technical data (J2M3 version): length: 10.68m, wingspan: 11.6m, height: 4.2m, maximum speed: 574km / h, rate of climb: 19.5m / s, maximum range: 560km, maximum ceiling 12,500m , armament: fixed - 4 cannons Type 99 caliber 20 mm.