Nakajima G8N

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakajima_G8N

The Nakajima G8N Renzan ("Mountain Range") was a four-engine long-range bomber
designed for use by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Navy designation was "Type
18 land-based attack aircraft"; the Allied code name was "Rita".

In February 1943 the Imperial Navy staff asked Nakajima Aircraft Company to
design a four-engined bomber, capable of meeting an earlier specification set
for a long-range land-based attack plane. The final specification, issued on 14
September 1943, called for a plane with a maximum speed of 320 knots (590 km/h;
370 mph) able to carry a 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) bomb-load 2,000 nmi (3,700 km;
2,300 mi) or a reduced bomb-load 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi).

Nakajima's design featured a mid-mounted wing of small area and high aspect
ratio, a tricycle landing gear and a large single-fin rudder. Power came from
four 2,000 hp Nakajima NK9K-L "Homare" 24 radial engines with Hitachi 92
turbosuperchargers and driving four-bladed propellers. The engines were cooled
by counter-rotating fans positioned just inside the engine cowlings.[1]
Defensive armament included power-operated nose, dorsal, ventral and tail
turrets along with two free-swiveling machine guns at the beam positions.

Role
Heavy bomber

Manufacturer
Nakajima Aircraft Company

First flight
23 October 1944

Introduction
early 1945

Retired
August 1945

Primary user
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

Produced
4

The initial prototype was completed in October 1944 and delivered to the Navy
for testing in January 1945, a year after the Navy ordered development to start.
Three further examples were completed by June 1945, with the third prototype
being destroyed on the ground by US carrier aircraft.

Other than minor problems with the turbosuperchargers, the Renzan performed
satisfactorily and the Navy hoped to have a total of 16 prototypes and 48
production-version G8N1s assembled by September 1945. But the worsening war
situation and a critical shortage of light aluminium alloys led to the project's
cancellation in June.

One proposed variant was the G8N2 Renzan-Kai Model 22, powered by four 2,200 hp
Mitsubishi MK9A radial engines and modified to accept attachment of the
air-launched Ohka Type 33 Special Attack Bomber.

Just before Japan's surrender in August 1945 consideration was also briefly
given to producing an all-steel version of the aircraft, to be designated G8N3
Renzan-Kai Model 23, but the cessation of hostilities precluded any further
development.

After the war, one prototype was taken to the United States and scrapped after
testing. None are in existence today.

Specifications (G8N1)

General characteristics
Crew: ten
Length: 22.94 m (75 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 32.54 m (106 ft 9 in)
Height: 7.20 m (23 ft 7 in)
Wing area: 112 m² (1,205 ft²)
Empty weight: 17,400 kg (38,400 lb)
Loaded weight: 26,800 kg (59,100 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 32,150 kg (70,900 lb)
Powerplant: 4 × Nakajima NK9K-L Homare 24 18-cylinder radial engines, 1,491 kW
(2,000 hp) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 576 km/h (358 mph)
Range: 7,250 km (4,500 miles)
Service ceiling: 10,200 m (33,500 ft)
Rate of climb: 457 m/min (1,500 ft/min)
Wing loading: 239 kg/m² (49 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.22 kW/kg (0.14 hp/lb)

Armament

6× 20 mm Type 99 cannon - 2 each in the dorsal, ventral, and tail turrets
2× 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2 machine guns in nose turret
2× 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2 machine gun in fuselage sides
Up to 4,000 kg (8,818 lb) of bombs




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