Nakajima C6N Saiun [Myrt]

Although designed for carrier use, by the time it entered service in September 1944, there were few carriers left for it to operate from, so most were used from land bases. Its speed was exemplified by a famous telegraph sent after a successful mission: "No Grummans can catch us."The top speed of the Grumman F6F Hellcat was indeed of the same level, so overtaking a Saiun was out of the question.

A total of 463 aircraft were produced. A single prototype of a turbocharged development mounting a 4-blade propeller was built, this was called the C6N2 Saiun-kai. A night-fighter version C6N1-S with oblique-firing (Schräge Musik configuration) single 30 mm (or dual 20 mm) cannon and a torpedo carrying C6N1-B were also developed. The C6N1-B developed by Nakajima was not needed after Japan's aircraft carriers were destroyed. As Allied bombers came within reach of the Japanese home islands, there became a need for a first class night fighter. This led Nakajima to develop the C6N1-S by removing the observer and replacing him with two 20mm cannons. The C6N1-S's effectiveness was hampered by the lack of air-to-air radar, although it was fast enough to enjoy almost complete immunity from interception by Allied fighters.

Despite its speed and performance, on 15 August 1945, a C6N1 was the last aircraft to be shot down in World War II. Just five minutes later, the war was over and all Japanese aircraft were grounded.


C6N1 Saiun Model 11 night-fighter variant (彩雲11型改造夜戦, Saiun 11-gata Kaizō yasen)
Temporary rebuilt two-seat night-fighter version, this is not a naval regulation equipment. Development code C6N1-S was not discovered in the IJN official documents. One single 30 mm Type 5 cannon installed model and at least five dual 20 mm Type 99-1 cannons installed model were converted from C6N1. One dual 20 mm cannon installed model is the sole member of this breed to survive in the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility. Where it has sat since 1945 will she ever be restored?



General characteristics

Crew: 3
Length: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 12.50 m (41 ft 0⅛ in)
Height: 3.96 m (13 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 25.5 m² (274 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,968 kg (6,543 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,500 kg (9,921 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 5,260 kg (11,596 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima NK9B Homare 11 18 cylinder two-row air-cooled radial engine, 1,485 kW (1,990 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 610 km/h (329 knots, 379 mph) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
Cruise speed: 390 km/h (210 knots, 242 mph)
Range: 5,300 km (2,886 NM, 3,300 mi) (with auxiliary fuel[10])
Service ceiling: 10,470 m (35,240 ft)
Wing loading: 176 kg/m² (36.2 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.33 kW/kg (0.20 hp/lb)
Climb to 6,000 m (19,700 ft): 8 min 9 sec

Armament

Guns: 1× flexibly mounted rearward-firing 7.92 mm Type 1 machine gun 2x oblique mounted 20mm type 92 cannon