Nakajima A2N

A2N
Role	Carrier-borne fighter
Manufacturer	Nakajima Aircraft Company
Designer	Takao Yoshida
First flight	1929
Introduction	1932
Primary user	Imperial Japanese Navy
Produced	1932-1936 (A2N)
Number built	approx 100 (A2N) + 66 (A3N)

The Nakajima A2N or Navy Type 90 Carrier-based fighter was a Japanese carrier-borne fighter of the 1930s. It was single-engine, biplane of mixed construction, with a fixed, tailwheel undercarriage.

Design and development

The A2N was originally developed as a private venture by Nakajima for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was based loosely on the Boeing Model 69 and Boeing Model 100, examples of both having been imported in 1928 and 1929 respectively. Takao Yoshida led the design team. Two prototypes, designated 'Type 90 Carrier fighter' in anticipation of Navy acceptance were ready by December 1929^[1]. Powered by Bristol Jupiter VI engines, these were rejected, not being regarded as offering a significant improvement over the A1N^[2].

Jingo Kurihara carried out a partial redesign and another prototype, the A2N1, powered by a 432 kW (580 hp) Nakajima Kotobuki 2, was completed in May 1931. The type was adopted by the Navy in April 1932^[2]. In 1932, Minoru Genda formed a flight demonstration team known as "Genda's Flying Circus" to promote naval aviation and flew this type.

A two-seat trainer was later developed from the Type 90 as the A3N1 and 66 of these were built between 1936 and 1939^[2].

Operational history

The Type 90 was shipped aboard the Hōshō, Kaga and Ryūjō.

Variants

• A2N
• A2N1
• A2N2 (Type 90-III) - principal production variant. 5° of dihedral on upper mainplane.
• A2N3 - two-seat trainer
• A3N1 - two-seat trainer

Specifications (A2N1)

Data from Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941^[2]; The Complete Book of Fighters^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 6.18 m (20 ft 3⅜ in)
• Wingspan: 9.37 m (30 ft 9 in)
• Height: 3.20 m (9 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 19.74 m² (212.5 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,045 kg (2,304 lb)
• Loaded weight: 1,550 kg (3,417 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Kotobuki 2 nine cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 433 kW (580 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 293 km/h (158 knots, 182 mph) at 3,000 m (9,845 ft)
• Cruise speed: 166 km/h (90 knots, 103.6 mph)
• Range: 501 km (270 nmi, 311 mi)
• Service ceiling: 9,000 m (29,500 ft)
• Wing loading: 78.5 kg/m² (16.1 lb/ft²)
• Endurance: 3 hours
• Climb to 3,000 m (9,845 ft): 5.75 min

Armament

• Guns: 2× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns

See also

Related development

• Boeing F2B
• Boeing F4B
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Boeing F2B
• Boeing P-12
• Hawker Nimrod
  

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the Japanese Navy
• List of fighter aircraft
  

References

Notes

1. ^ Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 225.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 226.
3. ^ Green and Swanborough 1994, p. 423.

Bibliography

• Green, William; Gordon Swanborough (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. New York: Smithmark. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8. 
• Mikesh, Robert C.; Shorzoe Abe (1990). Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0-85177-840-2.