Nakajima A2N

A2N

A2N1
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 'Navy Type 90 Carrier-based 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 Nakajima 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 Navy Type 90 Carrier-based fighter as the A3N1 and 66 of these were built between 1936 and 1939.^[2]

Operational history

The Navy Type 90 Carrier-based fighter flew from the Hōshō, Kaga and Ryūjō.

Variants

A2N3-1

A2N1: (Navy Type 90-I Carrier-based fighter) - Guns located in both sides of the nose, but few produced.
A2N2: (Navy Type 90-II Carrier-based fighter) - Guns transferred to the upper surface of the nose, the fuel tanks mounted on the fuselage sides.
A2N3: (Navy Type 90-III Carrier-based fighter) - principal production variant. 5° of dihedral on upper mainplane.
A3N3-1: 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

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nakajima A2N.

Notes

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.

Aircraft produced by Nakajima Aircraft Company

Imperial Japanese Navy types

Carrier fighters	A1N A2N A3N A4N

Carrier Torpedo Bombers	B3N B4N B5N B6N

Reconnaissance aircraft	C2N C3N C6N

Dive bombers	D3N

Reconnaissance floatplanes	E2N E4N E8N

Land-based Attack Bombers	G5N G8N G10N

Interceptors	J1N J5N Nakajima Kikka

Transports	L1N

Floatplane fighter	A6M2-N

Other	LB-2

Imperial Japanese Army types

Army type-year	type 91 fighter type 94 reconnaissance aircraft type 95 training aircraft type 97 fighter type 97 transport type 100 heavy bomber type 1 fighter type 2 single-seat fighter type 4 fighter

Kitai (airframe #)	Ki-4 Ki-6 Ki-8 Ki-11 Ki-12 Ki-19 Ki-27 Ki-34 Ki-43 Ki-44 Ki-49 Ki-58 Ki-62 Ki-63 Ki-80 Ki-84 Ki-87 Ki-106 Ki-115 Ki-201

WW2 Allied reporting names

Japanese Navy Carrier Fighters designation series

1MF A1N A2N A3N A4N A5M A6M A6M2-N A7He A7M A8V AXB AXD AXG AXH AXHe AXV

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