Mitsubishi J8M
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| Mitsubishi J8M1 | |||
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| Missing image J8M1.jpg Image:J8M1.jpg | |||
| Description | |||
| Role | Interceptor | ||
| Crew | one, pilot | ||
| Dimensions | |||
| Length | 6.05 m | 19 ft 10 in | |
| Wingspan | 9.50 m | 31 ft 2 in | |
| Height | 2.70 m | 8 ft 10 in | |
| Wing area | 17.7 m² | 190 ft² | |
| Weights | |||
| Empty | 1,505 kg | 3,311 lb | |
| Loaded | 3,885 kg | 8,547 lb | |
| Powerplant | |||
| Engine | 1x Toko Ro.2 rocket | ||
| Thrust | 14.7 kN | 3,300 lbf | |
| Performance | |||
| Maximum speed | 900 km/h | 560 mph | |
| Endurance | 5 min 30 seconds | ||
| Service ceiling | 12,000 m | 39,370 ft | |
| Rate of Climb | 2,858 m/min | 9,374 ft/min | |
| Armament | |||
| Guns | 2x 30 mm Type 5 cannons Ki-200 - 2x 30 mm Ho-105 cannons | ||
The Mitsubishi J8M Shusui (Japanese: 三菱 J8M 秋水, "Sharp Sword") was intended to be a licence-built copy of the German Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket-powered interceptor aircraft. Difficulties in shipping an example to Japan meant that the aircraft eventually had to be reverse-engineered from a flight operations manual and other limited documentation. A single prototype was tested before the end of World War II.
The J8M project resulted as a direct response to the imminent deployment of the B-29 Superfortress in 1943. The development of the US bomber was known to Japan, and it was correctly anticipated that it would be used to raid the Japanese home islands. In Germany, Japanese military attachés had become aware of the Me 163, and after a visit to the squadron evaluating the aircraft, (Erprobungskommando 16), negotiated the rights to licence-produce the aircraft and its engine.
An initial set of materials, including a complete dis-assembled aircraft, technical documentation, and a sample engine were loaded onto two submarines, one of which was sunk en route, meaning that only the engine and a small amount of paperwork eventually reached Japan. With the first B-29 raids already taking place, it was decided to proceed immediately rather than wait for the missing material to be replaced. The fighter was assigned the J8M1 designation by the Navy and Ki-200 by the Air Force, the only significant difference between the aircraft being the choice of different 30 mm cannons as armament. While Mitsubishi developed the airframe, Yokosuka developed an engine based on the Walter HWK 109-509 and training gliders, the Yokosuka MXY8 (army designation Ku-13).
On January 8 1945 glide-tests of the J8M1 commenced, pending the arrival of an engine. These were judged a success, with the ballasted aircraft performing very much like an Me 163 while gliding. The first of the Toko Ro.2 powerplants was delivered in June, and after final glide tests with the engine installed, the first powered flight took place on July 7. The take-off was normal, with the aircraft climbing away strongly, but at around 400 metres (1,300 ft), it abruptly nosed over and dived straight into the ground, killing its pilot, Lt Cdr Toyohiko Inuzuka. Subsequent analysis found that the fuel tank design was unsuitable for the steep angle of climb. During Inuzuka's flight, an air-bubble had been created in a fuel line, leading the engine to stop abruptly and causing the crash. All testing was suspended while modifications were made. In the meantime, Mitsubishi began mass-production of components for the aircraft. Before flight testing could resume, however, Japan had surrendered, and the war was over.
Some versions ,desings and prototypes are projected during last times of Pacific war,the nexts are these models:
| Contents |
J8M Variants
Operative Interceptor version
-Equivalent of Me 163 B-1a Rocket Interceptor:
Mitsubishi Ki-200 "Shusui" Rocket Intercepter:
- -Length : 6.05m
- -Wing Span: 9.50m
- -Hight : 2.70m
- -Wing Area : 17.73 Square Meter
- -All-Up Weight : 3,000Kg
- -Empty Weight : 1,445Kg
- -Main Engine : Mitsubishi KR10 (Tokuro-2) Rocket (1,500Kg) X 1
- -Max Speed : 800Km/h
- -Cruise Speed : 347Km/h
- -Duration of Flight : 2.5Minutes (700Km/h)
- -Crew : 1
- -Armament : 30mm Ho155-II Machine Gun X 2
Mitsubishi J8M1 "Shusui" Rocket Intercepter (Type 19 Experimental Intercepter "Shusui")
- -Length : 6.05m
- -Wing Span: 9.50m
- -Hight : 2.70m
- -Wing Area : 17.73 Square Meter
- -All-Up Weight : 3,000Kg
- -Empty Weight : 1,445Kg
- -Engine : Mitsubishi KR10 (Tokuro-2) Rocket (1,500Kg) X 1
- -Max Speed : 800Km/h
- -Cruise Speed : 347Km/h
- -Duration of Flight : 2.5Minutes (700Km/h)
- -Crew : 1
- -Armament : 30mm Type 5 Machine Gun X 2
Proposed Projects version
-Equivalent of M3 163C Rocket Interceptor development:
Mitsubishi J8M2"Shusui" Model 21(?) Rocket Intercepter Long endurance modify project for Navy.
- -Length : 6.05m
- -Wing Span: 9.50m
- -Hight : 2.70m
- -Wing Area : 17.73 Square Meter
- -Engine : Mitsubishi KR10 (Tokuro-2) Rocket (1,500Kg) X 1
- -Crew : 1
- -Armament : 30mm Type 5 Machine Gun X 1
Mitsubishi J8M3 "Shusui" Model 22 Rocket Intercepter (Suitable for Army Ki-202 "Shusui-kai")Long endurance modify project for Army & Navy.
- -Length : 7.10m
- -Wing Span: 9.75m
- -Hight : 2.70m
- -Wing Area : 18.40 Square Meter
- -All-Up Weight : 5,100Kg
- -Engine : Mitsubishi Tokuro-3 Rocket (2,000Kg) X 1
- -Max Speed : 900Km/h
- -Duration of Flight : 3.5Minutes
- -Crew : 1
- -Armament : 30mm Type 5 Machine Gun X 1
Rikugun Kokukosho/Mitsubishi Ki-202 "Shusui-kai" Rocket Intercepter(Army equivalent to J8M3 "Shusui")
- -Length : 7.10m
- -Wing Span: 9.75m
- -Hight : 2.70m
- -Wing Area : 18.40 Square Meter
- -All-Up Weight : 5,100Kg
- -Engine : Mitsubishi Tokuro-3 Rocket (2,000Kg) X 1
- -Max Speed : 900Km/h
- -Duration of Flight : 3.5Minutes
- -Crew : 1
- -Armament : 30mm Ho155-II Machine Gun X 2
Training Versions
-Equivalent to Me 163 A-0/S Trainer versions:
Yokoi Ki-13 "Akigusa" Rocket Intercepter Operative train glider(Experimental "Shusui" Light Glider) Ku-13 "Akigusa" was created as the Ki-200 "Syusui" Rocket Intercepter practice grider.
- -Length : 6.05m
- -Wing Span: 9.50m
- -Hight : 2.70m
- -Wing Area : 17.73 Square Meter
- -Crew : 1
Kugisho Experimental Yokoi Ku-13 "Shusui" Heavy Glider This glider was created as the Ki-200 "Syusui" Rocket Intercepter practice grider.But this was high cost ! This project was cancelled.
- -Length : 6.05m
- -Wing Span: 9.50m
- -Hight : 2.70m
- -Wing Area : 17.73 Square Meter
- -Crew : 1
Kugisho Yokosuka MXY-8"Akigusa" Rocket Intercepter practice grider(Experimental "Shusui" Light Glider)MXY-8"Akigusa" was created as the J8M1 "Syusui" Rocket Intercepter practice grider.
- -Length : 6.05m
- -Wing Span: 9.50m
- -Hight : 2.70m
- -Wing Area : 17.73 Square Meter
- -Crew : 1
Kugisho Experimental Yokosuka MXY-9 "Shuka" Heavy Glider This glider was created as the J8M1 "Syusui" Rocket Intercepter practice grider.But this was high cost ! This project was cancelled.
- -Length : 6.05m
- -Wing Span: 9.50m
- -Hight : 2.70m
- -Wing Area : 17.73 Square Meter
- -Crew : 1
Kugisho Yokosuka MXY-9 "Shuka" Rocket Intercepter operative train glider MXY-9 "Shuka" is the thing of the plan of carrying the "Hatsukaze-11" fan jet engine on MXY-8 "Akigusa"."Hatsukaze-11"fan jet engine was the plan that it was carried on "Ohka" (Baka Bomb) Type 22" as well.
- -Length : 6.05m
- -Wing Span: 9.50m
- -Hight : 2.70m
- -Wing Area : 17.73 Square Meter
- -Engine : Kugisho Hatsukaze 11(Tsu-11) Fan Jet Engine (180Kg) X 1
- -Crew : 1
Total Production
Operative Version:
By Mitsubishi:
- J8M1/Ki-200(7 Examples)
Training Version:
- Ku-13,Ki-13,MXY-8,MXY-9(60 Examples)
A total of seven airframes were completed. Two were taken to the United States for evaluation, and one of these is now exhibited in the Planes of Fame Museum. In the 1960s, a nearly complete (but badly damaged) fuselage was discovered in a cave in Japan. This was on display at a Japanese Air Force Base near Gifu until 1999 when it was restored and completed by Mitsubishi for display in the company's internal museum.
English-language sources invariably translate this aircraft's name as "sword stroke" or "swinging sword", which is not correct. The tradition of this translation apparently stems from work done by Robert C. Mikesh in the 1950s and repeated by many others over the decades. Even more literally, 秋水 means "autumn water", but is a widely-recognised poetic metaphor for a well-sharpened sword, possibly because the brightness of the sword blade and the wavy pattern in the metal recall that of a clear body of water.
External links
| Related content | |
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| Related Development | |
| Similar Aircraft | |
| Designation Series | |
| Related Lists |
List of military aircraft of Japan - List of fighter aircraft - List of rocket aircraft |