Nakajima A2N explained

The Nakajima A2N or Navy Type 90 Carrier Fighter was a Japanese carrier-borne fighter of the 1930s. It was a single-engined 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 and two prototypes, designated Navy Type 90 Carrier Fighter in anticipation of Navy acceptance, were ready by December 1929. Powered by Bristol Jupiter VI engines, these were rejected, not being regarded as offering a significant improvement over the Nakajima A1N.

Jingo Kurihara carried out a major redesign and another prototype, the A2N1, powered by a Nakajima Kotobuki 2, was completed in May 1931. The type was adopted by the Navy in April 1932.

A two-seat trainer, the A3N3-1 (Navy Type 90 Training Fighter), was later developed from the Navy Type 90 Carrier Fighter and 66 of these were built between 1936 and 1939.

The A4N was developed from this aircraft, which entered service later in the 1930s.[1]

Operational history

In 1932, Minoru Genda formed a flight demonstration team known as "Genda's Flying Circus" to promote naval aviation and flew this type.The Navy Type 90 Carrier-based fighter flew from the, and .[2] On what would become the first air battles of the Second Sino-Japanese War-Second World War for the air-combat units of these aircraft carriers,[3] A2N fighter pilot Akio Matsuba from Kaga, flying air-cover in support of Japanese troop-landings in the Battle of Shanghai on 16 August 1937, shot-down a Chinese Air Force Douglas O-2M on an attack mission against Japanese forces in Shanghai.[4] A2Ns were soon completely superseded by the A4Ns and A5Ms fighters.

Variants

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

    • References

    Bibliography

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: dreadnaughtz. 2021-11-16. Nakajima A4N fighter (1932). 2023-12-06. naval encyclopedia. en-US.
    2. Web site: Gustavsson. Håkan. Håkans Aviation page – Sino-Japanese Air War 1937. 2020-11-20. Biplane Fighter Aces - China. The light aircraft carrier Hosho with ancient A2N fighters was posted together with the carrier Ryujo to 1st Carrier Division of the 3rd Fleet, leaving the port of Sasebo on 12 August. Arriving in the Ma'anshan Islands area, they started supporting land operations beginning on 16 August. During this period, both Kaga and Ryujo groups had opportunity to engage in aerial battles..
    3. Web site: Sun. Lianggang. Shanghai 1937 – Where World War II Began. 2020-11-20. Shanghai 1937: Where World War II started. en-US. When did World War II begin? The answer you might find surprising. Americans might say December 7, 1941… The day the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. For Europeans, it was September 1, 1939… When Nazi Germany invaded Poland. But in China, people will tell you a different date. August 13, 1937..
    4. Web site: Gustavsson. Håkan. Japanese biplane fighter aces - Akio Matsuba. 2020-11-20. Biplane Fighter Aces - Japan. On 16 August 1937, six A2Ns from Kaga commanded by Lieutenant Chikamasa Igarashi, engaged four enemy aircraft over Kiangwan. Three of the enemy aircraft were shot down, one Corsair and two Douglas O-38s (sic. O-2M, as the very similar O-38s were not with CAF service) One of the Douglases was claimed jointly by Matsuba and another pilot. This was Matsuba first combat and first victory..

    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Nakajima A2N".

    Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.