Let George Do It
By Richard Gutenkunst
February 2007

In 1940, the Japanese Navy had already given the Mitsubishi company the requirements for the successor of the Zero (the A6M). Due to an incredible number of difficulties and delays, Sam (the A7M) was never used in combat. In fact, only one production model was produced by the end of the war. Did this put a crimp in Japanese plans? I would think so. When the Japanese aircraft carrier Taiho was designed, it was assumed that it would be equipped with the A7M.

However, also in early 1940, the Kawanishi company was awarded a development contract for a high performance floatplane fighter. This was to become the N1K1, code-named Rex by the allies. Soon in its development it was realized that the design could be converted to a high-performance land-based interceptor fighter. Kawanishi came up with the N1K1-J, the J indicating a land based interceptor fighter.

On the first conversion attempt it was left in its mid-wing configuration, which resulted in much too-long landing gear in order to accommodate the huge propeller. The landing gear was prone to snapping off, resulting in an inglorious belly flop wreck. The Japanese claimed they lost more N1K1-J's from this cause than through enemy action. This was noticed almost immediately and a more extensive conversion to a low wing model was developed. This became the N1K2-J. Meanwhile, the N1K1-J was rushed into production due to the extreme need for high quality fighter planes. The N1K1-J was first committed in significant numbers in the Philippines and Formosa where the allies gave it the code name George. As it turned out George could do it, but there was nowhere near enough of him to make a difference.

The Allies called him George: Kawanishi N1K Shiden.

When I got my Leyte Gulf game, I eagerly looked for the N1K1-J pieces. There weren't any. (The N1K1 pieces are the floatplane.) Also, the scenarios called for the N1K2-J long before they were in production. Then I realized that 119694_avalanche Press was cleverly saving some pieces. The N1K1-J and N1K2-J have identical combat characteristics. The landing gear is the difference. Before 1945, the George units will be N1K1-J's. You can use this for play balance if you need to. Before 1945, roll a die for N1K1-J landing losses. Use whatever odds work best for you.

Or you can imagine the worst possible case for the allies. The Japanese could have recognized from the beginning that they needed an extensive conversion (the N1K2-J) and produced the N1K1-J only in prototype version for test purposes. (They actually made about a thousand.) The United States Corsair had a similar problem. Over long landing gear was not the solution. The United States solved their problem with the Corsair's bent wing configuration. The Japanese spent a lot of engineering effort on the N1K1-J landing gear problem which turned out ultimately to be a waste of time.

I am assuming that early realization would have prompted the more extensive N1K2-J project in time to have actual N1K2-J pieces in the Leyte Gulf game where 119694_avalanche Press puts them. If this had happened, it would have presented an even greater opportunity for the Japanese.

The first prototypes of the N1K2-J showed that the center of gravity was not quite right. This was evidently a minor problem because the Japanese planned to produce 9,240 N1K2-J models in 1946. However, the solution to the problem was moving the engine six inches forward. This allowed the replacement of the two 7.7 mm fuselage machine guns by 13.2 mm ones (in English, .30 caliber replaced by .50). This resulted in the immediate proposal of N1K3-J and N1K3-A prototypes. The substitution of a more reliable engine resulted in N1K4-J and N1K4-A prototypes. (“A” indicates an aircraft carrier based fighter plane.) Evidently the solution of the center-of-gravity problem made George a good possibility for an aircraft carrier-based fighter plane.

Never satisfied, the Japanese also wanted George to take on the B-29. The N1K3-J was fitted with a suitable high-altitude engine making it the N1K5-J.

The N1K3, N1K4 and N1K5 all retained the self-adjusting control surfaces called "combat flaps" which gave their pilots a decided maneuverability advantage. Thanks to George these flaps were included on the A7M.

Download the new George counters here.

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