Japan 大日本帝國海軍航空隊 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Koukuu-tai Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Aircraft Acquisition Programs 1929 - 1945

Starting in 1931, experimental aircraft were given a Shisaku Seizo (trial manufacture) designation, consisting of the Showa-era calendar year and Shi; for example, Experimental 10-Shi Carrier Attack Bomber (Showa 10, 1935).

Showa Year

National Year

Gregorian Year

4

2,589

1929

Flying Boat

• Long-range reconnaissance flying boat.
• Contenders:
  • Hiro H3H.
  • Kawanishi H3K.

• Shipborne catapult-launched reconnaissance seaplane.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi E3A (selected for production as Type 90-1).
  • Nakajima E4N (selected for production as Type 90-2).
  • Kawanishi E5K (selected for production as Type 90-3).

5

2,590

1930

No information

6-Shi

2,591

1931

• Small, shipborne, catapult-launched night reconnaissance flying boat for night naval gunnery spotting.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi AB-4.
• Cancelled in favor of 9-Shi Night Reconnaissance Flying Boat.

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Nakajima NAF-1.

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Nakajima.

7-Shi

2,592

1932

7-Shi Reconnaissance Seaplane

• Replacement for Kawanishi E5K, Yokosho E1Y, Yokosho E5Y.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi E7A.
  • Kawanishi E7K (selected for production as Type 94).

• Replacement for Mitsubishi B2M torpedo bomber.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi AB-8.
  • Kusho B3Y (selected for production as Type 92).
  • Mitsubishi 3MT10.
  • Nakajima B3N.

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Mitsubishi 1MF10 Taka.
  • Nakajima NC.

• Large, twin-engine carrier-based torpedo bomber.
• Mitsubishi 3MT5; unsuccessful, used as Type 93 Land-based Attack Aircraft.

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Nakajima.

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Hiro G2H.

8-Shi

2,593

1933

8-Shi Carrier Bomber

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Aichi AB-9 (selected for production as D1A Type 94).
  • Nakajima D2N.
  • Kusho D2Y.

• Shipborne, catapult-launched reconnaissance seaplane to replace Nakajima E4N.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi E8A.
  • Aichi AM-7.
  • Kawanishi E8K.
  • Nakajima E8N (selected for production as Type 95).

• High-speed, long-range multi-engine monoplane.
• Mitsubishi Ka-9 retroactively designated G1M1, despite having no bombing/attack capability.

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Mitsubishi Ka-8.
  • Nakajima NAF-2.

9-Shi

2,594

1934

9-Shi Carrier Attack Bomber

• Replacement for Kusho B3Y torpedo bomber.
• Contenders:
  • Kusho B4Y (selected for production as Type 96).
  • Mitsubishi B4M.
  • Nakajima B4N.

• Two-seat small reconnaissance seaplane capable of operating from J-3 class submarines.
• Contenders:
  • Watanabe E9W.

• Land-based attack bomber derivative of Mitsubishi Ka-9.
• Mitsubishi G3M.

• Long-range flying boat.
• Kugisho H5Y.
• Kawanishi H6K.

• Small, shipborne, catapult-launched night reconnaissance seaplane.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi E10A (selected for production as Type 96).
  • Kawanishi E10K (small numbers used as transports as Type 94).

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Mitsubishi A5M (selected for production as Type 96).
  • Nakajima PA, AN-1.

10-Shi

2,595

1935

10-Shi Carrier Attack Bomber

• Three-seat carrier-based attack bomber to replace Kusho B4Y:
  • Folding wings.
  • Speed not less than 322 kph (200 mph).
  • At least seven hours flight endurance.
  • Up to 800 kg (1,760 lb) of bombs
• Contenders:
  • Mitsubishi B5M (selected for back-up production as Type 97-2, used as land-based attack bomber).
  • Nakajima B5N (selected for production as Type 97-1 and Type 97-3).

• Shipborne catapult-launched observation seaplane for gunnery spotting.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi F1A.
  • Kawanishi F1K.
  • Mitsubishi F1M (selected for production as Type 0).

• Carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft.
• Contenders:
  • Nakajima C3N.
• No production; B5N utilized instead.

11-Shi

2,596

1936

11-Shi Seaplane Trainer

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kawanishi K6K.
  • Mitsubishi K6M.
  • Watanabe K6W.

• Night reconnaissance seaplane to replace Aichi E10A.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi 11-Shi Experimental Special Reconnaissance Seaplane (selected for production as E11A Type 98 Night Reconnaissance Seaplane).
  • Kawanishi 11-Shi Experimental Special Reconnaissance Seaplane (two prototypes used as utility transports as E11K1 Navy Type 96 Transport Seaplane).

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kawanishi K8K (selected for production as Type 0).
  • Kyushu K8W.
  • Nihon K8P.

• Crew trainer to replace Mitsubishi K3M.
• Contenders:
  • Mitsubishi K7M.

• Carrier-based dive bomber monoplane to replace Aichi D1A.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi D3A (selected for production as Type 99).
  • Mitsubishi D3M.
  • Nakajima D3N.

12-Shi

2,597

1937

12-Shi Special Flying Boat

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kugisho H7Y.

• Replacement for Watanabe E9W.
• Contenders:
  • Kyushu E14W.
  • Kugisho E14Y (selected for production as Type 0).

• Two-seat reconnaissance seaplane to replace Kawanishi E7K2.
• Revised to include 12-Shi Three-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane requirement.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi E12A (two-seat) and E13A (three-seat).
  • Kawanishi E12K (two-seat; dropped by Kawanishi in favor of three-seat E13K).
  • Nakajima E12N (two-seat; three-seat type not developed).
• Cancelled in favor of 12-Shi Three-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane.

• Three-seat reconnaissance seaplane to replace Kawanishi E7K2.
• Initially proposed as 12-Shi Two-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane requirement.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi E13A (selected for production as Type 0).
  • Kawanishi E13K.

• Carrier-based fighter to replace Mitsubishi A5M:
  • 500 kph @ 4,000 m (310 mph @ 13,120 ft).
  • Climb to 3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 3.5 min.
  • Two hours endurance at normal power.
  • Six - eight hours endurance at economical cruise speed.
  • Two 20 mm cannon, two 7.7 mm machine guns, two 30 kg or 60 kg bombs.
  • Complete radio set with DF.
  • Maneuverability equal to A5M.
  • Wing span less than 12 m (39 ft).
  • Currently-available powerplant.
• Contenders:
  • Nakajima (withdrew from competition).
  • Mitsubishi A6M (selected for production as Type 0).

• Land-based attack bomber replacement for Mitsubishi G3M.
• Mitsubishi G4M.

13-Shi

2,598

1938

13-Shi Carrier Bomber

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kugisho D4Y 彗星 Suisei.

• Land-based long-range attack bomber:
  • Heavy bomb load.
  • Minimum range 5,600 km (3,500 miles).
• Contenders:
  • Mitsubishi G5M.
  • Nakajima G5N 新参 Shinzan (selected for limited production as Type 2).

• Large, long-range maritime patrol flying boat.
• Contenders:
  • Kawanishi H8K.

• Crew trainer for Kawanishi H8K.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi H9A.

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Aich C4A.
• Cancelled in favor of Mitsubishi C5M.

• Twin-engined escort fighter with range sufficient to escort Mitsubishi G3M
• Contenders:
  • Mitsubishi ?
  • Nakajima J1N.

14-Shi

2,599

1939

14-Shi Primary Trainer

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kyushu K9W 楓 Momiji (license-built Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann).

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kyushu K10W.

• Land-based bomber interceptor.
• Contenders:
  • Mitsubishi J2M 雷電 Raiden.

• Two-seat high-speed shipborne catapult-launched reconnaissance seaplane used to find surface targets for IJN submarines; capable of faster speeds than current land-based fighters.
• Contenders:
  • Kawanishi E15K 紫雲 Shiun.

• Reconnaissance seaplane to replace Aichi E13A.
• Contenders:
  • ?
• Cancelled in favor of 16-Shi Reconnaissance Seaplane.

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Hiro H10H.

• Carrier-based attack bomber to replace Nakajima B5N.
• Contenders:
  • Nakajima B6N 天山 Tenzan (selected for production).

15-Shi

2,600

1940

15-Shi Operations Trainer

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kyushu K11W 白菊 Shiragiku.

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kawanishi N1K 強風 Kyofu.
  • Nakajima A6M2-N (interim production until N1K ready for service).

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Mitsubishi A5M4-K.

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kugisho P1Y.

16-Shi

2,601

1941

16-Shi Attack Bomber

• Land-based attack bomber to replace Mitsubishi G4M.
• Mitsubishi G7M 泰山 Taizan.

• Carrier-based attack bomber to replace Nakajima B6N 天山 Tenzan and Kugisho D4Y 彗星 Suisei.
• Aichi B7A 流星 Ryusei.

• Reconnaissance seaplane to replace Aichi E13A; replaced cancelled 14-Shi Reconnaissance Seaplane.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi E16A 瑞雲 Zuiun.

17-Shi

2,602

1942

17-Shi Reconnaissance Plane

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kugisho R1Y 青雲 Seiun.

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kyushu Q1W 東海 Tokai.

• Carrier-based fighter to replace Mitsubishi A6M, with improved performance:
  • Speed greater than 639 kph (397 mph) above 6,000 m (20,000 ft).
  • Climb to 6,000 m (20,000 ft) in less than 6 minutes.
  • Two 20 mm cannon, two 13 mm machine guns.
• Contenders:
  • Mitsubishi A7M 烈風 Reppu.

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Kawanishi J3K.

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Mitsubishi J4M 閃電 Senden.

• Submarine-borne, catapult-launched attack bomber
• Aichi M6A 晴嵐 Seiran.

• Three-seat carrierborne reconnaissance aircraft:
  • Max speed of 650 kph @ 6,000 m.
  • Range of 4,960 km.
• Contenders:
  • Nakajima C6N 彩雲 Saiun.

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Mizuno MXZ1.
  • Nihon Kogato MXJ1 若草 Wakakusa.

18-Shi

2,603

1943

18-Shi Reconnaissance Plane

• Requirement?
• Contenders:
  • Kugisho R2Y 景雲 Keiun.

• Single-seat, twin-engine interceptor, 666 kph (414 mph) @ 6,000 m (19,690 ft).
• Contenders:
  • Nakajima J5N 天電 Tenrai.

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Kawanishi J6K 陣風 Jinpu.

• Short-range interceptor fighter to counter Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombing raids on Japan.
• Contenders:
  • Kyushu J7W 震電 Shinden.

• Long-range, four-engined land-based attack bomber:
  • Max speed 590 kph (370 mph, 320 kts).
  • Range of 3,700 km (2,300 mi, 2,000 nm) with 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) bomb load.
  • Range of 7,400 km (4,600 mi, 4,000 nm) with reduced bomb load.
• Contenders:
  • Nakajima G8N 連山 Renzan.

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Aichi S1A 電光 Denko.

19-Shi

2,604

1944

19-Shi Interceptor Fighter

• Japanese development of Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet.
• Mitsubishi J8M 秋水 Shusui.

• Requirements?
• Mitsubishi Q2M 大洋Taiyo.

20-Shi

2,605

1945

20-Shi Carrier Fighter

• Requirements?
• Contenders:
  • Kawanishi A8K.
  • Mitsubishi A8M 陸風 Rikufu (or J9M?).
  • Nakajima A8N?

• Torpedo bomber to replace B7A2 流星 Ryusei:
  • Faster, nimbler and more maneuverable.
  • Smaller size.
  • Mitsubishi MK9A-Ru (Ha-43-12) 18 cyl. radial.
  • Variable-pitch four-bladed propellor.
• Contenders:
  • Aichi B8A 木星 Mokusei.

Showa Year

National Year

Gregorian Year

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