Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko – fotod ja video

Fotogalerii Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko, The Nakajima J1N1 Gekko (月光 “Moonlight”) was a twin-engine aircraft used by the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II and was used for reconnaissance, night fighter, and kamikaze missions. The first flight took place in May 1941. It was given the Allied reporting name “Irving”, since the earlier reconnaissance version the J1N1-C, was mistaken for a fighter.

Allikas: Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko on Wiki

Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko oli kahemootoriline hävitaja, mille Nakajima lennukikompanii töötas välja Jaapani keiserliku mereväe jaoks Teise maailmasõja ajal. Algselt oli see mõeldud pikamaa eskortvõitlejaks, kuid see osutus selle rolli jaoks liiga aeglaseks ja raskeks. Selle asemel muudeti see luurelennukiks ja hiljem edukaks öövõitlejaks ja kamikaze ründajaks. J1N1-S Gekkol oli kaheliikmeline meeskond, piloot ja navigaator/raadiooperaator, ning ta oli relvastatud nelja keresse paigaldatud 20 mm kahuriga, millest kaks tulistasid 30-kraadise nurga all ülespoole ja kaks allapoole. See võimaldas Gekkol rünnata liitlaste pommitajaid ülalt või alt, vältides nende kaitsvat tuld.
The J1N1-S Gekko also had a radar system to help locate and track enemy aircraft in the dark. The Gekko was given the Allied codename “Irving”, after the earlier reconnaissance version was mistaken for a fighter. The Gekko first saw combat in May 1943, when a field-modified J1N1-C shot down two B-17s over Rabaul. The J1N1-S Gekko was officially introduced in June 1943, and served until the end of the war, mainly in the Pacific theater. It was one of the few Japanese aircraft that could challenge the Allied air superiority at night, and claimed over 200 kills. However, it also suffered heavy losses from Allied fighters and anti-aircraft fire, and many were used in suicide missions in the final stages of the war. The Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko was a versatile and innovative aircraft that demonstrated the Japanese ingenuity and adaptability in the face of adversity.