J2M3

Description

Engine information on the left. Orientation in the centre. Flight info on the right. Easy!
The J2M3 continues the good cockpit visibility featured on all Japanese fighters.

The J2M3 Model 21, designated as Raiden Mod.21 (雷電二一型), was an uparmed variant of the previous J2M2 by replacing the nose-mounted machine guns with two Type 99 Model 1 20 mm cannons in the wings. It also used belt feeds instead of drum magazines for both Model 1 and Model 2 cannons resulting in greater ammunition capacity. The J2M3 was the most widely produced variant of the Raiden series.

It was introduced in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals". Unlike its previous model, this Raiden wields four 20 mm cannons, specifically two Model 1s and two Model 2s with more ammo, which means an even more deadly strafe that reduces the need to make a second pass. While maintaining the same engine, it results in the same great climber, but at a higher battle rating facing potentially more dangerous targets which may be able to keep up with the Raiden.

Nicknames

• Official Designation: 雷電 (Raiden, "Lightning Bolt")
• Allied reporting name: Jack

General info

Flight performance

Details

Survivability and armour

• 70 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
• 8.5 mm Steel plate in pilot's headrest

Modifications and economy

Unlocking all performance modules should be a Raiden pilot's first concern, as the default belts for all weapons are workable. After that, go for the weapon belts, as these make more targets possible (ground units).

Armaments

Offensive armament

The J2M3 is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons, wing-mounted (210 rpg = 420 total)
• 2 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannons, wing-mounted (190 rpg = 380 total)

Suspended armament

The J2M3 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (120 kg total)
• 2 x Type 3 No.1 Mod.28 Mk.1 rockets
• 2 x Type 5 No.1 Mod.9 rockets
• 2 x Type 3 No.6 Mod.27 Mk.1 rockets
• 2 x Type 5 No.6 Mod.9 rockets

Usage in battles

Featuring two 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannons and two 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons with plenty of ammunition, the J2M3 is capable of destroying all kinds of aircraft. Although destroying heavy bombers like the B-29 Superfortress takes a lot of ammunition, the J2M3 can afford to lose some. The "Stealth" belt has the best combination of AP/API and HEF to shred enemy aircraft and are recommended for those who do not need a tracer shell to aim. Alternatively, for those not used to IJN 20 mm cannons, the "Universal" belt is your best bet. The "Tracers" belt is filled with HEF-T shells, but they only contain half of the power of a standard HEF, and can give away your position.

For ground attack, the J2M3 can equip two 60 kg bombs under the wings. While not the biggest, these bombs can help a team win a match, especially in arcade battles. The J2M3 can also wield armour piercing ground targets ammunition for its 20 mm cannons, although 21 mm of penetration is nothing to boast about and should be ignored unless targeting armoured personnel carriers (APC) or similar armoured cars.

Overall, the Raiden is best used as a surprise attack, high altitude, high damage output fighter. While it does not excel in the speed or manoeuvrability categories, it makes up for that in armament and rate of climb.

The Raiden pilot may also find themselves outclassed by high altitude aircraft such as the P-51D-5 Mustang. All these aircraft have to do to avoid the J2M is dive away and build up speed, but the J2M3 can generally outturn them with effective use of combat flaps and rudder. Fortunately, the J2M3 has a surprise - a massive ammunition pool totalling 800 rounds. That's 800 rounds of high explosive cannon ammunition that can be dispensed at will towards fleeing enemies. With good aim and practice, it is possible to "snipe" enemies from a kilometre away.

Manual Engine Control

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Decent top speed, although lower than its contemporaries
• Large ammunition pool
• Insanely high climb rate
• Has generally adequate dive characteristics
• Quite excellent energy retention
• Great medium-speed manoeuvrability
• Reasonable roll rate at lower speeds
• Solid armament layout
• Excellent performance at high altitudes

Cons:

• Very poor high-speed performance
• Prone to engine and fuel fires
• Doesn't turn well at higher speeds
• Elevator doesn't respond well, especially at high speeds
• Lack of armour around fuel tanks or engine
• Differing muzzle velocities between the two models of the Type 99 cannon on the J2M3 will require you to lead much further than normal as an order to utilize the full effectiveness of the J2M3's firepower

History

Development

During the China Incident (Sino-Japanese war) the Navy had sustained some damage from Chinese bomber groups as they didn't have any dedicated interceptors at the time, for this reason the Navy put out multiple specifications for planes to deal with threats which the Chinese made clear to the Navy. For bombers specifically they specified for a strictly local-defense interceptor known as the 14-Shi Interceptor.

The designer behind the A6M, Jiro Horikoshi and his team started development on this specification. But due the harsh unrealistic specifications for mainly engine output required for the team to use a strong engine which wasn't available yet and with the oversized engine required for the task resulted in a sleek but stubby plane.

After the initial J2M1 prototypes outfitted with the 1,044 kW Mitsubishi MK4C Kasei 13 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine and didn't come near the specification requirements, engine vibrations coming from the cooling system and a troublesome undercarriage design held it back from being used as a production model.

The J2M2 Model 11 was outfitted with 1,379 kW Mitsubishi MK4R-A Kasei 23a 14-cylinder radial engine which somewhat overcame the teething problems but still didn't reach the requirements, overburdened with engine problems and electrical malfunctions in the landing gear remained.

Mitsubishi wanted to make the best of it and get out the J2Ms into combat service before it was officially adopted in the Navy. Engine problems and performance were only further resolved in further modifications.

The J2M3 Model 21 was developed parallel with the J2M2 Model 11 with improved armament of four 20 mm Type 99's in the wings (two Model 1s and two Model 2s).

Combat History

Production of the J2M3 Model 21 was parallel with the J2M2 Model 11 and the first J2M3s appeared in October 1943 but deliveries to combat units started at the beginning of February 1944.

Furthermore, the J2M2 and J2M3 saw limited action in the Philippines, although it was largely ineffective due to the limited initial production batch and design flaws.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the J2M3 from live.warthunder.com.

Images

Videos

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance