Jimdandy, as an engineer u have my respect, but where on earth did u get the idea that a Bearcat had a T2W ratio of approx 1:1? That 1 musta been a RATO assisted model ;-) ..
Whoever said the J2M could not reach the altitude of the B-29 was wrong.To say the addition of cannons wrecked performance & there4 required the installation of a blower is also a little silly.The J2M3 was able to climb to B-29 alt handily.Unfortunately, its top speed at that alt was only slightly greater than the B-29 itself, which is why the J2M5 was built (although in too small a number be4 the war ended), which brought a significant increase in performance thanks 2 a new turbo-supercharger.
Standard J2M3's or M5's did NOT use "Schrage Musik" type upward pointing fuselage cannon.If a small number were so modified, it was not because the J2M could not reach the required alt, but because attacking a Superfortress from below afforded a better element of suprise, and the weight of defensive fire from below was not as great as it would've been from a co- or higher alt. The problem with the J2M3 was not its ability 2 reach B-29 operational alt - its climb rate was excellent 4 a late-war Jap interceptor.Its problem was once up 2 alt, its speed was not sufficient (as I mentioned, this being the reason the J2M5 was introduced).
Btw, although there have been some disparaging statements made about the J2M's handling (including statements attributed 2 Japanese pilots!), a USAAF test-pilot who flew a J2M3 captured in an outlying suburb in the Philippine capital, Manila, described the Raiden as a joy to fly, & the best Japanese fighter he had yet flown (apparently he had flown most of them 2 that time).Its only real vice was that the ailerons became very heavy above 300mph IAS, which was made worse by the fact that the Raiden could pick up considerable speed in a dive & made a change of direction difficult at high speeds.He also complimented the Raiden's excellent rate of climb, which was according 2 him far superior 2 any of the then operational US fighters.
So I guess 2 many Jap IJNAF pilots who'd flown Zekes & Shidens, the Raiden was a bit of a pig as far as handling was concerned.However 2 a US pilot used 2 far less maneuvrable fighters (though superior in performance), the J2M was a joy.
It has 2 be said, however, that IJNAF experten (again, another bloody Teutonic word 2 describe something Japanese ;-D ) used the Raiden 2 its fullest. Aces like Ensign Sadaaki Akamatsu taught the younger IJNAF pilots 2 use Boom'n'Zoom tactics that utilised the J2M's strengths, its high climb rate & excellent dive 2 the max.
In one famous encounter Akamatsu displayed his superior aerobatic abilities (and raw courage, when on April 19, 1945, the 34 yr old Raiden ace flew his J2M against a gaggle of USAAF 45th FS P-51Ds.He forced the Ponies down 2 low-alt & then dispatched 2, with a 3rd claimed as a probable.
[This message has been edited by C_R_Caldwell (edited 02-15-2001).]
