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Mitsubishi J2M Raiden
"Thunderbolt"

Type: Single-seat Navy land-based interceptor
Origin: Mitsubishi
Allied Code Name: Jack
First Flight: March 20, 1942
Service Delivery: December 1942
Final Delivery: N/A
Number Produced: 480
Powerplant:
J2M2:
    Model: Mitsubishi MK4R-A Kasei 23a
    Type: 14-Cyl. Radial
    Number: One       Horsepower: 1,820 hp

J2M5:
    Model: Mitsubishi MK4U-A Kasei 26a
    Type: 14-Cyl. Radial
    Number: One       Horsepower: 1,820 hp
Dimensions:
Wing span: 35 ft. 5.25 in. (10.8m)
Length (Most): 31 ft. 9¾ in. (9.70m)
Length (J2M5): 32 ft. 7¾ in. (9.95m)
Height (Most): 12 ft. 6 in. (3.81m)
Height (J2M5): 12 ft. 11¼ in. (3.94m)
Wing Area (J2M3): 215.82 sq. ft. (20.05m²)

Weights:
Empty (J2M2): 5,572 lbs. (2527 kg)
Empty (J2M3): 5,675 lbs. (2574 kg)
Empty (J2M5): 6,259 lbs. (2839 kg)
Loaded (J2M2): 7,275 lbs. (3300 kg)
Loaded (J2M3): 7,573 lbs. (3435 kg)
Loaded (J2M5): 7,676 lbs. (3482 kg)
Max. Overload (J2M2 & 3): 8,700 lbs. (3946 kg)		   Performance:
Maximum Speed (J2M2): 371 mph (596 km/h)
Maximum Speed (J2M3): 380 mph (612 km/h)
Maximum Speed (J2M5): 382 mph (615 km/h)
Initial climb (J2M2 & 3): 3,610 ft./min (1100 m/min)
Initial climb (J2M5): 3,030 ft./min (925 m/min)
Range (J2M2 & 3, normal load): 655 Miles (1055 km)
Range (J2M2 & 3, overloaded): 1,560 Miles (2520 km)
Range (J2M5 with 30 min reserve): 345 Miles (555 km)
Armament:
J2M2:
Two 20mm Type 99 Cannon in wings
Two 7.7mm machine gun in upper fuselage

J2M3:
Two 20mm Type 99 Cannon in wings
Two 20mm Type 99-II Cannon in wings

J2M3a:
Four 20mm Type 99-II Cannon in wings

J2M4:
Two 20mm Type 99 Cannon in fuselage
Four 20mm Type 99-II Cannon in wings

J2M5:
Two 20mm Type 99 Cannon in fuselage
Two 20mm Type 99-II Cannon in wings

Avionics: N/A
Comments:
Designed as an interceptor (unusual since that was normally the Armies domain). The Raiden went through severe teething problems and didn't really hit it stride until the J2M5 (first flight May 1944). Production problems limited the number of Raiden to see service, and though the Allies regarded it as a serious threat, the type didn't have much of an impact on the growing bomber streams over Japan.

J2M3
Sources:
The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, 1997, Barnes & Nobles Books, ISBN: 0 7607 0592 5
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