R2Y2 Kai V2
This page is about the Japanese jet fighter R2Y2 Kai V2. For other versions, see R2Y (Family). |
Contents
Description
The R2Y2 Keiun-Kai V2 is a rank V Japanese jet fighter with a battle rating of 7.3 (AB/SB) and 8.0 (RB). It was introduced in Update 1.43.
Even though the R2Y2s are able to equip 800 kg bombs, they wield a powerful set of 4 x 30 mm Type 5 cannons, mounted in the nose. This aircraft trio is similar to the Me 262 series as they all lack an engine or propeller in the front of the plane. Thus, the R2Y2 and its German counterpart wield an impressive set of cannons. However, unlike the legendary slow-firing, low muzzle velocity Mk-108s in the 262, the R2Y2 series wields Type 5 cannons with a much larger ammunition pool. Although their rates of fire are comparable, this fact of a higher ammunition count allows the R2Y2 to be able to destroy large amounts of aircraft without having to return to base. In arcade battles, having a large ammunition pool is also useful as it will often be unnecessary to reload.
The R2Y2 series of aircraft features a devastating battery of weapons mounted centrally within the nose. Much like the Me 262, the lack of a piston engine mounted within the nose allows for much larger cannons to be placed within the space it would have occupied. 4 x 30 mm Type 5 cannons with an ammo load of 600 rounds (150 rounds per gun) means the R2Y2 is effective at almost any role it is played as. Attacker or interceptor, the R2Y2 is an effective multi-role aircraft for the Japanese at rank V.
General info
Flight performance
Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 3,500 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
Stock | 833 | 809 | 13000 | 30.9 | 31.5 | 16.4 | 15.3 | 750 |
Upgraded | 892 | 863 | 29.4 | 30.0 | 23.9 | 20.0 |
Details
Features | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | X | X |
Limits | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
960 | 350 | 498 | 469 | 320 | ~10 | ~4 |
Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
< 650 | < 600 | < 680 | N/A |
Engine performance
Engine | Aircraft mass | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Engine name | Number | Empty mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | |||||
Mitsubishi Ne-330 | 2 | 5,400 kg | 243 kg/m2 | |||||
Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | ||||||
Weight (each) | Type | 14m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 45m fuel | 49m fuel | ||
1,200 kg | Axial-flow turbojet | 6,120 kg | 6,405 kg | 6,881 kg | 7,594 kg | 7,784 kg | 9,950 kg | |
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%) | |||||||
Condition | 100% | WEP | 14m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 45m fuel | 49m fuel | MTOW |
Stationary | 1,220 kgf | N/A | 0.40 | 0.38 | 0.35 | 0.32 | 0.31 | 0.25 |
Optimal | 1,220 kgf (0 km/h) |
N/A | 0.40 | 0.38 | 0.35 | 0.32 | 0.31 | 0.25 |
Survivability and armour
Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.
Modifications and economy
- The R2Y2's biggest downfall is its speed.
- Start by unlocking the performance modules first, as they will increase survivability more so than any armament upgrades.
- Being able to use the "Stealth" belt for the 30 mm cannons is a huge advantage over Tracer and Universal, provided the pilot can aim, as the Tracer shells halve the HE fillers.
Armaments
Offensive armament
The R2Y2 Kai V2 is armed with:
- 4 x 30 mm Type 5 cannons, nose-mounted (150 rpg = 600 total)
Suspended armament
The R2Y2 Kai V2 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 1 x 800 kg Navy Type Number 80 Model 1 bomb (800 kg total)
- 1 x 800 kg Navy Type 99 Number 80 AP bomb (800 kg total)
Usage in battles
The R2Y2 is best utilized as a medium-altitude fighter in all game modes. Due to its lacklustre acceleration, gaining airspeed as early as possible is crucial. Once the R2Y2 pilot loses his or her speed, they are easy prey for fast-accelerating planes like the F7F. It is important to always have a high speed when attacking enemies as they will often be able to slot in on your tail in a matter of seconds. This short time can be a matter of life or death as many fast-turning propeller aircraft such as the Spitfire wield impressive armaments with high burst masses. However, these advantages can be nullified once the R2Y2 pilot has the ability to dive away at high speeds.
If tailed, it can often be difficult to evade enemies with this aircraft, jet engines or not. Many propeller planes like the Tempest can easily stay with a diving R2Y2. If found in this situation, the R2Y2 pilot has a few choices. One, the best method is to call for teammate assistance. Not only can one keep the enemy greedy and focused on his or her tail, but this pilot can also "set up" that enemy for a teammate to destroy. If found alone, it can be possible to catch propeller planes in a "speed trap" where once the jet starts to outrun the enemy, pitch up to gain altitude. Once the enemy prop stalls out, dive on them. If the first pass doesn't result in a massive fuel fire and explosion, set up the same approach as before. Even if the propeller plane has the ability to outmanoeuvre the R2Y2, it is still very daunting to have to dodge an aircraft armed with four 30 mm cannons.
The R2Y2 can also be beneficial to any Japanese or arcade battles team as a ground attacker. Its 30 mm Type 5 cannons have the ability to equip armour-piercing rounds which are capable of destroying light tanks, medium tanks, and light pillboxes, among other targets. This coupled with the single 800 kg bomb can cause some serious damage.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- 4 x 30 mm Type 5 cannons mounted in the nose with a very generous ammo count of 600 rounds
- Very manoeuvrable for an early jet
- Frequently faces prop aircraft and early jets
- Clear cockpit with good all-round vision (excellent for simulator battle pilots in particular)
- Often fights prop aircraft in SB
- 800 kg AP bomb can instantly destroy heavily armoured tanks in Ground Forces
Cons:
- Poor acceleration (although is decent at low speed)
- No armour protection whatsoever on the aircraft
- Limited bomb selection if used as an Attacker/Jet Bomber
- Easy target
- Sometimes difficult to line up guns
- Poor rate of roll
History
The R2Y2 was a jet-powered version of the R2Y1 designed by Kugisho. Known as the Keiun or Keiun-Kai ("Beautiful Cloud" in Japanese) the aircraft would be a high-speed jet-bomber/attacker that could be used in the defence of the home islands of the Japanese empire. The powerplant of the jet Keiun-Kai would be a pair of Mitsubishi Ne-330 turbojet engines mounted in pods located, with one under each wing. Compared to the Version 1, the V2 features the jet's air-intakes in the wing roots and the engine in the tail-beam similar to the F9F. The major advantage of this setup is the reduced air drag resulting in both better top speed and better acceleration. With the increased height less lawn and small stones can enter the jet engines, a common problem in WW2 as most military airports were plain lawn fields. However, the big disadvantage is increased maintenance time form the far more complicated engine arrangement. Further storage places for fuel get sparse. The last version V3 would feature a nose-mounted air-intake with the engines remaining centrally mounted within the fuselage.
The Y-40 project began with failure of the Kugisho R1Y1 (Y-30) project for a fast, high-speed reconnaissance aircraft. The development of that project, along with inspiration from the German Heinkel He 119, the R2Y (Y-40) project was developed. Initially intended as a fast reconnaissance aircraft with a long-range that could be operated from land bases across the Japanese Empire, that would avoid interception with high-speed flight, however, Kugisho also informed the IJN that the aircraft could be adapted to other roles. They proposed that the planned Aichi Ha-70 engine powerplant of the R2Y1 could be replaced by a pair of Mitsubishi Ne-330 turbojet engines. Nonetheless, work on the R2Y1 continued, however, it proved troublesome due to the Aichi powerplant. Issues with the R2Y1 airframe, its powerplant and interference from American bombing prevented the development of the project past the piston-engined variant. By April 1945 the first prototype of the Keiun was ready for initial trials, with the first flight in early May of the same year. The R2Y1 suffered engine-cooling issues during its early development, and fire occurred during ground-testing that would damage the aircraft and its powerplant.
This would not be the only disaster of the project, as the first prototype was completely destroyed by a bombing raid, further damaging the R2Y's chances of ever becoming an operational aircraft. The second R2Y1 prototype was still under construction at the time of the Japanese surrender on August 15th and the R2Y2 remained on the drawing board.
V2 variant
The R2Y2 V2 would feature a redesigned configuration that would also be proposed on in the V3. Rather than having the Ne-330 engines mounted in pods under the wings (as was the case with most contemporary jets at the time) the V2 featured the engines mounted within the fuselage and the wing roots featuring an air intake leading to them. As such, the profile of the aircraft changes significantly compared to the V1. This redesign of the R2Y1 was not chosen due to the extra cost per unit.
Media
- Skins
- Images
See also
- Related development
External links
Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal (海軍航空技術廠) | |
---|---|
Bombers | D4Y1 · D4Y2 · D4Y3 Ko |
P1Y1 mod. 11 | |
Jet fighters | R2Y2 Kai V1 · R2Y2 Kai V2 · R2Y2 Kai V3 |
Captured | ␗P1Y1 mod. 11 |
While the arsenal was simply known as the Naval Air Technical Arsenal and usually referred to as Kūgi-shō (Kaigun Kōkū Gijutsu-shō). | |
The name Yokosuka prevailed however, even though it referred to the Arsenal's location. | |
See also | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal (Shipyard) |
Japan jet aircraft | |
---|---|
IJNAS | |
Experimental | Kikka |
Reconnaissance | R2Y2 Kai V1 · R2Y2 Kai V2 · R2Y2 Kai V3 |
IJAAS | |
Fighters | Ki-200 |
JASDF | |
Fighters | F-86F-30 ▅ · F-86F-40 ▅ · F-86F-40 JASDF▅ |
F-104J | |
F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · F-4EJ Kai Phantom II | |
F-15J · F-15J(M) | |
F-16AJ | |
F-1 | |
Trainers | T-2 Early · T-2 |
Foreign | |
Thailand | ▄F-5E FCU |