J2M5

J2M5

J2M3

Ki-83

J2M5

J2M3

Ki-83

Japan

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
6.3	5.7	5.7

Class:

Fighter

Research:31 000

Purchase:200 000

Show in game

This page is about the Japanese fighter J2M5. For other versions, see J2M (Family).

Description

The J2M5 Raiden is a rank IV Japanese fighter with a battle rating of 6.3 (AB) and 5.7 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.51 "Cold Steel".

General info

Flight performance

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 6,580 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	590	571	11500	20.0	20.6	13.0	13.0	300
Upgraded	646	615		18.5	19.0	23.9	17.5

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	350	515	515	280	~11	~8

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 390	< 400	< 420	> 324

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
2,800 m	1,510 hp	1,812 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
6,800 m	1,450 hp	1,740 hp
Setting 3
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
7,200 m	1,400 hp	1,680 hp

Survivability and armour

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

Armaments

Offensive armament

The J2M5 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 J2M5 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (120 kg total)

Usage in battles

Unlike its other Naval brethren in the Japanese tech tree, the Raiden possesses a top speed rivalling that of the P-51 D-5 Mustang. Although a stubby and small aircraft, the Mitsubishi J2M Raiden can be considered one of the best Japanese fighters in War Thunder. Wielding four 20 mm cannons, this aircraft is more than capable of dealing with heavy damage. However, the main advantage the Raiden has over its Allied counterparts is its climb rate. In Realistic Battles, the J2M5 can climb to higher altitudes very quickly, especially when given an air start. This facet of the Raiden's performance is particularly exemplified in the J2M5, the last in-game variant of the Raiden that features the greatest performance of the series. This is partially due to its mechanically-driven supercharger which allows the J2M5 to perform at altitudes once thought impossible by Japanese engineers. Once at a high altitude, it becomes possible to choose when, where, and who the J2M5 want to fight. The J2M5's 20 mm cannons may initially seem rather lacklustre but they have a knack for snapshots or quick bursts of fire that result in a victory while manoeuvring. Generally, the J2M5 performs similarly to the early Fw 190 A variants, having a deadly armament, good roll rate, low top speed, but higher climb rate. The J2M5 differs from this rule slightly as it was built for speed and high-altitude performance. The Raiden is best used as an energy fighter - instead of "turning and burning", or losing all built up speed in turns, attack enemies from a higher altitude and then regain that altitude once the attack has been delivered. The J2M5 excels at Boom & Zoom due to its high rate of climb, deadly armament, and high altitude characteristics.

Sharing this role with other "energy fighters" such as the Fw 190 D-13 the Raiden's main downside is its lack of manoeuvrability. Similar to its earlier mentioned German counterpart, the Raiden struggles to beat enemies in turn fights, especially Spitfires. If caught in a sticky situation, the Raiden pilot may choose to dive away or seek help from teammates. Trying to fight an enemy Spitfire in a turn battle with any J2M is a terrible idea unless the enemy aircraft is damaged or many teammates are nearby. Moreover, the J2M's high-speed manoeuvrability is very poor; often, it becomes a gamble when pulling out of a high-speed dive as the Raiden's elevator authority at high speeds is lacking. The entire aircraft locks up at excess speeds of 645 KPH/400 MPH. It can be very difficult to pull out of a dive, roll, or turn when at high speeds with the J2M. The Raiden's manoeuvrability is more or less on par with its enemies in simulator battles, for the most part.

The Raiden pilot may also find themselves outclassed at extreme altitudes by aircraft such as the Ta 152. All these aircraft have to do to avoid the J2M5 is dive away and build up speed. Fortunately, this aircraft has a surprise - a massive ammunition pool totalling 800 rounds. With good aim and practice, it is possible to "snipe" enemies from upwards of a kilometre away.

The J2M5 wields two 20 mm Type 99 Mk. 1 cannon and two 20 mm Type 99 Mk. 2 cannons in the wings. The stock belts are particularly lacklustre for both of these weapons but since there is such a large amount of ammunition carried in both the effect is virtually negated. 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 mms, the "Universal" belt is the best bet. The "Tracer" belt is filled with HEF-T shells, but they only contain half of the power of a standard HEF and can give away the plane's position.

Overall, the Raiden is best used as a surprise attack, high altitude, high damage output fighter. Where it lacks in the manoeuvrability category, it makes up for in armament and rate of climb. The J2M5 also has improved cockpit visibility over the J2M2 and J2M3 variants.

For ground attack, the J2M5 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 J2M5 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 personal carriers (APC) or similar armoured cars.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Controllable 3 gears	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 20 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe		Offensive 20 mm
III	Wings repair	Engine		New 20 mm cannons
IV		Engine injection	Cover		New 20 mm cannons

• 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).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Decent top speed
• Large ammunition pool
• Climbs very well
• Has generally good dive characteristics
• Good energy retention
• 12 mm armour plate behind the windscreen
• Good roll rate at lower speeds
• Improved cockpit visibility over J2M2/J2M3

Cons:

• Very poor high-speed performance
• Prone to engine and fuel fires
• Doesn't turn well
• Elevator doesn't respond well, especially at high speeds
• Lack of armour around fuel tanks or engine
• Differing muzzle velocities between the two marks of the Type 99 cannon on the J2M5 will require different leads for each to hit

History

Nearing the end of the war, the focus of the J2Ms was shifted towards even more local interceptors as requested at a faster approach. With the J2M5, Raiden Model 33's a new and last engine revision was made, the Kasei 26a engine with a mechanically driven supercharger. This allowed the Model 33 to get higher speeds at higher altitudes compared to that of the J2M4, Model 32 at the cost of total range which was a sacrifice that was required as American bombers got closer and closer to the mainland.

Within the Model 33 there has been several prototype variants and armament configurations of only one becoming a production line variant, the J2M5a, Raiden Model 33 Ko which had four 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons.

One other of these variants, the J2M5 with Type 5 30 mm's, which didn't make it to the production line, as by the time, bombers got through and bombed the Japanese logistics from December 1944 onward, which took its toll on the aircraft production overall.

A direct hit on the Mitsubishi aircraft plant caused the complete loss of airframes, machine tools, and jigs and eventually halted production. Production generally suffered less from direct hits on factories, which were rare, but from attacks on suppliers and consequent shortages of material and construction tools.

Media

The Shooting Range #178 - Pages of History section at 04:36 discusses the J2M "Raiden".

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

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.

Mitsubishi Company (三菱商会)
Fighters	A5M4 · Hagiri's A5M4
	A6M2 mod. 11 · A6M2 · A6M3 · A6M3 mod. 22 · A6M3 mod. 22Ko · A6M5 · A6M5 Ko · A6M5 otsu · A6M5 Hei · A6M6c
	A7M1 (NK9H) · A7M2
	J2M2 · J2M3 · J2M4 Kai · J2M5 · J2M5 (30 mm)
Hydroplanes	F1M2
Interceptors	Ki-83 · Ki-109
Bombers	G4M1
	Ki-21-Ia · Ki-21-I hei · Ki-67-I Ko · Ki-67-I otsu
Jet Fighters	Ki-200
Captured	▃A6M2 · ␗A6M2
See also	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Post-War)