As there were no Japanese-manufactured 2,000hp aircraft engines at the time, Nakajima came up with the interesting solution of threading two 1,000hp radials on the same drive shaft like a kebab. This powerplant arrangement, located in the fuselage, would in turn be geared to spin a propeller on each wing. while this planning was taking place, an exciting development in Japanese powerplant manufacture resulted in the debut of the powerful new Homare small diameter radial engine. IJN officials approached Nakajima designers with the proposal of using the new engine. While the engine`s power rating of 1,830hp was almost acceptable, its output of only 1,600hp at 6.000m altiude --400hp lower than design specs -- necessitated a return to the drawing boards for Nakajima`s draftsmen. In order to get the plane up to speed, the fuselage would have to be narowed and the wing area of the main wings would have to be reduced considerably to cut down on air-resistance through aerodynamic streamlining. This wing modification meant a higher landing and take-off speed and longer runway to get into the air, a distinct disadvantage when considering the carrier-based missions profile intended for the aircrat. Nakajima`s designers got arround this obstacle through the incorporation of slats and flower flaps in the wings to increase aerodynamic lift. A special large 3.5m diameter propeller was also incorporated to get the fuel-laden planes up into the air from the short, crowded deck of an aircraft carrier. The first prototype for this revolutionary new aircraft was completed and submitted for IJN evaluation in April 1943, going into mass production exactly one year later. In September 1944, the design was officially designated the C6N1 Type 11 Saiun. Although the 609km/h top speed of production models was a drop from the prottypes 635km/h. The Saiun was still capable of shaking off pursuing Hellcats. some production aircraft were refitted -- at some sacrifice of range and speed -- with two upward-angled 20mm cannons or a single upward-angeld 30mm cannon and pressed into service as nightfighters for homeland air defense agianst the B-29 raids wich ravaged the home islands in the last year of the war.
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- 11st Reccon SQ, 762nd Naval Flying Group, Katori AB,, Januari 1945
