Nakajima Hikoki K.K.

From The Air Combat Wiki

Contents 1 Aircraft and Engine Manufacturing Plants 1.1 Airframes 1.2 Engines 2 Production Aircraft 3 See Also

English translation is Nakajima Aeroplane Co., Ltd.

Japanese aircraft and engine manufacturer during World War II.

Nihon Hikoki Seisakusho K.K. (Japan Aeroplane Manufacturing Work Co., Ltd.) was founded on 6 December 1917 by Lietenant Chikuhei Nakajima, a young retired Naval engineer, and Sebie Kawanishi. A quarrel between the two caused the company to be dissolved in December 1919. Nakajima then obtained backing from the Mitsui Bussan K.K. (Mitsui Trading Co., Ltd.) and formed Nakajima Hikoki K.K. On 1 April 1945 the company was transfered to state management and renamed the First Munitions Arsenal.

Together with the wholly-owned subsidiary Nakajima Koku Kinzoku K.K. (Nakajima Aero-Metals Co., Ltd.), the company operated a tight complex of aircraft production, producing almost everything from the metal to the components needed for the manufacture of their aircraft and engines. The two areas they did not cover themselves were machine tools and propellers.

In 1945 Nakajima produced 26% of all Japanese aircraft, 47% of all combat aircraft and 32% of all aero engines. Between 1941-1945 they were the leading airframe producer and second in engines to Mitsubishi by a narrow margin.

Aircraft and Engine Manufacturing Plants

Airframes

No. 1 - Ota at Ota, Gumma Pref. (Ki-21, Ki-27, Ki-43, Ki-44, Ki-84, Ki-115, B5N, E8N, K2Y, L2D)

No. 2 - Koizumi at Okawa, Gumma Pref. (B5N, G3M, L2D, A6M, A6M2-N, B6N, C6N, P1Y)

No. 3 - Handa at Handai, Aichi Pref. (B6N, C6N)

No. 4 - Utsonomiya at Utsononmiya, Tochigi Pref. (Ki-84)

Engines

No. 11 - Musashi at Musashi, Tokyo Pref. (Ha-1B, Ha-5, Ha-25, Ha-41, Ha-45, Ha-109, Ha-115, Ha-117, Kotobuki, Hikari, Sakae, Mamoru, Homare)

No. 12 - Omiya at Omiya, Saito Pref. (components and the Homare)

No. 13 - Hamamatsu at Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Pref. (components and the Ha-45)

No. 14 - Oya at Shiroyami, Tochigi Pref. (components)

Production Aircraft

1935 - Nakajima E8N Navy Type 95 Reconnaissance Seaplane (single-engine, two-seat, catapult-capable, roconnaissance float-plane)

1937 - Nakajima B5N Navy Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber (single-engine, three-seat, torpedo-bomber)

1937 - Nakajima Ki-27 Army Type 97 Fighter (single-engine, light-fighter)

1937 - Nakajima Ki-34 Army Type 97 Transport / Nakajima Navy Type AT-2 Transport (twin-engine, freight and paratroop transport)

1940 - Nakajima Ki-49 Army type 100 Heavy Bomber (twin-engine, medium-bomber)

1941 - Nakajima Ki-43 Army Type 1 Fighter (single-engine, fighter / fighter-bomber)

1942 - Nakajima J1N Navy Type 2 Reconnaissance Plane Gekko (twin-engine, two- or three-seat, long-range escort fighter / reconnaissance plane)

1942 - Nakajima A6M2-N Navy Type 2 Floatplane Fighter (single-engine, float-plane fighter)

1942 - Nakajima Ki-44 Army Type 2 Fighter (single-engine, interceptor / fighter-bomber)

1943 - Nakajima B6N Navy Carrier Attack Bomber Tenzan (single-engine, three-seat, carrier-capable, torpedo-bomber)

1944 - Nakajima Ki-84 Army Type 4 Fighter Hayate (single-engine, fighter / fighter-bomber)

1944 - Nakajima C6N Navy Carrier Reconnaissance Plane Saiun (single-engine, carrier-capable, three-seat reconnaissance plane / two-seat night-fighter)

See Also

Aircraft Manufacturers During World War II

Japanese Aircraft Designation System