Project Z (bomber project)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2010) |
| Project Z | |
|---|---|
 The G5N Shinzan, one of the aircraft built to meet the project's requirements | |
| General information | |
| Project for | Long-range strategic bomber |
| Service | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Proposals | Nakajima Fugaku Kawasaki Ki-91 Kawanishi H8K conversion |
| Prototypes | Nakajima G5N Shinzan |
Project Z (also called the "Z Bombers Project") was a military project of the Empire of Japan, similar to the Nazi German Amerikabomber project, to design an intercontinental bomber capable of reaching North America.
The planned aircraft
[edit]The Project Z aircraft was to have six 5,000 hp (3,700 kW) engines; the Nakajima Aircraft Company quickly began developing engines, proposing twinned Nakajima Ha-44 engines (the most powerful aircraft engine available in Japan at the time).[1]
Designs were presented to the Imperial Japanese Army, including the
- Nakajima G5N Shinzan, with 6 prototypes bilt;
- Conversion of the Kawanishi H8K (sometime wrongly designated G9K Gunzan), concept only;
- Nakajima Fugaku (sometime wrongly designated G10N), project only;
- Kawasaki Ki-91, scale model only.
None, save for the G5N, developed beyond prototypes or wind tunnel models. Late in the war, Project Z and other heavy bomber projects were cancelled.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Horn, Steve (2005). The Second Attack on Pearl Harbor: Operation K and Other Japanese Attempts to Bomb America in World War II. Naval Institute Press. p. 265. ISBN 978-1-59114-388-8.