Mizuno Shinryu

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The Mizuno Shinryū (神龍 - "Divine Dragon") was a proposed rocket-powered kamikaze aircraft designed for the Imperial Japanese Navy towards the end of World War II. It never reached production.

In configuration, it was to be a canard-winged design, with swept wings and tail fin. Two rocket engines were to be mounted in the rear, and the nose was to be fitted with an explosive warhead. Some versions of the design appear to have been intended to carry unguided rockets under the wings for interception of enemy bombers, similar to the intended role of the German Bachem Ba 349.

It is unclear today whether the engines were intended to provide power for take-off (like the Bachem Ba 349), or to accelerate the aircraft towards its target (like the Ohka). Similar to the Ohka, it could have been launched from coastal air bases and caves, and modified Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" or Yokosuka P1Y bombers. Its intended role, whether anti-ship, anti-aircraft, or anti-tank is still unclear.

[edit] Variants

  • Mizuno "Shinryū" Type 1 suicide rocket glider
  • Mizuno "Shinryū" Type 2 rocket interceptor

[edit] Specifications (Shinryu, as designed)

General characteristics

  • Crew: one, pilot
  • Length: ()
  • Wingspan: ()
  • Height: ()
  • Powerplant: 2× Tokuro-1 , solid-fuel rockets, 1.5 kN (330 lbf) each

Performance

Armament

  • Warhead in nose and/or 8 × unguided rockets

[edit] See also