Hellcat vs Shiden/Shiden-Kai

By the early months of 1944 in the Pacific, the US Navy's burgeoning force of carrier-based F6F-3/5 Hellcats had pretty much wiped the skies clear of Japanese fighters during a series of one-sided aerial engagements. However, starting in October they faced the superb Kawanishi N1K1/2 Shiden/Shiden-Kai, a formidable fighter with improved armament, a powerful engine, and excellent maneuvrability that in contrast to earlier Japanese fighters had the ability to withstand a greater degree of battle damage.



Japanese pilots using this aircraft would claim more than 170 aerial victories over Kyushu and whilst escorting Kamikazes attacking Allied ships off Okinawa. US Navy Hellcat pilots in turn were credited with many of the scores of Shiden-Kais that were downed attempting to defend Japan. This fully illustrated book compares these two fascinating aircraft, using specially commissioned artwork, first-hand accounts, and a thorough technical analysis.

In primele luni ale anului 1944 in Pacific, forta infloritoare a USC-urilor F6F-3/5 Hellcats a sters destul de mult cerul luptatorilor japonezi in timpul unei serii de angajamente aeriene unilaterale. Cu toate acestea, incepand din octombrie s-au confruntat cu superbul Kawanishi N1K1 / 2 Shiden / Shiden-Kai, un luptator redutabil cu armament imbunatatit, un motor puternic si o manevrabilitate excelenta, care, spre deosebire de luptatorii japonezi anteriori, avea capacitatea de a rezista unui grad mai mare de lupta. Pilotii japonezi care folosesc aceasta aeronava ar avea peste 170 de victorii aeriene asupra Kyushu si in timp ce insoteau kamikazii care atacau navele aliate de pe Okinawa.