Monday, March 2, 2015

Mizuho Shinryu

The Mizuno Shinryu was a late-World War II Japanese rocket-powered suicide interceptor concept. The project never proceeded beyond the initial phase of development.

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.

Variants
    Mizuno "ShinryĆ«" Type 1 suicide rocket glider
    Mizuno "ShinryĆ«" Type 2 rocket interceptor
Specifications (Shinryu, as designed)
General characteristics
    Crew: one, pilot
    Powerplant: 2 × Tokuro-1, solid-fuel rockets, 1.5 kN (330 lbf) each
Armament
    Warhead in nose and/or 8 × unguided rockets

The Mizuno Shinryu

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