World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe C6N Saiun ("Colored Cloud") carrier reconnaissance aircraft were designed in response to Japanese Navy's 1942 request for a fast and long-range reconnaissance aircraft for carrier operations. The result aircraft took its maiden flight in 1943. They were slender for fuel-saving purposes and had design tweaks to occupy the least space possible when stowed aboard aircraft carriers; the prototypes' performance, however, was said to be disappointing to Japanese Navy leaders. Nevertheless, the first order was placed in Feb 1944, and the first production example was delivered in Sep 1944. Because the Japanese Navy's operational capabilities were limited by that time, most of the C6N Saiun aircraft were operated from airfields on land. As Japan's need for aircraft grew desperate toward the end of the war, many C6N aircraft were converted for combat uses, and their speed at times frustrated pursuing Allied fighters. The last Japanese aircraft destroyed prior to Emperor Showa's 14 Aug 1945 radio address was a C6N1 Saiun aircraft, shot down about five minutes before the announcement. Including the prototypes, 463 of them were built. The Allies gave the C6N Saiun design the codename of "Myrt".

C6N Saiun Timeline

SPECIFICATIONS

C6N1

Machinery	One Nakajima NK9H Homare 21 18-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, rated at 1,990hp
Armament	1x7.92mm rear Type 1 machine gun on flexible mount
Crew	3
Span	12.50 m
Length	11.00 m
Height	3.96 m
Wing Area	25.50 m²
Weight, Empty	2,968 kg
Weight, Loaded	4,500 kg
Weight, Maximum	5,260 kg
Speed, Maximum	610 km/h
Speed, Cruising	390 km/h
Service Ceiling	10,470 m
Range, Maximum	5,300 km

Photographs