WW2 Imperial Japanese Navy – MODEL 2 FUEL GAUGE – J2M RAIDEN – VERY RARE!

It was to be a strictly local-defense interceptor, intended to counter the threat of high-altitude bomber raids, and thus relied on speed, climb performance, and armament at the expense of manoeuvrability. The J2M was a sleek, but stubby craft with its oversized Mitsubishi Kasei engine buried behind a long cowling, cooled by an intake fan and connected to the propeller with an extension shaft. Teething development problems stemming from the engine cooling system, and the main undercarriage members led to a slowdown in production. A continual set of modifications resulted in new variants being introduced with the ultimate high-altitude variant, the J2M4 Model 34 flying for the first time in August 1944. It had a 1,420 hp Kasei 23c engine equipped with a turbocharger (mounted in the side of the fuselage just behind the engine) that allowed the rated power to be maintained up to 9,100 m (29,900 ft). Two upward-aimed, oblique-firing (aimed at seventy degrees) 20 mm cannons, mounted in the German Schräge Musik style, were fitted behind the cockpit with the four wing cannons retained. Unresolved difficulties with the turbocharger caused the project to be terminated after only two experimental J2M4s were built.

The first few produced J2M2s were delivered to the development units in December 1942 but severe problems were encountered with the engines. Trials and improvements took almost a year and the first batch of the serial built J2M2 Model 11 was delivered to 381st Kokutai in December 1943. Parallel with the J2M2, production of the J2M3 Raiden Model 21 started. The first J2M3s appeared in October 1943 but deliveries to combat units started at the beginning of February 1944. The Raiden made its combat debut in June 1944 during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Several J2Ms operated from Guam and Saipan and a small number of aircraft were deployed to the Philippines. Later, some J2Ms were based in Japanese airfields in Korea under Genzan Ku: Genzan (Wonsan); Ranan (Nanam); Funei (Nuren); Rashin (Najin); and Konan, for defense of these areas and fighting against Soviet Naval Aviation units. Primarily designed to defend against the Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber, the type was handicapped at high altitude by the lack of a turbocharger. However, its four-cannon armament supplied effective firepower and the use of dive and zoom tactics allowed it to score occasionally. Insufficient numbers and the American switch to night bombing in March 1945 limited its effectiveness.

Only 621 examples were ever built, and only ONE survived the war.

Made of brass, aluminum, and steel, this instrument is of mid-war manufacture and was taken from a downed Japanese Navy J2M aircraft by a US Serviceman during the war. It still retains 95% of it’s original finish, as well as the original data plate! There are some slight marks and scratches due to the age, but nothing that takes away from the overall appearance. The dial still glows when UV light is applied. Normally, this instrument was marked, “5 – 10 – 15 – 20 – 22.5” (in-which the pilot would multiply by a factor of 10)…however on this specific example, the numbers were hand-painted to the correct, “50 – 100 – 150 – 200 – 225“. I have shown its location in the last photo. Like most Japanese instruments, this item is VERY rare and would be a FANTASTIC addition to any Japanese Instrument Collection!

Please view the other Japanese instrument and collectibles that are from the same veteran in my other listings.