Nakajima G8N Renzan "Rita"

Nakajima · Japan · first flew 1944 · bomber

The Nakajima G8N Renzan (Mountain Range) was an ambitious Japanese four-engine heavy bomber designed to strike the American mainland from Japanese bases in the Pacific. Allied manufacturing disruptions ensured only four were built before Japan's defeat.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	4 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	22.94 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Japanese WWII four-engine heavy bomber intended for long-range Pacific strikes
Only four examples completed before war's end — never used operationally
Large streamlined design inspired by American bombers with tricycle undercarriage

Large four-engine mid-wing monoplane with a clean streamlined fuselage, tricycle undercarriage (unusual for Japanese bombers), and defensive gun turrets fore and aft.

Specifications

The Nakajima G8N Renzan has a length of 22.94 m (75 ft).
It has a wingspan of 32.54 m (107 ft).
Its maximum speed is 593 km/h (368 mph).
Typical crew: 10.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Development began in 1943 under an Imperial Japanese Navy specification for a long-range bomber capable of reaching the US West Coast. The first prototype flew in October 1944, and despite its impressive performance the severe shortage of materials and manufacturing capacity meant only four aircraft were completed. None were used operationally. After the war all surviving examples were scrapped.

Variants

Only one basic variant was planned; no production sub-types were developed before the programme ended.

Where you'll see it

Never entered operational service; the four prototypes were evaluated by the IJN before war's end.

Related aircraft

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