Best Possible Japanese Carrier-Based Aircraft?

Engine that powered Hellcat prototype was the two-stage supercharged R-2600, making plenty of power above 15000-20000 ft. Still it was not enough, the R-2800 was quickly installed in order to bring the performance close to the level required. US have had 100/130 PN fuel (in Europe also the 150 PN from early 1944 on), and used water-alcohol injection on most of the fighter engines. Japanese hi-oct fuel was 92 octane, helped in late war with w-a injection.

The XP-42 was never a combat-capable fighter. Vanguard looked like a fine fighter, eye-pleasing, thin-winged, but it was too late to matter with it's 1939-ish engine power, performance, protection and range.

The two Japanese aircforces were defeated by light engines, and by light and heavy AAA. Hellcat and Corsair mostly encountered target practice.
 
Most interesting comments. I have read about the Ha-41/109 before, but i kinda dismissed it initially. However, i can see it would have merit if for example used instead of the Kasei on the J2M, smaller diameter (126 vs 134cm) means smaller diameter fuselage, less drag, more speed (how much would you think, 15-20kph, more?). Though Mitsubishi will have to be forced to accept the Nakajima engine and they probably still want a fan on it. Developing the Ha-109 further by adding methanol injection will raise power to about 1800HP i would think, like the contemporary Kaseis.

If IJN will go on Nakajima's hand in this ATL, they might as well choose the Ha-219 (Ha-44) of 2400-2500 HP for the A7M Reppu then, what the hell. This beast would be even longer and heavier than the OTL Reppu, but probably speed would be significantly increased. Late war there was a Reppu derivative with a Ha-44 (Ha-219) under construction, so could be done. Dunno where this would leave the Homare and MK9 though.

To get back to the Raiden and Kasei, apart from the Ha-109 option there is still my pet idea, namely an 18 cylinder Zuisei which i baptised Ryusei. This should offer the same power levels as the Kasei (say 1400-1500HP for a Ryusei-10 and 1800-1900HP for a methanol-boost and direct injection Ryusei-20), but on a diameter of perhaps not more than 115cm, less than the Homare! This engine might be a tad heavier and longer compared to a Kasei though, but this means a slightly longer fuselage, which again is good for speed no? So possibly the J2M might get closer to the desired speed of 630kph. Could also be used on the N1K1 Kyofu, and it will boost it's speed too, and if it's eventual teething problems will be less compared to Homare's (which failed to develop it's rated power initially at least and lost power rapidly with altitude, which appears to me that it could be a supercharger design issue, maybe Mitsubishi's supercharger designs were better) could possibly be used instead of it on the Shiden, Saiun, maybe Tenzan too etc. Someone mentioned about using larger bomber engine supercharger, Mitsubishi had a single stage 3 speed and two-stage 3 speed Kasei variants later in the war, those superchargers might be used on the Ryusei too.
 
I'm not the smartest thing around, making my fair share of mistakes, but - care to elaborate?

I thought I made myself clear. The R-2600 had no 2-stage supercharger. Also, the claim of superiority above 15-20,000 feet doesn't wash. The rest is just your opinion.
 
Oh, I see.
Then you might want to check out this doument: link
The Wright R-2600, in versions -10, -14 and -16 were with 2-stage supercharger. Barely a dozen were produced, the -16 powered the XF6F-1, prototype Hellcat. If you don't fancy any of my opinion on anything, I'm okay with that.
 
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Thanks for the document. I've never seen it before. My information was that an R-2600-10 was installed but it shares the same company number, B676, as the -16. Do you have any documents about the altitude performance of the XF6F-1 with that engine?

Oh, I see.
Then you might want to check out this doument: link
The Wright R-2600, in versions -10, -14 and -16 were with 2-stage supercharger. Barely a dozen were produced, the -16 powered the XF6F-1, prototype Hellcat. If you don't fancy any of my opinion on anything, I'm okay with that.
 
Unfortunately, I don't have any such docs.
There are SAC documents available here, about some of the one-off variants of the Hellcat, icluding the turboed R-2800 powered one (performance estimates), and single stage R-2800 powered (XF4F-4; estimates). The 'America's hundred thousand' book notes that the later was actually flew for the 1st time on 24th Oct 1942, but it does not state any performance figures, and that in the turbo variant the R-2600 got replaced by R-2800 in December 1943; 1st flight in such configuration in January 1944.
 
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