Brief History of the Japanese Jet Engine
Notable figures for the Navy
Rear Admiral Hanejima
Between 1919 and 1920, Lieutenant Hanejima became interested in European turbine technology. While visiting France, he purchased 10 Rateau superchargers and returned to Japan. This did not stir development curiosity at the time, but one was given to the Tokyo Imperial University for study purposes. In 1936, as Rear Admiral, Hanejima became highly interested in European jet engine patents and expressed that development should begin in Japan. Head of the Kuugishou engine department until 1941. Became head of the Tokyo Aeronautical Institute.
Captain Tanegashima
In 1922, Commander Tanegashima graduated from the Naval Engineering College. Until 1930, he worked in Maritime Engineering at Yokosuka and Kure, participating some in work on steam turbine design. By 1933, he completed a course in Aeronautics at the Tokyo Imperial University and thereafter served at the Kuugishou (1st Navy Air Technical Arsenal). During this time, he quickly became the authoritative figure on gas turbine development, becoming the head of the engine department at Kuugishou in 1941. In 1943, he was promoted to Captain.
Commander Nagano
Graduated from the Tokyo Imperial University Mechanical Engineering Department in 1934. Thereafter served at the Kuugishou, first as an assistant in engine design, and later as an engineer in the engine testing department. Became an assistant to Captain Tanegashima in the jet research department in 1944, and was a main figure in the development of the Ne-20 jet engine.
Lieutenant Commander Kato
Assistant of Captain Tanegashima who played a main role in the development of TR and resulting early engines.
Notable figures for the Army
Mr. Hibi
Tokyo Imperial University graduate who researched ramjets at Mitsubishi from 1937 and experimented on scale models.
Mr. Teisuke Hayashi
Civilian engineer dispatched from Kawasaki to lead the development of ramjets, motorjets, and turbojets in the Army between 1942 and 1944. Developed the Army's first jet engine, Ne-0, and almost flew the first turbojet engine in Japan before cancellation.
Captain Tomori
Head of development for the Army's turboprop engine from 1942 to 1945.
Major Milestones in Development during Wartime
~1920: Lieutenant Hanejima visited France and purchased 10 turbochargers.
1937-38: Mr. Hibi started experimenting on small models of ramjets at Mitsubishi, catching the interest of the Army.
1937-38: Commander Tanegashima visited France and Switzerland, and became enthusiastic about gas turbines.
1940: Commander Tanegashima began project to develop a free-piston gas generator based on Junkers.
1941: Commander Nagano completed a small free piston gas turbine which could light a lamp.
1941: Commander Tanegashima switched efforts to developing a Gas-Turbine-Prop-Rocket (Turboprop), and encouraged the development of a scale model at Ebara Co.
1942: 1/4 scale 16-stage axial compressor for turboprop was completed and tested favourably, giving Commander Tanegashima's efforts recognition and support in the Navy.
Sept 1942: YT-15 large turbocharger completed, but trials proved the technology was unfinished, plans to convert to jet engine.
June 1943: YT-15 turbocharger is converted to the turbojet "TR", and the first jet engine in Japan is completed.
July 1943: TR first test.
July 1943: Army's first jet engine "Ne-0" ramjet is completed for first run.
Mid 1944: Mass production plan of TR10 (improved TR) fails to materialize.
July 1944: Cutaway diagram of BMW 003A is received from Germany, and starts reformation and unification of the jet engine programs, and immediate cancellation of the Army's jet engines.
July 1944: First Japanese turboprop "Ne-201" is completed by the Army.
September 1944: First TR10 complete.
December 1944: It is recognized by Captain Tanegashima that all early indigenous Navy turbojet engines should be canceled.
March 1945: Ne-20 completed and trial run with highly promising results.
June 1945: Ne-20 completes testing for production, production model "Ne-20A". First Japanese jet engine to be considered serviceable.
August 1945: First flight of Japan's first jet plane "Kikka (Kai)".
August 15 1945: All work on wartime jet engines is canceled due to the end of the war.
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Chart of Japanese Wartime Jet Engines (Incomplete, Updated soon)
