The 1930s Nakajima set to work to build a conventional single-seat biplane fighter. The resulting YM prototype being an unequal-span biplane of mixed construction and clearly owing much to the obsolescent A2N. Nevertheless, it was considered essential by the Navy until more modern types could be perfected and Nakajima was authorised to proceed with development of the biplane concept.
The resulting Navy Type 95 Carrier Fighter (Nakajima A4N1) had a divided landing gear designed to cope with carrier landings, a tailwheel instead of a tail-skid, and other minor changes. The increase in speed being due entirely to the more powerful Hikari engine.
Production totalled 221 between 1935 and 1937.
A4N1 Engine: 1 x Nakajima "Hikari", 544kW Wingspan: 10 m / 32 ft 10 in Length: 6.64 m / 21 ft 9 in Height: 3.07 m / 10 ft 1 in Wing area: 22.89 sq.m / 246.39 sq ft Max take-off weight: 1760 kg / 3880 lb Loaded weight: 1276 kg / 2813 lb Max. speed: 350 km/h / 217 mph Ceiling: 7740 m / 25400 ft Range: 845 km / 525 miles Armament: 2 x 7.7 mm machine-guns, 120kg of bombs Crew: 1