Nakajima Ki-43
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The Oscar was designed to be like the Mitsubishi Zero, but it was more lightweight and was even less rugged than its Navy counterpart. It was known for its nimble handling and legendary for its performance in East Asia in the early years of the war. It was designed by Hideo Itokawa, who would later become famous as a pioneer of Japanese rocketry.
History
The Ki-43 was the most widely-used Army fighter, and equipped 30 sentais and 12 chutais. The first version, Mark I, entered service in the Pacific campaign in 1941 and obtained air superiority on par with the Mitsubishi Zero in the skies of Burma, Malaysia, and the Dutch Indies. Some examples were supplied to the pro-Japanese countries of Thailand, Manchukuo and Wang Jingwei Government as well. The Thai units sometimes fought against the USAAF in Southern China.The Mark II entered action in December 1942, the II-Kai in June 1943, and the Mark IIIa in the summer of 1944. They replaced all antiquated model I's and took part in combat in Southeast Asia and the Southeast Pacific, as well as Formosa, Okinawa and defense over Japan proper.
After the war some examples served in limited numbers in the French Air Force in Indochina against communist rebels.
Versions
- Ki-43 (prototypes)
- Ki-43 operative prototypes
- Ki-43 Ia Hayabusa Fighter Type 1 of Army (Mark 1)
- Ki-43 Ib (Mark Ib) one machine gun Ho-103 of 12.7 mm and one machine gun type 89 of 7.7 mm
- Ki-43 Ic (Mark Ic) two machine guns Ho-103 of 12.7 mm
- Ki-43 II (prototypes)
- Ki-43 II evaluative models
- Ki-43 IIa (Mark 2a) ability to carry up to 500 kg of bombs
- Ki-43 IIb (Mark 2b) radio equipment added
- Ki-43 II KAI modifications in cell structure
- Ki-43 III (Mark 3a) prototypes -engine Nakajima Ha-115-II of 1,230 hp (920 kW)
- Ki-43 IIIa (Mark 3a) series model
- Ki-43 IIIb (Mark 3b) armed with 20 mm cannons
- Ki-62 Project -Advanced interceptor version of Nakajima Ki-43 with a powerful engine and armed with 30 or 40 mm cannons.
Operators
- (Wartime): Japan, Thailand (Siam),
- (Post-war): France (in Indo-China), Indonesia (against Dutch colonial role),
Specifications (Ki-43-II)
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