Nakajima Ki-44

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The Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (鍾馗、"Demon") was a single-engined fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II, first flying in August 1940 and entering service in 1942. The Allied codename was "Tojo"; the Japanese Army designation was "Type 2 single-seat fighter" (二式単座戦闘機).

In contrast to its predecessor, the nimble Ki-43, the Ki-44 was designed for speed and climbing ability, and was used to intercept high-flying B-29 bombers. With its poor visibility on the ground, weak armament, and high landing speed, it was generally disliked by pilots; its oversized engine and diminutive tail made it one of the more unattractive craft of its class.

History

Its operative life commenced with one experimental unit, the 47th Independent Air Company ("Kawasemi Buntai", Kingfisher Unit) send to Saigon, Indochina in December 1941 with 9 aircraft under the command of Major Toshio Sakagawa. More were later sent to China, and others were used in defense of petrol pits in Sumatra (Indonesia), the China-Burma-India theatre of operations, Philippines, Japanese metropolitan defense and Kamikaze operations in the last stages of the war.

The 2c version 'Tojos' armed with heavy cannons used against B-29 jointly at one kamikaze Chutai, specialized in bomber collision tactics, the Shinten unit ("Shinten Seiku Tai" 47th Air Regiment based at Narimasu airfield), during the defens of Tokyo. This aircraft once equipped twelve sentais of Japanese squadrons (9th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 47th, 50th, 64th, 70th, 85th, 87th, 104th, 246th Air Regiments) encountered in action before replacement with Nakajima Ki-84 'Franks' for the final battles of the war. Manchoukouan Air force received some examples of these airplanes during wartime.

Variants

Ki-44 Type I was powered by a 930 kW (1,250 hp) Nakajima Ha-41 engine, and had a maximum speed of 580 km/h (363 mph). Armament consisted of two 12.7 mm Type I machine guns and 2x7.7 mm Type 89 machine guns placed in the wing.

Ki-44 Type II had a 1,074 kW (1,440 hp) Nakajima Ha-109 engine with a top speed of 604 km/h (378 mph), and four 12.7 mm Type I machine guns.

Later developments raised engine power to 1,343 kW (1,800 hp), and some versions were armed with 40 mm cannon.

Other versions

Ki-44 Prototype
Ki-44 Model preseries for evaluation
Ki-44 Ia Fighter Type 2 of Army. (Mark Ia)
Ki-44 Ib Mark Ib
Ki-44 Ic modified version
Ki-44 II prototype—engine Nakajima Ha-109 of 1,520 hp (1130 kW)
Ki-44 IIa Mark 2a
Ki-44 IIb
Ki-44 IIc (Mark 2c) first version with heavy armament.

Four 20-mm Ho-3 cannons or two 12.7-mm machine guns Ho-103 and two 40-mm Ho-301 cannon. The 4x20s were the most effective against B-29s. The 20x125 Ho-3 round gave the 144 g ave. (127/140/164) shell (7% HE ave.) a firing range of 900 m and a world class muzzle velocity of 820 m/s. Rate of fire was 400 rpm for the wing-guns. Much slower for the synchronized cowl-mounted pair (perhaps under 272 rpm each = 23 total rounds per second for the 4 cannon vs approximately 52 rps for the standard 4 MG version) but the awesome firepower advantage (around 2.5x per second stronger punch - including blast, for the same number of guns and only about half the ammo per second) more than compensated against bombers - even mighty B-29s! Against small fighters at speed, the sparse firing pattern density would be less than ideal. Double magazines could hold 100 rpg of perhaps the deadliest 20 mm (20x125) ammo of WW II - not to be confused with the rapid fire Ho-5 20-mm (20x94) ammo better for dog fights. No 20-mm cannon was faster than the new Ho-5 in WW II, but its punch per hit was more down to earth than that of the high velocity Ho-3 sledge hammer.

Ki-44 IIIa (Mark 3a) engine of 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) and four 20 mm cannons Ho-5
Ki-44 IIIb (Mark 3b) two 20 mm cannons Ho-5 and two 37 mm cannons Ho-203

Total production: 1,225

Specifications (Ki-44-IIb)

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General characteristics

Crew: one, pilot
Length: 8.80 m (28 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 9.45 m (31 ft 0 in)
Height: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 15 m² (161 ft²)
Empty: 2,105 kg (4,641 lb)
Loaded: 2,995 kg (6,602 lb)
Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
Powerplant: 1x Nakajima Ha-109 radial engine, 1,133 kW (1519 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 605 km/h (376 mph)
Range: 1,700 km (1,060 miles)
Service ceiling: 11,200 m (36,750 ft)
Rate of climb: 5,000 m/4 min 17 sec (Initial: 3,940 ft/min)
Wing loading: 200 kg/m² (41 lb/ft²)
Power/Mass: 0.38 kW/kg (0.13 hp/lb)

Armament

4x 12.7 mm Type I machine guns. 2 synchronized cowl mounted (perhaps 657 rpm rate each), and 1 in each wing (900 rpm rate of fire each). 760 rounds in all.

The 12.7x81 cartridge propelled the 35.4 g AP bullet 760 m/s, the 38 g HE 796 m/s, and the 33 g HE (2.2%) 770 m/s, with an effective firing range of 750 m.

Not always reliable.