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Japan's Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu (Dragon Killer) fighter1,2
Army Type 2
Allied Name: "Nick"1,2
Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu, "Nick" fighter:
Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu, "Nick" fighter:
Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu, "Nick" fighter:
Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu, "Nick" fighter:
Design
In 1937 the Japanese Army issued a requirement that the Kawasaki Ki-38 was submitted.1,2 This was to become the Kawasaki Ki-45 Kai.1
Takeo Doi worked on a design that would help with production.1 This lead to the Ki-45 Kai.1
Prototype
In January 1939 a prototype with two Bristol Mercury engines was first flown.1,2 Later aircraft had the Nakajima Ha-25 radials installed.1,2
Production
The Ki-45 KAI first flew in May 1941.2
- Prototypes: 141, 262
- Pre production: 121
- Ki-45 KAIa, Ki-45 KAIb, Ki-45 KAId: 1,1982
- Ki-45 KAIc: 4772
- Ki-45 KAIc: 4771
- Total: 1,7011,2
Variants
- Ki-45 Kai: Had straight tapered wings and fin.1 The cowlings on the engines were smooth.1 The wings, fuselage, and tail surfaces were altered.2 Fuel capacity was increased.2
- Ki-45 KAIa: Heavy fighter.1 Reached units in August 1942.2
- Ki-45 KAIb: Ground attack and anti shipping.1 Had 37 mm gun in ventral tunnel.2
- Ki-45 KAIc: Night fighter.1,2 Introduced in 1944.1 Had a 37 mm gun in a ventral tunnel and two 20 mm cannons firing upwards.1
- Ki-45 KAId: Anti shipping.1 Ground attack.2 Had 37 mm and two 20 mm cannons in nose.2 The oblique guns were removed.2
Usage
First Use in China
The Ki-45 first entered use in China in August 1942.1 The 16th Sentai first used it in action over Burma in October 1942.1
Night Fighter
Though the Ki-45 didn't have a radar it was successful at shooting down B-29s.2 One encounter resulted in eight B-29s being shot down.2
Kamikaze
A Ki-45 KAIb was used for the first time in a Kamikaze attack on a United States Navy sub chaser off Biak in May 1944.2
| Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIa Toryu, "Nick"1 | Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIb Toryu2 | Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1 Fighter bomber1 Ground attack2 Night fighter2 |
Ground attack2 Night fighter2 |
Ground attack2 Night fighter2 |
| Crew | 21,2 | 22 | 22 |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Nakajima Ha-25 piston1,2 | 2: Mitsubishi Ha-1022 | 2: Mitsubishi Ha-1022 |
| Cylinders | Radial1, Radial 142 | Radial 142 | Radial 142 |
| Cooling | |||
| Net HP | 1,050 each1,2 | ||
| Propeller blades | 31,2 | 32 | 32 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 49' 3.25"1,2 15.02 m1,2 |
||
| Length | 34' 9.25"1,2 10.6 m1,2 |
||
| Height | 12' 1.75"1,2 3.7 m1,2 |
36' 1"2 11 m2 |
|
| Wing area | 344.44 ft2 1 32 m2 1 |
||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 8,146 lb1,2 3,695 kg1,2 |
8,818 lb2 4,000 kg2 |
|
| Loaded | 11,632 lb1,2 5,276 kg1,2 |
12,125 lb2 5,500 kg2 |
|
| Performance | |||
| Speed @ 22,965' / 7,000 m |
340 mph1 547 kph1 |
340 mph2 547 kph2 |
|
| Climb | 2,300'/minute2 700 m/minute2 |
||
| Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m |
6.3 minutes1 | ||
| Service ceiling | 35,200'1 10,730 m1 |
32,810'2 10,000 m2 |
|
| Range | 1,404 miles1 2,260 km1 |
1,243 miles2 2,000 km2 |
|
| Armament | |||
| Nose | 2: 7.7 mm MG2 | ||
| Ventral tunnel | 2: 12.7 mm Type 91 1: 20 mm2 1: 20 mm Ho-31 |
1: 37 mm2 | 1: 37 mm2 |
| Rear dorsal | 1: 7.7 mm MG2 1: 7.92 mm Type 981 |
1: 7.92 mm MG2 | |
| Oblique dorsal | 2: 20 mm2 | ||
| Bombs | 2: 551 lb1 2: 250 kg1 |
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
