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Japan's Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Swallow) fighter1,2,3
Allied Name: "Tony"1,2,3
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, "Tony" fighter:
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, "Tony" fighter:
Design
The Kawasaki Ki-61 was developed with the guidance of a German engineer.1
Was the only liquid cooled fighter to enter Japanese service.1
The Ki-61 Hien also pioneered the used of self sealing fuel tanks and armor.1
Engine
The Kawasaki Ha-40 engine was a licence built Daimler-Benz DB 601A.1,2,3 The license was obtained in 1940.3
The oil cooler radiator had an intake under the main wings.1 The engine was an inverted V inline.2
Propeller
The propeller was a constant speed three blade that was similar to the Messerschmitt Bf 109.1
Tail wheel
The Ki-61-I had a retractable tail wheel, however, this was replaced by a fixed tail wheel in later models to simplify production.1
Prototype
The first prototype was completed in December 1941.1,2,3
The Ki-61-II was first flown in December 1943.3
Production
Production ended in 1945, after 3,078 were built.1
At Kagamigahara, the production of the Kawasaki Ki-61-I KAIc peaked at 254 per month in July 1944.1
Production of the Ki-61-II KAI began in September 1944.3
After the factory was bombed that produced the engines for the Ki-61, the Ki-100 was developed to take a radial engine.1
- Ki-61 prototypes: 123
- Ki-61-I: 1,2742, 1,3003
- Ki-61-I KAI: 1,2743
- Ki-61-II and Ki-61 II KAI prototypes and pre production: 383
- Ki-61-II: 3742
- Ki-61-II KAI: 3743
- Ki-61-II engineless airframe: 2753
- Total: 1,3802, 3,0783
Variants
- Ki-61-I: First used in April 1943.2
- Ki-61-Ia: Had MGs in nose.3 Later cannons were added in wings.3
- Ki-61-Ib: Had MGs in nose.3 Later cannons were added in wings.3
- Ki-61-Ic: Had wing cannons standard.3
- Ki-61-I KAIc: Had a pair of 20 mm cannons in nose to help it shoot down bombers.2
- Ki-61-I KAId: Had a pair of 30 mm cannons in nose to help it shoot down bombers.2
- Ki-61-II: Had a Ha-140 (1,500 HP) engine.1,2,3 The engine's crankshaft was prone to breaking.1 Newly designed canopy and larger wings.1 Test flights showed handling problems.1 Had a top speed of 379 mph / 610 kph.2
- Ki-61-II KAI: Wing was larger.3 The rudder was bigger.3 Engine was unreliable.3
- Ki-61-III: Rear fuselage was lower.2 Canopy was 360°.2
Usage
The Ki-61 Hien started to reach front line units in 1942.1
Deliveries started in February 1943.3
The Ki-61 Hien was was used in New Guinea, the Philippines, Rabaul, and the Japanese home islands.1
First Operational Sentais
The 68th and 78th Sentais received their Ki-61s in April 1943 while stationed in New Guinea.2
Nationalist China
The Chinese used captured aircraft in the Nationalist's air force.1
Sentais
By the end of World War II there were 13 Sentais that were equipped with the Ki-61.2
| Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, "Tony"3 | Kawasaki Ki-61-I Hien, "Tony"3 | Kawasaki Ki-61-I KAIc Hien, "Tony"1,2 | Kawasaki Ki-61-II Hien, "Tony"3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Figher3 | Fighter3 | Fighter1,2 | Fighter3 |
| Crew | 13 | 13 | 11,2 | 13 |
| Engine (Type) | Kawasaki Ha-403 | Kawasaki Ha-40 piston1,2 | Kawasaki Ha-1403 | |
| Cylinders | Inverted V 123 | Inverted V-121 Inline2 |
Inverted V 123 | |
| Cooling | Liquid1 | |||
| Net HP | 1,1753 | 1,1801,2 | 1,5003 | |
| Propeller blades | 33 | 31,2 | 33 | |
| Fuel capacity - wings | 44 gallons1 165 liters1 |
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| Fuel capacity - drop tanks (under each wing) |
53 gallons1 200 liters1 |
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| Dimensions | ||||
| Span | 39' 4.5"3 12 m3 |
36' 4"1, 39' 4.5"2 12 m1,2 |
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| Length | 28' 8.5"3 8.75 m3 |
29' 4"1,2 8.94 m1,2 |
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| Height | 12' 2"3 3.71 m3 |
12' 1.75"2, 12' 2"1 3.7 m1,2 |
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| Wing area | 215 ft2 1, 215.3 ft2 2 20 m2 1,2 |
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| Weight | ||||
| Empty | 4,872 lb3 2,210 kg3 |
5,786 lb1, 5,798 lb2 2,630 kg1,2 |
6,261 lb3 2,840 kg3 |
|
| Loaded | 7,165 lb3 3,250 kg3 |
7,634 lb1, 7,650 lb2 3,470 kg1,2 |
8,432 lb3 3,825 kg3 |
|
| Performance | ||||
| Speed @ 13,980' / 4,260 m |
366 mph2 590 kph2 |
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| Speed @ 16,400' / 4,260 m |
366 mph1 590 kph1 |
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| Speed @ 15,945' / 4,860 m |
368 mph3 592 kph3 |
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| Climb to 16,400' / 5,000 m |
7 minutes1 | |||
| Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m |
5.5 minutes3 | 7 minutes2 | ||
| Service ceiling | 38,060'3 11,600 m3 |
32,810'2, 33,000'1 10,000 m1,2 |
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| Range | 684 miles3 1,100 km3 |
360 miles1, 1,120 miles2 580 km1, 1,800 km2 |
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| Armament | ||||
| Nose | 2: 12.7 mm3 | 2: 20 mm Ho-51,2 1: 12.7 mm Type 1 (Ho-103)1 |
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| OR | 20 mm3 | |||
| Wings | 2: 7.7 mm MG3 | 2: 12.7 mm Type 12 | ||
| OR | 2: 12.7 mm MG3 | |||
| OR | 2: 20 mm3 | |||
| OR | 2: 30 mm3 | |||
| Bombs - under wing (a few models) | 2: 551 lb3 2: 250 kg3 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
