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Japan's Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (devil queller) fighter1
Army Type 2
Allied Name: "Tojo"1
Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki, "Tojo" fighter:
Nakajima Ki-44-II Shoki, "Tojo" fighter1:
Design
The Nakajima Ki-44 was designed for speed and rate of climb.1 Most Japanese Imperial Army fighters were designed for manouverability.1 Because of this it was initially unpopular with pilots.1
Prototype
The Ki-44 prototype was first flown in August 1940.1
The Ki-44-II prototype first flew in August 1942.1
The Ki-44-III prototype first flew in June 1943.1
Production
The pre production model was first delivered in 1941.1 The Ki-44-I production model started delivery in January 1942.1
Production ended in December 1944.1
- Ki-44 prototypes and pre production: 101
- Ki-44-I: 401
- Ki-44-II and Ki-44-III: 1,1751
- Total: 1,2251
Variants
- Ki-44 prototype:
- Ki-44 pre production: Modified canopy.1 Rudder was modified.1 Under wing drop tanks were installed.1
- Ki-44-I: Production.1
- Ki-44-Ia:
- Ki-44-Ib:
- Ki-44-Ic:
- Ki-44-II: More powerful engine.1 The pilot received more armor.1 The fuel tanks had added protection.1
- Ki-44-IIa:
- Ki-44-IIb:
- Ki-44-IIc:
- Ki-44-III: Had Nakajima Ha-145 radial 18 engine installed (2,000 HP).1 Tail surfaces were larger.1 Wings were larger.1
Usage
Accidents
Due to a high wing load, a high landing speed, and difficult handling the Ki-44 did some many accidents.1 Snap rolls, spins, and stalls were forbidden to be done in the Ki-44.1
China Burma India Theater
The Ki-44 was first used in combat in the China Burma India theater.1 It later defended the oil fields at Palembang.1
| Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki1 | Nakajima Ki-44-I Shoki1 | Nakajima Ki-44-Ia Shoki1 | Nakajima Ki-44-Ib Shoki1 | Nakajima Ki-44-Ic Shoki1 | Nakajima Ki-44-II Shoki1 | Nakajima Ki-44-IIa Shoki1 | Nakajima Ki-44-IIb Shoki1 | Nakajima Ki-44-IIc Shoki1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter bomber1 | ||||||||
| Crew | 11 | ||||||||
| Engine (Type) | Nakajima Ha-411 | Nakajima Ha-1091 | |||||||
| Cylinders | Radial 141 | Radial 141 | |||||||
| Cooling | |||||||||
| Net HP | 1,2601 | 1,5201 | |||||||
| Propeller blades | 31 | ||||||||
| Dimensions | |||||||||
| Span | 31'1 9.45 m1 |
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| Length | 28' 10"1 8.79 m1 |
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| Height | 10' 8"1 3.25 m1 |
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| Wing area | |||||||||
| Weight | |||||||||
| Empty | 4,286 lb1 1,944 kg1 |
4,643 lb1 2,106 kg1 |
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| Loaded | |||||||||
| Maximum load | 6,363 lb1 2,886 kg1 |
6,598 lb1 2,993 kg1 |
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| Performance | |||||||||
| Speed | |||||||||
| Speed @ 12,140' / 3,700 m |
360 mph1 579 kph1 |
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| Speed @ 17,060' / 5,200 m |
376 mph1 605 kph1 |
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| Cruising speed | |||||||||
| Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m |
5.9 minutes1 | 4.3 minutes1 | |||||||
| Service ceiling | 35,500'1 10,820 m1 |
36,745'1 11,200 m1 |
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| Range | 575 - 1,070 miles1 925 - 1,722 km1 |
805 - 1,056 miles1 1,295 - 1,700 km1 |
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| Armament | 4: 12.7 mm MG1 | 4: 12.7 mm MG1 | 4: 12.7 mm MG1 | ||||||
| Nose | 2: 7.7 mm MG1 | 2: 7.7 mm MG1 | 2: 20 mm1 | ||||||
| OR | 2: 12.7 mm MG1 | ||||||||
| Wings | 2: 12.7 mm MG1 | 2: 12.7 mm MG1 | 2: 20 mm1 | ||||||
| OR | 2: 37 mm1 | ||||||||
| OR | 2: 40 mm1 | ||||||||
| Bombs | 2: 220 lb1 2: 100 kg1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
