Difference between revisions of "Ki-44-II otsu"

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{{Specs-Card|code=ki_44_2_otsu}}
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{{About
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{{Notice|''This page is about the aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''. For other uses, see [[Ki-44_(Disambiguation)|Ki-44 (Disambiguation)]]''}}
+
| about = Japanese fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 +
| usage = other versions
 +
| link = Ki-44 (Family)
 +
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=ki_44_2_otsu
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
 +
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
+
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
−
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''', designated as the '''Type 2 {{Annotation|Single-Seat|To differentiate from the 'Type 2 Twin-Seat' Ki-45}} Fighter, Model IIb ({{Annotation|二式単座戦闘機一型乙|Ni-Shiki Tanza Sentōki Ni-Gata Otsu}})''', was a Model II variant of the Ki-44, featuring an improved engine and nose-mounted 12.7 mm guns. While it was equipped with only its nose armament, it could also be optionally fitted with 40 mm cannons in the wings, although these were sometimes swapped out for 12.7 mm guns due to the 40 mm’s unsatisfactory performance. The 40 mm cannons were specifically intended for countering American bombers, but despite their lethality, the Ki-44 remained an underwhelming aircraft for high-altitude interceptions against the [[B-29A-BN|B-29]], as the cannons were effective only at very short ranges with limited ammunition—essentially at a ramming distance. This tactic was later formalised by several Army Sentai under the "Shinten Seiku-Tai" (震天制空隊) units, which used standard army planes or those stripped of armour and armament to reduce weight, enabling them to ram bombers out of the sky more efficiently. This approach was akin to the German Sonderkommando "Elbe" 's mission in 1945 and the Russian "Taran" tactics of 1941. Although survival rates were low and the attacks were effectively kamikaze missions, some pilots managed to survive multiple sorties, ramming a bomber and then ejecting to continue fighting another day.
−
{{break}}
+
 
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} premium Japanese fighter {{Battle-rating}}. This aircraft was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]].  
+
It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]]. The Ki-44-IIb features one of the slowest-velocity cannons ever mounted on an aircraft, but the 40 mm shells pack a significant punch if they manage to hit—though this is admittedly difficult to achieve. The Ki-44-II is equipped with a powerful engine, enabling the aircraft to reach interceptor altitudes quickly and effortlessly, making it ideal for strafing bombers at high altitudes and destroying them in a single pass. Pilots should reserve their 40 mm ammunition for bombers, focusing on getting close at high speeds, as targeting smaller aircraft with these cannons presents a considerable challenge. Once the 40 mm rounds are depleted, the Ki-44-IIb can still be a formidable boom-and-zoom fighter against other aircraft, with its nose-mounted 12.7 mm machine guns providing decent lethality thanks to their high-explosive rounds.
 +
 
 +
;Nicknames:
 +
* [[Abbreviations#.28IJA.29_Nicknames|Nickname]]: ''Shōki (鍾馗, Demon Queller)''
 +
* Allied reporting name: ''Tojo''
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
−
=== Flight Performance ===
+
=== Flight performance ===
−
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
+
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
 +
<!--''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''-->
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
−
|-
+
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
−
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
+
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 5,200 m)
−
|-
+
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
−
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
 
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at ?,000 m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
 
 
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
−
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
+
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
−
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run<br>(meters)
+
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
 
|-
 
|-
−
! AB
+
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
−
! RB
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| ? || ? || {{Specs|ceiling}} || ??.? || ??.? || ??.? || ??.? || ???
+
! Stock
 +
| 583 || 565 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 21.8 || 22.4 || 13.7 || 13.7 || rowspan="2" | 320
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
+
! Upgraded
−
|-
+
| 634 || 605 || 20.7 || 21.0 || 24.2 || 18.3
−
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at ?,000 m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
 
−
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
 
−
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 
−
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
 
−
|-
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
−
! AB
 
−
! RB
 
−
|-
 
−
| ? || ? || {{Specs|ceiling}} || ??.? || ??.? || ??.? || ??.? || ???
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
====Details====
+
==== Details ====
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! colspan="5" | Features
 
! colspan="5" | Features
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Combat flap
+
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
−
! Take-off flap
 
−
! Landing flap
 
−
! Air brakes
 
−
! Arrestor gear
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| X || X || X || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
+
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="5" | Limits
+
! colspan="7" | Limits
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed<br>(km/h)
+
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
−
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit<br>(km/h)
+
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
−
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap<br> (km/h)
+
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
 
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 
|-
 
|-
−
! +
+
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
−
! -
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| {{Specs|разрушение|конструкции}} || {{Specs|разрушение|шасси}} || ??? || ~?? || ~?
+
|{{Specs|destruction|body}}||{{Specs|destruction|gear}}|| 400 || 400 || 250 || ~12 || ~8
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
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! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Ailerons<br>(km/h)
+
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
−
! Rudder<br>(km/h)
 
−
! Elevators<br>(km/h)
 
−
! Radiator<br>(km/h)
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| < ??? || < ??? || < ??? || > ???
+
| < 400 || < 400 || < 450 || > 335
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
+
! Compressor
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
 
−
|-
 
 
! Optimal altitude
 
! Optimal altitude
 
! 100% Engine power
 
! 100% Engine power
 
! WEP Engine power
 
! WEP Engine power
 
|-
 
|-
−
| ?,??? m || ??? hp || ?,??? hp  
+
! Setting 1
−
|-
+
| 1,386 m || 1,420 hp || 1,613 hp
−
<!--! colspan="3" | Setting 2
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Optimal altitude
+
! Setting 2
−
! 100% Engine power
+
| 4,443 m || 1,300 hp || 1,477 hp
−
! WEP Engine power
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp
 
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="3" | Setting 3
 
−
|-
 
−
! Optimal altitude
 
−
! 100% Engine power
 
−
! WEP Engine power
 
−
|-
 
−
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp
 
−
|- -->
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
 
''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
 
''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
 +
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 
=== Offensive armament ===
−
''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.''
+
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
 +
{{main|Ho-301 (40 mm)|Ho-103 (12.7 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 +
 
 +
* 2 x 40 mm Ho-301 cannons, wing-mounted (10 rpg = 20 total)
 +
* 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine guns, nose-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
  
−
The Ki-44 otsu carries two 12.7 mm ho-103 machine guns and two 40 mm ho-301 auto-cannons.
+
The twin Ho-103 machine guns are identical in performance to most other Japanese aircraft carrying this type. The air targets belt is recommended in most situations as it carries a great balance of armour piercing and incendiary components along with tracer rounds, not to mention high-explosive rounds, which is very unusual for machine guns. The twin Ho-301 autocannons are devastating to anything which it hits, making short work of most aircraft. The unfortunate drawback with these cannons is that they utilise very low-velocity rounds and will need a large lead on anything being attacked, with a larger lead time the further out the target is.
  
−
The twin ho-103 MGs are identical in performance to most other Japanese aircraft carrying this type. the air targets belt is recommended in most situations as it carries a great balance of AP, Incendiary, and tracer rounds.The twin ho-301 auto-cannons are devastating to anything it hits, making short work of most aircraft. the drawback is that these are very low velocity rounds and will need a large lead on anything you fight.
 
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 
=== Suspended armament ===
−
''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 +
{{main|Army Type 94 GPHE (50 kg)|Army Type 94 GPHE (100 kg)}}
 +
 
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
 +
 
 +
* Without load
 +
* 2 x 50 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bombs (100 kg total)
 +
* 2 x 100 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bombs (200 kg total)
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
  
−
===Manual Engine Control===
+
* In simulator, the Ki-44 is a decent fighter that can do traditional dogfights, some bomber-hunting and some ground pounding. It has great all-round visibility, especially to the sides and the rear thanks to its clear teardrop canopy. However there are lots of thick frames at the front which can get very annoying and obstruct the target in a chase, delaying the pilot's reaction. The glass on the canopy's sides also tend to create dizzying reflections when the sun is near, reducing the visibility a lot. The over-the-nose visibility is average. The wing position (in front of the canopy) means that you cannot see anything at your low 11, 12, 1, 2 'o clock so you have to fly past the target area and look towards 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 'o clock where there is nothing to obstruct your view.
 +
* The handling is good in general. During a take off the Ki-44 feels nose-heavy without any flaps deployed therefore after retracting the gears and flaps you need to pitch up a bit until the plane picks up some speed. Only elevator trim is available, so when the stick is at its deadzone, the Ki-44 will roll and yaw to the left side. Therefore you always need to pull the stick to the right which can get a bit annoying. It has excellent climb rate of around 14m/s at 400 km/h, with 100% throttle and no MEC. This means that it can get to an ideal altitude of around 3000m very quickly. In a dive it easily accelerates to around 550 km/h while still having responsive controls, however it does not retain the speed well after leveling out. Note that its engine will overheat unbelievably fast. With WEP it heats up to >243° within 15 seconds. Thus you must utilise the WEP only when you have to, for example in a zoom climb or a high yoyo. The good news is, the engine can cool down quick enough for another 15-second WEP.
 +
* While being more of a BnZ fighter, the Ki-44 also performs excellent at turn fighting - with the appropriate opponent, of course. Except a few dedicated turn fighters, the Ki-44 can out-turn and get on most opponents' tail with combat flaps deployed. Note: do not turn with Spitfires or Zeros, you will never out-turn them. If you see a plane with a streamlined inline engine and large, elliptical wings (Spitfire) or something with rounded wingtips and stabiliser tips, a radial engine and a pointy tail (A6M), try some defensive manoeuvres like barrel rolls or disengage by diving towards a nearby friendly airfield.
 +
* The Ki-44 has a lovely low stall-speed of around 160 km/h and is also very controllable when getting out of a stall. However the handling gets very sluggish when slower than 200 km/h so make sure that there is no one behind you.
 +
* When intercepting planes, it is crucial to know what the target is. If it is a bomber/attacker with decent defensive firepower, great turret coverage, or robust protection, then you might want to disengage after some attempts if you don't want to die. From the hard-hitting M2 Browning to the fast-firing MG 15, any gun can critically damage the Ki-44 especially on the engine, fuel tanks, and pilot which can always lead to a later crash. Before attacking try to get an altitude advantage and perform deflection shots. To maximise the damage aim for their wings and engines, as the fuselage usually soaks up lots of bullets. Only fire when the bomber passes in front of your guns. This short window might seem inadequate to do anything... and it usually is, unfortunately. The slow velocity, light projectiles and low one-second burst mass usually guarantee no critical damage. However sometimes it only takes one bullet to set the target aflame, if you are lucky.
 +
* B-25, Ju 88, IL-2, etc: These aircraft have either powerful defensive guns, for example the B-25, or wide gun coverage such as the Ju 88. The most threatening one, the B-25, is fairly easy to distinguish. It has a short and wide fuselage, twin radial engine hanging under the wings and a H-tail. Focus your fire on the engines and constantly swing sideways to avoid getting hit. A few hits from the M2 Browning is a guaranteed death. The Ju 88, on the other hand, has great underside gun coverage so attacking from below isn't a very good option. Try engaging from the sides and concentrate the fire on the front half of it, as that is where all the vital components are located. Again, never engage any of these if you have no altitude advantage. Pin them on the map and leave them to teammates with more powerful firepower.
 +
* A6M, Spitfire, etc: If you see them on your tail try outrunning them by diving at around -40 degrees. The Ki-44 still remains responsive handling at 600 km/h, but its speed retention is poor, meaning it will start to lose speed quickly and the enemy might catch up. If you are near a friendly airfield, great. If not, then hope for the best and run towards the friendly side. Don't forget to pitch up and down a little to mess up their aim, the early Spitfires and A6M only have a 60-round drum per cannon which will run out fairly fast. The leftover 7.7 mm machine guns will not be as destructive.
 +
* F4U, F6F, P-47, etc: these planes are a huge threat to the Ki-44 as they have superior firepower, speed, dive acceleration and robust airframes. Their 12.7 mm MGs can easily tear you apart or simply pilot-snipe you even when they are far away, as the M2 Brownings have great velocity and trajectory. They can also set you aflame easily. The F4U has a long cylindrical nose and the iconic inverted gull wing. The P-47 has a huge, jug-like fuselage, bubble canopy and elliptical trailing edge that usually have invasion stripes painted on them. The F6F, on the other hand, might get confused with other planes as it looks rather average. Anyways, start a turnfight whenever you see these stubby planes.
 +
 
 +
=== Manual Engine Control ===
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
 
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="2" |Mixer
+
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
−
! rowspan="2" |Pitch
+
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
−
! colspan="3" |Radiator
+
! colspan="3" | Radiator
−
! rowspan="2" |Supercharger
+
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
−
! rowspan="2" |Turbocharger
+
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Oil
+
! Oil !! Water !! Type
−
! Water
 
−
! Type  
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
+
| Controllable || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
 
 
−
===Modules===
 
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
! colspan="1" | Tier
 
−
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
 
−
! colspan="1" | Survivability
 
−
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
 
−
|-
 
−
| I
 
−
| Fuselage Repair
 
−
| Radiator
 
−
|
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| II
 
−
|
 
−
| Compressor
 
−
| Airframe
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| III
 
−
| Wings Repair
 
−
| Engine
 
−
|
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| IV
 
−
|
 
−
| Engine Injection
 
−
| Cover
 
−
|
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they can be substituted with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Powerful Armament
+
* Powerful armament for tough aircraft
−
* Highest top speed of its tier.
+
* Extremely good acceleration
−
* Extremely good acceleration.
+
* Good climb rate allows it to get altitude advantage over most enemies
−
* Good climb rate
+
* 40 mm cannons can be used as impromptu brakes when landing (because of the huge recoil)
−
 
 
−
*
 
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Fires will not go out.
+
* Very fragile with next to no protection. Will get shredded/set on fire easily, especially by any plane with [[M2 Browning (12.7 mm)|M2 Brownings]] (e.g. [[F6F-5]])
−
* Fragile
 
 
* Engine easily damaged
 
* Engine easily damaged
−
* Extremely Low Velocity 40 mm cannons
+
* 40 mm cannons are very hard to use: extremely low velocity, big recoil and absurdly low ammo of only 10 RPG. This requires strict trigger control
−
* Only 20 rounds for the 40 mm cannons,
 
−
* 40 cannons are able to fire its entire supply of ammo in about 1 second.
 
−
 
 
−
*
 
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's devblog entry (if applicable) and the ingame encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
+
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
<!--''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''-->
 +
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ki_44_2_otsu Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
{{Skin-gallery|market|ugcitem_1000418|Ki-44-II Otsu flown by Yoshida Yoshio.png|Camo "1st Chutai leader, Yoshida Yoshio"}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 +
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 +
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Related development
 +
* [[Ki-43 (Family)]]
 +
* [[Ki-44 (Family)]]
 +
** [[Ki-44-I]]
 +
** [[Ki-44-I 34]]
 +
** [[Ki-44-II otsu]]
 +
** [[Ki-44-II hei]]
 +
* [[Ki-45 (Family)]]
 +
 
 +
;Other vehicles of similar gun configuration
 +
* [[File:France flag.png|30px|link=]] [[D.371 H.S.9]]
 +
* [[File:USSR flag.png|30px|link=]] [[I-16 type 28]]
 +
* [[File:Britain flag.png|30px|link=]] [[Tempest Mk V (Vickers P)]]
 +
* [[File:USA flag.png|30px|link=]] [[P-51]]
  
−
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
+
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* [[File:Kingdom Italy flag.png|30px|link=]] [[Re.2000 (Family)|Re.2000]] / [[Re.2001 (Family)|Re.2001]] / [[Re.2002 Early|Re.2000]]
 +
* [[File:USA flag.png|30px|link=]] [[P-43A-1]]
 +
* [[File:France flag.png|30px|link=]] [[M.B.157]]
 +
* [[File:Sweden flag.png|30px|link=]] [[J22-A]]/[[J22-B|-B]]
 +
* [[File:Finland flag.png|30px|link=]] [[VL Myrsky II]]
 +
* [[File:Germany flag.png|30px|link=]] [[Fw 190 (Family)]] - early models
 +
* [[File:IJN flag.png|30px|link=]] [[J2M (Family)]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
Line 233: Line 215:
  
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
 
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
 +
{{AirManufacturer Nakajima}}
 
{{Japan fighters}}
 
{{Japan fighters}}
 +
{{Japan premium aircraft}}

Latest revision as of 17:59, 31 August 2024

Rank VI USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Su-25K Pack
This page is about the Japanese fighter Ki-44-II otsu. For other versions, see Ki-44 (Family).
Ki-44-II otsu
ki_44_2_otsu.png
GarageImage Ki-44-II otsu.jpg
ArtImage Ki-44-II otsu.png
Ki-44-II otsu
Japan flag.png Japan
II Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
3.0 3.0 2.3
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:850 Specs-Card-Eagle.png
Show in game

Description

The Ki-44-II otsu Shoki, designated as the Type 2 Single-Seat Fighter, Model IIb (二式単座戦闘機一型乙), was a Model II variant of the Ki-44, featuring an improved engine and nose-mounted 12.7 mm guns. While it was equipped with only its nose armament, it could also be optionally fitted with 40 mm cannons in the wings, although these were sometimes swapped out for 12.7 mm guns due to the 40 mm’s unsatisfactory performance. The 40 mm cannons were specifically intended for countering American bombers, but despite their lethality, the Ki-44 remained an underwhelming aircraft for high-altitude interceptions against the B-29, as the cannons were effective only at very short ranges with limited ammunition—essentially at a ramming distance. This tactic was later formalised by several Army Sentai under the "Shinten Seiku-Tai" (震天制空隊) units, which used standard army planes or those stripped of armour and armament to reduce weight, enabling them to ram bombers out of the sky more efficiently. This approach was akin to the German Sonderkommando "Elbe" 's mission in 1945 and the Russian "Taran" tactics of 1941. Although survival rates were low and the attacks were effectively kamikaze missions, some pilots managed to survive multiple sorties, ramming a bomber and then ejecting to continue fighting another day.

It was introduced in Update 1.55 "Royal Armour". The Ki-44-IIb features one of the slowest-velocity cannons ever mounted on an aircraft, but the 40 mm shells pack a significant punch if they manage to hit—though this is admittedly difficult to achieve. The Ki-44-II is equipped with a powerful engine, enabling the aircraft to reach interceptor altitudes quickly and effortlessly, making it ideal for strafing bombers at high altitudes and destroying them in a single pass. Pilots should reserve their 40 mm ammunition for bombers, focusing on getting close at high speeds, as targeting smaller aircraft with these cannons presents a considerable challenge. Once the 40 mm rounds are depleted, the Ki-44-IIb can still be a formidable boom-and-zoom fighter against other aircraft, with its nose-mounted 12.7 mm machine guns providing decent lethality thanks to their high-explosive rounds.

Nicknames
  • Nickname: Shōki (鍾馗, Demon Queller)
  • Allied reporting name: Tojo

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 5 200 m605 km/h
Turn time21 s
Max altitude9 800 m
EngineNakajima Ha-109
TypeRadial
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight3 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 5,200 m) 		Max altitude
(metres) 		Turn time
(seconds) 		Rate of climb
(metres/second) 		Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 583 565 9800 21.8 22.4 13.7 13.7 320
Upgraded 634 605 20.7 21.0 24.2 18.3

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
✓ ✓ ✓ X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
850 250 400 400 250 ~12 ~8
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 400 < 400 < 450 > 335
Compressor Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
Setting 1 1,386 m 1,420 hp 1,613 hp
Setting 2 4,443 m 1,300 hp 1,477 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural850 km/h
Gear250 km/h

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB909 Sl icon.png
RB3 554 Sl icon.png
SB899 Sl icon.png
Crew training3 400 Sl icon.png
Experts23 000 Sl icon.png
Aces180 Ge icon.png
Research Aces380 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 40 / 140 / 160 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 118 / 118 / 118 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Mods ammo.png
safat12_belt_pack
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
7 in (mod20)
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods weapon.png
ho103_new_gun
Mods weapon.png
ho301_new_gun
Mods pilon bomb.png
10 in (mod24)

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 40 mm Ho-301 cannon
Ammunition20 rounds
Fire rate360 shots/min
Weapon 22 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine gun
Ammunition500 rounds
Fire rate900 shots/min
Main articles: Ho-301 (40 mm), Ho-103 (12.7 mm)

The Ki-44-II otsu is armed with:

  • 2 x 40 mm Ho-301 cannons, wing-mounted (10 rpg = 20 total)
  • 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine guns, nose-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)

The twin Ho-103 machine guns are identical in performance to most other Japanese aircraft carrying this type. The air targets belt is recommended in most situations as it carries a great balance of armour piercing and incendiary components along with tracer rounds, not to mention high-explosive rounds, which is very unusual for machine guns. The twin Ho-301 autocannons are devastating to anything which it hits, making short work of most aircraft. The unfortunate drawback with these cannons is that they utilise very low-velocity rounds and will need a large lead on anything being attacked, with a larger lead time the further out the target is.

Suspended armament

List of setups (2)
Setup 12 x 50 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bomb
Setup 22 x 100 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bomb
Main articles: Army Type 94 GPHE (50 kg), Army Type 94 GPHE (100 kg)

The Ki-44-II otsu can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • Without load
  • 2 x 50 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bombs (100 kg total)
  • 2 x 100 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bombs (200 kg total)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

  • In simulator, the Ki-44 is a decent fighter that can do traditional dogfights, some bomber-hunting and some ground pounding. It has great all-round visibility, especially to the sides and the rear thanks to its clear teardrop canopy. However there are lots of thick frames at the front which can get very annoying and obstruct the target in a chase, delaying the pilot's reaction. The glass on the canopy's sides also tend to create dizzying reflections when the sun is near, reducing the visibility a lot. The over-the-nose visibility is average. The wing position (in front of the canopy) means that you cannot see anything at your low 11, 12, 1, 2 'o clock so you have to fly past the target area and look towards 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 'o clock where there is nothing to obstruct your view.
  • The handling is good in general. During a take off the Ki-44 feels nose-heavy without any flaps deployed therefore after retracting the gears and flaps you need to pitch up a bit until the plane picks up some speed. Only elevator trim is available, so when the stick is at its deadzone, the Ki-44 will roll and yaw to the left side. Therefore you always need to pull the stick to the right which can get a bit annoying. It has excellent climb rate of around 14m/s at 400 km/h, with 100% throttle and no MEC. This means that it can get to an ideal altitude of around 3000m very quickly. In a dive it easily accelerates to around 550 km/h while still having responsive controls, however it does not retain the speed well after leveling out. Note that its engine will overheat unbelievably fast. With WEP it heats up to >243° within 15 seconds. Thus you must utilise the WEP only when you have to, for example in a zoom climb or a high yoyo. The good news is, the engine can cool down quick enough for another 15-second WEP.
  • While being more of a BnZ fighter, the Ki-44 also performs excellent at turn fighting - with the appropriate opponent, of course. Except a few dedicated turn fighters, the Ki-44 can out-turn and get on most opponents' tail with combat flaps deployed. Note: do not turn with Spitfires or Zeros, you will never out-turn them. If you see a plane with a streamlined inline engine and large, elliptical wings (Spitfire) or something with rounded wingtips and stabiliser tips, a radial engine and a pointy tail (A6M), try some defensive manoeuvres like barrel rolls or disengage by diving towards a nearby friendly airfield.
  • The Ki-44 has a lovely low stall-speed of around 160 km/h and is also very controllable when getting out of a stall. However the handling gets very sluggish when slower than 200 km/h so make sure that there is no one behind you.
  • When intercepting planes, it is crucial to know what the target is. If it is a bomber/attacker with decent defensive firepower, great turret coverage, or robust protection, then you might want to disengage after some attempts if you don't want to die. From the hard-hitting M2 Browning to the fast-firing MG 15, any gun can critically damage the Ki-44 especially on the engine, fuel tanks, and pilot which can always lead to a later crash. Before attacking try to get an altitude advantage and perform deflection shots. To maximise the damage aim for their wings and engines, as the fuselage usually soaks up lots of bullets. Only fire when the bomber passes in front of your guns. This short window might seem inadequate to do anything... and it usually is, unfortunately. The slow velocity, light projectiles and low one-second burst mass usually guarantee no critical damage. However sometimes it only takes one bullet to set the target aflame, if you are lucky.
  • B-25, Ju 88, IL-2, etc: These aircraft have either powerful defensive guns, for example the B-25, or wide gun coverage such as the Ju 88. The most threatening one, the B-25, is fairly easy to distinguish. It has a short and wide fuselage, twin radial engine hanging under the wings and a H-tail. Focus your fire on the engines and constantly swing sideways to avoid getting hit. A few hits from the M2 Browning is a guaranteed death. The Ju 88, on the other hand, has great underside gun coverage so attacking from below isn't a very good option. Try engaging from the sides and concentrate the fire on the front half of it, as that is where all the vital components are located. Again, never engage any of these if you have no altitude advantage. Pin them on the map and leave them to teammates with more powerful firepower.
  • A6M, Spitfire, etc: If you see them on your tail try outrunning them by diving at around -40 degrees. The Ki-44 still remains responsive handling at 600 km/h, but its speed retention is poor, meaning it will start to lose speed quickly and the enemy might catch up. If you are near a friendly airfield, great. If not, then hope for the best and run towards the friendly side. Don't forget to pitch up and down a little to mess up their aim, the early Spitfires and A6M only have a 60-round drum per cannon which will run out fairly fast. The leftover 7.7 mm machine guns will not be as destructive.
  • F4U, F6F, P-47, etc: these planes are a huge threat to the Ki-44 as they have superior firepower, speed, dive acceleration and robust airframes. Their 12.7 mm MGs can easily tear you apart or simply pilot-snipe you even when they are far away, as the M2 Brownings have great velocity and trajectory. They can also set you aflame easily. The F4U has a long cylindrical nose and the iconic inverted gull wing. The P-47 has a huge, jug-like fuselage, bubble canopy and elliptical trailing edge that usually have invasion stripes painted on them. The F6F, on the other hand, might get confused with other planes as it looks rather average. Anyways, start a turnfight whenever you see these stubby planes.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Controllable Controllable
Not auto controlled 		Controllable
Not auto controlled 		Controllable
Not auto controlled 		Separate Controllable
2 gears 		Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Powerful armament for tough aircraft
  • Extremely good acceleration
  • Good climb rate allows it to get altitude advantage over most enemies
  • 40 mm cannons can be used as impromptu brakes when landing (because of the huge recoil)

Cons:

  • Very fragile with next to no protection. Will get shredded/set on fire easily, especially by any plane with M2 Brownings (e.g. F6F-5)
  • Engine easily damaged
  • 40 mm cannons are very hard to use: extremely low velocity, big recoil and absurdly low ammo of only 10 RPG. This requires strict trigger control

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

Skins
Skin icon market.pngMarket
Ki-44-II Otsu flown by Yoshida Yoshio.png
Camo "1st Chutai leader, Yoshida Yoshio"

See also

Related development
Other vehicles of similar gun configuration
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


Nakajima Aircraft Company (中島飛行機株式会社 )
Fighters  Ki-27 otsu · Ki-27 otsu Tachiarai
  Ki-43-I · Ki-43-II · Ki-43-III otsu
  Ki-44-I · Ki-44-I 34 · Ki-44-II otsu · Ki-44-II hei
  Ki-84 ko · Ki-84 otsu · Ki-84 hei
  Ki-87
Hydroplanes  A6M2-N*
Interceptors  J1N1 · J5N1
Bombers  B5N2
  B6N1 Model 11 · B6N2 Model 12 · B6N2a Model 12Ko
  G5N1 · G8N1
  Ki-49-I · Ki-49-IIa · Ki-49-IIb · Ki-49-IIb/L
Recon  E8N2
Jet Fighters  Kikka
Captured  ␗Ki-27 otsu · ▃Ki-43-II · ␗Ki-43-III ko · ␗Ki-44-II hei · ␗Ki-84 ko
  *Refit of the Mitsubishi A6M2 mod. 11
See also  Fuji Heavy Industries (1957-2017)

Japan fighters
Navy 
Carrier-based fighter 
A5M  A5M4 · Hagiri's A5M4
A6M  A6M2 mod. 11 · A6M2 · A6M3 · A6M3 mod. 22 · A6M3 mod. 22Ko · A6M5 · A6M5 Ko · A6M5 otsu · A6M5 Hei · A6M6c
A7He  A7He1*
A7M  A7M1 (NK9H) · A7M2
Land-based Fighter 
J2M  J2M2 · J2M3 · J2M4 Kai · J2M5 · J2M5 (30 mm)
J6K  J6K1
J7W  J7W1
N1K-J  N1K1-Ja · N1K2-J · N1K2-Ja
Fighter seaplane 
N1K  N1K1
A6M-N  A6M2-N
Army 
Ki-10  Ki-10-I · Ki-10-I C · Ki-10-II · Ki-10-II C
Ki-27  Ki-27 otsu · Ki-27 otsu Tachiarai
Ki-43  Ki-43-I · Ki-43-II · Ki-43-III otsu
Ki-44  Ki-44-I · Ki-44-I 34 · Ki-44-II otsu · Ki-44-II hei
Ki-61  Ki-61-I ko · Ki-61-I otsu · Ki-61-I hei · Tada's Ki-61-I hei · Ki-61-I tei · Ki-61-II Otsu Kai
Ki-84  Ki-84 ko · Ki-84 otsu · Ki-84 hei
Ki-87  Ki-87
Ki-94  Ki-94-II
Ki-100  Ki-100 · Ki-100-II
Other countries  ▅F4U-1A · ▅P-51C-11-NT · ▅Bf 109 E-7 · ▅Fw 190 A-5
  *Imported designation of the He 112 (A6M was in development - A7M would take A7 designation after the cancelation of the A7He)

Japan premium aircraft
Fighters  Hagiri's A5M4 · A7He1 · Ki-27 otsu Tachiarai
  Ki-44-II otsu · ▅Bf 109 E-7 · ▅F4U-1A · Ki-100-II · Ki-44-I 34
  ▅Fw 190 A-5 · A7M1 (NK9H) · Tada's Ki-61-I hei · ▅P-51C-11-NT
  J2M4 Kai · A6M5 Ko · A6M6c · J2M5 · Ki-87 · J6K1
Twin-engine fighters  Ki-96
Jet fighters  F-86F-40 JASDF▅ · T-2 Early · F-4EJ ADTW
Strike aircraft  ▄AV-8S
Bombers  Ki-21-I hei · Ki-48-II otsu · H8K3 · B7A2 (Homare 23) · ▅B-17E

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