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

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{{Specs-Card|code=ki_44_2_hei}}
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{{About
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| about = Japanese fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other vehicles
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| link = Ki-44 (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=ki_44_2_hei
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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''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 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.''
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''', designated as the '''Type 2 {{Annotation|Single-Seat|To differentiate from the 'Type 2 Twin-Seat' Ki-45}} Fighter, Model IIc ({{Annotation|二式単座戦闘機一型丙|Ni-Shiki Tanza Sentōki Ni-Gata Hei}})''', was the final standard production variant of the Ki-44-II. It was armed with four 12.7 mm guns and featured a Type 100 optical sight, replacing the older Type 97 telescopic sight. As the most produced variant of the Ki-44, many earlier Ki-44-II models were upgraded to the Ki-44-IIc standard, although they often retained their original Type 97 gunsights. Despite this, the relatively limited production of the Ki-44 and the development of the Ki-44-III were eventually discontinued in favour of the more versatile [[Ki-84 (Family)|Ki-84, Type 4 Fighter]]. This marked the end of the Ki-44's rather anticlimactic service record, which saw early action in the Pacific but primarily over the home islands. Although initially intended to be a formidable contender against Western designs, it was ultimately disliked by many Japanese aviators and was relegated to a limited-production interceptor mainly used for homeland defence.
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The default camouflage bears the insignia of the 70th Sentai, which like many other Ki-44 using air squadrons was purposed to shoot down B-29s in defense of Japan. Around June 1945, the squadron was slowly reinforced with [[Ki-84 (Family)|Ki-84s]], but didn't see service, the squadron members were instead prepared to train on the [[Ki-200]], in July all pilots were taken to the Aviation Inspection Department to take physical examinations to fly the Ki-200, but the war ended before the squadron could take flight with the Ki-200.
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It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]]. As the final variant of the Ki-44, it is heavily armed with four deadly 12.7 mm guns loaded with high-explosive rounds. However, this armament upgrade also pits it against more formidable opponents, making positioning crucial. To succeed, always aim to catch other pilots off guard by maintaining an altitude advantage, then use its relative manoeuvrability to finish them off. While climbing is straightforward, be aware that aircraft in this tier may be able to keep up with the Ki-44-II in a chase. Therefore, it is essential to destroy your target quickly or maintain your altitude advantage to stay ahead.
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 +
;Nicknames:
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* [[Abbreviations#.28IJA.29_Nicknames|Nickname]]: ''Shōki (鍾馗, Demon Queller)''
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* Allied reporting name: ''Tojo''
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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=== Flight Performance ===
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=== Flight performance ===
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''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Maximum speed, maneuverability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
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{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
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<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
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A very good energy fighter that turns decently and has a very high top speed when fully upgraded of 606 km/h at 6,000 m, being able to reach that height in 5 minutes at a 21-degree angle at 98% throttle. The Ki-44 will maintain a >25 m/s climb rate with WEP below 4,000 m. However, the engine ''will'' overheat on WEP very quickly below 5,500 m if manual engine controls are not used.
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 +
It is a phenomenally fast plane, being able to match the speed of almost anything it meets. This is coupled with excellent acceleration, energy retention, high rip speed and low control stiffening, allowing it to pursue after planes that other fighters cannot. The Ki-44 retains the iconic Japanese agility of its country, being able to turn-fight most fighters it encounters, with its high roll rate serving well to keep its targets in sight and to shake off enemies. It is also equal or superior in energy fights to anything it faces, flying loops and energy trapping its foes on a whim.
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
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|-
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! rowspan="2" |Characteristics
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! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 5,200 m)
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! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
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! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
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! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
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! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
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|-
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! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
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|-
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! Stock
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| 582 || 566 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 20.9 || 21.5 || 14.3 || 14.3 || rowspan="2" | 320
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|-
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! Upgraded
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| 632 || 606 || 19.7 || 20.0 || 24.5 || 18.8
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|-
 +
|}
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 +
==== Details ====
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | Features
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|-
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! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
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|-
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| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
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|-
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|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="7" | Limits
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|-
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! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
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! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
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! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
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! colspan="2" | Max Static G
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|-
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! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
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|-
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| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 400 || 400 || 250 || ~12 || ~8
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|-
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|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
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|-
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! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
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|-
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| < 400 || < 400 || < 450 || > 335
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|-
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|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
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|-
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! colspan="3" | Setting 1
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|-
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! Optimal altitude
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! 100% Engine power
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! WEP Engine power
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|-
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| 1,386 m || 1,420 hp || 1,613 hp
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|-
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! colspan="3" | Setting 2
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|-
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! Optimal altitude
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! 100% Engine power
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! WEP Engine power
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|-
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| 4,443 m || 1,300 hp || 1,477 hp
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|-
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|}
  
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
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{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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 +
* 10.5 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
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* 10.5 mm Steel plate - headrest
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 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 
=== Offensive armament ===
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''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.''
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{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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{{main|Ho-103 army (12.7 mm)}}
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The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
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* 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 army machine guns, nose-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
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* 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 army machine guns, wing-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
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 +
The Ki-44-II hei is armed with four Ho-103 heavy machine guns, with a total of 1,000 rounds of ammunition (250 rounds per gun). The Ho-103 machine gun has a low damage output outside of 300 m due to the low velocity, so the player should make sure to shoot within 300 m. However, inside of 300 m, the Ho-103 has a decent damage output easily cutting off wings and critically damaging control surfaces, but it is still weaker than the [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|M2 Brownings]] or [[Berezin UB (12.7 mm)|Berezin UB]] machine guns. The accuracy is very good overall as two of them are in the nose & the other two are in the wings. The best belts for the Ho-103 machine guns would be either ''Stealth'' or ''Air targets'' belts depending on playstyle.
  
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 
=== Suspended armament ===
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''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}}
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<!-- ''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)}}
  
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=== Defensive armament ===
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The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
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''Defensive armament with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available remove this subsection.''
 
  
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== Usage in the battles ==
+
* Without load
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''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 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).''
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* 2 x 50 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bombs (100 kg total)
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* 2 x 100 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bombs (200 kg total)
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 +
== 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).'' -->
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In-game, the Ki-44 is the pinnacle of point interceptors at its battle rating. At the beginning of any match, use your amazing climb rate to get as high as you can. If you climb at around a 22° angle, you should be able to find yourself far above enemy bombers by the time you encounter them. If there are bombers, those 4 x 12.7s machine guns can do a number on a bomber, but the bombers defences can also do a lot to you. When attacking a bomber, do it in high-speed passes, giving the gunners minimal time to lock on to you. Aim for the wings of the bomber as, while not exactly high velocity, your shells can do a lot of damage to a bomber's wing.
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 +
If there are no bombers your next job is fighter interception. Attack enemy fighters using Boom & Zoom tactics to destroy fighters. Use vertical manoeuvres to maximise your energy retention while booming and zooming. As long as you keep your speed up, you should be fine. Horizontal manoeuvres are not highly recommended as it performs worse than in the vertical but will turn with most other fighters if needed especially with flaps. Stall climbs can also be used to great effect against opposing planes due to the incredible energy retention and climb rate.
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 +
* 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/ph 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.
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 +
=== Manual Engine Control ===
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
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! colspan="7" | MEC elements
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|-
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! rowspan="2" | Mixer
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! rowspan="2" | Pitch
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! colspan="3" | Radiator
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! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
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! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
 +
|-
 +
! Oil !! Water !! Type
 +
|-
 +
| Controllable || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== 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. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
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<!-- ''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:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Incredibly fast, leaves virtually any plane it faces in the dust at any altitude
 +
* Climb rate is better than most equivalent aircraft, at more than 25 m/s spaded
 +
* Excellent acceleration
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* Superior agility against other aircraft
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* Extremely low stall speed
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* Has an excellent roll rate (utilise combat flaps for tighter manoeuvring)
 +
* Adequate armament for the rank
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* Good cockpit visibility in Simulator
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
 
  
−
== Historical part ==
+
* Engine feels like a plasma reactor, you will overheat within a minute and a half with WEP, using 100% doesn't cool it down quickly enough
−
''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 an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
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* Very fragile with next to no protection. Will get shredded/set on fire easily, especially by any plane with M2 Brownings (e.g. F6F)
 +
* Has Instructor issues. Rudder and ailerons are very unstable if the plane is banked or at low speed
 +
* Flaps cause the nose to pitch down hard if used below 150-200 km/h in a steep climb
 +
 
 +
== 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: <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 dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).-->
 +
The design of the Ki-44 ''Shoki'' (Allied Code Name: Tojo) traces back to Nakajima's other infamous IJAAS aircraft; The Ki-43 ''Hayabusa''. Soon after the design of the Ki-43, Nakajima received orders from the Imperial Japanese Army for an interceptor aircraft with a precedence of speed and rate of climb over the traditional manoeuvrability-focused aircraft the Japanese were more known for. Nakajima set to work on the prototype immediately, choosing the company's own Ha-141 radial engine that provided 1,250 in optimal condition. It was similarly constructed to the Ki-43, retaining the excellent Butterfly Combat Flaps and basic design, and carried two 7.7 mm Type 89 machine guns and two of the recently designed 12.7 mm Ho-103 HMG's that were based on the American Browning M1921. The aircraft's first flight occurred in 1940 and was involved in tests versus Kawasaki's Ki-60 prototype, which was powered by the German DB 601 engine used in the early Bf 109's, and an imported [[Bf 109 E-7 (Japan)|Bf 109 E]]. Through the many trials and evaluations, it was found to be superior to both designs and was ordered for production under the designation "Army Type 2 Single seat Fighter Model 1A ''Shoki''" and company designation of ''Ki-44-Ia''. The first production variants were fitted with the same armament layout as the prototypes but was found to be lacklustre, so was changed to four Ho-103 HMG's in a model dubbed ''Ki44-Ib''. Only some 40 odd Ki-44-Ia's were made including the improved Ib and Ic models.
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 +
The high landing speeds and comparatively limited manoeuvrability made it unpopular with pilots, who requested an upgraded Ki-43 instead due to the superior agility. Nakajima responded with the Ki-44-II, which sported the more powerful Ha-109 engine which powered the Ki-49 ''Donryu'' medium bomber. The variant also had other minor improvements such as a larger cockpit and a more efficient intercooler. Along side the Ki-44-IIa, the Ki-44-IIc was introduced providing a drastic improvement in firepower, comprising of either 4 x 20 mm Ho-5 cannons or 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 HMG's and 2 x 40 mm Ho-301 cannons, which proved to be effective when attacking heavy bombers. This improved firepower however, actually worsened the aircraft's reputation with pilots due to the heavier wing loading causing violent reactions to high speed manoeuvres. It gained more respect later on in its service life due to its extreme potency as an interceptor.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
  
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== Read also ==
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;Skins
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''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ki_44_2_hei Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
−
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
−
''ETC.''
 
  
−
== Sources ==
+
;Videos
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
{{Youtube-gallery|woJWg8E03HM|'''The Shooting Range #75''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 08:00 discusses the Ki-44.}}
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
<!-- ''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 configuration and role
 +
* [[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 ==
 +
<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''page on the Wikipedia;''
+
* ''other literature.''-->
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* ''page on aircraft encyclopedia;''
+
 
−
* ''other literature.''
+
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/285030-nakajima-ki-44-ii-hei/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
 +
 
 +
{{AirManufacturer Nakajima}}
 +
{{Japan fighters}}

Latest revision as of 03:55, 9 September 2024

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
This page is about the Japanese fighter Ki-44-II hei. For other vehicles, see Ki-44 (Family).
Ki-44-II hei
ki_44_2_hei.png
GarageImage Ki-44-II hei.jpg
ArtImage Ki-44-II hei.png
Ki-44-II hei
Japan flag.png Japan
II Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
3.7 3.7 3.0
Class:
Research:9 200 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:16 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
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Description

The Ki-44-II hei Shoki, designated as the Type 2 Single-Seat Fighter, Model IIc (二式単座戦闘機一型丙), was the final standard production variant of the Ki-44-II. It was armed with four 12.7 mm guns and featured a Type 100 optical sight, replacing the older Type 97 telescopic sight. As the most produced variant of the Ki-44, many earlier Ki-44-II models were upgraded to the Ki-44-IIc standard, although they often retained their original Type 97 gunsights. Despite this, the relatively limited production of the Ki-44 and the development of the Ki-44-III were eventually discontinued in favour of the more versatile Ki-84, Type 4 Fighter. This marked the end of the Ki-44's rather anticlimactic service record, which saw early action in the Pacific but primarily over the home islands. Although initially intended to be a formidable contender against Western designs, it was ultimately disliked by many Japanese aviators and was relegated to a limited-production interceptor mainly used for homeland defence.

The default camouflage bears the insignia of the 70th Sentai, which like many other Ki-44 using air squadrons was purposed to shoot down B-29s in defense of Japan. Around June 1945, the squadron was slowly reinforced with Ki-84s, but didn't see service, the squadron members were instead prepared to train on the Ki-200, in July all pilots were taken to the Aviation Inspection Department to take physical examinations to fly the Ki-200, but the war ended before the squadron could take flight with the Ki-200.

It was introduced in Update 1.55 "Royal Armour". As the final variant of the Ki-44, it is heavily armed with four deadly 12.7 mm guns loaded with high-explosive rounds. However, this armament upgrade also pits it against more formidable opponents, making positioning crucial. To succeed, always aim to catch other pilots off guard by maintaining an altitude advantage, then use its relative manoeuvrability to finish them off. While climbing is straightforward, be aware that aircraft in this tier may be able to keep up with the Ki-44-II in a chase. Therefore, it is essential to destroy your target quickly or maintain your altitude advantage to stay ahead.

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

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 5 200 m606 km/h
Turn time20 s
Max altitude9 800 m
EngineNakajima Ha-109
TypeRadial
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight3 t

A very good energy fighter that turns decently and has a very high top speed when fully upgraded of 606 km/h at 6,000 m, being able to reach that height in 5 minutes at a 21-degree angle at 98% throttle. The Ki-44 will maintain a >25 m/s climb rate with WEP below 4,000 m. However, the engine will overheat on WEP very quickly below 5,500 m if manual engine controls are not used.

It is a phenomenally fast plane, being able to match the speed of almost anything it meets. This is coupled with excellent acceleration, energy retention, high rip speed and low control stiffening, allowing it to pursue after planes that other fighters cannot. The Ki-44 retains the iconic Japanese agility of its country, being able to turn-fight most fighters it encounters, with its high roll rate serving well to keep its targets in sight and to shake off enemies. It is also equal or superior in energy fights to anything it faces, flying loops and energy trapping its foes on a whim.

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 582 566 9800 20.9 21.5 14.3 14.3 320
Upgraded 632 606 19.7 20.0 24.5 18.8

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 (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
1,386 m 1,420 hp 1,613 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
4,443 m 1,300 hp 1,477 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural850 km/h
Gear250 km/h
  • 10.5 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
  • 10.5 mm Steel plate - headrest

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB499 → 626 Sl icon.png
RB1 086 → 1 364 Sl icon.png
SB1 459 → 1 832 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications8 400 Rp icon.png
9 390 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost640 Ge icon.png
Crew training4 500 Sl icon.png
Experts16 000 Sl icon.png
Aces180 Ge icon.png
Research Aces190 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
30 / 70 / 150 % Sl icon.png
118 / 118 / 118 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
630 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
630 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
630 Rp icon.png
Cost:
710 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
790 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Research:
700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
790 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Research:
910 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 000 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
630 Rp icon.png
Cost:
710 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
910 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 000 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
safat12_belt_pack
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
630 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
7 in (mod20)
Research:
630 Rp icon.png
Cost:
710 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods weapon.png
ho103_new_gun
Research:
700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
790 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
10 in (mod24)
Research:
910 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 000 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 14 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine gun
Ammunition1 000 rounds
Fire rate900 shots/min
Main article: Ho-103 army (12.7 mm)

The Ki-44-II hei is armed with:

  • 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 army machine guns, nose-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
  • 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 army machine guns, wing-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)

The Ki-44-II hei is armed with four Ho-103 heavy machine guns, with a total of 1,000 rounds of ammunition (250 rounds per gun). The Ho-103 machine gun has a low damage output outside of 300 m due to the low velocity, so the player should make sure to shoot within 300 m. However, inside of 300 m, the Ho-103 has a decent damage output easily cutting off wings and critically damaging control surfaces, but it is still weaker than the M2 Brownings or Berezin UB machine guns. The accuracy is very good overall as two of them are in the nose & the other two are in the wings. The best belts for the Ho-103 machine guns would be either Stealth or Air targets belts depending on playstyle.

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 hei 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

In-game, the Ki-44 is the pinnacle of point interceptors at its battle rating. At the beginning of any match, use your amazing climb rate to get as high as you can. If you climb at around a 22° angle, you should be able to find yourself far above enemy bombers by the time you encounter them. If there are bombers, those 4 x 12.7s machine guns can do a number on a bomber, but the bombers defences can also do a lot to you. When attacking a bomber, do it in high-speed passes, giving the gunners minimal time to lock on to you. Aim for the wings of the bomber as, while not exactly high velocity, your shells can do a lot of damage to a bomber's wing.

If there are no bombers your next job is fighter interception. Attack enemy fighters using Boom & Zoom tactics to destroy fighters. Use vertical manoeuvres to maximise your energy retention while booming and zooming. As long as you keep your speed up, you should be fine. Horizontal manoeuvres are not highly recommended as it performs worse than in the vertical but will turn with most other fighters if needed especially with flaps. Stall climbs can also be used to great effect against opposing planes due to the incredible energy retention and climb rate.

  • 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/ph 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:

  • Incredibly fast, leaves virtually any plane it faces in the dust at any altitude
  • Climb rate is better than most equivalent aircraft, at more than 25 m/s spaded
  • Excellent acceleration
  • Superior agility against other aircraft
  • Extremely low stall speed
  • Has an excellent roll rate (utilise combat flaps for tighter manoeuvring)
  • Adequate armament for the rank
  • Good cockpit visibility in Simulator

Cons:

  • Engine feels like a plasma reactor, you will overheat within a minute and a half with WEP, using 100% doesn't cool it down quickly enough
  • Very fragile with next to no protection. Will get shredded/set on fire easily, especially by any plane with M2 Brownings (e.g. F6F)
  • Has Instructor issues. Rudder and ailerons are very unstable if the plane is banked or at low speed
  • Flaps cause the nose to pitch down hard if used below 150-200 km/h in a steep climb

History

The design of the Ki-44 Shoki (Allied Code Name: Tojo) traces back to Nakajima's other infamous IJAAS aircraft; The Ki-43 Hayabusa. Soon after the design of the Ki-43, Nakajima received orders from the Imperial Japanese Army for an interceptor aircraft with a precedence of speed and rate of climb over the traditional manoeuvrability-focused aircraft the Japanese were more known for. Nakajima set to work on the prototype immediately, choosing the company's own Ha-141 radial engine that provided 1,250 in optimal condition. It was similarly constructed to the Ki-43, retaining the excellent Butterfly Combat Flaps and basic design, and carried two 7.7 mm Type 89 machine guns and two of the recently designed 12.7 mm Ho-103 HMG's that were based on the American Browning M1921. The aircraft's first flight occurred in 1940 and was involved in tests versus Kawasaki's Ki-60 prototype, which was powered by the German DB 601 engine used in the early Bf 109's, and an imported Bf 109 E. Through the many trials and evaluations, it was found to be superior to both designs and was ordered for production under the designation "Army Type 2 Single seat Fighter Model 1A Shoki" and company designation of Ki-44-Ia. The first production variants were fitted with the same armament layout as the prototypes but was found to be lacklustre, so was changed to four Ho-103 HMG's in a model dubbed Ki44-Ib. Only some 40 odd Ki-44-Ia's were made including the improved Ib and Ic models.

The high landing speeds and comparatively limited manoeuvrability made it unpopular with pilots, who requested an upgraded Ki-43 instead due to the superior agility. Nakajima responded with the Ki-44-II, which sported the more powerful Ha-109 engine which powered the Ki-49 Donryu medium bomber. The variant also had other minor improvements such as a larger cockpit and a more efficient intercooler. Along side the Ki-44-IIa, the Ki-44-IIc was introduced providing a drastic improvement in firepower, comprising of either 4 x 20 mm Ho-5 cannons or 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 HMG's and 2 x 40 mm Ho-301 cannons, which proved to be effective when attacking heavy bombers. This improved firepower however, actually worsened the aircraft's reputation with pilots due to the heavier wing loading causing violent reactions to high speed manoeuvres. It gained more respect later on in its service life due to its extreme potency as an interceptor.

Media

Skins
Videos
The Shooting Range #75 - Pages of History section at 08:00 discusses the Ki-44.

See also

Related development
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


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)

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