Ki-45 ko

Ki-45 ko

Ki-45 otsu

Ki-45 hei

Ki-45 ko

Ki-45 otsu

Ki-45 hei

Japan

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
1.7	2.7	2.7

Class:

Fighter

Interceptor

Research:4 000

Purchase:2 100

Show in game

This page is about the Japanese twin-engine fighter Ki-45 ko. For other versions, see Ki-45 (Family).

Description

The Ki-45 ko Toryu is a rank I Japanese twin-engine fighter with a battle rating of 1.7 (AB) and 2.7 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.31.

Being classed as a heavy fighter, the Ki-45 isn't the best in the manoeuvrability category. However, for a heavy fighter, it manoeuvres very well. It is even capable of out-turning aircraft such as the P-47D-25. Unlike heavy fighters of other nations, the Ki-45 series does not feature aircraft with large amounts of heavy weaponry. This is a major downside, considering how heavy fighters traditionally give up manoeuvrability and speed for armament. Instead, the Ki-45 utilises more of an equilibrium between manoeuvrability, speed, and armament. These are what makes the Ki-45 both a capable dog-fighter and bomber hunter.

The first variant of the Ki-45, the Ki-45 ko, features the least "hard-hitting" armament of the series. Wielding two Ho-103 12.7 mm machine guns and one Ho-3 20 mm cannon, this aircraft is the best suited for dog-fighting as it has the largest total ammunition pool out of all the Toryus. Sitting at rank I, this beast is more than capable of shooting down anything it may face.

The Ki-45 also has a very good turn rate, unlike other heavy fighters. Although the aircraft itself is large and presents an "easy target" in many players' minds, the Ki-45 is rather nimble. Use this to your advantage when engaging enemy aircraft. Unfortunately, the Ki-45 is a heavy fighter, meaning its turn time is still not on par with other aircraft such as the F2A-3. In certain cases, the Ki-45 pilot may have to rely on his or her tail gunner to get the job done. The "ko" version of the Ki-45 features a 7.92 mm Type 98 machine gun with 1,050 rounds. Although lacklustre, with shot placement it is possible to destroy enemies on the aircraft's tail. Aim for the pilot or the engine, as those are generally the weakest points on most aircraft. If the tailing enemy is a bi-plane, aim for the wings since they are very fragile.

The Toryu is also rather fragile for a heavy fighter. Although it does feature two engines, the Ki-45 does not have very much armour protection. Only the back of the pilot's seat has armour, leaving both the gunner and engines unprotected. This can prove costly in a fight. If one does find themselves tailed, call upon teammates for assistance.

General info

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.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 6,300 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
550	534	9900	24.9	25.7	16.5	16.5	520
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 6,300 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
592	570	9900	23.7	24.0	23	19.5	520

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flaps (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
		450	~11	~7

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 360	< 320	< 450	> 330

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,800 m	1,040 hp	1,136 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
5,100 m	935 hp	1,021 hp

Survivability and armour

• 16 mm Steel plates behind the pilot.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Ki-45 ko is armed with:

• 1 x 20 mm Ho-3 army cannon, belly-mounted (100 rpg)
• 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 army machine guns, nose-mounted (350 rpg = 700 total)

Defensive armament

The Ki-45 ko is defended by:

• 1 x 7.92 mm Type 98 army machine gun, dorsal turret (1,050 rpg)

Usage in battles

The Ki-45 ko's armament is much more suited for dog-fighting than its later, 37 mm cannon-armed variants. With a moderate ammunition pool, it is easily possible to destroy multiple enemies with this aircraft. It is recommended to use the 20 mm cannon only when the pilot is confident of hitting the enemy aircraft, as it only holds 100 shells. The 12.7 mm machine guns are where most of the damage will be done at range.

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

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 12 mm	Turret 7 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 12 mm MGs	New 7 mm MGs (turret)
III	Wings repair	Engine		Offensive 20 mm
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 20 mm cannons

• Instead of focusing on armament like other heavy fighters, the Ki-45 is more balanced between armament and flight performance. While the default ammunition belts for both weapons on the Ki-45 ko are workable, it can help to upgrade. Unlocking the flight performance modules will help drastically in dogfights and turn fights.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• 7.92 mm tail gun
• Fairly good speed
• 16.5 mm of armour in pilot's seat
• Good manoeuvrability
• Two engine design
• Effective armament
• Very good climb rate

Cons:

• Beat in turn fights by some aircraft
• Prone to fuel and engine fires
• Locks up at high speeds
• Mediocre roll rate, gets worse as speed increases (compression)
• Limited ammunition for all weapons
• Lack of protection around fuel tanks, engines, and gunner

History

Initially designed to be a bomber escort, the Ki-45 was first deployed in what is now China and Vietnam. It was found to be easily outclassed by P-40s piloted by the Flying Tigers. As a result, the Ki-45's role was changed to anti-shipping and ground attack, where it performed satisfactorily. Nonetheless, the Ki-45's greatest strength proved to be its bomber intercepting capabilities. Heavily armed with 37 mm cannon, the Toryu (Dragon Slayer) could destroy heavy bombers with ease. As the war progressed, the need for an interceptor to defend the Japanese mainland was ever present. Soon, the Ki-45 was deployed to counter B-29 Superfortress raids. Although its armament was clearly deadly enough, the Ki-45 suffered at high altitudes. Pilots soon resorted to ramming attacks against the Superfortress'. Special attack groups specifically designed for this purpose formed, but by late 1945 Imperial Japan's fate had been sealed.

In-game description

Kawasaki Ki-45 KAI Ko (Model A) Type 2 Toryu (Allied reporting name: Nick) twin-engine army fighter

A twin-engine all-metal monoplane fighter with an enclosed two-seat cockpit and a retractable landing gear system including a tail wheel.

The development of the Ki-45 fighter started in the design bureau of the Kawasaki Company under the direction of Takeo Doi in January 1938. The aircraft was a further development of the Ki-38 twin-engine fighter, which had been produced by the company for the Japanese Army Air Force since March 1937. It was decided to use two Bristol Mercury air-cooled engines, produced under licence by the Nakajima Company under the designation of Ha-20b. The first prototype fighter was built by early 1939. It got off the ground for the first time in February 1939. The prototype's tests showed that the vehicle's flight characteristics, particularly its speed, were significantly worse than the specification's requirements. Despite improvements, the two other prototypes never reached the specified design speed, either. So further work on the project was stopped, and the construction of six more aircraft was frozen.

In April 1940, the Kawasaki Company was ordered to equip the aircraft with more powerful Nakajima Ha-25 fourteen-cylinder, air-cooled engines, with a takeoff power of 1,000 hp. The engines' smaller diameter enabled the installation of NACA cowlings and reduced propeller spinner size.

The first flight of the improved Ki-45 took place in July 1940. While the tests were being conducted, Takeo Doi suggested a number of modifications for the aircraft to improve its flight characteristics and controllability and to facilitate its full-scale production. The Ki-45 obtained a thinner fuselage, a new fin, straight wing edges, smaller nacelles, and a reflector sight in place of its telescopic one.

The Ki-45's armament consisted of two 12.7 mm Ho-103 (Browning) machine guns, with 350 rounds each, mounted on the forward fuselage, and one 20 mm Ho-3 cannon, with 100 rounds, mounted on the right side of the lower fuselage. One 7.92 mm Type 98 (Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 15) machine gun with 1,050 rounds was located in the rear defensive turret and operated by the radio operator/gunner.

The Army Air Force's headquarters approved these modifications in October 1940. The first Ki-45 KAI ("KAI" meaning "improved") was completed in May 1941. After testing three prototypes, the Kawasaki Company began to prepare for full-scale production. The aircraft obtained the official army designation "Improved Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter Model Ko (A) Toryu".

Media

Videos

Best aircraft for Boom & Zoom discusses the Ki-45 ko at 1:25 - War Thunder Official Channel

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 aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.

Japan twin-engine fighters and strike aircraft
Navy
Land-based Fighter
J1N	J1N1
J5N	J5N1
Army
Ki-45	Ki-45 ko · Ki-45 otsu · Ki-45 hei · Ki-45 tei
Ki-83	Ki-83
Ki-96	Ki-96
Ki-102	Ki-102 otsu
Ki-108	Ki-108 Kai
Ki-109	Ki-109