Ki-87

Ki-87

360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/b/be/Cockpit_ki_87.jpg

Ki-87

Japan

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
6.0	5.7	6.0

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Purchase:6 090

Show in game

Description

The majestic and hard to master Ki-87

The Ki-87 is a premium rank IV Japanese fighter with a battle rating of 6.0 (AB/SB) and 5.7 (RB). It was introduced in Update 1.63 "Desert Hunters". Originally a pack vehicle, it was discontinued from the store after the 2018 Independence Day Sale, but was brought back for War Thunder's 7th Anniversary as a premium purchasable in-game for 6,090 Golden Eagles .

The Ki-87 feels similar to a Japanese P-47. It has poor energy retention in very sharp turns, a lacklustre roll rate, and a sluggish feel. The Ki-87 has issues with overheating on WEP, and you'll need to use manual engine control to operate this plane at its best. However, all these flaws mean nothing to an experienced pilot, as the Ki-87 has the most fearsome armament of the super props. The cannons have excellent velocity, and usually one shot everything, and bombers fear you like the plague. The Ki-87 can reach amazing speeds in dives, and you can use tactics to force head-ons with many opponents.

The Ki-87's powerful armament consists of 2 x 20 mm cannons by the engine and 2 x 30 mm mounted in the wings

The Ki-87 makes use of a turbo-supercharger, meaning that it won't suffocate as much at high altitudes, so you can keep your engagements high. Planes like the Yak-3, F4U Corsair, and Bf 109 will be outclassed by the Ki-87 because of their poor high altitude performance. It is important to note that the turbo supercharger is not controlled by manual engine controls, so you won't need to worry about adjusting your supercharger gear or turbocharger settings.

Using WEP, the Ki-87 is able to climb to just over 5,500 m in five minutes, a strong climb rate. Bombers spawn in at 3,000 m so you can quickly climb above for positional advantage for booming and zooming. If the Ki-87 retains momentum from the dive and engages the targets, it will be able to climb back up to the operational altitude it was before engaging the enemy. It is recommended to take the minimum load of fuel, set your guns targeting to 500 m and turn on vertical targeting. You should run the tracer belts for your 30 mm cannons and the universal belt for your 20 mm cannons.

For landings, slow to at least 300 km/h (180 mph) before dropping the main gear and 250 km/h for flaps. Ideally, be about 50 m in altitude at the end of the runway and hold 200 km/h until touchdown.

General info

Flight performance

The Ki-87's turbocharger, used at high altitudes to bomber intercept

Max speed

at 10 000 m707 km/h

Turn time22 s

Max altitude13 800 m

EngineNakajima Ha-219 Ru

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight6 t

The flight performance feels slow and sluggish, yet powerful. The turning and energy retention is not good either. This plane also has overheating issues. to solve performance issues, it's always best to go for a side climb, especially when in uptiers! The plane dives insanely well. The turbo supercharger will keep the plane's performance up while at altitudes above 5,000 metres.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 10,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	684	664	13800	23.1	23.9	11.6	11.6	370
Upgraded	739	707		21.6	22.0	23.0	15.0

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	+	-
880	320	457	428	280	~13	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 450	< 450	< 460	> 324

Ki-87 chases down an allied fighter

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural880 km/h

Gear320 km/h

• 70 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front.
• 8.5 mm Steel plate behind the pilot.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB2 100

RB4 623

SB7 203

Crew training10 000

Experts340 000

Aces1 200

Research Aces1 140 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 110 / 230 / 510 %

2 × 178 / 178 / 178 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Radiator Compressor Wings repair Engine Engine injection	Airframe Cover	ho5_belt_pack 7 in (mod20) ho5_new_gun 12 in (mod30) ho155_belt_pack ho155_new_gun

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 30 mm Ho-155 cannon

Ammunition300 rounds

Fire rate500 shots/min

Weapon 22 x 20 mm Ho-5 cannon

Ammunition300 rounds

Fire rate948 shots/min

Ki-87's guns do work on an enemy Bearcat

The Ki-87 is armed with:

• 2 x 30 mm Ho-155 cannons, wing-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
• 2 x 20 mm Ho-5 cannons, wing-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)

Japanese rank IV aircraft are typically armed with a respectable array of guns, and the Ki-87 is no exception. Although the 20 mm Ho-5s are nothing to write home about, the 30 mm cannons are some of the most feared, respected and deadly weapons in the entire game. When armed with the Tracer belt, the Japanese 30 mm cannons have a muzzle velocity that surpasses even the M2 and M3 Browning .50 cal HMGs at a staggering 920 m/s, and when combined with the high explosive filler and large calibre, these beasts will make short work of any aircraft that's unfortunate enough to end up in their crosshairs.

The usual issue with 30 mm cannons on WW2-era propeller planes - that being their lack of sufficient ammunition capacity - is notably absent on the Ki-87, which mounts 150 round per gun instead of the usual 60 seen on other aircraft like the Ki-84 hei and J7W1. Although this increased ammunition capacity is indeed wonderful, the pilot should still take care to not be too trigger happy, as the exceptional ballistics of the cannons will prevent the need to waste copious amounts of bullets on a single target, increasing the endurance of the aircraft in the hands of a patient pilot.

Suspended armament

List of setups (2)

Setup 11 x 50 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bomb

Setup 21 x 250 kg Army Type 92 GPHE bomb

The guns on the Ki-87 do quite some damage to soft ground targets. The Ki-87 can also carry an additional 250 kg bomb

The Ki-87 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 1 x 50 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bomb (50 kg total)
• 1 x 250 kg Army Type 92 GPHE bomb (250 kg total)

Usage in battles

Unlike the usual Japanese low-altitude and highly manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, the Ki-87 is a high-altitude bomber interceptor with mediocre speed and climb rate but less impressive agility. Featuring something relatively new for a Japanese fighter, the Ki-87 has a notably visible turbo-supercharger to boost its high altitude performance at the cost of aircraft weight and size. As such, it cannot be played like most other aircraft from the Japanese tree, but rather as a reserved Boom-&-Zoom that can abuse its brutal acceleration in a dive to pick off unwary victims.

The Ki-87 on an airfield at Midway

For engaging the enemy, The Ki-87 is best at boom-and-zoom tactics. Sideclimb to around 6,000 m and fly over enemy formations, once in position roll the plane to target, maintain coordinated control and correct rudder as at that altitude it is very easy to stall. Descend fast but not so much that the controls get sluggish. Once lined up and in range fire a short burst, the very heavy armament will rip the enemy plane apart; even evasive countermeasures will be insufficient for a properly executed Boom & Zoom.

If no bombers are present, then you might have issues engaging enemy fighters. The Ki-87 can only do a 21 m/s climb at 17 degrees, which makes it vulnerable to being outclimbed by nearly everything. As such, you'll need to side climb and then engage from the side. Do not try to turn with anything.

Against heavily armed aircraft such as the B-17, B-24, and B-29, and other heavy bombers, climb at least 600 m above them use slashing boom and zoom tactic firing short bursts, once the bullets hit the target, fire longer busts then jump back up. Ideally you should aim for large critical parts such as the wings and tail plane. The cannons on the Ki-87 will make short work of essential components and being substantial offer best chance of hitting. Never attack behind and at nearly same speed as you become a perfect target for multiple weapons. The Ki-87's fuel tanks are somewhat easy to ignite, and you won't last long if they do.

Ki-87 Boom and Zooms a Bearcat

Tactics to Win With

• Force head-ons: The Ki-87 can't energy fight or turn fight with any props (save Ta 152 C-3 and P-47M-1-RE). It will be outclassed. The only time you should ever turn fight is if the enemy is crippled or in a low energy state. To deal with fighters that are higher than you, you need to step up and force a head-on. Most likely, Allied players will take the head-on. Your guns' good velocity should be enough to kill them. Remember to pull off early, as even a quick burst can kill you. If the enemy is higher than you and appears to engage, dive down. The enemy will most likely level out. Keep your speed high, as this will allow you to pull up and engage in vertical head-ons. This is your last chance to score the kill, as the enemy will now be at an advantage.
• Keep your speed high: You need to worry about speed and altitude. DO NOT go for ground targets, as you will be an easy target for enemy fighters (a low and slow Ki-87 is as good as dead). Instead, keep your speed and altitude high, and have spatial awareness. Know where your enemy is.

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	Not controllable 1 gear	Auto controlled

A Ki-87 sporting a blue camouflage

You'll need to keep the prop pitch at 99-98 percent while in a climb, and adjust it to 90% when traveling above 700 km/h. The radiators should be kept at 100% while on WEP.

After you reach desired altitude, and you are about to dive on someone, change propeller pitch to 75% and radiator to 50% or lower if you want to conserve as much energy as possible.

The mixture should be adjusted at these levels: (Mixture is not modeled for this aircraft)

• Sea level: 100%
• 1,000 metres: 90%
• 2,000 metres: 80%
• 4,000 metres: 60%
• 6,000 metres: 45%

Pros and cons

Ki-87 over the Pacific

Pros:

• Excels in high-altitude bomber intercepting
• Great gun velocity, you can engage bombers from over 1 km away
• Powerful armament consisting of 2 x 30 mm cannons and 2 x 20 mm cannons
• No wing-mounted fuel tanks
• 30 mm cannons have a huge amount of ammo
• High red-line speed of 840 km/h
• Fast at diving
• Can equip bombs, although it will affect the aircraft's speed and turning time

Cons:

• Not as manoeuvrable as other Japanese aircraft, feels very sluggish
• Really bad energy retention, especially when coming out of a dive
• Plane tends to wiggle in sharp turns, bleeding tremendous amounts of energy, so don't make too many sharp turns
• Crew skills, if the crew skills are not high enough it is very easy to black out
• Fuselage fuel-tank is susceptible to fire
• Overheats extremely quickly, it's advisable to open the radiators using Manual Engine Controls
• Mediocre climb rate
• No interceptor spawn
• 30 mm HEF-T has only a maximum penetration of 2 mm
• Begins to lock up at around 700 km/h (435 mph)

The Ki-87 pulls out of a steep dive

History

Improved metallurgy and engineering in the 1930s saw a massive leap in aircraft performance, especially the once bulky, boxy, lumbering bombers reborn as sleek and sexy machines that left old fashioned wooden fighters in its vapour trail. It was not long before those flying rag fighters were also updated with gleaming aluminum and once again surpassed the bombers top speed. Yet bombers still had a trick up their sleeves, altitude.

Ki-87 at the cargo port

Flying above 9,000 m (29,500 ft) in super cold thin air and rarefied oxygen was both a technical and physiological challenge. The long wings and large interiors of bombers offered space needed for extreme high altitude flight, example the Ju 86P/R bomber which flew above 12,000 m (40,000 ft) with impunity over England, beyond the RAFs reach for months. The B-17 and B-24 could also operate at altitudes the Bf 109 and Fw 190 had difficulty reaching.

The Ki-87 from another angle in Cargo Port

Predicting the same for Japan, the military wisely ordered research into high altitude single engine fighters as early as 1942 and by 1943 work was underway on the future Nakajima Ki-87 and the alternate Tachikawa Ki-94. At 12,000 m the air density is about 1/4 that of sea level necessitating a huge supercharged engine, but its internal "blower" needed an additional boost so a "turbo-supercharger" was added, powered by high velocity exhaust gas. This combination is exactly like the P-47 Thunderbolt has, except this time the turbo was mounted on the right side of nose on the prototypes and not in rear fuselage. High aspect-ratio wings were chosen for the thin air (compare Fw 190 with Ta 152), but with limited space to mount the dual pair of 30 mm and 20 mm cannons in an unusual step Nakajima chose a landing gear retraction like on P-40 Kittyhawk. High altitude flight is also extremely uncomfortable for the pilot so the cockpit was partially pressurized and extra tanks of oxygen installed. Pilot armour, thick bulletproof glass, self-sealing fuel tanks, and hard point for bombs were also added. Finally enough fuel for at least 2 hours flight resulted in a massive aircraft for the Japanese, well over twice the weight of the A6M2 Zero.

It was an enormous technical challenge for Japanese industry taking a long time to overcome teething issues. Japanese aircraft rarely utilized turbo-superchargers in their planes, so experience in operation was limited, and although the 90° retracting gear was a favourite design, it took Nakajima months to get it to operate correctly.

The prototype flew for the first time in April 1945 at a time when the anticipated B-29 bomber was pounding Japan, but by then it was too late. Disruption by bombing and dwindling resources prevented the second prototype from flying and attrition of what little fighter defence Japan had. Ironically, with such weak home defence, the B-29s flew much lower so they could bomb more accurately, negating the purpose of the high altitude Ki-87.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Ki-87 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Ki-87 - Mr Spark Ruins The Bomber Hunting Party - Napalmratte

The Shooting Range #20 - Metal Beasts section at 00:42 discusses the Ki-87.

Premium Review: Ki-87 [Headon Monster] - Jengar

Japanese Thunderbolt - Ki-87 Review - 1.63 - MikeGoesBoom

See also

Japanese late-war Pacific fighters

• J2M5
• N1K2
• Ki-84 ko

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance