Ki-27 otsu

Ki-27 otsu

Ki-10-II C

Ki-43-I

Ki-27 otsu

Ki-10-II C

Ki-43-I

Japan

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
1.3	2.0	1.3

Class:

Fighter

Research:2 900

Purchase:700

Show in game

Description

The Ki-27 otsu is a Rank I Japanese fighter with a battle rating of 1.3 (AB/SB) and 2.0 (RB). This aircraft was introduced in Update 1.43.

The Ki-27 is a front-line fighter for interwar / pre-WW2 historical engagements such as the Battles of Khalkin Gol. In most maps, the Ki-27 will distinguish itself as a low-level dog-fighter; its performance below 1,000 m altitudes is superb and can manoeuvre away from nearly any other comparable fighter. Like the Ki-10 series before it, the Ki-27 otsu suffers from its poor armament (twin 7.7 mm Type 89s) and weak armour, which means it makes for a poor interceptor despite its high speed, but the Ki-27 makes an excellent escort for friendly bombers and flying boats. Providing cover for their allied bombers is a top priority for the Ki-27 pilots.

Like its Ki-10 predecessor, the Ki-27 relies on its manoeuvrability for its protection. Turn-Fighting, therefore, is vital for a Ki-27 pilot. Avoid diving on opponents, due to the Ki-27's fuel feed issues, and focus on scaring enemy pursuers away from bombers rather than chasing a kill. A lone Ki-27 is easy prey for allied energy fighters. Like most Japanese fighters, engaging an enemy head-on is not recommended. If fighting an enemy "energy Fighter" head-on, a good strategy is to turn away (usually a slight turn as you'll want him to miss you, but also pass you), and hope that he turns to follow.

Like the comparable A5M4, the Ki-27's carburettor engine suffers from fuel feed issues in negative G manoeuvres, like diving. Nosing down will cause the engine to choke out. Positive G manoeuvres like the Split-S are preferred. This issue will allow enemies to out dive the Ki-27, so engaging at low altitudes is preferred.

Additionally, the Ki-27 runs hot and will overheat at 100% throttle on all but the coldest maps. To cool off, ease the throttle back to 40% or 50% and, if possible, try to gain altitude. If the engine overheats during a dog fight, try to break off if the opportunity presents itself. No pilot can outmaneuver an overheated engine.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 3,500 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
476	465	8500	10.4	11.0	6.2	8.8	180
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 3,500 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
517	495	8500	9.8	10.0	18.8	12.8	180

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
554	550	350	~18	~12

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 350	< 350	< 350	> 260?

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
3,,300 m	680 hp	816 hp

Survivability and armour

• No armour plating
• No armour glazing
• Critical components located at the front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
• More fuel tanks located in wings near the fuselage

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Ki-27 otsu is armed with:

• 2 x 7.7 mm Type 89 machine guns, nose mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Usage in the battles

A superior dogfighter for turn-fighting, the Ki-27 is the first plane to begin showing the features typical of the Japanese "Zero" but with none of the bite. Its speed and manoeuvrability are plagued by engine problems, with no armour and a standard armament.

In battle, no Allied fighter can out-turn you, except for biplanes, but most will outgun you (and even most biplanes match the Ki-27 in armament).

Bi-planes (except the I-153 Chaika) make easy prey for the Ki-27, and the Ki-27 can easily outmanoeuvre the P-36 Hawk, the F2A Brewster Buffalo and the I-16 Ishak, but their more massive armaments will knock out a Ki-27 in a single good burst. Simply outrunning any of them is an excellent evasive manoeuvre. Hurricane Mk Is can strictly complete with the Ki-27 Otsu in manoeuvrability, but the Hurricane's heavier armament (four times what the Nate has) can also quickly shred a Ki-27. Additionally, outrunning a Hurricane in a Ki-27 is not possible. I-15s, which the Ki-27 historically outperformed, will be the bane of a Ki-27s existence, as their excellent turn ability will force the Nate to energy bleeding manoeuvres or Boom & Zoom style combat. Risky with competition around to abuse either state.

Despite its low with a battle rating of 1.3 (AB/SB) and 2.0 (RB), you can face some challenging foes when flying the Ki-27. Bi-planes will give you a run for your money in terms of manoeuvrability, while some early mono-planes will be faster and more heavily armed than you. Therefore, it is important to judge your foes accordingly.

One of the most challenging opponents is the Chaika. It is not a mere upgraded I-15bis, but in all performance aspects equal to the Nakajima Ki-27 fighter. Also on the Russian side, the Mig-3 is a significant threat. It is one of the fastest aircraft in its battle rating and has decent armament. In skilled hands, it can be an almost impossible opponent to combat, especially when using Boom & Zoom tactics against you. Your only defence will be to try and outmanoeuvre it or to lure it into a turn fight. The I-16 is also a familiar opponent.

From America, you will face the P-26. They are quite good divers and have a decent roll rate, but will not be able to outmaneuver you in a turn fight. The P-36 is more challenging. Faster and well armed, you will have to rely on your turn rate to try and out maneuver them.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Separate	Not ontrollable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Radiator		Offensive 7 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe
III	Wings Repair	Engine		New 7 mm MGs
IV		Engine Injection	Cover

• At this rank, the order of research is mainly personal preference, though the Ki-27 Otsu will benefit significantly from defensive and performance enhancing modifications.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Great manoeuvrability, on par with biplanes
• Good stability in turns
• Good speed, for its tier
• Excellent climb, can reach above 20 m/s

Cons:

• Limited firepower
• Engine overheats rapidly on hot maps
• Engine chokes in negative g dives
• No armour

History

The Nakajima Ki-27 otsu began as the Ki-11, a competitor for the Kawasaki Ki-10 biplane. While faster and more modern than the Ki-10 biplane, the Ki-11 wasn't adopted because the Imperial Japanese Army valued manoeuvrability over speed. Nakajima continued development of the design before finalising the Ki-12, a modern monoplane with a liquid-cooled engine and retractable landing gear, but the Army denied it outright as to maintenance heavy for forwarding airbases in Manchurian and China. The redesigned plane instead featured a radial air-cooled engine, fixed landing gear and fully enclosed cockpit and received the designation Ki-27.

In 1936, the Ki-27 competed against the Kawasaki Ki-28 (a prototype design fated never to enter production) and the Mitsubishi Ki-33 (a de-navalized A5M). While the Ki-33 outperformed the Ki-27 in most regards, the Imperial Japanese Army was loathed to adopt a "navy fighter", and approved the Ki-27 with minor modifications. The Ki-27 entered service as the Army Type 97 Fighter.

While the Ki-10 would not be finally phased out from front line service until 1942, by 1940, the Ki-27 was the premiere army fighter on the front lines. It was unmatched by any plane in the Chinese air force inventory, and outperformed the Soviet I-15 and I-16 fighters in the Battles of Khalkhin Gol, with some pilots scoring 11 kills against Soviet planes in a single day. Against Chinese Curtiss P-36 Hawks, veteran Ki-27 pilots achieved similar, but not as impressive kill rates.

Over China, the Ki-27 was unmatched until the deployment of the P-40 Warhawks with the American Volunteer Group. After, America's entry into the war, the Ki-27 also fared poorly against the US Navy's F2A Brewster Buffalo and F4F Wildcat and was removed from most front line service within the first months of the war, replaced by the much-improved Ki-43. However, it remained a front line fighter in Thai service, where the Ki-27 scored recorded kills against P-51s and at least one P-38.

Because of their high production numbers and relatively few losses, Ki-27 would see a renewed role late in the war as Kamikaze planes.

Ingame description

The Nakajima Ki-27 (九七式戦闘機 Kyūnana-Shiki sentōki, or Type 97 Fighter; Allied Codename "Nate") was the main fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force up until 1940. Its Allied nickname was "Nate".

The Japanese achieved air superiority over China and threatened even the Soviets with the Ki-27 when it was first introduced. Nothing the Chinese or Soviets had available to them were able to match the Ki-27's ability to dogfight effectively, and the kill ratio of the Ki-27 was high.

Note: The Ki-27 was the primary Japanese fighter used in the Battles of Khalkin Gol, though this is not yet reflected (as of 4/2/2015) in War Thunder's Dynamic Campaign mode, which has Ki-10's and Ki-43's, likely due to the fact that the Ki-27 arrived in a later patch.

The version in War Thunder has fuel "bumps" integrated into the plane.

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

Read 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.

Sources

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