Difference between revisions of "Ki-44-II hei (China)"
m (→Flight performance) (Tag: Visual edit) |
CLOSE_RANGE (talk | contribs) (Fleshed out with content from the original Ki-44-II hei article) |
||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]] | [[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]] | ||
{{break}} | {{break}} | ||
| − | The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]]. | + | The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]]. It has identical performance to the original Japanese [[Ki-44-II hei]]. |
| + | |||
| + | The "Shoki" was named after a powerful king of demons in Chinese mythology, Zhong Kui, said to have a grotesque appearance. The squat and stubby Ki-44 will not be winning any beauty contests, especially not with its degraded camouflage in Chinese service, but it has incredible flight performance for its rank and can be a dangerous opponent in the hands of a skilled pilot. Pilots familiar with the earlier [[CW-21]] will find some similarities in its performance and tactics. This machine was built for speed and climb, but as can be expected for Japanese fighters, its agility is still good compared to planes from other nations. | ||
== 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.'' | + | <!--''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''--> |
| + | |||
| + | 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 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. | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| Line 29: | Line 35: | ||
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB | ! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | | 582 || 566 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 20.9 || 21.5 || 14.3 || 14.3 || 320 |
|- | |- | ||
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded'' | ! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded'' | ||
| Line 41: | Line 47: | ||
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB | ! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |632||606|| {{Specs|ceiling}} ||19.7||20.0||24.5||18.8|| 320 | + | | 632 || 606 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 19.7 || 20.0 || 24.5 || 18.8 || 320 |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 107: | Line 113: | ||
=== Survivability and armour === | === Survivability and 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.''--> |
| + | |||
| + | * 10.5 mm Steel plate behind the pilot | ||
| + | * 10.5 mm Steel plate - headrest | ||
| + | |||
| + | While it lacks bulletproof glass or self-sealing fuel tanks, the rear armor is helpful for preventing untimely pilot-snipes from low-caliber machine guns when being chased. Head-ons should be avoided and attacks on bombers should be made with caution. | ||
| + | |||
== Armaments == | == 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.'' | + | <!--''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-103 army (12.7 mm)}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' 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 meters due to the low velocity, so the player should make sure to shoot within 300 meters. However, inside of 300 meters, 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 play style. | ||
| + | |||
=== 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.'' | + | <!--''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) | ||
| − | + | The Ki-44 is not suited for ground attack and bomb loadouts should generally be avoided. In Ground RB the 100 kg bombs may be helpful if no alternatives aircraft are available for CAS, but they are rather weak and need to land on or very close to their target to secure kills reliably. | |
| − | |||
== Usage in battles == | == 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).'' | + | <!--''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-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. Do not turn fight against more maneuverable aircraft like Zeros or Spitfires. Stall climbs can also be used to great effect against opposing planes due to the incredible energy retention and climb rate. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Ho-103 machine guns are not the best of armaments. They use a shorter cartridge than the familiar M2 Browning used by US aircraft and have a significantly lower muzzle velocity. In addition, the rounds currently have extremely high drag and the HE rounds included in certain belts are not modeled as containing any explosive filler. It is a good idea to use them at close distances as mentioned earlier and to lead the target generously when performing deflection shots. The Ki-44's excellent flight characteristics will at least provide more opportunities to attack and wear down its enemies. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Note that some planes at or below the Chinese Ki-44's rank that it can face are capable of matching it in speed. The German [[He 100 D-1]] is still ludicrously fast (higher top speed while stock than a spaded Ki-44) and the Italian [[C.202]] is only slightly slower, so against these opponents it pays to be more cautious. On the bright side, neither of these aircraft are particularly agile or well armed. | ||
=== Manual Engine Control === | === Manual Engine Control === | ||
| Line 177: | Line 214: | ||
=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
| − | ''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".'' | + | <!--''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 | ||
| + | * Has an excellent roll rate (utilise combat flaps for tighter manoeuvring) | ||
| + | * Decent turn rate | ||
| + | * Adequate armament for the rank | ||
'''Cons:''' | '''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 |
| + | * 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 | ||
| + | * Armament is tricky to use | ||
| + | * Rather fragile | ||
== 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 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).'' | + | <!--''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).''--> |
| + | |||
| + | The design of the Ki-44 ''Shoki'' (Allied Code Name: Tojo) traces back to Nakajima's other infamous IJAAF 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 maneuverability-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. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The high landing speeds and comparatively limited maneuverability 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 maneuvers. It gained more respect later on in its service life due to its extreme potency as an interceptor. | ||
| + | |||
| + | By the end of World War II, relatively few Ki-44s were still in service with the IJAAF. Some of the aircraft used by disbanded Japanese squadrons stationed in China were used by Kuomintang and Communist forces in the resumed Chinese Civil War. Some may have been flown by Japanese mercenaries. After the victory of the Communists and the Kuomintang's retreat to Taiwan, surviving aircraft were used by the newly established PLAAF for a number of years afterwards, though no complete examples exist today. | ||
| + | |||
== Media == | == Media == | ||
Revision as of 19:18, 30 March 2020
Contents
| This page is about the Chinese fighter Ki-44-II hei (China). For other uses, see Ki-44 (Family). |
Description
.jpg)
The ␗Ki-44-II hei Shoki is a rank III Chinese fighter
with a battle rating of 3.7 (AB/RB) and 3.0 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision". It has identical performance to the original Japanese Ki-44-II hei.
The "Shoki" was named after a powerful king of demons in Chinese mythology, Zhong Kui, said to have a grotesque appearance. The squat and stubby Ki-44 will not be winning any beauty contests, especially not with its degraded camouflage in Chinese service, but it has incredible flight performance for its rank and can be a dangerous opponent in the hands of a skilled pilot. Pilots familiar with the earlier CW-21 will find some similarities in its performance and tactics. This machine was built for speed and climb, but as can be expected for Japanese fighters, its agility is still good compared to planes from other nations.
General info
Flight performance
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 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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | |||||||
| Max Speed (km/h at 5,200 m) |
Max altitude (meters) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (meters/second) |
Take-off run (meters) | |||
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | ||
| 582 | 566 | 9800 | 20.9 | 21.5 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 320 |
| Upgraded | |||||||
| Max Speed (km/h at 5,200 m) |
Max altitude (meters) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (meters/second) |
Take-off run (meters) | |||
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | ||
| 632 | 606 | 9800 | 19.7 | 20.0 | 24.5 | 18.8 | 320 |
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 | |
| + | - | |||
| 400 | ~12 | ~8 | ||
| Optimal velocities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons (km/h) |
Rudder (km/h) |
Elevators (km/h) |
Radiator (km/h) |
| < 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
- 10.5 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
- 10.5 mm Steel plate - headrest
While it lacks bulletproof glass or self-sealing fuel tanks, the rear armor is helpful for preventing untimely pilot-snipes from low-caliber machine guns when being chased. Head-ons should be avoided and attacks on bombers should be made with caution.
Armaments
Offensive armament
The Ki-44-II hei (China) 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 meters due to the low velocity, so the player should make sure to shoot within 300 meters. However, inside of 300 meters, 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 play style.
Suspended armament
The Ki-44-II hei (China) 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)
The Ki-44 is not suited for ground attack and bomb loadouts should generally be avoided. In Ground RB the 100 kg bombs may be helpful if no alternatives aircraft are available for CAS, but they are rather weak and need to land on or very close to their target to secure kills reliably.
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. Do not turn fight against more maneuverable aircraft like Zeros or Spitfires. Stall climbs can also be used to great effect against opposing planes due to the incredible energy retention and climb rate.
The Ho-103 machine guns are not the best of armaments. They use a shorter cartridge than the familiar M2 Browning used by US aircraft and have a significantly lower muzzle velocity. In addition, the rounds currently have extremely high drag and the HE rounds included in certain belts are not modeled as containing any explosive filler. It is a good idea to use them at close distances as mentioned earlier and to lead the target generously when performing deflection shots. The Ki-44's excellent flight characteristics will at least provide more opportunities to attack and wear down its enemies.
Note that some planes at or below the Chinese Ki-44's rank that it can face are capable of matching it in speed. The German He 100 D-1 is still ludicrously fast (higher top speed while stock than a spaded Ki-44) and the Italian C.202 is only slightly slower, so against these opponents it pays to be more cautious. On the bright side, neither of these aircraft are particularly agile or well armed.
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 | ||
| II | Compressor | Airframe | 7 in (mod20) | ||
| III | Wings repair | Engine | New 12 mm MGs | ||
| IV | Engine injection | Cover | 10 in (mod24) | ||
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
- Has an excellent roll rate (utilise combat flaps for tighter manoeuvring)
- Decent turn rate
- Adequate armament for the rank
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
- 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
- Armament is tricky to use
- Rather fragile
History
The design of the Ki-44 Shoki (Allied Code Name: Tojo) traces back to Nakajima's other infamous IJAAF 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 maneuverability-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 maneuverability 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 maneuvers. It gained more respect later on in its service life due to its extreme potency as an interceptor.
By the end of World War II, relatively few Ki-44s were still in service with the IJAAF. Some of the aircraft used by disbanded Japanese squadrons stationed in China were used by Kuomintang and Communist forces in the resumed Chinese Civil War. Some may have been flown by Japanese mercenaries. After the victory of the Communists and the Kuomintang's retreat to Taiwan, surviving aircraft were used by the newly established PLAAF for a number of years afterwards, though no complete examples exist today.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
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.
| 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) |
| China fighters | |
|---|---|
| British | ␗Gladiator Mk I |
| French | D.510C |
| Japanese | ␗A6M2 · ␗Ki-27 otsu · ␗Ki-43-III ko · ␗Ki-44-II hei · ␗Ki-61-I otsu · ␗Ki-84 ko |
| American | CW-21 · Hawk III · P-66 · ␗P-40E-1 · H-81A-2 · ␗P-43A-1 |
| ␗P-47D-23-RA · ␗P-47D-30 · ␗F-47N-25-RE · ␗P-51C-11-NT · ␗P-51D-20 · ␗P-51K | |
| Soviet | ␗I-15bis · ␗I-153 M-62 · ␗I-16 Chung 28 · ␗I-16 type 5 · ␗I-16 type 10 · ␗I-16 type 17 · ␗La-11 · ␗La-9 |
