Ki-27 otsu (China)

This page is about the Chinese fighter Ki-27 otsu (China). For other variants, see Ki-27 (Family).

␗Ki-27 otsu

␗Gladiator Mk I

␗Ki-43-III ko

␗Ki-27 otsu

␗Gladiator Mk I

␗Ki-43-III ko

China

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, officially known as 中島 九七式戦闘機乙型 or by its Allies codename Nate, was one of the major type of fighters served in IJAAF during the early stages of 2nd Sino-Japanese War and been used by both factions of Chinese armed forces. As the replacement of previous Ki-10 biplane after IJAAF saw the potential of IJNAF's A6M, although still being manoeuvrable at the early stages, the major loss in Khalkhin Gol made IJAAF retired all Ki-27, leaving them as reserve aircraft of the puppet state of Manchuria; while the lack of spare parts and more advanced Japanese-captured/US Aid aircrafts didn't leave Ki-27 a chance as fighters for the Nationalist forces, the Communist side made good use of them as trainer aircrafts for engineers and pilots.

Introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision" with the Chinese tech tree; it performs exactly like its Japanese counterpart with excellent maneuverability, but players need to pay extra caution on any aircrafts with better engine or with higher energy (i.e. at higher altitude), preying on targets which have been baited into lower altitude can earn quick victories on them or helping to disable them for kill assists.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 3 500 m495 km/h

Turn time10 s

Max altitude8 500 m

EngineNakajima Kotobuki 41

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight2 t

This aircraft is typical of Japanese fighter design: light armour and tight manoeuvrability. This aircraft can out-turn most other fighters of rank 1-2. It dances away from the line of fire with extreme agility, and can strike from high angles with ease.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 3,500 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	476	465	8500	10.2	10.6	8.5	8.5	180
Upgraded	517	495		9.8	10.0	18.6	12.8

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
554	550	N/A	N/A	220	~10	~7

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 350	< 350	< 350	> 296

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
3,300 m	705 hp	846 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural554 km/h

Gear550 km/h

Typical of low-rank Japanese fighter design, this aircraft has no armour. Due to this, most calibres found in ranks 1 and 2 will make quick work of this plane. Don't let this sway you away from this plane, it makes up for its lack of armour with extreme manoeuvrability. The fuel tanks are not self-sealing. There are 2 in each wing, and a 5th one located close to the oil cooling system.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB103 → 128

RB184 → 230

SB113 → 141

Total cost of modifications2 970

895

Talisman cost190

Crew training200

Experts1 000

Aces20

Research Aces96 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

10 / 20 / 60 %

100 / 100 / 100 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 200 Cost: 60 40 Radiator Research: 200 Cost: 60 40 Compressor Research: 330 Cost: 100 65 Wings repair Research: 250 Cost: 75 50 Engine Research: 250 Cost: 75 50 Engine injection Research: 480 Cost: 145 95	Airframe Research: 330 Cost: 100 65 Cover Research: 480 Cost: 145 95	type89_belt_pack Research: 200 Cost: 60 40 type89_new_gun Research: 250 Cost: 75 50

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 7.7 mm Type 89 machine gun

Ammunition1 000 rounds

Fire rate900 shots/min

The Ki-27 otsu (China) is armed with:

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

The two Type 89 machine guns are, unfortunately, pretty underwhelming for the fixed-wing fighter. The Ki-27 otsu will rarely meet aircraft that can be easily handled with just these two machine guns. Players will need the rely on the Ki-27's manoeuvrability to keep the opponent within the machine gun's reach to lay down sustained fire on critical components to cripple the enemy plane and get it to crash, or snipe the enemy pilot.

Usage in 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).

Biplanes (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 stronger 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 that of the Ki-27) 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 it into energy bleeding manoeuvres or Boom & Zoom style combat. Risky with competition around to abuse either state.

Despite its low battle rating, you can face some challenging foes when flying the Ki-27. Biplanes will give you a run for your money in terms of manoeuvrability, while some early monoplanes 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 I-153 Chaika. It is not a mere upgraded I-15bis, but in all performance aspects equal to the Nakajima Ki-27 fighter. Also on the Soviet 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 outmanoeuvre 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 outmanoeuvre them.

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	Not controllable

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
• Mostly faces Japan in RB (facing equally or more manoeuvrable planes)

History

Service in Mainland China

The Ki-27 was used rather extensively on the Chinese soil by the IJAAF, since 1938 (Imperial year 2558), this type of aircraft has been deployed in different airfields in Mainland China. Where they were being used as frontline fighters, the puppet regime of Manchukuo also used Ki-27 as their fighters after the Japanese retired them from frontline use after severe loss in Khalkhin Gol.

The remaining Ki-27 that survived the war were captured by both KMT and PLA forces, but due to the already outdated performance in regards to the latest fighters and lack of spare parts for repair, these aircraft and its trainer variant (Manshu Ki-79) were mostly used as a trainer for training new pilots, especially for the Chinese Red Army in Northeastern China, where those pilots were becoming the foundation of the new PLAAF.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Ki-27 otsu (China) from live.warthunder.com.

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

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance