Ki-44-II hei

Ki-44-II hei

Ki-61-I ko

Ki-61-I otsu

Ki-44-II hei

Ki-61-I ko

Ki-61-I otsu

Japan

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.7	3.7	3.0

Class:

Fighter

Research:9 200

Purchase:16 000

Show in game

This page is about the Japanese fighter Ki-44-II hei. For other uses, see Ki-44 (Family).

Description

The Ki-44-II hei Shoki is a rank II Japanese fighter with a battle rating of 3.7 (AB/RB) and 3.0 (SB). This aircraft was introduced in Update 1.55 "Royal Armour".

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 control is not used.

It is a phenomenally 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.

The Ki-44-II Hei is armed with four Ho-103 heavy machine guns, with 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 target belts depending on play style.

General info

Flight Performance

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
578	566	9800	21.1	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
?	?	9800	??.?	20.0	??.?	18.8	320

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
850	250	400	~25	~16

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 400	< 400	< 450	> 260

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,386 m	1,420 hp	1,613 hp

Survivability and armour

• 10.5 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
• 10.5 mm Steel plate - headrest

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Ki-44-II hei is armed with:

• 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine gun, nose-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
• 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine gun, wing-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)

Suspended armament

      Main article: Bombs

The Ki-44-II hei can be outfitted with the following equipment:

• 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)

Usage in the battles

Ingame, 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 maneuvers to maximize your energy retention while booming and zooming. As long as you keep your speed up, you should be fine. Horizontal maneuvers are not highly recommended as it performs worse than in the vertical but will turn with most other fighters if needed especially with flaps. Stall climbs can also be used to great effect against opposing planes due to the incredible energy retention and climb rate.

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 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
• Superior agility against other aircraft
• Extremely low stall speed
• Has an excellent roll rate (utilize combat flaps for tighter manoeuvring)

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
• Feeble armament, even the Soviet I-16 will feel like a Tiger II with this plane, the rate of fire quickly utilises the ammo reserves as well
• 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

History

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Media

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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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• page on aircraft encyclopedia;
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