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 vehicles, 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). It was introduced in Update 1.55 "Royal Armour".

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 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.

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

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Ki-44-II hei 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 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)

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

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.

Media

The Shooting Range #75 - Pages of History section at 08:00 discusses the Ki-44.

See also

• Ki-44-I
• Ki-44-II otsu

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.