Japan's Mitsubishi Ki-30 bomber; Army Type 97
Allied code name: Ann

Photos

Mitsubishi Ki-30, "Ann" bomber:

Design

In 1935 the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force instituted a modernization plan and the Mitsubishi Ki-30 was a result of that program.¹ The Mitsubishi Ki-30 was the first light bomber to have a two row radial engine, internal bomb bay, flaps, and a constant speed propeller.¹

Undercarriage

Due to the mid wing design, the landing gear had to have long legs.¹ The original design had retractable landing gear, but due to complexity and added weight it was decided to have fixed legs that included spats.¹

Prototype

The Ki-30 prototype first flew on February 28, 1937.¹

Production

• Prototypes: 2¹
• Service trial: 16¹
  • Built in 1937¹
• Ki-30: 686¹
  • Mitsubishi: March 1938 - April 1940: 618¹
  • Tachikawa Army Air Arsenal: 1939 - September 1941: 68¹
• Total: 704¹
  • Produced by: Mitsubishi¹, Tachikawa Army Air Arsenal¹

Variants

• Prototype: Had Mitsubishi Ha-6 radial 14 (825 HP) engine.¹

Usage

Japan and Thailand used the Ki-30.¹

China

The first use of the Ki-30 was in China in 1938.¹

Philippines

The Ki-30s were used extensively in the Philippine campaign of 1942.¹

Thai Air Force

The Thai Air Force received nine Ki-30s.¹ They used them in January 1941 against the French Vichy forces in French Indo-China.¹

Specifications

	Mitsubishi Ki-301
Type	Light bomber1
Crew	21
Engine (Type)	Nakajima Ha-5 KAI1
Cylinders	Radial 141
Cooling
Net HP	9601
Propeller blades	31
Dimensions
Span	47' 8.75"1 14.55 m1
Length	33' 11"1 10.34 m1
Height	11' 11.75"1 3.65 m1
Wing area
Weight
Empty	4,916 lb1 2,230 kg1
Loaded	7,324 lb1 3,322 kg1
Performance
Speed @ 13,120' / 4,000 m	263 mph1 423 kph1
Cruising speed	236 mph1 380 kph1
Climb	1,640'/minute1 500 m/minute1
Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m	10.6 minutes1
Service ceiling	28,120'1 8,570 m1
Range	1,056 miles1 1,700 km1
Armament
Wings	2: 7.7 mm MG1
Rear cockpit	1: 7.7 mm MG1
Bomb load	882 lb1 400 kg1