Japan's Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (swallow) fighter
Allied code name: Tony
Photos
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, "Tony" fighter: |
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, "Tony" fighter: |
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, "Tony" fighter, downed near Nuku, New Guinea: |
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Kawasaki Ki-61-I KAIc Hien "Tony", on Okinawa: National Archives |
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Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, "Tony" fighter: |
Design
Takeo Doi and Shin Owada had worked with Richard Vogt, a German, that influenced that design of the Kawasaki Ki-61.1,5
The Ki-61 was the only liquid cooled fighter to enter Japanese service.1,4
The Ki-61 Hien also pioneered the used of self sealing fuel tanks and armor.1
Engine
The Kawasaki Ha-40 engine was a licence built Daimler-Benz DB 601A.1,2,3,4,5 The license was obtained in April 1940.3,4
The oil cooler radiator had an intake under the main wings.1 The Ha-40 was an inverted V inline.2
Propeller
The propeller was a constant speed three blade that was similar to the Messerschmitt Bf 109.1
Tail wheel
The Ki-61-I had a retractable tail wheel, however, this was replaced by a fixed tail wheel in later models to simplify production.1
Prototype
Takeo Doi and Shin Owada built the first prototype.4 The first prototype was completed in December 1941.1,2,3,4
The Ki-61-II was first flown in December 1943.3
Production
At Kagamigahara, the production of the Kawasaki Ki-61-I KAIc peaked at 254 per month in July 1944.1
After the factory was bombed that produced the engines for the Ki-61, the Ki-100 was developed to take a radial engine.1
- Kawasaki Ki-61 prototypes: 123
- Kawasaki Ki-61-I: 1,2742, 1,3003, 1,3805
- Kawasaki Ki-61-I KAI: 1,2743,5
- Kawasaki Ki-61-II and Kawasaki Ki-61 II KAI prototypes and pre production: 383
- Kawasaki Ki-61-II: 3742
- Kawasaki Ki-61-II KAI: 3743,5
- Production: September 1944 - ?3
- Kawasaki Ki-61-II engineless airframe: 2753
- Total: 1,3802, 3,0781,3,4
- Manufacturer: Kawasaki Kokuki Kogyo K.K.4
- Production: ? - 19451, August 1942 - August 19454
Variants
- Kawasaki Ki-61-I: First used in April 1943.2
- Kawasaki Ki-61-Ia: Had machine guns in nose.3 Later cannons were added in wings.3
- Kawasaki Ki-61-Ib: Had machine guns in nose.3 Later cannons were added in wings.3
- Kawasaki Ki-61-Ic: Had wing cannons standard.3
- Kawasaki Ki-61-I KAIc: Had a pair of 20 mm cannons in nose to help it shoot down bombers.2,5 Appeared in January 1944.4
- Kawasaki Ki-61-I KAId: Had a pair of 30 mm cannons in nose to help it shoot down bombers.2,5
- Kawasaki Ki-61-II: Had a Ha-140 (1,500 HP) engine.1,2,3,5 The engine's crankshaft was prone to breaking.1 Newly designed canopy and larger wings.1 Test flights showed handling problems.1 Had a top speed of 379 mph / 610 kph.2,5
- Kawasaki Ki-61-II KAI: Wing was larger.3 The rudder was bigger.3 Engine was unreliable.3 Appeared in September 1944.4 Had 1,500 HP engine.4
- Kawasaki Ki-61-III: Rear fuselage was lower.2 Canopy was 360°.2
Usage
The Ki-61 Hien started to reach front line units in 1942.1
Deliveries started in February 1943.3
The Ki-61 Hien was was used in New Guinea, the Philippines, Rabaul, and the Japanese home islands.1
First Operational Sentais
The 68th and 78th Sentais received their Ki-61s in April 1943 while stationed in New Guinea.2,5
Nationalist China
The Chinese used captured aircraft in the Nationalist's air force.1
Comparisons
In the summer of 1942 a Bf 109E, Ki-43-II, Ki-44-I, and a P-40E were tested against the Ki-61 and it outperformed all of them.4
Sentais
By the end of World War II there were 13 Sentais that were equipped with the Ki-61.2
High Altitude Interceptor
The Ki-61 / Ki-61 II5 was one of the few fighters that could intercept B-29s at altitude.4,5
Specifications
| Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, "Tony"3 | Kawasaki Ki-61-I Hien, "Tony"3,4 | Kawasaki Ki-61-I KAIc Hien, "Tony"1,2,5 | Kawasaki Ki-61-II Hien, "Tony"3 | |
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| Type | Figher3 | Fighter3,4 | Fighter1,2,5 | Fighter3 |
| Crew | 13 | 13,4 | 11,2,5 | 13 |
| Engine (Type) | Kawasaki Ha-403,4 | Kawasaki Ha-40 piston1,2,5 | Kawasaki Ha-1403,5 | |
| Cylinders | Inverted V 123, V 124 | Inverted V-121, Inline2, Inverted inline V 125 | Inverted V 123 | |
| Cooling | Liquid4 | Liquid1 | ||
| Net HP | 1,1753,4 | 1,1801,2,5 | 1,5003,5 | |
| Propeller blades | 33 | 31,2 | 33 | |
| Fuel capacity - wings | 44 gallons1 165 liters1 |
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| Fuel capacity - drop tanks (under each wing) |
53 gallons1 200 liters1 |
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| Dimensions | ||||
| Span | 39' 4"4, 39' 4.5"3 12 m3 |
36' 4"1, 39' 4.4"5, 39' 4.5"2 12 m1,2,5 |
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| Length | 28' 8"4, 28' 8.5"3 8.75 m3 |
29' 4"1,2,5 8.94 m1,2,5 |
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| Height | 12' 2"3,4 3.71 m3 |
12' 1.7"5, 12' 1.75"2, 12' 2"1 3.7 m1,2,5 |
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| Wing area | 215 ft2 1, 215.3 ft2 2,5 20 m2 1,2,5 |
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| Weight | ||||
| Empty | 4,872 lb3 2,210 kg3 |
5,786 lb1, 5,798 lb2,5 2,630 kg1,2,5 |
6,261 lb3 2,840 kg3 |
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| Loaded | 6,504 lb4, 7,165 lb3 3,250 kg3 |
7,634 lb1, 7,650 lb2,5 3,470 kg1,2,5 |
8,432 lb3 3,825 kg3 |
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| Performance | ||||
| Speed | 379 mph2,5 610 kph2,5 |
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| Speed @ 13,976' / 4,260 m |
367 mph5 590 kph5 |
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| Speed @ 13,980' / 4,260 m |
366 mph2 590 kph2 |
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| Speed @ 16,400' / 4,260 m |
366 mph1 590 kph1 |
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| Speed @ 15,945' / 4,860 m |
368 mph3,4 592 kph3 |
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| Climb to 16,400' / 5,000 m |
7 minutes1 | |||
| Climb to 16,404' / 5,000 m |
7 minutes5 | |||
| Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m |
5.5 minutes3 | 7 minutes2 | ||
| Service ceiling | 37,730'4, 38,060'3 11,600 m3 |
32,808'5, 32,810'2, 33,000'1 10,000 m1,2,5 |
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| Range | 684 miles3,4 1,100 km3 |
360 miles1, 1,118 miles5, 1,120 miles2 580 km1, 1,800 km2,5 |
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| Armament | 4: MG4 | |||
| Nose | 2: 12.7 mm3 | 2: 20 mm Ho-51,2,5 1: 12.7 mm Type 1 (Ho-103)1 |
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| OR | 20 mm3 | |||
| Wings | 2: 7.7 mm MG3 | 2: 12.7 mm Type 12,5 | ||
| OR | 2: 12.7 mm MG3 | |||
| OR | 2: 20 mm3 | |||
| OR | 2: 30 mm3 | |||
| Bombs - under wing (a few models) | 2: 551 lb3 2: 250 kg3 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- World War II Airplanes Volume 2, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
