Japan's Nakajima Ki-27 fighter bomber; Army Type 97
Allied code name: Nate, Abdul

Photos

Nakajima Ki-27 fighter bomber:	Nakajima Ki-27 fighter bomber:	Nakajima Ki-27 fighter bomber:	Nakajima Ki-27b fighter bomber:
Nakajima Ki-27 fighter:

Design

Development of the Nakajima Ki-27 started in 1935.^1,2 The first built was a proof of concept aircraft called the PE.^1,4 Kawasaki (Ki-28) and Mitsubishi (Ki-33) also developed a competing prototypes.² The Ki-27 was selected as it was more manouverable.²

In the late 1930s the Nakajima Ki-27 was what most Japanese pilots wanted, a highly maneuverable fighting aircraft.¹ It was very popular before World War II.²

Fuselage

The fuselage was of all metal construction.¹ The Ki-27 had a stressed skin.¹

Undercarriage

The undercarriage was fixed.^1,3

Prototype

The PE first flew in July 1936.¹

Two of the Ki-27 prototypes first flew on October 15, 1936.¹ Ten pre production aircraft were ordered.²

Production

The first Ki-27a production aircraft was built in early 1938.¹

Manysu Hokoi Seizo KK (Manchurian Aeroplane Manufacturing Co.) started production in 1942.¹

• Nakajima PE: 1¹
• Nakajima Ki-27 prototypes and pre production: 12¹
• Nakajima Ki-27a, Type 97 Fighter Model A, and Nakajima Ki-27b: 3,384¹
  • Manufactured by: Nakajima (2,005)¹, Manysu Hokoi Seizo KK (1,379)¹
• Nakajima Ki-27 KAI: 2¹
• Total: 3,399^1,2,4
  • Manufacturer: Nakajima Hikoki K.K.², Nakajima (2,020)⁴, Mansyu (1,379)⁴
  • Production: 1937 - 1942², ? - 1942⁴

Variants

• Nakajima PE: Proof of concept.¹
• Nakajima Ki-27 prototype: Had a Nakajima Ha-1a radial engine (650 HP).¹
• Nakajima Ki-27 pre production: First appeared in late 1937.²
• Nakajima Ki-27a: Had a Nakajima Ha-1b engine.¹ Metal faired canopy.¹
• Nakajima Ki-27b: Clear canopy.^1,4 Light bombs under the center section of the wings.¹
• Nakajima Ki-27 KAI: Lighter weight.¹

Usage

Japan, Manchuria, and Thailand (12) used the Ki-27.¹

The Ki-27 first arrived in China in March 1938.^2,4 In the CBI (China Burma India) theater the Ki-27 was known as the "Abdul."²

Nomonham Incident

Against Russia in May - September 1940, during the Nomonham Incident, the Ki-27 pilots claimed 1,340 Russian aircraft shot down.¹ Revised figures place this to be actually around 200.¹

South West Pacific

In December 1941 the Ki-27s supported the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, Malaya Burma, and the Netherlands East Indies.^1,2

Secondary Roles

Once the Ki-27 was withdrawn from front line combat, they were used for defense of the Japanese home islands and training.¹

Kamikaze

As a kamikaze aircraft it could carry a 1,102 lb / 500 kg bomb.^1,2

Specifications

	Nakajima Ki-271	Nakajima Ki-27a1,4	Nakajima Ki-27b2
Type	Fighter bomber1	Fighter4	Fighter2
Crew	11	14	12
Engine (Type)	Nakajima Ha-1b1	Nakajima Ha-1b4	Nakajima Ha-1b2
Cylinders	Radial 91	Radial 94	Radial 92
Cooling			Air2
Net HP	7801	7104	7102
Propeller blades	21
Fuel capacity	156 gallons3
Dimensions
Span	35' 10"3, 37' 1.25"1 11.31 m1	37' 1.3"4 11.31 m4	37' 1"2
Length	24' 4"3, 24' 8.5"1 7.53 m1	24' 8.5"4 7.53 m4	24' 8"2
Height	8'3, 10' 8"1 3.25 m1	10' 8"4 3.25 m4	10' 8"2
Wing area	200 ft2 3	199.68 ft2 4 18.55 m2 4
Weight
Empty		2,447 lb1,4 1,110 kg1,4
Loaded	4,643 lb3	3,946 lb1,4 1,790 kg1,4	3,946 lb2
Maximum load	5,200 lb3
Performance
Speed @ 11,480' / 3,500 m	292 mph1 470 kph1		292 mph2
Speed @ 11,483' / 3,500 m		292 mph4 470 kph4
Cruising Speed	217 mph1 349 kph1
Climb	2,953'/minute1 900 m/minute1
Climb to 6,560' / 2,000 m	2.1 minutes1
Climb to 16,404' / 5,000 m		5.36 minutes4
Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m	5.4 minutes1
Service ceiling		40,190'4 12,250 m4
Range	390 miles1 627 kph1	1,063 miles4 1,710 km4	390 miles2
Range with drop tanks	1,060 miles1 1,705 km1
Armament	2: 7.7 mm MG3		2: MG2
Nose	2: 7.7 mm MG1	2: 7.7 mm Type 89 MG4
Bombs	4: 55 lb1 4: 25 kg1		220 lb2