Japan's Mitsubishi Ki-46 reconnaissance; Army Type 100
Allied code name: Dinah

Photos

Mitsubishi Ki-46, "Dinah" reconnaissance aircraft:	Mitsubishi Ki-46, "Dinah" reconnaissance aircraft:
Mitsubishi Ki-46-II, "Dinah" reconnaissance aircraft:

Design

In December 1937 the Japanese Army asked Mitsubishi to develop a long range reconnaissance aircraft.³ It need to be able to go 250 mph from 13,500' to 20,000', fly 375 mph at 13,500', and fly for six hours.³

The Mitsubishi Ki-46 was designed by Tomio Kubo in 1938.^1,3 He also used the Aeronautical Research Institute of the University of Tokyo to help with the aerodynamics of the Ki-46.³

Prototype

The Ki-46 prototype first flew in November 1939.^1,2,3 During tests it was found that the prototype meet all the Army's requirements except for speed.³ Even with this deficiency it was ordered for production.³

Production

Production ended in 1945.²

• Mitsubishi Ki-46-I: 34²
• Mitsubishi Ki-46-II: 1,093^1,2,3
  • Models first came off production line in March 1941¹
• Mitsubishi Ki-46-III: 609¹, 611²
  • First flew in December 1942.²
  • Ki-46-III KAI first flew in October 1944.²
  • Production: Early 1943³
• Mitsubishi KI-46-IV: 4^2,3
• Total: 1,742^2,3
  • Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K.³
  • Production: July 1941 - September 1945³

Variants

• Mitsubishi Ki-46-I: Prototype.¹ Production.²
• Mitsubishi Ki-46-II: Production.¹ Had two stage supercharged engines.^1,2 The superchargers enhanced performance at altitude.²
• Mitsubishi Ki-46-II KAI: Radio navigation trainer.²
• Mitsubishi Ki-46-III: New exhaust system to improve thrust.¹ Direct fuel injection.^1,2 Increased fuel.^2,3 Forward fuselage was redesigned.^2,3 Cockpit was elongated that eliminated the step in the nose.^1,2
• Mitsubishi Ki-46-III KAI: Interceptor.² Cannon in nose.²
• Mitsubishi Ki-46-IIIb: Ground attack.²
• Mitsubishi Ki-46-IV: Had turbo charged Mitsubishi Ha-112 engines.²

Usage

The Ki-46 was the most important reconnaissance aircraft of the Japanese.² It was so highly regarded that the Germans attempted to get a manufacturing licence.²

Before the War

In the months leading up to World War II, Ki-46s were used to fly over Malaya to reconnoiter the invasion areas.^1,2

Fast for Long Distance

Two Ki-46-IVs flew 1,400 miles at an average speed of 438 mph in February 1945.³

Specifications

	Mitsubishi Ki-46-I Prototype1	Mitsubishi Ki-46-I2	Mitsubishi Ki-46-II1,2,3	Mitsubishi Ki-46-III1,2	Mitsubishi Ki-46-III KAI2
Type		Reconnaissance2	Reconnaissance2,3	Reconnaissance1,2	High altitude interceptor2
Crew		22	22,3	21,2	22
Engine (Type)	2: Mitsubishi Ha-26-I1	2: Mitsubishi Ha-26-I2	2: Mitsubishi Ha-1021,2,3	2: Mitsubishi Ha-112-II1,2
Cylinders			Radial1, Radial 142,3	Radial1, Radial 142
Cooling			Air3
Net HP	900 each1	900 each2	1,050 each3, 1,080 each1,2	1,500 each1,2,3
Propeller blades			3 each2	3 each1
Dimensions
Span		48' 2.75"2 14.7 m2	48' 2"3, 48' 2.75"2 14.7 m2	48' 2.25"1 14.7 m1	48' 2.25"2 14.7 m2
Length		36' 1"2 11 m2	36' 1"2,3 11 m2	36' 1"1 11 m1	37' 8.25"2 11.49 m2
Height		12' 8.75"2 3.88 m2	12' 8"3, 12' 8.75"2 3.88 m2	12' 8.75"1 3.88 m1	12' 8.75"2 3.88 m2
Wing area				344.44 ft2 1 32 m2 1
Weight
Empty			7,194 lb2 3,263 kg2	8,446 lb1,2 3,831 kg1,2
Loaded			11,133 lb3, 12,787 lb2 5,800 kg2	14,330 lb1,2 6,500 kg1,2
Performance
Speed	335 mph1 529 kph1		375 mph1 604 kph1
Speed @ 19,030' / 5,800 m			375 mph2,3 603 kph2
Speed @ 19,685' / 6,000 m				391 mph1,2 629 kph2, 630 kph1
Climb to 26,250' / 8,000 m			18 minutes2	20.25 minutes1, 20.3 minutes2
Service ceiling			35,170'2,3 10,720 m2	34,450'1,2 10,500 m1,2
Range			1,537 miles2,3 2,473 km2	2,485 miles1,2 4,000 km1,2
Armament			1: MG3
Nose				2: 20 mm Ho-51	1: 37 mm2 2: 20 mm2
Rear cockpit		1: 7.7 mm MG2	1: 7.7 mm MG2