Fighter, Fighterbomber

Kawasaki Ki-45-KAI-Otsu “Toryu”(“Dragon Killer”, “Nick”), 4th Sentai, 2nd Chutai, (Hasegawa)

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TYPE: Twin-engined heavy fighter, ground attack aircraft

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and radio-operator/gunner

POWER PLANT: Two Mitsubishi Ha-102 radial engines, rated at 1,050 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 335 mph at 19,685 ft

COMMENT: The Kawasaki Ki-45-Kai Toryu was probably the most manoeuvrable twin-engined fighter to be employed operationally by any combatants during WW II.  Although outclassed in the air-to-air combat arena by Allied single-seat fighters, the Toryu was never to be considered an “easy kill” and it was to prove capable of out-manoeuvring the Lockheed P-38 “Lightning” without difficulty. Furthermore, the Ki-45 was very effective in ground attacks. A special version, the Ki-45-KAI-Otsu, was equipped with 20-mm Ho-3 cannon, too low-firing in air combat, but, as the Imperial Army enjoyed air superiority over the areas in which the Toryu was operating, it was found to be particularly efficacious in attacks on US Navy PT boats and other smaller vessels and in ground-attack role. In late 1943 the 20-mm Ho-3 cannon was replaced by a hand loaded 37-mm Type 98 gun, making this variant even more successful for close-support duties (Ref.: 5).

Fighter

Kawasaki Ki-108 (A + V Models, Resin)

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TYPE: Twin-engined high-altitude fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot in pressure cabin

POWER PLANT: Two Mitsubishi Ha-112-II Ru radial engines, rated at 1,500 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 360 mph at 32,810 ft

COMMENT: In early 1943 intelligence reports concerning progress in the USA with the B-29 Superfortress recognized the Imperial Army Air Service that itself might eventually find confronted by bombers cruising above the effective combat ceiling of its existing fighters. So a requirement was prepared for a specialized heavy interceptor fighter capable of operating at extreme altitudes. Kawasaki proposed a derivative of its Ki-102, work on which just had commenced, featuring a pressure cabin for the pilot. As work proceeded the project was assigned the designation Ki-108. Two prototypes were ordered and flight trials began in mid 1944. Concerning the pressure cabin, it was calculated than an equivalent pressure of 9,845 ft could be maintained up to an altitude of 32,810 ft, but there were serious misgivings concerning the vulnerability of such a cabin to battle damage. These were answered in somewhat unexpected fashion, for, during early flight tests, an insecure lock resulted in the entry hatch blowing out at an altitude of some 33,000 ft with an immediate loss of pressure in consequence. The pilot immediately dived the aircraft and landed safely, indicating that the effect of a bullet penetration the pressure cabin would not be particularly hazardous. Further modifications resulted in the Kawasaki Ki-108-KAI (Ref.: 5).

Fighter, Fighterbomber, Nightfighter

Kawasaki Ki-45-KAI-Ko “Toryu”, (“Dragon Killer”, “Nick”), 5th Sentai, 1st Chutai, (Hasegawa)

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TYPE: Twin-engined heavy fighter, ground attack aircraft and night fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and radio operator/gunner

POWER PLANT: Two Mitsubishi Ha-102radial engines, rated at 1080 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 373 mph at 9,186 ft

COMMENT: The primary task of the Kawasaki Ki-45 “Toryu” , it’s design dates back to the late 1930th , was long-range escort of bombers. But it took a long time until the first pre-series aircraft were completed and flight testing initiated. Soon it became clear that the model has to be revised. This new aircraft, Ki-45-KAI (Kaizo means modified) was in fact a totally new design and performed completely satisfactory during its initial flight tests. Orders for quantity production were placed and the first aircrafts reached units by August 1942. The increasing use by the USAAF of B-24 Liberators by night called for improvisation on the part of the Imperial Army as the service possessed no specialized night fighters. The Ki-45-KAI-Ko was a choice for the nocturnal role and a field modification resulted in installation of a pair of Ho-103 machine guns or Ho-5 cannon mounted obliquely to fire upward and forward at an angle of some 70 degrees. While lacking AI radar and being forced to rely on ground guidance to intercept intruders, with searchlight illuminating the quarry, the Toryu enjoyed some success as a night fighter (Ref.: 5).

Nightfighter

Kawasaki Ki-102-Hei (“Randy”) (A+V Models, Resin)

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TYPE: Twin-engined night and bad weather fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and radar observer

POWER PLANT: Two Mitsubishi Ha-112-11 Ru supercharged radial engines, rated at 1,500 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 373 mph at 32,800 ft

COMMENT: In November 1944, at the time that Kawasaki had received instructions to produce 20 pre-production Ki-102-Ko interceptors, the company had also been ordered to develop as a matter of urgency a specialized night fighter version of the basic design. This, the Ki-102-Hei, retained the turbocharged engines but featured a longer-span wing, a lengthened fuselage, redesigned tail surfaces, the relocation of the second cockpit further aft, and an armament of two 30 mm Ho-105 cannon. Work on centimetric AI radar based on German FuG 240 Berlin N-1a had meanwhile proceeding in Japan, and provision was made in the Ki 102-Hei to mount the concave antenna dish behind a plexiglas nose cone. The first of two Ki-102-Hei prototypes was scheduled to commence its flight test programme in July 1945, with the second following one month later. But in June, the Kawasaki plant was again hit by Boeing B-29 Superfortresses and both Ki-102-Hei prototypes were seriously damaged. Repairs were begun immediately but Japan’s surrender terminated further work (Ref.: 5).

Fighter

Kawasaki Ki-96 (A+V Models, Resin)

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TYPE: Twin engine heavy fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Two Mitsubishi Ha-12-11 radial engine, rated at 1,500 hp

PERFORMANCE: 391 mph at 31,170 ft

COMMENT: The great success of the Kawasaki Ki-45-KAI “Toryu” (“Dragon Slayer”, Allied code “Nick”) encouraged the Kawasaki Company to initiate work on a refined, more powerful derivative of the Ki-45. Compared with its forerunner an aerodynamically improved fuselage, a larger square-tipped vertical tail surface, and more powerful engines were provided. In 1943 work on the Ki-96 gained tempo and in September that year the first prototype was completed. In the meantime it became obvious that a second crew member was superfluous in a high-performance twin-engined fighter. So the second cockpit of the first prototype was faired over and the two other prototypes under construction were finished as single-seater. Flight test were most satisfactory, the Ki-96 combining good handling characteristics with performance exceeding design estimates. However, the Army’s interest in the potential of single-seat twin-engined fighters was to prove short-lived and consequently the Ki-96 had only a brief live as an aerodynamically prototype for the two-seat Kawasaki Ki-102 which supplanted it (Ref.: 1, 5).

Fighter, Projects

Heinkel “Lerche II” (“Lark II”) (Fruitbat, Resin)

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TYPE: Target defense interceptor. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only, in prone position

POWER PLANT: Two Daimler-Benz DB 603E inline engines, rated at 2.400 hp each, driving contra-rotating propellers

PERFORMANCE: 497 mph

COMMENT: This Heinkel Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) fighter/interceptor project was based on an earlier design, the Heinkel “Wespe” (Wasp). Work on the design started at the Heinkel Company in Vienna on February 25, 1945 and was completed on March 8, 1945. The “Lerche” (Lark) employed a ducted wing planform with contra-rotating propellers, powered by two Daimler-Benz DB 605E engines. This arrangement increased the effectiveness of the airscrews dramatically. During flight the pilot lied in a prone position in the extreme nose, while standing upright during take-off and landing. Projected armament was two MK 108 30mm cannon. The end of the war brought any realization to a termination. After the war this idea of a tail sitter was developed further by the US Navy, e. g. Convair XFY-1 Pogo and Lockheed XFV-1 Salmon (Ref.: 16).

Fighter, Fighterbomber

Republic P-47N-5-RE Thunderbolt, 19 FS, 318 FG (Heller)

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TYPE: Long-range escort fighter, fighter bomber,

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Pratt & Whitney R-2800-57C radial engine, rated at 2,800 hp

PERFORMANCE: 460 mph at 30,000 ft

COMMENT: The main role for the Republic P-47N was as an escort fighter for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers flying raids on the Japanese home islands. But in the final stage of the war the P-47N was used very successfully as a ground attacker. App. 1.100 P-47N’s were equipped with zero-length rocket launchers for six or 10 rockets, depending on whether or not bombs or drop tanks were carried under the wings.  In April 1945, the 318 Fighter Group was re-equipped on P-47N’s and operated from Ie Shima island, off the coast of Okinawa. Bombing and strafing missions were flown until the end of the hostilities (Ref.: 9).

Nightfighter, Projects

Messerschmitt Me P.1101 NJ (Nachtjäger, Night fighter, Dragon)

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TYPE: Night fighter. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Heinkel-Hirth HeS011 turbojet engine, rated at 1,300 kp

PERFORMANCE: 570 mph at 20,000 ft

COMMENT: This night fighter project Me P.1101 NJ (Nachtjäger, Night fighter (or  Me P.1101B-1) was derived from the Me P.1101A-1. It was equipped with Siemens/FFO FuG 218 J3 Neptun interception radar. Although the radar antennae (Hirschgeweihantenne, Stag’s Antlers) was rather small compared those of twin engine night fighters such as Junkers Ju 88C,  Ju 388J-1, or Focke-Wulf Ta 154 the maximum speed was reduced by about 40 mph. This project was never realized.

Fighter, Fighterbomber

Bell P-39D “Airacobra”, 36th FS, 8th FG (Airfix)

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TYPE: Fighter, fighter bomber

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Allison V-1710-35 liquid-cooled Vee engine with single-stage supercharger, rated at 1,150 hp

PERFORMANCE: 360 mph at 15,000 ft

COMMENT: The Bell P-39 “Airacobra” was one of the main American fighter aircraft in service when the United States of America entered the World War II. Designed by Bell Aircraft, it had an innovative layout, with the engine installed in the center fuselage, behind the pilot, and driving a tractor propeller via a long shaft. It was also the first fighter fitted with a tricycle undercarriage.  Although its mid-engine placement was innovative, the P-39 design was handicapped by the absence of an efficient turbo-supercharger, limiting it to low-altitude work. The XP-39 made its maiden flight on 6 April 1938 achieving 390 mph at 20,000 ft, reaching this altitude in only five minutes. A production order was placed and by the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, nearly 600 P-39s had been built. When P-39 production ended in August 1944, Bell had built 9,558. Most important variants were Bell P-39N and P-30Q, if which 4,773 have been built. The “Airacobra” saw combat throughout the world, particularly in the Southwest Pacific, Mediterranean and Russian theaters. But the “Airacobra” found itself outclassed as an interceptor and the type was gradually relegated to other duties. It often was used at lower altitudes for such missions as ground strafing (Ref.: 23).

Fighter, Projects

Messerschmitt Me P.1101A-1 with Kramer X-4 missiles (Dragon)

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TYPE: Fighter, interceptor. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Heinkel-Hirth HeS 011, rated at 1,300 kp

PERFORMANCE: 612 mph at 22,970 ft

COMMENT: However, there is some evidence that a further production version of the Me P.1101 was on Messerschmitt’s drawing boards. All over dimensions, turbojet engines, tricycle undercarriage etc. are unchanged to its predecessor, the wing was swept back to 40 degree and a normal or horizontal tail unit – “T-Tail” was provided. Cockpit armor was fitted and up to four Kramer X-4 air-to-air guided missiles could be carried.

RUHRSTAHL/KRAMER X-4

The Kramer X-4 was the first air-to-air guided missile that entered the production lines. It featured a tapering, cigar-shaped fuselage, with four small swept wings and four smaller tail fins. At the ends of two of the opposing wings were small pods which held the wires that unwound during the X-4’s flight. On the wing tips of the other two main wings were simple flares to aid the pilot in keeping the X-4 on the intended path. The tail unit contained small spoilers which could control the missiles pitch and yaw. Power was supplied by the BMW 109-548 liquid-fuel rocket engine with 1,600 kp thrust for 33 seconds. A warhead weighing 20 with a destructive blast radius of 25 feet was mounted in the nose of the missile, being detonated by the pilot, impact or by an acoustical proximity fuse, tuned to the pitch of the bomber’s propellers. First air launched test took place on August, 1944 by a Focke-Wulf  Fw 190. Tests continued through early February 1945, also by Junkers Ju 88s as well as by a Messerschmitt  Me 262 jet fighter with two X-4 missiles under the wings outboard of the jet nacelle, but were not launched  (Ref.: 16).