Mitsubishi Ki-46

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Mitsubishi Ki-46

Type	Twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi
Maiden flight	September, 1939
Introduced	July, 1941
Retired	1945
Primary user	Imperial Japanese Army, Imperial Japanese Navy
Number built	1,742

The Mitsubishi Ki-46 was a twin-engined reconnaissance plane used by the Japanese Imperial Army in World War II. Its Army designation was "Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft" (百式司令部偵察機); the Allied code name was "Dinah". This aircraft was first used by the Japanese Army in Manchuria and China, where seven units were equipped with it, and also at times by the Japanese Imperial Navy in certain reconnaissance missions over the north coasts of Australia and New Guinea.

The Japanese Army used this aircraft for the same type of missions (which were not authorized) over present-day Malaysia, during the months before the Pacific War. Later it was used over Burma, Indochina and Thailand; and in operations over the Indian Ocean area too.

In 1944-45, during the last days of the war, it was modified as a high altitude interceptor, with two 20 mm cannons in the nose and one 37 mm cannon in an "upwards-and-forwards" position, almost like the Luftwaffe's Schrage Musik night fighter cannon emplacements, for fighting against the USAAF B-29 over the metropolitan Japanese islands. It lacked stability for sustained shooting of the 37 mm weapon, was weakness in its armour, and was slow to climb.

Two Sentais (squadrons) and various Air Direct Command Squadron units were equipped. These aircraft were also used as aircraft of State Major Chutai (Command wing, similar to German Luftwaffe Air Stab) in the Japanese Army Air Service Squadrons during the Pacific War. The United States captured some examples during conflict for evaluations.Mitsubishi factories made a total of 1,742 examples of all versions (types I-IV) during 1941-44.

[edit] Versions

Ki-46 - Prototype.
Ki-46 I Type 100 - Reconnaissance version of the Army Type 100 (Mark I).
Ki-46 II (Mark 2) - The first operational model of the series.
Ki-46 II KAI - Three-seat training version of the Army Type 100. Used for radio and navegation training, with a redesign cabin, dorsal echeloned extension. Conversions of the Ki-46 II.
Ki-46 III - Prototype.
Ki-46 III - Reconnaissance version of Army Type 100 (Mark 3).
Ki-46 III KAI - Defense interceptor fighter version of the Army Type 100. Equipped with two 20 mm cannons, in the nose and one 37 mm cannon in the "Schräge Musik"-style dorsal frontal position.
Ki-46 III - Land strike version of the Army Type 100, without37 mm cannon armament.
ki-46 IIIb - Ground-attack version.
Ki-46 IIIc - Only an unbuilt project.
Ki-46 IV - Prototype, equipped with two 1119 kW (1,500-hp) Mitsubishi Ha-112-II RU engines, with a turbocompressor of 1,100 hp, and more gasoline store capacity.
Ki-46 IVa/b - Series models of reconnaissance/fighter aircraft, only unbuilt projects

[edit] Specifications (Ki-46-II)

General characteristics

Crew: 2 (pilot and observer)
Length: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 14.70 m (48 ft 3 in)
Height: 3.88 m (12 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 32.0 m² (344 ft²)
Empty weight: 3,830 kg (8,444 lb)
Loaded weight: kg (lb)
Max takeoff weight: 6,500 kg (14,330 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Mitsubishi Ha-102 14-cylinder radial engines, 807 kW (1,080 hp each) each