Kawasaki Ki-102

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Kawasaki Ki-102b assault plane Mobel b
Kawasaki Ki-102b assault plane Mobel b

The Kawasaki Ki-102 was a Japanese warplane of World War II. It was a twin-engined, two-seat, long-range heavy fighter developed to replace the Ki-45 Toryu. Three versions were planned: the Ki-102a day fighter, Ki-102b ground attack and Ki-102c night fighter.This aircraft's Allied reporting name was Randy.

It entered service in 1944, but saw limited action. The main type(102b) was kept in reserve to protect Japan, although it did see some limited duty in the Okinawa campaign. It was kept out of front line service because it was hoped that it would be the carrier of the Igo-1-B air-to-ground guided missile when the Allied invasion of Japan occurred.

Contents

[edit] Versions

Ki-102
prototypes, 3 built
Ki-102a
Externally similar to the 102b, but with turbosuperchargers that enabled the engine to maintain its' rating at higher altitudes. 57mm cannon was swapped in favor of a 37mm cannon, and the 12.7 rear gun was deleted, 26 built.
Ki-102b
Ground-attack variant similar to prototypes, except with revised tail wheel, 207 built.
Ki-102c
Night Fighter version with lengthened fuselage and span. Radar under a Plexiglas dome, oblique firing 20mm cannons, and the 20mm cannons in the belly replaced with 30mm cannons completed the package, 2 built.
Ki-108
High-altitude fighter prototype with pressurised cabin, two conversions from Ki-102b aircraft using the structural improvements used on the 102c.

[edit] Specifications (Ki-102b)

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 11.45 m (37 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 15.57 m (51 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 3.70 m (12 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 34 m² (366 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 4,950 kg (10,900 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 7,300 kg (16,000 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2× Mitsubishi Ha-112-II Ru 14-cylinder radial engine, 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) each

Performance

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 1× 57 mm (2.24 in) Ho-401 cannon~replaced in the 102a with a 37mm cannon, deleted in the 102c
    • 2× 20 mm (0.787 in) Ho-5 cannon~replaced in the 102c with 30mm cannons
    • 1× 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Ho-103 machine gun~deleted in the 102a and 102c
  • Stores= 2 200 litre drop tanks or 2 551 lb bombs

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Francillon, René (1970). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Naval Institute Press, page 137. 

[edit] Bibliography

  • Green, William. Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (seventh impression 1973). ISBN 0-356-01447-9.

[edit] See also

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Japanese Army Aircraft Designation System

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