Kawasaki Ki-3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ki-3 | |
|---|---|
 Kawasaki Ki-3 |
|
| Type | bomber |
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō KK |
| Maiden flight | 1933 |
| Introduced | 1934 |
| Primary user | IJA Air Force |
| Number built | 243 |
The Kawasaki Ki-3 (九三式単軽爆撃機 Kyūsan-shiki tankei bakugekiki?) was a light bomber aircraft built by Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō KK for the Imperial Japanese Army in the 1930s. It was the last biplane design bomber to be produced for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and saw combat service in Manchukuo and in north China during the early stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Contents |
[edit] Design & Development
The Ki-3 was a biplane design with staggered wings and fixed divided landing gear. It was powered by one 492 kW (660 hp) BMW VIII inline engine. Maximum speed was 259 km/h (160 mph) and maximum take-off weight 3097 kg (6827.7 lb). One 7.7mm machine gun was mounted to fire forward, synchronized with the propeller, and anther was mounted dorsally on a flexible mount. The maximum bomb load was 500 kg (1102 lb).
The Ki-3 originated as a private venture launched by Kawasaki to develop a dedicated reconnaissance aircraft. The prototype, designated KDA-6, was designed by the German engineer Dr. Richard Vogt, who was working in Japan at the time. Takeo Doi the future chief designer for Kawasaki, worked as Vogt's assistant on the project; Vogt later went on to become chief designer for Blohm und Voss.
Kawasaki built total of 203 aircraft and an additional 40 aircraft were built by Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd from September 1934-March 1935.
[edit] Operational history
The Kawasaki Ki-3 was initially designated “Army Type 93-1 Single-engine Light Bomber” under the former Japanese military aircraft nomenclature system. It flew in March 1933 and entered operational service initially with the 6th Composite Air Regiment in Korea. It subsequently was used in combat in Manchukuo and in north China during the initial stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War, where it could make use of its with good maneuverability to support ground troops. It was considered a rugged attack aircraft, but its liquid-cooled engine was a constant source of problems.
[edit] Variants
- Ki-3 (Army Type 93-1 Single-engine Light Bomber)
[edit] Operators
[edit] Military operators
[edit] Specifications (Ki-3)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 10 m (32 ft 9.6 in)
- Wingspan: 13 m (42 ft 7.8 in)
- Height: 3 m (9 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 38 m² (409 ft²)
- Empty weight: 1650 kg (3638 lb)
- Gross weight: 3097 kg (6828 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × BMW VIII liquid-cooled in-line engine, 492 kW (660 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 259 km/h (161 mph)
- Service ceiling: 7000 m (23,000 ft)
Armament
- 2x 7.7-mm (0.303-in) machine-guns
- 500 kg of bombs
[edit] References
- Francillon, Rene (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Putnam. AISN B000OK9ETY.
- Lake, Jon (2002). Great Book of Bombers. pp86: Zenith Press. ISBN 0760313474.
- Mikesh, Robert (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1557505632.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
|
|||||
|
||||||||||||||
