| Ki-48 | |
|---|---|
| Kawasaki Ki-48 | |
| Role | Light bomber |
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki |
| Designer | Takeo Doi |
| Introduction | 1940 |
| Retired | 1945 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Imperial Japanese Army Air Force |
| Number built | 1,997 |
The Kawasaki Ki-48, 九九式双発軽爆撃機 'Sokei', Army Type 99 Twin-engined Light Bomber, was a Japanese twin-engine light bomber that was used during World War II. Its Allied reporting name was "Lily".
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The development of the aircraft began at the end of 1937 at the request of the Japanese military high command. Kawasaki received an order to develop a "high-speed bomber" capable of 480 km/h (300 mph) at 3,000 m (9,840 ft), and able to reach 5,000 m (16,400 ft) within 10 minutes. It was inspired by the Soviet Tupolev SB.
Kawasaki had the advantage of the experience of designing the Ki-45 twin-engined heavy fighter. Most technical problems were solved; however the aircraft had a number of defects. It could carry only a 800 kg (1,760 lb) bombload (less than the single-engined Hawker Typhoon fighter-bomber) and was equipped only with three machine guns, which made it very vulnerable to enemy fighters. The flight characteristics of the Ki-48 also left much to be desired. Allied fighters caught up in speed, and eventually, the Ki-48 was too slow to outrun them. Thanks to the fact that the first versions were under-armoured, the Ki-48 could loop and turn with an experienced pilot at the controls. The aircraft was often used as a dive bomber in Burma. The aircraft was not necessarily a failure, and was considered an acceptable light bomber for the first few years of the war by many historians.
The aircraft served in China from late 1940, replacing the Kawasaki Ki-32, and were widely used in the Philippines, Malaya, Burma, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the Dutch East Indies, where the Ki-48 Ia and Ib models, slow and badly armed, were supplemented by the marginally improved Ki-48 IIa and IIc, which were maintained in service along the older types until the end of the war.
All models continued in service until the Battle of Okinawa during April 1945, when many were converted into kamikaze aircraft (Ki-48-II KAI Tai-Atari) armed with an 800 kg (1,760 lb) bomb.
The fact that all models continued in service until 1945 reflects that many Ki-48s survived more often than not. This was due to the use of small ship formations (3–10 aircraft) escorted by large numbers of fighters (25–75), typically Nakajima Ki-43s. Though not as fast as more modern fighters, after 1942 the plane was still quick enough to enable it to avoid interception.
The British Pacific Fleet departed from Ceylon on 16 January 1945 en route to Australia, and struck Japanese-held oil wells and refineries at Palembang, Sumatra on 24–29 January 1945 in Operation Meridian.
On 29 January, seven Kawasaki Ki-48 of the Army's Shichisi Mitate Tokubetsu Kōgeki Tai counter-attacked the Allied fleet at low level as the British aircraft were returning from Palembang. The British radar picture was confused by the presence of over 100 friendly aircraft and the first two or three Supermarine Seafire CAP interceptions did not occur until just before the Ki-48 entered the air defence zone. The last pair of Seafires chased the five remaining Ki-48s inside the screen, and with the support of returning F4U Corsairs and F6F Hellcats which had just been scrambled, shot down all of them amongst intense AA fire. One Seafire was slightly damaged and one Hellcat was written off by friendly fire, but the only ship to be damaged was the carrier HMS Illustrious, hit by heavy AA shells.
Such success, minor by Pacific fighting standards at the time, gave the British Pacific Fleet useful expertise and confidence in its ability to deal with kamikaze attacks.
In the China Aviation Museum in Datangshan there is repica of a Kawasaki Ki-48 in Chinese Liberation Army Air Force colours[1],[2]. The Indonesian Air Force Museum is also claimed to have a Ki-48 in its collection[3].
Data from Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft[6]; Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[7]; Kawasaki Ki.48-I/II Sokei in Japanese Army Air Force-CNAF & IPSF Service, Aircam No.32[8]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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