Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa

Summary

Ki-43 Hayabusa or " standard hunter 1" or " oscar" was a hunter of the Army Japanese, cousin of famous the Zero of the marine. It was conceived at the same period according to same philosophy and used the same equipment: engine, weapons etc… Ki-43 was a well born apparatus, learning the lessons from “the incident of Nomonhan”: a fast war with Russia in 1937. Ki-43 thus succeeded the Ki-27 with the fixed landing gear. Philosophy was to support at all costs the handiness with the detriment of protection of the pilot and the vital elements of the apparatus. The structure was light, easily flammable and even the armament was limited to two light machine-guns as on Ki-27. This deficiency was amélioréé but never Ki-43 did not have an adequate armament.

Of 975ch initial, 1150ch were reached thereafter, but the performances increased less quickly than that of its allied adversaries. The extraordinary handiness is not enough any more, and, in its defensive role, Ki-43 became the prey. Remain that this apparatus was a frightening weapon when it was led by pilots aguerris. But these men started to miss as of years 42-43 and they were beginners whom one sent to the combat in 1944, sometimes even without forecast of return. As his/her cousin the Zero with which it will be often confused, Ki-43 was manufactured until the end of the war whereas it was completely exceeded because of the frightening conservatism of the executives of the Army, always convinced that the war would be short. There were many versions of this light and handy hunter. You will find the details in the continuation of the article.

History in detail

The preliminary draft of the Army took in December 1937 a hunter able to reach 500km/h, able to reach 5000m in 5 minutes, an operating range of 800km and an armament of 2 machine-guns of 7,7mm. Moreover, the handiness must be at least as good as that of Ki-27 (a reference on the matter). Nakajima made steal one year later the first prototype. The apparatus was quickly developed and the performances with engine ha-25 of 14 cylinders in double star of 925ch and a two-bladed propeller with fixed chock achieved the goals, but the test pilots of the Army were not satisfied of the handiness. They estimated that the returning train was an useless luxury and that its overweight limited the performances in combat. It should be said that one was still at the time of the nostalgia of the biplanes! It should be noted that engine ha-25 was the twin brother of the NK1C Sakae 12 that the Navy used on the Zero. This engine Re-was indicated 12 in unified designation inter-arm with the end of the conflict.

However, the Army, trustful in the program supported the development and from the prototypes accepted an armament of 2 machine-guns of cap of 12,7 mm as well as engine ha-105 of 1150ch: the version with compressor on two floors of the ha-25 - that is to say 21 - as well as a cockpit similar to the specimens of production. shutters of combat were installed on wings moreover large surface. The performances of handiness were finally considered to be good by the test pilots.

Ki-43-I

The Army considered the prototype good for the service and ordered the production under the name of `Chasseur of the Standard Army 1, model 1A' (either Ki-43-Ia) and 一式戦闘機. The engine was 950ch Type 99 radial, version of series of the tared ha-25 with 980ch au takeoff. The propeller was quickly replaced by a model with two steps.

The 59e and 64e Sentai (squadrons the Army) were sent in China for tests in real conditions.

The version - Ib appeared quickly with one of the machine-guns Type 89 of cap replaced by a Type 1 (Ho-103) of 12,7mm.

The version - Ic had two machine-guns of 12.7mm.

Ki-43 quickly became the terror of the P-40 and the P-39 because of its amazing handiness and of the very good level of the pilots of the Army at the beginning of the war. Lighter and less expensive than a6M2 of the Navy and often confused with him, Ki-43 behaved well with the combat in spite of its armament (very) light and its congenital tares: fragile structure, not of shielding. Ki-43 was coded `Oscar' in the Pacific and `Jim' in China before the US intelligence services understand that it was about the same plane. Only the denomination `Oscar' will survive. The Japanese called it `Hayabusa': " 隼 " peregrine falcon.

Ki-43-II

In November 1942 appeared Ki-43-II. It was Ki-43-I equipped with the engine of 1150ch Type 1, more known under the name of ha-115 and of a three-bladed propeller at constant speed. As for the Zero with the passage to the same engine on a6M3, the cone of propeller and especially driving hooding were redrawn because the air intake of the compressor was with the top of the engine and either with the lower part. Moreover, the second stage of the compressor was longer. The wings were slightly redrawn with less scale. A summary protection of the pilot (dorsal steel plate) and doubled tanks were installed. Minor modifications appeared with version - IIb: oil radiator, bails out of carburettor modified, displacement of the fasteners of tanks and supports of bombs outside the train. The armament remained the same one as the version - Ic.

Ki-43-II KAI

The following version was Ki-43-II-KAI (`Kaizo': 改 meaning modified), it used propelling pipes of exhaust to improve speed slightly. Invisible modifications on the level of the assembly were applied.

Ki-43-III

It was still necessary to increase the performances of Ki-43-II. Also, the engine Nakajima ha-115-II tared with 1190ch au takeoff and 1230ch with 2800m were installed. Maximum speed passed from 530 to 576 km/h. This version, Ki-43-IIIa was produced between May 1944 and August 1945 by Tachikawa. In spite of these improvements, it then was completely exceeded by the apparatuses combined as by the new Japanese planes (Ki-61, Ki-84, Ki-100).

Projects

To improve the performances once again, the Tachikawa company which built already Ki-43-II and it - IIIa decided to adapt the engine Mitsubishi ha-112 or 42 (or Kinsei 42 for the Navy) 14 cylinders in double star of 1300ch au takeoff. The armament of this alternative undergoes finally a notable evolution since it passed to 2 guns Ho-5 of 20mm. Only 2 prototypes were built during the summer 1945.

Colors

Many types of camouflage were applied to Ki-43 as with the other planes of the Army. The first specimens color aluminum were then mouchetés of green tasks. On certain planes, the top was uniformly green and the lower part either aluminum polished, or clear gray. Yellow bands of identification on the leading edges appararurent at the beginning of the war.

Badges of units often very indicators were applied to the fuselage and the drift. Ki-43 is undoubtedly the apparatus more decorated with this period.

There was a camouflage with tons maroon not very widespread used in China.

Production

It was produced with approximately 6000 specimens, throughout the Second world war. Equipping up to thirty felt and twelve fell.

Production of Ki-43-I: 716 specimens

Production of Ki-43-II and Ki-43-IIKAI: approximately 5000 specimens

Production of Ki-43-IIIa: a few hundreds of specimens. The exact figure is unknown because Tachikawa did not detail its production of Ki-43-II and III.

Users

Japanese Armée
It was also provided to the governments projaponais, of the Siam, the Manzhouguo and Wang Jingwei.
Certain specimens captured in Indo-China, by the French were used by those in their fight against the Viet Minh (GC I/7 and II/7).
Indonesia (war of decolonization against the Netherlands)

Alternatives

Ki-43 prototypes, driving Nakajima ha-25 of 950ch, 2 machine-guns Type 89 of 7,7mm
Ki-43 preproduction
Ki-43 Ia Hayabusa, hunter of the type 1 of the army
Ki-43 Ib armed with a machine-gun Ho-103 of 12,7 mm and a Type 89 of 7,7mm
Ki-43 Ic armed with two machine-guns Ho-103 with 12,7 mm
Ki-43 II prototypes, driving ha-115 of 1150ch, three-bladed propeller
Ki-43 IIa carrying possible of 500 kg bombs.
Ki-43 IIb modifications minors, addition of a radio.
Ki-43 II KAI modified structure
Ki-43 III prototypes with an engine ha-115-II of 1230 cv with 2800m
Ki-43 IIIa series with an engine ha-115-II
Ki-43 IIIb driving Mitsubishi 42 (or ha-112) of 1300ch, armed with two guns Ho-5 of 20 mm

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