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Published: 2011-12-01 02:21:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 907; Favourites: 18; Downloads: 48
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Description
Ki-61 HienCountry of Origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Kawasaki
Crew: 1 pilot
Length: 8.94 m (29 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 12.00 m (39 ft 4 in)
Height: 3.70 m (12 ft 2 in)
Weight: 2,630 kg (5,800 lb) empty, 3,470 kg (7,650 lb) combat loaded
Powerplant: 1x Turbosupercharged Kawasaki Ha-40 12 cylinder liquid cooled inline piston engine with 1,175 horsepower
Maximum Speed: 580 km/h (360 mph)
Service Ceiling: 11,600 m (38,100 ft)
Range: 1,600 km (720 mi)
Armament: 2x 20mm Ho-5 autocannons, 2x 12.7mm Ho-103 machineguns
Kit Maker and Scale: Hasegawa, 1:48
Representing a radical departure from what was then considered standard for Imperial Japanese military aircraft, the Ki-61 Hien (swallow) boasted a number of features that although never before designed into Japanese fighters, would later be added in as the Second World War dragged on.
The most immediately noticeable feature is its liquid cooled inline engine. The Hien was one of only two Japanese military aircraft to boast an inline engine (the other was the D4Y-1 Suisei) and it was this, combined with its basic airframe lines that lead the Allies to mistake the Hien for a German built Me-109 painted in Japanese markings when they were first encountered. A short while later, a closer look (in combat) revealed it to have a more Italian look about it, to some it appeared to be an M.C. 202. Due to this, the Hien received the Allied codename Tony. It wasn't until later on, when a number of Hiens were examined up close following the capture of an airfield that it was revealed to be an original Japanese design.
Another set of features also contributed to Allied misinformation on the Hien's origin....armour plating, self sealing fuel tanks, and dedicated pilot protection. Up until the Hien's entry into combat, all Japanese aircraft had been lightweight aircraft that sacrificed armour and other protective features to increase agility, as well as to partially compensate for a generation of somewhat underpowered engines. The Hien's engine was a license built copy of the German DB-601 as used in several variants of the Me-109 and its increased power allowed the Japanese to install the much needed defensive measures. Although agility did drop off a bit compared to what the Japanese had been accustomed to, the Hien was still a very nimble machine, easily able to match its German and Italian comrades and just as importantly, its U.S. and British enemies.
Put to use as an interceptor, the Hien took advantage of its uprated engine and would attack U.S. and later British bomber groups. Featuring good zoom capability, the Hien was easily able to get into the needed attack position and fire on the bombers, while its defensive attributes allowed it to weather abuse from the bomber's gun turrets that would have blown apart its light weight siblings. As a dogfighter the Hien was first rate; the P-40 Warhawk was completely outclassed, even its diving abilities, invaluable against Zeros and Oscars, was not enough to get the aircraft away from an attacking Hien. Hawker Hurricanes fared about the same as the Warhawk, and it took the Spitfire and the Mustang to really give the Hien a competent opponent.
Overall, the Hien was a reliable, thoroughly competent machine and relatively trouble free; the only real source of problems came from the engine, which had a tendency to overheat while idling on the ground and the occasional oil circulation issue.
More Pics:
Kill Markings:
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Head on:
[link]
Planform:
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7 o'clock:
[link]
Landing gear, radiator and port 20mm cannon:
[link]
6 o'clock:
[link]
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Comments: 8
your description said this plane took down British bombers, so when did the british fight the japanese?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
From the outset of World War II.
Most of the British forces were committed to the Atlantic Theater, but there were British forces in the Pacific as well. Many British forces were based in Austrailia and New Zealand.
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really? i thoguht the h only fought nazis
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yup.
Britain fought the Japanese as well.
And Japanese kamikazes...did little to no damage to British carriers. American carriers had wooden flight decks, which the bomb laden kamikazes could punch through. British carriers had armoured flight decks made out of steel. Although kamikazes could damage aircraft on deck and start fires, they did little damage to the ship itself.
One report from a British carrier hit by a Kamikaze stated that "once the fire was out and we pushed the wreakage overboard, there was no indication of an aircraft strike at all, aside from a black scorch mark on the deck".
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
it seems the u.s. was behind in technology during world war 2...
next you'll be saying the RUSSIANS fought the japanese
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
In some areas, just a bit. The U.S. advanced pretty quickly though. And throughout the war, one place where U.S. aircraft excelled was durability. U.S. aircraft were known for being tough.
The Soviets did fight the Japanese, after the Germans surrendered on May 8, 1945. It was more or less just a "symbolic" fight though, the Japanese were all but finished by then. Basically, they wanted revenge for the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, and it helped take maybe a month or two off how long the Japanese could last. But in all honesty, it was just something they did because they could.
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I have. Finished three airplanes in one night.
And thanks.
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