The Kawasaki Ki-10 (
Ki-10 | |
---|---|
Ki-10 Model 1 | |
Role | Fighter |
National origin | Japan |
Manufacturer | Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K. |
Designer | Takeo Doi |
First flight | March 1935 |
Introduction | 1935 |
Retired | 1942 |
Status | Retired |
Primary user | Imperial Japanese Army Air Force |
Number built | 588 |
Design and development
editThe Ki-10 was designed by Japanese aeronautical engineer Takeo Doi,[1] who had succeeded Richard Vogt as chief designer for Kawasaki. The design was in response to a requirement issued by the Imperial Japanese Army for a new fighter, and was the winner of a competition against Nakajima's Ki-11. Although the low-wing monoplane offered by Nakajima was more advanced, the Army preferred the more maneuverable biplane offered by Kawasaki. In order to overcome the speed disadvantage the Kawasaki team used a metal three-blade propeller in the third prototype, while flush-head rivets were used in an attempt to reduce drag.[2]
The Kawasaki design had unequal-span biplane wings, braced by struts, and with upper-wing ailerons.[1] The structure was of all-metal construction, which was then fabric-covered. Armament consisted of two 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 89 machine guns, synchronized to fire through the propeller. The initial production version was powered by a liquid-cooled 633 kW (850 hp) Kawasaki Ha9-IIa V-12.[citation needed]
Operations
editThe Ki-10 was deployed in Manchukuo (Manchuria) and in the initial campaigns of the Second Sino-Japanese War in northern China.[citation needed]
On September 21, 1937, Major Hiroshi Miwa, formerly hired as a military flight instructor for Zhang Xueliang's Fengtian Army air corps and well known in the Chinese military aviation circles of the time, commanded a flight of 7 Ki-10 fighters of the 1st Daitai-16th Hiko Rentai, on an escort of 14 Mitsubishi Ki-2 bombers to attack the city of Taiyuan where they encountered Chinese air force V-65C Corsairs and Curtiss Hawk IIs, shooting down a few, but Major Miwa himself was shot down and fatally wounded by Captain Chan Kee-Wong,[3] commander of the 28th Pursuit Squadron of the 5th Pursuit Group flying a Curtiss Hawk.[4]
By the time of the Nomonhan Incident (Battles of Khalkhin Gol) in 1939, the Ki-10 had become largely obsolete, and was being superseded by the Nakajima Ki-27.[5]
At the beginning of the Pacific War, the Ki-10 was retired to training and secondary missions, but later returned to front-line service, performing short-range patrol and reconnaissance missions in Japan proper and China in January–February 1942.[citation needed]
Variants
editdata from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[6]
- Ki-10 : Prototype for Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (4 built in early 1935).
- Ki-10-I (Army Fighter Type 95-I): Initial production version (300 built December 1935 - October 1937)
- Ki-10-II : Prototype of modified Mark I, increased in length (1 built May 1936)
- Ki-10-II (Army Fighter Type 95–2): Improved production version (280 built June 1937 - December 1938)
- Ki-10-I KAI : Prototype Ki-10-I with modifications to engine and radiator (1 built October 1936)
- Ki-10-II KAI : Prototype - Aerodynamic modification of Ki-10-II, now designated Ki-10-I-KAI, with 634 kW (850 hp) Kawasaki Ha9-IIb engine (2 built November 1937)
Total production: 588 units[6]
Operators
edit- Imperial Japanese Army Air Force[6]
- 1st Rentai IJAAF
- 4th Rentai IJAAF
- 5th Rentai IJAAF
- 6th Rentai IJAAF
- 8th Rentai IJAAF
- 11th Rentai IJAAF
- 13th Rentai IJAAF
- 4th Sentai IJAAF
- 9th Sentai IJAAF
- 33rd Sentai IJAAF
- 59th Sentai IJAAF
- 64th Sentai IJAAF
- 77th Sentai IJAAF
- Akeno Fighter Training School
Specifications (Ki-10-II)
editData from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War [6]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 10.02 m (32 ft 10 in)
- Height: 3 m (9 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 23 m2 (250 sq ft)
- Airfoil: NACA M-12[7]
- Empty weight: 1,360 kg (2,998 lb)
- Gross weight: 1,740 kg (3,836 lb)
- Powerplant: × Kawasaki Ha9-IIa V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 634 kW (850 hp)
- Propellers: 3-bladed fixed-pitch metal propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 400 km/h (250 mph, 220 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
- Service ceiling: 11,500 m (37,700 ft)
- Rate of climb: 16.67 m/s (3,300 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 75.7 kg/m2 (15.5 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.36 kW/kg (0.22 hp/lb)
Armament
- 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 89 machine guns
See also
editAircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Arado Ar 68
- Avia B-534
- Blériot-SPAD S.510
- Fairey Fantôme
- Fiat CR.32
- Gloster Gauntlet
- Hawker Fury
- Heinkel He 51
References
edit- Notes
- ^ a b Francillon 1979, p. 86.
- ^ Francillon 1979, p. 87.
- ^ 网易历史,
丘 智 贤 (2018-02-02). "广东队长太 原 击落日本 驱逐之 王 三 轮宽_手 机 网易网". NetEase. Retrieved 2020-11-21.1937
年 9月 21日 ,太 原 ,击落日 军著名 飞行员三轮宽的我空军第二十八队队长陈其光 (照 片 ) -支 那 事 变殊勋录刊 登之 日本 陆军航空 兵 中佐 三 轮宽 (照 片 )。 - ^ Gustavsson, Hakans. "Chinese biplane fighter aces - Chan Kee-Wong". Biplane Fighter Aces - China. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
Chan saw Miwa dive at him from above. Chan countered by pulling his nose up to face Miwa head-on. Anticipating that Miwa would need to pull out of his dive after they pass each other, Chan pulled into a tight chandelle. He was into his manoeuvre even before Miwa passed him head-on. As a result, Chan was able get turned around and was above and behind Miwa when he began to pull out of his dive... Chan shot up Miwa's Ki-10, sending it crashing into a field near Ta Meng.
- ^ "Ki-27 Fighter".
- ^ a b c d Francillon 1979, p. 89.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- Bibliography
- Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
- Green, William; Gordon Swanborough (1990). The Complete Book of Fighters. London: Greenwich Editions. ISBN 0-86288-220-6.
- Mikesh, Robert C.; Shorzoe Abe (1990). Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-563-2.