Nakajima Ki-44

Ki-44 "Shoki"
	A captured Nakajima Ki-44
Role	Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer	Nakajima Aircraft Company
Designer	Yasushi Koyama
First flight	August 1940
Introduction	1942
Retired	1945
Primary user	Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Produced	1940–1944
Number built	1,225

The Nakajima Ki-44 Shōki (鍾馗, Zhong Kui) was a single-engine fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II. The type first flew in August 1940 and entered service in 1942. The Allied reporting name was "Tojo"; the Japanese Army designation was "Army Type 2 Single-Seat Fighter" (二式単座戦闘機).

It was less maneuverable than its predecessor, the nimble Ki-43, and pilots disliked its poor visibility on the ground, its higher landing speed, and severe restrictions on maneuvering. Yet, it was obvious the Ki-44 was clearly superior overall as a combat aircraft compared to the Ki-43.^[1] As an interceptor it could match Allied types in climbs and dives, giving pilots more flexibility in combat and greater pilot confidence than the Ki-43.^[2] Moreover, the basic armament of four 12.7mm machine guns or two 12.7mm guns and two 20 mm cannons,(plus a few aircraft which carried two Ho-301 40 mm cannons of limited performance) was far superior to the older Ki-43's two 12.7mm Mgs. These characteristics made the fighter despite performance restrictions at altitude, a useful B-29 Superfortress interceptor and one of the Japanese High Command priorities during the last year of war. However, like most of the Japanese aircraft flown in the last part of the war, the low availability of properly trained pilots made them easy targets for experienced, aggressive, and well trained Allied pilots flying superior aircraft.^[2]

Design and development[]

Nakajima began development of the Ki-44 in 1940 as a pure interceptor with emphasis being placed on airspeed and rate of climb rather than maneuverability. The Japanese Army Air Force specification called for a maximum speed of 600 km/h (370 mph) at 4,000 m (13,130 ft), to be attained in five minutes. A set of Ki-43 like "butterfly" combat flaps was fitted for improved maneuverability. Armament consisted of a pair of 7.7 mm (.303 in) and a pair of 12.7 mm (.50 in) machine guns.

The engine selected for the new interceptor was Nakajima's Ha-41 (a development of the Nakajima Ha-5) 14-cylinder double-row radial, originally intended for bomber aircraft. Although the Ha-41 was not the ideal choice due to its large-diameter cross section, the design team was able to marry this engine to a much smaller fuselage with a narrow cross section. At 1,260 mm in diameter, the Ha-41 was 126 mm larger in diameter than the 1,144 mm Nakajima Sakae (used in the Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" and Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa"). However, the Sakae was only 27.8L in displacement and 1,000 hp, while the Ha-41 was 37.5L and made 1,260 hp (1,440 in the later Ha-109 version). In any case, since the Sakae wasn't powerful enough, the only alternative available was the Mitsubishi Kinsei, which was slightly smaller than the Ha-41 in diameter, five liters smaller in displacement, and was less powerful. Unfortunately, this was already in demand for many other aircraft, so the Ha-41 was chosen as the best powerplant. In order to achieve its design goals, the wing area was relatively small leading to a high wing loading and a comparatively high landing speed that could be daunting to the average Japanese pilot, who was more used to aircraft with a low wing loading like the Ki-44s predecessors, the Ki-43 and Ki-27.

The first Ki-44 prototype flew in August 1940 and the initial test flights were generally encouraging, with handling considered acceptable considering the high wing loading. Problems encountered included a high landing speed and poor forward visibility during taxiing due to the large radial engine.

A second pre-production batch of 40 aircraft were ordered, which featured four 12.7mm machine guns, a relocated air cooler and main gear doors.^[3]

Operational history[]

The pre-production Ki-44 aircraft and two of the prototypes were turned over to the Army for service trials on 15 September 1941. The type commenced operations with one experimental unit, the 47th Chutai (Independent Air Company) ("Kawasemi Buntai", Kingfisher Unit) sent to Saigon, Indochina in December 1941 with nine aircraft under the command of Major Toshio Sakagawa.

The unit later became the 47th Sentai, when flying home defense in Japan. More aircraft were later sent to China, and others were used in defense of oil wells in Sumatra, Indonesia, the China-Burma-India theater of operations, Philippines, Japanese metropolitan defense (mainly concentrated around Japan's large industrial cities) and even kamikaze operations in the last stages of the war.

The Ki-44-2c version of the "Tojo" was armed with the relatively compact Ho-301 40 mm heavy cannon firing caseless ammunition that was only useful at near point blank range due to very low muzzle velocity. It was used against B-29s by one special kamikaze unit (a company of four aircraft minimum^[4]) of the 47th Sentai, which specialized in bomber collision tactics, the Shinten unit ("Shinten Seiku Tai"(Sky Shadow) 47th Sentai (Air Regiment) based at Narimasu airfield), during the defense of Tokyo. It is presumed that at least part of the tactics of these aircraft were to get in very close to the B-29's and attempt a shoot down with the heavy cannon, but also to use the aircraft as a final weapon when the low ammunition supply of the H0-301 was expended. Although in concept it appeared easy, collision with a B-29 at altitude was very difficult to pull off although the tactic certainly created significant anxiety for B-29 squadrons when it occurred.

The Nakajima Ki-44 at one point equipped 12 sentais of the Japanese Army Air Force (the 9th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 47th, 59th, 64th, 70th, 85th, 87th, 104th and 246th Air Regiments (Sentai)) which saw action before their (partial) replacement with the far superior (except in maintenance and reliability) Ki-84 Hayates for the final battles of the war. The Manchukuo Air Force also received some examples of these aircraft during wartime.

Postwar Use[]

After World War II, the Nationalist Chinese 18th Squadron of the 12th Fighter Group was equipped with Ki-44s formerly of the 9th Sentai, which had disbanded in Nanking, and of the 29th Sentai, which had disbanded at Formosa^[4] and they participated in the Chinese Civil War. The People's Liberation Army Air Force managed to get hold of aircraft formerly belonging to 22nd and 85th Sentai, who had disbanded in Chosen, the Japanese name for Korea during their imperial rule (1910–1945) over that country. These aircraft were flown by Japanese mercenary pilots, who used them until the last two Ki-44s finally retired in the early 1950s.

Survivors[]

No complete surviving examples of the Ki-44 exist. However a wing center section is preserved at the Northwestern Polytechnic University Aviation Museum, Xian, China.

Variants[]

Ki-44: Prototype.
Ki-44: Model preseries for evaluation.
Ki-44 Type I: was powered by a 930 kW (1,250 hp) Nakajima Ha-41 engine, and had a maximum speed of 580 km/h (363 mph). Armament consisted of two 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 89 machine guns and two 12.7 mm (.50 in) Ho-103 machine guns placed in the wing.
Ki-44 Ia: Fighter Type 2 of Army. (Mark Ia).
Ki-44 Ib: Mark Ib.
Ki-44 Ic: modified version.
Ki-44 Type II: had a 1,074 kW (1,440 hp) Nakajima Ha-109 engine with a top speed of 604 km/h (378 mph), and four 12.7 mm (.50 in) Ho-103.
Ki-44 II: prototype-engine Nakajima Ha-109 of 1,130 kW (1,520 hp).
Ki-44 IIa: Mark 2a.
Ki-44 IIb
Ki-44 IIc: (Mark 2c) Four 12.7 mm (.50 in) Ho-103 or two 12.7 mm (.50 in) Ho-103 and two 40 mm (1.57 in) Ho-301 cannons. A four 20 mm Ho-3 cannon version was proposed but never produced.
Ki-44 IIIa: (Mark 3a) engine of 1,491 kW (2,000 hp) and four 20 mm Ho-5 cannons.
Ki-44 IIIb: (Mark 3b) two 20 mm Ho-5 cannons and two 37 mm (1.46 in) Ho-203 cannons.

Total production: 1,225

Operators[]

Wartime
Manchukuo

Manchukuo Air Force

Japan

Imperial Japanese Army Air Force^[5]

No. 9 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
No. 22 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
No. 23 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
No. 29 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
No. 47 Dokuritsu Hikō Chutai IJAAF/Hikō Sentai IJAAF
No. 59 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
No. 64 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
No. 70 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
No. 85 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
No. 87 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
No. 104 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
No. 246 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
Akeno Army Flight Training School
Hitachi Army Flight Training School

Post-War
Republic of China (1912–1949)

Chinese Nationalist Air Force operated some captured aircraft
- No. 18 Chungtui (中隊 ~ Squadron) CNAF October 1945 – August 1946^[6]

China

People's Liberation Army Air Force operated 3 aircraft captured from IJAAF and MAF.

Indonesia

Indonesian Air Force – Indonesian People's Security Force (IPSF – Indonesian pro-independence guerrillas) captured a small number of aircraft at numerous Japanese air bases in 1945, including Bugis Air Base in Malang (repatriated 18 September 1945). Most aircraft were destroyed in military conflicts between the Netherlands and the newly proclaimed Republic of Indonesia during the Indonesian National Revolution of 1945–1949.

Specifications (Ki-44-IIb)[]

Data from Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki ('Tojo'), Aircraft in Profile no.255;^[7] Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War^[8]

General characteristics

Crew: one, pilot
Length: 8.84 m (29 ft)
Wingspan: 9.45 m (31 ft 01 in)
Height: 3.12 m (10 ft 23 in)
Wing area: 15 m² (161 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,105 kg (4,641 lb)
Loaded weight: 2,764 kg (6,094 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,995 kg (6,602 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Ha-109 Army Type 2 fourteen cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 1,133 kW (1,519 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 605 km/h (376 mph)
Cruise speed: 400 km/h (249 mph)
Stall speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
Range: 1,700 km (1,060 mi)
Service ceiling: 11,200 m (36,750 ft)
Rate of climb: 5,000 m--4 min 17 sec (3,940 ft/min)
Wing loading: 200 kg/m² (41 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.38 kW/kg (0.13 hp/lb)

Armament

4× 12.7 mm (.50 in) Ho-103 machine guns, two synchronized cowl mounted (perhaps 657 rpm rate each), and one in each wing (900 rpm rate of fire each), 760 rounds in all. The 12.7x81 cartridge propelled the 35.4 g AP bullet 760 m/s, the 38 g HE 796 m/s, and the 33 g HE (2.2%) 770 m/s, with an effective firing range of 750 m. Not always reliable.

The meaning of Shoki[]

Shoki was a legendary figure who fought ghosts/demons/spirits in China. In Chinese he is called Zhong Kui（鐘馗）. In Asian culture, the Europeans (and American descendants) are called ghost（鬼子） for their pale skin, so the Ki-44 Shoki would also fight American "ghosts."

References[]

Notes

↑ Ethell 1995, p. 100.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Ethell 1995, p. 101.
↑ Spick, Mike (2002). Illustrated Directory of Fighters. St Paul, USA: MBI Publishing. pp. 481. ISBN 0-7603-1343-1.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Bueschel & 1971 overview Air Combat regiments.
↑ Francillon 1979, p. 222.
↑ Ferkl 2009, p. 34.
↑ Brindley 1973, p. 72.
↑ Francillon 1979, pp. 222–223.

Bibliography

Brindley, John F. Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki ('Tojo'), Aircraft in Profile no.255. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1973. No ISBN.
Bueschel, Richard M. Nakajima Ki.44 Shoki Ia,b,c/IIa,b,c in Japanese Army AIr Force Service. Canterbury, Kent, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1971. ISBN 0-85045-040-3. (Also published by Atglen, PA: Schiffer Books, 1996. ISBN 0-88740-914-8.)
Ethell, L. Jeffrey. Aircraft of World War II. Glasgow, UK: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. ISBN 0-00-470849-0.
Ferkl, Martin. Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (in English). Ostrava, Czech Republic: Revi Publications, 2009. ISBN 80-85957-15-9.
Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970 (second edition 1979). ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (seventh impression 1973). ISBN 0-356-01447-9.
Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: Japanese Army Fighters, Part 2. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1977. ISBN 0-354-01068-9.
"Nakajima Ki.44 (Ni Shiki Tansen Sentoki Shoki)" (in Japanese). Maru Mechanic No. 9, March 1978.

External links[]

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The original article can be found at Nakajima Ki-44 and the edit history here.

[Ethell1995p100-1] Ethell 1995, p. 100.

[Ethell1995p101-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Ethell 1995, p. 101.

[3] Spick, Mike (2002). Illustrated Directory of Fighters. St Paul, USA: MBI Publishing. pp. 481. ISBN 0-7603-1343-1.

[Bueschel1971overview_Air_Combat_regiments-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Bueschel & 1971 overview Air Combat regiments.

[5] Francillon 1979, p. 222.

[6] Ferkl 2009, p. 34.

[7] Brindley 1973, p. 72.

[8] Francillon 1979, pp. 222–223.

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