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Mitsubishi Ki-46
The Mitsubishi Ki-46 was a twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. Its Army designation was "Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft" (一〇〇式司令部偵察機); the Allied code name was "Dinah".
Contents
History
This aircraft was first used by the Japanese Army in Manchuria and China, where seven units were equipped with it, and also at times by the Japanese Imperial Navy in certain reconnaissance missions over the northern coasts of Australia and New Guinea. Mitsubishi factories made a total of 1,742 examples of all versions (types I-IV) during 1941-44.
The Japanese Army used this aircraft for the same type of missions (which were not authorized) over present-day Malaysia during the months before the Pacific War. Later, it was used over Burma, Indochina and Thailand, and in operations over the Indian Ocean.
In 1944-45, during the last days of the war, it was modified as a high-altitude interceptor, with two 20 mm cannons in the nose and one 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon in an "upwards-and-forwards" position - almost like the LuftwaffeTemplate:'s Schräge Musik night fighter cannon emplacements - for fighting USAAF B-29 Superfortresses over the metropolitan Japanese islands. It lacked stability for sustained shooting of the 37 mm (1.46 in) weapon, had only a thin layer of armour plating, lacked self-sealing fuel tanks, and was slow to climb.
The Ki-46 was also assigned to two whole Sentai (wings/groups), as well as individual Chutaicho (junior operational commanders) in the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service, during the Pacific War.
The United States captured some examples during the conflict for evaluations.
Survivors
The only known survivor is a Ki-46-III Army Type 100 example, currently on display at DCAE Cosford.
Versions
- Ki-46
- Prototype.
- Ki-46 I Type 100
- Reconnaissance version of the Army Type 100 (Mark I).
- Ki-46 II (Mark 2)
- The first operational model of the series.
- Ki-46 II KAI
- Three-seat training version of the Army Type 100. Used for radio and navigation training, with a redesigned cabin, dorsal echeloned extension. Conversions of the Ki-46 II.
- Ki-46 III
- Prototype.
- Ki-46 III
- Reconnaissance version of Army Type 100 (Mark 3).
- Ki-46 III-KAI
- Defense interceptor/night fighter version of the Army Type 100. Equipped with two 20 mm cannons in the nose and one 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon in the "Schräge Musik"-style dorsal frontal position.
- Ki-46 III
- Land strike version of the Army Type 100, without 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon armament.
- ki-46 IIIb
- Ground-attack version.
- Ki-46 IIIc
- Only an unbuilt project.
- Ki-46 IV
- Prototype, equipped with two turbocharged 1,119 kW (1,500 hp) Mitsubishi Ha-112-II RU engines, and more gasoline store capacity.
- Ki-46 IVa/b
- Series models of reconnaissance/fighter aircraft, only unbuilt projects
Operators
- Template:JPN
- Template:CHN
- Two captured Ki-46s in communist Chinese hands served as a ground-attack aircraft and a trainer respectively, and the last Ki-46 retired in early 1950s.
Specifications (Ki-46-II)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 (pilot and observer)
- Length: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 14.70 m (48 ft 2¾ in)
- Height: 3.88 m (12 ft 8¾ in)
- Wing area: 32.0 m² (344 ft²)
- Empty weight: 3,830 kg (8,444 lb)
- Loaded weight: 5,050 kg (11,133 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 6,500 kg (14,330 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Mitsubishi Ha-102 14-cylinder radial engines, 807 kW (1,080 hp each) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 604 km/h (375 mph)
- Range: 2,400 km (1,490 mi)
- Service ceiling: 10,500-11,000 m (34,500-36,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 10 m/s (1,970 ft/min)
Armament
- Guns: 1 × rearward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 89 machine gun
See also
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Francillon, Réne J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970 (2nd edition 1979). ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
- Green, William. Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961. ISBN 0-356-1447-9.
- Gunston, Bill. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Combat Aircraft of World War II. London: Salamander Books Ltd., 1978. ISBN 0-89673-000-X
External links
- http://www.vectorsite.net/avdinah.html Vectorsite article
Template:Mitsubishi aircraft Template:Japanese Army Aircraft Designation System
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
de:Mitsubishi Ki-46 fr:Mitsubishi Ki-46 gl:Mitsubishi Ki-46 it:Mitsubishi Ki-46 ja:一〇〇式司令部偵察機 pl:Mitsubishi Ki-46 ru:Mitsubishi Ki-46 sl:Mitsubishi Ki-46 vi:Mitsubishi Ki-46 zh:百式司令部偵察機
| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mitsubishi Ki-46". |
