Mitsubishi Ki-30
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| Ki-30 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Light bomber |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi |
| Maiden flight | 28 February 1937 |
| Introduced | January 1938 |
| Primary users | Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Royal Thai Air Force |
| Produced | 1938-1941 |
| Number built | 704 |
The Mitsubishi Ki-30 (九七式軽爆撃機 Kyunana-shiki keibakugekiki?) was a Japanese light bomber aircraft of World War II. It was a single-engine, mid-wing, cantilever monoplane of stressed-skin construction with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage and a long transparent cockpit canopy. The type had significance in being the first Japanese aircraft to be powered by a modern two-row radial engine. During the war, it was known by the Allies by the code-name Ann.
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[edit] Design and development
The Ki-30 was developed in response to a May 1936 Imperial Japanese Army specification to replace the Kawasaki Ki-3 light bomber with a completely indigenously designed and built aircraft. Mitsubishi and Kawasaki were requested to build two prototypes each by December 1936. The specification called for a top speed of 248.5 mph (400 km/h) at 9,845 feet; normal operating altitude from 6,560 feet to 13,125 feet, the ability to climb to 9,845 feet within 8 minutes and an engine to be selected from the 825 hp (620 kW)Mitsubishi Ha-6 radial, 850 hp (630 kW) Nakajima Ha-5 radial, or 850 hp (630 kW) Kawasaki Ha-9-IIb liquid-cooled inline engines, a normal bomb load of 661 lb (299.8 kg) and a maximum of 992 lb (450 kg), one forward-firing machine gun and one flexible rearward-firing machine gun, the ability to perform 60-degree dives for dive bombing, and a loaded weight less than 7275 lb (3299.9 kg).
The first Mitsubishi prototype flew on 28 February 1937 powered by a Mitsubishi Ha-6 radial. Originally, designed with a retractable main landing gear, wind tunnel tests indicated that the gain in speed was minimal due to the landing gear's extra weight and complexity and a fixed arrangement with “spatted” main wheels was chosen instead. The wing was mounted at a point above the line of the aircraft's belly in order fully enclose the bomb bay within the fuselage. The pilot sat just above the leading edge of the wing, and the rear-gunner/radio-operator just behind the wing trailing edge, in a long “greenhouse" canopy which gave both crewmen excellent all-around vision. The Ha-6 engine drove a three-bladed variable-pitch propeller.
Although this performed satisfactorily, a second prototype, fitted with a Nakajima Ha-5 engine was tested the same month.
Although behind schedule and overweight, both prototypes met or exceeded every other requirement. The second prototype's top speed of 263 mph (420 km/h) at 13,125 feet led the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force to place an order for 16 service trials machines. These were delivered in January 1938 and the result of the trials was that the Army ordered the Ki-30 into production in March under the designation Army Type 97 Light bomber.
Mitsubishi built 618 production machines through April 1940, and the First Army Air Arsenal at Tachikawa built 68 more by the time production ceased in September 1941. Including prototypes, a total of 704 Ki-30s were built.
[edit] Operational history
The Ki-30s were first used in combat in Second Sino-Japanese War from spring 1938. It proved to be reliable in rough field operations, and highly effective while operating with fighter escort. This success continued in the early stages of the Pacific War, and the Ki-30s participated extensively in operations in the Philippines. However, once unescorted Ki-30s met Allied fighters, losses mounted rapidly and the type was soon withdrawn to second-line duties. By the end of 1942, most Ki-30s were relegated to a training role. Many aircraft were expended in kamikaze attacks towards the end of the war.
From late 1940, the Ki-30 was in service with the Royal Thai Air Force, and saw combat in January 1941 against the French in French Indochina in the French-Thai War. Additional Ki-30s were transferred from Japan in 1942.
[edit] Operators
[edit] World War II
[edit] Post-war
- Chinese Communist Air Force operated three captured Ki-30s were used as trainers until early 1950s.
[edit] Specifications (Ki-30)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2, pilot and observer / bomb aimer
- Length: 10.35 m (33 ft 11.5 in)
- Wingspan: 14.55 m (47 ft 8.75 in)
- Height: 3.65 m (11 ft 11.75 in)
- Wing area: 30.58 m² (329.17 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,230 kg (4,916 lb)
- Loaded weight: kg (lb)
- Useful load: kg (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,320 kg (7,324 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Nakajima Ha-5-kai 14-cylinder radial, 708-kW (950-hp)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 442 km/h (knots, 275 mph)
- Maximum speed: 423 km/h (knots, 263 mph)
- Cruise speed: 380 km/h (knots, 236 mph)
- Stall speed: km/h (knots, mph)
- Range: 1,700 km (nm, 1,066 mi)
- Service ceiling 8,570 m (28,115 ft)
- Rate of climb: 8.33 m/s (1640 ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: W/kg (hp/lb)
Armament 2 × 7.7 mm (0.303-in) Type 89 machine guns (one fixed wing-mounted and another manually aimed from the rear cockpit), 400-kg (882-lb) bombload
[edit] References
- Gunston, Bill (1999). The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II. Zenith Press.
- Lake, Jon (2002). Great Book of Bombers. Zenith Press.
- Mikesh, Robert; Abe, Shorzoe (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
- Mondey, David (2002). The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. Book Sales Press.
[edit] External links
- http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/IJARG/mitsubishiki30.html
- A photograph of Ki-30 in Royal Thai Air Force service
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft Heinkel He 70 - Fairey Battle - A-35 Vengeance - PZL.23 Karaś - DAR-10
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