https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakajima_Ki-43
The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (?, "Peregrine Falcon", "Army Type 1 Fighter"
(?????)) was a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial
Japanese Army Air Force in World War II.
The Allied reporting name was "Oscar", but it was often called the "Army Zero"
by American pilots because it bore a certain resemblance to the Mitsubishi A6M
Zero, the Imperial Japanese Navy's counterpart to the Ki-43. Both aircraft had
generally similar layout and lines, and also used essentially the same Nakajima
Sakae radial engine, with similar round cowlings and bubble-type canopies (the
Oscar's being distinctly smaller and having much less framing than the A6M).
While relatively easy for a trained eye to tell apart with the "finer" lines of
planform, in the heat of battle, and given the brief glimpses and distraction of
combat, Allied aviators frequently mistakenly reported having fought "Zeros" in
areas where there were no Navy fighters.
Like the Mitsubishi-produced A6M Zero, the radial-engined Ki-43 was light and
easy to fly and became legendary for its combat performance in East Asia in the
early years of the war. It could outmaneuver any opponent, but did not have
armor or self-sealing tanks, and its armament was poor until its final version,
which was produced as late as 1945. Allied pilots often reported that the nimble
Ki-43s were difficult targets but burned easily or broke apart with few hits. In
spite of its drawbacks, the Ki-43 shot down more Allied aircraft than any other
Japanese fighter and almost all the JAAF's aces achieved most of their kills in
it.
Total production amounted to 5,919 aircraft. Many of these were used during the
last months of the war for kamikaze missions against the American fleet.
The Ki-43 (Oscar) was initially produced in November 1939, given the designation
Ki-43-I. Deliveries from Nakajima's Ota factory commenced in February 1941. In
addition to outstanding maneuverability, the Ki-43-I had an impressive rate of
climb due to its light weight. Power was provided by the Nakajima Ha-25 engine
turning a two-bladed, two-position variable-pitch metal propeller. Top speed was
495 km/h (308 mph) at 4,000 m (13,160 ft). The Ki-43 was equipped with two
synchronized cowling machine guns in various configurations, with either two 7.7
mm (.303 in) Type 89 machine guns, one 12.7 mm (.50 in) Ho-103 machine gun and
one 7.7 mm (.303 in) gun, or two 12.7 mm (.50 in) Ho-103 guns; the aircraft was
given various sub-designations to reflect these differences. The configuration
that appears to have been most prevalent at the outset of the war was the first
configuration with two 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 89 machine guns, while as the war
progressed the heavier combinations gained popularity and the version with the
heaviest armament was sometimes given the designation Ki-43-Ic. The Ho-103 was
often loaded with explosive ammunition to increase target effect; its
penetrative effect against later Allied aircraft armor appears to have been
marginal.
Role
Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer
Nakajima Aircraft Company
Designer
Hideo Itokawa
First flight
Early January 1939
Introduction
October 1941
Retired
1945 (Japan)
1952 (China)
Primary users
Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Royal Thai Air Force
Manchukuo Air Force
Produced
Number built
5,919
Developed from
Nakajima Ki-27
The Ki-43 was the most widely used Army fighter, and equipped 30th sentai
FR,(flight regiment) and 12th chutais IS,(independent squadrons). The first unit
1941. Operational sorties over Hengyang on 29. October 1941. The second unit to
re-equip with the new Aircraft was the 64th FR, from August to November 1941.
Like the Zero, the Ki-43 initially enjoyed air superiority in the skies of
Malaya, Netherlands East Indies, Burma and New Guinea. This was partly due to
the better performance of the Oscar and partly due to the relatively small
numbers of combat-ready Allied fighters, mostly the Curtiss P-36 Hawk, Curtiss
P-40, Brewster Buffalo, Hawker Hurricane and Curtiss-Wright CW-21 in Asia and
the Pacific during the first months of the war. As the war progressed, however,
the fighter suffered from the same weaknesses as the slower, fixed-gear Ki-27
"Nate" predecessor to the Oscar, and the more advanced naval A6M Zero; light
armor and less-than-effective self-sealing fuel tanks, which caused high
casualties in combat. Its armament of two machine guns also proved inadequate
against the more heavily armored Allied aircraft. As newer Allied aircraft were
introduced, such as the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Lockheed P-38 Lightning,
North American P-51 Mustang, Vought F4U Corsair, Grumman F6F Hellcat and
late-model Supermarine Spitfire/Seafire, the Japanese were forced into a
defensive war and most aircraft were flown by inexperienced pilots. However,
even near the end, the Oscar's excellent maneuverability could still gain
advantage over rash Allied pilots. From October to December 1944, 17 Ki-43s were
shot down in air combat; their pilots claimed seven C-47s, five B-24 Liberators,
two Spitfires, two Beaufighters, two Mosquitoes, two F4U Corsairs, two B-29
Superfortresses, one F6F Hellcat, one P-38, and one B-25. Like most Japanese
combat types, many Hayabusas were at the end expended in kamikaze raids.
Specifications (Ki-43-IIb)
General characteristics
Crew: One
Length: 8.92 m (29 ft 3? in)
Wing area: 21.4 m2 (230.4 ft2)
Empty weight: 1,910 kg (4,211 lb)
Loaded weight: 2,590 kg (5,710 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,925 kg (6,450 lb)
kW (1,150 hp)
Performance
Maximum speed: 536 kilometres per hour (333 mph) at 6,000 metres (20,000 ft)
(286 knots (530 km/h) at 4,000 metres (13,000 ft))
Cruise speed: 355 kilometres per hour (221 mph) at 4,000 metres (13,000 ft)
Range: 1,760 km (952 nmi, 1095 mi)
Ferry range: 3,200 km (1,730 nmi, 1,990 mi)
Service ceiling: 11,200 m (36,750 ft)
Rate of climb: 3,900 feet per minute (20 m/s) ()
Wing loading: 121 kg/m2 (24.8 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 331 W/kg (0.20 hp/lb)
Armament
with 270 rpg
*
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