Ki-45 file photo [110]

Ki-45 Toryu

CountryJapan
ManufacturerKawasaki Aircraft Industries
Primary RoleHeavy Fighter
Maiden Flight1 January 1939

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe Ki-45 Toryu ("Dragon Slayer") fighters were results of a Japanese Army request for a two-seat, twin-engined fighters in Dec 1937. The first prototype flew in Jan 1939 and received a rejection from the Army for wielding an underpowered engine, but Kawasaki received a second chance to continue the development that was eventually accepted. The resulting aircraft was designated Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter by the Japanese Army in Feb 1942, while the Allies codenamed them "Nick". They were first used in Guilin, China, in Jun 1942 with little success, outmaneuvered by P-40 Tomahawk fighters piloted by the Flying Tigers. A Sep 1942 match up against P-40s in Hanoi, Vietnam yielded similar results. The realization of their weakness against nimbler single-engined fighters led to the change of their primary roles to be anti-bomber and anti-ship. Armed heavy weapons, they excelled in their new roles. Though their performance suffered visibly at the altitude of 10,000m, they still scored several kills on American bombers later on in the war.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Aug 2006

SPECIFICATIONS

Ki-45 Kai Ko
MachineryTwo Mitsubishi Ha-102 14-cylinder radial engines rated at 975hp each
Armament1x37mm, 2x12.7mm, 2x7.92mm
Crew2
Span15.02 m
Length11.00 m
Height3.70 m
Wing Area32.00 m²
Weight, Empty4,000 kg
Weight, Loaded5,500 kg
Speed, Maximum540 km/h
Rate of Climb11.70 m/s
Service Ceiling10,000 m
Range, Normal2,000 km

Ki-45 Kai Hei
MachineryTwo Mitsubishi Ha-102 14-cylinder radial engines rated at 975hp each
Armament1x37mm, 1x20mm, 1x7.92mm
Crew2
Span15.02 m
Length11.00 m
Height3.70 m
Wing Area32.00 m²
Weight, Empty4,000 kg
Weight, Loaded5,500 kg
Speed, Maximum540 km/h
Rate of Climb11.70 m/s
Service Ceiling10,000 m
Range, Normal2,000 km

Ki-45 Kai Cho
MachineryTwo Mitsubishi Ha-102 14-cylinder radial engines rated at 975hp each
Armament1x37mm, 2x20mm
Crew2
Span15.02 m
Length11.00 m
Height3.70 m
Wing Area32.00 m²
Weight, Empty4,000 kg
Weight, Loaded5,500 kg
Speed, Maximum540 km/h
Rate of Climb11.70 m/s
Service Ceiling10,000 m
Range, Normal2,000 km

Photographs

Ki-45 resting on a snowy airfield, date unknownCamouflaged Ki-45 aircraft at rest, date unknownCamouflaged Ki-45 aircraft in flight, circa 1940sGround crew performing maintenance or repairs on a Ki-45 aircraft, date unknown
See all 12 photographs of Ki-45 Toryu Heavy Fighter



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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
6 Dec 2012 06:52:27 AM

Uh you forgot that the KAI Had a 20mm Cannon along with its 2x12.7s and 1x37mm

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More on Ki-45 Toryu
Notable Figure:
» Roh, Yong-U

Ki-45 Toryu Heavy Fighter Photo Gallery
Ki-45 resting on a snowy airfield, date unknown
See all 12 photographs of Ki-45 Toryu Heavy Fighter


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