Nakajima Ki-49

The Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu (呑龍, "Storm Dragon")[1] was a twin-engine Japanese bomber aircraft of World War II. The type was designed to carry daylight bombing missions, without the protection of escort fighters. Consequently, while its official name, Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber, was accurate in regard to its formidable defensive armament and armor, these features also restricted the Ki 49 to payloads comparable to those of lighter medium bombers – the initial production variant could carry only 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of bombs.

Ki-49 Donryu
A Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu bomber of the Army Heavy Bomber School in Hamamatsu
Role Medium bomber, day bomber
National origin Japan
Manufacturer Nakajima Aircraft Company
Designer Yasushi Koyama
First flight August 1939
Introduction 1941
Retired 1945
Status Retired
Primary user Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Produced 1941–1944
Number built 819

A mid-wing, cantilever monoplane of all-metal construction, the Ki-49 was one of the first Japanese aircraft fitted with a retractable tailwheel. During World War II, it was known to the Allies by the reporting name "Helen".

Development

The Ki-49 was designed to replace the Mitsubishi Ki-21 ("Sally"), which entered service with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in 1938.[2] Learning from service trials of the Ki-21, the Army realized that however advanced it may have been at the time of its introduction, its new Mitsubishi bomber would in due course be unable to operate without fighter escorts. The Japanese Army stipulated that its replacement should have the speed and defensive weaponry to enable it to operate independently.

The prototype first flew in August 1939 and the development programme continued through three prototypes and seven pre-production aircraft. This first prototype was powered by a pair of 708 kW (950 hp) Nakajima Ha-5 KA-I radial engines but the next two had the 932 kW (1,250 hp) Nakajima Ha-41 engines that were intended for the production version. Seven more prototypes were built and these completed the test programme for the aircraft. Eventually in March 1941, the Donryu went into production as the Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber Model 1.[3]

Operational history
Wrecked Ki-49 on Papua New Guinea

Going operational from autumn 1941, the Ki-49 first saw service in China. After the outbreak of the Pacific War it was also active in the New Guinea area and in raids on Australia. Like the prototype, these early versions were armed with five 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns and one 20 mm cannon. Combat experience in China and New Guinea showed the Donryu to be underpowered, with bomb capacity and speed suffering as a result. Thus, in the spring of 1942 an up-engined version was produced, fitted with more powerful Ha-109 engines and this became the production Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber Model 2 or Ki-49-IIa. The Model 2 also introduced improved armor and self-sealing fuel tanks and was followed by the Ki-49-IIb in which 12.7mm (0.5 in) Ho-103 machine guns replaced three of the 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 89 machine guns.[4]

Ki-49 in flight over Japan, 1945

In spite of these improvements, losses continued to mount as the quantity and quality of fighter opposition rose. An attempt was made to stop the rot in early 1943 by further up-engining the type. This petered out owing to development difficulties with the 1,805 kW (2,420 hp) Nakajima Ha-117 engines and the Ki-49-III never entered production with only six prototypes being built.[5]

In the face of its increasing vulnerability to opposing fighter aircraft while performing its intended role, the Ki-49 was used in other roles towards the end of the Pacific War, including ASW patrol, troop transport and as a kamikaze.[6]

After 819 aircraft had been completed, production ended in December 1944.[7]

Variants
British troops inspect captured Ki-49's at Kalidjati airfield, Java shortly after liberation 1945
Ki-49
Prototypes and pre-series models with a 708 kW (950 hp) Nakajima Ha-5 KAI or the 1,250 hp Ha-4. The pre-series with little modifications from the prototype.
Ki-49-I
Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber Model 1, first production version.
Ki-49-II
Two prototypes fitted with two Nakajima Ha-109 radial piston engines.
Ki-49-IIa
Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber Model 2A - Production version with Ha-109 engines and armament as Model 1.
Ki-49-IIb
Version of Model 2 with 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine guns replacing rifle calibre weapons.
Ki-49-III
Six prototypes fitted with two 1,805 kW (2,420 hp) Nakajima Ha-117 engines.
Ki-58
Escort fighter with Ha-109 engines, 5 x 20 mm cannon, 3 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns. 3 prototypes built.
Ki-80
Specialised pathfinder aircraft - 2 prototypes; employed as engine test-beds.
  • Total production: all versions 819 examples (including 50 built by Tachikawa)

Operators

Wartime
 Japan
  • Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
    • No. 61 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
    • No. 62 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
    • No. 74 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
    • No. 95 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
    • No. 110 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
    • No. 11 Hikōshidan IJAAF
    • Hamamatsu Army Heavy Bomber School

Post-war
 France
  • 3 captured aircraft were used between 1946 and 1949 in Indochina
 Indonesia
 Thailand

Specifications (Ki-49-IIa)

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War,[9] Axis Aircraft of World War II[10]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 8 {pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, navigator, radio operator/gunner and 3x gunners
  • Length: 16.5 m (54 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 20.424 m (67 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 4.25 m (13 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 69.05 m2 (743.2 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 6,530 kg (14,396 lb)
  • Gross weight: 10,680 kg (23,545 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 11,400 kg (25,133 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Nakajima Ha-109 (1,450 hp Army Type 2 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radial) 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,100 kW (1,500 hp) each for take-off
969 kW (1,300 hp) at 5,280 m (17,323 ft)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed metal propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 492 km/h (306 mph, 266 kn) at 5,000 m (16,404 ft)
  • Cruise speed: 350 km/h (220 mph, 190 kn) at 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
  • Range: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 2,950 km (1,830 mi, 1,590 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 9,300 m (30,500 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,404 ft) in 13 minutes 39 seconds
  • Wing loading: 154.7 kg/m2 (31.7 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.2108 kW/kg (0.1282 hp/lb)

Armament

  • Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) Ho-1 cannon in the rear cockpit and 5 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 89 machine guns (one nose, two waist, one ventral, and one tail).
  • Bombs: 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) bombload

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
Notes
  1. Francillon, 1970, p.223
  2. Francillon 1979, p. 223.
  3. Francillon 1979, p. 225.
  4. Francillon 1979, p. 226.
  5. Francillon 1979, p. 227.
  6. Francillon 1979, pp. 227–228.
  7. Francillon 1979, p. 229.
  8. Japanese Aircraft in Foreign Service WWII and Post WWII retrieved 24 August 2010
  9. Francillon 1979, pp. 228–229.
  10. Mondey 1996, p. 228.
Bibliography
  • Bueschel, Richard M. (2004). Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu in Japanese Army Air Force Service. Atglen, PA: Schiffer. ISBN 0-7643-0344-9.
  • Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam. pp. 223–229. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Mondey, David (1996). Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press. ISBN 0-7537-1460-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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