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"Dragon-Slayer"
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Type: Long Range Escort, Nightfighter, Ground Attack Origin: Kawasaki Allied Code Name: Nick First Flight: September 1941 Service Delivery: N/A Final Delivery: N/A Number Produced: 1,698 Engine: Model: Mitsubishi Ha-102 (Type 1) Type: 14-Cyl. Twin Radial Number: Two Horsepower: 975 hp Fuel: Capacity: N/A Type: N/A Dimensions: Wing span: 49 ft. 3½ in. (15.02m) Length (Ki-45 Kai C): 36 ft. 1 in. (11m) Height: 12 ft. 1.55 in. (3.7m) Wing Surface Area: 344.46 sq. ft. (32.00m²) Weights: Empty (Ki 45 Kai A): 8,340 lbs. (3790 kg) Empty (Ki 45 Kai C): 8,820 lbs. (4000 kg) Loaded (All): 12,125 lbs. (5500 kg) |
Performance: Maximum Speed: 336 mph (540 km/h) Initial climb: 2,300 ft./min (700 m/min) Service Ceiling: 32,800 ft. (10,000m) Range (Unconfirmed): 1,243 Miles (2000 km) Armament: Ki-45-I and Kai-A: Two 12.7mm machine guns fixed in nose Two 7.7mm machine guns manually aimed from rear cockpit Kai-B: Two 12.7mm machine guns fixed in nose Two 7.7mm machine guns manually aimed from rear cockpit One 37mm Cannon in lower right forward fuselage –Often with only one 12.7mm machine gun Kai-C (Night Fighter): Two 12.7mm machine guns mounted at 30° between cockpits Two 12.7mm machine guns mounted in nose One 20mm or 37mm Cannon in lower right forward fuselage Anti-Shipping Variant (Unconfirmed): One 50mm or 75mm cannon under nose Two 551 lb (250kg) bombs under wings |
Designed as a long range escort, the Dragon-Slayer was fated to never perform this role. Despite deployment in nearly every theatre, the Toryu was never a serious threat until May 1944. On the 27th of that month four Kai-B's made a suicide attack on the north coast of New Guinea, using thier speed and manuverabilty to press home the attack. The Ki-45 enjoyed a modicum of success as a night fighter, proving to be a legitimate threat to B-29 formations. However, the Ki-45 had insufficient numbers to inflict substantial damage.
Sources:
The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft
, 1997, Barnes & Nobles Books, ISBN: 0 7607 0592 5WARBIRDS RESOURCE GROUP > IJARC > FIGHTERS > PREVIOUS PAGE