kawasaki ki-45

[gyrene81]

japanese twin engine fighter...it would be "competitive" in the main arena and would help make some special events better...

*EDIT* forgot specs and production numbers

Ki-45 KAIa
Engine: Two Nakajima Ha-25 fourteen cylinder air cooled radial engines
Power (each): 1,050hp at take-off, 970hp at 11,115ft
Crew: 2 (pilot and radio-operator/ gunner)
Wing span: 49ft 3 5/16in
Length: 34ft 9 5/16in
Height: 12ft 1 11/16in
Empty Weight: 8,146lb
Loaded Weight: 11,632lb
Max Speed: 340mph at 22,965ft
Cruising Speed:
Service Ceiling: 35,200ft
Range: 1,404 miles
Armament: Two 12.7mm Type 1 machine guns in nose and one 7.92mm Type 98 machine gun in rear cockpit, plus on 20mm Ho-3 cannon in ventral tunnel
Bomb-load: Two 44 imperial gallon drop tanks or two 551lb bombs

Production = 1198



even had the nerve to attack b-29s...



http://www.wwiivehicles.com/japan/aircraft/fighter/kawasaki-ki-45-toryu-nick.asp

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_kawasaki_ki-45.html

[SmokinLoon]

I'd have to double check, but I think it is very close in abilities to the 110C-4.  At least for scenarios the 110C-4 is a good fit (guns, speeds, etc).

With that being said, I think the Japanese could certainly use it.  IMO, the Ki-45 "Nick" fits just below the Ki-100 a notch or two in terms of "needed" Japanese planes.   

[Arlo]

"Two 12.7mm Type 1 machine guns in nose and one 7.92mm Type 98 machine gun in rear cockpit, plus on 20mm Ho-3 cannon in ventral tunnel"

A fighter or a bomber interceptor?

[Ack-Ack]

Thomas McGuire's brief write up about the Ki-45.

There haven't been many of these twin-engine fighters in this area and with their poor performance they there are becoming scarcer as P-38 pilots and others prove that this is one Japanese fighter they can out-turn, out-run, and out-climb. The NICK is structurally strong and there will be some difficulty in diving away, but then it won't be necessary unless he gets closed on your tail.

ack-ack

[ReVo]

+1 I would fly it. 

[EagleDNY]

The Nick would be useful in scenarios vs B29s IF we could enable the ramming the bomber to knock it down option...

[icepac]

Thomas McGuire's brief write up about the Ki-45.

ack-ack

Didn't Mcquire lose his life because he underestimated the performance of his opponent/plane combination?

[Butcher]

Didn't Mcquire lose his life because he underestimated the performance of his opponent/plane combination?

He tried to turn fight on the deck with drop tanks still attached, the increase drag caused the plane to stall and snaproll into the ground. He didn't underestimate as he was a victim of his own words to keep the drop tanks on.

[Slade]

+1

[icepac]

He tried to turn fight on the deck with drop tanks still attached, the increase drag caused the plane to stall and snaproll into the ground. He didn't underestimate as he was a victim of his own words to keep the drop tanks on.

So he overestimated his plane's ability to turn vs the turning ability of the enemy plane?

[Arlo]

So he overestimated his plane's ability to turn vs the turning ability of the enemy plane?

He underestimated the impact of drop tanks on maneuverability, that's for sure.

[Ack-Ack]

Didn't Mcquire lose his life because he underestimated the performance of his opponent/plane combination?

No.

So he overestimated his plane's ability to turn vs the turning ability of the enemy plane?

Again, no.

He spun into the deck from 500ft when he got into a spin caused by asymmetrical power.  It had nothing to do with "underestimating the performance" or "overestimating his plane's performance", though he did violate his own dicta about picking drop tanks when getting into a fight.

In any event, his death doesn't invalidate his accurate comments regarding the "Nick".

ack-ack

[Arlo]

It had nothing to do with "underestimating the performance" or "overestimating his plane's performance", though he did violate his own dicta about picking drop tanks when getting into a fight.

Huh.

In any event, his death doesn't invalidate his accurate comments regarding the "Nick".

Not saying it did.

[Butcher]

Tommy Mcquire didn't underestimate anything, his sortie was a fighter sweep of 4 P38s over Negros Island in the philippines, he didn't believe the flight would have enough fuel if they dropped their tanks. The Ki-43 pilot he faced was a highly skilled instructor with some thousand hours plus of flight time who attacked all 4 38s by himself.

He probably believed that it was 1 vs 4, there wasn't any real need for concern, secondly Fuel was an issue for his mission to be complete - factor in the japanese pilots were also lacking any veteran pilots left - however this was just a bad case scenario of blunders that got him killed.

[Karnak]

In any event, his death doesn't invalidate his accurate comments regarding the "Nick".

ack-ack

Are there other supporting data points about the Ki-45's performance?  You post that one quote each time it is requested.  Makes it look like you don't have much on it.