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Mitsubishi Ki-30 (Ann)

1938 COLD WAR WORLD WAR 2

Mitsubishi Ki-30 (An) History

Mitsubishi played an important role as a major armament supplier to the Japanese Empire during World War II. Mitsubishi began developing cutting-edge designs in 1936 to compete with its Kawasaki rivals.

Each company was asked to provide two viable prototypes by the end of the year, where the prototypes had to meet very specific program goals, including a top speed of 250 mph and the ability to travel up to 13,000 feet without restrictions. Three aircraft engines - one from Mitsubishi, another from Nakajima and a third from Kawasaki - have been selected as potential powerplants for the new aircraft.

The following year saw Mitsubishi unveil it, which first took to the air on February 28, 1937, with a Mitsubishi Ha-6 series radial piston engine. The second prototype, equipped with a Nakajima Ha-5 engine, proved to be the most promising of the two designs during testing and won a production contract from Mitsubishi.

The Japanese Army requested 16 initial evaluation models, which were then fully tested in early January 1938. The model was officially approved in March. For Mitsubishi, the model was considered the "Ki-30", and the IJAAF gave it the more formal designation "Army Type 97 Light Bomber".

During World War II, the Allies code-named the aircraft "An".

One of the Ki-30s in service, forming the 82nd and 87th Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai and the 6th, 16th, 31st, 32nd, 35th and 90th Hiko Sentai Air Groups of the Imperial Japanese Air Force. Their baptism of fire was attested in the Second Sino-Japanese War raging between China and Japan since 1931. The Ki-30 debuted in early 1938. There, against a limited enemy, the type proved to be an excellent light bombing platform, and has undoubtedly become a viable tactical tool in the Japanese Army's arsenal - especially under the protection of Japanese Army fighter jets.

As a ship A standalone attack ship, the Ki-30 has limited capabilities and armament that would make her fodder for a more determined enemy. While Japanese expansion in the Pacific continued until 1941, the Ki-30 remained in service, and the Japanese military had the initiative on land, sea and air.

However, his fortunes took a turn for the worse when the Imperial Japanese Navy led a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, officially drawing the United States into World War II.

The Ki-30 proved operational within a few months of the attack, but quickly fell into an outdated design. When U.S. engineering, tactics and training finally caught up to the war effort, the Ki-30 was no longer considered a viable front-line weapon - advanced Allied fighter jets could easily engage the Ki-30, especially when IJA flights When there is no fighter protection. Losses grew to unacceptable levels, forcing the IJAAF to reduce frontline Ki-30 deployments. Instead, the aircraft inventory was used as trainers, where they spent the rest of their lives. The Ki-30 officially retired from front-line service in early 1943.

It was briefly used in kamikaze suicide attacks during the last defense of Japan and its territories, ending the Ki-30's tenure as a conventional bomber.

In addition to being used by the Japanese during World War II, the Ki-30 series also served with the Royal Thai Air Force during the battle with France in January 1941. The Franco-Thai war lasted from October 1940 to May 1941 until the armistice (arranged by the Japanese) ended.

As part of the armistice, Thailand gained several territories from France. Given France's weakened position in Europe following the German conquest, the country was unable to defend its colonial interests on the other side of the world.

The production time of the Ki-30 aircraft spanned from 1938 to 1941, with a total of 704 delivered. No known variants are listed. Postwar operators included the Chinese Air Force and the Indonesian Air Force, both of which used the type in relatively limited quantities.