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Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (Tojo)

1941 WORLD WAR 2

History

The Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (meaning "Demon Inflator", Allied codename "Tojo") was a single-engine monoplane interceptor fighter that was in production throughout the war years. The system was created with performance in mind, so the design focused more on excellent rate of climb and overall speed, while other factors, such as visibility and maneuverability, left something to be desired. Despite its impressive combat performance figures, the Ki-44 was relegated to defend the Japanese mainland as the Allies continued to reduce Japan's territorial gains throughout the Pacific.

However, their large-caliber weapons proved very effective against the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

Development of the Ki-44 began in 1940 as a specialized interceptor designed to Japanese Air Force specifications for high-speed platforms with a good rate of climb. The focus of the design is the large Nakajima Ha-41 engine, which has its origins in bomber engines. The large engine features a streamlined fuselage design with a significantly shorter and smaller empennage. The pilot's cockpit is located approximately in the middle of the upper part of the fuselage. The engines are located some distance in front of the pilot, which imposes some limitations on forward visibility, especially when the aircraft is taxiing.

The wings are mounted low, in front of the cockpit, and have a small design area, which allows the Shoki to land a small number of aircraft due to its high landing speed. The first prototype was airborne in August 1940 and compared with an imported Messerschmitt Bf 109E model (the main fighter of the Luftwaffe in Europe) and proved superior to the German design in terms of performance data.

Trials of the Ki-44 took place at the end of 1941, and the first air group was formed in December of the same year. Homeland and Territorial Defense Groups have since been created to protect key industrial and oil positions from aggression by Allied bomber groups that seek to paralyze Japan from within. Suicide Squads were also formed near Tokyo to fight B-29 Superfortresses.

In total, about 12 Ki-44 Shoki air groups were assigned to various defensive roles in the Japanese Air Force.

The performance of the Ki-44-IIb is supported by a Nakajima-branded Ha-109 radial engine producing 1,519 horsepower. Performance specs include a top speed of 476 mph and service is capped at 36,750 feet. The reported range is 1,060 and the climb rate is close to 3,940 feet per minute.

All in all, these were impressive specs for a purpose-built single-seat interceptor at the time.

Standard armament for the Ki-44-IIb variant consists of 4 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns from the Ho-103 series. The two were mounted on the fairing and fired in synchrony through the rotating propeller blades, forcing the pair to have a lower rate of fire - reportedly around 657 rounds per minute.

Instead, a second pair of 12.7mm machine guns of the same type were mounted on the wings, delivering up to 900 rounds per minute. Approximately 760 rounds are provided for all guns, totaling 12.7mm ammunition.

Notable variants in the Shoki series are the basic prototype Ki-44, Ki-44 Type I, Ki-44 Type II, Ki-44 II, Ki-44 IIc, Ki-44 IIIa and Ki-44 IIIb models . The Ki-44 was the basic prototype, while the Ki-44 Type I was powered by Nakajima Ha-41 series engines. The latter has a power speed of 363 miles per hour and is armed with two 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns and two 12.7mm Ho 103 machine guns. The Ki-44 II was equipped with a Nakajima Ha-109 engine and could reach speeds of up to 378 mph. This version is armed with 4 x 12.7mm I-type machine guns.

The Ki-44 II was another prototype with a 1,520 hp Nakajima Ha-109 engine. The Ki-44 IIc was the first variant with significant firepower, armed with 4 x 20mm Ho-3 series cannons or 2 x 40mm Ho-301 cannons and 2 x 12.7mm -Ho-103 machine guns. The artillery weapon proved most effective against the high-altitude, heavily defended Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

The Ki-44 IIIa is armed with 4 x 20mm Ho-5 cannons and engines up to 2,000 hp. The Ki-44 IIIb is armed with 2 x 20mm Ho-5 cannons and 2 x 37mm Ho-203 cannons.

Manchukuo and Imperial Japan were the war operators of the shoki, while China and Indonesia became the operators of the postwar Asian type. Production of the Ki-44 spanned from 1940 to 1944, by which time approximately 1,225 prototypes had been produced.

During the last months of the war, the Ki-44 was eventually replaced by the Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate".