Kawasaki Ki-108

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Kawasaki Ki-108 (川崎 キ108)
The Kawasaki Ki-108 is a Japanese prototype interceptor. Two prototypes were built in 1944, the second prototype was destroyed during an air raid in 1945, and the first prototype was damaged so that it did not rise into the air until the end of the war, and after the war the Americans examined it and then burned it.
History
In April 1943, work began on an interceptor that was to be equipped with a pressure chamber. Work on the pressure chamber has already been carried out and tested in the Tachikawa Ki-77 aircraft and in the Tachikawa SS-1 (type B) aircraft. In order to accelerate the production of the Ki-108, it was decided to use the Ki-102 aircraft, which was being designed at the same time. In March 1944, the first prototype Ki-102b aircraft left the production line, so prototypes number 7 and 2 were used to create the Ki-108 aircraft. The first prototype of the Ki-108, which was formed from the 7th prototype of the Ki-102B, was built in July 1944, and the second was built in August 1944 thanks to the modification of the 2nd prototype of the Ki-102. Tests on the new aircraft began in September 1944, in which problems with the electrical system and grease getting into the pressurized cabin were detected. During the subsequent work on the Ki-108 aircraft, it was possible to solve problems with exhaust fumes, grease in the hermetic cabin, which appeared due to a design error in the compressor that was supposed to maintain the pressure in the cabin. The solution to this problem was to use an absorbent filter in the compressor. Due to the use of the Ki-102 design, the aircraft had Ha-112-II engines, which did not have a turbocharger, which caused a decrease in performance at high altitudes. This led to the development of the improved Ki-108 aircraft in 1945, which was designated Ki-108 Kai. In 1945, during the raids on Gifu on June 22 and 26, both Ki-108 Kai and the second prototype Ki-108 were left behind, and the first prototype Ki-108 was heavily damaged. Although the Japanese army attempted to repair the Ki-108, the aircraft was not repaired until the end of the war. After the surrender of Japan, the plane, although damaged, was tested by the Americans and then burned at the Kakamigahara airport.

Photos of Ki-108

Ki-108 during tests^




Damaged Ki-108 during the evaluation of the Americans^

Burning Ki-108^

Art Ki-108

Construction description
The Ki-108 aircraft was a deep modification of the Ki-102B aircraft, so I will present the design differences between them:

1. The rear gunner’s position was removed and the cockpit was rebuilt in which the pressure chamber was mounted.
2. The plane is 10 centimeters wider
3. The plane is longer 26 centimeters
4. Changed the 57mm Ho-401 cannon to the 37mm Ho-204 cannon
5. The weight of the aircraft decreased by 100 kg

By equipping the aircraft with a pressure chamber when flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters, the pressure inside the cabin is equivalent to 3,000 meters. In addition, the pressure cabin is designed to be 15 degrees Celsius, although when the temperature in the compressor drops to -25 degrees Celsius, it ceases to perform this task.

Technical sketches

Comparison of the Ki-108 with the Ki-108 Kai

Comparison tables

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 11,71 m
• Wingspan: 15,67 m
• Height: 3,7 m
• Wing area: 34 m2
• Empty weight: 5,300 kg
• Gross weight: 7,200 kg
• Powerplant: 2 × Mitsubishi Ha112-II 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 1,120 kW (1,500 hp)
• Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propellers

Performance

• Maximum speed: 630 km/h
• Range: 1,800 km
• Service ceiling: 13,500 m
• Climbing force: 17:00 to 10 000 m

Armament

• 1 × 37 mm Ho-204 cannon (35 rounds)
• 2 × 20 mm Ho-5 cannon in the belly (200 rounds per gun)

Summary
The Kawasaki Ki-108 would be an interesting addition to Japan in War Thunder. It would be a replacement aircraft for the Ki-108 Kai, or a very interesting premium aircraft. It is smaller than the Ki-108 Kai, which will provide an interesting change in flight characteristics.I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this topic.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.

Internet sources

キ108 (航空機) - Wikipedia
Уголок неба ¦ Kawasaki Ki-108 (airwar.ru)
Kawasaki Ki-108 (historyofwar.org)
worldmilitary.net/2-Aviation/Japan/Kawasaki/Ki.108/index_aviation_data_japan-kawasaki-ki108kai.html
Kawasaki Ki.108 Info (daveswarbirds.com)
Kawasaki Ki-102 (“Randy”) variants and Ki-108 | Secret Projects Forum
Kawasaki Ki-108 Twin-Engine Heavy Fighter / Interceptor Prototype Aircraft (militaryfactory.com)
Kawasaki Ki 108 : Kawasaki (valka.cz)
Kawasaki Ki-108: Photos, History, Specification (tvd.im)
Kawasaki Ki-108: Ο εξελιγμένος απόγονος του Ki-102 που τον πρόλαβε το τέλος του πολέμου - Military History (military-history.gr)
Kawasaki Ki-108 - Destination’s Journey (destinationsjourney.com)
https://aviadejavu.ru/Site/Crafts/Craft32299.htmhttps://www.destinationsjourney.com/historical-military-photographs/kawasaki-ki-108/

Additional sources

[Noveos_Republic]

Would be interesting, but definitely no need to replace the Ki-108 Kai.

[jon_man1199]

A +1 from me, would be neat to see

[Grzegames]

Ki-108 and Ki-108 kai are two different planes that cannot replace each other. The Ki-108 is smaller and has engines without a turbocharger, so it is different in terms of performance. In my opinion, the Ki-108 should be 3.3, and the Ki-108 Kai (after they repair it) should still be 3.7. Yes, the Ki-108 Kai is modeled incorrectly because its wing surfaces are too small.