- Yes
- No
Kawasaki Ki-48-IIa (九九式双発軽爆撃機二型 甲)
The Kawasaki Ki-48-IIa bomber was created to improve the rapidly aging Ki-48-I bomber. Bombers in the Ki-48-II version (IIa ,IIb ,IIc) were built in general either 1408 or 1420. The Ki-48-II version was produced from 1942 to October 1943.
History
During the fight in China in the autumn of 1940 and at the beginning of 1941, the Ki-48 aircraft proved to be very vulnerable to attacks by modern fighters that the Allies delivered to China. Therefore, it was decided to improve the Ki-48 aircraft. From the introduction of the Ki-48-I, work was underway on the Ki-48-II aircraft, which was to be equipped with the Ha-115 engine, so it was decided to install additional armor and self-sealing fuel tanks. Due to problems with the Ha-115 engine, the prototype was not ready until February 1942. The aircraft was hastily accepted into service, so not all planned modifications were applied. It was not possible to install air brakes, with which the Japanese engineers had a problem. Due to the haste, the defensive armament was not reinforced. Production of the Ki-48-IIa version lasted from 1942 to October 1943. This aircraft was quickly replaced in production by the Ki-48-IIb and Ki-48-IIc aircraft.
Structure description
Differences between the Ki-48-I and the Ki-48-IIa:
- The fuselage has been lengthened by 150 mm
- The Ha-115 engine was installed instead of the Ha-25 engine
- The aircraft was equipped with self-sealing fuel tanks
- The aircraft was equipped with steel plates 6.5 - 16.5 mm thick, which were to protect the crew (their arrangement is the same as in the Ki-48-II otsu, which is in the game)
- Thanks to more powerful engines, the maximum load could be a maximum of 800 kg
Technical sketches
General characteristics
- Wingspan: 17.46 m
- Length: 12,75 m
- Height: 3.8 m
- Wing area: 40m2
- Empty weight: 4,470 kg
- Takeoff weight: 6,410 kg
- Maximum weight take-off: 6,705 kg
- Powerplant: 2 x air-cooled two-star fourteen-cylinder Nakajima Ha-115 engine with a take-off power of 1,130 hp
- Propellers: three-bladed propellers with variable pitch and a diameter of 2.9 m
- Crew: 4 people
Performance
- Maximum speed: 511 km/h
- Cruising speed: 395 km/h
- Range: 2050 km
- Maximum Range: 2400 km
- Service Ceiling: 10,400 m
- Rate of climb: 10.25 m/s
- Time to Climb: 8,25 min to 5000 m
Armament
- Fixed armament
- 1 x Te-4 machine guns (in the nose)( 408 reinforcements in 6 magazines of 68 rounds)
- 1 x Te-4 machine guns (under hull) (612 rounds in 9 magazines of 68 rounds)
- 1 x Type 89 “Special” Machine Gun (upper turret) (900 rounds in 10 magazines of 90 rounds)
OR - 1 x 7.92 mm Type 1 machine gun ( turrets in the dorsal)
- 2 x 7.92 mm Type 98 machine gun ( turrets in the nose ,under the fuselage)
- Bomb Load
- Standard 400 kg
- Maximum 800 kg
Rifle firing range
Armour
- armor plates 6.5mm, 12.5mm and 16.5mm thick
Arrangement of armor plates
Special thanks to the user
Summary
The Kawasaki Ki-48-IIa would be a very interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft would be very similar to the Ki-48-II otsu, which is a premium aircraft. The Ki-48-IIa version provides a larger bomb load and better defensive armament (front gunner), but does not have a guided missile. It would be a very useful low-age bomber. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
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
九九式双発軽爆撃機 - Wikipedia
Kawasaki Ki-48 - Wikipedia
Kawasaki Ki 48-IIa Sókei [Lily] : Kawasaki (valka.cz)
Kawasaki Ki-48 LILY - light bomber (aviastar.org)
Kawasaki Ki 48 Lily (freeola.com)
Уголок неба ¦ Kawasaki Ki-48 (airwar.ru)
Japanese Aircraft of WWII: Kawasaki Ki-48
Kawasaki Ki-48 Sokei (Lily) Fast-Bomber / Dive Bomber Aircraft (militaryfactory.com)
Kawasaki Ki-48 Sokei Light bomber (airpages.ru)
Kawasaki Ki-48 Sokei (Lily): Photos, History, Specification
Kawasaki Ki-48 - Japan - War Thunder - Official Forum
Book sources
- Japanese Aircraft of Wolrld War II : 1937-1945 ,Thomas Newdick, Edition 2 2017, page 19
- Japanese aircraft manual.* Report No. 1o(10), USSBS Index Section 2. Frame Number 157-160.
国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション (ndl.go.jp) - Manual on Japanese aircraft, TAIC No. 1, July 1945.* Report No. 9-a(43), USSBS Index Section 6. Frame Number 123-126.
https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/4009755/1/125?itemId=info:ndljp/pid/4009755&contentNo=125&__lang=en - Manual for operating Type 99 (Models 1 and 2), twin-engined light bomber, published by Tokorozawa Army Air Maintenance school, October 1944. Report No. 15n(13), USSBS Index Section 2
Manual for operating Type 99 (Models 1 and 2), twin-engined light bomber, published by Tokorozawa Army Air Maintenance school, October 1944. Report No. 15n(13), USSBS Index Section 2 (文書名:Records of the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey ; Entry 41, Pacific Survey Reports and Supporting Records 1928-1947 = 米国戦略爆撃調査団文書 ; 太平洋地域調査報告書及び作成用資料) (シリーズ名: The Aircraft Industry (final report and original draft): Publications and manuals in Japanese only) - 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション (ndl.go.jp)
