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Mansyū Ki-71 (キ71)
The Mansyū Ki-71 is a Japanese prototype attack aircraft based on the Mitsubishi Ki-51 aircraft, created in 1941. Three prototypes were created.
History
When the Ki-51 was introduced into service in 1939, people immediately began to look for a way to improve the flight performance of this aircraft. The Military Aviation Research Institute sought a solution to this problem and the Manchurian Special Aircraft Design Team found a simple solution to this problem in May 1940. Their solution was to replace the Mitsubishi Ha-26-II engine, has a more powerful Mitsubishi Ha-112 and use a retractable landing gear. On January 23, 1941, the Nagoya Military Air Force (陸軍航空工廠) was commissioned to produce prototypes of the new aircraft. Three prototypes were ready in mid-1941 and aircraft testing began immediately. Tests showed that the aircraft’s performance was framed, but the Army was not satisfied. The reason for the army’s dissatisfaction was the increase in speed by only about 40 km/h. Therefore, the army did not accept the aircraft for service, but this did not lead to the end of the Ki-71 project. In the following years, the Military Aviation Arsenal tested the aircraft itself, for example in winter conditions. However, in mid-1943, the Japanese army decided to eliminate military reconnaissance aircraft, which led to the completion of all work on the Ki-71.
Art about the Ki-71
Construction description
The Ki-71 aircraft is based on the Mitsubishi Ki-51 aircraft, but there are a few differences between them, which I will describe here.
- Changed Mitsubishi Ha-26-II engine to Mitsubishi Ha-112 engine
- Mounted Hydraulically retractable landing gear
- Propeller diameter increased from 2,9 m to 3 m
- The aircraft received more powerful armament compared to the early Ki-51 (more on armament later)
Technical sketches
Armament
The Ki-71 is armed with two 12.7 mm Ho-103 fixed machine guns in the wings and one 7.7 mm machine gun for self-defense (probably Type 89 or Type 92). Many non-Japanese sources claim that the aircraft was armed with 20 mm cannons, but no Japanese source confirms this information. The bomber armament was the same as the Ki-51 with the ability to mount a 250 kg bomb.
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 9,21 m
- Wingspan: 12,10 m
- Height: 3,73 m
- Wing area: 24,8 m2
- Empty weight: 2,225 kg
- Gross weight: 3,169 kg
- Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi Ha-112 engine with 1300 hp
- Propellers: three-blade propeller with a constant speed of rotation with a diameter of 3,00 mm.
Performance
- Maximum speed: 470 km/h
- Range: ?
- Service ceiling: 10,300 m
Armament
- Guns:
- 2 x 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine guns in the wings
- 1 x 7.7mm Type 89 or Type 92 movable machine gun at the rear of the cockpit
- bombs
- 1 x 250kg under the fuselage
- 2 x 100kg under the wings
- 4 x 50kg under the wings
- 12 x 15kg under the wings
Armor
- Pilot’s seat armor
- Chair headrest: 7mm
- Seat backrest: 7mm
- Seat: 7mm
- Hull Armor
Armor protecting the engine, front part of the hull, cockpit and fuel tanks from below:
- Armor Thickness: 6,5mm
Summary
The Ki-71 is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. In fact, it is a slightly better Ki-51 that will provide useful CAS support for Japan. It is an aircraft with an interesting history, which would be nice to see in War Thunder, for example, as a premium aircraft. 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
キ71 (航空機) - Wikipedia
Ki-71, proposed successor to Ki-51 Sonia | Secret Projects Forum
Mitsubishi Ki-71 ‘Edna’ (historyofwar.org)
Manshu Ki 71 [Edna] : Manshu (valka.cz)
Manshyu Ki.71 (Edna) Info (daveswarbirds.com)
experimenteller Nahaufklärer Ki-71 (ww2technik.de)
Book sources
- The Xplanes of Imperial Japanese Army & Navy 1924-1945 page 56
- Japanese Aircraft of Wolrld War II : 1937-1945 ,Thomas Newdick, Edition 2 2017, page 18
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
