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Nakajima Ki-84 Increased Prototype (キ84増加試作機）
The Ki-84 Increased Prototype was an additional prototype to the three prototypes; about 100 were produced from August 1943 to June 1944. They were used for various tests, as well as for unit training and actual combat.
History
On December 29, 1941, the Army informally notified Nakajima of the Ki-84 prototype, and design work began.Prototype 1 was completed in March 1943, and Prototypes 2 and 3 were completed in June 1943 after modifying the wing area from 19 m³ to 21 m³. The Increased Prototype was completed in August 1943, and approximately 100 aircraft were produced by June 1944. This became the de facto initial mass production model. (Mass production of the Ki-84-I Ko began in April 1944, so some of the production periods overlap.)
The engine was originally planned to be the Ha-45-21 (Homare 21), but due to difficulties in engine prototyping, the Ha-45 Toku (ハ45特, equivalent to the Homare 11) was used in the prototype. This allowed for increased prototyping while avoiding engine supply shortages, and the examination was completed on schedule and unit deployment could begin.
The Increased Prototype was used for various tests and also participated in troop training and actual combat. The production of Increased Prototype enabled us to set up production facilities and smoothly start mass production.
Some of the Increased Prototype aircraft later underwent engine and exhaust replacement, and some of them essentially became Ki-84-I Ko(a). The aircraft used for the Ki-84-I Hei(c) prototype is also considered to be an Increased Prototype.
Construction description
Modifications compared to the Ki-84-Ia (Ko):
- It is equipped with the Ha-45 Toku engine (takeoff power 1800 hp) instead of the Ha-45-21 (takeoff power 2000 hp).
- Collective exhaust pipe instead of single exhaust pipe.
- The rudder has a different shape, with the lower part protruding more aft.
- Bulletproof glass is optional. (Some units are equipped and some are not.)
- The bomb rack is small and cannot carry large bombs.
- Drop tanks cannot be equipped. Or, it can be equipped under the fuselage as an option.
- The link arm covers of the landing gear are movable rather than fixed in an inflated shape. As a result, the frontal projected area is smaller.
- There is a slit on the wheel cover for brake cooling.
- The nose muzzle cover juts out like a Ki-43. (During production, it was changed to the same shape as the Ki-84-Ia.)
- The headrests are in a simple form with only a bulletproof plate and a prop. (During production, it was changed to the same shape as the Ki-84-Ia.)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 9.92 m
- Wingspan: 11.24 m
- Height: 3.38 m
- Wing area: 21.0 m²
- Empty weight: 2,698 kg
- Gross weight: 3,890 kg
- Max takeoff weight: 4,170 ~ 4,405 kg
- Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Ha-45 Toku (take-off power 1,800 hp)
- Propellers: 4-blade propeller with constant speed of rotation with a diameter of 3,000 mm
Performance
- Maximum speed: 624 km/h@5,000m, 631 km/h@6,120m
- Cruising speed: ?
- Range: 1,400 km
- Service Ceiling: 10,500m
- Time to Climb: 6 minutes 26 seconds to 5,000m
Armament
- Guns:
- 2 x 12.7mm Ho-103 Machine Gun (350 rounds per gun) (in the nose)
- 2 x 20mm Ho-5 Cannon (150 rounds per cannon) (in the wings)
- Bombs:
- 2 x 30 kg
- 2 x 50 kg
- 2 x 100 kg (guess)
Armour
- 13 mm pilot seat and headrest
- Self-sealing fuel tanks
- 70mm bulletproof glass (optional)
Special thanks
Summary
The Nakajima Ki-84 Increased Prototype will be a very interesting aircraft for the Japanese tree in War Thunder. It is essentially the first production version of the Ki-84 series, and although inferior to the Ki-84-Ia, it has superior speed and identical firepower. I hope you will share your knowledge in the comments section and participate in the discussion.
Finally, since my native language is not English, I used the DeepL translation. Please note that there is a possibility of translation errors and misrepresentations.
Internet sources
Book sources
戦闘機疾風, 碇義朗, 廣済堂出版, 1977-6-30
世界の傑作機 No.19 陸軍4式戦闘機「疾風」, 文林堂, 1989-11-5
歴史群像 太平洋戦史シリーズVol.46 四式戦闘機疾風, 学習研究社, 2004-8-15
丸 8月別冊 決戦戦闘機「疾風」, 潮書房, 2011-8-15