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Nakajima Ki-84

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Ki-84
File:Ki-84.jpg
Ki-84, 73rd Hiko Sentai, Philippines.
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Nakajima
First flight March 1943
Retired 1945 (Japan)
Primary user Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Number built 3,514

The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (疾風, "Gale") was a single-seat fighter used by the Japanese Imperial Army in World War II. The Allied codename was "Frank"; the Japanese Army designation was Type 4 Fighter (四式戦闘機). When it entered service in late 1943 it was considered Japan's best fighter, thanks to its maneuvrability, excellent performance and powerful armament, which made it able to face any Allied fighter and engage the B-29 at high altitude. Despite a weak undercarriage, some engine failures and little accuracy in production, the Hayates that arrived in the Philippines proved to be a very difficult opponent for American pilots. [1]

Design and development

Ki-84s and Ki-43s photographed on a JAAF base in Korea post-war. The Ki-84 in the foreground is from the 85th Hiko-Sentai, the next one in line belonged to the 22nd Hiko-Sentai HQ Chutai.

Design of the Ki-84 commenced in early 1942 to meet an Imperial Japanese Army Air Service requirement for a replacement for Nakajima's Ki-43 Hayabusa, just entering service. The specification recognised the need to combine the maneuverability of the Ki-43 with performance to match the best western fighters and heavy firepower.[2] The Ki-84 first flew in March 1943.[3] Although the design itself was solid, the shortage of fuel and construction materials, poor production quality, and lack of skilled pilots prevented the fighter from reaching its potential. 3,514 were produced.

The Ki-84 addressed the most common complaints about the popular and highly maneuverable Ki-43: insufficient firepower, poor defensive armor, and lack of climbing power. The Ki-84 was introduced with two 12.7 mm (.50 in) machine guns and two 20 mm cannons, a considerable improvement over the single 7.7 mm (.303 in) and single 12.7 mm (.50 in) machine guns of the Hayabusa. Defensive armor offered Hayate pilots better protection than the unsealed wing tanks and light-alloy airframe of the Ki-43. In addition, the Ki-84 used a 65 mm (2.56 in) armor-glass canopy, 13 mm (.51 in) of head and back armor, and multiple bulkheads in the fuselage, which protected both the methanol-water tank (used to increase the effectiveness of the supercharger) and the centrally-located fuel tank.

It was the powerplant that gave the Hayate its high speed and prowess in combat. Derived from the Homare engine common to many Japanese aircraft, the Hayate used a direct-injection version of the engine, using water injection to aid the supercharger in giving the Ki-84 a rated 1,491 kW (2,000 hp) at takeoff. This combination - in theory, at least - gave it a climb rate and top speed roughly competitive with the top Allied fighters of the late Pacific theater, the P-51D Mustang and P-47D Thunderbolt (with top speeds of 703 km/h/437 mph and 686 km/h/426 mph, respectively). Initial Hayate testing at Tachikawa in early summer 1943 saw test pilot Lieutenant Funabashi reach a maximum level airspeed of 634 km/h (394 mph) in the second prototype, but after the war a captured example was tested by the U.S. Army achieved a speed of 690 km/h (430 mph).

The complicated direct-injection engine, however, required a great deal of care in construction and maintenance and, as the Allies advanced toward the Japanese homeland, it became increasingly difficult to support the type's designed performance. Compounding reliability issues was the Allied submarine blockade which prevented delivery of crucial components, such as the landing gear. Many further landing gear units were comprimised by the poor-quality heat treatment of late-war Japanese steel. Many Hayates consequently suffered strut collapses on landing.


Since the start, armament was more than adequate: four 12,7 mm. machine guns or two 12,7 machine-guns with two 20 mm cannons. Alternatively, four 20 mm. cannons or two 20 mm. coupled with two 30 mm. cannons. With such an armament, the Ki-84 was a deadly aircraft under every point of view, even in short lasting dog-fights. [4]

Camouflage and markings

The Ki-84 is known to have appeared in three Japanese Ministry of Munitions sanctioned camouflage schemes;

Type N: The entire airframe was left in its original natural metal. Because of the different grades of alloy used for various panels the overall finish soon weathered or oxodised to a pale metallic grey, with variations in shade and texture, depending on the grade of duraluminium used for each area of skin. A black "anti-glare" panel was painted on the top forward fuselage and engine cowling (see photo of 73 Hiko-Sentai aircraft).[5]

Type B: Irregular blotches or stripes of dark green on the basic natural metal scheme. This was applied once the aircraft reached its operational base. On occasion the edges of national (hinomaru) and Sentai markings were accidentally covered. [5]

Type S: Three variations were seen on Ki-84s; S1 - Dark green upper surfaces, with light grey/green lower surfaces. S2 - The light grey/green on the lower surfaces was replaced by a pale blue/grey. These colours were often applied on an unprimed airframe; because of this and the poor adhesion qualities of Japanese paints in the latter years of the war this scheme often weathered quickly, with large patches of natural metal being visible (see photo of 85 Hiko-Sentai Ki-84 on a Korean base). S10- The upper surfaces were left in a red/brown primer with the undersurfaces in natural metal. The black anti-glare panel was optional.[5]

Other schemes were applied, particularly by the Shinbu-Tai "Special Attack" units. For example, a Ki-84 of 57 Shinbu-Tai, flown by Corporal Takano, had very dark brown-green upper surfaces (some sources state black), with a large red "arrow" outlined in white painted along the entire length of the fuselage and engine cowling. White Kana characters "hitt-chin" (be sure to sink) were painted above the arrow on the rear fuselage. The undersurfaces were light grey.[6]

Factory applied markings included six hinomaru (national insignia), outlined with a 75 mm (2.95 in) white border on camouflaged aircraft, on either side of the rear fuselage and on the upper and lower outer wings. Yellow/orange identification strips were applied to the leading edges of wings, extending from the roots to ⅓ rd of the wingspan.[5]

It was a general rule that Japanese planes in overseas territories had a narrow white line called the "border break through line" or "field identification mark" surrounding their hinomaru; planes belonging to interception forces in Japan proper placed the insignia inside a white square (colloquially known as the "Homeland Defense bandage"), so antiaircraft defense units could more easily distinguish them from enemy planes.

The inside of the fuselage and the wheel cover wells were painted in a dark opaque bluish grey, and the propeller spinner was painted with a variety of colors based on the unit it belonged to.

Versions

Ki-84-a
Prototype.
Ki-84-b
Evaluation model.
Ki-84-c
Pre-production model.
Ki-84-Ia Hayate
Fighter Type 4 of Army. Armed with 2 × 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine guns and 2 × Ho-5 cannons in wings
Ki-84-Ib
Version armed with 4 × 20 mm Ho-5 cannons
Ki-84-Ic
Version against Bombers, with 2 × 20 mm Ho-5 cannons and 2 × 30 mm (1.18 in) Ho-155 cannons in wings.
Ki-84-Ia (Manshu Type)
Manufactured in Manchukuo for Mansyu by Nakajima License.
Ki-84-II
Similar to models mentioned above (Ki-84-Ia, -Ib, -Ic).
Ki-84 N/P/R
High altitude versions.
Ki-106
Prototypes in total wood construction.
Ki-113
Prototype similar at Ki-84-Ib in steel.
Ki-116
Evaluation model, equipped with Mitsubishi 62(Ha-33), 1,120 kW (1,500 hp).
Ki-117
Redesigning of Ki-84 N.

Operators

Wartime

 Japan

Post-war

 People's Republic of China
 China
 Indonesien
  • In 1945, Indonesian People's Security Force (IPSF) (Indonesian pro-independence guerrillas) captured a small number of aircraft at numerous Japanese air bases, including Bugis Air Base in Malang (repatriated 18 September 1945). Most aircraft were destroyed in military conflicts between the Netherlands and the newly proclaimed-Republic of Indonesia during the Indonesian National Revolution of 1945-1949.

Survivors

After the war a number of aircraft were tested by the allied forces, two at the Technical Air Intelligence Unit South-West Pacific Area (SWPA) as S10 and S17 and a further two in the United States as FE-301 and FE-302 (Later T2-301 and T2-302).

The aircraft now on exhibition at the Tokko Heiwa Kinen-kan Museum at Chiran in Japan is the former S17.[8] This is the same aircraft that used to be found in the Planes of Fame Museum and later in the Arashiyama Museum in Kyoto.[9]

Specifications (Ki-84-Ia)

General characteristics

  • Crew: One

Performance Armament

  • 2 × 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine guns in fuselage (350 rounds each)
  • 2 × 20 mm Ho-5 cannon in wings (150 rounds each)
  • 2 × 100 kg (220 lb) bombs
  • 2 × 250 kg (551 lb) bombs
  • 2 × 200 L (53 US gal) Drop tanks

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

Notes

  1. ^ Jeffrey L. Ethell.Aerei della seconda guerra mondiale. A.Vallardi / Colllins Jane's, 1996. pag.103
  2. ^ "The High Wind From Ota". Air International. Volume 10 No. 1, p. 22-29, 43-46.
  3. ^ Green, Willam (1961). Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters Volume Three. London: MacDonald.
  4. ^ Jeffrey L. Ethell.Aerei della seconda guerra mondiale. A.Vallardi / Colllins Jane's, 1996. pag.103
  5. ^ a b c d Fearis 1996, p.44.
  6. ^ Caruana 2004, pp.950-951.
  7. ^ Bueschel 1971, unit overview
  8. ^ Wieliczko 2005, p. 75.
  9. ^ Wieliczko 2005, p. 64-65.

Bibliography

  • Aeronautical Staff of Aero Publishers Inc. Nakajima KI-84 (Aero Series 2). Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1965. ISBN 0-81680-504-0.
  • Bueschel, Richard M. Nakajima Ki.84a/b Hayate in Japanese Army Air Force Service. Reading, Berkshire, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1971. ISBN 0-85045-044-6.
  • Caruana, Richard J. "The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate" Article and scale drawings. Scale Aviation Modeller International. Volume 10 Issue 10 October 2004. Bedford, UK.
  • Ethell, Jeffrey L. Aerei della seconda guerra mondiale. A.Vallardi / Colllins Jane's, 1996. ISBN 88-11-94026-5
  • Francillon, René J. The Nakajima Hayate (Aircraft in Profile number 70). Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1966.
  • Francillon, René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company, 1970 (2nd edition 1979). ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
  • Fearis, P. "The Emperor's Wings; The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate." Article and scale drawings. Scale Aviation Modeller. Volume 2 Issue 1 January 1996. Bedford, UK.
  • Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (seventh impression 1973). ISBN 0-356-01447-9.
  • Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: Japanese Army Fighters, Part 2. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1977. ISBN 0-354-01068-9.
  • Sakaida, Henry. Japanese Army Air Force Aces 1937-45. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-85532-529-2.
  • Thorpe, Donald W. Japanese Army Air Force Camouflage and markings World War II. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1968. ISBN 0-8168-6579-5.
  • Wieliczko, Leszek A. Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate. Lublin, Poland: Kagero, 2005. ISBN 83-89088-76-2. (Bilingual Polish/English)
  • Unknown Author Review in "AIRVIEW".
  • Various Authors. Yon-Shiki Sentoki Hayate (Pacific War No.46). Tokyo, Japan: Gakken, 2004. ISBN 4-05-603574-1.

Scale Modelling

  • Tamiya Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate 1/48 Scale Model Aircraft, Kit No. 6413 (Instruction paper)
  • Hasegawa 1/72 (kit #00134) and 1/48 and 1/32 scales
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