Kawasaki Ki-102

Ki-102
Kawasaki Ki-102b assault plane Model b
Role Ground attack and night fighter
National origin Japan
Manufacturer Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K.
First flight 1944
Introduction 1944
Retired 1945
Primary user Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Number built 238
Developed from Kawasaki Ki-96

The Kawasaki Ki-102 (Army Type 4 assault aircraft) was a Japanese warplane of World War II. It was a twin-engine, two-seat, long-range heavy fighter developed to replace the Ki-45 Toryu. Three versions were planned: the Ki-102a day fighter, Ki-102b ground-attack and Ki-102c night fighter. This aircraft's Allied reporting name was "Randy".

Design and history

It entered service in 1944, but saw limited action. The main type (102b) was kept in reserve to protect Japan, although it did see some limited duty in the Okinawa campaign. It was kept out of front line service because it was hoped that it would be the carrier of the Igo-1-B air-to-ground guided missile when the Allied invasion of Japan occurred.

Variants

Ki-102
prototypes, 3 built
Ki-102a (Type Kō)
Externally similar to the 102b, but with turbosuperchargers that enabled the engine to maintain its rating at higher altitudes. The 57 mm (2.24 in) cannon was swapped in favor of a 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon, and the 12.7 mm (.50 in) rear gun was deleted, 26 built.
Ki-102b (Type Otsu)
Ground-attack variant similar to prototypes, except with revised tail wheel, 207 built
Ki-102c (Type Hei)
Night fighter version with lengthened fuselage and span. Radar under a Plexiglas dome, oblique-firing 20 mm cannons, and the 20 mm cannons in the belly replaced with 30 mm (1.18 in) cannons in Schräge Musik behind the cockpit, two built.
Ki-108
High-altitude fighter prototype with pressurised cabin, two conversions from Ki-102b aircraft using the structural improvements used on the 102c.
Ki-108 Kai
Improved version of the Ki-108 with longer fuselage and enlarged wings. Two built.

Specifications (Ki-102b)

Ki-102 in USAAF markings after the war

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[1]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 1 × 57 mm (2.24 in) Ho-401 cannon—replaced in the 102a with a 37 mm (1.46 in) Ho-203 cannon, deleted in the 102c
    • 2 × 20 mm Ho-5 cannon in the belly—replaced in the 102c with 30 mm (1.18 in) cannons in the package, plus oblique-firing 2 × 20 mm cannons
    • 1 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Ho-103 machine gun—deleted in the 102a and 102c
  • Bombs:
    • 2 × 200 L (53 US gal) drop tanks; or
    • 2 × 250 kg (551 lb) bombs or
    • 1 × Kawasaki Igo-1b guided missile

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Francillon1979, pp. 137–138.

Bibliography

  • Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam and Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
  • Green, William. Warplanes 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 1. London: Macdonald and Jane's, 1976. ISBN 0-356-08224-5.
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