Ki-73 | |
---|---|
General information | |
National origin | Japan |
Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Aircraft Company |
Designer | Tomio Kubo |
Status | Cancelled / abandoned in 1945 |
Primary user | Imperial Japanese Army Air Service |
Number built | Partially prototype developed |
The Mitsubishi Ki-73, Allied reporting name "Steve", was a single-engine super high-speed long-range escort fighter designed by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company for use by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service in World War II. The plane only reached the partially prototype development before being abandoned and cancelled. The design and the developed prototype was built as a response to a specification for a single-engined long range escort fighter in May 1943. The Ki-73 was designed by Tomio Kubo, who was also responsible for the Mitsubishi Ki-46 and the Mitsubishi Ki-83 twin engine fighters. The need for the Ki-73 came from heavy losses to Japanese bombers in the Pacific War from Allied fighter planes. The war ended on 2 September 1945, before any farther development was completed on the Ki-73. [1] [2]
The Mitsubishi Ki-73 was a standard monoplane design with a tail dragger configuration. The Ki-73 was designed with contra-rotating propellers, using two three bladed propellers. The two propellers were driven by a Mitsubishi Ha-203-II engine. The super speed Mitsubishi Ha-203-II engine had 2,600 hp derived from a liquid-cooled engine with 24 cylinders in a horizontal H. The high power engine would have given the plane a top speed of 750 km/h (466 MPH). The plane would have four 20 mm (0.79 in) Ho-5 cannons, two per wing. The Mitsubishi Ha-203-II engine had many problems in development. This complex type engine with two 12 inline cylinders in a horizontal H configuration was successfully built by D. Napier & Son in the Napier Sabre engine and used in the British Hawker Typhoon and Hawker Tempest during the war. Due to the Mitsubishi Ha-203-II engine development problems, Tomio Kubo departed the Ki-73 project and worked on the twin engine Ki-83, which reached the complete prototype stage, but was not produced. The Mitsubishi Ki-73 was given the Allied code name Steve. The United States Army gave the plane a code name as captured documents made its development seen to be near completion. [1] [2]
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
The Mitsubishi J8M Shūsui is a Japanese World War II rocket-powered interceptor aircraft closely based on the German Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet. Built as a joint project for both the Navy and the Army Air Services, it was designated J8M (Navy) and Ki-200 (Army).
The Nakajima Aircraft Company was a prominent Japanese aircraft manufacturer and aviation engine manufacturer throughout World War II. It continues as the car and aircraft manufacturer Subaru.
The Mitsubishi A7MReppū was designed as the successor to the Imperial Japanese Navy's A6M Zero, with development beginning in 1942. Performance objectives were to achieve superior speed, climb, diving, and armament over the Zero, as well as better maneuverability – all parameters that were ultimately achieved towards the end of its development in 1945. However, limitations on Japanese industry towards the end of the war prevented the A7M from ever entering mass production or being deployed for active duty, and it never saw active service. Its Allied reporting name was "Sam".
The Nakajima Ki-116 was a late-World War II aircraft developed for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. It was essentially a Ki-84 Hayate with the Nakajima Ha-45 engine replaced with a Mitsubishi Ha-112. The design was handled by Mansyū Aircraft in Manchukuo, and thus it is often designated Mansyū Ki-116.
The Kawasaki Ki-100 (キ100) is a single-seat single-engine monoplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) during World War II. The Japanese Army designation was "Type 5 Fighter". It was not assigned an Allied code name.
The Mitsubishi Ki-46 was a twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft that was used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. Its Army Shiki designation was Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft (一〇〇式司令部偵察機); the Allied brevity code name was "Dinah".
The Mitsubishi Ki-67Hiryū was a twin-engine bomber produced by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company and used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. While its original official designation was "Army Type 4 Heavy Bomber", in all of its key parameters, the Ki-67 was similar to the contemporaneous medium bombers of other countries. Japanese Navy variants included the P2M and Q2M.
The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate is a single-seat fighter flown by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service in the last two years of World War II. The Allied reporting name was "Frank"; the Japanese Army designation was Army Type 4 Fighter. The Ki-84 is generally considered the best Japanese fighter to operate in large numbers during the conflict. The aircraft boasted high speed and excellent maneuverability with an armament that gave it formidable firepower. The Ki-84's performance matched that of any single-engine Allied fighter it faced, and its operational ceiling enabled it to intercept high-flying B-29 Superfortress bombers. Pilots and crews in the field learned to take care with the plane's high-maintenance Nakajima Homare engine and landing gear prone to buckling. The difficulties of Japan's situation late in the war took a toll on the aircraft's field performance as manufacturing defects multiplied, good quality fuel proved difficult to procure, and experienced pilots grew scarce. Nevertheless, a well-maintained Ki-84 was Japan's fastest fighter. A total of 3,514 aircraft were built.
The Nakajima J1N1 Gekkō is a twin-engine aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. A prototype first flew in May 1941. The first full production variant of the Gekkō, the J1N1-C was a reconnaissance aircraft, although many of these underwent field modification into night fighters; in addition, a night fighter variant, the J1N1-S was later put into production. Towards the end of the war, J1N1 pilots also undertook kamikaze anti-shipping missions. The Gekkō was given the Allied reporting name "Irving".
The Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu is a two-seat, twin-engine heavy fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. The army gave it the designation "Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter"; the Allied reporting name was "Nick". Originally serving as a long-range escort-fighter, the design — as with most heavy fighters of the period — fell prey to smaller, lighter, more agile single-engine fighters. As such, the Ki-45 instead served as a day and nighttime interceptor and strike fighter.
The Mitsubishi Ki-51 was a light bomber/dive bomber in service with the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. It first flew in mid-1939. Initially deployed against Chinese forces, it proved to be too slow to hold up against the fighter aircraft of the other Allied powers. However, it performed a useful ground-attack role in the China-Burma-India theater, notably from airfields too rough for many other aircraft. As the war drew to a close, the Japanese began using them in kamikaze attacks. Total production was around 2,385 units.
The Kawasaki Ki-102 or Type 4 Attack Plane 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-102 Kō day fighter, Ki-102 Otsu ground-attack and Ki-102 Hei night fighter. This aircraft's Allied reporting name was "Randy".
The Mitsubishi Ki-21, formal designation "Type 97 Heavy Bomber" was a Japanese heavy bomber during World War II. It began operations during the Second Sino-Japanese War participating in the Nomonhan Incident, and in the first stages of the Pacific War, including the Malayan, Burmese, Dutch East Indies and New Guinea Campaigns. It was also used to attack targets as far-flung as western China, India and northern Australia. The Allies designated it under the reporting names "Sally" /"Gwen".
The Kawasaki Ki-96 was a Japanese single seat, twin-engine heavy fighter of World War II. It was intended to replace the Kawasaki Ki-45s of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service. However, it was not adopted and only three prototypes were built.
The Nakajima Ki-49Donryu was a twin-engine Japanese World War II heavy bomber. It was designed to carry out daylight bombing missions, without the protection of escort fighters. Consequently, while its official designation, Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber, was accurate in regard to its formidable defensive armament and armor, these features restricted the Ki-49 to payloads comparable to those of lighter medium bombers – the initial production variant could carry only 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of bombs.
The Mitsubishi Ki-30 was a Japanese light bomber of World War II. It was a single-engine, mid-wing, cantilever monoplane of stressed-skin construction with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage and a long transparent cockpit canopy. The type had significance in being the first Japanese aircraft to be powered by a modern two-row radial engine. During the war, it was known by the Allies by the name Ann. It was mistakenly identified by the British as the Mitsubishi Army 97 Ann.
The Mitsubishi Ki-15Army Type 97 Command Reconnaissance aircraft was a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft and a light attack bomber of the Second Sino-Japanese War and Pacific War. It began as a fast civilian mail-plane. It was a single-engine, low-wing, cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage; it carried a crew of two. It served with both the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. During World War II it was code-named "Babs" by the Allies.
The Mitsubishi Ki-83 (キ83) was a Japanese experimental long range heavy fighter designed near the end of World War II. It did not reach production status.
The Kawasaki Ha40, also known as the Army Type 2 1,100 hp Liquid Cooled In-line and Ha-60, was a license-built Daimler-Benz DB 601Aa 12-cylinder liquid-cooled inverted-vee aircraft engine. The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) selected the engine to power its Kawasaki Ki-61 fighter.
The Kawanishi J6K1 Jinpu ("Squall") was an interceptor fighter design developed by the Japanese company Kawanishi Kōkūki KK in the early 1940s. It was based on the earlier Kawanishi J3K.