Mitsubishi Ki-30

Ki-30

Mitsubishi Ki-30
Role	Light bomber
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi
First flight	28 February 1937
Introduction	January 1938
Primary users	Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Royal Thai Air Force
Produced	1938-1941
Number built	704

The Mitsubishi Ki-30 (九七式軽爆撃機, Kyunana-shiki keibakugekiki) 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.

Design and development

The Ki-30 was developed in response to a May 1936 Imperial Japanese Army specification to replace the Kawasaki Ki-3 light bomber with a completely indigenously designed and built aircraft. Mitsubishi and Kawasaki were requested to build two prototypes each by December 1936. The specification called for a top speed of 400 km/h (250 mph) at 3,000 m (9,840 ft); normal operating altitude from 2,000 m (6,560 ft) to 4,000 m (13,130 ft), the ability to climb to 3,000 m (9,840 ft) within eight minutes and an engine to be selected from the 634 kW (850 hp) Mitsubishi Ha-6 radial, 615 kW (825 hp) Nakajima Ha-5 radial, or 634 kW (850 hp) Kawasaki Ha-9-IIb liquid-cooled inline engines, a normal bomb load of 300 kg (660 lb) and a maximum of 450 kg (990 lb), one forward-firing machine gun and one flexible rearward-firing machine gun, the ability to perform 60° dives for dive bombing, and a loaded weight less than 3,300 kg (7,280 lb).^[1]

The first Mitsubishi prototype flew on 28 February 1937 powered by a Mitsubishi Ha-6 radial. Originally, designed with a retractable main landing gear, wind tunnel tests indicated that the gain in speed was minimal due to the landing gear's extra weight and complexity and a fixed arrangement with "spatted" main wheels was chosen instead. The wing was mounted at a point above the line of the aircraft's belly in order fully enclose the bomb bay within the fuselage. The pilot sat just above the leading edge of the wing, and the rear-gunner/radio-operator just behind the wing trailing edge, in a long "greenhouse" canopy which gave both crewmen excellent all-around vision. The Ha-6 engine drove a three-blade variable-pitch propeller.^[2]

A second prototype, fitted with the slightly more powerful Nakajima Ha-5 engine, was completed the same month. Although two months behind schedule and overweight, both prototypes met or exceeded every other requirement. The second prototype's top speed of 423 km/h (263 mph) at 4,000 m (13,130 ft) led the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force to place an order for 16 service trials machines. These were delivered in January 1938 and the result of the trials was that the Army ordered the Ki-30 into production in March under the designation Army Type 97 Light bomber.^[3]

Mitsubishi built 618 production machines through April 1940, and the 1st Army Air Arsenal (Tachikawa Dai-Ichi Rikugun Kokusho) built 68 more by the time production ceased in September 1941. Including prototypes, a total of 704 Ki-30s were built.^[4]

Operational history

Japanese Army Air Force Mitsubishi Ki-30 (Allied code name “Ann”) bombers flying over the main line on Bataan in 1942.

The Ki-30s were first used in combat in Second Sino-Japanese War from spring 1938. It proved to be reliable in rough field operations, and highly effective while operating with fighter escort. This success continued in the early stages of the Pacific War, and the Ki-30s participated extensively in operations in the Philippines. However, once unescorted Ki-30s met Allied fighters, losses mounted rapidly and the type was soon withdrawn to second-line duties. By the end of 1942, most Ki-30s were relegated to a training role. Many aircraft were expended in kamikaze attacks towards the end of the war.^[5]

From late 1940, the Ki-30 was in service with the Royal Thai Air Force, and saw combat in January 1941 against the French in French Indochina in the French-Thai War. Additional Ki-30s were transferred from Japan in 1942.

Operators

World War II

Japan

Imperial Japanese Army Air Force^[5]
- No. 82 Dokuritsu Hikō Chutai IJAAF
- No. 87 Dokuritsu Hikō Chutai IJAAF
- No. 6 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
- No. 16 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
- No. 31 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
- No. 32 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
- No. 35 Hikō Sentai IJAAF
- No. 90 Hikō Sentai IJAAF

Thailand

Royal Thai Air Force

Post-war

People's Republic of China

Chinese Communist Air Force - Operated three captured Ki-30s used as trainers until the early 1950s.

Indonesia

Indonesian Air Force

Specifications (Ki-30)

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War^[6]

General characteristics

Crew: 2, pilot and observer/bomb aimer
Length: 10.35 m (33 ft 11.5 in)
Wingspan: 14.55 m (47 ft 8.75 in)
Height: 3.65 m (11 ft 11.75 in)
Wing area: 30.58 m² (329.17 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,230 kg (4,916 lb)
Loaded weight: 3,320 kg (7,324 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Ha-5-kai 14-cylinder double-row air-cooled radial engine, 708 kW (950 hp)

Performance

Never exceed speed: 442 km/h (239 kn, 275 mph)
Maximum speed: 423 km/h (228 kn, 263 mph)
Cruise speed: 380 km/h (205 kn, 236 mph)
Range: 1,700 km (918 nmi, 1,066 mi)
Service ceiling: 8,570 m (28,115 ft)
Rate of climb: 8.33 m/s (1,640 ft/min)
Wing loading: 108.6 kg/m² (22.3 lb/ft²)

Armament

2× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 89 machine guns (one fixed wing-mounted and another manually aimed from the rear cockpit)
400 kg (882 lb) bombload

References

Notes

↑ Francillon 1979, p. 165.
↑ Francillon 1979, pp. 165–166.
↑ Francillon 1979, p. 166.
↑ Francillon 1979, p. 168.
1 2 Francillon 1979, p. 167.
↑ Francillon 1979, pp. 167–168.

Bibliography

Francillon, Ph.D., René J. (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
Gunston, Bill (1999). The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Zenith Press. ISBN 0-86101-390-5.
Lake, Jon (2002). Great Book of Bombers. London: Zenith Press. ISBN 0-7603-1347-4.
Mikesh, Robert C.; Shorzoe Abe (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-563-2.
Mondey, David (2002). The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press. ISBN 1-85152-966-7.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitsubishi Ki-30.

Aircraft produced by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation

Company designations

Imperial Japanese Army short designations

Imperial Japanese Navy short designations

Carrier fighters	A5M A6M A7M

Carrier Torpedo Bombers	B1M B2M B4M B5M

Reconnaissance aircraft	C1M C5M

Carrier dive bombers	D3M

Observation seaplanes	F1M

Land-based Attack Bombers	G1M G3M G4M G6M G7M

Interceptors	J2M J4M J8M

Transports	L4M

Trainers	K3M K6M K7M

Patrol Aircraft	Q2M

World War II Allied reporting names

Japanese Self-Defense Force designations

Imperial Japanese Army Air Service aircraft designations

1-50	Ki-1 Ki-2 Ki-3 Ki-4 Ki-5 Ki-6 Ki-7 Ki-8 Ki-9 Ki-10 Ki-11 Ki-12 Ki-13 Ki-14 Ki-15 Ki-16 Ki-17 Ki-18 Ki-19 Ki-20 Ki-21 Ki-22 Ki-23 Ki-24 Ki-25 Ki-26 Ki-27 Ki-28 Ki-29 Ki-30 Ki-31 Ki-32 Ki-33 Ki-34 Ki-35 Ki-36 Ki-37 Ki-38 Ki-39 Ki-40 Ki-41 Ki-42 Ki-43 Ki-44 Ki-45 Ki-46 Ki-47 Ki-48 Ki-49 Ki-50

51-100	Ki-51 Ki-52 Ki-53 Ki-54 Ki-55 Ki-56 Ki-57 Ki-58 Ki-59 Ki-60 Ki-61 Ki-62 Ki-63 Ki-64 Ki-66 Ki-67 Ki-68 Ki-69 Ki-70 Ki-71 Ki-72 Ki-73 Ki-74 Ki-75 Ki-76 Ki-77 Ki-78 Ki-79 Ki-80 Ki-81 Ki-82 Ki-83 Ki-84 Ki-85 Ki-86 Ki-87 Ki-88 Ki-89 Ki-90 Ki-91 Ki-92 Ki-93 Ki-94 Ki-95 Ki-96 Ki-97 Ki-98 Ki-99 Ki-100

100-	Ki-101 Ki-102 Ki-103 Ki-105 Ki-106 Ki-107 Ki-108 Ki-109 Ki-110 Ki-111 Ki-112 Ki-113 Ki-114 Ki-115 Ki-116 Ki-117 Ki-118 Ki-119 Ki-148 Ki-167 Ki-174 Ki-200 Ki-201 Ki-202 Ki-230

World War II Allied reporting names for Japanese aircraft

Aircraft in Japanese service	Abdul Alf Ann Babs Baka Belle Betty Bob Buzzard Cedar Cherry Clara Claude Cypress Dave Dick Dinah Dot Edna Emily Eva Eve Frances Frank Gander George Glen Goose Grace Gwen Hamp Hank Hap Helen Hickory Ida (Tachikawa Ki-36) Ida (Tachikawa Ki-55) Irving Jack Jake Jane Jean Jerry Jill Jim Judy Kate Kate 61 Laura Lily Liz Lorna Loise Louise Luke Mabel Mary Mavis Myrt Nate Nell Nick Norm Oak Oscar Pat Patsy Paul Peggy Perry Pete Pine Rex Rita Rob Rufe Ruth Sally Sally III Sam Sandy Slim Sonia Spruce Stella Steve Susie Tabby Tess Thalia Thelma Theresa Thora Tina Tillie Toby Tojo Tony Topsy Val Willow Zeke Zeke 32

Nonexistent aircraft thought to be in Japanese service	Adam Ben Doris Gus Harry Ione Joe Joyce Julia June Norma Omar Ray

Foreign aircraft erroneously thought to be in Japanese service	Bess (Heinkel He 111) Doc (Messerschmitt Bf 110) Fred (Focke Wulf Fw 190A-5) Irene (Junkers Ju 87A) Janice (Junkers Ju 88A-5) Mike (Messerschmitt Bf 109E) Millie (Vultee V-11GB) Trixie (Junkers Ju 52/3m) Trudy (Focke Wulf Fw 200 Kondor)

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