Mitsubishi Ki-51

Ki-51

Mitsubishi Ki-51
Role	light bomber/dive bomber
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Jukogyo KK
First flight	mid-1939
Primary user	Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Number built	2,385^[1]

The Mitsubishi Ki-51 (Army designation "Type 99 Assault Plane". Allied nickname "Sonia") 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, they began to be used in kamikaze attacks. Total production was around 2,385 units.

On the day Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb, two Ki-51s scored the last Japanese sinking of a US warship, sinking USS Bullhead (SS-332) with all hands.

Charles Lindbergh, flying a P-38 Lightning shot down a Ki-51 after a vigorous dogfight in which the much slower Ki-51 utilized its low speed maneuverability and made a fight of it.

Versions

Prototypes: two built
Service trials: 11 built
Ki-51: 2,372 built (Manufacturers: Mitsubishi (1,462), Tachikawa Army Air Arsenal (913))
Mansyu Ki-71: three prototypes of a tactical reconnaissance variant built by Mansyu with a retractable landing gear, did not enter production.^[2]
Reconnaissance Version Ki-51A
Assault Version Ki-51B. The assault version had armor plating protecting the pilot and oil tanks, and bomb racks to carry 441 lbs of bombs. This version could be modified in the field to carry an aerial camera.

Operators

Japan

Imperial Japanese Army Air Force

Indonesia

Indonesian Air Force - In 1945, Indonesian People's Security Force (IPSF) (Indonesian anti-Dutch Militia) 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. With 2 units of Yokosuka K5Y "Cureng", one surviving Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Guntei" also involved in bombing operation against Dutch in July 29, 1947.

China

Communist Chinese (captured): The last 4 Ki-51s retired in 1953.

Republic of China

Republic of China Air Force - After the Japanese surrender the Nationalists captured a small number of Ki 51s which were used during the Chinese Civil War.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

After their independence, obtained from the Soviet Union.

Specifications (Ki-51)

Mitsubishi Ki-51 planes at the Seoul airport, 1945

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War^[3]

General characteristics

Crew: Two
Length: 9.21 m (30 ft 2⅝ in)
Wingspan: 12.1 m (39 ft 8⅜ in)
Height: 2.73 m (8 ft 11½ in)
Wing area: 24.0 m² (259 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,873 kg (4,129 lb)
Loaded weight: 2,798 kg (6,169 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,920 kg (6,415 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi Ha-26-II 14 cylinder air cooled radial engine, 709 kW (950 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 424 km/h at 3 000 m (229 kn, 263 mph at 9,840 ft)
Range: 1,060 km (574 nmi, 660 mi)
Service ceiling: 8,270 m (27,130 ft)
Wing loading: 117 kg/m² (23.8 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.24 kW/kg (0.15 hp/lb)
Climb to 5,000 m (16,400 ft): 9 min 55 sec

Armament

Guns:
- 2× fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 89 machine guns (replaced with 2× 12.7 mm (.5 in) Ho-103 machine guns in later models)
- 1× 7.7 mm (.303 in) Te-4 Machine gun rearward-firing machine gun.
Bombs: 200 kg (441 lb) bombs (normal operations); 250 kg (551 lb) for suicide operations^[3]

References

Notes

↑ Angelucci, Enzo (1988). Combat aircraft of World War II. p. 26. ISBN 0-517-64179-8.
↑ Francillon 1979, p. 180.
1 2 Francillon 1979, p. 181.

Bibliography

Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970. ISBN 0-370-00033-1 (2nd edition 1979, ISBN 0-370-30251-6).

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitsubishi Ki-51.

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

Aircraft produced by Tachikawa Aircraft Company

Imperial Japanese Army types	Ki-9 Ki-17 Ki-24 Ki-25 Ki-26 Ki-29 Ki-36 Ki-54 Ki-55 Ki-70 Ki-71 Ki-72 Ki-74 Ki-77 Ki-92 Ki-94 Ki-104 Ki-106 Ki-110 Ki-111 Ki-114 SS-1 T.S. 1

World War II Allied reporting names	Cedar Clara Hickory Ida (Ki-36) Ida (Ki-55) Pat Patsy Sonia Spruce

Aircraft produced by Mansyû (Manshū)

Imperial Japanese Army designations	Ki-71 Ki-79 Ki-98 Ki-116

Civil aircraft	Hayabusa

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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