Kawasaki Ki 61 Hein "Tony"

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Designed the Ha-40, a licensed built Daimler-Benz 601 engine, the Ki-61 performed well when tested against a captured P-40E and a Bf 109E that had been shipped in by submarine for evaluation (800 MG 151/20 cannon were also aboard this submarine). Introduced into combat in 1943, the Tony saw constant action against the Allied advance.

In 1945 the allies succeeded in destroying production of the Ha-140 engine, Kawasaki took 275 completed airframes and fitted the Mitsubishi Ha-112-II radial engine. The lashed together fighter surprised everyone by being the most formidable fighter ever produced by the Japanese. The first unit to be equipped with this fighter engaged US Navy fighters over Okinawa, destroying 14 Hellcats with no losses to themselves. This easily flown and serviced fighter fought well against the allies till the end, but did not exist in sufficient numbers to affect the outcome.

Type: Single-seat fighter

Allied Code Name: Tony

Engine:1

Kawasaki Ha-40 inverted V12 liquid cooled

1,175 hp

Dimensions:

Wing span: 39 ft. 4½ in. (12m)

Length: 29 ft. 4 in. (8.94m)

Height: 12 ft. 2 in. (20.00m)

Weight:

Loaded : 7,650 lb.. (3470 kg)

Performance:

Speed : 348 mph (560 km/h)

Ceiling : 32,800 ft. (10,000m)

Range: 1,100 Miles (1800 km)

Armament:

Ki-61-Ia:

Two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon in wings (German supplied)

Two 7.7mm machine guns above engines


	Classic Combat Aircraft \| home Kawasaki Ki 61 Hein "Tony" Designed the Ha-40, a licensed built Daimler-Benz 601 engine, the Ki-61 performed well when tested against a captured P-40E and a Bf 109E that had been shipped in by submarine for evaluation (800 MG 151/20 cannon were also aboard this submarine). Introduced into combat in 1943, the Tony saw constant action against the Allied advance. In 1945 the allies succeeded in destroying production of the Ha-140 engine, Kawasaki took 275 completed airframes and fitted the Mitsubishi Ha-112-II radial engine. The lashed together fighter surprised everyone by being the most formidable fighter ever produced by the Japanese. The first unit to be equipped with this fighter engaged US Navy fighters over Okinawa, destroying 14 Hellcats with no losses to themselves. This easily flown and serviced fighter fought well against the allies till the end, but did not exist in sufficient numbers to affect the outcome. Type: Single-seat fighter Allied Code Name: Tony Engine:1 Kawasaki Ha-40 inverted V12 liquid cooled 1,175 hp Dimensions: Wing span: 39 ft. 4½ in. (12m) Length: 29 ft. 4 in. (8.94m) Height: 12 ft. 2 in. (20.00m) Weight: Loaded : 7,650 lb.. (3470 kg) Performance: Speed : 348 mph (560 km/h) Ceiling : 32,800 ft. (10,000m) Range: 1,100 Miles (1800 km) Armament: Ki-61-Ia: Two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon in wings (German supplied) Two 7.7mm machine guns above engines