Kawasaki Ki-10 "Perry"

Kawasaki Ki-10-I "Perry"

Introduction

The Kawasaki Ki-10 (or the Army Type 95 Fighter) was the best and last biplane fighter to serve in the Imperial Japanese Army. It was very maneuverable, and had a big influence on newer monoplane designs. It was built by the Kawasaki Kokuki Kogyo KK, and saw combat in Manchuria and China. The Allied code-name was “Perry”.

Design and Development

The Ki-10 was designed by Takeo Doi, who was the chief designer for Kawasaki. The design was made in response to a requirement issued by the IJA for a new fighter, which was to be equal in performance to that of the Hawker Fury and Boeing P-26 Peashooter. Kawasaki’s first design, an inverted gull-wing monoplane designated Ki-5, was rejected due to a lack of maneuverability. The IJA then ordered Kawasaki to design a high-performance biplane, leading to the design by Takeo Doi.

The Ki-10 was entered into a competition with the Nakajima Ki-11. Powered by a Kawasaki Ha-9-IIa and driving a two-bladed wooden propeller, the Nakajima design was faster. However, the Ki-10 won in maneuverability hands down, and it was accepted over the Ki-11.

The Ki-10 was a sesquiplane (wings of different lengths) design, the wings being braced by struts, and the ailerons only on the upper set of wings. The structure was all-metal and covered with fabric. The armament consisted of two 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns, which were synchronized to fire through the propeller. To increase the speed on the production aircraft, a three-bladed, metal propeller was used, along with flush-head rivets. Production of the Ki-10 began in 1935.

Several variants of the Ki-10 were made. The first production model was the Ki-10-I. Three hundred Ki-10-I’s were built between December 1935 and October 1937. In an attempt to clean up the Ki-10-I, a new version designated Ki-10-I Kai was produced from April till October 1936. This model had a new, low-drag, cantilever undercarriage installed. It also moved the radiator back to a new position between the undercarriage legs. The same engine was used, but the top speed was increased by 12.5mph.

The Ki-10-II was developed while the Ki-10-I was produced. It boasted a longer fuselage and larger wings, and was noticeably more stable. It was ordered into production as the Army Type 95 Model 2. 280 were built between June 1937 and December of 1938. Two Ki-10-II Kai’s were produced by converting two Ki-10-II’s to Ki-10-I Kai’s. They differed in the engine, the Ki-10-II Kai having the Kawasaki Ha-9-IIb, capable of short bursts of 950hp at 12,470ft.

The Ki-10-II Kai Prototype

The Ki-10-II Kai Prototype

Operational History

The Ki-10 was deployed in Formosa, Korea, Manchuria, and in the beginning campaigns of the Second Sino-Japanese War. An excellent dogfighter, it proved to be capable of taking on many aircraft employed in the Chinese Air Force. But by the time of the Nomonhan Incident with the Soviets (the Battles of Khalkhin Gol), it was largely obsolete.

At the beginning of World War II in the Pacific, the Ki-10 was moved back to training and second-line missions. It was returned to front-line services in January and February 1942, flying short-range patrol and reconnaissance missions in Japan and China. American Intelligence mistakenly believed that it was still in front-line service, and gave it the code-name “Perry”. However, the type was encountered only occasionally over China.

Variants

Ki-10: Prototype for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force; 4 built in early 1935.

Ki-10-I: Army Fighter Type 95-1; initial production version, 300 built between December 1935 and October 1937.

Ki-10-II: Prototype of a modified Ki-10-I; increased in length; one built in May of 1936.

Ki-10-II: Army Fighter Type 95-2; an improved production version of the Ki-10-II prototype, 280 built between June 1937 and December 1938.

Ki-10-I KAI: Prototype Ki-10-I with modifications to the engine and radiator, one built in October of 1936.

Ki-10-II KAI: Prototype – a modification of the Ki-10-II with an 850hp Kawasaki Ha-9-IIb engine; two built in November of 1937.


Specifications

Ki-10-I

Length: 23ft 7.5in

Height: 9ft 10in

Wingspan: 31ft 4in

Wing Area: 215-277 sq. ft.

Empty Weight: 2,866lb

Loaded Weight: 3,638lb

Powerplant: 1x 850hp Kawasaki Ha-9-IIa 12-cylinder V liquid-cooled inline

Maximum Speed: 248.5 mph @ 9,845ft

Range: 684 miles

Ceiling 32,810ft

Armament: 2x 7.7mm Type 89 Machine Guns in engine cowling

Ki-10-II

Length: 24ft 9.25in

Height: 9ft 10in

Wingspan: 32ft 10.5in

Wing Area: 247-569 sq. ft.

Empty Weight: 2,998lb

Loaded Weight: 3,836lb

Powerplant: 1x 850hp Kawasaki Ha-9-IIa 12-cylinder V liquid-cooled inline

Maximum Speed: 248.5mph @ 9,845ft

Range: 684 miles

Ceiling: 37,730ft

Armament: 2x 7.7mm Type 89 Machine Guns in engine cowling

Sources:

www.aviastar.org

www.daveswarbirds.com

www.historyofwar.org

www.wikipedia.org