The Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu (meaning "storm dragon" and codenamed "Helen" by the Allies) heavy bomber was intended as a replacement for the out-classed Mitsubishi Ki-21 series of medium bomber. In reality, the newer Ki-49 design proved to be something of a disappointment to the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force as the type was a slow performer that - like most Japanese aircraft of the war - was ill-armed and under-armored. As a result, the type saw very limited production numbers (being limited to just over 800), appeared in a few variants and quickly was dismissed as a partner to the successful ki-21 instead of its direct replacement.
The Nakajima Ki-49 was drawn up by 1938 as a very utilitarian heavy bomber design. The term "heavy bomber" in this instance was carried quite loosely as the production Ki-49 could carry barely above 2,000 pounds of internal ordnance. The aircrafts design followed along the same lines of previous twin engine bomber attempts of Japanese ordnance that saw a slender fuselage with clean lines, a middle-mounted monoplane wing assembly, various gun positions adorning the design and a single vertical tail surface. Crew accommodations amounted to seven (or in some cases eight) personnel. Defensive armament (always an issue with Japanese bomber aircraft designs throughout the war) consisted of a nose-mounted 7.7mm machine gun, a 7.7mm machine gun in a tail gun position, 2 x 7.7mm machine guns in beam positions (1 gun per side), a 7.7mm machine gun in a ventral position and a 20mm cannon in a flexible dorsal mounting.
The first Ki-49 prototype went airborne in 1939 with Nakajima Ha-5 KAI radial engines of 950 horsepower each. Pre-production and the first production models would be mated with 2 x Nakajima Ha-41 radial engines of 1,250 horsepower each, increasing performance capabilities as a result. The Ki-49 would enter service in 1941 with mixed results, forcing the aircraft to undergo some much needed upgrades to armor and armament by 1942. The "improved" Ki-49 appeared in form as the Ki-49-IIa and was followed by another improved version in the Ki-49-IIb variant.
The Ki-49 was fielded extensively against China, Australia and the Burma region but the aircraft was generally outclassed by the latest crop of American and British fighters. As a result, the Ki-49 suffered heavy losses throughout the conflict and their reach was lessened by 1944. Afterwards, the Ki-49 - like most of the mid-sized Japanese aircraft of limited potential - could be seen focused on kamikaze attacks against Allied interests.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
Length
54.1 ft (16.50 m)
Width/Span
67.0 ft (20.42 m)
Height
13.9 ft (4.25 m)
Empty Wgt
14,396 lb (6,530 kg)
MTOW
25,133 lb (11,400 kg)
Wgt Diff
+10,737 lb (+4,870 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Nakajima Ki-49-IIa Donryu (Helen) production variant)
STANDARD:
1 x 20mm Ho-1 cannon in dorsal turret (flexible mounting)
1 x 7.7mm Type 89 machine gun in nose position
1 x 7.7mm Type 89 machine gun in ventral position
1 x 7.7mm Type 89 machine gun in left beam position
1 x 7.7mm Type 89 machine gun in right beam position
1 x 7.7mm Type 89 machine gun in tail gun position
OPTIONAL:
Up to 2,205 lb of internal stores.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
Ki-49-I - Initial Production Model Designation
Ki-49-IIa - "Improved" Ki-49-I Model; fitted with uprated 2 x Nakajima Ha-109 radial engines; improved armor and fuel protection; improved defensive armament.
Ki-49-IIb - At least three of the existing 7.7mm machine guns replaced by heavy caliber 12.7mm Ho-103 types for improved defensive armament.
Ki-49-III - Prototype Models fitted with 2,420 horsepower engines; 6 examples produced.
Ki-58 - Experimental Escort Fighter based on the Ki-49 platform.
Ki-80 - Experimental Escort Bomber based on the Ki-49 platform.
Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber Model 1 - Official Designation for the Ki-49-I production model.
Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber Model 2A - Official Designation for the Ki-49-IIa production model.
Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber Model 2B - Official Designation for the Ki-49-IIb production model.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Imperial Japan; Indonesia; Thailand
