Kawasaki Ki-3

Ki-3

Kawasaki Ki-3 (Army Type 93-1 single-engine Light bomber)
Role	Light bomber
Manufacturer	Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K.
Designer	Takeo Doi
First flight	1933
Introduction	1934
Primary user	IJA Air Force
Produced	1933—1935
Number built	243

The Kawasaki Ki-3 (九三式単軽爆撃機, Kyūsan-shiki tankei bakugekiki) was a light bomber built by Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K. for the Imperial Japanese Army in the 1930s. It was the last biplane bomber design to be produced for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and saw combat service in Manchukuo and in north China during the early stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Design & Development

The Ki-3 was a biplane design of all-metal construction with light alloy and fabric covering, with staggered wings and a fixed, divided landing gear. It was powered by one supercharged 592 kW (790 hp) BMW IX V12 inline engine, driving a wooden two-bladed propeller.^[1] Maximum speed was 259 km/h (161 mph) and maximum take-off weight 3,097 kg (6,828 lb). One 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine gun was mounted to fire forward, synchronized with the propeller, and another was mounted dorsally on a flexible mount. The maximum bomb load was 500 kg (1,100 lb). The two man crew sat in open cockpits.

KDA-6 and A-6

The Ki-3 originated as a private venture, launched by Kawasaki to develop a dedicated reconnaissance aircraft. The prototype, designated KDA-6, was designed by the German engineer Dr. Richard Vogt, who was working in Japan at the time. Takeo Doi the future chief designer for Kawasaki, worked as Vogt's assistant on the project; Vogt later went on to become chief designer for Blohm & Voss. The KDA-6 was rejected by the IJA due to changes in the procurement process, despite having excellent performance and handling characteristics. Awarded the contract to build the Army Type 93 Single-engined Light Bomber, Kawasaki used the KDA-6 as the basis for this aircraft which was given the Kitai number Ki-3.^[1]

A refined version of the KDA-6, designated Kawasaki A-6, was produced as a communications aircraft and was used successfully by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper for printing plate and personnel transport duties.^[1]

Operational history

The Kawasaki Ki-3 was designated "Army Type 93-1 Single-engine Light Bomber" under the other Japanese military aircraft nomenclature system. It flew in April 1933^[1] and entered operational service initially with the 6th Composite Air Regiment in Chosen (Korea). It subsequently was used in combat in Manchukuo (Manchuria) and in north China during the initial stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War, where it could make use of its good maneuverability to support ground troops. It was considered a rugged ground-attack aircraft, but the supercharger of its liquid-cooled engine was a constant source of problems.^[1]

Variants

Ki-3 (Army Type 93-1 Single-engine Light Bomber). 243 built (3 prototypes, 200 by Kawasaki and 40 by Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd) from January 1934 till March 1935.^[1]

Operators

Japan

Imperial Japanese Army Air Force

Specifications (Ki-3)

Data from Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 10 m (32 ft 9.6 in)
Wingspan: 13 m (42 ft 7.8 in)
Height: 3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 38 m² (409 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,650 kg (3,638 lb)
Gross weight: 3,097 kg (6,828 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Supercharged BMW IX liquid-cooled V12 engine, 592 kW (790 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 259 km/h (161 mph)
Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft)

Armament

2× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns
500 kg (1,102 lb) of bombs

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kawasaki aircraft.

Notes

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 155.

Bibliography

Francillon, Ph.D., René J. (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
Lake, Jon (2002). Great Book of Bombers. pp86: Zenith Press. ISBN 0-7603-1347-4.
Mikesh, Robert; Shorzoe Abe (1990). Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-563-2.

Aircraft produced by Kawasaki

Company designations	Type 87 Type 88 Type 92 KAL-1 KAL-2 KAT-1 KAQ-1 KDA-2 KDA-3 KDA-5 KH-4 YPX

Imperial Japanese Army short designations	Ki-3 Ki-5 Ki-10 Ki-22 Ki-28 Ki-32 Ki-38 Ki-45 Ki-48 Ki-56 Ki-60 Ki-61 Ki-64 Ki-66 Ki-78 Ki-81 Ki-85 Ki-88 Ki-89 Ki-91 Ki-96 Ki-100 Ki-102 Ki-108 Ki-119 Ki-148 Ki-174

Japanese Self-Defense Force designations	C-1 C-2 OH-1 P-1 P-2J T-4

Joint ventures	BK 117 BK 117-C2

Licenced production	Bell 47 Hughes 500 Hughes 369 Boeing-Vertol V-107 Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Lockheed T-33 Lockheed P-2 Lockheed P-3C

World War II Allied reporting names	Bob Lily Mary Nick Perry Randy Rob Thalia Tony

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

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