Ki-27 Queries

[DaveM2]

All

A couple of questions re the 'Nate'

1. I have seen reference to some late production aircraft having one of the 7.7mm machine guns replaced by a 12.7mm Ho-103. Is that correct?

2 As I understand it the wing spar was one piece (wing tip to wing tip). Was there just the one spar?

3. Aircraft used by Special Attack Units in 1945, was the center fuselage bomb 250 or 500kg?

Any information most appreciated, thanks.
Dave

[musec04]

Hi Dave,


For the Special Attack Ki-27 bomb load tale a look at Arawasi


http://www.aviationofjapan.com/2015/...ces-extra.html


Regards,


Clint

[DaveM2]

Thanks Clint, I had looked at that site but obviously missed that...

cheers
Dave

[musec04]

No problem Dave.


I take it that you're sceptical about the 12.7mm Ho-103 claim.Looking across several reputable published sources,the most recent being Bernard Baeza's Les Avions de l'Armee Imperial Japonaise,there is no mention of use of the Ho-103.Also I wonder,with the Ki-27 being such a compact aircraft whether it would even be possible to fit the larger gun into the existing airframe.


Regards,


Clint

[DaveM2]

Indeed, the Townend ring was further refined for the Ki-27 being completely integrated with the fuselage, I can't see there being any space at all for a heavier weapon. But I could be wrong ;-)