Kawasaki Ki-32

Infobox Aircraft
name=Ki-32


caption=Ki-32 Mary (Army Type 98 Light Bomber)
type=Light bomber
manufacturer=Kawasaki Kōkūki Kogyo KK
designer=
first flight= March 1937
introduced= 1938
retired= 1942
status=
primary user= IJA Air Force
more users= Manchukuo Air Force
produced=
number built=854
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=The nihongo|Kawasaki Ki-32|九八式軽爆撃機|Kyuhachi-shiki keibakugekiki was a Japanese light bomber aircraft of World War II. It was a single-engine, two-seat, mid-wing, cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage. An internal bomb bay accommodated a 300 kg offensive load, supplemented by 150 kg of bombs on external racks. During the war, it was known by the Allies by the code-name Mary.

Design and development

The Ki-32 was developed in response to a May 1936 Imperial Japanese Army specification to replace the Kawasaki Ki-3 light bomber with a completely indigenously designed and built aircraft. Mitsubishi and Kawasaki were requested to build two prototypes each by December 1936. The specification called for a top speed of Auto km/h|400|-1 at 3,000 meters; normal operating altitude from 2,000 to 4,000 meters, the ability to climb to 3,000 meters within 8 minutes and an engine to be selected from the Convert|825|hp|kW|-1|abbr=on Mitsubishi Ha-6 radial, Convert|850|hp|kW|-1|abbr=on Nakajima Ha-5 radial, or Convert|850|hp|kW|-1|abbr=on Kawasaki Ha-9-IIb liquid-cooled inline engines, a normal bomb load of Auto lb|661|1 and a maximum of Auto lb|992|1, one forward-firing machine gun and one flexible rearward-firing machine gun, the ability to perform 60-degree dives for dive bombing, and a loaded weight less than Auto lb|7275|1.

The first Kawasaki prototype flew in March 1937; Francillion 1970, p.90.] seven more prototypes were produced. Francillion 1970, p.92.] Very similar in layout and performance, main distance between the Kawasaki Ki-32 and its Mitsubishi Ki-30 rival was in the choice of an engine. The Mitsubishi design used the Nakajima Ha-5 14-cylinder air-cooled engine, whereas Kawasaki opted for the Kawasaki Ha-9-11 12-cylinder V-engine

Problems were encountered with the Kawasaki design, particularly with engine cooling, and the Mitsubishi Ki-30 received the production order. In spite of this, the pressing need for more aircraft in Second Sino-Japanese War, which had started at full scale in July 1937, resulted in the Ki-32's entry into production as well, 12 months behind its rival. Ironically, the number of Ki-32s built was much higher than that of the successful Ki-30.

The Ki-32 entered production in 1938, designated Army Type 98 Single-engine Light Bomber, Kawasaki manufactured 854 Ki-32s before production ceased in May 1940.

Operational history

The Ki-32 saw extensive war service in the Second Sino-Japanese War, equipping the 3rd, 6th, 10th, 35th, 45th, 65th and 75th "Sentai". It also saw combat during the Battle of Nomonhan against the Soviet Union in 1938-1939. [ [http://www.aviastar.org/air/japan/kawasaki_ki-32.php Kawasaki Ki-32 MARY] Virtual Aircraft Museum. Retrieved 6 September 2008.] Its last combat action was bombing Commonwealth forces during the Japanese Invasion of Hong Kong. Francillion 1970, pp.91-92.]

Ki-32s were supplied to the Manchukuo Air Force to replace their obsolescent Kawasaki Type 88/KDA-2 light bombers; they were the main bomber of that service through the conflict. [Jowett, Rays of the Rising Sun]

After withdrawal from front-line service in 1942, the Ki-32s were used in a training role.

Operators

;JPN
*Imperial Japanese Army Air Force;flag|Manchukuo
*Manchukuo Air Force [Jowett, Rays of the Rising Sun] ;flag|Indonesia
*In 1945, Indonesian People's Security Force (IPSF) (Indonesian pro-independence guerrillas) captured a small number of aircraft at numerous Japanese air bases, including Bugis Air Base in Malang (repatriated 18 September 1945). Most aircraft were destroyed in military conflicts between the Netherlands and the newly proclaimed-Republic of Indonesia during the Indonesian National Revolution of 1945-1949.

pecifications

[cite book |title=The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II |first=David |last=Mondey] aircraft specifications/switch
plane or copter?=plane plane
jet or prop?=prop

crew=2
length main=38 ft 2.5 in
length alt=11.65 m
span main=49 ft 2½ in
span alt=15.0 m
height main=9 ft 6 in
height alt=2.90m
area main= 365.98 ft²
area alt= 34.00 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 2,350 lb
empty weight alt= 5,181 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 8,290 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 3,760 kg
more general=

engine (prop)= Kawasaki Ha-9-IIb
type of prop= liquid-cooled V12 engine
number of props= 1
power main= 850 hp
power alt= 634 kW
power original=
power more=
max speed main= 228 knots, 263 mph
max speed alt= 423 km/h
max speed more=at (3,940 m) 12,900 ft
cruise speed main= 162 knots, 186 mph
cruise speed alt= 300 km/h
cruise speed more=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
stall speed more=
range main= 1,060 nm, 1,220 mi
range alt= 1,965 km
range more=
ceiling main= 29,265 ft
ceiling alt= 8,920 m
climb rate main= 1500 ft/min
climb rate alt= 7.6 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=

guns= 2× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns
bombs= 450 kg (990 lb)

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=
* Fairey Battle
* Mitsubishi Ki-30

see also=*List of military aircraft of Japan

References

ources

*cite book |title=Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War |last=Francillion |first=R.J. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1970 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn= 370 00033 1
*cite book
last = Gunston
first = Bill
year = 1999
title = The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II
publisher = Zenith Press
isbn= 0 86101 390 5
*cite book
last = Jowett
first = Philipp
year = 2005
title = Rays of the Rising Sun, Volume 1: Japan's Asian Allies 1931-45, China and Manchukuo
publisher = Helion and Company Ltd.
location =
isbn = 1874622213
*cite book
last = Lake
first = Jon
year = 2002
title = Great Book of Bombers
publisher = Zenith Press
isbn = 0760313474
*cite book
last = Mikesh
first = Robert
coauthors= Abe, Shorzoe
year = 1990
title = Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941
publisher = Naval Institute Press
location = Annapolis, Maryland
isbn= 1557505632
*cite book
last = Mondey
first = David
year = 2002
title = The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II
publisher = Book Sales Press
isbn= 1 85152 966 7

External links

* [http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/IJARG/kawasakiki32.html Warbird Resource Group]
* [http://www.aviastar.org/air/japan/kawasaki_ki32.php Virtual Aircraft Museum]