Of similar general configuration to the
Ki-43, the Nakajima Ki-44 prototypes
incorporated the manoeuvring flaps
that had been introduced on that aircraft,
and carried an armament of two
7.7mm and two 12.7mm
machine-guns. First flown in
August 1940, the Ki-44 was involved in
a series of comparative trials against
Kawasaki's Ki-60 prototype, based on
use of the Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine,
and an imported Messerschmitt
Bf 109E. The result of this evaluation,
and extensive service trials, showed
the Ki-44 to be good enough to enter
production, and it was ordered under
the designation Army Type 2 Singleseat
Fighter Model 1A Shoki (demon),
company designation Ki-44-Ia, which
carried the same armament as the prototypes.
A total of only 40 Ki-44-I aircraft
was produced, including small
numbers of the Ki-44-Ib armed with
four 12.7mm machine-guns,
and the similar KI-44-Ic with some
minor refinements.
When introduced into service the
high landing speeds and limited manoeuvrability
of the Shoki made it unpopular
with pilots, and very soon the
Ki-44-II with a more powerful Nakajima
Ha-109 engine was put into production.
Only small numbers of the Ki-
44-IIa were built, the variant being followed
by the major production Ki-44-
Ilb. The Ki-44-IIc introduced much
heavier armament, comprising four 20mm cannon or, alternatively, two 12.7mm machine-guns and two 40mm cannon, and these proved to be
very effective when deployed against
Allied heavy bombers attacking Japan.
Final production version was the Ki-44-
III with a 1491kW Nakajima
Ha-145 radial engine, an increase m
wing area and enlarged vertical tail
surfaces.
Nakajima had built a total of 1,225
Ki-44s of all versions, including prototypes,
and these were allocated the
Allied codename 'Tojo'. They were
deployed primarily in Japan, but were
used also to provide an effective force
of interceptors to protect vital targets,
as in Sumatra where they defended
the oil fields at Palembang.
Hiroyuki Takeuchi
20
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