Kawasaki Ki-102 Randy

1944

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  NIGHT FIGHTER, ATTACKERVirtual Aircraft Museum / Japan / Kawasaki  

Kawasaki Ki-102 Randy

Derived from the Ki-96 twin-engine single-seat fighter, development of which was abandoned after three prototypes had been completed, the Kawasaki Ki-102b was intended as a two-seat attack fighter for primary deployment in the close-support role. Some assemblies of the Ki-96 prototypes were incorporated into the three Ki-102 prototypes, the first of which was completed in March 1944. A cantilever mid-wing monoplane with a conventional tail unit, retractable tailwheel landing gear and two Mitsubishi Ha-112-11 radial engines, the Ki-102 accommodated its two-man crew in separate enclosed cockpits in tandem, Completion of the prototypes was followed by the construction of 20 preproduction aircraft and in October 1944 the type was ordered into production. With the Imperial Japanese Army still anxious to procure a twin-engine high-altitude fighter, Kawasaki modified six of the preproduction Ki- 102s to serve as prototypes of such an interceptor. This differed from the attack fighter by having improved two-seat accommodation, a revised tail unit and Mitsubishi Ha-112-IIru engines with turbochargers. Successful testing of this version in mid-1944 resulted in a high-priority production order, but problems with the turbocharged engine resulted in only about 15 being delivered to the army before the war ended. The design had also been revised to produce a night-fighter version under the designation Ki- 102c, but there was only time to complete two examples. These had increased wing span, a lengthened fuselage, redesigned tail surfaces, primitive AI radar, and armament comprising two 30mm Ho-105 cannon in the underfuselage and two 20mm Ho-5 cannon mounted obliquely in the fuselage to fire forward and upward. Ki-102b aircraft, which were allocated the Allied codename 'Randy', saw comparatively little service, some being used in action over Okinawa, but the majority were held in reserve in Japan.

Kawasaki Ki-102 Randy

Specification 
 MODELKi-102b
 CREW2
 ENGINE2 x Mitsubishi Ha-112-II, 1125kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight7300 kg16094 lb
  Empty weight4950 kg10913 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan15.57 m51 ft 1 in
  Length11.45 m38 ft 7 in
  Height3.7 m12 ft 2 in
  Wing area34 m2365.97 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed580 km/h360 mph
  Ceiling13500 m44300 ft
  Range2000 km1243 miles
 ARMAMENT1 x 57mm cannon, 1 x 12.7mm machine-guns

3-View 
Kawasaki Ki-102 RandyA three-view drawing (752 x 997)

Comments
Jim McCurdy, e-mail, 01.01.2023 11:38

I'm assuming they didn't get into trials much for the sorely needed night fighter. Firing forwards and upwards sounds like a trajectory for shooting yourself down. Looks like an awesome airframe with wide potential though.

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lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 Jim McCurdy

20

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Heinkel Wulf, e-mail, 25.03.2018 12:59

@baiwang Not surprising. The Randy was one of Japans best air assets, especially against B-29's. @bombardier Same for the Germans. All the main Axis and Allied powers fitted their fighters with large caliber guns at least experimentally, but the Germans and Japanese took it up to Eleven. Worth noting that the Japanese were the only other major power to use the Jazz Music upwards firing gun principle in their anti-bomber aircraft.

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baiwang, 20.06.2011 13:49

saw comparatively little service, some being used in action over Okinawa, but the majority were held in reserve in Japan.

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bombardier, e-mail, 24.05.2011 21:08

The Japanese liked to fit their fighters with BIG GUNS

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bombardier, e-mail, 24.05.2011 21:04

The Japanese liked to fit their fighters with BIG GUNS

reply

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