Mitsubishi Ki-1

Mitsubishi · Japan · first flew 1932 · bomber

The Mitsubishi Ki-1, also known as the Mitsubishi Army Type 93 Heavy Bomber, was a bomber built by Mitsubishi for the Imperial Japanese Army in the 1930s. Its design was heavily based on the Junkers K 37.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	14.8 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

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Spot it by:

Low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed landing gear
Twin fins and rudders
Semi-enclosed nose and dorsal gun turrets, with the pilot and co-pilot in tandem under an enclosed canopy

It was armed with three 7.7 mm machine guns and could carry up to 1,500 kg of bombs. It was underpowered and could not maintain altitude on a single engine.

Specifications

The Mitsubishi Ki-1 has a length of 14.8 m (49 ft).
It has a wingspan of 26.5 m (87 ft).
Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
Typical crew: 4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

After Mitsubishi representatives visited the Limhamn facilities in 1931, the sole K 37 prototype was bought and brought to Japan. The Army then authorised Mitsubishi to produce heavy and light bombers, and the much larger Ki-1 first flew in August 1932.

Variants

The Ki-1-I was powered by two 701 hp Mitsubishi Ha2-II V-12 engines. The Ki-1-II had a strengthened airframe and 723 hp Ha2-III engines, which raised maximum speed to 230 km/h.

Where you'll see it

A total of 118 were built in two versions between March 1933 and April 1936. Already obsolete on introduction, it was used in Manchukuo and North China during the early Second Sino-Japanese War, and it was replaced in 1937 by the Fiat BR.20.

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