Kawasaki Ki-102 Explained

The Kawasaki Ki-102 or was a Japanese warplane of World War II. It was a twin-engine, two-seat, long-range heavy fighter developed to replace the Ki-45 Toryu. Three versions were planned: the Ki-102 Kō day fighter, Ki-102 Otsu ground-attack and Ki-102 Hei night fighter. This aircraft's Allied reporting name was "Randy".

Design and history

The Ki-102 entered service in 1944, but saw limited action. The main type (Ki-102 Otsu) was kept in reserve to protect Japan, although it did see some limited duty in the Okinawa campaign. It was kept out of front line service because it was hoped that it would be the carrier of the Ki-148 air-to-surface guided missile when the Allied invasion of Japan occurred.

Variants

Ki-102
  • prototypes, three built
    Ki-102 Kō
  • Externally similar to the Ki-102 Otsu, but with turbosuperchargers that enabled the engines to maintain their rating at higher altitudes. The 57 mm (2.24 in) cannon was swapped in favor of a 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon, and the 12.7 mm (.50 in) rear gun was deleted, 26 built.
    Ki-102 Otsu
  • Ground-attack variant similar to prototypes, except with revised tail wheel, 207 built
    Ki-102 Hei
  • Night fighter version with lengthened fuselage and span. Radar under a Plexiglas dome, oblique-firing 20 mm cannons, and the 20 mm cannons in the belly replaced with 30 mm (1.18 in) cannons in Schräge Musik behind the cockpit, two built.
    Ki-108
  • High-altitude fighter prototype with pressurised cabin, two conversions from Ki-102 Otsu aircraft using the structural improvements used on the Ki-102 Hei.
    Ki-108 Kai
  • Improved version of the Ki-108 with longer fuselage and enlarged wings. Two built.

    References

    Further reading

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