Mitsubishi Kasei Explained

The was a two-row, 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and used in a variety of World War II Japanese aircraft, such as Mitsubishi J2M and Mitsubishi G4M.[1] The Mitsubishi model designation for this engine was A10 while it was an experimental project, in service it was known as the MK4, and known as the Ha101 & Ha111 by the Army and Kasei by the Navy. According to unified designation code it was Ha-32 of the variants from 11 to 27.

Design and development

Although originally ordered by the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Kasei was based on the earlier Mitsubishi Shinten engine, itself based originally on the Mitsubishi Kinsei. Produced in a wide variety of models, the Kasei began with a rated power of 1530HP, with a gradual evolution to 1850HP in later wartime versions. Three variants were developed for the Japanese Navy starting in 1939. It was also later adopted by the Imperial Japanese Army as the Ha-101 engine. Unified code was Ha-32.

Physically, the engine had a rather large 1322mm diameter compared to the 1180mm of the Nakajima Homare engine. Its size and weight meant it was a challenging engine to use on single engine fighters.

Variants

1530HP, 2450 rpm at takeoff
1410HP, 2350 rpm at 1000m (3,000feet)
1380HP, 2350 rpm at 4000m (13,000feet)

1460HP, 2450 rpm at takeoff
1420HP, 2350 rpm at 2600m (8,500feet)
1300HP, 2350 rpm at 6000m (20,000feet)

1850HP, 2600 rpm at takeoff
1680HP, 2500 rpm at 2600m (8,500feet)
1540HP, 2500 rpm at 6000m (20,000feet)

1820HP, 2600 rpm at takeoff
1600HP, 2500 rpm at 1300m (4,300feet)
1520HP, 2500 rpm at 4100m (13,500feet)

1800HP, 2600 rpm at takeoff
1510HP, 2500 rpm at 2800m (9,200feet)
1400HP, 2500 rpm at 7200m (23,600feet)

1760HP,[2] 2600 rpm at takeoff

1590HP, 2500 rpm rated at 2500m

1400HP, 2500 rpm rated at 6800m

1795HP

Applications

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Gunston 1989, p.104.
  2. Web site: 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション . 2023-10-31 . dl.ndl.go.jp.