Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu (Nick)

The Ki-45 KAIc was a night fighter in the Ki-45 KAIc model series which has obliquely-mounted 37mm cannon and advanced search radar which was used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. It was designated as "Type 2 two-seat fighter" and was also given the Allied codename as Nick.

It was also a two-crew aircraft having two engines which was much similar to the Messerschmitt BF110 and the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito. The engines of Mitsubishi type straddled the fuselage on low-mounted monoplane wings. It had a split greenhouse-type cockpit area where the crew sat which was in the center of the design. It was also fitted with a single 7.92mm machine gun was as a hand-held defensive measure in the rear cockpit.

The Ki-45 KAIc was recognized as Japanese Army aircraft which take part in night defense of the Home Islands equipped four sentais from the autumn of 1944 to the War's end and obtained notable successes.

There was also intent to fit AI-type radar into the nose assembly in conjunction with the armament. But it never materialized because of some production difficulties, despite of that the systems were nevertheless fielded as night fighters with competent and overall promising results.

Specifications

Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden (George)

Yokosuka P1-Y1



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