Mitsubishi Type 99 Assault/ Recon Ki-51
(Sonia)
Technical Information
Background
Single engine, fixed landing gear aircraft with a crew
of two and armed with
only three 7.7mm machine guns (two in wings, one flexible gun
for rear gunner). Despite its apparent obsolescence it was never
replaced. Pilots and ground crews liked the plane
because it was easy to fly, maintain, and operate from small
airfields at the front lines.
Reconnaissance Version (Guntei, Ki-51A)
(Kyu Kyu Shiki Gun Teisatsu Ki) Recon version.
Assault Version (Ki-51B)
(Kyu Kyu Shiki Shuugeki Ki) Also spelled Shugeki or Shuhgeki. The assault version had armor
plating protecting the pilot and oil tanks, and bomb racks to carry 441 lbs of bombs. This version could be modified in the field to carry an aerial camera.
Production
A total of 2,388 were built, by two factories: Mitsubishi produced a total of 1,472 planes. The First Army Air Arsenal produced 913.
References
Production Record of the Type 99 Assault / Recon Plane by Jim Long
Thanks to Nicholas Millman and Richard Dunn for additional information
Technical Details
Crew Two (pilot, observer)
Engine 14 cylinder air cooled
Span 12.1m
Length 9.21m
Height 2.73m
Maximum Speed 263 mph
Range 660 miles
Armament (wings) 2 x 12.7mm MG (rear) 1 x 7.7mm MG
Bomb Load 441 lbs
