Nakajima Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber Donryu / Ki-49 (Helen)
Technical Information
Background
Built by Nakajima, designated the Type 100 Ki-49 Donryu (Storm Dragon). The Ki-49 was better armored, carried substantial defensive armament, and had self-sealing
fuel tanks. It was the first Army bomber with a manned tail position. This bomber was intended
as a replacement for the Ki-21
Sally, it fell short of performance expectations and served
alongside instead. The prototype was powered by a two Nakajima Ha-5 KA-I radial engines 950 hp. The two production variants had Nakajima Ha-41 radial engines delivering 1,250 hp.
Wartime History
During February 1942 the Donryu began its operational career with a series of high altitude
raids against Darwin.
Ki-49-II
The Ki-49-II model was at one point the most
widely used JAAF bomber, also used in transport and anti-submarine
and later kamikaze roles.
Production
A total of 819 were built by Nakajima at Ota and Tachikawa.
References
Ki-49 Tail Turret - Did the Type 100 Heavy Bomber Really Have a Tail Turret? by Jim Long, 2002 revised June 2011
Technical Details (Type 100 Model II / Ki-49-II Donryu (Helen)
Crew Eight (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, radio operator plus three gunners)
Engine 2 x Nakajima
Ha-41 14 cylinder radial engine 1,250 hp
Span 22.424m
Length 16.5m
Height 4.25m
Maximum Speed 306 mph at 16,405'
Range (normal) 1,243 miles (maximum) 1,833 miles
Armament (nose, waist left, waist right, tail) 7.7mm machine gun (dorsal) 20mm Ho-1 cannon
Bomb Load 1,653 pounds to a maximum of 2,205 pounds or 3,527 pounds on a suicide mission
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