Top 10: Japanese warplanes of the Second World War

Slide of Although often dismissed as ‘followers’ by many both in the lead-up to and during the Second World War, the huge Japanese aviation industry was producing outstanding designs with a different design philosophy from any other nation. The vast expanse of the Pacific battleground meant an aircraft’s range was of paramount importance, and in fighter development, an almost pathological emphasis on manoeuvrability above all other attributes resulted in the production of comparatively light aircraft with phenomenal levels of agility until the stark reality of war caught up with Japanese air combat doctrine. Join us as we examine the finest machines produced by this idiosyncratic aerial power. Some aircraft in our photos feature United States markings: that’s because they were captured by the Americans and evaluated at the time the pictures were taken Slide of 10: Mitsubishi Ki-83 The result of an Imperial Army specification calling for a high-altitude, long-range heavy fighter the Ki-83 was possibly the most aerodynamically clean radial-engined aircraft ever built. As well as recording the highest speed attained by any Japanese aircraft built during the war, the Ki-83 was blessed with remarkable agility for such a large aircraft. Compared to its direct US equivalent, the F7F Tigercat, which also failed to see meaningful service during the war, the Ki-83 possessed a similar range but was faster, more manoeuvrable, and more heavily armed with two 30-mm and two 20-mm cannon, all firing through the nose. Unfortunately for this superlative warplane, its timing was appalling. Slide of 10: Mitsubishi Ki-83 First flown in November 1944, tests were regularly interrupted by American air raids and of four known prototypes, three were damaged or destroyed by bombing. After the war the sole survivor was evaluated in the US and received glowing praise. With the higher-octane fuel available in America the Ki-83 ultimately recorded a speed of 761 km/h (473 mph). Sadly, despite being earmarked for preservation the only Ki-83 to survive the war was presumed to have been scrapped in 1950. Slide of 9: Mitsubishi Ki-15 The stylish Mitsubishi Ki-15 became a brilliant harbinger of what the Japanese aviation industry was capable of when in 1937 a single example, named Kamikaze (yes indeed - pictured), flew from Tokyo to London for the coronation of King George VI. Despite much of the coverage of this flight turning out to be predictably obsessed with the racial make-up of the Kamikaze’s crew, a few reports managed to notice that the aircraft was a totally indigenous design. Slide of 9: Mitsubishi Ki-15 Very few at all, however, pointed out that the 51 hour, 17 minute, 23 second flight over a distance of 15,357 kilometres occurred without any mechanical trouble and at a speed unattainable by virtually any contemporary military aircraft. This sort of thing should have acted as a sharp wake up call to Western observers (but didn’t).  The less peaceful version of the Ki-15 was used as a reconnaissance and light attack aircraft in the Second Sino-Japanese war, being arguably the first modern combat aircraft to see service in that theatre, and in developed form during the opening stages of the world war, when its speed was still good enough to render it highly difficult to intercept. Slide of 8: Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’ The Zero was one of the greatest aircraft of all time. However, unlike such aircraft as the Spitfire, it was not developed sufficiently to remain in the vanguard of international fighter design despite being produced in greater numbers than any other Japanese aircraft before or since. Nonetheless, for a period of around two years it was, without doubt, the most psychologically shocking aircraft in the sky and the most advanced carrier fighter in the world, and one with an enormous range of 2600km (1600 miles). Slide of 8: Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’ The fact that the Zero caused a stir amongst the Allies is perplexing: the aircraft had appeared over China well before Pearl Harbor and a Zero was captured as early as 1941 which was flown and inspected by an American intelligence team. Nonetheless, the overriding response to the Zero’s capabilities once Allied fliers met it in combat was surprise. Utterly dominant from its appearance in 1940 to the latter end of 1942, the Zero remained a dangerous opponent until the very end in the hands of an experienced pilot, though such individuals were in short supply for the latter part of the conflict due to the horrific attrition of the Pacific war. But for two glorious years, if you were Japanese at least, the Zero reigned utterly supreme over land and ocean. Slide of 7: Mitsubishi Ki-67 On the whole, Japanese bombers of the war were not a particularly inspiring bunch. The Navy’s Mitsubishi G4M for example, whilst boasting a beautifully streamlined airframe and spectacular rang