[Phaelen Bleux]

Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki "Tojo"
The Ki-44 Shoki ("devil-queller") was designed concomitantly with the Ki-43, but with an emphasis placed on high speed and excellent rate of climb. This emphasis reduced the plane's maneuverability, however, as it's relatively small wing area produced a high wing loading for interceptors of the day. Nonetheless, the "Tojo" performed well as an interceptor, and was primarily used in homeland defense against B-29 bombing raids on the Japanese mainland. (One unit, the 47th Sentai, specialized in kamikaze bomber collision tactics.) Some 1,225 aircraft were produced before it was replaced by the Ki-84 "Frank."
In addition to its typical offensive armament of MGs and/or ACs, the Ki-44 could also be fitted with two 220-lb. bombs or two 34-gallons drop tanks under the wings.
The Ki-44 burns 57 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage. A full load of fuel and ammo (excluding bombs) costs $55. Historical range was 1,056 miles.

Ki-44-IIb
Subassemblies: Medium Fighter chassis +3; Recon Plane wings with High-Agility option +2; 3 retractable wheels +0.
Powertrain: 1,133-kW aerial supercharged HP gasoline engine with 1,133-kW prop and 150-gallon self-sealing fuel tanks (Fire 13) [Wings and Body], 4,000-kWs battery.
Occ.: 1 CS Body
Cargo: 4 Body

Armor
Body: 3/5
Wings: 3/5
Wheels: 2/3
Pilot: 0/+30 B

Weaponry:
2x Medium Aircraft HMG/12.7mm Ho-103 [Body:F] (190 rounds each).*
2x Medium Aircraft HMG/12.7mm Ho-103 [Wings:F] (190 rounds each).*
2x 220-lb. Bombs [Wings:U].
*Linked to fire in pairs; additional link fires all four guns.

Equipment:
Body: Autopilot, navigation instruments, medium radio transmitter and receiver (10-mile). Wings: One 220-lb. hardpoint each.

Statistics:
Size: 29'x31'x11' Payload: 0.98 tons Lwt.: 3.30 tons
Volume: 200 Maint.: 34 hours Cost: $35,497

HT: 9. HPs: 120 Body, 70 each Wing, 12 each Wheel.

aSpeed: 376 aAccel: 10 aDecel: 18 aMR: 4.5 aSR: 2
Stall Speed: 93 mph. Take-Off Run: 577 yards. Landing Run: 865 yards.
-6 mph to aSpeed per loaded hardpoint.
gSpeed: 296 gAccel: 15 gDecel: 10 gMR: 0.5 gSR: 2
Ground Pressure: Very High. 1/8 Off-Road Speed.

Design Notes:
Historical wing area was 162 sf. Design loaded weight was increased 3% to the historical, but design empty weight was within 8 lbs. of the historical. Design payload was 1,740 lbs; the historical value has been substituted. The design purchases 750 rounds of HMG ammo; the historical value is shown above. Fuel tankage is a guess based on the historical endurance of 2 hours and 20 minutes. Two of the forward fixed HMGs are synchronized to fire through the propeller arc, lowering RoF by 10% (p. W:MP8). Design aSpeed was 398 mph, design stall speed was 85 mph. Performance calculations were based on historical values for wing area and loaded weight. Take-off and landing runs are based on the historical stall speed.

Variants:
The Ki-44-Ia (1940) was the initial production version, with a 932-kW engine. Armament was a pair of Type 89 7.7mm MGs (Aircraft LMGs) and a pair of 12.7mm MGs. This was quickly upgraded in the Ki-44-Ib to two four 12.7mm guns. The Ki-44-Ic features a slight modification to the landing gear.
The Ki-44-IIa upgraded to the powerplant found in the -IIb. The Ki-44-IIc changed the armament to four Ho-5 20mm cannons or two 12.7mm MGs and two Ho-301 40mm cannons.
The Ki-44-IIIa added a more powerful 1,491-kW engine and four Ho-5 20mm cannons. The Ki-44-IIIb featured two 20mm cannons and two Ho-203 37mm cannons (Medium Aircraft AC).