Kawasaki Ki-10
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Aircraft (including Ki-10 fighter) |
The Ki-10 was the final biplane fighter to serve with the Imperial Japanese Army, entering operational use in 1935. Manufactured by Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō for the Army, it participated in combat operations in Manchukuo and northern regions of China during the initial phase of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Allies assigned it the reporting name "Perry".
Design and development
Takeo Doi, who took over from Richard Vogt as Kawasaki's lead designer, created the Ki-10. It emerged victorious in a competition against Nakajima’s more modern low-wing monoplane, the Ki-11. Despite its slower speed, the Imperial Japanese Army favored Kawasaki’s biplane for its superior agility. To enhance aerodynamic efficiency, the development team equipped the third prototype with a three-blade metal propeller and employed flush-head rivets to minimize drag.
The aircraft featured biplane wings of unequal span supported by struts, with ailerons located on the upper wing. Its construction combined an all-metal framework covered by fabric. Armament consisted of two synchronized 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 89 machine guns firing through the propeller arc. The first production variants were powered by a liquid-cooled Kawasaki Ha9-IIa V-12 engine.
Operations
The Ki-10 was actively deployed in Manchukuo and participated in early operations of the Second Sino-Japanese War across northern China.
On September 21, 1937, Major Hiroshi Miwa—previously an instructor pilot for Zhang Xueliang’s air corps—commanded seven Ki-10 fighters escorting fourteen Mitsubishi Ki-2 bombers on a raid against Taiyuan. During this mission, they clashed with Chinese V-65C Corsairs and Curtiss Hawk IIs, successfully downing multiple enemy aircraft. Major Miwa was ultimately shot down and mortally wounded by Captain Chan Kee-Wong of the 28th Pursuit Squadron piloting a Curtiss Hawk.
By the time of the Nomonhan Incident in 1939, the Ki-10 had become largely outdated and was superseded by the Nakajima Ki-27. At the outbreak of the Pacific War, it was reassigned to training units and secondary duties but briefly returned to frontline patrol and reconnaissance roles within Japan and China during early 1942.
Variants
Information sourced from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War
- Ki-10 : Initial prototype developed for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (4 units constructed early 1935).
- Ki-10-I (Army Fighter Type 95-I): First production series (300 units built between December 1935 and October 1937).
- Ki-10-II : Modified Mark I prototype featuring extended length (1 unit built May 1936).
- Ki-10-II (Army Fighter Type 95–2): Enhanced production model (280 units manufactured from June 1937 to December 1938).
- Ki-10-I KAI : Prototype incorporating engine and radiator upgrades (1 unit built October 1936).
- Ki-10-II KAI : Aerodynamically refined version of Ki-10-II equipped with Kawasaki Ha9-IIb engine (2 units built November 1937).
Total number produced: 588 aircraft
Operators
- Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
- 1st Rentai IJAAF
- 4th Rentai IJAAF
- 5th Rentai IJAAF
- 6th Rentai IJAAF
- 8th Rentai IJAAF
- 11th Rentai IJAAF
- 13th Rentai IJAAF
- 4th Sentai IJAAF
- 9th Sentai IJAAF
- 33rd Sentai IJAAF
- 59th Sentai IJAAF
- 64th Sentai IJAAF
- 77th Sentai IJAAF
- Akeno Fighter Training School
References
- Notes
- Bibliography