Mitsubishi Ki-2

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Mitsubishi Ki-2

The Mitsubishi Ki-2, officially known as the Army Type 93 Twin-engine Light Bomber, was a small two‑engine bomber built in the 1930s for Japan’s Imperial Army. Allied crews nicknamed it “Louise.” It saw early combat in Manchukuo and North China during the Second Sino-Japanese War and was later used mainly for training.

Design and features
- It is a low‑wing, single‑seat monoplane with two tail fins and fixed landing gear.
- The wings and body used corrugated metal; it was powered by two 435 hp Nakajima Kotobuki radial engines.
- It carried a nose machine gun and a dorsal (top‑rear) machine gun, both 7.7 mm, and could carry up to 500 kg of bombs.
- Top speed about 225 km/h (140 mph); normal range about 900 km (560 miles); maximum takeoff weight around 4,550 kg (10,030 lb).

Origins and development
- The Ki-2 was based on the Junkers S36 design. It was developed in Japan after Junkers’ K37 prototype was licensed and studied.
- The Ki-2 followed the Ki-1 heavy bomber and first flew in May 1933.
- Mitsubishi built most of the Ki-2, with Kawasaki producing a smaller number between 1933 and 1936. An upgraded Ki-2‑II variant appeared later with more power and a nose turret.

Operational history
- The Ki-2 was used successfully in counterinsurgency and light bombing roles in Manchukuo and North China, where enemy fighter opposition was limited.
- By the late 1930s it was becoming obsolete and was replaced by more capable aircraft; both the Ki-2 and Ki-2‑II eventually found their way into training roles.

Variants
- Ki-2 (Army Type 93 Twin-engine Light Bomber): the basic version.
- Ki-2‑II (Army Type 93‑II Twin-engine Light Bomber): nose turret, semi‑retractable main gear, two 559 hp Ha-8 engines.

Civilian version
- A civilian Ki-2‑II named Ohtori (Phoenix) was bought by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper and used for long‑range record flights.
- Notable flights included a 4,930 km (2,660 nmi) trip from Tachikawa to Bangkok in 21 hours 36 minutes (December 1936) and a round‑China flight of about 9,300 km (5,000 nmi) in early 1939.

Specifications and service
- First flight: May 1933
- Production years: 1933–1938
- Primary user: Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS)

The Ki-2 remained a product of its era: a sturdy, mid‑1930s light bomber that served in limited combat roles before being superseded by more advanced aircraft.