soc.history.war.world-war-ii

"Branek" wrote in message
news:TLWxj.4466$tW.2043@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com...
> "YMC" wrote in message
> news:47c5f8a0$0$4471$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
>> Apparently the Luftwaffe were interested in Japan's Mitsubishi Ki-46-II
>> Type 100 "Dinah" recce plane. Did they express serious interest in other
>> aircraft? Especially, in light of the successes at Pearl Harbor and
>> Kuantan (sinking of Prince of Wales and Repluse).
>
> The Dinah was involved in the sinking of the Prince of Wales and Repulse?
> How?

It wasn't directly. The IJAAF was using Ki-46's to reconnoitre Malaya
before the war started.

> I don't see why people rave about the Dinah, the Mosquito or even the
> later
> P-38 Lightnings were better in every way.

Perhaps because it took until the allies had P-38s and good radar
before the Ki-46 stood a reasonable chance of being intercepted?
That it was before the P-38 and Mosquito and the Ki-46 had a mid
life upgrade that kept it competitive until late 1944 or 1945?

All aircraft ultimately become obsolete, the Ki-46 needed an upgrade
or replacement in 1945.

The Ki-46-II was the model in service in 1941, 375 mph at 19,000
feet, range 1,537 miles. The Ki-46-III appeared in 1943, raised the
top speed to 391 mph and range to 2,485 miles. The III model had
improved performance in the 26 to 33,000 feet band, making it a
problem for most allied types deployed in the Pacific to catch it.

You needed a P-38, a P-47, a P-51 or a Spitfire VIII and the warning
time for them to climb to intercept. The Spitfire V at Darwin needed
good warning to try for the Ki-46-II.

Geoffrey Sinclair
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