Japanese Jet Engines

[AvisQueMetallum]

The Japanese came up with the Kikka, a.k.a. Kitsuka, for use as a jet bomber. Its airframe and engines were roughly based on the German Me 262. I've heard there were three engines planned for use: the Ne-12 (which was applied), the Ne-20 (also applied) and the Ne-330 (incomplete). Was the Ne-330 an original engine, or was it a developed version of a previous engine?

 

[GrauGeist]

The Kikka's Ne-20 engines had three further types being developed:
Ne-130, Ne-230 and Ne-330.

All were based on the BMW003 engine (although 3/4 scale) and all had at least one example fully built and had either been tested or were preparing to be tested by war's end.

The KI-201 was planned to use the Ne-230 engines.

 

[Shinpachi]

Good answer, Dave
If I may add a few -

Ne-10, 12 and 30 were Japanese original jet engines developed by Kugisho (Naval Air Technical Arsenal).
Ne-20 was improved Ne-12 based on BMW-003.

Ne-130 and 230 were developed totally based on BMW-003.
Ne-330 was planned as improved one but not in time for the end of war.

BTW, Ne-230 nozzle parts were discovered last year.

Source: 【写真・図版】「ネ２３０」の排気ノズルとみられる部品。高柳昌久教諭（手前左）と調査した日本航空協会の長島宏行氏＝三鷹市のＩＣＵ

Source: 旧陸軍戦闘機：幻のエンジン部品発見 初のジェット戦闘機「火龍」 Ｂ２９迎撃目指し開発中に終戦 - 毎日新聞

 

[GrauGeist]

Great info, Shinpachi!

By the way, weren't those Ne-230 engine parts from the KI-201 project?

 

[Shinpachi]

Yes they were, Dave.
Both Ne-130(maker: Ishikawajima) and Ne-230(maker: Nakajima/Hitachi) were planned for the Nakajima Ki-201 "Karyu".
Army scheduled Ki-201 mockup by the end of August 1945. Prototype by the end of the year (or early next year). Mass production from early 1946 a.s.a.p.

 

[qaz]

Ne-330 was planned as improved one but not in time for the end of war.

Not to be nitpicking, but Ne-330 engine was in construction twice before the war ended. The first finished in April, but bombed on the day of the trial run (April 7). The second never. Maybe that is what you mean and I misunderstand (sorry if so).

Reference:
「日本陸軍試作機大鑑」by Minoru Akimoto, 2008.
「三菱重工業株式会社史」by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Company History Editor Office, 1956.

I've heard there were three engines planned for use: the Ne-12 (which was applied), the Ne-20 (also applied) and the Ne-330 (incomplete).

Ne-12 is an early planned engine, but only Ne-20 was ever mounted to Kikka in reality. Ne-330 is far too large for the Kikka frame, the engine developed for planned Kikka types (namely, interceptor) is Ne-20 Kai, an improvement of Ne-20 with a planned thrust of 650kgf. It's only finalized on paper at the end of the war.

Reference:
「ジェットエンジンに取り憑かれた男」by Takanori Maema, 2003.
「橘花―日本初のジェットエンジンネ20の技術検証」by Kazuhiko Ishizawa, 2006.

Was the Ne-330 an original engine, or was it a developed version of a previous engine?

Something interesting is that, though one would think of the more powerful engines as later developments, development of Ne-20, Ne-130, Ne-230, and Ne-330 were all more or less parallel, by independent companies.

1st trial production dates:

Ne-20: March 1945
Ne-130: May 1945
Ne-230: March 1945
Ne-330: April 1945

Ne-330 is Mitsubishi's independent project, not an improved development of the others, though the most powerful in plan.

 

[Shinpachi]

Thanks for your detailed information, Qaz, and my belated welcome to the forum

 

[johnbr]

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/Warthunder/comments/8ee4mb/photograph_of_japans_ne30_experimental_turbojet/

 

[johnbr]

pdf net