As I understand it, this issue wasn't really resolved until the -II series came out.
The Zero's Maneuverability (3 Viewers)
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As I understand it, this issue wasn't really resolved until the -II series came out.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
The issues with the KI-43-I were addessed at field depots with repairs and reinforcement of the wing structures and wrinkled wing surfaces.
This was incorporated into the KI-43-II redesign.
GregP
Major
Yes. The Sakae was about 1,100 hp and the Kasei was 1,500 to 1,800 hp. The nrest of the reliable radials were lower power.
Almost all of the engines that made more power had longevity or quality issues. And they never DID figure out how to make a good inline, liquid-cooled aero engine during the war.
Almost all of the engines that made more power had longevity or quality issues. And they never DID figure out how to make a good inline, liquid-cooled aero engine during the war.
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MiTasol
1st Lieutenant
Which is strange as the usual story is they could not make the alloys needed for inlines yet they had 7000 series alloys well before anyone else.
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GregP
Major
It IS strange since the Sakae and the Kasei were very good engines for their time. I don't know why, but all the higher horsepower Japanese engines had issues. When they ran well, they were fine, but they seemingly couldn't make a productrion batch of them run well with good durability.
Of course, the R-2800 had issues, too. It took something like 28 crankshaft designs before they got a really good one.
I'm guessing the "issues: had a lot to do with being bombed ...
Of course, the R-2800 had issues, too. It took something like 28 crankshaft designs before they got a really good one.
I'm guessing the "issues: had a lot to do with being bombed ...
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MiTasol
1st Lieutenant
According to one source in the 70's, a book by a lawyer who was involved with the Japanese war crimes trials, the quality issue came from the Japanese taking all males out of school when they reached a certain age and then stuck them in war production factories. At their next birthday they were conscripted into one of the military services. This meant that they spent a relatively large percentage of their manufacturing time in training and became cannon fodder soon after becoming competent at their jobs. Other countries used women workers and/or classified the male workers as essential and blocked them from being conscripted.
The book had a title something like Imperial Conspiracy.
The book had a title something like Imperial Conspiracy.
GregP
Major
Seems like a self-defeating process, doesn't it?
Very Japanese.
Typical of the disdain for manpower shown at all levels of Japanese society.
The Japanese had different issues at different times before and during the war.
Before the war, when the A6M and Ki-43 were designed, the available engines with sufficient power and relatively light weight AND low frontal area were limited. There was the Zuisei, Sakae and Kinsei. Of these, the Sakae was the best at the time which is why both the Ki-43 and A6M both ended up using it. The Kinsei would eventually do quite well for power but was heavier and not a lot more powerful at the time. It ended up in torpedo bombers and the like. There was of course other engine designs such as Kasei but they were "Bomber Engines" with large frontal areas and not what you WANT to put into a small sleek fighter. Look at how they eventually crammed one into the J2M Raiden. The Zuisei was a bit lower powered and closer to its development limit.
Those engines for the time were superbly manufactured.
The problem was that as the war went on, other limitations started showing up. Their standard of fuel was only 91 and 92 Octane throughout the war. Higher boost settings needed higher octane or anti-detonant such as Water Methanol which is why many late war Japanese aircraft carried so much of it in relation to the amount of fuel.
Another problem was manpower. The Japanese apparently didn't have any significant restrictions on drafting skilled craftsman for the military. That left the jobs to novices with the expected results. Quality control got pretty bad, but when the problems were corrected such as when a Ha-45 Homare was overhauled at Middletown, the design was good.
One other factor that isn't mentioned much is the depth of engineering talent. While other countries such as the US and USSR had many companies with many good engineers in each, the Japanese tended to rely on a couple superstars in a company. Thus when one project got the military's attention, other deserving projects were neglected.
- Ivan.
I believe this is a consequence of getting into a war that they did not have the resources to actually fight.
Sometimes you have to "Rob Peter to pay Paul as they say." Or sort of like deficit spending. Eventually it all comes tumbling down.
It is just a matter when and how.
Nah, don't buy that. When you are short of resources it does not automatically follow that you waste those resources you do have.
This attitude, that manpower and by extension experience and training are wholly disposable assets, is reflected in the rampant abuse in the ranks, failure to rotate personnel, failure to preserve pilots of high experience etc etc. It's even explicit in the oft repeated mantra: A soldier's life is light as a feather, duty is heavy as a mountain. It's dehumanization which comes back to bite it's own ass in a mechanized war.
I don't believe the thought was to "waste" those resources. The problem is that there are multiple demands for manpower. Which one is more immediate? If you don't have soldiers today, you may not need the weapons production tomorrow.
Being able to rotate personnel (pilots) back home works IF there are enough quality replacements to maintain an effective fighting force if you were to do so. If you rotate your veterans home and you do not have enough experience left to conduct effective operations, then what?
The Japanese never had the large scale training programs necessary for a modern war. They were expecting something small and quick and choreographed.
ThomasP
Chief Master Sergeant
re
I would change this to "They were hoping for something small and quick and choreographed."
GregP
Major
They didn't exactly "get into a war."
Before World War II, the US imposed a series of economic sanctions and a de facto blockade on Japan, culminating in a full oil embargo in 1941, after Japan's expansion into French Indochina and other aggressive actions in Asia. So, they were hurting for raw material and there was no real way to end the blockade whort of a military action. They were forced to either fight a war they didn't really seek or want, or surrender as a country. Japanese millitary leaders were basically forced into being pro-war by the situation.
It's not a pretty picture, but it happened.
Yes, these black-ish things Japanese military were throwing around in the late 1941 and before were actually the black chrysanthemums, but the West declared than as bombs and torpedoes.
Probably the greatest misunderstanding of all the times.
USA blockaded raw materials intended for Japan, not coming from Japan.
IJ could have ceased their offensive operations in FIC and China, which is hardly surrender. As for 'fighting a war they didn't seek', they certainly seemed to have planned it out to the last detail.
Greg Boeser
2nd Lieutenant
The occupation of French Indochina was in furtherance of their war with China. It closed Haiphong as a port for Chinese supplies and opened another front for offensive action.
GregP
Major
Correct, things goling to Japan.
