FACTOIDS & TRIVIA

The Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu (allied cold name "Helen) was designed as a replacement for the Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" heavy bomber. Introduced in late 1941, it was meant to operate without fighter escort, but we know that didn't happen. Basically, it wasn't any better than the Ki-21 though it saw some success early in the war in China and Australia. Even after upgrading the guns from .303 to .50, the Ki-49 was so vunerable to Allied fighters that many were used for anti-submarine patrols or kamikaze missions rather than bombing sorties. It has cool camouflage, though. Nakajima only made 819 of these bombers before the end of the war.
 

NAKAJIMA Ki-49-II Donryu "Sally"

 

 

 Class: Heavy Bomber

 Crew: 8

 Engine: 2 x Nakajima Ha-109 14-cylinder twin-row radial (1,450 hp each)

 Max Speed: 306 mph at 16,404 ft

 Climb Rate:  1,206 ft/min

 Service Ceiling: 30,500 ft

 Range: 1,243 miles

 Armament:  1 x 20 mm cannon in cockpit, 5 x .303 inch machine guns (nose, left and right                         fuselage, dorsal canopy, and tail)
                       
                        2,200 lb bomb load

 

  Model Scale:  1:120



















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