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Kawasaki Ki-148

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Ki-148 I-Gо̄ Model 1 Otsu
TypeGuided air-to-surface missile
Place of originJapan
Production history
ManufacturerKawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K.
Produced1944-1945
No. built~180
Specifications
Mass680 kg (1,500 lb)
Length4.09 m (13 ft 5 in)
Wingspan2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) / Wing area: 1.95 m2 (21 sq ft)

Effective firing range11 km (6.8 miles)
WarheadShaped charge
Warhead weight300 kg (661 lb)

Propellant1 x 1.47 kN (330 lbf) thrust Toku-Ro Mark 1 Model 2 rocket
Maximum speed 550 km/h (340 mph)
Guidance
system
radio-control
Launch
platform
Kawasaki Ki-102 in service (Kawasaki Ki-48 for trials)
ReferencesJapanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[1]

The Kawasaki I-Gо̄ Model 1 Otsu (No.1 Model 1B), otherwise known as Ki-148 was a World War II Japanese guided air-to-surface missile designed in 1944. Developed alongside its sister project the Mitsubishi I-Gо̄ Model 1 Kо̄ and the later Tokyo Imperial University designed I-Gо̄ Model 1 Hei, the Ki-148 was a simple radio-controlled guided missile propelled by a liquid rocket engine generating 1.47 kN (330 lbf) of thrust for up to 80 seconds.[2] Compared to the Ki-147, the Ki-148 was physically smaller and carried a 300 kg warhead versus the 800 kg warhead of the Ki-147. [3]

Test trials were carried out in late 1944 and the weapon was quickly ordered by the war ministry. Launched during tests from a modified Kawasaki Ki-48 light bomber, its standard mother aircraft was to be the modern Kawasaki Ki-102 attack aircraft. Although approximately 180 missiles were built, none saw service before the end of World War II.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Francillon 1979, p. 532.
  2. ^ Martin Caidin (1956). "Japanese Guided Missiles in World War II". Journal of Jet Propulsion. 26 (8): 691–694. doi:10.2514/8.7117.
  3. ^ Toshihiko Ogawa, "Phantom New Machine," Kojinsha NF Bunko, 2003. ISBN 4-7698-2142-5
Bibliography
  • Francillon, René J. Ph.D. (1979). Japanese aircraft of the Pacific War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. p. 532. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.