| Ki-73 | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| National origin | Japan |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Aircraft Company |
| Designer | Tomio Kubo |
| Status | Cancelled / abandoned in 1945 |
| Primary user | Imperial Japanese Army Air Service |
| Number built | Partially prototype developed |
TheMitsubishi Ki-73, Alliedreporting name "Steve", was a single-engine super high-speed long-rangeescort fighter designed byMitsubishi Aircraft Company for use by theImperial Japanese Army Air Service inWorld War II. The plane only reached the partiallyprototype development before being abandoned and cancelled. The design and the developed prototype was built as a response to a specification for a single-engined long range escort fighter in May 1943. The Ki-73 was designed by Tomio Kubo, who was also responsible for theMitsubishi Ki-46 and theMitsubishi Ki-83 twin engine fighters. The need for the Ki-73 came from heavy losses to Japanesebombers in thePacific War fromAlliedfighter planes. The warended on 2 September 1945, before any further development was completed on the Ki-73.[1][2]
The Mitsubishi Ki-73 was a standardmonoplane design with atail dragger configuration. The Ki-73 was designed withcontra-rotating propellers, using two three bladed propellers. The two propellers were driven by a Mitsubishi Ha-203-II engine. The super speed Mitsubishi Ha-203-II engine had 2,600 hp derived from aliquid-cooled engine with24 cylinders in ahorizontal H. The high power engine would have given the plane a top speed of 750 km/h (466 MPH). The plane would have four 20 mm (0.79 in)Ho-5 cannons, two per wing. The Mitsubishi Ha-203-II engine had many problems in development. This complex type engine with two 12 inline cylinders in a horizontal H configuration was successfully built byD. Napier & Son in theNapier Sabre engine and used in the BritishHawker Typhoon andHawker Tempest during the war. Due to the Mitsubishi Ha-203-II engine development problems, Tomio Kubo departed the Ki-73 project and worked on the twin engine Ki-83, which reached the complete prototype stage, but was not produced. The Mitsubishi Ki-73 was given the Allied code nameSteve. TheUnited States Army gave the plane a code name as captured documents made its development seen to be near completion.[1][2]
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