The Mitsubishi Ha-43, known as the Ha-211 by the
Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) or Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF; ja, 大日本帝國陸軍航空部隊, Dainippon Teikoku Rikugun Kōkūbutai, lit=Greater Japan Empire Army Air Corps) was the aviation force of the Im ...
(IJAAF) and MK9 by the
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
The was the Naval aviation, air arm of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). The organization was responsible for the operation of naval aircraft and the conduct of aerial warfare in the Pacific War.
The Japanese military acquired their first air ...
(IJNAS)), was a Japanese 18-cylinder, twin-row air-cooled
radial engine
The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. It resembles a stylized star when viewed from the front, and is ca ...
developed during World War II. It was a more powerful derivative of Mitsubishi's 14-cylinder
Kinsei. While planned for use in several promising aircraft, only prototypes were made and the engine never saw combat.
Design and development
The Ha-43 was Mitsubishi's answer to
Nakajima's
Ha-45. The engine was planned to produce while retaining high reliability and a superior power-to-weight ratio compared to contemporary engines in its class. The frontal area per hp. was also intended to be the smallest in the world. However, such ambitious targets necessitated extraordinary efforts and ingenuity at the same time.
At the time, Mitsubishi was working to promote a different engine, the Ha-42 (an 18-cylinder derivative of the
Kasei), development of which was prioritized above the Ha-43's, delaying its completion. Consequently, the Ha-45 entered service first, albeit plagued with reliability issues, which would also trouble the Ha-43. Numerous promising aircraft, such as the
Kyushu J7W
The Kyūshū J7W ''Shinden'' (震電, "Magnificent Lightning") was a World War II Japanese propeller-driven prototype fighter with wings at the rear of the fuselage, a nose-mounted canard, and pusher engine.
Developed by the Imperial Japa ...
interceptor and Mitsubishi's own
A7M ''Reppu'' fighter, were planned to use the Ha-43, but in the end, such aircraft did not see service before
Japan's surrender
The surrender of the Empire of Japan in World War II was announced by Emperor Hirohito on 15 August and formally signed on 2 September 1945, bringing the war's hostilities to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy ...
, nor did the engine itself.
Variants and designations
''Data from:'' Japanese Aero-Engines 1910-1945
;A20: Company designation
;Ha-211: IJAAF designation
;MK9: IJNAS designation
;Ha-43: Unified (IJAAF and IJNAS) designation system
Applications
*
Kawanishi N1K5-J (project; not built)
*
Kyushu J7W1
*
Mansyū Ki-98
The Mansyū Ki-98, (also written as Manshū Ki-98), was a Japanese ground-attack aircraft proposed by Mansyū (''Manshūkoku Hikōki K.K.'' - Manchuria Airplane Manufacturing Company Ltd.) during World War II for use by the Imperial Japanese Ar ...
*
Mitsubishi A7M2/A7M3
*
Mitsubishi J4M
The Mitsubishi J4M ''Senden'' (閃電 "Flashing Lightning") or Navy Experimental 17-''Shi Otsu'' B Type Interceptor Fighter ''Senden'', Allied reporting name Luke, was a Japanese World War II fighter aircraft proposed by Mitsubishi Heavy Indu ...
*
Mitsubishi Ki-83
The Mitsubishi Ki-83 (キ83) was a Japanese experimental long range heavy fighter designed near the end of World War II. It did not reach production status.
Design and development
The Mitsubishi Ki-83 was designed as a long range heavy fighter. ...
Specifications (Ha-43/Ha-211/MK9)
See also
References
{{Imperial Japanese Navy aeroengines
Ha43
Aircraft air-cooled radial piston engines
1940s aircraft piston engines