Ki-49-IIb

Ki-49-IIb

Ki-49-IIa

Ki-49-IIb/L

Ki-49-IIb

Ki-49-IIa

Ki-49-IIb/L

Japan

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.3	3.7	4.0

Class:

Bomber

Frontline bomber

Research:18 000

Purchase:47 000

Show in game

This page is about the Japanese medium bomber Ki-49-IIb. For other variants, see Ki-49 (Family).

Description

The Ki-49-IIb Donryu is a rank III Japanese bomber with a battle rating of 3.3 (AB), 3.7 (RB), and 4.0 (SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

The Ki-49's role is a low-altitude medium bomber capable of destroying ground targets such as pillboxes and tanks. Although hindered by a low total bomb capacity, this aircraft is renowned for its impressive manoeuvrability. This being said, it is very easy for the Ki-49 to hover above an area and drop all of its payloads rather quickly. Heavy bombers such as the G8N1 Renzan have a harder time due to their sheer size and slow rate of turn. Make sure to select the 4 x 250 kg bomb load out if attacking targets like tanks, pillboxes, bases or smaller ships.

General info

Flight performance

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 5,150 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	481	465	9300	31.0	31.8	9.6	9.6	650
Upgraded	524	502		29.0	30.0	16.1	12.5

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	300	450	450	250	~4	~2

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 260	< 360	< 350	> 340

Survivability and armour

• 68 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilot
• 12.5 mm Steel plate in front of the pilot
• 16.5 mm Steel plate behind the pilots
• 12.5 mm Steel plate behind the dorsal gunner
• 12.5 mm Steel plates surrounding the dorsal gunner
• 12.5 mm Steel plates in front of the tail gunner

Armaments

Suspended armament

The Ki-49-IIb can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 12 x 50 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bombs (600 kg total)
• 4 x 250 kg Army Type 92 GPHE bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 1 x 500 kg Army Type 92 GPHE bomb (500 kg total)

Defensive armament

The Ki-49-IIb is defended by:

• 1 x 20 mm Ho-1 cannon, dorsal turret (180 rpg)
• 1 x 12.7 mm Ho-104 machine gun, nose turret (250 rpg)
• 1 x 12.7 mm Ho-104 machine gun, ventral turret (250 rpg)
• 1 x 12.7 mm Ho-104 machine gun, tail turret (250 rpg)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Type 89 machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (414 rpg)

Usage in battles

If attacked by fighters, it is important to remember and recognize the Ki-49's turning capabilities. It is actually possible to win lateral turn fights against fighters with this aircraft. Try not to act like a "sitting duck" because the Ki-49 features little armour protection and has limited defensive capabilities as far as weapons go. If found in a sticky situation, the hard-hitting 20mm dorsal cannon is deadly. The only problem is that it isn't located directly on the tail. If an enemy is directly behind or below the Ki-49, the 20mm tail gunner's arc will not reach it. Therefore, one may need to change altitude in order to have the enemy plane both above and behind you. Pulling hard manoeuvres will throw the enemy off and allow you to set up for more defensive fire.

This aircraft has the ability to hold up to 1000 kg of bombs in several different variations. 12 x 50 kg bombs, 4 x 250 kg bombs, and 1 x 500 kg bomb. Use the 12 x 50 kg bombs to attack light tanks and light pillboxes. They are not viable against bigger targets since direct hits are needed to destroy. This loadout is particularly useful on maps like Zhengzhou where there is an abundance of non-moving targets (light pillboxes). Use the 4 x 250 kg bomb versions to destroy heavier targets such as medium tanks, pillboxes, destroyers, and cargo ships.

In arcade battles, this aircraft is particularly proficient at bombing bases, especially with a maxed reload crew skill. Since the Ki-49 can virtually turn on a dime, instead of having to line up longer bombing runs like heavy bombers you can "hover" over the base or airfield and attempt dive attacks. It's also possible to use this same tactic against pillboxes or tanks. With fighter cover, a good reload time skill and good aim it's possible to destroy dozens of ground units.

Although unconventional, this aircraft is a fantastic weapon if you want to bait the enemy. Ideally, you would want to attract a higher flying enemy down to you and to get into a turn fight. This way, depending on the enemy aircraft you can outmanoeuvre and distract him while teammates fly down to finish him off. Also if the enemy aircraft attacks from above, the 20mm Ho-1 cannon can do a lot of damage.

Specific aircraft to watch out for:

• North American Aviation B-25J Mitchel (This is due to the firepower the B-25J has with its nose mounted machine guns and its air spawn).
• Bristol Beaufighter (This heavy fighter has 4 x 20 mm cannons and can destroy the Ki-49-IIb with relative ease).
• Northrop P-61 Black Widow (This heavy fighter has 4 x 20 mm cannons and 4 machine guns. This level of firepower can destroy the Ki-49-IIb with relative ease).
• Any planes with big guns (Bell P-39 Airacobra, Bell P-63 King Cobra....) this is because the Ki-49-IIb does not react well to damage.

When dealing with the Ki-49-IIb, be careful of its defensive armament. It may not be strong, however, do not underestimate it. To attack this bomber while taking minimal damage, attack it from the front of the plane or attack from below. Do not attack from above the rear of the Ki-49-IIb as the 20 mm cannon will cripple your plane if not outright destroy it.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Combined	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Turret 7 mm	12 in (mod30)
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs (turret)	14 in (mod35)
III	Wings repair	Engine		Turret 12 mm	Turret 20 mm
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 12 mm MGs (turret)	New 20 mm cannons (turret)

• Being a bomber, speed is not necessarily an important attribute, however, payload and defensive armament is. Upgrading the bombs allows for more target flexibility and damage potential while turret upgrades will help survivability. the turret belts and the "new turrets" upgrades are useful. The "new turrets" upgrade will allow you to fire the turrets for longer periods of time and having access to multiple ammunition belts is also helpful. The engine upgrades are also useful in that they will help you reach your target faster and will control engine temperature. Having all of the weapons upgrades will help drastically in unlocking the other modules on this aircraft.

• The best way of grinding with this aircraft is to play cautiously and to use communication. As with any bomber, if you're caught alone or off guard you are as good as lost. Although not a sure tactic, having a fighter escort will boost RP gains drastically. This goes for all game modes. Generally, try to destroy as many targets as possible without wasting bombs. If done in a speedy fashion it is possible to drop multiple payloads in RB. The same goes for simulator battles. In arcade battles, having a high reload speed and a fighter escort will allow for constant bombardment. If done correctly, flying the Ki-49 in all modes will net you large amounts of RP.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Very good manoeuvrability and turn time for a bomber
• Variety of payload options
• Multiple gunners for protection in almost all directions
• Armor protection around pilots and gunners
• Tremendous fuel capacity

Cons:

• Prone to engine and fuel fires
• Relatively slow
• Low total bomb capacity (1,000 kg)
• Below average defensive armament
• Low rate of climb
• Gunners are closely grouped together

History

Nakajima Ki-49-II Donryu Army Bomber, type 100 model 2 (code name "Helen")

Prior to the outbreak of the War in the Pacific, the Japanese utilised the Ki-49 in China where it served well. It wasn't until the spring of 1942 that the Japanese military determined that the Ki-49 should be fitted with upgraded engines, namely the Nakajima Ha-109 radial piston engines which were rated at 1450 hp. Upgrading the engines, however, required slight modification of the engine nacelles to accommodate the newer engines even though they were roughly the same size as the original engines. Unfortunately, the oil cooler would not fit inside the nacelle along with the new engine and was instead mounted on the exterior of the nacelle. Other changes were also made to improve combat conditions of this aircraft: upgraded armour protection protecting the aircrew was installed along with self-sealing fuel tanks and a bombsight. The defensive armament remained similar to that of the Ki-49-I, however, the Type 89 machine guns were replaced with Type 98 7.92 mm machine guns (which were based on the Rheinmetall-Borsig MG.15). The normal bomb-carrying capacity of the aircraft was increased to 1,000 kg. A few short months later in August of 1942, this new version of the Donryu entered production under the designation Ki-49-IIa (model 2 Ko).

Quickly it was determined that the defensive machine guns were proven to be ineffective against Allied fighters and this required a new modification, which became the Ki-49-IIb (model 2 Otsu) implemented with stronger defensive weaponry. In the bow, stern, and ventral firing positions, the Type 98 7.92 mm machine guns were replaced with Ho-103 12.7 mm machine guns (the Type 1 Japanese version of the Browning M2 .50 calibre machine guns). The two guns on the aircraft's sides were replaced with the original Type 89 7.7mm machine guns removed during the Ki-49-Ia upgrade. The bomb load remained unchanged at 1,000 kg. In later series, the Ki-49-IIb's common exhaust tube was replaced with several individual pipes. Even though the Ki-49-II bombers went through several revisions and upgrades, they were unable to completely replace the older models still in service. These bombers were used mainly in New Guinea, and China, and, in October of 1944, they were transferred to the Phillapines where they actively participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The Ki-49 was utilised as a jack-of-all-trades aircraft as she was used as both a day and a night bomber, long-range reconnaissance, transport, and anti-submarine patrols to name a few. Towards the end of the war, the Ki-49s were assigned to kamikaze units and modified for such action. Modifications for the kamikaze missions included stripping out all of the defensive armaments, the crew was reduced to two pilots and the bomb load was increased to 1,600 kg. Production of the Ki-49 ceased in December of 1944. In all its different variants, a total of 819 Ki-49s were constructed.

• 7th Sentai, 2nd Chutai 1944-45
• 74th Sentai, 2nd Chutai Philippines 1944-45

In-game description

Nakajima Ki-49-II Donryu Army Bomber, type 100 model 2 (code name "Helen")

In the spring of 1942, it was decided that the Ki-49 should be fitted with new engines, the Nakajima Ha-109 radial piston engines, rated at 1450 hp. This required only a slight modification of the engine nacelles, as the new engine was a similar size to that of its predecessor. However, the oil cooler could not fit inside the nacelle along with the engine and was put outside, instead. Other changes were made to improve combat conditions: the armor protecting the airplane's crew was upgraded and self-sealing fuel tanks were installed, as well as a new bomb sight.

The defensive armament remained similar to that of the Ki-49-I, but the Type 89 machine guns were replaced with Type 98 7.92mm machine guns (which were based on the Rheinmetall-Borsig MG.15). Normal bomb carrying capacity was increased to 1000 kilograms.

In August of 1942, the new version of the Donryu entered production, under the designation Ki-49-IIa (model 2Ko). However, the fighters' machine guns were soon proven to be ineffective against Allied fighters, so a new modification, the Ki-49-IIb (model 2Otsu) was designed with stronger defensive weaponry. In the bow, stern, and lower firing locations, the Type 98 7.92mm machine guns were replaced with Ho-103 12.7mm machine guns (the Type 1 Japanese version of the Browning M2.50). The two guns on the aircraft's sides were replaced with the original Type 89 7.7mm machine guns. The bomb load remained unchanged.

In later series, the Ki-49-IIb's common exhaust was replaced with several separate pipes.

The Ki-49-II bombers were unable to completely replace the older models in service. They were used mainly in New Guinea and China, and, in October of 1944, they took active participation in the Battle of Leyte.

The Ki-49 was used as both a day and a night bomber as well as for long-range reconnaissance, transport, and anti-submarine patrols. Towards the end of the war, they were used in kamikaze units. For kamikaze missions, the Ki-49 was stripped of all defensive armaments, the crew was reduced to two pilots, and the bomb load was increased to 1600 kilograms.

Production of the Ki-49 ceased in December of 1944. In all, 819 Ki-49s were constructed, including all variants.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Military Factory] Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu (Helen)
• [Pilot Friend] Nakajima Ki 49 Helen
• [Wings Palette] Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu/Helen

Japan bombers
Navy
Carrier-based attack bomber
B5N	B5N2
B6N	B6N1 · B6N2 · B6N2a
B7A	B7A2 · B7A2 (Homare 23)
Carrier-based dive bomber
D3A	D3A1
D4Y	D4Y1 · D4Y2 · D4Y3 Ko
Shipboard Observation seaplane
F1M	F1M2
Land-based Attack bomber
G4M	G4M1
G5N	G5N1
G8N	G8N1
Flying boat
H6K	H6K4
H8K	H8K2 · H8K3
Land-based Bomber
P1Y	P1Y1
Army
Light	Ki-32
	Ki-48-II otsu
Heavy	Ki-21-Ia · Ki-21-I hei
	Ki-49-I · Ki-49-IIa · Ki-49-IIb · Ki-49-IIb/L
	Ki-67-I Ko · Ki-67-I otsu
Other countries	▅B-17E