The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) developed the Ka-1 autogyro for reconnaissance, artillery-spotting, and anti-submarine uses. The Ka-1 was based on an American design, the Kellett KD-1A, which had been imported to Japan in 1939, but which was damaged beyond repair shortly after arrival.[1]Kayaba Industry was tasked by the IJA to develop a similar machine, and the first prototype was flying on 26 May 1941.[1] The craft was initially developed for use as an observation platform and for artillery spotting duties. The IJA liked the craft's short, (30 m (98 ft)) take-off run, and its low maintenance requirements. Production began in 1941 and the first autogyros were assigned to artillery units for artillery spotting, crewed by pilot and spotter.
The prototype Ka-Go was a repaired Kellett KD-1A powered by a 240 hp (180 kW) Argus As 10c. It went into production as the Ka-1 and about 20 were produced.[2]
Production continued as the Ka-2, powered by Jacobs L-4MA-7 engines, similar to the Kellett KD-1. During production, a shortage of critical components for rotors and engines resulted in severe delivery delays.
A total of 98 Ka-1 and Ka-2 airframes were produced by the end of war. Twelve were destroyed before delivery to the IJA, and about 30 never had engines installed. About 50 were delivered to the IJA, but only 30 were actually deployed.[1] Some sources have stated that 240 were built, but this cannot be verified.
Operational historyedit
The first Ka-1 (the repaired Kellett KD-1A), first took off from Tamagawa Airfield on May 26, 1941. In the following Army trials, performance was deemed excellent. Originally, it was planned to send the Ka-1 to spot for the artillery units based in mainland China, but the change of the course of war in that theater rendered those plans meaningless. Instead, a few Ka-1 were sent to the Philippines to perform the duties of liaison aircraft as replacements for the Kokusai Ki-76. After some time the IJA finally decided on the best use of these unique aircraft, and the majority of Ka-1 and Ka-2 were pressed into service as anti-submarine patrol aircraft. Pilot training for this speciality started in July 1943 with the first batch of 10 pilots graduating in February 1944; followed by another batch of 40 pilots in September 1944.
Originally, the plan was to deploy the Ka-1/Ka-2 from 2D-class cargo ships to spot enemy submarines, but these ships turned out to be too cramped for operations; therefore the Ka-1/Ka-2 unit was assigned to the Army-operated assault ship Akitsu Maru from August 1944 until her sinking in November 1944. From 17 January 1945 ASW patrols were resumed from an airstrip on Iki Island with a maintenance base located at Gannosu Airfield in Fukuoka prefecture. ASW patrols also started from May 1945 from Izuhara airfield on Tsushima Island. These missions helped to protect one of the last operational Japanese sea lanes between the ports of Fukuoka and Pusan. Eventually U.S. carrier-based aircraft began to appear even in the Tsushima Strait, so in June 1945 the Ka-1/Ka-2 units were relocated to Nanao base on the Noto Peninsula, in the Sea of Japan, operating from there until the end of the war. The Ka-1/Ka-2 did not directly sink any submarines during the war, but they were well regarded for spotting enemy submarines and reporting their positions.[citation needed]
Variantsedit
Ka-Go: Prototype built around a repaired Kellett autogyro.
Ka-1: Imperial Japanese Army development of the Ka-Go, powered by a 240 hp (180 kW) Argus As 10 engine.
Ka-2: Imperial Japanese Army development of the Ka-1, powered by a 245 hp (183 kW) Jacobs L-4MA-7 engine.
^ abcdFrancillon, Rene (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Limited. pp. 143–145. ISBN0-370-30251-6.
^. www.vectorsite.net. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kayaba Ka-1.
YouTube video of Ka-1 and Ka-2 autogyro tests
April 14, 2024
kayaba, were, japanese, autogyros, seeing, service, during, world, artillery, spotting, 2role, autogyromanufacturer, kayaba, industryfirst, flight, 1941primary, user, imperial, japanese, army, serviceproduced, 1941, 1945number, built, 98developed, from, kellet. The Kayaba Ka 1 and Ka 2 were Japanese autogyros seeing service during World War II for artillery spotting Ka 1 Ka 2Kayaba Ka 1Role AutogyroManufacturer Kayaba IndustryFirst flight 26 May 1941Primary user Imperial Japanese Army Air ServiceProduced 1941 1945Number built 98Developed from Kellett KD 1A Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Specifications Ka 1 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development editThe Imperial Japanese Army IJA developed the Ka 1 autogyro for reconnaissance artillery spotting and anti submarine uses The Ka 1 was based on an American design the Kellett KD 1A which had been imported to Japan in 1939 but which was damaged beyond repair shortly after arrival 1 Kayaba Industry was tasked by the IJA to develop a similar machine and the first prototype was flying on 26 May 1941 1 The craft was initially developed for use as an observation platform and for artillery spotting duties The IJA liked the craft s short 30 m 98 ft take off run and its low maintenance requirements Production began in 1941 and the first autogyros were assigned to artillery units for artillery spotting crewed by pilot and spotter The prototype Ka Go was a repaired Kellett KD 1A powered by a 240 hp 180 kW Argus As 10c It went into production as the Ka 1 and about 20 were produced 2 Production continued as the Ka 2 powered by Jacobs L 4MA 7 engines similar to the Kellett KD 1 During production a shortage of critical components for rotors and engines resulted in severe delivery delays A total of 98 Ka 1 and Ka 2 airframes were produced by the end of war Twelve were destroyed before delivery to the IJA and about 30 never had engines installed About 50 were delivered to the IJA but only 30 were actually deployed 1 Some sources have stated that 240 were built but this cannot be verified Operational history editThe first Ka 1 the repaired Kellett KD 1A first took off from Tamagawa Airfield on May 26 1941 In the following Army trials performance was deemed excellent Originally it was planned to send the Ka 1 to spot for the artillery units based in mainland China but the change of the course of war in that theater rendered those plans meaningless Instead a few Ka 1 were sent to the Philippines to perform the duties of liaison aircraft as replacements for the Kokusai Ki 76 After some time the IJA finally decided on the best use of these unique aircraft and the majority of Ka 1 and Ka 2 were pressed into service as anti submarine patrol aircraft Pilot training for this speciality started in July 1943 with the first batch of 10 pilots graduating in February 1944 followed by another batch of 40 pilots in September 1944 Originally the plan was to deploy the Ka 1 Ka 2 from 2D class cargo ships to spot enemy submarines but these ships turned out to be too cramped for operations therefore the Ka 1 Ka 2 unit was assigned to the Army operated assault ship Akitsu Maru from August 1944 until her sinking in November 1944 From 17 January 1945 ASW patrols were resumed from an airstrip on Iki Island with a maintenance base located at Gannosu Airfield in Fukuoka prefecture ASW patrols also started from May 1945 from Izuhara airfield on Tsushima Island These missions helped to protect one of the last operational Japanese sea lanes between the ports of Fukuoka and Pusan Eventually U S carrier based aircraft began to appear even in the Tsushima Strait so in June 1945 the Ka 1 Ka 2 units were relocated to Nanao base on the Noto Peninsula in the Sea of Japan operating from there until the end of the war The Ka 1 Ka 2 did not directly sink any submarines during the war but they were well regarded for spotting enemy submarines and reporting their positions citation needed Variants editKa Go Prototype built around a repaired Kellett autogyro Ka 1 Imperial Japanese Army development of the Ka Go powered by a 240 hp 180 kW Argus As 10 engine Ka 2 Imperial Japanese Army development of the Ka 1 powered by a 245 hp 183 kW Jacobs L 4MA 7 engine Specifications Ka 1 editData from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War 1 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 9 2 m 30 ft 2 in Empty weight 775 kg 1 709 lb Gross weight 1 086 kg 2 394 lb Max takeoff weight 1 170 kg 2 579 lb Powerplant 1 Argus As 10c inverted V 8 air cooled piston engine 180 kW 240 hp Main rotor diameter 12 2 m 40 ft 0 in Main rotor area 116 9 m2 1 258 sq ft 3 bladed auto rotating rotor Propellers 2 bladed wooden fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 165 km h 103 mph 89 kn Cruise speed 115 km h 71 mph 62 kn Range 280 km 170 mi 150 nmi Service ceiling 3 500 m 11 500 ft Rate of climb 5 m s 980 ft min Time to altitude 1 000 m 3 300 ft in 3 min 20 seconds 2 000 m 6 600 ft in 7 min 30 seconds Disk loading 10 kg m2 2 0 lb sq ft Power mass 0 152 kW kg 0 093 hp kg Armament 2x 60 kg 130 lb depth chargesReferences edit a b c d Francillon Rene 1979 Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War London Putnam amp Company Limited pp 143 145 ISBN 0 370 30251 6 European Helicopter Pioneers www vectorsite net Archived from the original on 29 June 2011 Retrieved 15 August 2010 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kayaba Ka 1 YouTube video of Ka 1 and Ka 2 autogyro tests Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kayaba Ka 1 amp oldid 1193303982, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
