Mitsubishi Kasei

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This is an article about an aircraft engine. For the former heavy chemical company of the same name, see Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation.

The Kasei (火星, "Mars") was a two-row, 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and used in a variety of World War II Japanese aircraft, such as Mitsubishi J2M and Mitsubishi G4M. It was originally ordered by Imperial Japanese Navy, and was later adopted by the Japanese Army as the Ha-32. Produced in a wide variety of models, the Kasei generally produced between 1,400 and 1,800 hp. Production for the model 20 engine was estimated to be 9,300+.

The engine was rather large with a 1,322mm diameter compared to the 1,180mm of the Nakajima Homare engine and was used mostly on Japanese naval aircraft of the later wars years. Its size and weight meant it was a challenging engine to use on a single engined fighter. Challenges encountered with the engine were streamlining, cooling, torque on landing and take-off, propeller diameter, landing gear length, landing gear durability, poor visibility on landing and take-off, and high landing speeds.

[edit] Models

MK4A 11
1,530hp(1141-kW)
MK4E 15
1,530hp(1141-kW) same power as the 11 with improved altitude performance
MK4P 21
  • Displacement: 42.1 Liters
  • Bore: 150mm, Stroke: 170mm
  • 1,850Hp @ Takeoff
  • 1,680Hp @ 6,889ft or (2,100m) Low blower rated with water injection
  • 1,570Hp @ 18,044ft or (5,500m) Rated high blower with water injection
  • Double planetary spur reduction gear, Ratio: 0.538
  • Dry weight: 1,719lb or (780kg)
  • Diameter: 1,322mm
MK4R-C 23c
turbocharged 1,820-hp(1361-kW). The turbo charger allowed a power of 1420 hp to be maintained up to 30,000 feet instead of only 15,750 feet.
MK4U-4 26a
mechanically-driven 3-speed supercharger 1,820-hp(1361-kW)
MK4V 27
1,795hp(1339-kW)

[edit] Applications

Japan

[edit] References

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