Nakajima provided Japan with its first large radials by building Bristols beginning in the late 1920s. In 1936, Nakajima began building Gnome-Rhone engines under license. Its own World War II designs were apparently not considered very good. The principal feature of the Nakajima Type 2 engine was its compactness. It was slightly smaller in diameter than the equivalent Mitsubishi Kasei Model 10 series, yet it produced about the same power.

The Nakajima Type 2 engine was used on 617 Nakajima Ki-49-II Donryu (Storm Dragon) (Allied Code Name Helen), Japanese army twin-engine, heavy bombers, originally designed to operate without fighter escort. It was also installed in about 1,100 Nakajima Ki-44-II Shoki (Devil-Queller) (Allied Code Name Tojo), single-engine, army interceptor fighters, designed to defend Japan against bombing attacks in World War II. A total of 3,554 of all Ha 109 series engines were built between 1940 and 1944.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Date Circa World War II Country of Origin Japan Type PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary Manufacturer Nakajima Hikoki K. K.
 Physical Description Type: Reciprocating, 14 cylinders, 2 rows, radial, air cooled Power rating: 1,081 kW (1,450 hp) at 2,650 rpm Displacement: 37.5 L (2,268 cu in.) Bore and Stroke: 146 mm (5.75 in.) x 160 mm (5.3 in.) Weight: 722 kg (1,590 lb) Dimensions Overall: 4 ft. 1 3/4 in., 1587.3lb. (126.3cm, 720kg)
Other: 4 ft. 1 3/4 in. × 5 ft. 11/16 in. × 5 ft. 10 in. × 4 ft. 10 in. × 5 ft. (126.3 × 154.1 × 177.8 × 147.3 × 152.4cm)
 Materials Non-Magnetic Metals
Ferrous Alloy
Copper Alloys
Wood
Paint
Ceramic
Fabric
Adhesive Tape
 Inventory Number A19670098000 Credit Line Transferred from Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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