Maeda Ku-6

The Maeda Aircraft Corporation created the Ku-6. Maeda was designed by The Aeronautical Institute of the Imperial University in Tokyo. It is one of the notable aircraft concepts developed during World War II.[1]

Ku-6
Role Winged tank
National origin Empire of Japan
Manufacturer Maeda Aircraft Corporation
Status Experimental
Number built 1
Developed from Type 98 Ke-Ni (ostensibly)

It was designed with all the requirements that the Army's Troop Transport Command needed.[1] The main problem that the army faced was the difficulty of moving armored fighting vehicles long distances over the main islands of Japan to resist seaborne invasion. They came up with the idea that it could be done by equipping the vehicle with wings, empennage, and take-off carriages. Once landed, all the items that needed to make the vehicle airborne would be quickly detached to allow it to go into action as a ground vehicle.

In 1939, the Japanese Amy Air Force Examination Department began the development of Special Tank No.3 Ku-Ro that was initially given the name Sora-Sha (“air vehicle”). The glider for this project was given the Army designation Ku-6 (Japanese: ク六 (Ku roku)), which can also be read or abbreviated as "Ku-Ro", and thus that also became the code name for the tank the glider was intended to carry.[2][3] While Mitsubishi built the special tank, Maeda Kōken Kōgyō constructed the wing and empennage. Maeda completed the prototype in January 1945.[4]

Specifications

Data from Fighting gliders of World War II[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 1 light tank (2,800 kg (6,174 lb)
  • Wingspan: 21.9 m (71 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 60.3 m2 (649 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 697.6 kg (1,538 lb)
  • Gross weight: 3,498 kg (7,712 lb)

See also

References
  1. Mrazek, James E. (2011). Airborne Combat: The Glider War/Fighting Gliders of World War II. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. p. 347. ISBN 978-0-8117-0808-1.
  2. Dyer, Edwin M. (2009). Japanese Secret Projects : Experimental Aircraft of the IJA and IJN 1939-1945. Midland. ISBN 1857803175.
  3. Pentelic, Marko (25 July 2022). "Maeda Ku-6". The Online Tank Museum. Tanks Encyclopedia. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  4. Mrazek, James (1975). Airborne Combat. Stackpole Books. p. 486. ISBN 0811744663.
  5. Mrazek, James E. (1977). Fighting gliders of World War II. London: Hale. pp. 84-86. ISBN 978-0312289270.
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