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 was designed with all the requirements that the Army's Troop Transport Command needed. 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.

Ku-6
Role Winged tank
National origin Empire of Japan
Manufacturer Maeda Aircraft Corporation
Status Experimental
Number built 1

In 1939, the Japanese Amy Air Force Examination Department began the Special Tank Project Number 3 that was given the name Sora-Sha (“air vehicle”). Later it became Kuro-Sha which means “black vehicle”. The kuro-Sha became the Ku-6, its gliding series. While Mitsubishi built the special tank, Maedo Koken Kogyo constructed the wing and empennage. Maeda completed the prototype in January 1945.[1]

Specifications

Data from Fighting gliders of World War II[2]

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 (1975). Airborne Combat. Stackpole Books. p. 486. ISBN 0811744663.
  2. Mrazek, James E. (1977). Fighting gliders of World War II. London: Hale. pp. 84-86. ISBN 978-0312289270.


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