Mitsubishi Zuisei

The Mitsubishi Zuisei (瑞星, Holy Star) was a 14-cylinder, supercharged, air-cooled, two-row radial engine used in a variety of early World War II Japanese aircraft. It was one of the smallest 14-cyl. engines in the world and the smallest diameter Japanese engine. The Mitsubishi model designation for this engine was A14 while it was an experimental project, in service it was known as the MK2, followed by the revision code letter, and known as the Ha26 & Ha102 by the Army and "Zuisei" by the Navy. Unified designation code was [Ha-31].^[1]

Design and development

The MK2A Zuisei engine was a 14-cylinder, supercharged, air-cooled two-row radial engine with a 140 mm (5.5 in) bore and 130 mm (5.12 in) stroke for a displacement of 28L (1,710ci) and a nominal power rating of 805 kW (1080 hp) for takeoff and 787 kW (1055 hp) at 2800 meters (9185 feet).^[1]

Mitsubishi used the standard designation system to identify this engine while it was under development. The MK2 designation starts with the Manufacturer's assigned identification letter, in this case, "M" for Mitsubishi, followed by a letter that identifies the engine arrangement, in this case "K" for air-cooled, and then the sequentially assigned design number, in this case "2" for the second design. Revisions to the engine are identified by the letter following the preceding designation, with letter "A" being the original, or first, version.^[2]

Mitsubishi also had a custom to name its engines with a short two syllable name that references objects found in the sky. The naming sequence started with this engine, the MK2 Zuisei "Holy star", and was followed in order by the MK4 Kinsei "Venus" and the MK8 Kasei "Mars".^[3]

Variants

MK2A Zuisei 11

875 horsepower (652 kW), 2540 rpm at takeoff,
925 horsepower (690 kW), 2450 rpm at 1,800 metres (5,900 ft)

MK2B Zuisei 12

780 horsepower (580 kW), 2540 rpm at take-off,
875 horsepower (652 kW) 2540 rpm at 3,600 metres (11,800 ft)

MK2C Zuisei 13

1,080 horsepower (810 kW), 2700 rpm at take-off,
950 horsepower (710 kW) 2600 rpm at 6,000 metres (20,000 ft)

MK2C Zuisei 14 Ha-26-I

850 horsepower (630 kW), 2650 rpm at take-off,
900 horsepower (670 kW) 2650 rpm at 3,500 metres (11,500 ft)

MK2C Zuisei 15 Ha-26-II

940 horsepower (700 kW), 2650 rpm at take-off,
950 horsepower (710 kW) 2650 rpm at 6,000 metres (20,000 ft)

MK2D Zuisei 21 Ha-102

1,080 horsepower (810 kW), 2700 rpm at take-off,
1,050 horsepower (780 kW) 2700 rpm at 2,800 metres (9,200 ft),
950 horsepower (710 kW) 2700 rpm at 5,800 metres (19,000 ft)

Applications

• Mitsubishi A6M (prototype) ^[1]
• Kawanishi E7K^[4]
• Mitsubishi F1M^[5]
• Mitsubishi G5M1^[6]
• Kawasaki Ki-45^[7]
• Mitsubishi Ki-46^[7]
• Mitsubishi Ki-57^[8]
• Kokusai Ki-105^[9]

Specifications (MK2A Zuisei 11)

Data from

General characteristics

• Type: 14-cylinder, air-cooled, supercharged, two-row radial piston engine
• Bore: 140 mm (5.5 in)
• Stroke: 130 mm (5.1 in)
• Displacement: 28.0 L (1,710 in³)
• Diameter: 1,118 mm (44.0 in)
• Dry weight: 540 kg (1,190 lb)

Components

• Valvetrain: pushrod operated, Two overhead valves per cylinder
• Supercharger: centrifugal single stage single speed
• Fuel type: 87 octane rating gasoline
• Cooling system: air-cooled

Performance

• Compression ratio: 6.5

References

The NASM owns two Zuisei engines from the Ki-45 and an early Ki-46. They are stored and unrestored.

Notes

Bibliography

• Matsuoka Hisamitsu, Nakanishi Masayoshi. The History of Mitsubishi Aero Engines 1915-1945. Miki Press, Japan, 2005. ISBN 4-89522-461-9
• Francillon, R.J. (1970), Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, London: Putnam, ISBN 0-370-00033-1 

External links

• http://www.enginehistory.org/Japanese/nasm_research_2.shtml