Mitsubishi Shinten

Shinten
Type	14-cylinder air-cooled two-row radial piston engine
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Aircraft Company
Major applications	Mitsubishi Ki-21, Yokosuka H5Y
Produced	1934-1937
Number built	113
Developed from	Mitsubishi Kinsei
Developed into	Mitsubishi Kasei, Mitsubishi Zuisei

The Mitsubishi Shinten was a two-row, 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine built by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company in the first half of 1930-ies. Mitsubishi model designation for this engine was A6(7) while it was an experimental project, in service it was known as the MK1, and known as the Ha-6 by the Army and "Shinten" by the Navy.

Design and development

The Mitsubishi Shinten was developed from the Mitsubishi Kinsei engine by increasing the Kinsei's stroke from 150 mm (5.9 in) to 160 mm (6.3 in) on Shinten 11 & to 170 mm (6.7 in) on Shinten 21 & 21Kai design. So engines displacement increased to 36.7 L (2238 in³). This increased power up to 1,200 hp at take-off.

Initially Ha-6 Shintens were to be installed on Mitsubishi Ki-21 bomber, but it was decided that the plane to be equipped by its competitor Nakajima Ha-5 engine. Furthermore Mitsubishi was ordered to produce Nakajima's engine on its plant by license. So only 113 Shinten engines were made & they were installed on only few types of aircrafts.

In aim to beat the rival and also to get more powerful engine for new Navy Attack Bomber that became famous Mitsubishi G6M Betty Mitsubishi Shinten was developed into the Mitsubishi Kasei by increasing the bore from 140 mm (5.5 in) to 150 mm (5.9 in) which in turn brought the displacement to 42 L (2,567 in³) and increased power to 1500 hp.

Variants

Shinten 1 A7

920 hp at 2300 rpm (take-off), 700 hp at 2100 rpm (normal). 1934 4 made

Shinten-21 A6

950 hp at 2320 rpm (take-off), 800 hp at 2150 rpm (normal).

Shinten-21kai A6

1200 hp at 2360 rpm (take-off), 1020 hp at 2250 rpm (normal). 1934-1939 109 made

Specifications Shinten (Ha-6)

Data from Gunston

General characteristics

• Type: 14-cylinder, supercharged, air-cooled, two-row radial piston engine
• Bore: 140 mm
• Stroke: 170 mm
• Displacement: 36.7 L
• Diameter: 1309 mm
• Dry weight: 603 kg

Components

• Valvetrain: push rod operated overhead-valve system with 2 valves per cylinder
• Supercharger: Centrifugal one-speed single stage
• Cooling system: Air-cooled
• Reduction gear: 0.625

Performance

• Compression ratio: 6.0

Applications

• Mitsubishi Ki-21
• Yokosuka H5Y

See also

Comparable engines

• Mitsubishi Kinsei
• Nakajima Ha-5
  

Related lists

• List of aircraft engines
  

References

• Matsuoka Hisamitsu, Nakanishi Masayoshi. The History of Mitsubishi Aero Engines 1915-1945. Miki Press, Japan, 2005. ISBN 4-89522-461-9
• Gunston, Bill (2006), World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines, 5th Edition, Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, England, UK: Sutton Publishing Limited, ISBN 0-7509-4479-X 
• Francillon, R.J. (1970), Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, London: Putnam, ISBN 0-370-00033-1 
• Mikesh, Robert C. & Shorzoe, Abe (1990), Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941, Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, ISBN 1557505632