Mahindra V5K

Mahindra V5K
Role	Carrier-based fighter
National origin	Tennai
Manufacturer	Mahindra Heavy Industries
Designer	Duwaraga Tanika
First flight	February 1934
Introduction	January 1935
Retired	1945
Status	Retired
Primary user	Royal Tennaiite Navy
Produced	1935-1942
Number built	517

The Mahindra V5K, was a Tennaiite carrier-based fighter aircraft. It was the world's first low-wing monoplane shipboard fighter to enter service and the predecessor to the famous Akula V6K "Pujyam". It entered service shortly after the start of the Siduri War in January of 1935 and was quickly deployed to the Tennaiite carriers RK Tipparavai and RK Karutan.

Operational History

The V5K fist saw service in the Siduri War and served as the main naval fighter until the introduction of the Mahindra V6K in 1938. It served in all theatres that the Royal Tennaiite Navy fought and proved itself a reliable and adaptable aircraft.

Variants

Co-20

Six prototypes with various engines and design modifications

V5KM1

Navy carrier-based fighter: first production model

V5KM2/2a

More powerful engine

V5kM3a

Prototypes using Devati V-12 inline engine

V5KM4

The V5KM2 with a different engine and armament changed to six 12.7 mm machine guns.

V5KM4-P

Two-seat trainer version of V5KM4

Operators

Tennai

• Number

Specifications (Mahindra V5KM1)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 9.75 m (32 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 11.63 m (38 ft 2 in)
• Height: 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 21 m² (230 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,901 kg (4,191 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,449 kg (5,399 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Akula E-5 9-cylinder air cooled radial engine, 660 kW (890 hp)
• Propellers: 3-bladed metal constant-speed propellers, 3 m (9 ft 10 in) diameter

Performance

• Maximum speed: 509 km/h (316 mph; 275 kn) at 7,000 m (22,966 ft)
• Range: 1,400 km (870 mi; 756 nmi)
• Combat range: 700 km (435 mi; 378 nmi)
• Ferry range: 2,300 km (1,429 mi; 1,242 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 9,900 m (32,500 ft)
• Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 3 minutes 35 seconds

Armament

• Guns:
  

• 4 × 7.93 mm (0.312 in) Basu HV 80 machine guns

• Bombs:
  

2 x 30 kg (66 lb) bombs or 1 x 160-litre (42.27 US gallon drop tank)