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	1,517

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 Mahindra 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 during 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

V5KM4-P

Two-seat trainer version of V5KM4

Operators

Tennai

• Number

Specifications (Mahindra V5K4)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 9.75 m (32 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 11.63 m (38 ft 2 in)
• Height: 3.27 m (10 ft 9 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 × Nikita E-5 Twin row, 14-cylinder air cooled radial engine 902 PS (663 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: 1,000 km (621 mi; 540 nmi)
• Combat range: 500 km (311 mi; 270 nmi)
• Ferry range: 2,500 km (1,553 mi; 1,350 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
• Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 3 minutes 35 seconds
• Wing loading: 93.8 kg/m² (19.2 lb/sq ft)

Armament

• Guns:
  

• 6 × 7.93 mm (0.312 in) Shrev 97 machine gun

• Bombs:
  

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