Mahindra V5K
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
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.
Design and Development
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 1937. 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
- 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:
- 8 × 7.7 mm (0.303 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)