| Kawanishi H8K | |
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| Kawanishi H8K2 at Kanoya museum, Japan | |
| Type | Four engine long-range flying boat |
| Manufacturer | Kawanishi |
| Maiden flight | January 1941 |
| Introduced | February 1942 |
| Retired | 1945 |
| Primary user | IJN Air Service |
| Produced | 1941-194? |
| Number built | 167 |
The Kawanishi H8K (二式大型飛行艇, Type 2 Large Flying Boat. 二式大艇, Nishiki Daitei, Nishiki Taitei) was an Imperial Japanese Navy flying boat used during World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was Emily.
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Design and development
At the same time as the type's predecessor, the Kawanishi H6K was going into service in 1938, the Navy ordered the development of a larger, longer-range patrol aircraft. The result was a large, shoulder wing design that is widely regarded as the best flying boat of the war[1][2][3]. Despite this, development was troublesome, with the prototype displaying terrible handling on the water. Further prototypes considerably refined the hull design. The improved H8K2 variant soon appeared, and its extremely heavy defensive armament earned it deep respect among Allied aircrews,[4] as well as the nickname of "flying porcupine". The H8K2 was an upgrade over the H8K1 by having more powerful engines, slightly revised armament, and an increase in fuel capacity. This was to be the definitive variant, with 112 produced. Nearly 40 examples of a dedicated transport version, the H8K2-L, were also built, capable of carrying 62 troops. This aircraft was also known as Seiku (晴空, "Clear Sky"). They dispensed with the side defensive blisters, ventral defensive hatch, and dorsal turret. To increase the available space within the aircraft, its hull tanks were removed, thus reducing its range capabilities.
Operational history
The H8K entered production in 1941 and first saw operational use on the night of March 4 1942 in an attempt at a second raid on Pearl Harbor. Since the target lay out of range for the flying boats, this audacious plan involved a refuelling by submarine en route. As it happened, the raid could not be carried out because of problems caused by bad weather. H8K2 were used on a wide range of patrol, reconnaissance, bombing, and transport missions throughout the Pacific war.
Variants
- H8K1 Prototype
- One experimental prototype and two evaluation aircraft.
- H8K1 (Navy Flying Boat type 2, Model 11)
- First operative model of series, 14 built.
- H8K1-L
- Redesignation of the first prototype, after it was converted into a transport aircraft.
- H8K2 (Model 12)
- Version with more powerful engines and major armament, equipped with search radar, 120 built.
- H8K2-L Seiku ("Clear Sky"),(Model 32)
- Transport version of H8K1. Armed examples were equipped with two 20 mm Type 99 cannons and transport capacity of 29-64 passengers (36).
- H6K3 (Model 22)
- Experimental version, H8K2 modified. Equipped with retractable floats in wingtips, sliding hatch side gun locations in place of the blisters, and a retractable dorsal turret all in an effort to increase speed, 2 prototypes.
- H8K4 (Model 23)
- H8K3 with different engines, 2 converted.
Operators
Survivors
Four aircraft survived until the end of the war. One of these, an H8K2, was captured by U.S. forces at the end of the war and was evaluated before being eventually returned to Japan in 1979. It was on display at Tokyo's Museum of Maritime Science until 2004, when it was moved to Kanoya Air Base in Kagoshima.
Specifications (Kawanishi H8K2)
Data from Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 10
- Length: 28.15 m (92 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 38.00 m (124 ft 8 in)
- Height: 9.15 m (30 ft)
- Wing area: 160 m² (1,721 ft²)
- Empty weight: 18,380 kg (40,436 lb)
- Loaded weight: 24,500 kg (53,900 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 32,500 kg (71,500 lb)
- Powerplant: 4× Mitsubishi Kasei 22 radial engines, 1,380 kW (1,850 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 465 km/h (290 mph)
- Range: 7,150 km (4,440 mi)
- Service ceiling 8,760 m (28,740 ft)
- Rate of climb: 8.1 m/s (1,600 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 153 kg/m² (31 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 0.22 kW/kg (0.14 hp/lb)
Armament
- 5× 20 mm Type 99 cannon (one each in bow, dorsal, and tail turrets, plus one each in two waist blisters)
- 5× 7.7 mm Type 97 machine guns in fuselage hatches
- 2× 800 kg (1,760 lb) torpedoes or 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of bombs or depth charges
Avionics
- Mark VI Model 1 radar
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Francillon, René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company, 1970 (2nd edition 1979). ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
- Green, William. Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Five: Flying Boats. London: Macdonald & Co.(Publishers)Ltd., 1962. ISBN 0-356-01449-5.
- Richards, M.C. "Kawanishi 4-Motor Flying-Boats (H6K 'Mavis' and H8K 'Emily')". Aircraft in Profile Volume 11. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1972.
- Van der Klaauw, Bart. Water- en Transportviegtuigen Wereldoorlog II (in Dutch). Alkmaar, the Netherlands: Uitgeverij de Alk. ISBN 90-6013-6772.
External links
Related content
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
H5Y - H6K - H7Y - H8K - H9A - H10H - H11K
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