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Aichi E16A2 Model 12 (瑞雲タイプ 一二)
The Aichi E16A2 Model 12 is a Japanese prototype reconnaissance seaplane, an improved version of the Aichi E16A1 Model 11. Only one prototype was built in 1945 and was tested before the end of the war in the Pacific.
History
When the first Aichi E16A1 Model 11 started reaching units in the spring of 1944, they proved to be very successful designs. These aircraft performed excellently in attack missions (not kamikaze) against small American ships (torpedo boats, landing ships, etc.) as well as in night missions and reconnaissance. However, the dominance of American aviation was growing stronger with each month, and even the successful Aichi E16A1 in 1945 became an easy target. The Japanese Navy decided to counter this and demanded that Aichi improve the E16A seaplane to make it faster and harder to intercept. At the Aichi factories, the decision was made to equip the new version of the Aichi E16A with the Mitsubishi MK8P Kinsei 62 engine (Ha-33-62) (the Navy’s designation for the Mitsubishi Ha-112-II engine), which had high power, was quite reliable, and well-tested (used in Ki-46-III/IV, Ki-100, Ki-102, D4Y3, D4Y4, as well as the prototype Ki-116 and A6M8 aircraft). To create a new version of the Aichi E16A, the E16A1 Model 11 aircraft was taken and fitted with a new engine (nothing else on the aircraft was modified), thus creating the Aichi E16A2 Model 12. The aircraft was then tested in the last months of the war (probably in the summer of 1945). Tests showed a satisfactory increase in both maximum and cruising speeds. The Japanese Navy command wanted to put the Aichi E16A2 into production, but the end of the war prevented this. The prototype Aichi E16A2 was probably used in combat and lost somewhere in the Pacific.
Construction description
The only difference between the Aichi E16A1 Model 11 and the Aichi E16A2 Model 12 is the engine used. The Aichi E16A2 is equipped with a Mitsubishi MK8P Kinsei 62 (Ha-33-62) air-cooled, two-row, fourteen-cylinder engine with a takeoff power of 1,120 kW (1,500 hp).
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 10,84 m
- Wingspan: 12,81 m
- Height: 4,79 m
- Wing area: 28 m2
- Empty weight: 2642 kg
- Gross weight: 4000 kg
- Maximum Take-off Weight: ?
- Powerplant: 1 x Mitsubishi MK8F Kinsei 62 (Ha-33-62) air-cooled, two-row, fourteen-cylinder engine with a takeoff power of 1,120 kW (1,500 hp).
- Propellers: Three-blade metal variable pitch with a diameter of 3.300 mm.
Performance
- Maximum speed: 485 km/h
- Cruising speed: 354 km/h
- Range: 1780 km
- Maximum Range: 2535 km
- Service ceiling: 10000 m
- Climb Rate: 10,5 m/s
- Rate of climb: 4,4 min to 3000 m
Armament
- Guns:
- 2 × Type 99 Model 2 20mm Fixed Cannon in the wings
- 1 × Type 2 13.2mm movable machine guns in the observer’s position.
- Bombs
- 1 x 250 kg bombs (Under the fuselage)
- 1 x 60 kg bombs (Under the fuselage)
- 2 x 60 kg bombs (Under the wings)
- 2 x 30 kg bombs (Under the wings)
Special thanks
Summary
The Aichi E16A2 Model 12 is an interesting seaplane for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft, thanks to its powerful offensive armament (Type 99 Model 2 cannon and the ability to carry 370 kg of bombs), will be a formidable opponent. Additionally, it is equipped with a powerful engine and good performance. The Aichi E16A2 will be a very useful fighter seaplane, which will be an unpleasant surprise for enemy planes and an excellent close support aircraft for naval and land battles. Japan in War Thunder suffers from a significant lack of CAS aircraft compared to other countries (even after adding Thailand, there is still a shortage of low-level CAS aircraft), and the Aichi E16A family will be a good addition to fill this gap.
The Aichi E16A2 Model 12 can be an aircraft in the folder with the Aichi AM-22 and E16A1 Model 11 or it can be a premium or event aircraft. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.
Internet sources
瑞雲 (航空機) - Wikipedia
Aichi E16A Zuiun - Wikipedia
Aichi E16A Zuiun (Paul) Japanese WWII Reconnaissance Floatplane
War Machines Drawn: Aichi E16A
Aichi E16A Zuiun (Auspicious Cloud)
Aiči E16A2 22 Zuiun [Paul] : Aiči
Book sources
- Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 część I (Japanese naval aircraft 1912-45 part I) page 182-184
Japonskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 | PDF - Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War page 284-288
- 047 Imperial Japanese Navy Reconnaissance Seaplane page 25
047 Imperial Japanese Navy Reconnaissance Seaplane | PDF - 日本航空機辞典 1910年(明治43年)～1945年(昭和20年) 上巻 (Encyclopedia of Japanese Aircraft 1910 (Meiji 43) – 1945 (Showa 20), Volume 1) page 264
- 野沢正『日本航空機総集 愛知・空技廠篇』出版協同社, page 100-102, 103
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
