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Kawanishi E13K (十二試三座水上偵察機)
The Kawanishi E13K is a Japanese prototype seaplane created in 1938, from a modified design of the Kawanishi E12K aircraft. The aircraft was a competitor to the Future Aichi E13A aircraft. Two prototypes were created, one of which crashed and the other was lost.
History
When the 12-Shi Navy Convention, which aimed to create a successor to the Kawanashi E7K, appeared in 1937, the Aichi (E12A), Kawanishi (E12K) and Nakajima (E12N) factories entered the competition. The requirements for the new aircraft were as follows:
- The plane was supposed to be a two-seater
- The aircraft was to be a low-wing aircraft with two main floats
- Required to be armed with two fixed machine guns in the nose and one for self-defense in the rear position
- The aircraft had to be able to carry a 250 kg bomb and be capable of diving flight
- The aircraft was to be powered by a Mitsubishi MK2A Zuisei 11 engine
Aircraft from all companies were accepted for the prototype phase (Aichi E12A, Nakajima E12A), but Kawanishi abandoned the prototype due to high competition. At the end of 1937, unexpectedly, the Japanese Navy changed the requirements of the competition. The new requirements called for a three-seater seaplane with larger dimensions than the original design. The Navy also zeroed the requirement for offensive armament and that the aircraft should be powered by the Mitsubishi MK2A Zuisei 11 engine. However, there was a deadline for the prototype to be ready by the end of September 1938. At the Kawanishi plant, the design of the unbuilt E12K was quickly modified and the design of the new Kawanishi E13K was created and the construction of two prototypes began. The first prototype was ready in September 1938, and flew on September 28, meeting the deadline of the competition (Aichi E13A, was late by a month and was initially disqualified, but still went to naval tests). At first, the Kawanishi E13K was the navy’s favorite, but tests showed the aircraft’s worrying tendencies. Although the E13K aircraft outperformed the Aichi E13A aircraft in many ways, it turned out to be slower and unstable. The Navy ordered the reconstruction of the second prototype of the E13K to get rid of the disturbing vibrations, but unfortunately for the crew of the first prototype of the E13K, it turned out to be too late. During a dive flight test with a 250 kg bomb, due to vibrations, the plane disintegrated in the air and the crew died. This caused that the commanders of the navy were more and more visible of the winner of the competition in the Aichi E13A plane. The nail in the coffin for the Kawanishi E13K was the loss of the second prototype during endurance tests (maximum time in the air). This, along with other problems with the E13K, caused the Japanese Navy to reject the aircraft.
Kawanishi E13K pictures
Construction description
The Kawanishi E13K is an all-metal low-wing seaplane with two main floats. The aircraft has a crew of three people (pilot, observer, radio operator/gunner) in a closed cabin. The aircraft has a captive Mitsubishi MK8 Kinsei 3 Kai 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, with a take-off power of 840 hp (618 kW), which rotates a three-bladed metal propeller with a diameter of 3,100 mm. The aircraft is armed with a Type 92 7.7mm mobile defensive machine gun on its back. The aircraft carried one 250 kg bomb or four 30/60 kg bombs under the fuselage.
Technical sketches
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Length: 11,73 m
- Wingspan: 14,49 m
- Height: 4,45 m
- Wing area: 34,00 m2
- Empty weight: 2170 kg
- Gross weight: 3550 kg
- Maximum Take-off Weight: ?
- Powerplant: 1 x Mitsubishi MK8 Kinsei 3 Kai 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, with a take-off power of 840 hp (618 kW)
- Propellers: three-bladed metal propeller with a diameter of 3,100 mm
Performance
- Maximum speed: 350 km/h
- Cruising speed: 222 km/h
- Range: ?
- Maximum Range: 3555 km
- Service ceiling: 6 690 m
- Climb Rate: ?
- Rate of climb: 9,22 min to 4000 m
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 x Type 97 7.7mm movable machine gun in the rear gunner’s position
- Bombs
- 1 x 250 kg bombs (under the fuselage)
- 4 x 60 kg bombs (under the fuselage)
- 4 x 30 kg bombs (under the fuselage)
Special thanks
Summary
The Kawanishi E13K is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft would be a good replacement for the Aichi E13A1, which can be found on some Japanese ships. This aircraft will also be useful in regular air battles as a light bomber/attack 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
十二試三座水上偵察機 - Wikipedia
Kawanishi E13K - Wikipedia
IJN Specification 12-Shi (E12/E13, Reconnaissance Seaplane, 1937) | Secret Projects Forum
Kawaniši E13K1 12-Ši : Kawaniši / Šin-Meiwa
Kawanishi E13K1 Experimental 12-Shi Three-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane
worldmilitary.net/2-Aviation/Japan/Kawanishi/E13K/index_aviation_data_japan_kawanishi-e13k1.html
Уголок неба ¦ Kawanishi E13K
Book sources
- Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 (Japanese naval aircraft 1912-45) page 176-177
Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 | PDF - Mikesh, Robert C.; Abe, Shorzoe (1990).Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941 page 140-141
- The Xplanes of Imperial Japanese Army and Navy 1924-45 page 187
The Xplanes of Imperial Japanese Army and Navy 1924-45 | PDF - Famous Airplanes of The World 47 - Imperial Japanese Navy Reconnaissance Seaplane
047 Imperial Japanese Navy Reconnaissance Seaplane | PDF
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
