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Kawanishi E15K1 Model 11 (紫雲一一型)
The Kawanishi E15K1 Model 11 is a Japanese low-production fast seaplane reconnaissance aircraft introduced into service in August 1943. Only 9 E15K1 Model 11 aircraft were produced in the years 1943-1944.
History
In August 1943, after testing five pre-production E15K aircraft, the Japanese Navy adopted the Kawanishi E15K aircraft as the Shiun Model 11. It was decided at the Kawanishi factories that the production aircraft would receive some improvements over the pre-production aircraft. The most important change was the replacement of the Mitsubishi MK4D Kasei 14 (Ha-32-14) engine with a starting power of 1,088 kW (1,500 hp) with the more powerful Mitsubishi MK4S Kasei 24 (Ha-32-24) engine with a starting power of 1,236 kW (1,825 hp). Additionally, individual exhaust pipes were used instead of a exhaust condenser. Production of the serial E15K1 likely began at the end of 1943. It was planned to use them on the light cruiser Oyodo, which was equipped with a 45-meter catapult for Kawanishi E15K1 seaplanes. However, in February 1944, there was already a decision to convert the light cruiser Oyodo into the flagship of the Combined Fleet, and the modification plan included replacing the 45-meter seaplane catapult with a 25-meter Type 5 catapult. This led to the termination of series production of the Kawanishi E15K1 aircraft after only 9 serial aircraft were built. The pre-production and serial E15K1 aircraft that had already been produced were deployed to various Pacific islands to conduct reconnaissance, search, and anti-submarine operations. It is known that E15K aircraft were used at the seaplane base on Arakabesan Island in the Peleliu archipelago, which were destroyed during the fighting for Peleliu in September 1944. In June 1944, American fighters covering the invasion of Saipan from Japanese support from the Japanese Islands destroyed two (probably the last) Kawanishi E15K1 aircraft stationed on Chichijima Island. The E15K1 aircraft attempted to escape after being detected by American fighters, but due to the large waves in the bay, they were unable to take off and were destroyed on the ground.
The art of Kawanishi E15K1
Construction description
The Kawanishi E15K1 Model 11 is a two-seat seaplane with a monoplane configuration. The aircraft’s landing gear consists of a main float (which can be jettisoned) and two small auxiliary floats. The aircraft has an entirely metal construction, with folding wings and double hydraulic flaps. The wing of the aircraft has a laminar profile of type LB. The aircraft is powered by a Mitsubishi MK4S Kasei 24 (Ha-32-24), an air-cooled, two-row, fourteen-cylinder engine with a takeoff power of 1,361 kW (1,850 HP). The aircraft is equipped with two metal, two-blade counter-rotating propellers with a diameter of 3.1 meters. The weaponry of the aircraft consists of a movable Type 92 7.7 mm machine gun in the observer’s cabin. The aircraft can also carry a maximum of two bombs weighing 60 kg each.
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 11,587 m
- Wingspan: 14 m
- Height: 4,95 m
- Wing area: 30 m2
- Empty weight: 3180 kg
- Gross weight: 4100 kg
- Maximum Take-off Weight: 4900 kg (?)
- Powerplant: 1 x Mitsubishi MK4S Kasei 24 (Ha-32-24), an air-cooled, two-row, fourteen-cylinder engine with a takeoff power of 1,361 kW (1,850 HP)
- Propellers: Two-blade metal, counter-rotating, adjustable propellers with a diameter of 3,100 mm.
Performance
- Maximum speed with the main float: 472 km/h
- Maximum speed without main float: 550-570 km/h
- Cruising speed: 296 km/h
- Range: 1408km
- Maximum Range: ?
- Service ceiling: 9830 m
- Climb Rate: 10,0 m/s
- Rate of climb: 10,0 min to 6000 m
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 x Type 92 7.7mm mobile machine gun at the observer’s position
- Bombs:
- 2 x 60 kg bombs (under the wings)
- 2 x 30 kg bombs (under the wings)
Special thanks
Summary
The Kawanishi E15K1 Model 11 is an interesting seaplane for Japan in War Thunder. This fast seaplane can be equipped on the light cruiser Oyodo in the long catapult version, or it may be a vehicle for equipping other ships. The Kawanishi E15K1 Model 11 can be useful in naval battles, for rapidly capturing bases, conducting reconnaissance, laying smoke screens, or in the future, for fighting submarines.
Internet sources
紫雲 (航空機) - Wikipedia
Kawanishi E15K - Wikipedia
Kawanishi-E15K Shiun “Norm” (1942)
E15K - Reconnaissance Seaplane
水上偵察機 『紫雲』/川西Kawanishi E15K | 大日本帝国軍 主要兵器
Kawanishi E15K Shiun / Norm - reconnaissance float-plane
Kawanishi E15K Shiun (Violet Cloud) ‘Norm’
Kawaniši E15K Šiun [Norm] : Kawaniši / Šin-Meiwa
Kawaniši E15K1 11 Šiun [Norm] : Kawaniši / Šin-Meiwa
Kawanishi E15K Shiun (Violet Cloud)
Уголок неба ¦ Kawanishi E15K Shiun
IJN Specification 14-Shi (Kawanishi E15K Shiun) | Secret Projects Forum
Book sources
- Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 część I (Japanese naval aircraft 1912-45 part I) page 180-182
Japonskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 | PDF - 047 Imperial Japanese Navy Reconnaissance Seaplane page 24-25
047 Imperial Japanese Navy Reconnaissance Seaplane | PDF - Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War page 314-317
- 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 250-251
- 野沢正『日本航空機総集 川西・広廠篇』出版協同社 - page 136-141
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