- Yes
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Kawanishi H6K5 model 23 ( 九七式飛行艇 二三型)
The Kawanishi H6K5 is a Japanese flying boat created in 1942. This aircraft has new engines and can carry a larger payload. 36 H6K5 aircraft were built, which served until the end of the war.
History
In 1941, the construction of a prototype H8K1 flying boat was nearing completion, and the Naval Command decided that a backup variant had to be provided if the H8K project was a dud. It was decided to create a new, improved variant of the successful and popular Kawanishi H6K aircraft. The modification consisted in replacing the Mitsubishi Kinsei 46 engines with 694 kW (930 hp) with the much more powerful Mitsubishi Kinsei or 53 with 969 kW (1,300 hp). Thanks to this procedure, it was possible to increase the maximum load of the aircraft. The new version was designated H6K5 model 23 and went into production in 1942. The production did not last long, because it quickly turned out that the H8K1 was a very successful aircraft. For this reason, only 36 Kawanishi H6K5 aircraft were produced, which served until the end of the war. During the war, when American submarines became a huge threat, all existing H6K5 aircraft were equipped with H6 radars.
Photos Kawanishi H6K5
Construction description
The Kawanishi H6K5 is very similar to the Kawanishi H6K4, but there are a few differences.
- Replaced the Mitsubishi Kinsei 46 engine with 694 kW (930 hp) with the more powerful Mitsubishi Kinsei 53 with 969 kW (1,300 hp)
- The position of the front gunner was moved from the nose of the aircraft to a small turret in the cockpit
- Bomb mounts were reinforced, which allowed to take 2 tons of bombs or 4 torpedoes
General characteristics
- Crew: 9
- Length: 25,6 m
- Wingspan: 40,0 m
- Height: 6,27 m
- Wing area: 170,00 m2
- Empty weight: 12380 kg
- Gross weight: 17500 kg
- Powerplant: 2 x Mitsubishi MK8E Kinsei 53 (Ha-33-53) air-cooled, two-star, fourteen-cylinder turbocharged engine with a take-off power of 956 kW (1,300 hp)
- Propellers: Three-bladed metal constant speed propeller with a diameter of 3,200 mm.
Performance
- Maximum speed: 385 km/h
- Cruising speed: 260 km/h
- Range: 4940 km
- Maximum Range: 6771 km
- Service ceiling: 9560 m
- Climb Rate: 6,25 m/s
- Rate of climb: 13,42 min to 5000 m
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 x Type 92 7.7mm machine gun in cockpit turret
- 1 x Type 92 7.7mm machine gun on the back behind the wing
- 2 x Type 92 7.7mm machine gun on side mounts
- 1 x Type 99 Model 1 20 mm Tail Turret Cannon
- Bombs
- 2 x 800 kg bombs
- 2 x 500 kg bombs
- 4 x 500 kg bombs
- 4 x 250 kg bombs
- 8 x 250 kg bombs (?)
- 12 x 60 kg bombs
- 2 x Torpedo Type 91
- 4 x Torpedo Type 91
Radar equipment
- 1 x H6 radar
Special thanks
@Rowiek
Summary
The Kawanishi H6K5 is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. Thanks to the new engines, the aircraft will perform better in the air, and the powerful bomb load will make it a very useful aircraft. Unfortunately, the H6K5 does not have an improved defensive armament compared to the H6K4, so it will still be an easy target for enemy fighters. 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
九七式飛行艇 - Wikipedia
Kawanishi H6K - Wikipedia
Kawanishi H6K (1936)
Kawanishi H6K5 - Weapons and Warfare
Kawanishi H6K ‘Mavis’
Kawaniši H6K5 23 [Tillie] : Kawaniši / Šin-Meiwa
Kawanishi H6K
Уголок неба ¦ Kawanishi H6K
九七式飛行艇/川西Kawanishi H6K | 大日本帝国軍 主要兵器
Book sources
- Japanese Aircraft of Wolrld War II : 1937-1945 ,Thomas Newdick, Edition 2 2017, page 79-80
- Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War page 301-307
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots