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Kawanishi H8K3 Model 22 prototype 2 (二式飛行艇二二型)
The Kawanishi H8K3 Model 22 prototype 2 is the second prototype of the Kawanishi H8K3 flying boat. This aircraft was created to further improve the performance of the H8K3 flying boat. Only one aircraft of this configuration was built in 1943. In 1945, this aircraft was converted into the Kawanishi H8K4 Model 23 flying boat.
History
In mid-1942, work began at the Kawanishi factories on improving the Kawanishi H8K2 aircraft. The main goal of upgrading the Kawanishi H8K2 was to enhance its flight performance. Japanese engineers at Kawanishi decided to implement retractable wing floats. The Japanese had previously become familiar with this technology through two Douglas DF aircraft purchased in 1936-37 and lost in 1938. Additionally, during the development of the retractable wing floats, technology from the American Consolidated Catalina flying boat was used (at least one of which was acquired in 1942 in the Dutch East Indies). Two H8K2 flying boats were used as test aircraft. The first prototype was equipped with improved armor and retractable floats (this is the Kawanishi H8K3 that can be seen in the game). However, the second Kawanishi H8K3 prototype received many more modifications to improve flight performance. The second H8K3 prototype, in addition to better armor and retractable floats, received armament modifications. The first modification involved the adjustment of the side gunner positions. The glazed side gunner positions in the shape of a teardrop, which provided good visibility but also created significant aerodynamic drag, were removed. They were replaced with new glazing, a square window with a slight bulge where a Type 99 gun was mounted. Additionally, the position was moved from the end of the wing root to a spot below the main wing, which did not interfere with airflow behind the main wing. Furthermore, to further reduce air resistance, the upper turret was modified to retract into the fuselage during flight. The second H8K3 prototype likely went for testing later than the first H8K3 prototype (which began testing on February 12, 1943). The H8K3 aircraft achieved a maximum speed of 470 km/h compared to 454 km/h for the H8K2. However, despite better flight performance, it turned out that the modifications to the floats had a negative effect on the H8K3’s behavior on the water… The Japanese Navy Command considered that the performance improvement was too small and that the change in the aircraft’s behavior on water was unacceptable, and therefore did not approve the introduction of the H8K3 into production. Two Kawanishi H8K3 Model 22 aircraft were sent to the 801st Kokutai based in Takuma on Shikoku after testing. There, these aircraft, with numbers 596 (prototype 1) and 597 (prototype 2), served until the spring of 1945, when they were rebuilt into Kawanishi H8K4 Model 23 aircraft.
Construction description
The Kawanishi H8K3 prototype 2 is almost identical to the H8K3 from the game, but there are important differences between them.
- New side gun positions were introduced, located under the main wing with a new shape (the same as in the late producion of the H8K2 model 12 and the second prototype of the H8K4 model 23).
- The aircraft’s upper turret is retracted into the fuselage
General characteristics
- Crew: 10-13
- Length: 28,130 m
- Wingspan: folded floats 37,66 m , foldable floats 38,33 m
- Height: 9,150 m
- Wing area: 160,00 m2
- Empty weight: 18470 or 18570 kg
- Take-off Weight: 24500 kg
- Maximum Take-off Weight: 32500 kg
- Powerplant: 4 x Mitsubishi MK4Q Kasei 22 (Ha-32-22) air-cooled, two-row, fourteen-cylinder engine with a takeoff power of 1,361 kW (1,850 hp), each
- Propellers: Four-blade metal propeller with variable pitch and a diameter of 3,900 m
Performance
- Maximum speed: 470 km/h
- Cruise Speed: 296 km/h (?)
- Range: 4700 km
- Maximum Range: 8220 km
- Service ceiling: 9120 m
- Time to Climb to: 7,30 min to 4000 m
- Climb Rate: ?
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 x Type 99 Model 1 20 mm dorsal cannon (225 rounds)
- 2 x Type 92 7.7mm machine gun in cockpit (970 – 1,064 rounds, each) (Optional)
- 1 x Type 92 7.7mm machine guns on the hull top in front of the first wing spar (970 – 1,064 rounds) (Optional)
- 2 × Type 99 Model 1 20mm guns in side mounts under the wings (360 rounds, each)
- 2 x Type 92 7.7mm machine guns under the wings (970 – 1,064 rounds, each) (Optional)
- 1 x Type 99 Model 1 20mm gun in a dorsal turret (450 rounds)
- 1 x Type 92 7.7mm machine guns on the bottom of the hull (970 – 1,064 rounds) (Optional)
- 1 x Type 99 Model 1 20 mm cannon in tail gun (225-315 rounds)
- Bombs:
- 2 x 800 kg bombs (under the wings)
- 2 x 500 kg bombs (under the wings)
- 8 x 250 kg bombs (under the wings)
- 16 x 60 kg bombs (under the wings)
- 2 x 800 kg torpedo (under the wings)
Armor
- Self-sealing fuel tanks
- 5 mm thick armor plate pilot seats
- 5mm armor plate behind the fuel tanks in the hull
- 5mm armor plate behind the gunner of the dorsal turret
- 20mm armor plate in front of the tail gunner
Special thanks
Summary
The Kawanishi H8K3 Model 22 prototype 2 is an interesting flying boat for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft, thanks to its modified fuselage design and slightly better performance than the Kawanishi H8K3, would be an interesting plane to research. The Kawanishi H8K is known for its strong defensive and bomb armament, and its improved version, the H8K3 prototype 2, would be very useful in all game modes (air battles, ground battles, naval battles). 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
二式飛行艇 - Wikipedia
Kawanishi H8K - Wikipedia
Kawanishi H8K
Kawanishi H8K ‘Emily’
Kawaniši H8K [Emily] : Kawaniši / Šin-Meiwa
Уголок неба ¦ Kawanishi H8K
Book sources
- 野沢正『日本航空機総集 川西・広廠篇』出版協同社 - page 126-133
- Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 część II (Japanese naval aircraft 1912-45 part II) page 102-106
- 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 244-247
- JAS Japanese Anti-Submarine Aircraft In The Pacific War page 43-50
- Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War page 307-317
- Technika wojskowa historia Nr. 6/2014 (Military Technology: History No. 6/2014) page 50-69
- 0113 世界の傑作機 ,文林堂1975年12月号 68. 二式飛行艇
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
