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Shin Meiwa PS-1 (新明和 PS-1)
The Shin Meiwa PS-1 aircraft was a Japanese flying boat that served from 1970 to 1989. 23 copies were built, 6 of which crashed during service.
History
In 1953, Shizuo Kikuhara, who was an engineer at Shin Meiwa Industries (formerly Kawanishi Aircraft), began working on a new flying boat on his own. In 1957, Shin Meiwa began work on a flying boat for the Ministry of Defense. This work led the Ministry of Defense to work on the use of flying boats, and in 1960 it was decided that flying boats were ideal for anti-submarine warfare. Kikuhara and his colleagues decided to take a cue from the successful H8K aircraft. It was decided to use a modified Grumman HU-16 “Albatross” aircraft for flight tests. The modifications consisted of adding two engines and a few other modifications, the aircraft received the designation UF-XS. The tests lasted from December 1962 to 1966, which gave the engineers at the Shin Meiwa plant very useful information. In May 1965, the Japanese Ministry of Defense commissioned the Shin Meiwa plant to build a prototype of a new flying boat. The prototype of the machine was ready in 1967, and the first flight took place on October 24, 1967, followed by a period of testing on the prototype, which was designated PS-X. Studies have shown that the plane has a lot of problems, for example: there were problems with stability when stationary and gliding on water, and the plane was damaged by the impact of landing in the water. In addition, there were problems with the engines, which did not perform well in difficult conditions.However, these problems did not cause the project to be abandoned, which led to the order on July 31, 1968, of two pre-production PX-S aircraft for the Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). These planes went to the 51st Air Corps of the 4th Air Group. In 1970, it was decided to introduce the aircraft into service under the name PS-1. Together with the prototype and two aircraft, 23 aircraft were built before the serial ones.
Further history
The PS-1 aircraft turned out to be obsolete when it entered service. Its electronics, which were to be used to detect submarines, were very simple. This caused the PS-1 to have problems using it in its original role. This plane weighed 40 tons with a full load, which caused problems with landing on water, which led to several air accidents. During their service, 6 planes crashed.Thanks to the aircraft Shin Meiwa PS-1, the more successful US-1 and US-2 were created.
Construction description
Shin Meiwa PS-1 was a cantilevered high-wing aircraft with a straight wing and a T-shaped tail, the boat structure is all-metal single reddan, with a semi-monocoque pressure hull. The aircraft is powered by four T64 turboprop engines, which drive Hamilton Standard 63E60-15 three-bladed propellers. The wing is double-girder, with slats and two-section flaps with a deflation system of the boundary layer; stabilizer - with strip and lifts and directions - with devices for deflation of the boundary layer. The limit deflation system provided better controllability at low flight speeds. For landing on water, floats are mounted under the wings. The aircraft uses wheels that are retracted in the fuselage to make land. To solve anti-submarine tasks, the PS-1 had a powerful search radar, magnetometer, receiver and signal indicator for a sonar buoy, a cruise indicator for buoys, as well as active and passive detection systems for submarines. The crew - two pilots and a flight engineer - were in a slightly elevated cockpit, in the ASW version, directly behind it, on the upper deck, the workers were equipped with a navigator’s seat, two sonar equipment operators, a search radar and a magnetometer, two observers, as well as a tactical coordinator and a radio operator. The armament was mounted under the wings.
Armament
Shin Meiwa PS-1 can carry 4 MK.44 guided torpedoes or Type 73 torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare. The aircraft can carry 6 depth charges weighing 150 kg instead of torpedoes. To combat surfaced submarines, 6 127mm Zuni missiles can be used. All armament is mounted on the wings.
Armament
General characteristics
- Crew: 12
- Length: 33,5m
- Wingspan: 32,8m
- Height: 9,7m
- Wing area: 135,82 m2
- Empty weight: 23,520 kg
- Take-off weight: 33,000 kg (standard) / 40,000 kg (maximum)
- Powerplant: 4x Ishikawajima/General Electric T64-IHI-10, moc 3060 hp + 1x Ishikawajima/General Electric T58-IHI-10 Gas Turbine, 1400 ehp Power, for Boundary Layer Control System
- Propellers: Hamilton Standard three-bladed reversible propeller
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 17900 l
Performance
- Maximum speed: 545 km/h.
- Cruising speed: 370 km/h
- Range: 2168 km
- Maximum Range: 4744 km
- Service Ceiling: 9000 m
- Time to Climb : 5 min to 3050 m
Armament
- Torpedoes: 4 x Mk44 or Type 73 short torpedoes
- Depth Charges: 6 x depth charges weighing 150 kg
- Rocket: 6 x 127 mm Zuni unguided rocket
Summary
The Shin Meiwa PS-1 would be a very interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. Although the main role of this aircraft is to fight submarines, thanks to its armament it would also be able to destroy normal seagoing ships. Torpedoes and missiles will be effective thanks to naval targets, and in the future they will be useful for destroying submarines. 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
PS-1 - Wikipedia
Shin Meiwa US-1A - Wikipedia
飛行艇開発ストーリー3 | 航空機 | 新明和工業株式会社 (shinmaywa.co.jp)
新明和工業 PS-1 航空機 徹底ガイド | FlyTeam(フライチーム)
Shin Meiwa PS-1 / US-1 (SS-2) - Specifications - Technical Data / Description (flugzeuginfo.net)
Shin Meiwa US-1 / PS-1 Maritime Search and Rescue / Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Flying Boat Aircraft (militaryfactory.com)
Shin Meiwa PS-1 / US-1 / US-2 & Harbin SH-5 Flying Boats (airvectors.net)
Shin Meiwa PS-1 US-1A Japan Maritime Self Defense Force
Shin Meiwa PS-1 / 新明和 PS-1 : Kawanishi / Shin Meiwa (armedconflicts.com)
Shin Meiwa PS-1 / US-1 (aviadejavu.ru)
Уголок неба ¦ Shin Maywa PS-1 (SS-2) (airwar.ru)