Kawanishi H8K
"Emily"
(Scanned from René J.
Francillion "Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War" -
Putnam - 1979)
UNITS ALLOCATED
14th, 801st, 851st, 1001st, 1021st, Takuma, Toko, Yokohama
and Yokosuka Chinjufu Kokutais.
(Scanned from "Koku Fan
Magazine" - Drawing by Kazuaki Koizumi)
TECHNICAL DATA
Description: Four-engined long-range maritime
reconnaissance flying-boat (H8K1 to H8K4) or transport
flying-boat (H8K2-L). All-metal construction.
Accommodation: Crew of ten (H8K1 to H8K4).
Crew of nine and 29 passengers or 64 troops (H8K2-L).
- Powerplant:
- Four Mitsubishi MK4A Kasei 11
fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated at
1,530 hp for take-off, 1,410 hp at 2,000 m and
1,340 hp at 4,000 m, driving four-blade metal
propellers (13-Shi prototype and early production
H8K1s).
- Four Mitsubishi MK4B Kasei 12
fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated at
1,530 hp for take-off, 1,480 hp at 2,000 m and
1,380 hp at 4,000 m, driving four-blade metal
propellers (late production H8K1s).
- Four Mitsubishi MK4Q Kasei 22
fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated at
1,850 hp for take-off, 1,680 hp at 2,100 m and
1,540 hp at 5,500 m, driving four-blade metal
propellers (H8K2, H8K2-L and H8K3).
- Four Mitsubishi MK4T-B Kasei 25b
fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated at
1,825 hp for take-off, driving four-blade metal
propellers (H8K4).
- Armament:
- 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon in bow, dorsal
and tail turrets and two beam blisters, and 7.7
mm Type 92 machine-guns in ventral, port and
starboard hatches (13-Shi prototype).
- 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon in dorsal and
tail turrets, and 7.7 mm Type 92 machine-guns in
two beam blisters, ventral and cockpit hatches
and bow turret (production H8K1s).
- 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon in bow, dorsal
and tail turrets and two beam hatches, and 7.7 mm
Type 92 machine-guns in ventral, port and
starboard fuselage sides and cockpit hatches
(H8K2, H8K3 and H8K4).
- External load: two 800 kg torpedoes, or eight
250 kg bombs, or sixteen 60 kg bombs or
depth-charges (H8K1 to H8K4).
| |
- H8K1
|
- H8K2
|
- H8K3
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- H8K2-L
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- Dimensions:
|
|
|
|
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- Span
|
- 124 ft
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- 124 ft
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- 124 ft
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- 124 ft
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- Length
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- 92 ft
|
- 92 ft
|
- 92 ft
|
- 92 ft
|
- Height
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- 30 ft
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- 39 ft
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- 30 ft
|
- 30 ft
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- Wing area
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- 1722 ft2
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- 1722 ft2
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- 1722 ft2
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- 1722 ft2
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- Weights:
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|
|
|
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- Empty
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- 34,176 lb
|
- 34,176 lb
|
- 40,939 lb
|
- 37,258 lb
|
- Loaded
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- 54,013 lb
|
- 54,013 lb
|
- 54,013 lb
|
- 58,825 lb
|
- Maximum
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- 68,343 lb
|
- 68,343 lb
|
- 68,343 lb
|
- 66,138 lb
|
- Wing loading
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- 153.1 kg/m2
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- 153.1 kg/m2
|
- 153.1 kg/m2
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- 166.8 kg/m2
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- Power loading
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- 4.0 kg/hp
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- 3.3 kg/hp
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- 3.3 kg/hp
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- 3.6 kg/hp
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- Performance:
|
|
|
|
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- Maximum speed
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- 234 kt at 5,000 m
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- 252 kt at 5,000 m
|
- -
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- 227 kt at 4,000 m
|
- Cruising speed
|
- 160 kt at 4,000 m
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- 160 kt at 4,000 m
|
- -
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- 160 kt at 4,000 m
|
- Climb to
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- 16, 400 ft
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- 16, 400 ft
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- -
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- 13,123 ft
|
|
|
- 14 min 33 sec
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- 10 min 12 sec
|
- -
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- 10 min 37 sec
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- Service ceiling
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- 25,032 ft
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- 29,035 ft
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- -
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- -
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- Maximum range
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- 3,888 naut miles
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- 3,862 naut miles
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- -
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- 2,397 naut miles
|
- Production: A total of 167 H8Ks were
built by Kawanishi Kokuki K.K. in their Naruo and Konan
plants as follows:
- 1 H8K1 prototype (Dec 1940)
- 2 H8K1 pre-production aircraft (1941)
- 14 H8K1 production aircraft (1941-42)
- 112 H8K2 production aircraft (1943-45)
- 2 H8K3 prototypes (1944)
- (2) H8K4 prototypes modified from H8K3 frames
(1945)
- 36 H8K2-L production aircraft (1943-45)
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