Kawanishi H6K

The Kawanishi H6K 'Mavis' was a long-range, reconnaissance aircraft employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Sino-Japanese War and World War II. Designed and developed by the Kawanishi Aircraft Company, Ltd, it performed its maiden flight on July 14, 1936 and entered service on January 27, 1937. Although it was retired at the end of the war, it had been largely replaced by the more advanced Kawanishi H8K Emily.

The H6K3 and H6K4 were the main versions of this flying boat. By 1942, which was the last year of production, 215 Kawanishi H6K airplanes had been made. It was officially known as the Navy Type 97. It carried out reconnaissance sorties near the coasts of Hawaii a couple of months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It was also used as a bomber in anti-submarine warfare, carrying torpedoes. When used as a transport, it had accommodation for 20 passengers in three cabins.

Technical Characteristics

The Kawanishi H6K was a four-engine hydroplane (flying boat). Strictly technically, it was a braced parasol monoplane, which means it had straight wing mounted above fuselage and propped up by struts. Fuselage was all-metal, but moving parts, such as flaps, ailerons, and rudder were fabric-covered. Being a flying boat, it lacked traditional landing gear but it was fitted with wing tip floats to balance it at the moment of landing on water.

Specifications

Type: Reconnaissance flying boat

Length: 25.63 m (84 ft, 1 in)

Wingspan: 40 m (131 ft, 3 in)

Wing Area: 170 square meters (1,800 sq. ft)

Height: 6.27 m (20 ft, 7 in)

Power Plant: four Mitsubishi Kinsei 43, Model 46, 14-cylinder, air-cooled piston engines. Each one put out 1,060 HP at 13,800 ft.

Maximum Speed: 360 km/h (237 mph)

Range: 4,800 km (2,983 miles)

Ferry Range: 6,100 km

Crew: 8

Armament: four 7.7mm machines gun; one 20-mm cannon; 1,600-kg bombload (two 800-kg bombs).

Below, the blue-print plans of the Kawanishi H6K flying boat.

 

Below, old photograph of the H6K3 variant taken around 1937.

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Kawasaki Ki-61

The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien was a land-based, single-seat, fighter aircraft. It was used by the Imperial Japanese Army's Air Service during World War II. Its prototype, the Type 3, Model 1, performed its first flight on December 20, 1941. It entered service in January 1942 as the Ki-61-I, which would be followed by the Ki-61-I-Otsu. With over 3,000 aircraft having been built by 1945, it was one of the most iconic Japanese combat plane of that armed conflict.

The Hien, or "Tony", as the Allied pilots called it, was a fast, streamlined, and maneuverable aircraft. It resembled the German Messerschmitt Bf 109. As a matter of fact, it was powered by a Japanese-built Daimler-Benz piston engine. The Kawasaki Hi-61 had scored many aerial victories against the Allied fighters until the irruption of the Grumman F6F Hellcat in skies over the Pacific. However, it would have the same fate as the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, being used as a disposable kamikaze aircraft at the end of the war.

Technical Characteristics

The Kawasaki Ki-61 was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane. It featured straight, cantilever low wing and conventional tail. Its fuselage was all-metal and its landing gear retractable. In the first version, the tail wheel was also retractable. The Hien was the first aircraft in the Pacific Theater to have armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, which had been so useful in Europe. In the same way as the American P-51, it featured an oil cooler radiator on the belly of fuselage, near the main wings.

Armament

The Ki-61-I was equipped with two 20-mm Ho-5 cannons, which were set up in the nose of aircraft. It was also armed with two 12.7-mm Ho-103 machine guns, which were mounted above the nose.

Specifications

Type: Fighter Aircraft

Length: 8.94 m (29 ft, 4 in)

Wingspan: 12 m (36 ft, 4 in)

Wing Area: 20 square meters (215 sq. ft)

Height: 3.7 m (12 ft, 2 in)

Power Plant: one Kawasaki Ha-40 (Daimler-Benz), inverted 'V' piston engine, which put out 1,180 Horse Power.

Maximum Speed: 590 km/h (366 mph)

Range: 600 km (365 miles)

Below, the Kawasaki Hi-61-I flying over the Korean peninsula in 1942.

The Hien in flight in 1943, over the Philippines.

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Kawanishi H8K

The Kawanishi H8K 'Emily' was a maritime reconnaissance aircraft in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was designed and developed as a replacement for the H6K 'Mavis', which had been in use since 1936. The prototype of the H8K was first flown in July 1941. By 1945, about 170 aircraft had been made. Having a very long range, it was the eye of the Japanese navy, keeping track of Allied warships location in the Pacific. Nevertheless, at the end of the war, it would also be used as a bomber.

Although it showed some flaws during landing on water during the initial trials, the overall performance of the prototype was very good. Thus, it was put into production in November 1941 as the Navy Type 2 Flying Boat Model 11. However, the main version of 'Emily' would be the Type 2 Model 12, which was universally known as the Kawanishi H8K2, from which a transport flying boat would be developed: the H8K2-L (Type 32). This Japanese hydroplane outperformed its Allied counterparts, specially the British Sunderland.

Technical Characteristics

The Kawanishi H8K was a four-engine seaplane. It was fitted with cantilever wings, which were mounted high on shoulder of fuselage. It had a pair of braced wing tip floats. Its fuselage was all-metal, with its belly being so designed to enable it to touch down and float on a body of water. The tail of aircraft was a conventional type model, with one vertical stabilizer (fin) and a pair of horizontal stabilizers (tailplane); rudder and elevators were fabric-covered. The H8K2 variant of this monoplane was powered by four Mitsubishi Kasei-22, 14-cylinder, radial piston engine, which delivered 1,850 HP each.

Armament

The  Kawanishi H8K2 was equipped with five 20-mm cannons as well as with four 7.7-mm machines guns. They were set up all around the aircraft, on dorsal positions, belly, nose and wings. It took strong nerves on the part of the American fighter pilots to get in close to Emily, which bristles with guns in a manner of a hedgehog.

Specifications

Type: Maritime reconnaissance/transport

Length: 28.13 m (92 ft, 3 in)

Wingspan: 38 m (124 ft, 8 in)

Wing Area: 106 square meters (1,141 sq. ft)

Height: 9.15 m (30 ft)

Maximum Speed: 467 km/h (290 mph)

Range: 7,180 km (4,461 miles)

Crew: 9 (pilot, navigator, and gunners)

Below, the Kawanishi H8K prototype during the test period in 1941

The H8K2 in 1942 flying over the Philippines coasts.

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Mitsubishi A6M Zero

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a WW2 carrier-based fighter. It was in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy between July 1, 1940, and August 15, 1945. Produced in large numbers, more than 10,000 aircraft, it was the most maneuverable and the fastest plane in the Pacific Theater of Operation until the emergence of the F6F Hellcat in 1943. Until then, no American fighter matched the Zero in firepower, agility, and range.

Officially designated Navy Type 0, Reisen, the A6M had performed its maiden flight on April 1, 1939. Mitsubishi delivered the first batch to the IJN in late June, 1940. During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Zero was used as an escort fighter and ground attack aircraft. For this operation, it took off from Kaga, Akagi, Soryu, and Hiryu aircraft carriers. During the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, the Zero would shoot down more than 200 US Navy's dive bombers and F4F Wildcat fighters. At the end of the war, after it had lost its reputation to the F6F Hellcat and the F4U Corsair, it was used mostly as a kamikaze aircraft.

Technical Characteristics

The A6M Zero was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane which operated from aircraft carrier and land bases. Its fuselage consisted of a metal structure with stressed skin, while the control surfaces (flaps, ailerons, and rudder) were fabric-covered type. It was fitted with straight, cantilever, low wings. The A6M2 version wings were hinged in the middle to fold them upwards to facilitate storage. A peculiar feature of this Japanese aircraft was that its wings were built as an integral part of fuselage. Landing gear was retractable. It was powered by one Nakajima Shakae NK1-F, 14-cylinder, radial engine, delivering 1,130-HP.

Specifications

Type: Carrier-borne fighter

Designer: Jiro Horikoshi

Length: 9.12 m (29 ft, 11 in)

Wingspan: 11 m (36 ft, 1 in)

Wing Area: 21.30 square meters (230 sq. ft)

Height: 3.6 m (11 ft, 6 in)

Maximum Speed: 565 km/h (350 mph)

Range: 1,800 km (1,200 miles)

Armament: two 20mm Type 99 cannons; two 7.7mm machine guns; plus two 60-kg bombs under wing.

Below, a squadron of Mitsubishi A6M2 fighters flying over the Philippines, with drop tanks, in 1944

The prototype A6M1 in 1939.

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A5M Claude

The A5M Claude was a WW2, single-seat, carrier-borne fighter. Designed and developed by Mitsubishi, it entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in December 1936. At that time, it was the fastest naval aircraft in the world. It was produced in large number, with more than 2,000 aircraft in different versions: A5M1, A5M2, A5M3, A5M4, and A5M6 being the main ones. It replaced the antiquated carrier-based biplane; the Kawasaki Ki-10.

It was also the first Japanese carrier-based monoplane as it became the dominant fighter in the Sino-Japanese War, during which it built up an enviable reputation for strength and agility. It had taken part in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, as a dive bombers' escort. It would be used until the end of WW2 but as a trainer and as a kamikaze plane, because, by 1942, it had been replaced by the much faster and maneuverable Mitsubishi A6M Zero.

Technical Characteristics

The Mitsubishi A5M was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane, with fixed landing gear. It was fitted with straight cantilever wings, which were mounted low on the fuselage. However, the first prototype, the Ka-14, had elliptical inverted gull wings. This naval aircraft was of all-metal construction. The cockpit was small and deprived of canopy. The A5M4 version was powered by one Nakajima Kotobuki 41, 9-cylinder, air-cooled, radial engine, which put out 750 horse power. This engine was powerful enough for this light aircraft.

Specifications (A5M4 variant)

Type: Carrier-based fighter

Designer: Jiro Horikoshi

Length: 7.57 m (24 ft, 10 in)

Wingspan: 11 m (36 ft, 1 in)

Wing Area: 17.80 square meters (192 sq. ft)

Height: 3.27 m (10 ft, 9 in)

Maximum Speed: 440 km/h (270 mph)

Range: 1,200 km (750 miles)

Service Ceiling: 9,800 m (32,200 ft)

Armament

The Claude was not very well armed, as it was a major deficiency. It was equipped with only two 7.7mm machine guns and one 60-kg bomb. It was not able to shoot down the sturdy F4F Wildcat.

Below, the Mitsubishi A5M Claude in flight, in skies over China in 1939.

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Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa

The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa, known as 'Oscar', was a WW2 fighter aircraft. It was in service with Imperial Japanese Army between 1937 and 1945. It carried out the first combat missions in December 1937, during the Sino-Japanese War. It was also seen in action in Burma in 1942 and 1943 and during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. It also took part of the Philippines air battles in 1944, and in the defense of Korea against Soviet fighters at the end of World War II (Korea was a colony of Japan). It did not participate in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, because it was a land-based aircraft.

Models/Versions

The Nakajima Ki-43 was one of the most massively produced aeroplane, with more than 5,000 aircraft being built by early 1945. It was in service in three main versions: Model 1 (Ki-43-I), fitted with a 955-HP Type 1 engine; Model 2 (Ki-43-II), featuring a 1,020-HP Type 2 engine; and Model 3 (Ki-43-III), also powered by the 1,020 Type 2 piston engine, but it had a shorter wingspan (35 ft instead 37 ft). In the first test flight, in late 1936, the prototype showed poor maneuverability. As a result, its wing area was increased as well as the wing flaps. This would give the aircraft agility and a higher flight ceiling.

Technical Characteristics

The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane. It had straight cantilever wings, mounted low on the fuselage, which was all-metal. A cantilever wing is a wing which does not use external struts or support, with its support (spars) being built in, and the wings carrying all the torsion and bending loads. The aircraft had fuel tank protection and the small cockpit was armored. The landing gear was retractable.

Specifications for the Model 2 (Ki-43-II)

Type: Fighter/interceptor

Length: 8.92 m (29 ft, 3 in)

Wingspan: 10.84 m (37 ft, 9 in)

Wing Area: 21.40 square meters (230 sq. ft)

Height: 3.27 m (10 ft, 9 in)

Power Plant: one Nakajima Ha-115, 14-cylinder, air-cooled, radial piston engine, which delivered 1,020 horse power.

Maximum Speed: 530 km/h (329 mph)

Maximum Range: 1,760 km (1,090 miles)

Armament: two 12.7mm forward-firing machine guns, and up to two 250-kg bombs.

Below the Ki-43 Hayabusa flying in the skies over China in 1938.

The Nakajima Ki-43-III in 1942 in the Philippines.

Below, the 'Oscar' in 1942. Although it was not well protected and well armed, it could outmaneuvered most of the Allied fighters, except for the F6F Hellcat.

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Messerschmitt Me 410

The Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse was a WW2 twin-engine heavy fighter. It entered service with the Luftwaffe on January 20, 1943 and it was used by the Third Reich until the end of the war. It was a very reliable and sturdy aircraft, which also carried out ground attack missions. It had been developed from the Messerschmitt Me 210, which had instability problems and a tendency to flick into a spin.

In order to set things right, the fuselage of the Me 210 was considerably lengthened and its wings were fitted with automatic slots. It was also upgraded with two Daimler-Benz DB 603A, 12-cylinder engines, each delivering 1,850 HP. This is how a more stable and new aircraft emerged: the Messerschmitt Me 410A-2, which was the first production version. Thus, by mid 1944, it would establish an excellent reputation among the German pilots as a very reliable aircraft. It would be engaged almost exclusively in the defense of the Reich, fighting against Allied bombers. By mid 1943, the Me 410B version would appear, fitted with more powerful engines: DB 603G that put out 1,900 HP. This would be followed by the Me 410B-2/3/4/5/6 as well as the Me 410C, 410D, and 410H variants.

Armament and Designations

The suffix /U1, such as in the Messerschmitt Me 410A-1/U1 version, meant that the 7.92mm MG-17 machine guns had been removed and replaced by a single vertical reconnaissance camera that was installed in the rear fuselage. Those designated with /U2 were fitted with two 20mm MG-151 cannons for the fighter/interceptor (Zerstörer) role. The /U2/R2 variants were equipped with two 30mm MK-103 guns. Meanwhile, the /U4 conversion featured a single 50mm BK gun.

The Me 410B-5 was torpedo-bomber which operated in the coastal airspace. Aside from the aforementioned weapons, all versions were equipped with two 13mm MG-131 machine guns, each one mounted on each side of fuselage to fire backwards. All variants had a bomb bay, which was located under the nose and forward cockpit, being able to carry up to two 500-kg bombs.

Specifications

Type: Two-seat heavy fighter

Length: 12.48 m (40 ft, 11 in)

Wingspan: 16.35 m (53 ft, 7 in)

Wing Area: 36.20 square meters (389.687 sq. ft)

Height: 4.28 m (14 ft)

Power Plant: two Daimler-Benz DB 603G, inverted V-12 engines

Maximum Speed: 624 km/h (388 mph) at 6,700 m (21,980 ft) high; and 507 km/h (315 mph) at sea level.

Range: 1,690 km (1050 miles)

Below, the Messerschmitt Me-410A-3 version in flight in 1943.

The Me-410B-5 at an airbase in Tunisia in late 1943

Below, the first version of the Messerschmitt Me 410

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Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet

The Messerschmitt Me 163 'Komet' was a rocket-powered interceptor aircraft used by Germany at the end of World War II. It was a small monoplane but twice as fast as the piston-engine aircraft as it was also very agile. It entered service with the Luftwaffe in February 1944 and it first saw combat action in July 1944. Its main mission was to intercept and attack the Allied bombers heading for major cities.

The Messerschmitt Me 163 project began in 1937, when Dr. Alexander Lippisch began to work on a design for a glider with rocket propulsion. A first all-wood prototype glider, the DSF 194, was finished in May 1940; although it did not have the engine yet, the following month, it performed its maiden flight on June 3, as a glider. Piloted by Heini Dittmar, it was towed off into the air by a Messerschmitt Bf 110. The all-metal prototype, the Me 163 V1 that had the factory letters KE+SW, performed its first flight, also as a glider, in March, 1941. On August 13, 1941, it made its first test flight with an engine as it was powered by a Walter Werke R-II-203b, which would soon be replaced by a R-II-211. It reached speeds of up to 885 km/h.

The first production version of this jet aircraft was the Messerschmitt Me 163B, which was fitted with a Walter Werke 109-509A rocket motor that burned T-Stoff (hydrogen peroxide) and C-Stoff (hydrazine hydrate, methyl alcohol and water). This early version was armed with a pair of 20mm guns. About 300 aircraft would be produced in the Me 163B, 163C, 163S, and 163D variants. The 163S was a trainer, while the others had improved engines. However, this rocket aircraft would not be as successful as other similar German combat plane of WW2, obtaining only nine victories, shooting down eight Allied bombers and one fighter.

Technical Characteristics

The Messerschmitt Me 163 was a single-seat, rocket-propelled monoplane. It had an all-metal fuselage and mid-mounted, cropped swept wing. It did not have landing gear but a disposable take-off pair of wheels that were jettisoned as soon the plane took off, which was relatively easy; landing was dangerous, because of the highly flammable fuel that powered its jet engine.

Specifications (Me 163B-1a)

Type: high-speed, rocket-powered interceptor

Length: 5.69 m (18 ft, 8 in)

Wingspan: 9.33 m (30 ft, 4 in)

Wing Area: 19.62 sq. m (211.2 sq. ft)

height: 2.76 m (9 ft)

Power Plant: one Walter 109-509A-2 rocket motor

Maximum Speed: 960 km/h (596 mph)

Range: 80 km

Below, the Messerschmitt Me 163A and 163B, pre-production and early production version respectively, parked in a military base in northern Germany in 1943.

An Allied-captured Me 163B-1a Komet at a RAF airbase in late 1945.

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