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.
