E8N "Dave"
Role Ship-borne reconnaissance seaplane
Manufacturer Nakajima Aircraft Company
First flight March 1934
Introduction 1935
Primary user IJN Air Service
Produced October 1935-1940
Number built 755

The Nakajima E8N was a Japanese ship-borne, catapult-launched, reconnaissance seaplane of the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was a single-engine, two-seat biplane with a central main-float and underwing outriggers. During the Pacific War, it was known to the Allies by the reporting name "Dave".

Design and development

The E8N was developed as a replacement for the same company's E4N and was essentially an evolutionary development of the earlier reconnaissance seaplane, with revised wings of lesser area and taller tail surfaces. Seven prototypes were constructed, under the company designation MS, first flying in March 1934.[1] These were duly engaged in comparative trials against competitors from Aichi and Kawanishi, with the E8N being the preferred option due to its superior manoeuvrability and ruggedness.[2]

Operational history

The MS was ordered into production, designated Navy Type 95 Reconnaissance Seaplane Model 1 in October 1935.[3] A total of 755 E8Ns were built by Nakajima and Kawanishi, production continuing until 1940.[4] It was subsequently shipped aboard all the capital ships then in service, 16 cruisers and five seaplane tenders.[2]

It was used successfully in the Second Sino-Japanese War not only for reconnaissance, but also for dive-bombing and artillery spotting.[4]

One E8N was purchased in early 1941 by the German Naval Attache to Japan, Vice-Admiral Paul Wenneker, and dispatched on board the KM Münsterland to rendezvous with the German auxiliary cruiser Orion at the Maug Islands in the Marianas.[2] The meeting occurred on the 1st of February, 1941, and Orion thus became the only German naval vessel of the Second World War to employ a Japanese float plane.

The Royal Thai Navy placed an order for eighteen E8Ns in 1938.[2] After delivery in 1940, they were reclassified as the BRN-1, but did not see any combat action until 1945, responding to the Allies Operation Livery.[2] One BRN-1 was totally destroyed and two others were written off. The remaining fifteen served on after the war until lack of spare parts resulted in their decommissioning and scrapping.[2]

Some aircraft remained in service with the fleet at the outbreak of the Pacific War, and one flew reconnaissance from the battleship Haruna during the Battle of Midway. In general, though, they were soon replaced by more modern aircraft such as the Aichi E13A and the Mitsubishi F1M and reassigned to second-line duties, such as a seaplane trainer, communications and liaison work.[4][2]

Variants

E8N1
Initial production type, powered by 433 kW (580 hp) Nakajima Kotobuki 2 Kai 1 radial engine.
E8N2
Improved production type, with more powerful (470 kW/630 hp) Nakajima Kotobuki Kai 2 engine.

Operators

 Japan
 Thailand
 Nazi Germany

Specifications (E8N2)

3-view drawing of the Nakajima E8N

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War,[6] www.combinedfleet.com [7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 8.81 m (28 ft 11 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.98 m (36 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 3.84 m (12 ft 7 in)
  • Wing area: 26.5 m2 (285 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,320 kg (2,910 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,900 kg (4,189 lb)
  • Powerplant: × Nakajima Kotobuki 2-KAI 2 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 470 kW (630 hp) for take-off
343 kW (460 hp) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 300 km/h (190 mph, 160 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
  • Cruise speed: 185 km/h (115 mph, 100 kn)
  • Range: 898 km (558 mi, 485 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 7,270 m (23,850 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 6 minutes 31 seconds
  • Wing loading: 71.7 kg/m2 (14.7 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.2491 kW/kg (0.1515 hp/lb)

Armament

  • Guns: 1 × fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm machine gun and 1 × flexible 7.7 mm machine gun in rear cockpit
  • Bombs: 2 × 30 kg (66 lb) bombs

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nakajima E8N.
  1. ↑ Francillon 1970, p.408.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Smith, Peter (2014). Combat Biplanes of World War II. United Kingdom: Pen & Sword. p. 624. ISBN 978-1783400546.
  3. ↑ Francillon 1970, p.409.
  4. 1 2 3 Francillon 1970, p.410.
  5. ↑ World Air Forces – Historical Listings Thailand (THL), archived from the original on 25 January 2012, retrieved 30 August 2012
  6. ↑ Francillon, Rene (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Limited. pp. 408–410. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
  7. ↑ Joao, Matsuura. "WWII Imperial Japanese Naval Aviation Page".
  • Francillon, R.J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London:Putnam, 1970. ISBN 0-370-00033-1.
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