Nakajima E2N

E2N

Manufacturer: Nakajima Aircraft Company
Introduced: 1927
Primary user: Imperial Japanese Navy
Produced: 1927-1929
Number built: 80

The Nakajima E2N was a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft of the inter-war years. It was a single-engine, two-seat, sesquiplane seaplane with twin main floats.

Design and development

The E2N was developed in the 1920s for the Imperial Japanese Navy as a short range reconnaissance floatplane suitable for catapult launch from cruisers and battleships. It was a wooden twin-float sesquiplane, carrying a crew of two in open cockpits and having folding wings. This layout gave better downwards view than the monoplanes proposed by Aichi and Yokosuka, and the design was selected becoming Japan's first locally-designed shipboard reconnaissance aircraft.

Operational history

The E2N served with the Navy as the Type 15 Reconnaissance Floatplane (一五式水上偵察機). 80 examples were produced between 1927 and 1929 by Nakajima and Kawanishi; of these, two were bought for civil fishery patrol duties. The Navy machines were withdrawn from front-line units in the 1930s, being replaced by the Nakajima E4N, and either being reassigned to training duties or sold to civil buyers.

Variants

E2N1 (Type 15-1 Reconnaissance Seaplane) Short-range reconnaissance aircraft. E2N2 (Type 15-2 Reconnaissance Seaplane) Trainer version with dual controls.

Operators

Japan

Imperial Japanese Navy

Specifications (E2N)

Data from Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 9.57 m (31 ft 4� in)
Wingspan: 13.52m (44 ft 4� in)
Height: 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 44 m� (474 ft�)
Empty weight: 1,409 kg (3,106 lb)
Loaded weight: 1,950 kg (4,299 lb)
Powerplant: 1x� Hispano-Suiza V-8 inline piston, 264 kW (340 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 172 km/h (93 kn, 107 mph)
Endurance: 5 hours
Climb to 3,000 m (9,843 ft): 31 min 37 s

Armament

1 x� flexible 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine gun

Related development

E4N

Bibliography

Mikesh, Robert C.; Shorzoe Abe (1990). Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941. London: Putnam & Company Ltd.. ISBN 0-85177-840-2.

Nakajima E2N Pictures

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia