Nakajima E8N

E8N "Dave"

Role: Ship-borne reconnaissance seaplane
Manufacturer: Nakajima Aircraft Company
First flight: March 1934
Introduced: 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 type, with revised wings of lesser area and taller tail surfaces. Seven prototypes were constructed, under the company designation MS, first flying in March 1934. These were duly engaged in comparative trials against competitors from Aichi and Kawanishi.

Operational history

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

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

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

Some aircraft remained in service with the fleet at the outbreak of the Pacific War but they were soon replaced by more modern aircraft such as the Aichi E13A and the Mitsubishi F1M, being reassigned to second-line duties.

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

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

Thailand

Royal Thai Navy

Specifications (E8N2)

Data from www.combinedfleet.com

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 (285.14 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,320 kg (2,904 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 1,900 kg (4,180 lb)
Powerplant: 1x— Nakajima Kotobuki 2 KAI 2 9-cylinder radial piston, 470 kW (630 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 301 km/h (162 kn, 186 mph)
Cruise speed: 186 km/h (100 kn, 115 mph)
Range: 904 km (485 nm, 558 mi)
Service ceiling: 7,270 m (23,845 ft)
Wing loading: 71.7 kg/m² (14.66 lb/ft²)
Time to 3,000 m: 6 min 31 sec

Armament

Guns: 2 x— 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine guns
Bombs: 2 x— 30 kg (66 lb) bombs

Related development

E4N

Comparable aircraft

Fairey Seafox

Francillon, R.J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London:Putnam, 1970. ISBN 0 370 00033 1.

Nakajima E8N Pictures

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia