Kawanishi Type 2 Flying Boat / H8K2 Emily
Technical Information
Background
The H8K was a
four engine shoulder-wing flying boat with a crew of ten. This
well-armed,
sturdy aircraft flew long-range reconnaissance and bombing missions. They were regarded as hard to shoot down by Allied fighters, due to
their armament and speed. The H8K was undoubtedly the best flying boat, built by any
nation during WWII. Commonly known as "Nishiki Ōgata Hikōtei" 二式大艇. Also known as Nishiki Daitei or Nishiki Taitei. Known as H8K2 Flying Boat. Code named "Emily" by the Allies.
H8K2 Type 2 Flying boat, Model 12
This variant was developed on June 26, 1943. Equipped with Mitsubishi MK4Q Kasei 22 engines and improved tail gun turret. Latter production also had Air-Surface Vessel (ASV) search rada and removed the side blisters. A total of 112 were built.
H8K2-L Seikū "Clear Sky" Model 32 Transport Variants
Of the total production of 167, 36 special Seikū transport variants were also
built.
Production
A total of 167 were built.
Technical Details
Crew Ten or 29 passengers or 64 troops)
Engine Four Mitsubishi MK4Q Kasei 22 driving four blade metal propellers
Span 38m
Length 28m
Height 9.15m
Maximum Speed 234 km/h
Range 3,888 miles
Armament 20mm cannon in dorsal and tail turrets, and 7.7 mm machine
guns in two beam blisters, ventral and cockpit hatches and bow turret.
Bomb Load 2
x 800 kg torpedoes or 8 x 250 kg bombs or 16 x 60 kg bombs or depth-charges
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