Aichi E16A
| Aichi E16A Zuiun | |
|---|---|
 Aichi E16A1 |
|
| Type: | Reconnaissance plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1942 |
| Commissioning: |
1944 |
| Production time: |
1944-1945 |
| Number of pieces: |
256 |
The Aichi E16A Zuiun ( Japanese 瑞雲 , German "cheap cloud"; Allied code name Paul ) was a reconnaissance aircraft and dive fighter of the Japanese naval air force during World War II . Unusual for a seaplane was its role as a dive fighter aircraft and the dive brakes built into the front float struts that could be opened laterally. It replaced the Aichi E13A .
development
The E16A was designed as a seaplane with two floats. A total of 256 copies were built, including 3 E16A1 prototypes and one prototype for the E13A2 planned with a more powerful engine. The first prototypes were built in 1942, serial production began in January 1944 and continued until the end of the war in August 1945. The Zuiun came too late to be effective, and many aircraft were deployed from coastal bases rather than ships, especially in the battle for the Philippines from October 1944, where the pattern was also used to a considerable extent for kamikaze missions.
The plan was to use the converted battleship hybrid carriers of the Ise class and the heavy cruiser Mogami , but the late availability and problems with pilot training prevented practical missions from ships. The guy operated on the 301st and 634th Kokutai as well as the Yokosuka Kokutai from coastal bases.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data Aichi E16A |
|---|---|
| crew | 2 |
| length | 10.83 m |
| height | 4.79 m |
| span | 12.81 m |
| Wing area | 28.0 m² |
| Empty mass | 2,945 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 3,900 kg |
| Top speed | 446 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 10,000 m |
| Range | 2,400 km |
| Engines | E16A1: a Mitsubishi MK8A Kinsei 51 or Mitsubishi MK8D Kinsei 54 ; 956 kW (1280 PS) E16A2: a Mitsubishi MK8P Kinsei 62 ; 1150 kW (1540 hp) |
| Armament | two 20 mm type 99 model 2 cannons in the wings and a 7.7 mm type 92 machine gun in the rear cockpit, 250 kg bomb payload |
