Mitsubishi F1M
| Mitsubishi F1M | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Seaplane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
June 1936 |
| Commissioning: |
1941 |
| Production time: |
1936-1944 |
| Number of pieces: |
circa 1118 |
The Mitsubishi F1M Zero-kan (the Allied code name for this machine was Pete ) was a Japanese floatplane with a central float in a double-decker design. It was used as an on-board aircraft for various purposes, in particular as an observation aircraft and for military reconnaissance , sea rescue and anti -submarine defense during the Second World War. The original name was 零 式 水上 観 測 機. The first flight took place in June 1936 under the factory designation Ka-17 . The type was used in addition to coastal bases of battleships and heavy cruisers as well as seaplane carriers, where the machine was mainly used as a combat observer, for artillery management and air security, while the pure reconnaissance was typically done by the Aichi E13A Jake .
The F1M had a folding wing mechanism (folding both surfaces backwards), which was seldom used due to the sufficient space available on the flight deck of the stationing ships.
Between 1936 and 1944, 1,118 of all variants were built.
The F1M1 was from a 611 kW radial engine Nakajima Hikari driven first This variant had a maximum range of 1070 km at a top speed of 368 km / h. The machines were armed with three 7.7 mm machine guns (2 at the front, 1 at the rear). Two 60 kg bombs could be carried as a drop armament.
The F1M2 was equipped with a 14-cylinder double radial engine Mitsubishi Zuisei 13 with an output of 643 kW. From 1939 524 of this variant were made, 140 of them in the naval arsenal in Sasebo .
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data F1M1 |
|---|---|
| crew | 2 |
| length | 9.05 m |
| span | 11.01 m |
| height | 4 m |
| Wing area | 29.54 m² |
| Wing extension | |
| Empty mass | 1964 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 2856 kg |
| Top speed | |
| Service ceiling | 9440 m |
| Initial climb rate | 600 m / min |
| Range | |
| Engines | a Nakajima Hikari 1, 611 kW (831 PS) |
| Armament | three 7.7 mm machine-guns (2 front, 1 rear), two 60 kg bombs |
literature
- René J. Francillon: Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War , 2nd edition, London 1979/1994.
- Aircraft of the fighting powers , Vol. V, Harborough Publishing
- Kenneth Munson: Aircraft of World War II