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    Mushroom - Red Series 5103 Japanese Submarine Aircraft

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    465 views66 pages

    Mushroom - Red Series 5103 Japanese Submarine Aircraft

    Uploaded by

    Raul Garcia
    Mushroom - Red Series 5103 Japanese Submarine Aircraft

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Latte Tadeusz Januszewski PTT ty milapancse rx erm Ue rae rl oe Dea) First published in Poland in 2002 by STRATUS Artur Juszezak, Po. Box 123, 27-600 Sandomierz 1, Poland email: arturj@tamabraeg-tpnet pl for Mushroom Model Publications, 36 Ver Road, Redbourn, ALS 7PE,UK. ‘email: rogerw @waitrose-com (© 2002 Mushroom Model Publications. All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing forthe purpose of vate studs, research, critciam or review, at permited under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988, no part of this publication {ay be reproduce, stored in a retrieval steno tramsnted nap form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechani ‘optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior writen, permission. All enquiries shouldbe addressed to the publisher, ISBN 83-916327-0-9 Ealor in chiet Roger Wallsgrove altars artlomij cea Robert Peerkowski ‘Artur Jusreak Ealted by Robert Peczkowski Page design by Artur users Roberi Pyerkowski Cover Layout Artur ussceak pir’ Rober Peezkowski Artur Jusrcrak Proofreading Roger Wallsgrove James Kightly Colour Drawings Artur Juszczak Scale Drawings Tadeuss Januscewski Drawings ‘Tadeuse Januszewsi Printed by —_Drukarula Dicezjlna Sandomierz Photos ‘Tadeusz Januszewsk collection Robert Pgezkowsh eollection ‘Tim Hortman (Seiran details photos) | would tke to thank my best friend Ryusuke Ishiguro {or his wholehearted support, help and friendship. Thank you, Ryusuke, Author. Contents Introduction YokoshoI-Go. Yokosuka E6Y Watanabe E9W1 (Stim) ho ELV! (Glen) Watanabe E14W1 Aichi MOA SeiraNanzan Kugisho Oka Model 43 Ko. Appendines Appeni : Submarines. Appendix 2 Colour profiles Appendix 3: Seiran detail phows Ifyou have any comments, additions or corrections author to receive them. Please E-mail o: ‘dmeco@ motronik.com.pl 38 37 8 IAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 3 HM Submarine E 22 with {wo Sopwith Schneider Aoatplanes in 1916 T. Januszewski col, Introduction sire ae sine hind age of eatin, wy Bierosrtar sis ot tne wate yess pehen ‘shane aps Tis let may as orci rs andi The in ceo wh an “aioe nan ih sma was a et ft pling bt af cece betwen feof tie set anc meas InNovener 4 Germans ese ths the Blan port of crea th ron 6 Dente sls bea ‘ho setup re ith odin Fn wore fap Ose Ofte pls, Lewes Fetch von Aral ee ae few sc srs om tre ying in vn ahve is on Bish sh wth tombs On of he ses hin is ae vas Mad ge th pln ha ine. er hat eon, Litem Yon Arend ag Foctnann, capi he U2 hain, hace singe pa reg sox ming fr carying pane oa Uta los tse the lined tack. Ties ws pine pron murine 6 Janay 1918 Liew von Aral ned taal Ube od sed with Motes cl deesn Rene Gn, Apne ape ord vas anced mee IS eso teh cou and tok of ender is on power, Up i run a Zesbose bot tices wee aed with ter enphepretng es exces ne combat ais, I lloed a Uva became aca ae the aca eng wed fr spell sks aly mah The ea ‘as sent High Command, tad ace sco te At the same tine te Bese tei pint Englah Chane ed the Neth Sx wih os te Goma sep etpeineting wi oa Aoaplae wpe ame va coming dagen nthe ter side ofthe Chane smc re der sy, authough at higher eve The Adm set te srine Es ‘hiya ined oto ke sips ens mp 1916 2 sled vans Heigl witht of en Sepesy Seas Ailes to dest he Zeppelin ase here om ch testa ‘ied Bt ies. The ton vaso pose dra a wet exily heavy eas Ti fae made eB snd sen te fr be tin big 4 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 1917 ede orang ara by submarine es and U-155, were converted, having submarines, Ul: the Hansa © were designed by Est Heinkel, and manufactured by th Brandenburg company. In 1917 three sich planes were built, powered by 0p engines. The flotplane was disassembled on the deck and stored ina special wateright hangar, 6 x 1.8m in size, During late October and ely November 1918 Luft Fahrzeug Gesellschaft bila prototype of anew floatplane, the L.F.G, Putbus V-19. Eventhough t was orginally developed for surface-based unit, five production aircraft were modified for U-boat transport. Although tsllmetal statue was very good the igh Command Jd nat ive permission forits combat se, mainly because ofthe igh isk of losing a submarine when coming to the surface to launch the ica ‘News of the German experiments soon reached the USA and Japan, In post-war Germany, construction stardom new submarne-bore aeroplane Meoumest secre. The new eopian, designated U-I, was designed by Cl ane of all-wooden construction, at Kaspar Iwasa twin-floatsesquipane of % could be disassembled and stored ina cylinder L8 min diameter and 1m long. Consrction ofthe protoype was entasted to the Hanseatschen Fiygrevgwerk company at Tavemind,ewed by Kp, Dt 3 aso subsidiary ofthe lager Heinkel company. Afr it was first lown in 1921 disadvantages came tight, the U1 floatplane immediately found buyers the Japanese and US Navies each placing relevant contracts U= floatplanes were delivered to thir customer in 1923, essentially as pattern models for indigenous designs. Inthe USA the Cox-Klemin Aircraft Coporaton built six DX ira ot sake coat, whe the Gln Main Co. ao Bit i XML ‘were tested from srr, but ofall metal desiga, Both types of aircraft were tested outumn 1923 onward, on board the 800 tone SI submarine. The trials Karl Kaspar U-t float. plan, designed tobe used ‘on German submarines, T. Januszewshi coll, IAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFTS USS S-1 submarine during were intended to show the optimum time for preparing th aeroplane for trials with XS-1 aircraft. T. Januszewski coll, ‘ake-ff and to minimise ita inital it tok upto four hours. Test esl ere summed up during the summer of 1926, These resulted in modified aircraft, the XS-1 and DX-2, with a range of upto 200 km, After a few months of tna the crew managed 10 shorten the preparation time to 1S ‘minutes. The US Navy cominved the programme of submarine aeroplane ‘rials unt 1932. During that ime the S-1 rls also involved the Loesing XLS amphibian. In 1933 the tials were finally abandoned due to excessive risks fo pilot and sailors and also because work had commenced on Using ‘he Macon and Akron airships as aries for hte aircraft Japan was not lagging behind the ethers. Using the purchased U-1 floaplane, work commenced on construction of the indigenous version, the Yokosho 1-Go, first flown in 1927 and then tested for 18 months on board the -21 submarine. This was the beginning of Japanese interest inthe new tactics. Meanwhile, wo more countries commenced work on matching the submarine and aeroplane. In 1927 Britain joined the club again, when conversion of the 1,650 tonne M-2 submarine saw her 12 in. gun replaced by a hangar, provided tis would not affect the ship's characteristic. The ‘win-foat biplane Pamall Peto elected was Fist own in 1929 and displayed 00d flying characteristics. From the start of surfacing of the submarine the fotplane could be prepared for take-off in ive minutes. Unfortunately. he trials were never completed. In 1932 during testing, the M-2 sank wih the irra andthe rew onboard. The tragedy was probably due to incomplete scaling of the hangar. This ended soc experiments in Brin. In 1929 another country joined thos interested in submarine aircraft transport France. It was then thatthe famous Surcouf submarine was launched, a 2,900 tonne vessel armed with two 8 in. guns. She was the (6 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT art Kaspar U-1 Noatpane 72seale Drawing T Januszewshi JIAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAPT7 Besson MB-AI1 in ts early, single-seat form. Later as a two seater was attached to Eseadrile 1HS-7 and use aboard, “Surcout™ T. Januszewshi coll ride of France, andit was decided to arm her with something up-to-date ‘8 flatplane, to provide advance warning of enemy units, The low wing “Marcel-Besson MBS, ist shown atthe 1926 Pars Air Show asthe Passe Partout, was the firt one employed. A developed version, the MB-410, was builtin 1932, and first flown in 1933, Before embrcation onto the submarine it had to go back to the manufacturer tobe converted into a two-seat floaplane, and in 1935, designated MB-S11 Perl it found itself om board Surcouf, Another naval power, Hal also attempted to run its own experiments in the aeroplane-sutmarine combination, I had only one big submarine witha hangar, tore Fieramosca, launched in 1929. Before it was decided to commence trials with any particular type of ara, the Italian Navy shandoned thei, and in 193 the unnecessary hangar was removed, The Japanese started o express more and more interest in submarine bore aircraft. They purchased the British Paraall Peto floatplane for experiments, anda slr copy oft was developed at Yokosuka, designated ‘Yokosho2-Go, and ths was ater manufictaredby Kawanishi asthe “Type 91 Naval reconnaissance floatplane” (E6Y1). Since the existing -2 submarine ‘was oo small o can this irr, se was replaced by the 1400 tonne I-51 submarine fied wit a pneumatic catapult. Late, these foatplanes were used on board the 2130 tonne IS and 1-6 submarines, developed bythe Kawasaki shipyards at Kobe from the German U-142 submarine of 1918, These entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1985. They had hangars, cataplts and cranes, In 1935 Watanabe developed the E9W1 floatplan, later known as Slim inthe Allied code. This was atwin-flot biplane with folding wings and floats, ited with a machine gun and radio, set. These aircraft achieved their first operational sucess during the Sino- Japanese war, when they participated inthe Blockade of China on board their submarines in fe China Sea. Tei lying characteristics were son Found disappointing especialy in terms of sped and endurance, Besides, the biplane layout was becoming obsolete. This edt a new design the E14Y Aoatplane, later known under the Allied code-name of Glen. Work on this stared in 1937, and series production continued until 1943. I terminated after 126 were built. This was alow wing, mixed construction oatpane, ‘with arangeof 90 kn and top speed of 246 rh These Figures significantly ‘exceeded those of previous designs, and satisfied the need he submaies. lewasa success fr te Japanese engineers wo thus established the founda ‘tion forthe Japanese “submarine aviation”, No other county attempted 19 ‘8 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT ‘stablish uch a ir arm during WW2, eventhough the Japanese only built ‘on the expeienes of others, who had given up the effets. Before Japan achieved ist sucess with submarine-ase latplans, the Imperial Japanese Navy HQ had included them as an important part ofits war plans since the eatly 1930s, It was obvious that Japan, an island ‘county with almost no natural raw material resources, was otlly dependent ‘on shipping. Hence protection of sea transport was essential, especially if the vast area of the Paific and neighbouring seas would be the theatre of ‘operations in future wars As the southward artak (nampo-ha), supported by Emperor Hirbito, was eventually decided, Japan's main opponent would be the USA. Thus the war would consist mainly of amphibious operation, in which an important part would be played by submarines, including those ith reconnaissance aircrafton board. The plas called fora sudden invasion of the Philippines, Borneo, and the Netherland’ Fast Indies, which would naturally ead wo an American atemp 0 recapeure the occupied tetres. Enemy naval frees would have to rect, and also to attack the mainland of Japan. Before the two opposing fleets could engage, the Japanese intended to use the possiblity of uring” the enemy, because their own let would be operating near ther bases, and the approuchng let would be seriously weakened by effective attacks by Japanese submarines. That was the main role ofthe latter weapon, which should theefoe be strong both in quality nd quantity This explains the frm resistance ofthe Japanese delegation atthe 1930 naval conference in London against the ban on submarine ‘operations in war, 38 well asthe Japanese efforts vo obain pity with the USA inthis weapon, “The plans ofthe Japanese military leaders, however, were hase on ‘wrong assumptions, bth operationally and technologically. They were not ‘The 9.Shi Submarine Reconnaisance Seaplane (prototype of E9Y1) during tests at Najima Marine Airport close to Fukoka Cis. T. Jamuszewski col. JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFTS ELAYI “Glen” ofthe ‘Hikotl attached tothe (th Fleet. T.Januszewshi coll, {TO JAPANESE SUBMARINE significamly changed even after they were modified by Admiral Isroku ‘Yamamoto, who planed the suprise ar atack against the US Navy base at Peat! Harbor, with submarine co-operation. Experience from WWI proved that submarines were paticulaly effective in destroying enemy ‘communication lites. The Japanese concept, onthe other hand, saw submarines groupedin atical forces and co-operating with surface vessels ‘or performing lng ange reconnaissance ations, The submarines filed at Pear! Harbor but thir commander and eews, who counted among the best trained, can hardly be blamed. They were simply wed inconety The Japanese fet in terms of quality, quantity, and technology, was preparing for operatons against enemy commanication lines as well a for defence of its own nes, and als for co-operation with surface vessels and performing long range reconnaissance, But atthe moment ofthe ouabreak of var in the Pacific, the Japanese submarine let was weak. The numberof submarines was to few forthe vas area ofthe Pacific and Indian Oceans, and even just for th: waters surounding Japan. Also the quality was not idea. The core ofthe Japanese Hest consisted of blue-water vessel, true submarine “cruises: Jun Sen and Kaids. As forthe medium submarines ‘hat could be used for defence of home waters, they were few and rather ‘obsolete. Dring the stack against Patt Harbor the Navy had 64 submarines, of which 41 wer lage ocean-going ones, 2 medium, and 21 obsolete ships of litle combat value. Therefore, in every way the quality and quantity was not satisfactory. Mosof the Japanese submarines were large ships, with ge surface and submergd displacement, ong range and high ped. Tei large size and technological shortcomings resulted in limited manoeusrability and long submerging times, and the ever growing effectiveness of the US anti-submarine weapons peoved lth for them, The Japanese submarines received unfavourale notes from both foreign, and domestic expets The ‘German naval tahé in Tokyo, Vce-Adniral Paul Wennecke, declared that, te Japanese had poor submarine. Fro aloo age for manoeuvring when ine attack, which made them an easy prey: moreover, their byoloscal tic and radar equipment was far outdated. Also the opinion of the arines expressed by Admiral Fukudome, ex-aptain of Rengo Kant, *negiiv. He admited thatthe Japanese submarine desig and equipment inferior tothe US, and that they were attacked before they could get ‘lone to thee target or before they coud get far enough sway. The history ofthe Pacfie War proves that this was mot always the case, especially inthe eaty period. Reconnaissance duties were performed by large vessels especialy those quipped wit floatplae ina small hangar Performance data of the E9W 1 E14Y Moatplanes was a secret that was not easily discovered by the US hieligence services. Before any details were known, the Americans gave em cade names: “Slim fr the biplane and “Glen for the monoplane ‘So, only the countries who prepared forthe war cated out extensive rials of aeroplane-equipped submarines, and of all these Japan had most ‘coe, France was not socesful with Surcou, renowned fr her minimal, combat use, She sank on 19 February 1945 ff te Panama Canal, following collision wih merchant ship. The Germans did not have submarines large ‘enough to take an aeroplane onboard. They only had the 800 tonne Type Vl las ship of simplified design, Nevertheless, Arado was insrotd in 1940 to design an aeroplane that could be use from submarines, and thus oul be folded oft within a 2m da. cylinder. The Ar 231 was a small singe-seateroatplane, is high wing folding backwards along the fuselage. Ts range as 500 km, enough fo is tasks. Ts only fault was the inability (take off when the wind was stronger than 20 knots. Anyway, there were no submarines with suitable take-off eatapuls, so production ofthe Ar 231 vas terminated afters had been bul “Japanese submarines with aircraft on board took an active part in combat fom the begining of the Pacific wa. The Pearl Harbor attack was, Early production ELV, Note that aircraft is ‘orange overall with black engine coving. T. Januszewski cll JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT I Drawing, Januszewski 1-6 Submarine general arrangement, 12 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT large aerial operation by carir-launched aircraft. 27 submarines were selected for suppor. Five of these were ‘midget submarine mother ships. These obtained no resus. addition, the ships that performed reconnaissance tasks with on-board floatplanes were not successful. One of these, the 7, was sunk on 10 December 1941 bya Douglas ‘SBD-2 Dauntless dive bomber flown by C. E. Dickinson frum VS-6, based on the USS Enterprise. Limited success vas achieved only by those submarines that attacked American merchant ships off Hawaii and the US coast, ite absence of ober targets. The 126, commanded by Sub-Lieutenant Commander Minors Yoko, sank the Fist ‘American ship to be lost to submarine attack in WW2, CCymhia Olson, chartered bythe US Navy. The sinking ook plice on 7 December 1941, butt hs not been ascertained, ‘despite Yokoda's explanations, if this happened before ot after the Pearl Harbor attack, ‘ter the Pearl Harbor atack seven large Japanese submarines operated off the coast of Washington, Oregon ant California, and inthe estuary ofthe Columbia fiver ‘Try sank or damaged the tanker: Agwivorld, Emidio, ‘Sanea, Lary Dobeny. Montebello, and Absaroka Bu this ‘was only apart success, Japanese submarines not were there to attack merchant shipping, but 0 find warships. This sems hardly understandable, as the Japanese had no Scnpls agains the tactic of total submarine warfare. It seams that they simply cold find nothing else in place of thee mistaken strategic concepts. In February and May 1942 the Japanese submarines, 1.9, 15, H17, 119, 125, and 1-26 operated inthe Noah Paci. All but the 26 had reconnaissance latplanes on ‘boar. They sank or damaged several ships. In February 1982 the 17, under Commander Sub-Liewenant Koz [Nishino cruised off the coast of California. During the Pear Harbor atackit had paroled the Hawai ara, btn vain. During the next two months she operated off the US cost Near Blunt reef off Cape Mendocino in California, she sank the tanker Emi with torpedoes and gun fire, andon24 December she seriously damaged ancher tanker, Lamy Doheny, almost in the same spot. On 23 February the I-17 shelled the port of Golety, California, with its Pie ofthe Barnsdal Oil Company pero plant. The attack hc its psychological effets onthe local population, and reveled the deficiency ofthe coastal defences. Fes people realised it was am historic act - fr the firs time since 1812, on 130 years, enemy foresatacked the mainland tritory of the United Sates of Ameria American-Canadian waters were the operational area ofthe Japanese 1-15.17, and 1-26 submarine “cruisers”. These torpedoed the US merchant Ship Coast Trader, the tanker Connecticut, and the British sip Derrymore Sn shelled the ight at Estevan Point. These results were not very spectacular, though. Meanwhile, another atack against the US territory was being planned in Japan, This ime it would bea bombing rai. I was decided to ‘hropincendlary bombs on foes areas of the north-western states, in ode to start fires and cause panic among tbe population, Dr Fujiwara took care ‘of this plan, suggesting in 1942 the use of paper hot air balloons with bobs suspended from them. The offer was accepted by bth the Navy and the Army. By May 1948 tens of thousands of balloons had been launched towards the USA, bu only negligible numbers ever reached the continent. Six civilians were killed a a result ofthis operation, the only home-based American civilians tobe killed in WW2, The other part of the plan was performed by the I-25 submarine with an E14Y 1 fleaplane on board, but the mission proved to bea fiasco. Smal fires were quickly spotted and put ‘out, On the way back the 25 torpedoed the American ship Camden on 4 (October 1942, and two days Inter she sank the tanker Larry Doheny off CCape Sebastian. Closer to home, on 11 October she torpedoed and sank the Soviet submarine L-16. At that tne Japan andthe Soviet Union had ‘8 neutrality pact i force. The circumstances of the attack were never fully revealed. “Japanese submarines also operated in Australian waters and inthe Indian ‘Oeean Floaplanes launched from their catapults performed reconnaissance missions over the major cities of Australia and New Zealand, and even ts far asthe East African coast from Madagascar to Somalia One of the submarines 18, even got as far as Europe. On 6 July 1943 she entered the ‘port of Brest in race, a German submarine base Germany the forerunner of the submarine aeroplane combination did not use their invention on a large scale, In early 1943 they had 29 Type [XD2 Monsun class submarines. These were able to operate in far-flung areas, ven inthe Indian Ocean togeber with thet Japanese ales. But he Aisplacement of 1,760 tonnes was not sufficient to equip the ship witha floatpane, This was duc tothe fact that the Germans were not inclined to wild giant submarines that were easy to detect by enemy radar. This was why the conning tower of the Monsun submarine was raised a mere Sm shove the wate, which in tun limited is field of observation to 10 km, and that was why the Germans chose to expand the range of their submarines and equipped them with rotor gliders, able to fy ke kites. These were developed by Focke-Achgelis, and designated Fa 330 Bachstelize. Easily disassembled the were stored ina wateright cylinder inthe conning tower ofthe submarine. Design of the rtorraft was very simple. It consisted of «fuselage welded from sel tubes, witha plots seat and contol tached JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 13. 119 Submarine. Drawing T Januszewski to it, A rotor head witha 6 m dia, three-bladed rotor was located above the head ofthe pile, When the submarine sailed at 20 knots against the wind, the rotor glider took off, tethered bya 300 m towing cable. The glider reached an altitude of some 100 m. From there it had field of view of some 20 miles (35 km. The pilot communicated with the ship via a telephone Tie. Should he spo: an enemy aeroplane, the rotoreraft was released, nd the immediately afterward the pilot aed out, However, the pilot had no varantee thatthe submarine would fish im ou of the sea, Fa 330 rotor lider, of which Wese built 200, were polar during tani airfield near Pais, where one was sold bythe tang unit commander tothe Japanese. It vas taken onboard the U-861 and handed over to the Japanese off Mada ‘Once the supereriyof Allied naval aviation became clear, the Japanese sobmarins cou the vast Pacific shrink around ther. The reconnaissance Aoatplanes were launched from their decks almost their entre range away from their targets, able to return. Thus some ofthe E14Y/ loaplanes ‘would alight oa the sea upon successful completion of their mission transiting the obsined information by radio. The irs mission of his Kind was performed over Hawai from the 36, To overcome this problem, the second stage of the submarine- aeroplane combination was developed. Aichi designed and built the M6AI Seiran oatlane, intended for use on the giant 1-400 class submarnes. OF the planned 18 ships, only five were atully launched, and only thee were used operationally: 400, 1-401, and 1402. These were 4,660 lnne submarines with a range of 37,500 miles and hangar for thee ofthe floatplanes. Ther first action was intended 1 be the destruction of the Panama Canal locks. A mock-up ofthe area of action was built, for the pit to tran fr their tsk. However, heavy ais delayed production ofthe MGA Seiran foatpanes. Eventually, combat capability ‘was not achieved until July 1945, By this time the Navy HQ change the target othe atoll of Ui, used asa hase for US airraft caries. The Ist Submarine Squadron, consisting of 400, L401, 113, and I-14 sailed ‘ut with atta af ten M6AL Seiran floatplanes. On the way one ofthe sutmarines, I-14, was diverted to Truk for replenishment, while I-13 was sunk by US aircraft The two emaning ships were sill under way atthe time ‘ofthe ceasefire, and wo Weeks later Japan surrendered. This was the end ofthe last acto the war inthe Pacific intended vo se the submarines and ouplanes in a combined operation, Japanese designers continued to work onthe requirements of the Japanese militar. fulfil their requests. Interesting projets that remained on paper included the ‘ne 1 use sit Ohks Model 43 Ko suicide aircraft, launched from a deck catapult on a -400 class submarine, gaint surface vessels, Fortunately the war ended and Japanese boys no Tonger had 10 participate in thei leaders macabre ides 4 IAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT Yokosho 1-Go mh ety 92st neil apne Navy wa interes Earoeanand Aner experince Alealy 92 the spas commie o develop aw chs lage KD stb Bad the German U3 and U-SL types. Soon aftervard, wth ep from ming the begining ofthe Jpaese submarine ese, The mae Jon 3) 192 pan oped four stage categorisation of obmaras. The 000 tonnes, known as Ito Sensuikan and designated withthe leter “ the kana alphabet, The second category covered the submarines with placement of less than 1,000 tonnes. These vessels were known ws Nito Sensukan and were divided int two sub-categories: sea-gong, designated 1 coastal, designated “Ha”, The thin category included submarine submarines sine layers, and the fourth - small and i ‘The frst four submarines ofthe new generation had no aircraft. This ay have been due tothe strong eanquake of 1923 which destroyed many yards of the Nav. 1929 kel was lai forthe frst submarine cruiser [-S athe Kawasaki shipyards at K Yokosho 1-Go, the only known photograph. “. Janaszewshi col JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 1S Japanese designers at Yokosuka Kaigun Ko-sho (Navy Airraft Arsenal) ‘at Yokosuka, known Yokosho in short, ost no time, however. The 1wo Kaspar Ul aircraft purchased in Germany in 1923 were caeflly studied in all espects. Ths Nowiplane was designed by Kast Kaspar tbe owner of the Hanseatischen Plugzeugwerke company which bul it. Work on the fist, Japanese aeroplane of te type commenced in 1925 unde the designation of YYkosho I-Go. Is design was based onthe German flouplane optimised for submarine we, but was ota copy of the German aeroplane. Te Japanese airrft was smilin shape and size, butt featured a more powerful engine, ‘and made wide us of aluminium sheets in place of fabric covering. “Thistwin-flatacroplane developed by Yokosho was acantilver biplane, without nterplane struts. Both floats and wings were detachable from the fusclage and couldbe housed together ona submarine in a watertight wba ‘eck hangar74 mong and 1.7 min diameter. The floatplane could be erected by five fiers with 4 minutes andthe total aeroplane reparation ime from, the surfacing ofthe submarine uni ke-off was 1-16 minutes. Disassembly ‘could be accomplished by the same fiers within 2 minutes. ‘The first protoype ofthe Yokosho I-Go, which tamed outto be the only ‘one, was built in 927. This was the smallest Jspanese single-seat combat aeroplane. In spite of its smal size, the aeroplane featured avery strong fuselage statue of metal tubes. alumiium-covered on the forward section, and fabric-covereé om theta seton. The cockpit was located immediately tof the upper wing tain edge, providing reasonably good visibility. The wings and tail sures were of wooden construction, fabric-covered. Lower and upper untapered wings with rund tips were cantilevered without any imer-wing struts cables. The upper “parasol” wing was attached 10 the fuselage by song struts. The ti surfaces, ound-shaped, were also without bracing stu or vires. Flat-botiom floats were of all-metal construction ‘They were attached via a number of struts and cables, The aeroplane was powered by an 8¢ hp Le Rhine, a French 9-cylinder rotary lcence-built, by Gasuden, a Japanese engine company, this power-plant giving the aeroplane atop sped of 154 km/h. The engine dove a wooden four-blade fixed: pitch propel. During 1927-1928 the Yokosho 1-Go underwent extensive 18-month ‘operational trials on board the submarine 21 (later 1-121, one of four Japanese submit mine layers) which was fied with a watertight twbular hangar on the deck. During trials the floatplane was taken off the deck hy acrane and stbsequently recovered the same way. During the trials, it was found that pre-flight preparations took up to 40 minutes which was unacceptable. Therefore, Kaspar himself suggested thatthe British Paral! Peto flotylane should be used instead. As a result Yokosho 1-Go {evelopment was discontinued. The experience was used inthe next reconnaissance flatplae, the Yokosho 2-Go, als intended for submarine ‘operations. (16 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT. Paint scheme. ‘The sole Yokosh I-Go prototype was painted slvr overall. The engine cowling was black and the rudder and horizotal ail was re. The four-blade propeller was lftin natural wood, Hinomaru wer Iocatedon rmd-fuselage, and on upper and lower wings near the sileons. Production ‘Yokosho Kaigun Ko-sho at Yokosuka built single prototype Yokosho 1G floatplane in 1927 Speciation Description. ‘Single-engined, twin-floatsubmarine-based reconnaissance biplane ‘of mixed construction, ‘Crew: pilot in an open cockpit Power plant one 80 hp (58 kW) Gasuden-Le Rhine 9 cooled rotary: wooden four-blade fixed ptch propel, dia. 1.950 m: fuel tank capacity 63.5; oi tank capacity 7-51 ‘Technical data Wingspan Length m Height m Wing area Fy ‘Empty weight kg ‘Normal T-O weight ky Max. T-0 weight ky Useful load ky 720 Wing loading kg/m? 342 Pome a ‘Maximum speed kwh 154) Endurance i Zz JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 17 Yokosho 1-Go. UMseale. Drawings by T.Januszewski Wi2seale. ‘Drawings by T. Jamuszewski | | 18 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT LIAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 19 E6Y1 as used on submarine 1.6, 1937-1938. T. Januszewski col Yokosho E6Y pon completion of the Yokosho 1-Geo fying trials in 1928, the l HQ Imperial Japanese Navy decided to fund a new programme or submarine reconnaissance floatplane development. This new prosramme was again entrusted o Yokosuka Kaigun Ko-sho (Navy Aircraft ‘Asenal) at Yokouka, or Yokosho. The new design developed by the team under Jo Saha and Tamefumi Suzuki, was designated Yokosho 2-Go, The new floatplane wis based on the British Paral Peto, powered by #130 hp Armstrong Siddeey Mongoose engine. This aeroplane had been tested on HM Submarine N-2 bythe Royal Navy “The Japanese also sed the Mongoose, licence-built by Mitsubishi also rated at 130 ap but the aeroplane design itself had many changes with, fespect othe orginal This was a small win-flatsesqiplne, similar 0 the British one, tut reduced in size, The fuselage construction was welded from metal tubes fabri covered. Wings wee of wooden construction, also fabric covered, Ona submarine the flatplane was toed in water-tight ‘eck hangar. Wings and floats were detached and placed along the fuselage. The first prototye had inerwing V-struts and non-standard tail. The fin was positioned under the fuselage, and the tiple was located ontop of the fuselage. Contraction ofthe prodatype Yokosho 2-Go was completed in “May 1929 and twas handed over for rials onthe submarine F-21. lst ‘ntl September 1931. The same year Kaigun Koku Hombu issued the specification 6Shi, and the second prototype was built according to this, designated Yokosho 2-Go Kai. Ths aircraft was powered by a 160, 20 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT hp Gasuden Jimpu 7-cylinder radial, Several significant changes were E6V1 prototype (Yokoshe ntroduced inthe ait ame, including N-shaped inter-wing struts, and a 2-Go), ventional fin, Flying tials ofthis improved prototype conned uni the T. Januszewski coll. end of 1931, These were conducted on 1-2, ad later on TSI. Test ess were considered satisfactory by the Kaigun Kok Hombu and in January 1032, after minor changes were made to the design, it was earmarked for series production asthe “Type 91 Naval reconnaissance lotplane Model [E6Y| Model 1), manufacture being entrusted to Kawanishi, where the lane received the factory designation of Type N, Kawanishi stated series production of the ESY (Type N) on 1 December 1933 and ended in 1934 after 8 machines had been made, this being ¢ result of the pooe design and fying characteristics, E6Y' latplanes were unarmed. During fe "Shanghai incident” some took part in Feconnassance sorts in the Shanghai area. The lst oe inservice was retired in May 1943, The ESY' was the fit submarne-based reconnaissance Moatpane 19 oiilly accepted by the HQ ofthe Imperial Japanese Navy. During 1937-1938 EBY flatplanes served onboard 5,6, 1-7, and submarines, unl hey were phased out bythe more modem Watanabe E9W1 (Slim) floatplanes, AL the same ie Aichi also built a protoype ofa small connaissance floatplane, AB-3, similar in size and in performance. This loatpane was developed fr the Chinese Navy, to equp its small warships. In January 193 ‘onsruction ofa single prototype was completed. Although the il ts were accepted by the Chinese, series production did not follow It also filed to find acceptance by the Kaigun Koku Hombu as prospective Navy ships equipment of Imperial Japanese Paint scheme: prototype Yokosho 2-Go and Yokosho 2-Go Kai flotplanes were punted iver oveal, Vertical and horizotl til was JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 21 pal Pea ie Bro Lor vey \ C7 | \ ae ail - (22 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT ae F JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 23 ‘ed, Hinomaru were loated in standard positions. i¢.0n Power plant: fuselage sides and above and below the wings. ‘one Mitsubishi Mongoose S-cyliner air cooled radial rated at 130 Production E6Y foatplanes, also silver, cared hp (96 kW) for take-off; wooden two-blade fixed pitch propeller codes onthe fuselage sides in addition othe hinomar, (Yokosho 2. The codes consisted of su symbol of the kana alphabet ‘one Gasuden Jimpu 7-cylinde ae cooled radial rated at 160 hp (118 plus digi, sch so identify the parent submarine. EW) for take-off; wooden two-blade fixed pitch propeller (Yokosho | [ES for example. The code near the hinomra was red, 2-Go Kal and E6Y! Mode! 1), while that under the fin was white. Silver floats were painted red between stut attachments, and featured two ‘Technical ‘Yokosho 2-Go (E6V1 first wide red stripes denote the propeller dise plane. white information aia prototype) Ttripe was applied where the mooring trolley was tached. The two-lade 3 "T Januszewski col, propeller was in ratural wood fnsh a Production. Length Wing rea Atta of 10 oaplanes were bil, ncdng ‘Yokosuka Kaigun Ko-Sho(Yokosho) at Yokosuka: 1 = proteype Yokosho 2-Go (1929) 1 protaype Yokosho 2-Go Kai (1951) Empey weight Normal 1-0 wight Max, 1-0 weight Kawanishi Kokoki Kabushiki Kaisha: actl od production Type 91 (ESY Model 1), 1933-1934 Wing loading Power hain 300 Specifcation Performance = Yokosko 2-Go.s was used Description: singleengined sesquiplane of mixed construction, Maximum speed 5 ‘on 8 Submarine reconnaissance, submine-based "T Januszewski drawing, Crew: plot nan open cockpit with a windsereen. Crag ee i Maximum ange Endurance ao Yokosho 2-Go Kai (F6V1 - second prototype) in Might. T.Januszewshi coll, 24 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAP IAPANE I pr JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 25. 26 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT. | JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 27 OWI Sim from 1-6 Submarine during engine tests at Kure Kokuta 1937 Watanabe E9W (Slim) of large subarines, offering high sped and log range known athe Tun Sen Type Hei. These would be the flag-cartes ofthe submarine oil, Due totter size, they were able wo cary a two-seater econnassance seroplane. This required development of sucha loatplane for these ships. “The chance to develop such an sical was given to Watanabe, who received the specifcation9-Shi from the Ksigun Koku Hombu, and this specification was also promulgated to other companies. It called fora two-seat, tWo-loat aeroplane of sll size and sturdy lightweight construction. Wing span had to be such that when folded the foatplane would fit ina deck h Some 2 m in diz, with the fuselage length as shor as possible. Moreover the numberof metal pars prone to corosin had to be reduce to minimum, Ie was suggested that a radial engine be used, to facilitate maintenance and operation. Ryobachiro Higuchi became the chet designer ofthe 9Shi project at Watarabe. Work on intl projects continue in ther compares, too, Once they were completed and submited for evaluation by the Kaigun Koku Homba it proved tha the Watanabe project vas considered the bes. mainly thanks othe promising calculated performance figures. Work fn the project proper commenced in March 1934 and was shrouded in, tumost secrecy. asthe Navy HQ did not want anybody to know about the fzroplane which, carried by submarines, could appear in vrwally every F: January 1934 the Imperial Japanese Navy commenced cost partof the globe "Theis of our prototypes on order was builtin August 1934, under the Provorype 1. Januszewski coll, designation of Shi Experimental Small Neval Reconnaissance Floatplane 28 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT OWI), This was an airframe intended solely for strotural et, the frst sof which was competed by November. A complete proorype was not bul until February 1935, fist ight taking place at Najima, a naval base Fukuoka. As per the specification, this was a smal sireraft with 0 onentional floats. Power was provided by the Hitachi Tempu 11 radial xedat 40 p for take-off, driving a two-blade wooden Fixe pitch propeller. The engine featured a NACA cowling enclosing a rather ls manifold ring. The fuselage framework was welded fom light metal tubs, sluminium covered inthe nose part, and plywood- and fabric-covered uo the first strut, The cockpit was located i ine with the upper wing The observers cain was immediately aft, armed with a 0.303 in. Type 02 machine gun and fited with a radio set for communication with the submarine. Aft ofthe cockpit the elliptic fuselage cross-section changed to “rectangular one, ending with around-p fi, The wlplane was tapered with round ips, supported by struts atthe ear. Wings were untapered with rand tips. The upper wing consisted ofa short cee section, attached 19 the fuselage by a number of struts. Lower wings were attached dreetly othe lower pat of fusl were interconnected by inverted N ruts. Rather large floats were attached tothe fuselage and wings by Streamlined sits and supports. The E9WI was designed wo be assembled ndlsassembled on a cruising submarine and held inher deck hangur- Only ine 12 principal pats ofthe aeroplane were tobe disassembled. The time minutes and 30 seconds, while that of 1 asembly ofthe fatplane was 2 tisassembly was one and half minates, After completion of strwcturl tests the airframe and assembly of three prototypes. pre-series production ‘commenced in October 1935. Flying trials coatined until July 1936, led by Kiae Koki pilots, mainly onboard the submarine 5 of Jun Sen Type Ko clas, and -6 ofthe fun Sen Type Otsu cas, 2130 tomes displacement, Ie Japanese development versions of the German 1918 submarine U-142, delivered in 1935, These were fitted with two hang sa crane, and & pacumatc catapult Initial yng tials were disappointing. Its longitudinal Stability was very poor. The flotplane had a nose-high tendency especially aging, and was prone to roll when ying saight and evel. Tis was doe othe smal fn. Attempt introduce addtional fins under the fuselage ot ‘on the sides ofthe fuselage aft ofthe observer's cabin wer not satisfactory. Enlargement ofthe fin aca and height by 100 mm solved the problem. This way the 9-Sbi specifi jon requirements were met andthe Kaigun Kokw Hombu offically acepted the float oq plane for series production ude the designation of “Type ‘96Small naval reconnaissance by Foatplane Model 1" (E9W! Model 1), Production E9W! 1.8 Submarine with E9VI “Slim” aboard, ready to take of T.Januszewshi coll, ic ht JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 29 Another shot of E9W1 of L6 Submarine, as aso seen on page no 28 T, Januszewskt col Aoatplanes were almost identical tothe prototypes. They differed slghly in the sats between the floats andthe Fuselage Intrduction ito service was delayed, mainly because of protracted adaptation work on the submarines. ‘Also. oot enough maintenance crew or these louplanes had been suitably trained, Fist production EOWI flatpanes were delivered to te fist 140 Jun Sen Type Hei class submarines, the -7 and 1-8. Subsequent aircraft vere delivered in 1937 tothe Jun Sen Type Ko and Jun Sen Type Ots class Submarines. AThough Watanabe was scheduled to manufacture aircraft developed by the Navy Aircraft Arsenal at Yokosuka and other aircraft companies, its ist own design proved good. lying characteristics were found satnfactery, andthe flotplane proved suitable for Jun Sen class submarines. "Tirty two E9WI flsiplanes were built, many ofthese serving on sulbmarne for less than six years, Most ofthe submarines equiped with these aircraft tok part in econnaissance operations inthe China Sea during the blockade of China. Before take-off from the submarine catapult, the Aoatpane was removed from its eylinder hangar, ad placed onthe catapult Assembly involved two crew members and fiters, led by a Petty Officer, “The ites stare the engine while unfolding the wings. lilly the total time fom the noment the submarine surfaced until the latplane took off was one hour. After afew trials the crew gained experience and this was reduced to 40 inites. This wa the toa time necessary forthe submarine to sarface and all necessary preparations including readying the aieraf for fight After completion of is ask the oatplan alighted on water near the ship, and approached under her own power. Then the rane lifted it on board and placed it onthe catapult rls, Aer the wings were folded andthe floats 30 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT -oved the flostplane was sli into its hangar. This operation, to, took an our intially, but was late shortened significantly The E9WI floaplane was the first aeroplane of this Kind produced in cries and used for reconnaissance fora prolonged period. Is existence became known to Allied intelligence only just before the outbreak ofthe Pacific wa. was then codenamed Sim. Due to ther god fying characteristics, the EOWI floaplanes were signed by the Naval HQ to the ten ocean-going submarines, known 3s, he “submarine cruisers Using these otpanes, hough, requied ceain modification of the submarines, including fing ofthe deck hangars and apts, By the time the warn the Pacific started, most ofthe submarines ‘were ready fr apeatons with he sicraft on board In 1942 fourteen E9W1 Floatplanes were sil operational. These were part of the Rengo Kantai (Combined Feet), equipping sch submarines as: F7, 18, F10, FS, 1-17, 119,121, £23, 125, and 1-26. The EW! floatplane was also the last biplane to be used on board Japanese submarines. a replaced in 1940 bythe sngle-enginedlow-wing ‘monoplane E14Y (Glen, also manufactured by Watanabe Paint scheme. Prototype E9W flosiplane silver overall, Vertical and horizontal ail was red, andthe engine eowling was Black, Hinomara were located in standard poston, on fselage sides and on both ides ofthe wings, Production EOW loatplanes, also silver, cared codes onthe fuselage sides in addition tothe hinomar, The codes consisted of su symbol ofthe Kana Iphabet plus dig, sch 8 6, to identify a submarine, 6 for example. The ode near the hinomara sas re, while that under the fin was white Silver oats were painted red between tut attachments, and featured a wide ed stripe to denoe the propele disc plane. A sinilrsrpe was apliod aft the lst strat attachment pont. The two-blade propeller was in matral W004 finish Production. Kabushiki Kaisha Watanabe Tekkosho at Zasshonokuma built single prototype and 32 production E9W! float planes, including 1 oe / el ’ = ai abe E9W1 Model 1 on the ground. T.Januszewski col, JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 31 1 E9WI,protorype (1934), 3 OWI Model 1, seis production (1935), 3 EOWI Model 1 series production (1936), 3 E9WI Model 1 series production (1937), 3 SWI Model 1 sries production (1938), OWI Mode! I series production (1939), EWI Model I series production (1940), Specifeation Description: sigle-engined reconnaissance floatplane for submarines, Mixed constuction. ‘Crew: plo and bserver in separate cockpits with windscreens. Powerplant: one Hitachi GK2 Tempo 1] (Ha-22-I1) 9-yliner air cooked radial rated at 34 hp (250 KW) for take-off @ 2,100 rpm and at 300 ip (220, [KV @ 1,800 gpm at 2,000 m; wooden two-badefxed pitch propel 2.600, sm india. uel ak capacity 250 Lol tank capacity 301 ‘Armament: one flexibly mounted 0.303 in. Type 92 machine gun inthe ‘observer's cabin, ‘Technical data /Wing span, Length Height Wing area, ky weight ‘Normal T-O weight ‘Max, T-O weight, Useful toad ‘Wing Foading Power loading ‘Maximum speed Craing 3 Tanding 3 Time to height Callin ‘Normal ray ‘Maximum range Endurance 32 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT & . ey SX \ \ \\ Watanabe E9Y Vise ‘Drawings by T. Januszewski JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 33. 4 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT Watanabe E9Y1. UMseale. Drawings by T.Jamuszewski Kugisho E14Y (Glen) Ye Koi E14YI fale. Anown unre Ald code nae of Tes Engel sth ny cy acon op tobe on the Amen in in WW? Launched om heel tie 28 samara tvs wn by WIEN Fujawith Chi ety Otc Shoj Oka x aigtr and ober. The ELS mae tno risa te Oregon cons wea Brongn and 29 Speer 1983 ‘Sch me crying two 76k opto cediy Romy Ths ai vera een Ca inn Doles binge on Tg an ter Tins cies, uct fom be USS Hort in pl 1982 The tonbing ‘as wi E14 eaplnes agi he Amen coe were planed ir US maps were cprared at Wake so sing suggestions om te fame pee ice corl tS se og wet windsor eae ee elon th we es of Amen, Ts ‘speedo cue pani among te loa population, making el fe ‘ou epi te dane eteen Ameri eto sn ga Hoses, ny caf he nbs aul explode, casing nel age nthe Sips Nn! Pak eel et om rene Aig ie ‘atk wee own he tacky Ft dep sigan ung, te pecng wp of US comer aes prepara Deven th E14 Tape llr om he Third Generation Developmen Pan (Ost 3) oth peal Jpuese Ney shares pepuin 1957, Tsinidd rene or 200 on 19 as eng fap cen gg sures A i sie a Kegan Kala Hb pepe etiraon 12S fhe scar the Wath EWI sl Tirlecnasance haipine cq tee nbeeine Te pcan ‘mae avail nthe form os enpetton tthe Dab Kain ‘The very first project of, Kugisho E4Y Mloatplane. YM seale. Drawing T.Januszewski JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 35. ELAY first prototype wn- dergoing fight test over Tokyo Bay. The plots Lt Okhane. T,Januszewski cll Koku Gijitsush> (Ist Naval Aircraft Technology Arsenal, known in shor as Kugisho, at Yosuka and to K.K, Watanabe Tekkosho at Zasshonokuma with the requirement for close co-operation betweea the submarine and floatplne des gn teams. The entire programme was top secret. Mist Yamada headed the Kugisho design tam to develop a smal re floaplne strc in a smal cylindrical deck hang ofthe low-wing monoplan folded tp fin and alplanes atplane on the submarine. This principle was the basis forthe de: Floats, with the wings folded along the fusla a The preliminary project forthe ‘with is folding downwards underwent cert changes during preparation of production documentation, the main one being the lowered fin. At he end of 1938, a year ate th specification was drawn up, assembly of the fst two prototypes. desis 12-Shi Naval experimental small submarine floatplane” (E14Y1) was sompleted. The prototypes were firs flown in 1939. One over Tokyo Harbour by Lieutenant Ohkane with the observer S. Kato. The Jow-wing Mlotplne, with two Moats aircraft was a very smal, cat ‘on sts, They were powered by Hitachi GK2 Temp fe wooden fined pitch propellers rated at Ope ake-of, driving tw ‘The fuselage srcture was of welded mea tubes, aluminium covered in the nose part and fibre covered further aft, Wings were of mixed constuction, with metal spars but wooden ibs and leading edges entirely fabric covered Horizontal tail was also of mixed construction fabric covered. The fin was cantly edaced as compared also of mixed construction, its area being tothe prototype. Only the two floats were of all-metal constuction. The pilot's and observer's cabin was sem-enclosed. Defence was provided by a 103 in, Type 92 machine gun, manned by the observer Aexibly mounted 0 in the rear eatin, The observer also operated the radio for communicatio plane could cary two 30 kg bombs. Aer the withthe submarine. The fe 36 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT Two photos of the machi gun Type 92 mounted on the EL4Y1 prototype rear cabin 1, Januszewshi coll Author's drawing of ELAY “Glen” Noatplan. JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 37 Above: ged, the empty weight of | 130kg was found to exceed Glen on a ground-han- ire By 180 kg. This entailed reduced useful loadin order ling trol. characteristics of the floaplne for catapult take-off from a pe. Thusthe aircraft coud only take 200 ites ffl, which reduced Below its range to 480 km. This disqualified ita a reconnaissance latpane for TWoELSY sof th Fleet 1-9 class submarines, so te third and fourth prototypes, bul by Watanabe Hikoai inthe Night. were slimmed down by 80kg. Unsatisfactory stability in ight was cured by f be fn with ‘Photos T.Januseewski_fiting an adlitioa in under the ea fuslage and by el ‘olla folded tip. Prototypes so modified were accepted for 38 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT Another shot of BY 1 December 1940, under the designation of “Type 0 Naval submarine sonaissance losplane Model I-I"(EI4Y Model I-)- later changed to Glens of 6th Fleet Hikotai. Type O Small naval reconnaissance floatplane Model 11" (EL4Y1 Model T,Januszewski cll. manufactur being entrusted to Watanabe. Ths decision was the result parative lying tals ofthe E14W1 and E14Y prototype oatpanes, offering much beter performance Although the E14YI was intended for reconnaissance duties from bmarnes, twas also use to ato the waters around the home islands of pun. In sobmarine the E14Y | was stored folded, na small watertight Plots cockpit the indrcal hangar I high; 24'm wide and 8.5 m long, located on the EY Glen, kn font of the conning tower. The to flats were detached from their Janustewski drawi rat, and the V-stus were folded back the fuselage. Wings were also folded ackwards, long the sides ofthe fuselage. he upper portion of the fin, the under selage fin and tiplane tps were folded Fit within the hangar tube. Take-off ~parations of the ELAY1, with quiet tok inially some 15 minaes from racing ofthe submarine uni the sireraft «launched frm he poeumatic catapult 3 the crew gained experience, the time liter shortened 6 minutes 23 secon. very ofthe lotplane consisted of it JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 39 Above: Instrument panel of BMY Glen, ‘T. Januszewski drawing. Below: Horizontal stabiliser in the folded position. "T. Januszewski drawing. landing nea the ship, being hoisted aboard by the crane, dismantled and placed inside the hangs. “The first combat mission flown by the E14YI floatplanes was the reconnaissance sortie ove Pearl Harbor on 17 December 1941 in order to photograph damage ater Admiral Nagumo's attack of 7 December 1941 ‘The leatplane was launched from te catapult of submain 7, but sources ae contradictory about its return othe ship. Tis was the fist encounter ofthe Americans with the foatplane, which was given the codename Glen ‘Thenextencouter ofthe EL4Y I withthe Americans tok plac on | January 1942 over Oahu. Ths ime the crew alighted safely and returned to their ship. The next E14Y1 combat operation, on 23 February 1942, involved the sbmarine 19, again off Ozh, and resulted inthe locating and sinking ofthe cruiser USS Radford, Despite having & ‘rong radar network inthis area the Americans filed to (tect the floatplane, At the same time the 1-25 submarine, equipped with an E14Y!, was active in Australian water, teing sent thre in erly January 1942. On 17 February 1982 this loatplane Flew a reconnaissance sortie over Sydney Harbour and on 26 February a similar mission was performed ‘ver the port of Melbourne. Five days ater, on 1 March, the LAY! floatplane from the same submarine was sent on a reconnaissance sortie over Hobart in Tasmania, Ciphered information was radioed from the aircraft direct to the J _| satmarine. On 8 March the same submarine approached S| Wellington in New Zealand, and 4 days later Auckland was 40 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT sited. On the way back to Japan, on 18 March, the 1-25 submarine formed another reconnaissance mission over Sua in Fiji. The wealth information about the whereabouts ofthe US Navy gathered from this ‘connaissance was later used by Japanese Navy commanders to plan submarine attacks. As a rest of these plans the Sth Submarine Squadron was formed, ncang 21,122,124, 127, and 129, which operate mainly 1 Australian waters, under Commander Sasaki. Only the [-21 submarine bad an ELSYI Mloaplane onboard, te remaining ships carrying midget \wo-seat submarines in their deck hangars, On the evening of 29 May $2 the E14Y/ floatplane from 1-21 performed another reconnaissance over Sydney Harbour, and transite the information to the four midget JAPANESE Rear part ofthe fuselage, BOY. T. Jamuszewsi drawing. Another view ofthe Glen ‘nits ground-handling trolley Note the arrange- rent of the float strus. ‘T. Januszewski col SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 41 LAY! eanopy in fully ‘open position. T. Januszewski drawing. EL4Y1 Glen prepraing for launch from 129 Sub rine, Note the dark out othe Hinomarus, where the original white ‘outlines had proobably been painted over 7. Jamuszewshi coll, 42 JAPANESE SUBMARINE submarines waiting off the pot. At 430m. two US ships, Chicago and Perkins wee spied and four midget subs were immediately deployed imtercep and destoy the Americans Inthe ironic twist of fate, however, the hunters became the hunted and were sunk by American vessels. All the midget submarines were sunk. The 4th Submarine Squadron ‘operate in the Indian Ocean, inehi ing the I-10 and 1-30 submarines ‘quipped with E14Y | reconnaissance Aoatpanes, to perform similar duties to thse in Australian waters. On 2 ‘May 1942 he E14Y rom 10 flew reconnaissance over Durban, anda few ays later over Fort Elizabeth. Meanwhile, the E14Y1 of I-30 performed ‘similar missions over the pots of Zanzibar, Aden, Djibouti and French, Somali, but oncof the ages was intended tobe attacked. Soon afterwards the submarines, together with a third ship equipped with two midget submarines appmached Madagascar, where the Allies hd landed in Diego Suarez Bay re-aptring the island from the Vichy French, On 29 May at 10.30 am. local time 1-0 launched her E14Y! fo reconnaissance ofthe operations thee. Asa est ofthis sot, the following day two Japanese ‘midget submarines were sent towards the sland in order to block the por. Following their tack tanker was unk, while the battleship HMS Ramilles AIRCRAFT ss seriously damaged and later towed for pairs at Durban. One Japanese midget maine failed wo return, Meanwhile the submarine -28 was Judd inthe Ist Submarine Squadron, i with 1-9, 15, E17, E19, and 1-26, iting course for Aleutians. The Squadron edt find suitable lation for - perational base, Bad weather prevented s task, but the E14Y was launched irom 1-25 in the area of Kodiak, where it Q snaged to locate an Allied cruiser and destroyers, In June 1942 the Squadron participated in the operations capture At and Kisk islands by Japanese Atmy toops, whence it tumed Japan. 1-28 with an E14Y on bow, commanded by Leutenam Commander Mei Tagami, left Yokosuka on 15 August 1942 and by early September olf the west coast of the USA, near Cae Blanco in Oregon. The leaplane flown by Nobuo Fujita with Shoji Okuda as observer ws to drop incendiary bombs on forest ares in Oregon to case fires. The filled witha special incendiary mixture which could produce a aperture of 1,$0C within 100m. Fo four days had weather prevented ‘of and it was not until 9 September tha the sky cleared up and Fujita abet takeoff Early inthe moming bot airmen placed curs of hai 4 small family souvenirs in special wooden boxes, in case they failed cura, The ship manoeuvred into wind and te catapult launched the ‘Wingtip with pitot tube. T. Januszewski drawing. Glen being catapulted from 1-29 Submarine, Note the white outline to wing Hinomaru. ‘T. Januszewski col JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT 3 (bu Finger Nobuo one he ager Jape ayn 982 Mea pet ‘ing he Spans acho Por Hara bt dame he tin pei in from pr ‘ping inte erat ajc phe eof singe nba bed aplne exw eth srt Pasoma Cina ise eackso Oren So ember 1902 were the fist ats theca nied Sues Sic the Bh irson i 18 eras tol enemy pit thane ee dapat bomb on ‘he comin Une Ste Fajicontad operational ‘Pingo 945, when he reared Jaan it ho Ace pi Arthas Fojta peed nt sae baci Jp Twenty years the atk, iw ited two he seater Org Coast rhe re fis acs The a presente te cy of Brook ng with yar samara ord rapes of nth Pata was mabe ox honorary cen of Gol ack He din 197 EIAY Glen engine owing with epen cess panels. Note etails ofthe cowling and strt's mount gs to the fuselge. T, Januszewski drawing. ‘oiplane, which st course forthe lights of Cape Blanco. It eached 11 km inland where it dropped the bombs onthe forests. On te way hack the tirmen spited two ships which they passed by in a wide circle inorder to ‘voi detection, Upon aighting the oaplane was pt into te deck hangar ‘immediatly ad the submarine prepared fra torpedo attack against the ships which had been spotted. During disassembly of the aireraft into, the deck hangar the submarine was overflown by a US Lockheed A~ Hudson bomber on patrol duty ia tat area, flying from MeChort Field base neat Tocoma I was notified by those very ships, which had spoted an unidentified semplane fying towards open sea. Te Japanese submarine immediately dived t0 70 m and awaited explosions ofthe 300-1b. depth charges dropped by the Hudson, The first one exploded at 25 m below the surface, and two at 30 m, The attack ule to inflict serious damage, although there were some leaks, and electrical and radio system failures force the capa to be more careful. Therefore it was decided to prform the next operation a night. suitable ocasion did not come unt 29 September, ‘when the aid wis repeated a tle north of the previous location, in tbe area ‘of Grassy Knob east of Port Orford. Two incendiary bombs were dropped. ‘without toubl, but the floaplane crew encountered problems locating their ‘vn ship whichlay 30 mils off the coast. Afera dramatic search the armen, managed (reach the submarine onthe last drops of uel. The two bombings caused very ite damage inthe forest areas, mainly due to prolonged rans ite area ofthe attack, ut these ids were of histori significance, as these were the only bumbs dropped on the American continent by enemy combat sirraft during WW2, On the way back to pan 25 torpedoed an American 44 JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT ker, Carden, on 4 October, nd to days { ier aother tanker, Lary Dober, of Cape Seastian. This was the last ship suk bythe pancse off the American Pacific coast. It is probably 1-25 who on 11 October 1942 ank the Soviet submarine L-16. Sharing similar fate, on 3 September 1943 1-28 was sunk off the Solomon Islands by USS Paiterson, Tagami, her capa, going down, wth his hip. Okuda, the latplane observer, us killed in October 1944 off Formosa furng an atack against a US aircraft carrie. he plot, Fujita, became a yng instructor soon afer the operations over Oregon and survived the war. Twenty yeas later be and s wife visited the area of Brookings in Dregon where his bombs had fale, The Map showing the Glen ress ofthe ea flat thatthe fire tre by Japanese bombs was seen by attacks against US.A. nly three people: wo fret guards nd a soldier. Al of them claimed that bout six o'clock inthe morning on 9 September 1942 a tiny aeroplane of known type came fromthe sa, is sound being similar to that ofthe Ford Model ear engine, withthe typical carburettor hacking. On inspection the fire ste one bomb crater of Im dia. was found and the frest had been burnt out over an area of 45x 225m In the summer of 1943, on 6 July, 8 under Commander Ushino let snang in Sumatra, carrying an E14Y1 foatplane to pay an official vist rope nvitedby the Kriegsmarine, On 6 Sepiember the sip called atthe French port of Brest. She cried courier mail forthe Germans ad important trategic raw materials, A similar load was taken back to Japa, including examples of radar devices. nord to make ful use of the available space, the ELSYI lotpane was lft in Europe, and was later destroyed in Allied ombings. LAY! floaplanes were also inthe Jun Sen Type Ko and Otsu cass seg ovean-going submarines, and to limited extent also by merchant ‘hips, a thei take-off and successful mission required almost no wind gaa Glens of the 6th Feet Hikoti at their base. T. Januszewshi coll JAPANESE SUBMARINE AIRCRAFTAS of 6th Fleet Hikotat the ight over these Photo was taken from ‘another Gln. "T. Januszewski coll, Another shot ofthe same sireraft. ,Januszewski col, at all, Afer 1943, when the Ales used radar more and more extensively, reconnaissance activity bythe E14Yflotpanes was halted sit produced ro useful resus, and the submarines were notable to stay onthe surface Jong enough forthe take-off preparations. That yea sees production was, terminated after 138 oatplanes had been bil Paint scheme. First protorypes ofthe EL4Y test flown over Tokyo Bay by Lieutenant CObkane and pit S, Kato among ohes, were painted light rey overall. The engine cowling was mat back. Hinmaru without outlines were located on fuselage sides nd on both surtaces ofthe wing. The floats featured a wide red stnpe to deat the propeller dis plane, Narow red stripes were applied at the strat attchment points on the floats. The propeller was in natural ‘wood finish wi reps Production E14Y Model 1 flotplanes had the stantard scheme of the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft. Top and sides ofthe fuselage and upper wing and tail srfaes were punted dark green, while the undersides were rey. Leating edges from mid-span of the wings were orange. The engin coming was mat black. Hinomara with wite outlines were applied in standard postions, ic. on fuselage sides and above and below the wings. (On the lower ving surfaces the binomaru had! ao outline. Also the upper Surfaces of floats were dark green except the portion unde the wing. which was ight grey, fas were the undersides ofthe floats. The colour

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