The Yokosuka Ro-go Ko-gata (YokoSho-shiki Ro-go Ko-gata) was a Japanese reconnaissancefloatplane developed during the First World War by the Japanese Navy Arsenal at Yokosuka, and one of the first indigenous Japanese aircraft to enter production. There were 218 of these aircraft built for the Imperial Japanese Navy, which remained in use until 1928.
The Japanese Navy Arsenal at Yokosuka became involved in aircraft production in 1913, when an aeroplane factory was set up, with its first work being to build several Maurice Farman and Curtiss Seaplanes.[1] It continued to build aircraft under license, including more Farman aircraft and several Short 184 seaplanes, as well as prototypes of several of its own designs.[2]
In 1917, Chikuhei Nakajima, chief designer of the Yokosuka Arsenal aircraft factory designed a new reconnaissance floatplane. A prototype of this new design, powered by a 140 hp (104 kW) Salmson water-cooled radial engine, made its maiden flight early in 1918. Test results were good, and the type was ordered into production as the Ro-go Ko-gata.[a][3]
The Ro-go Ko-gata was a three-baybiplane of wood and fabric construction, with twin main floats and wings that folded backwards for storage. Its crew of two sat in separate, closely spaced cockpits. Initial production aircraft were powered by 200 hp (149 kW) Salmson engines, but the majority of production aircraft were fitted with 200–220 hp (149–164 kW) Mitsubishi-built Hispano-Suiza 8V-8 engines.[3]
A total of 218 aircraft were built in total,[4] 32 by the Yokosuka arsenal, 80 by Aichi and 106 by the Nakajima Aircraft Company, with production continuing until 1924.[5] It was the first locally-designed aircraft to be built in large numbers for the Japanese Navy.[3]
Operational historyedit
Three of the early aircraft were modified in 1919 for making long-range flights, with one of the cockpits replaced by additional fuel storage. This allowed a record flight of 1,300 km (808 mi) to be flown in 11 hours, 35 min on 20 April 1919.[3] The Ro-go Ko-gata, along with licensed built Hansa-Brandenburg W.29s, replaced the obsolete pusher Farmans in Japanese Navy service, remaining in large scale service until 1926, being re-designated Yokosho-Type Reconnaissance Seaplane in 1923.[b] Several were sold for civilian use, and were used to carry airmail until 1928.[3][6]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yokosuka Ro-go Ko-gata.
Donald, David (ed.) The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Leicester, UK: Blitz Editions, 1997. ISBN1-85605-375-X.
Mikesh, Robert and Abe, Shorzoe. Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. London:Putnam, 1990. ISBN0-85177-840-2.
January 01, 1970
yokosuka, gata, yokosho, shiki, gata, japanese, reconnaissance, floatplane, developed, during, first, world, japanese, navy, arsenal, yokosuka, first, indigenous, japanese, aircraft, enter, production, there, were, these, aircraft, built, imperial, japanese, n. The Yokosuka Ro go Ko gata YokoSho shiki Ro go Ko gata was a Japanese reconnaissance floatplane developed during the First World War by the Japanese Navy Arsenal at Yokosuka and one of the first indigenous Japanese aircraft to enter production There were 218 of these aircraft built for the Imperial Japanese Navy which remained in use until 1928 Ro go Ko gata Role Reconnaissance floatplane National origin Japan Manufacturer Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal Introduction 1918 Retired 1928 Status out of service Primary user Imperial Japanese Navy Number built 218 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Operational history 3 Units using this aircraft 4 Specifications Production type 5 Notes 6 References 7 BibliographyDevelopment and design editThe Japanese Navy Arsenal at Yokosuka became involved in aircraft production in 1913 when an aeroplane factory was set up with its first work being to build several Maurice Farman and Curtiss Seaplanes 1 It continued to build aircraft under license including more Farman aircraft and several Short 184 seaplanes as well as prototypes of several of its own designs 2 In 1917 Chikuhei Nakajima chief designer of the Yokosuka Arsenal aircraft factory designed a new reconnaissance floatplane A prototype of this new design powered by a 140 hp 104 kW Salmson water cooled radial engine made its maiden flight early in 1918 Test results were good and the type was ordered into production as the Ro go Ko gata a 3 The Ro go Ko gata was a three bay biplane of wood and fabric construction with twin main floats and wings that folded backwards for storage Its crew of two sat in separate closely spaced cockpits Initial production aircraft were powered by 200 hp 149 kW Salmson engines but the majority of production aircraft were fitted with 200 220 hp 149 164 kW Mitsubishi built Hispano Suiza 8 V 8 engines 3 A total of 218 aircraft were built in total 4 32 by the Yokosuka arsenal 80 by Aichi and 106 by the Nakajima Aircraft Company with production continuing until 1924 5 It was the first locally designed aircraft to be built in large numbers for the Japanese Navy 3 Operational history editThree of the early aircraft were modified in 1919 for making long range flights with one of the cockpits replaced by additional fuel storage This allowed a record flight of 1 300 km 808 mi to be flown in 11 hours 35 min on 20 April 1919 3 The Ro go Ko gata along with licensed built Hansa Brandenburg W 29s replaced the obsolete pusher Farmans in Japanese Navy service remaining in large scale service until 1926 being re designated Yokosho Type Reconnaissance Seaplane in 1923 b Several were sold for civilian use and were used to carry airmail until 1928 3 6 Units using this aircraft edit nbsp Japan Imperial Japanese NavySpecifications Production type editData from Japanese Aircraft 1914 1941 7 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 10 16 m 33 ft 4 in Wingspan 15 692 m 51 ft 6 in Height 3 666 m 12 ft 0 in Wing area 48 22 m2 519 0 sq ft Empty weight 1 070 kg 2 359 lb Gross weight 1 628 kg 3 589 lb Powerplant 1 Mitsubishi type Hi water cooled V8 engine 160 kW 220 hp Propellers 2 bladed Performance Maximum speed 156 km h 97 mph 84 kn Range 780 km 480 mi 420 nmi Endurance 5 hr Time to altitude 4 min to 500 m 1 640 ft Armament Guns 1 flexibly mounted 7 7 mm machine gunNotes edita Under the designation system introduced by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1918 this designation corresponded to Model A reconnaissance aircraft 8 b Yokosho was an acronym standing for Yokosuka Kaigun Ko Sho Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 9 References edit Mikesh and Abe 1990 pp 262 263 Mikesh and Abe 1990 pp 264 268 a b c d e Mikesh and Abe 1990 p 269 Donald 1997 p 922 Mikesh and Abe 1990 p 270 Civil Aircraft Register Japan Archived May 3 2009 at the Wayback Machine Golden Years of Aviation Retrieved 19 December 2009 Mikesh and Abe 1990 pp 269 270 Mikesh and Abe 1990 pp 1 2 Mikesh and Abe 1990 p 262 Bibliography edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yokosuka Ro go Ko gata Donald David ed The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Leicester UK Blitz Editions 1997 ISBN 1 85605 375 X Mikesh Robert and Abe Shorzoe Japanese Aircraft 1910 1941 London Putnam 1990 ISBN 0 85177 840 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yokosuka Ro go Ko gata amp oldid 1192479747, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
