The Kawanishi H3K, also known as Navy Type 90-2 Flying Boat (九〇式二号飛行艇), was a Japanese biplane military flying boat from the interwar period. The H3K was a development of the Short S.8/8 Rangoon. The first of the H3Ks was built by Short Brothers and the remaining four by Kawanishi in Japan.
In 1929, the Imperial Japanese Navy tasked Kawanishi with acquiring a new long-range reconnaissance flying boat. Kawanishi sent a team to the British aircraft manufacturer Short Brothers in order to inspect Short's designs and procure a suitable type to meet the Japanese Navy's needs. After inspecting the Singapore Mk.I and the Short S.8/8 Rangoon, itself a military adaptation of the Short Calcutta, Kawanishi chose an enlarged development of the Rangoon, with Rolls-Royce Buzzard engines replacing the Bristol Jupiters of the Rangoon.[1][2]
Short's design, the S.15 K.F.1 was a large all-metal biplane, with three Buzzard engines mounted between the wings in streamlined nacelles with promiminent radiators above the engines. It had two separate, side-by-side cockpits for the two pilots, with gunners stations in the nose, two dorsal positions and the tail, with the flight engineer and radio operator working within the hull, which also contained a galley wardroom, and sleeping accommodation for a crew of eight.[3][4]
The prototype K.F.1. first flew on 10 October 1930, and after brief trials was dismantled and sent to Japan by ship.[5] When re-assembled in Japan, testing showed it to have good performance, and as a result, Kawanishi negotiated a license for production of the K.F.1, with the first Japanese built aircraft completed in March 1931. Four aircraft were built in Japan with the final one completed in February 1933,[6] differing from the prototype by being fitted with an enclosed cockpit for the pilots and modified bow cockpits.[7]
Operational historyedit
The type was formally accepted into service by the Japanese Navy in October 1932, as the Navy Type 90-2 Flying Boat (short designation H3K1).[6] They were used for long distance patrol and training missions over the Pacific, remaining in service until the end of 1936.[7][8]
On 8 January 1933, one of the H3Ks crashed while alighting at night at Tateyama on a training flight, cause given as a slow-reading altimeter. Noted naval aviator Lt. Cmdr. Shinzo Shin was killed, as were two more of nine crew.[8]
Barnes, C.F. (1967). Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam & Company Ltd. OCLC 1369577.
London, Peter (2003). British Flying Boats. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing. ISBN0-7509-2695-3.
Mikesh, Robert C.; Abe, Shorzoe (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. London: Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN0-85177-840-2.
Added category of "Sesquiplanes"
January 01, 1970
kawanishi, also, known, navy, type, flying, boat, 式二号飛行艇, japanese, biplane, military, flying, boat, from, interwar, period, development, short, rangoon, first, h3ks, built, short, brothers, remaining, four, kawanishi, japan, role, maritime, patrol, flying, bo. The Kawanishi H3K also known as Navy Type 90 2 Flying Boat 九 式二号飛行艇 was a Japanese biplane military flying boat from the interwar period The H3K was a development of the Short S 8 8 Rangoon The first of the H3Ks was built by Short Brothers and the remaining four by Kawanishi in Japan Kawanishi H3K Role Maritime patrol flying boat Manufacturer Kawanishi Aircraft Company First flight 10 October 1930 Retired 1936 Primary user Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Number built 5 Developed from Short Rangoon Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications H3K 5 See also 6 ReferencesDesign and development editIn 1929 the Imperial Japanese Navy tasked Kawanishi with acquiring a new long range reconnaissance flying boat Kawanishi sent a team to the British aircraft manufacturer Short Brothers in order to inspect Short s designs and procure a suitable type to meet the Japanese Navy s needs After inspecting the Singapore Mk I and the Short S 8 8 Rangoon itself a military adaptation of the Short Calcutta Kawanishi chose an enlarged development of the Rangoon with Rolls Royce Buzzard engines replacing the Bristol Jupiters of the Rangoon 1 2 Short s design the S 15 K F 1 was a large all metal biplane with three Buzzard engines mounted between the wings in streamlined nacelles with promiminent radiators above the engines It had two separate side by side cockpits for the two pilots with gunners stations in the nose two dorsal positions and the tail with the flight engineer and radio operator working within the hull which also contained a galley wardroom and sleeping accommodation for a crew of eight 3 4 The prototype K F 1 first flew on 10 October 1930 and after brief trials was dismantled and sent to Japan by ship 5 When re assembled in Japan testing showed it to have good performance and as a result Kawanishi negotiated a license for production of the K F 1 with the first Japanese built aircraft completed in March 1931 Four aircraft were built in Japan with the final one completed in February 1933 6 differing from the prototype by being fitted with an enclosed cockpit for the pilots and modified bow cockpits 7 Operational history editThe type was formally accepted into service by the Japanese Navy in October 1932 as the Navy Type 90 2 Flying Boat short designation H3K1 6 They were used for long distance patrol and training missions over the Pacific remaining in service until the end of 1936 7 8 On 8 January 1933 one of the H3Ks crashed while alighting at night at Tateyama on a training flight cause given as a slow reading altimeter Noted naval aviator Lt Cmdr Shinzo Shin was killed as were two more of nine crew 8 Operators edit nbsp Japan Imperial Japanese Navy Air ServiceSpecifications H3K editData from Japanese Aircraft 1910 1941 8 General characteristicsCrew six to nine Length 22 55 m 74 ft 0 in Wingspan 31 05 m 101 ft 10 in Height 8 77 m 28 ft 9 in Wing area 214 m2 2 300 sq ft Empty weight 10 030 kg 22 112 lb Gross weight 15 000 kg 33 069 lb Powerplant 3 Rolls Royce Buzzard water cooled V12 engines 712 kW 955 hp each Propellers 2 bladed metal propeller Performance Maximum speed 226 km h 140 mph 122 kn Cruise speed 169 km h 105 mph 91 kn Endurance 9 hr Service ceiling 4 040 m 13 250 ft Time to altitude 19 min 40 s to 3 000 m 9 840 ft Armament Guns 8 x 7 7 mm machine guns twin mountings in nose two dorsal and tail positions Bombs Up to 1 000 kg of bombsSee also editRelated development Short Cromarty Short S 2 Short Singapore Short Calcutta Short Rangoon Kawanishi H6K Related lists List of seaplanes and flying boatsReferences editNotes Mikesh amp Abe 1990 p 135 Barnes 1967 p 264 Barnes 1967 pp 264 265 London 2003 pp 128 129 Barnes 1967 p 265 a b Mikesh amp Abe 1990 pp 135 136 a b Barnes 1967 p 267 a b c Mikesh amp Abe 1990 p 136 Bibliography Barnes C F 1967 Shorts Aircraft since 1900 London Putnam amp Company Ltd OCLC 1369577 London Peter 2003 British Flying Boats Stroud UK Sutton Publishing ISBN 0 7509 2695 3 Mikesh Robert C Abe Shorzoe 1990 Japanese Aircraft 1910 1941 London Putnam amp Company Ltd ISBN 0 85177 840 2 Added category of Sesquiplanes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kawanishi H3K amp oldid 1161896772, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
