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Kawanishi H8K "Emily"
Type: Reconnaissance and attack flying boat
Origin: Kawanishi
Crew: N/A
Allied Code Name: Emily
Models: H8K1 & H8K2, Type 2
First Flight: Late 1940
Service Delivery: H8K1: August 1941
Final Delivery: N/A
Production: 167
Powerplant:
H8K1, Model 11:
Model: Mitsubishi Kasei 12
Type: 14-cylinder two-row radial engine
Number: Four       Horsepower: 1,530 hp

H8K1, Model 12:
Model: Mitsubishi Kasei 22
Type: 14-cylinder two-row radial engine
Number: Four       Horsepower: 1,850 hp

Dimensions:
Wing Span: 38m (124 ft. 8 in.)
Length: 28.1m (92 ft. 3.5 in.)
Height: 9.15m (30 ft. 0.25 in.)
Wing Area: N/A

Weights:
Empty (H8K1): 15,440 kg (34,000 lb)
Empty (H8K2): 18,380 kg (40,500 lb)
Loaded (H8K1): 31,000 kg (68,343 lb)
Loaded (H8K2): 32,500 kg (71,650 lb)

  

Performance:
Max. Speed (H8K1): 433 km/h (270 mph)
Max. Speed (H8K2): 454 km/h (282 mph)
Initial Climb: 1,575 ft/min (480 m/min)
Service Ceiling: 8,770m (28,800 ft.)
Max. Range (Typical): 4800 km (3,000 mi)
Max. Range (Overload): 7200 km (4,474 mi)

Armament:
Typical:
Five 20mm cannon in power driven turrets in nose,
   dorsal & tail turrets.
Three 7.7mm machine guns manually aimed from beam
   and ventral rear windows.

H8K2-L:
One 20mm cannon and one 12.7mm machine gun, both
   manually aimed

Bomb Load:
Racks under inner wings for two torpedoes or other
   ordnance up to 4,410 lb. (2000 kg)

Production:
H8K1: 17
H8K2: 114
H8K2-L: 36

Variants:
H8K2-L: Transport Version
Comments:
Designed in response to a 1938 specification for a replacement for the Kawanishi H6K, the result was the H8K. Comprising the single greatest leap in flying boat technology, the H8K was the most advanced flying boat of WWII and for many years after the war.
   In service 24-hour long patrols were typical. In fact, their first sortie was to have been a bombing raid on Oahu, Hawaii, with a stop for refueling by submarine. The mission was aborted due to weather over the target.
Sources:
The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, 1997, Barnes & Nobles Books, ISBN: 0 7607 0592 5

Research Assistance:
Anthony Jarvis

WARBIRDS RESOURCE GROUP > IJARC > SEAPLANES/FLYING BOATS > PREVIOUS PAGE