Aichi E16A Zuiun (Paul) Reconnaissance Floatplane / Dive Bomber Aircraft

The Japanese Aichi E16A series was a great all-around floatplane - though appearing too late in World War 2 to see much use.

Updated: 1/22/2017; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com

The E16A Zuiun (translated into "Auspicious Cloud" and codenamed "Paul" by the Allies) was a dedicated reconnaissance floatplane and part-time dive-bomber for the Empire of Japan in World War Two. The system was an excellent floatplane type by all accounts, yet appeared at a time when Allied aircraft maintained much of the Pacific skies, relegating the E16A to limited use and even more limited production figures.

The E16A was typical of the Japanese assortment of floatplanes in its arsenal. The system was devised as a direct successor to the E13A "Jake" series of floatplane, both of which were produced by the Aichi aircraft firm. The E16A has crew accommodations for two personnel, a pilot and a rear-cockpit gunner. Pontoons were fitted underside in place of traditional landing gears. Standard armament was 2 x 20mm forward-fixed cannons in the wings and a single 7.7mm machine gun for the rear gunner. An underfuselage position was utilized for strike runs, though the primary use of the aircraft was of carrier-based reconnaissance.

The Aichi E16A was powered by a single Mitsubishi three-blade MK8D Kinsei 54 14-cylinder radial piston engine and could achieve a service ceiling of nearly 33,000 feet while reaching speeds of over 270 miles per hour. Range, like its predecessor, was an impressive 1,491 miles - crucial when operating in the vast open areas of the Pacific Ocean. 256 total examples of the E16A were ever produced and of only made up of the single E16A-1 model designation.

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Aichi E16A Zuiun (Paul) Technical Specifications

Service Year: 1944
Type: Reconnaissance Floatplane / Dive Bomber Aircraft
National Origin: Imperial Japan
Manufacturer(s): Aichi - Japan
Production Total: 256

Structural (Crew Space, Dimensions and Weights)

Operating Crew (Typical): 2
Overall Length: 35.53 feet (10.83 meters)
Overall Width: 42.03 feet (12.81 meters)
Overall Height: 15.72 feet (4.79 meters)

Weight (MTOW): 10,053 lb (4,560 kg)

Installed Power and Standard Day Performance

Propulsion: 1 x Mitsubishi Kinsei 54 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine developing 1,300 horsepower.

Maximum Speed: 273 mph (439 kph; 237 knots)
Maximum Range: 1,491 miles (2,400 km)
Service Ceiling: 32,808 feet (10,000 meters; 6.21 miles)

Armament / Mission Payload

STANDARD:
2 x 20mm cannon (forward-firing fixed in wings)
1 x 7.7mm machine gun in rear cockpit position

OPTIONAL:
Underfuselage provision for external stores.

Global Operators / Customers

Imperial Japan

Model Variants (Including Prototypes)

E16A - Base Series Designation

E16A-1 - Only production version produced.