The Japanese concern of Kawanishi made a name for itself in service to the Empire by delivering a healthy stable of serviceable floatplane and flying boat aircraft. Before the end of the war in August of 1945, and amidst Japan's worsening war situation, many desperate projects were undertaken by local firms in an effort to meet military requirements put forth. Kawanishi, either through a private initiative or at the behest of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), began work on a new long-range flying boat design before the cessation of hostilities and this became the "K-200" which ultimately saw no prototypes completed, the project terminated with the end of the war.
Kawanishi found success with their conventionally-powered, four-engined H8K flying boat during the war and these served the IJN with distinction from January 1942 onward. With this big aircraft experience, the K-200 took shape as a high-winged development with outboard floats, a boat-like lower hull and traditional, single-finned tail unit. Instead of engines driving propeller blades as in the H8K, six turbojets were projected for power and arranged in two sets of three engine nacelles to be fitted over the wing mainplanes. The cockpit, heavily glazed, was fitted forward of the wings and aft of a nose cone assembly. The standard crew would most likely range between six and eight persons.
Since the K-200 only ever entered the planning stages very little concrete information went on to be finalized before the end. Its usefulness in service would have been limited - early-form Japanese turbojets were thirty devices and short on range though offering the necessary performance. Armament may have followed the established H8K arrangement being a mix of cannon and machine guns for both offensive- and defensive-minded actions - a dorsal turret and tail turret among key features most likely included. The aircraft's war load would have supported torpedoes, depth charges, mines and conventional drop bombs.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.
✓Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
✓Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
Length
98.4 ft (30.00 m)
Width/Span
131.2 ft (40.00 m)
Height
30.3 ft (9.25 m)
Empty Wgt
44,974 lb (20,400 kg)
MTOW
9,259 lb (4,200 kg)
Wgt Diff
+-35,715 lb (+-16,200 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Kawanishi K-200 production variant)
Installed:
6 x Mitsubishi Ne-330 turbojet engines developing 2,865 thrust each (estimated).
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Kawanishi K-200 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
ESTIMATED:
1 x 20mm Type 99 cannon in nose.
2 x 7.7mm Type 99 / Type 92 machine guns at waist / beam positions (one gun per position).
1 x 20mm Type 99 cannon in tail turret.
OPTIONAL:
Unknown stores weight limit consisting of torpedoes, depth charges, and conventional drop bombs.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 2
K-200 - Base Project Designation.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Imperial Japan (proposed/cancelled)
