Based on number alone, the Aichi production E13A series of floatplanes (dubbed "Jake" by the Allies) was the most important such aircraft type for the Japanese Navy during the Second World War. The system was fielded in quantity in the early 1940's and were charged with reconnoitering the American Navy based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, prior to the infamous December 7th attack. A tremendous design with durability and endurance to boot, the E13A would serve through the end of the war, notoriously in Kamikaze attacks on advancing American naval convoys.
The E13A was a three-crew low-monoplane aircraft with pontoons fitted in place of traditional landing gear systems. The initial need for the floatplane stemmed from a Japanese naval requirement for a new floatplane to replace the aging Kawanishi E7K2 series. As such, offers to the Aichi, Kawanishi and Nakajima aircraft firms were made to promote a competitive trial. At the end, only a Aichi and Kawanishi design remained, with the Aichi design getting the go ahead. A prototype was then produced and ordered into production after 1940.
Though limited in number at first, the E13A series made some initial carrier-based land-strikes and reconnaissance missions that promoted the use of this aircraft type. As such, the floatplane would be fielded regularly with future cruiser groups and mounted to catapults on Japanese battleships. Standard armament would consist of 1 x 20mm downward-firing cannon and a single 7.7mm machine gun in the rear cockpit. External stores were limited to a single 551lb bomb or depth charge as needed.
Aichi "Jakes" were utilized more importantly for their reconnaissance initiative than their strike capability (limited as they were in that respect). Reconnoiter missions would include the scouting of Pearl Harbor and the famous miscommunication reconnoiter mission for American battle groups in the early rounds of the Battle of Midway, leaving many carrier-based attack aircraft ready for action on the Japanese carrier decks, but waiting for the reconnaissance reports to come in.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
Length
37.1 ft (11.30 m)
Width/Span
47.6 ft (14.50 m)
Height
15.4 ft (4.70 m)
Empty Wgt
5,825 lb (2,642 kg)
MTOW
8,818 lb (4,000 kg)
Wgt Diff
+2,994 lb (+1,358 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Aichi E13A1a (Jake) production variant)
monoplane / mid-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Mid-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted along the midway point of the sides of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Aichi E13A1a (Jake) production variant)
Installed:
1 x Mitsubishi Kinsei 43 14-cylinder radial piston engine developing 1,080 horsepower driving three-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Aichi E13A1a (Jake) 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)
STANDARD:
1 x 20mm cannon (in downward-firing ventral position).
1 x 7.7mm machine gun (in rear cockpit position).
OPTIONAL:
Maximum external bomb loadout (bombs or depth charges) of 551 lb.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 3
Mounting Points
-
-
-
-
5
-
1
-
4
-
-
-
-
HARDPOINT(S) KEY:
X
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
COLOR KEY:
Fuselage Centerline
Fuselage Port/Wingroot
Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot
Wing/Underwing
Wingtip Mount(s)
Internal Bay(s)
Not Used
Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).
E13A - Base Series Designation.
E13A1 - Designation covers prototype models and initial production models.
E13A1a - Improved communications equipment; Redesigned float pontoons.
E13A1a-S - Night Flyer Conversion Model.
E13A1b - Based on the E13A1a model but fitted with an Air-Surface radar system.
E13A1b-S - Night Flyer Conversion Model of the E13A1b model.
E13A1c - Anti-Ship Model; fitted with downward-firing 20mm cannon.
E13A1-K - Dual-Control Trainer Model.
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
