The Kawanishi H8K Emily was arguably the best flying boat of the Second World War - considered by many to be on par with even the excellent British Short Sunderland.
The Empire of Japan seemed to be producing its best aircraft designs of the war towards the end of the conflict. The Kawanishi H8K (codenamed "Emily" by the Allies) was such an example. Bred to take the reigns of the similar but wholly outclassed Kawanishi H6K already in service, the H8K was developed to a new 1938 specification. The resulting design proved to be one of the more feared and respected Japanese weapons in the Pacific. If one would consider the type to be nothing more than a lumbering flying boat, you would overlook the impressive cannon armament, outstanding range, good performance capabilities and offensive firepower long enough to see that even American submarines were at the mercy of the "Emily".
The shortcomings of the H6K type were highly known by now, so much so that the Kawanishi company set about to right the wrongs with the addition of the H6K5 to the production line. Unfortunately, the ship of the H6K had already sailed and the H8K was designed to a new need. The H8K was characterized but its stout fuselage and single vertical tail fin. The cockpit sat high just forward of the shoulder-mounted wing assembly housing 4 x Mitsubishi brand engines of 1,850 horsepower (H8K2). As a land-based operator the H8K could call upon smallish wheels while under wing pontoons served it well on water. Initially, the H8K was found to be a poor performer in the latter role but service trials eventually ironed out the defects and the legend of the H8K was made.
Flying boats are not a weapon that one thinks of when considering the best offensive options available in a war but the H8K changed that thinking. Defensive armament was initially 4 x 7.7mm machine guns and 2 x 20mm cannons. Later developments would give rise to a 4 x 7.7mm and 5 x 20mm cannon-armed derivative in the H8K2 model. Add to this the improved armor protection, impressive speed and range and the ability to deliver torpedoes or bombs and you have a recipe for a true winner. The H8K was particularly effective in the anti-submarine role when married to an ASW radar, finding and sinking several American submarines during the course of its combat life.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓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
92.3 ft (28.13 m)
Width/Span
124.7 ft (38.00 m)
Height
30.0 ft (9.15 m)
Empty Wgt
40,521 lb (18,380 kg)
MTOW
71,650 lb (32,500 kg)
Wgt Diff
+31,129 lb (+14,120 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Kawanishi H8K2 (Emily) production variant)
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Kawanishi H8K2 (Emily) 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 bow position
1 x 20mm cannon in dorsal position
1 x 20mm cannon in left blister position
1 x 20mm cannon in right blister position
1 x 7.7mm machine gun in beam position
1 x 7.7mm machine gun in beam position
1 x 7.7mm machine gun in beam position
1 x 7.7mm machien gun in beam position
OPTIONAL:
Up to 4,409 lb (2,000 kg) of external stores OR 2 x 1,764 (800 kg) torpedoes
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 2
H8K1 - Prototype
H8K1 (Navy Flying Boat Type 2, Model 11) - 14 produced; initial service models.
H8K1-L - Dedicated Transport Variant
H8K2 (Model 12) - Improved engine output through Mitsubishi Kasei 22 radials of 1,850 horsepower and defensive armament; ASW radar equipped; 120 produced.
H8K2-L "Seiku" (Model 32) - Dedicated Transport Variant based on the H8K1 model.
H6K3 - Two prototype experimental models based on the H8K2; featuring retractable wingtip floats and dorsal turret; blisters removed in favor of sliding gun hatches.
H8K4 (Model 23) - Two conversion models fitted with different powerplants.
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
