Aichi E10A

The Aichi E10A was a Japanese night reconnaissance flying boat of the 1930s. A single-engined biplane, 15 were built for the Imperial Japanese Navy as the Type 96 Night Reconnaissance Seaplane, serving from 1936 but were retired in 1941 before the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

E10A
Role Night reconnaissance flying boat
National origin Japan
Manufacturer Aichi Kokuki
First flight 1934
Introduction 1936
Retired 1941
Primary user Imperial Japanese Navy
Number built 15

Development and design

In 1934, based on experience of testing the Experimental 6-Shi Night Reconnaissance Flying boat, the Imperial Japanese Navy drew up a specification for a new night reconnaissance aircraft, intended to shadow enemy fleets during the cover of darkness, with orders being placed with Aichi and with Kawanishi.[1]

Aichi's design, with the company designation AB-12, was a single-engined biplane flying boat of all-metal construction. Its two-bay wings folded rearwards to save space on board ship, while its crew of three were accommodated in an enclosed cabin. It was powered by a pusher water-cooled Aichi Type 91 engine, driving a four-blade wooden propeller.[2]

The first prototype flew in December 1934,[1] and when tested proved to have superior stability to the competing Kawanishi E10K,[3] and so was ordered into production.[4]

Operational history

The AB-12 entered service in August 1936 with the Japanese Navy as the Type 96 Night Reconnaissance Seaplane, with the short designation E10A. Fifteen aircraft were built, remaining in service until 1941, being phased out before the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor.[4] Despite this, it was assigned the Allied code name Hank.[5]

Specifications (E10A)

Data from Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941 [4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Length: 11.219 m (36 ft 10 in)
  • Wingspan: 15.5 m (50 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 52.1 m2 (561 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 2,100 kg (4,630 lb)
  • Gross weight: 3,300 kg (7,275 lb)
  • Powerplant: × Aichi Type 91 W-12 water-cooled piston engine, 370 kW (500 hp) to 485 kW (650 hp)
  • Propellers: 4-bladed wooden fixed-pitch pusher propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 206 km/h (128 mph, 111 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 106 km/h (66 mph, 57 kn) at 1,000 m (3,281 ft)
  • Range: 1,852 km (1,151 mi, 1,000 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,120 m (13,520 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 17 minutes 42 seconds
  • Wing loading: 63.2 kg/m2 (12.9 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.113 kW/kg (0.069 hp/lb)

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 76.
  2. Mikesh and Abe 1990, pp. 76–77.
  3. Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 139.
  4. Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 77.
  5. Francillon 1970, p.567.
  • Francillon, R.J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London:Putnam, 1970. ISBN 0-370-00033-1.
  • Mikesh, Robert and Abe, Shorzoe. Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. London:Putnam, 1990. ISBN 0-85177-840-2.
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