Aichi E13A Navy Type Zero Reconnaissance Seaplane "Jake"

Aichi E13A, 902 Kokutai, Japanese Naval Air Force.

 

The Aichi E13A (Allied reporting name: "Jake") is a long-range reconnaissance seaplane used by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from 1941 to 1945. Numerically the most important floatplane of the IJN, it could carry a crew of three and a bombload of 250 kg (550 lb). The Navy designation was "Navy Type Zero Reconnaissance Seaplane". 

In China, it operated from seaplane tenders and cruisers. Later, it was used as a scout for the Attack on Pearl Harbor, and was encountered in combat by the United States Navy during the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway. It was in service throughout the conflict, for coastal patrols, strikes against navigation, liaison, officer transports, castaway rescues, and other missions, along with some kamikaze missions in the last days of war. It also served on the super battleships Yamato and Musashi as catapult launched reconnaissance aircraft.

One Aichi E13A was operated by Nazi Germany alongside two Arado Ar 196s out of the base at Penang. The three aircraft formed the East Asia Naval Special Service to assist the German Monsun Gruppe as well as local Japanese naval operations.

Eight examples were operated by the French Navy Air Force during the First Indochina War from 1945 until 1947, while others were believed to be operated by the Naval Air Arm of the Royal Thai Navy before the war. One example (MSN 4326) was surrendered to New Zealand forces after the end of hostilities and was flown briefly by RNZAF personnel, but was not repaired after a float was damaged and subsequently sank at its moorings in Jacquinot Bay. 

Type: Reconnaissance floatplane 

Manufacturer: Aichi Kokuki KK 

Primary users: 

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

Royal Thai Navy

French Naval Aviation

Number built: 1,418 

Introduction date: 1941 

First flight: mid-late 1939 

Retired: 1947 

Specifications (E13A1)

Crew: 3 

Length: 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)   

Wingspan: 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in) 

Height: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) 

Wing area: 36 m2 (390 sq ft) 

Empty weight: 2,642 kg (5,825 lb) 

Gross weight: 3,640 kg (8,025 lb) 

Maximum takeoff weight: 4,000 kg (8,818 lb) 

Powerplant: 

1 × Mitsubishi MK8 Kinsei 43 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine

790 kW (1,060 hp) for take-off

810 kW (1,080 hp) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft) 

Propellers: 3-bladed metal propeller 

Maximum speed: 376 km/h (234 mph, 203 kn) at 2,180 m (7,150 ft) 

Cruise speed: 222 km/h (138 mph, 120 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft) 

Range: 2,089 km (1,298 mi, 1,128 nmi) 

Endurance: 14+ hours 

Service ceiling: 8,730 m (28,640 ft) 

Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 6 minutes 5 seconds 

Wing loading: 101.1 kg/m2 (20.7 lb/sq ft) 

Power/mass: 0.2163 kW/kg (0.1316 hp/lb) 

Guns:  

1× flexible, rearward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 92 machine gun for observer

some aircraft fitted 2× 20mm Type 99-2 cannons in a downwards firing position in the belly 

Bombs: 250 kg (551 lb) of bombs

Operators

France

French Navy

Aeronavale

French Air Force - Captured Japanese aircraft.

Japan

Imperial Japanese Navy

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

Nazi Germany

Kriegsmarine

Thailand

Royal Thai Navy

People's Republic of China

People's Liberation Army Air Force - surplus or derelict Japanese aircraft

Variants

E13A1: Prototypes and first production model, later designated Model 11.

E13A1-K: Trainer version with dual controls

E13A1a: Redesigned floats, improved radio equipment

E13A1a-S: Night-flying conversion

E13A1b: As E13A1a, with Air-Surface radar

E13A1b-S: Night-flying conversion of above

E13A1c: Anti-surface vessel version equipped with two downward-firing belly-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Mark II cannons in addition to bombs or depth charges.

Production

Constructed by Aichi Tokei Denki KK:133

Constructed by Watanabe (Kyushu Hikoki KK):1,237

Constructed by Dai-Juichi Kaigun Kokusho: 48

Surviving Aircraft

The wrecks of a number of sunken aircraft are recorded. The wreckage of one aircraft is located on-land at an abandoned seaplane base at Lenger Island, off Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia.

One E13A was raised from where it sank and is displayed at the Kakamigahara Aerospace Museum, Kakamigahara, Gifu, Japan. However, it is reportedly in poor condition, lacking its engine, tail floats and one wing.

Another Aichi, a model E13A1 (MSN 4116) was raised from the sea in 1992, close to Minamisatsuma (called Kaseda at the time), and is now on display at the Bansei Tokkō Peace Museum.

Bibliography

Dorr, Robert E.; Bishop, Chris (1996), Vietnam Air War Debrief, London, UK: Aerospace Publishing.

Francillon, René J. (1979), Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War (2nd ed.), London, UK: Putnam & Company.

Millot, Bernard (June 1977). "Aichi E13A "Jake": l'hydravion à tout-fair de la marine impériale" [Aichi E13A: The All-purpose Seaplane of the Imperial Navy]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French). No. 91. pp. 24–27.

Pelletier, Alain (August 1995). "Les Avions japonais à Cocardes françaises" [Japanese airplanes in French colors]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French). No. 309. pp. 14–23.

E13A1 in flight.

 An Imperial Japanese Navy Aichi E13A seaplane, most likely from the seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru. Location of photo is unknown but may be at Deboyne Islands in May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Se.

Aichi E13A1.

Circa 1945/46: A Japanese Aichi E13A reconnaissance seaplane (codenamed 'Jake' by the Allies) is loaded aboard a flatbed truck at Seletar airfield by members of 126 Repair and Salvage Unit (RAF).

A Type 0 three-seat reconnaissance seaplane (Aichi E13A) was being launched from the port catapult (Type № 2 Model 5) japanese heavy cruiser Ashigara. Java Sea, May 1943.

According to the tailcode of 58-081 this should be an E13A1 from Kokutai 958, circa 1943. The 958th Kokutai operated in the Rabaul area with forward bases at Rekata Bay and Shortland. 

E13A6.

E13K.

E13K.

E13.

Circa 1943:  Aerial view of an attack on a Japanese seaplane base. Note the planes visible: Probably some four Mitsubishi A6M-2N "Rufe" fighters on the beach, some five Aichi E13A "Jake" reconnaissance planes (one overturned), and two wrecks, one of a 4-engined plane (H6K or H8K). The base was probably located in the Solomons or New Guinea.

E13 Jakes seen on board the IJN Kamikawa Maru, Kiska, June 1942.

E13 Jake crashed on the beach at Palawan. In the background a beached American LST 806.