Nakajima E4N
{{Short description|Japanese reconnaissance aircraft}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name= E4N
|image= File:Nakajima E4N2.jpg
|caption= E4N2
|type=Reconnaissance aircraft
|manufacturer= Nakajima Aircraft Company
|designer=
|first_flight= 1930
|introduction= 1931
|retired=
|status= Retired
|primary_user=Imperial Japanese Navy
|more_users= Japanese Post Office
|produced= 1931-1933
|number_built= 153
|unit cost=
|variants=
}}
The Nakajima E4N was a Japanese shipboard reconnaissance aircraft of the 1930s. It was a two-seat, single-engine, equal-span biplane seaplane used primarily by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Development
The first prototype of the Type 90-2 Reconnaissance Seaplane, or E4N1, inspired by the Vought O2U Corsair, flew in 1930. This was fitted with twin floats and had no cowling for the engine. This prototype was rejected as not being very maneuverable. The plane was redesigned as the Type 90-2-2 or E4N2, with a single main-float and twin, wing-mounted outriggers, powered by a cowled Nakajima Kotobuki 2-kai-I nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine. This entered production for the Navy in 1931. In December 1941 a more durable version was produced, the Type 90-2-2 (E4N2), and a wheeled version was introduced as the Type 90-2-3 (E4N3). A carrier version with wheels and arrestor gear, the E4N2-C, was trialed by 5 aircraft but ultimately not accepted for use. Between 1931 and 1936 Nakajima produced 80 E4Ns aircraft and Kawanishi produced 67 between 1932 and 1934. Nine aircraft were converted to night mail use in 1933, with one cockpit enclosed to hold mail and deliver it between the main islands of Japan. E4N2s took part in the January 28 incident between China and Japan. The aircraft was gradually replaced by the Nakajima E8N.http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_nakajima_E4N.html
Variants
;E4N1
(Navy Type 90-2-1 Reconnaissance Seaplane) twin-float seaplane, Nakajima NZ - two prototypes only.Mikesh, Robert C. and Abe, Shorzoe. Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1990. {{ISBN|0-85177-840-2}}
; E4N2
:(Navy Type 90-2-2 Reconnaissance Seaplane) - Nakajima NJ single-float seaplane. 85 built.
; E4N2-C
:(Navy Type 90-2-3 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft) - Nakajima NJ landplane fitted with arresting gear and fixed-undercarriage. 67 built.
;E4N3
:(Navy Type 90-2-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane) Nakajima NJ.
;Nakajima P-1
{{Main|Nakajima P-1}}
:Single-seat mailplane. 9 converted from E4N2-C airframes.
;Nakajima Giyu-11
:One of the two E4N1 seaplanes converted with a cabin for use by Tokyo Koku Yuso Kaisha between Haneda airport, Shimizu and Shimoda.
Specifications (Type 90-2-2)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941
|prime units?=met
|crew=2
|length m=8.87
|length note=
|span m=10.98
|span note=
|height m=3.97
|height note=
|wing area sqm=29.7
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=1252
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=1800
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=
|eng1 name=Nakajima Kotobuki 2
|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 kw=433
|eng1 hp=
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia note=
|max speed kmh=232
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=148
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=1019
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=5740
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=60.7
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.24|kW/kg}}
|more performance=
|guns= 1 × fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm machine gun and 1 × flexible 7.7 mm machine gun in rear cockpit
|bombs= 2 × 30 kg (66 lb) bombs
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
- Francillon, Réne J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970 (2nd edition 1979). {{ISBN|0-370-30251-6}}
- Mikesh, Robert C. and Abe, Shorzoe. Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1990. {{ISBN|0-85177-840-2}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Nakajima E4N}}
{{Nakajima aircraft}}
{{Japanese Navy short aircraft designations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nakajima E4n}}