E13A
E13A1 in flight
Role	Reconnaissance floatplane Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	Aichi Kokuki KK
First flight	mid-late 1939
Introduction	1941
Retired	1945
Primary users	Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Royal Thai Navy
Number built	1,418

The Aichi E13A (Allied reporting name: "Jake") was 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" (零式水上偵察機).

Operational history

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.^[1]

Eight examples were operated by the French Navy Air Force during the First Indochina War from 1945 until 1947,^[2] 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.^[3]

Variants

E13A1

Prototypes and first production model, later designated Model 11.^[4]

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^[5]
• Constructed by Dai-Juichi Kaigun Kokusho: 48

Operators

 France

• French Navy
  • Aeronavale^[6]
• French Air Force - Captured Japanese aircraft.^{[citation needed]}

 Japan

• Imperial Japanese Navy
  • Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

 Nazi Germany

• Kriegsmarine

 Thailand

• Royal Thai Navy^[7]

 People's Republic of China

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

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.^[8]

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.^[9]

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.^{[10][11][12][13]}

Specifications (E13A1)

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War^[14]

General characteristics

• 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)
• Max 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

Performance

• 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)

Armament

• 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