E7K "Alf", Japanese Reconnaissance Floatplane (original) (raw)
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The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia | |
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U.S. Navy. ViaFrancillon (1979)
Kawanishi E7K2 "Alf"
| Crew | 2 or 3 in tandem cockpits |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 45'11" by 34'5" by 15'11" 14m by 10.5m by 4.85m |
| Weight | 4600-7300 lbs 2100-3300 kg |
| Speed | 170 mph at 6600 feet 274 km/h at 2000 m |
| Cruising speed | 115 mph at 3300 feet 185 km/h at 1000 m |
| Climb rate | 18 feet per second 5.5 meters per second |
| Ceiling | 23,165 feet 7060 meters |
| Power plant | One 870 hp (649 kW) Mitsubishi Zuisei 11 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine driving a two-blade metal propeller |
| Armament | One forward-firing 7.7mm Type 92 machine gun One flexible rear-firing 7.7mm Type 92 machine gun One flexible downward-firing 7.7mm Type 92 machine gun. |
| External stores | four 30kg (66 lb) or two 60kg (132 lb) bombs |
| Endurance | 11.32 hours |
| Production | A total of 530 E7Ks were built. Kawanishi Kokuki K.K. at Naruo: 183 E7K1 (1934-38) 287 E7K2 (1938-41) Nippon Hikoki K.K. at Tomioka: 57 E7K1 and E7K2 (1937-39) |
| Variants | The E7K1 used a 600hp Hiro Type 91 12-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. |
"Alf" was Kawanishi's response to a 1932 Navy call for a three-seat long-range reconnaissance seaplane to replace the E5K1. The design team, led by Sekiguchi Eiji, produced a prototype in less than a year, which was delivered to the Navy in May 1933. Its performance and handling were found much superior to the competing Aichi AB-6 and production was begun late that year.
The original aircraft (E7K1) used a liquid-cooled engine and wooden propellers. However, in 1936 the Navy became interested in an updated version using a much more powerful radial engine driving a metal propeller. This went into production in November 1938 as the E7K2.
"Alf" was well-liked by its crews for its reliability and ease of handling. The E7K1 was relegated to training by 1941, but the E7K2 was still in first-line service in spite of its obsolescence. It was not fully replaced by the E13A "Jake" until early 1943.
References
Francillon (1979)
Williams and Gustin (2003)
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