Kawanishi E15K

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The Kawanishi E15K Shiun (紫雲, "Violet Cloud") was a single-engined Japanese reconnaissance floatplane of World War II. The Allied reporting name for the type was "Norm" after Squadron Leader Norman O. Clappison of the RAAF, a member of the Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit (ATAIU).

[edit] Design and development

It was designed with a single central float, that could be jettisoned to increase speed when leaving the combat zone.

[edit] Operational history

Only fifteen were built as the float often failed to separate, and 6 out the 15 were destroyed by US fighters.

[edit] Variants

• E15K1 : Single-engined reconnaissance floatplane. Production version.

[edit] Operators

 Japan

• Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

[edit] Specifications (E15K)

This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.

Data from Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: Three
• Length: 11.59 m (38 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 13.99 m (45 ft 11 in)
• Height: ()
• Loaded weight: 4,893 kg (10,787 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Mitsubishi Kasei 24 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine with two two-blade contra-rotating propellers, 1,089 kW (1,460 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 468 km/h (253 knots, 291 mph) at 5,700 m (18,700 ft)
• Service ceiling 9,836 m (32,270 ft)

Armament

• 1 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine gun in rear cockpit

[edit] See also

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Japan
• List of seaplanes and flying boats
  

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Imperial Japanese Navy Page
• Virtual Aircraft Museum