Kyūshū K11W
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| Kyūshū K11W | |
|---|---|
 Kyūshū K11W in postwar markings. |
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| Type | Bomber crew trainer (K11W1) |
| Manufacturer | Kyūshū Aircraft Company |
| Maiden flight | 1942 |
| Introduced | 1943 |
| Primary user | Japan |
| Produced | 1942 - 1945 |
| Number built | 798 |
The Kyūshū K11W Shiragiku (白菊, "White Chrysanthemum") made by the Kyūshū Aircraft Company, was a land-based bombing trainer aircraft which served in the Imperial Japanese Navy in the latter years of World War II. As indicated by its Japanese designation, "training aircraft for on-board work" (機上作業練習機), it was designed to train crews in operating equipment for bombing, navigation, and communication, as well as navigation techniques. A total of 798 K11Ws were manufactured, including a small number of K11W2 ASW and transport aircraft alongside the K11W1 trainer variant. These aircraft were also used in kamikaze mission during the last stages of the Pacific War.
The aircraft had a rather simple mid-wing layout. The crew consisted of a pilot and gunner/radio operator sitting in line under the canopy and the trainee bombardier, trainee navigator, and instructor in the lower fuselage beneath the wing.
The K11W served as the basis for the Q3W1 Nankai (南海, "South Sea") anti-submarine patrol aircraft, which did not progress beyond the development phase. It was enlarged, and like the K11W, had retracting landing gear.
[edit] Variants
- K11W1 : The basic bomber crew trainer, of all-metal construction with fabric-covered control surfaces.
- K11W2 : Anti-submarine warfare and transport version of all-wood construction.
- Q3W1 Nankai : Project only.
[edit] Specifications (K11W1)
General characteristics
- Crew: five
- Length: 10.24m ()
- Wingspan: 14.98m ()
- Height: 3.93m ()
- Wing area: 30.50m² ()
- Empty weight: 1,677 kg ()
- Max takeoff weight: 2,800 kg ()
- Powerplant: 1× Hitachi GK2B Amakaze 21 9-cylinder radial, 384 kW (515 hp)
- with fixed-pitch 2-blade wooden propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 230 km/h
- Cruise speed: 175 km/h
- Range: 1,760km ()
- Service ceiling 5,620m ()
Armament
- 1 × 7.7mm rear-firing machine gun
- 2 × 30kg bombs on training role, or 1 × 250 kg bomb on kamikaze missions
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.[edit] References and external links
- Mondey, David. The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. ISBN 1 85152 966 7
- http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijna/k11w.htm
- http://military.sakura.ne.jp/ac/k11w.htm (Japanese)
- Kochi Naval Air Group Monument - air base where Shiragiku trainer aircraft formed kamikaze squadrons in 1945
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