| E8N | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Ship-bornereconnaissanceseaplane |
| Manufacturer | Nakajima Aircraft Company |
| Primary user | IJN Air Service |
| Number built | 755 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | October1935-1940 |
| Introduction date | 1935 |
| First flight | March1934 |
TheNakajima E8N was a Japanese ship-borne,catapult-launched,reconnaissanceseaplane of theSecond Sino-Japanese War. It was a single-engine, two-seatbiplane with a central main-float and underwing outriggers. During thePacific War, it was known to the Allies by thereporting name "Dave". This aircraft was identified by the British as the Nakajima KT-95 Dave.[1]
The E8N was developed as a replacement for the same company'sE4N and was essentially an evolutionary development of the earlierreconnaissance seaplane, with revised wings of lesser area and taller tail surfaces. Sevenprototypes were constructed, under the company designationMS, first flying in March 1934.[2] These were duly engaged in comparative trials against competitors fromAichi andKawanishi, with the E8N being the preferred option due to its superior manoeuvrability and ruggedness.[3]
The MS was ordered into production, designatedNavy Type 95 Reconnaissance Seaplane Model 1 in October 1935.[4] A total of 755 E8Ns were built by Nakajima and Kawanishi, production continuing until 1940.[5] It was subsequently shipped aboard all thecapital ships then in service, 16cruisers and fiveseaplane tenders.[3]
It was used successfully in the Second Sino-Japanese War not only for reconnaissance, but also fordive-bombing andartillery spotting.[5]
One E8N was purchased in early 1941 by the German Naval Attache to Japan, Vice-AdmiralPaul Wenneker, and dispatched on board theKM Münsterland to rendezvous with the German auxiliary cruiserOrion at theMaug Islands in the Marianas.[3] The meeting occurred on 1 February 1941, andOrion thus became the only German naval vessel of the Second World War to employ a Japanese float plane.
TheRoyal Thai Navy placed an order for eighteen E8Ns in 1938.[3] After delivery in 1940, they were reclassified as the BRN-1, but did not see any combat action until 1945, responding to the AlliesOperation Livery.[3] One BRN-1 was totally destroyed and two others were written off. The remaining fifteen served on after the war until lack of spare parts resulted in their decommissioning and scrapping.[3]
Some aircraft remained in service with the fleet at the outbreak of the Pacific War, and one flew reconnaissance from thebattleshipHaruna during theBattle of Midway. In general, though, they were soon replaced by more modern aircraft such as theAichi E13A and theMitsubishi F1M and reassigned to second-line duties, such as a seaplane trainer, communications and liaison work.[5][3]
Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War,[7] www.combinedfleet.com[8]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
