166:
180:
445:
247:
582:
360:
643:
46:
437:
85:
571:
186:
184:
181:
185:
546:. This requirement was not only for the traditional spotter functions but also for 1. Air cover for local operations away from a fleet, and 2. Repelling of enemy reconnaissance planes. In contrast, a long operational range was the C, E, R and Q class primary requirement with less regard to armament and maneuverability.
183:
554:
won the Navy production contract with excellent climb rate and maneuverability, and went into service in 1941 with a formal Navy type designation "Type Zero
Observation Aircraft". For a plane with floats, F1M2 performance was beyond expectations at the time with 9min36sec to 5000m climb rate, and
593:
The 3 machine gun armament, high rate of climb and maneuverability of F1M2 proved versatile for liaison and search & rescue purposes as well in the deteriorating trends in the war with a good survivability, and the biplane remained onboard cruisers and battleships until the end of the war in
468:
were officially designated observation seaplanes, there were numerous similar reconnaissance seaplanes prefixed with the letter E rather than F. Japan produced observation and reconnaissance seaplanes in larger numbers and greater diversity than any other nation.
519:
formalized B(Shipboard
Attackers), C(Shipboard Reconnaissance), D(Shipboard Bomber), E(Reconnaissance Seaplane), F(Observation Seaplane), H(Flying Boat), N(Fighter Seaplane), R(Land-based Reconnaissance), Q(Maritime Patrol) and M(Special Purpose) classifications
229:
as close as possible to the ship. The ship would tow a net along the water surface from a boom on the lee side, and the plane would taxi over the net so a hook on the underside of the float would engage the net allowing the plane to cut power and minimize
281:. This was the first operational use of naval aircraft and the first time U.S. aviators of any service were the target of ground fire. On 5 November 1915 Mustin pioneered United States Navy catapult operations piloting an AB-2 seaplane launched from the
224:
preparing to recover its aircraft would steam into the wind and signal the aviator which way it would turn across the wind to provide a sheltered landing surface. When the plane was in position the ship would turn so the plane could land on the
330:
manufactured during the second world war exceeded the total production of all previous United States Navy observation seaplanes. In the absence of gunnery engagements with other warships, capital ships' observation seaplanes were used to spot
182:
291:. Interest in aerial observation increased as combat experience during first world war naval engagements demonstrated the inability of shipboard observers to accurately report fall of shot from the engagement range of
594:
1945. Because of the success of F1M2 design, no further design request in this category was issued by the Navy. However, more armament and speed were increasingly required for the E Class in the later stages of war.
549:
Ministry of Navy issued a design request based on the F requirement in 1935, and comparative evaluation was carried out among F1A(Aichi), F1M(Mitsubishi) and F1K(Kawanishi) in flight testing. After a modification,
76:. They were typically single-engine machines with catapult-launch capability and a crew of one, two or three. Most were designed to be carried aboard warships, but they also operated from seashore harbors.
56:
are military aircraft with flotation devices allowing them to land on and take off from water. Their primary purpose was to observe and report enemy movements or to spot the fall of shot from
634:
with maximum speed of 474 kilometres per hour (295 mph) and over 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) range, that was more than capable of observation/reconnaissance roles.
464:
left Japan with fewer capital ships than the United States or the United
Kingdom, the country focused on aviation as a means of balancing naval power. Although only the
393:. The plane was forced down by a broken fuel line after locating a few cruisers, and the clumsy procedure of finding calm water to offload and launch took so long that
197:
After the plane was fueled and the engine warmed up, or the engine oil pre-heated, the pilot and observer would climb into their aircraft and rev the engine at full
521:
96:
battleship guns exceeded the distance from which shipboard personnel could observe shell splashes, observation aircraft were employed to:
39:
165:
17:
626:
were specially designed to be carried and launched by submarines, and this series was further developed into submarine launched
509:
planes to focus on their attack role. In addition to launching from capital ships, these
Japanese seaplanes operated from fast
564:
689:
278:
259:
1391:
1366:
1341:
1316:
1288:
1263:
1218:
1193:
1165:
1140:
351:
remained operational into the late 1940s until helicopters became reliable enough to replace observation seaplanes.
1413:
270:
1063:
1044:
513:
providing aviation support similar to aircraft carriers during fleet activities and amphibious operations.
285:
410:
401:
other planes were unable to meaningfully participate. This experience encouraged development of the
170:
217:
charge to accelerate the plane to 80 mi (130 km) per hour. (0 to 80 in one-half second)
461:
263:
413:
was the first
British aircraft to be catapult launched in 1925. This design was improved as the
864:
516:
327:
292:
191:
647:
88:
A Short 184 like this one was the first observation seaplane to participate in a naval battle.
336:
332:
274:
614:
was tried in 1941 by
Germany) but this category uniquely reached deployment in Japan. The
344:
692:, but compares the observation and reconnaissance seaplanes produced in greatest numbers.
8:
752:
556:
383:
323:
316:
1418:
976:
808:
493:
414:
348:
308:
210:
202:
326:
became the dominant United States Navy catapult seaplane in 1935, until the number of
1387:
1362:
1337:
1312:
1284:
1259:
1214:
1189:
1161:
1136:
1078:
586:
406:
390:
312:
231:
206:
135:
replaced battleships during World War II, observation seaplanes became vulnerable to
111:
444:
103:
observe fall of shot for trajectory correction of large caliber naval artillery, and
30:
This article is about
Catapult-launched military seaplanes. For a larger scope, see
555:
especially its maneuverability in dog-fights where pilots rated it superior to the
506:
364:
246:
214:
132:
677:
560:
510:
453:
428:
was unusual among the shipboard observation seaplanes of the major naval powers.
235:
149:
radio communication support for local activities including amphibious operations.
57:
1115:. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 14, 55, 71, 72 & 114.
892:
659:
551:
465:
379:
1407:
724:
655:
623:
603:
492:
was produced in similar numbers to the
American OS2U Kingfisher. Each of the
481:
255:
205:
readings were satisfactory, the pilot would brace for takeoff and signal the
501:
836:
780:
668:
663:
619:
615:
611:
607:
485:
477:
473:
221:
119:
118:
directing submarines to positions for torpedo kill-shots on disabled enemy
73:
1058:
Owsley, Frank L. Jr.; Newton, Wesley
Phillip (1986). "Eyes in the Skies".
581:
627:
563:, which often surprised the US fighter pilots in the early stages of the
422:
371:
296:
93:
69:
948:
920:
489:
418:
402:
359:
300:
154:
61:
31:
1160:. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 46, 59, 62, 101, 119 & 137.
631:
574:
304:
1243:. Vol. Fifteen. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. p. 114.
642:
425:
226:
198:
35:
335:; but they proved so vulnerable to land-based fighters during the
282:
45:
436:
340:
136:
1135:(in Japanese) (Kojinsha NF Collection ed.). Koujinsha.
421:
through the second world war. Royal Navy preference for the
363:
This
Supermarine Walrus being launched from the catapult of
84:
1085:. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. p. 635.
65:
1113:
A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy (1941-1945)
526:
in the 1920s with different and overlapping requirements.
1241:
History of United States Naval Operations in World War II
683:
570:
234:
of the plane with respect to the ship while the ship's
1100:. New York: Doubleday & Company. pp. 311–315.
1258:. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 119 & 120.
1039:
Stinson, Patrick (1986). "Eyes of the Battle Fleet".
1311:. New York: Crescent Books. pp. 126 & 127.
1283:. New York: Crescent Books. pp. 142 & 143.
1188:. New York: Crescent Books. pp. 126 & 185.
602:
This class of seaplanes was not pioneered in Japan (
505:
reconnaissance role to allow the full complement of
139:-directed fighter aircraft and were reassigned for:
1361:. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 59 & 60.
1213:. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 62 & 63.
303:catapults. Subsequent design improvements were the
160:
666:float planes for launch from the catapults of the
589:with seaplane hangar forward of the conning tower
1405:
378:The first seaplane used in a naval battle was a
143:reconnaissance and photo intelligence gathering,
452:-class 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph)
1021:Complete Overview of Japanese Military Planes
1076:
1057:
534:The F class planes were required to fly and
27:Military seaplanes used as observation posts
1303:
1180:
676:capital ships. A few later operated aboard
650:uses the original dual float configuration.
597:
299:were delivered in 1924 to be launched from
1336:. New York: Mayflower Books. p. 101.
1023:(in Japanese). Kantosha. pp. 147–149.
127:air cover for infantry landing operations.
68:. Their military usefulness extended from
1386:. New York: Mayflower Books. p. 60.
440:Mitsubishi F1M with air combat capability
40:List of seaplanes and amphibious aircraft
1281:Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II
1130:
654:German rearmament in the 1930s included
641:
580:
569:
443:
435:
358:
245:
213:30 ft (9.1 m) catapult used a
178:
164:
83:
44:
1381:
1356:
1331:
1278:
1253:
1238:
1208:
1155:
1038:
499:cruisers carried six seaplanes for the
153:Their shipboard roles were replaced by
14:
1406:
1234:
1232:
1230:
341:conventional fighters spotting gunfire
269:on 24 April 1914 under the command of
110:Wartime experience following the 1916
79:
1095:
1034:
1032:
1030:
684:Comparison of ship-launched seaplanes
114:indicated additional usefulness for:
1133:Struggling in the Overtaxed Airspace
1126:
1124:
1122:
1110:
1018:
646:This Heinkel He 60 flying above the
606:was made in the US in 1922, British
417:serving aboard capital ships of the
279:United States occupation of Veracruz
190:Seaplane recovery and launch aboard
1227:
577:Seiran, submarine launched seaplane
260:Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
169:Curtiss Seagull being recovered by
24:
1304:Wood, Tony; Gunston, Bill (1977).
1181:Wood, Tony; Gunston, Bill (1977).
1027:
538:with a level of defense including
472:The first Japanese design was the
389:in the opening stages of the 1916
25:
1430:
1384:Japanese Aircraft of World War II
1359:Japanese Aircraft of World War II
1334:Japanese Aircraft of World War II
1256:Japanese Aircraft of World War II
1211:Japanese Aircraft of World War II
1158:Japanese Aircraft of World War II
1119:
1098:Japanese Warships of World War II
1012:
354:
315:float planes were built for the
254:Two early aircraft assembled by
250:Vought OS2U Kingfisher monoplane
241:
161:Catapult and recovery procedures
157:following the second world war.
1375:
1350:
1325:
1297:
1272:
1247:
1202:
476:in 1927. Increasing numbers of
124:search and rescue missions, and
1239:Morison, Samuel Eliot (1962).
1174:
1149:
1104:
1089:
1070:
1051:
13:
1:
1064:United States Naval Institute
1045:United States Naval Institute
488:were manufactured before the
337:amphibious invasion of Sicily
106:assess damage to enemy ships.
559:-converted fighter seaplane
7:
209:operator he was ready. The
60:, but some were armed with
10:
1435:
1096:Watts, Anthony J. (1967).
1005:
637:
529:
258:prior to formation of the
238:hoisted the plane aboard.
29:
648:German light cruiser Köln
598:Submarine-based Seaplane
431:
1414:Reconnaissance aircraft
1382:Collier, Basil (1979).
1357:Collier, Basil (1979).
1332:Collier, Basil (1979).
1254:Collier, Basil (1979).
1209:Collier, Basil (1979).
1156:Collier, Basil (1979).
1131:Watanabe, Yoji (2000).
984:Single-float monoplane
872:Single-float monoplane
565:Pacific Theater of WWII
462:Washington Naval Treaty
339:that their pilots flew
328:Vought OS2U Kingfishers
293:dreadnought battleships
18:Reconnaissance seaplane
1279:Gunston, Bill (1989).
1111:Dull, Paul S. (1978).
1062:. Supplement (April).
1043:. Supplement (April).
865:Vought OS2U Kingfisher
651:
590:
578:
517:Imperial Japanese Navy
457:
441:
411:Supermarine Seagull II
375:
251:
194:
176:
89:
50:
956:Twin-float monoplane
928:Twin-float monoplane
900:Single-float biplane
853:2 x 7.92mm, 2 x 20mm
844:Twin-float monoplane
788:Single-float biplane
760:Single-float biplane
688:The following is not
645:
584:
573:
447:
439:
362:
333:naval gunfire support
275:aerial reconnaissance
249:
189:
168:
87:
54:Observation seaplanes
48:
816:Biplane flying boat
456:carried 24 seaplanes
405:to be operated from
345:invasion of Normandy
965:2 x 20mm, 1 x 13mm
753:Curtiss SOC Seagull
732:Twin-float biplane
630:/ torpedo attacker
349:Curtiss SC Seahawks
324:Curtiss SOC Seagull
320:class light cruiser
80:Purpose and history
1079:Nimitz, Chester W.
1019:Imai, Jin (1953).
977:Curtiss SC Seahawk
809:Supermarine Walrus
690:an exhaustive list
652:
610:flew in 1925, and
591:
579:
458:
442:
415:Supermarine Walrus
376:
309:Vought O2U Corsair
252:
211:United States Navy
195:
177:
90:
51:
49:Curtis SOC Seagull
38:. For a list, see
1003:
1002:
587:B1 type submarine
407:aircraft carriers
391:Battle of Jutland
313:Berliner-Joyce OJ
232:relative movement
187:
133:aircraft carriers
112:Battle of Jutland
16:(Redirected from
1426:
1398:
1397:
1379:
1373:
1372:
1354:
1348:
1347:
1329:
1323:
1322:
1301:
1295:
1294:
1276:
1270:
1269:
1251:
1245:
1244:
1236:
1225:
1224:
1206:
1200:
1199:
1178:
1172:
1171:
1153:
1147:
1146:
1128:
1117:
1116:
1108:
1102:
1101:
1093:
1087:
1086:
1074:
1068:
1067:
1055:
1049:
1048:
1036:
1025:
1024:
1016:
695:
694:
678:merchant raiders
673:
511:seaplane tenders
507:aircraft carrier
398:
370:illustrates the
215:smokeless powder
203:instrument panel
188:
92:As the range of
21:
1434:
1433:
1429:
1428:
1427:
1425:
1424:
1423:
1404:
1403:
1402:
1401:
1394:
1380:
1376:
1369:
1355:
1351:
1344:
1330:
1326:
1319:
1302:
1298:
1291:
1277:
1273:
1266:
1252:
1248:
1237:
1228:
1221:
1207:
1203:
1196:
1179:
1175:
1168:
1154:
1150:
1143:
1129:
1120:
1109:
1105:
1094:
1090:
1075:
1071:
1056:
1052:
1037:
1028:
1017:
1013:
1008:
813:United Kingdom
686:
671:
640:
600:
544:maneuverability
532:
466:Mitsubishi F1Ms
454:seaplane tender
434:
396:
357:
322:catapults. The
271:Henry C. Mustin
262:arrived aboard
244:
192:HNLMS De Ruyter
179:
163:
82:
58:naval artillery
43:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1432:
1422:
1421:
1416:
1400:
1399:
1392:
1374:
1367:
1349:
1342:
1324:
1317:
1296:
1289:
1271:
1264:
1246:
1226:
1219:
1201:
1194:
1173:
1166:
1148:
1141:
1118:
1103:
1088:
1077:Potter, E.B.;
1069:
1050:
1026:
1010:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1001:
1000:
997:
994:
991:
988:
985:
982:
981:United States
979:
973:
972:
969:
966:
963:
960:
957:
954:
951:
945:
944:
941:
938:
935:
932:
931:1298 mi.
929:
926:
923:
917:
916:
913:
910:
907:
904:
901:
898:
895:
893:Mitsubishi F1M
889:
888:
885:
882:
879:
876:
873:
870:
869:United States
867:
861:
860:
857:
854:
851:
848:
845:
842:
839:
833:
832:
829:
826:
823:
820:
817:
814:
811:
805:
804:
801:
798:
795:
792:
789:
786:
783:
777:
776:
773:
770:
767:
764:
761:
758:
757:United States
755:
749:
748:
745:
742:
739:
736:
735:1375 mi.
733:
730:
727:
721:
720:
717:
714:
711:
708:
705:
702:
699:
685:
682:
660:Heinkel He 114
639:
636:
599:
596:
552:Mitsubishi F1M
542:and in-combat
531:
528:
482:Kawanishi E7Ks
448:This Japanese
433:
430:
382:launched from
380:Short Type 184
356:
355:United Kingdom
353:
288:North Carolina
243:
240:
162:
159:
151:
150:
147:
144:
129:
128:
125:
122:
108:
107:
104:
101:
100:locate targets
81:
78:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1431:
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1411:
1409:
1395:
1393:0-8317-5137-1
1389:
1385:
1378:
1370:
1368:0-8317-5137-1
1364:
1360:
1353:
1345:
1343:0-8317-5137-1
1339:
1335:
1328:
1320:
1318:0-517-22477-1
1314:
1310:
1307:
1300:
1292:
1290:0-517-67964-7
1286:
1282:
1275:
1267:
1265:0-8317-5137-1
1261:
1257:
1250:
1242:
1235:
1233:
1231:
1222:
1220:0-8317-5137-1
1216:
1212:
1205:
1197:
1195:0-517-22477-1
1191:
1187:
1184:
1177:
1169:
1167:0-8317-5137-1
1163:
1159:
1152:
1144:
1142:4-16-724909-X
1138:
1134:
1127:
1125:
1123:
1114:
1107:
1099:
1092:
1084:
1080:
1073:
1065:
1061:
1054:
1046:
1042:
1035:
1033:
1031:
1022:
1015:
1011:
998:
995:
992:
990:313 mph
989:
987:625 mi.
986:
983:
980:
978:
975:
974:
970:
967:
964:
962:273 mph
961:
959:731 mi.
958:
955:
952:
950:
947:
946:
942:
939:
936:
934:234 mph
933:
930:
927:
924:
922:
919:
918:
914:
911:
908:
906:230 mph
905:
903:460 mi.
902:
899:
896:
894:
891:
890:
886:
883:
880:
878:171 mph
877:
875:908 mi.
874:
871:
868:
866:
863:
862:
858:
855:
852:
850:193 mph
849:
847:670 mi.
846:
843:
840:
838:
835:
834:
830:
827:
824:
822:135 mph
821:
819:600 mi.
818:
815:
812:
810:
807:
806:
802:
799:
796:
794:190 mph
793:
791:558 mi.
790:
787:
784:
782:
779:
778:
774:
771:
768:
766:165 mph
765:
763:675 mi.
762:
759:
756:
754:
751:
750:
746:
743:
740:
738:171 mph
737:
734:
731:
728:
726:
725:Kawanishi E7K
723:
722:
719:Number built
718:
715:
713:Machine Guns
712:
709:
706:
703:
700:
697:
696:
693:
691:
681:
679:
675:
670:
665:
661:
657:
656:Heinkel He 60
649:
644:
635:
633:
629:
625:
624:Yokosuka E14Y
621:
617:
613:
609:
605:
604:Cox-Klemin XS
595:
588:
583:
576:
572:
568:
566:
562:
558:
553:
547:
545:
541:
537:
527:
525:
524:
518:
514:
512:
508:
504:
503:
498:
496:
491:
487:
486:Nakajima E8Ns
483:
479:
478:Nakajima E4Ns
475:
470:
467:
463:
455:
451:
446:
438:
429:
427:
424:
420:
416:
412:
408:
404:
400:
392:
388:
387:
381:
373:
369:
368:
361:
352:
350:
346:
342:
338:
334:
329:
325:
321:
319:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
290:
289:
284:
280:
276:
272:
268:
267:
261:
257:
256:Glenn Curtiss
248:
242:United States
239:
237:
233:
228:
223:
218:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
193:
175:
174:
167:
158:
156:
148:
145:
142:
141:
140:
138:
134:
126:
123:
121:
120:capital ships
117:
116:
115:
113:
105:
102:
99:
98:
97:
95:
86:
77:
75:
71:
67:
63:
59:
55:
47:
41:
37:
33:
19:
1383:
1377:
1358:
1352:
1333:
1327:
1309:
1305:
1299:
1280:
1274:
1255:
1249:
1240:
1210:
1204:
1186:
1182:
1176:
1157:
1151:
1132:
1112:
1106:
1097:
1091:
1082:
1072:
1059:
1053:
1040:
1020:
1014:
837:Arado Ar 196
781:Nakajima E8N
687:
669:Kriegsmarine
667:
664:Arado Ar 196
653:
620:Watanabe E9W
616:Yokosuka E6Y
612:Arado Ar 231
608:Parnall Peto
601:
592:
557:Zero Fighter
548:
543:
539:
535:
533:
523:among others
522:
515:
500:
494:
474:Nakajima E2N
471:
459:
449:
394:
385:
377:
366:
317:
297:Vought VE-7s
287:
265:
253:
222:capital ship
219:
196:
173:Philadelphia
172:
152:
146:liaison, and
130:
109:
91:
74:World War II
53:
52:
1060:Proceedings
1041:Proceedings
628:dive bomber
423:flying boat
372:flying boat
277:during the
273:to conduct
266:Mississippi
155:helicopters
94:dreadnought
70:World War I
62:machineguns
1408:Categories
996:1944-1945
968:1944-1945
949:Aichi E16A
940:1941-1944
937:1 x .303"
921:Aichi E13A
912:1941-1944
909:3 x .303"
884:1940-1944
856:1938-1944
828:1936-1944
825:2 x .303"
800:1935-1940
797:2 x .303"
772:1935-1940
744:1935-1941
741:3 x .303"
710:Max Speed
536:climb fast
502:Kidō Butai
490:Aichi E13A
419:Royal Navy
403:Fairey III
301:battleship
32:Floatplane
1419:Seaplanes
1308:Luftwaffe
1306:Hitler's
1185:Luftwaffe
1183:Hitler's
1083:Sea Power
993:2 x .50"
881:1 x .30"
769:2 x .30"
716:Produced
632:Aichi M6A
585:Japanese
575:Aichi M6A
460:When the
384:HMS
374:fuselage.
365:HMS
305:Vought FU
286:USS
264:USS
201:. If the
171:USS
1081:(1960).
1066:: 17–25.
1047:: 87–89.
841:Germany
540:armament
426:fuselage
395:Engadine
386:Engadine
347:. A few
343:for the
311:. A few
227:lee side
207:catapult
199:throttle
72:through
36:Seaplane
1006:Sources
701:Nation
638:Germany
530:F Class
450:Chiyoda
367:Bermuda
295:. Nine
283:cruiser
1390:
1365:
1340:
1315:
1287:
1262:
1217:
1192:
1164:
1139:
953:Japan
925:Japan
897:Japan
785:Japan
729:Japan
707:Range
561:A6M2-N
484:, and
409:. The
943:1418
887:1519
704:Type
698:Name
672:'
497:class
432:Japan
397:'
318:Omaha
236:crane
137:radar
66:bombs
1388:ISBN
1363:ISBN
1338:ISBN
1313:ISBN
1285:ISBN
1260:ISBN
1215:ISBN
1190:ISBN
1162:ISBN
1137:ISBN
999:577
971:256
915:944
859:541
831:775
803:755
775:322
747:733
662:and
622:and
495:Tone
307:and
34:and
131:As
64:or
1410::
1229:^
1121:^
1029:^
680:.
658:,
618:,
567:.
480:,
220:A
1396:.
1371:.
1346:.
1321:.
1293:.
1268:.
1223:.
1198:.
1170:.
1145:.
674:s
399:s
42:.
20:)
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