Kawanishi E7K Alf

1933

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Kawanishi E7K Alf

In 1932 the Imperial Japanese Navy sought a replacement for the Navy Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane which had been built as the Kawanishi E5K. Th§ resulting three-seat Kawanishi E7K1 was an equal-span biplane of conventional design, powered by a 462kW HiroType91 engine. First flown on 6 February 1933, the prototype was handed over to the Japanese navy three months later for service trials, being flown in competition against the Aichi AB-6 developed to meet the same requirement. The E7K1 was ordered into production as the Navy Type 94 Reconnaissance Seaplane in May 1934, entering service in early 1935, and quickly proving popular for its ease of handling. However, its Hiro engine was unreliable, and although late production E7K1s had a more powerful version of the Hiro 91, this offered no improvement. During 1938 Kawanishi built an E7K2 prototype which, generally similar to the E7K1, replaced the Hiro engine with a Mitsubishi Zuisei 11 radial. Flown for the first time in August 1938, the E7K2 was ordered into production three months later under the designation Navy Type 94 Reconnaissance Seaplane Model 2, the original version then becoming the Navy Type 94 Reconnaissance Seaplane Model 1. Production of the E7K1 totalled 183 (57 built by Nippon), and of the E7K2 about 350 (some 60 built by Nippon).

As a type the E7Ks saw extensive use from 1935 until the beginning of the Pacific war, when the E7K1s were relegated to second-line duties. The E7K2s, however, continued in first-line service until 1943, and both versions were used in kamikaze operations in the closing stages of the war. When, in the second half of 1942, Allied codenames were allocated to Japanese aircraft, the E7K2 became known as 'Alf'.

Kawanishi E7K Alf

Specification 
 MODELE7K2
 CREW3
 ENGINE1 x Mitsubishi "Tsuisei-11", 650kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight3300 kg7275 lb
  Empty weight2100 kg4630 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan14 m46 ft 11 in
  Length105 m345 ft 6 in
  Height4.85 m16 ft 11 in
  Wing area43.6 m2469.31 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed272 km/h169 mph
  Cruise speed185 km/h115 mph
  Ceiling7060 m23150 ft
  Range2000 km1243 miles
 ARMAMENT3 x 7.7mm machine-guns, 120kg of bombs

3-View 
Kawanishi E7K AlfA three-view drawing (752 x 1088)

Comments
dman, e-mail, 12.05.2022 22:31

The E7K were also carried by large minelayers OKINOSHIM and TSUGARU

These large minelayers were in reality more of a light cruiser armed with 5.5 or 5 inch guns and top speed of 20 kts
Used to support landing operations in South Pacific

reply

L. B. Dorny, e-mail, 25.09.2014 11:18

Many light cruisers, Naka, Nagara, Natori, and probably Abukuma among them, carried a single E7K2 floatplane on their catapult for scouting at least through the end of the East Indies Campaign in March 1942.

reply

luson, 20.06.2011 13:35

in the second half of 1942, Allied codenames were allocated to Japanese aircraft, the E7K2 became known as 'Alf'.

reply

lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 luson

20

reply

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