The Yokosuka E5Y, also known as the Yokosuka Navy Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane, was a single-engine seaplane utilized by the Japanese for reconnaissance purposes.
The E5Y was also manufactured by Kawanishi as the E5K, or Kawanishi Navy Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane.
The Yokosuka Type 90-3 (E5Y1) was a second-generation seaplane with a 450 horsepower (340 kW) engine, based on an updated Yokosuka E1Y, developed at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal in Kanagawa Prefecture.
It featured two externally mounted floats. Initially, the Japanese Navy designated it as the Yokosuka Navy Type 14-2 Kai-1 Reconnaissance Seaplane, but production was undertaken by Kawanishi as the Kawanishi Navy Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane.
By 1932, the Aichi AB-6 was under development to replace the E5Y/E5K seaplanes.
The Kawanishi E5K1, or Kawanishi Type G, was a large three-seat reconnaissance floatplane used by the Japanese in the 1930s.
The E5K1, a radial-engined twin-float seaplane, first flew in October 1931.
However, due to development issues, only 20 production aircraft were built.
The type entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in April 1932 as the Kawanishi Navy Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane.
The E5K1 was a production version with a 450 horsepower (340 kW) Bristol Jupiter radial engine, and 20 production aircraft were built.
Two pre-production Type-14-2 Kai-1-Ds, powered by the Bristol Jupiter, were built by Kawanishi under the company name Kawanishi Type G.
Seventeen production aircraft were built as the Kawanishi Navy Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane (E5K1).
On 25 May 1932, the IJN seaplane tender-oiler Notoro was re-equipped with Kawanishi Navy Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplanes, as well as other tenders and battleships of the IJN.
The E5K saw action during the Shanghai Incident from 28 January to 3 March 1932.
The Japanese seaplane tender Kamoi carried a complement of 12 E5Y aircraft.
Variants
Yokosuka Navy Type 14-2 Reconnaissance Seaplane Kai-1
Prototype of the later Type-14-2 and Type 90-3 production aircraft, powered by a 450 hp (340 kW) Bristol Jupiter VIII radial engine.
Yokosuka Navy Type 14-2 Reconnaissance Seaplane Kai-1-C
Initial production aircraft powered by 450 hp (340 kW) Lorraine 12E Courlis W-12 water-cooled engines.
Yokosuka Navy Type 14-2 Reconnaissance Seaplane Kai-1-D
Later prototype aircraft with Jupiter engines in a lengthened nose.
Yokosuka Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane
Designation of production aircraft to have been built by the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal (Yokosho)
Kawanishi Type G
Company designation for two pre-production Navy Type 14-2 Reconnaissance Seaplane Kai-1-Ds.
Kawanishi Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane
Seventeen production aircraft, initially powered by Jupiter engines, with some later models being re-engined with Hiro Type 91 520 hp water-cooled W-12 engines.
Yokosuka E5Y1
Short designation of aircraft built at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, (Yokosho E5Y1)
Kawanishi E5K1
Short designation for the production aircraft built by Kawanishi.
Specifications
Crew
3
Length
10.812 m (35 ft 6 in)
Wingspan
14.46 m (47 ft 5 in)
Height
4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) with wings folded.
Wing area
55 m2 (590 sq ft)
Empty weight
1,850 kg (4,079 lb)
Gross weight
3,000 kg (6,614 lb)
Powerplant
1 × Bristol Jupiter VIII,
9-cyl Air-cooled radial piston engine,
340 kW (450 hp)
Propellers
2-bladed wooden fixed pitch propeller
Performance
Maximum speed
178 km/h (111 mph, 96 kn)
Cruise speed
130 km/h (81 mph, 70 kn)
Endurance
6.5 hours
Service ceiling
4,050 m (13,290 ft)
Time to altitude
3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 33 minutes 20 seconds
Wing loading
54.5 kg/m2 (11.2 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass
0.112 kW/kg (0.068 hp/lb)
Armament
Guns
2 x 7.77 mm (0.306 in) fixed Type 89 machine-guns
&
2 x 7.77 mm (0.306 in) flexible Type 89 machine-guns
Bombs
Max 250 kg (551.156 lb)
2 x 125 kg (275.578 lb)
or
3 x 60 kg (132.277 lb)
or
3 x 30 kg (66.139 lb).
Sources Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941-Robert Mikesh & Shorzoe Abe The Mainichi Newspapers Co Ltd Yushukan War Memorial Museum Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War-Rene Francillon, Japanese Aircraft-John Stroud, Japanese Military Aircraft Illustrated.
