Warplanes of Japan: Aichi E16A Zuiun

Aichi E16A Zuiun

(IJNAF Photo)

Japanese long-range reconnaissance seaplane Aichi E16A “Paul”.

The Aichi E16A Zuiun (瑞雲 "Auspicious Cloud", Allied reporting name"Paul") was a two-seat reconnaissance seaplane operated by theImperial Japanese Navy during the Second World War. The Aichi E16A originated from a 1939 specification for a replacement for theAichi E13A, which at that time had yet to be accepted by the Imperial JapaneseNavy Air Service (IJNAS).[2] Disagreements about the requirements in the 14-Shispecification prevented most manufacturers from submitting designs, but in 1941a new 16-Shi specification was drafted by the IJNAS around the Aichi AM-22design which had already been made by Aichi engineers Kishiro Matsuo andYasuhiro Ozawa.[2] The first AM-22, which first got the experimentaldesignation Navy Experimental 16-Shi Reconnaissance Seaplane and later theshort designation E16A1, was completed by May 1942 and was a conventional,low-wing monoplane equipped with two floats and had the unusual (for aseaplane) feature of being equipped with dive brakes, located in the front legsof the float struts, to allow it to operate in a secondary role as a divebomber.

Variants

E16A1 Experimental Type 16 reconnaissance seaplane (16試水上偵察機, 16-Shi Suijō Teisatsuki)
Initial named Experimental Type 14 two-seat reconnaissance seaplane (14試2座水上偵察機, 14-Shi 2-Za Suijō Teisatsuki). 3prototypes produced. Mounted 1,300 hp (970 kW) Mitsubishi MK8A Kinsei 51engine, 2 × forward-firing 7.7 mm (.303in) Type 97 machine guns, 1 ×rearward-firing 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun.
E16A1 Zuiun Model 11 (瑞雲11型, Zuiun 11-gata)
General production model. Mounted 1,300 hp (970 kW) Mitsubishi MK8N Kinsei 54engine, 2 × forward-firing 20 mm Type 99-2 cannons, 1 × rearward-firing 13 mmType 2 machine gun.
E16A2 Provisional name Zuiun Model 12 (仮称瑞雲12型, Kashō Zuiun 12-gata)
Initial named Zuiun Model 22. Single prototype with a 1,560 hp (1,160 kW)Mitsubishi MK8P Kinsei 62 radial engine. One plane converted from E16A1,incomplete. (Wikipedia)

(IJNAF Photos)

Japanese long-range reconnaissance seaplane Aichi E16A “Paul”.

(IJNAF Photo)

Prototype Aichi E16A.

(USN Photo)

Aichi E16A Zuiun (Auspicious Cloud), two-seat Naval reconnaissance floatplane operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, Allied reporting name "Paul", shown here in USN markings.   captured on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, March 1945. There do not appear to be TAIC or FE numbers alloctated for this aircraft.

(USN Photo)

Aichi E16A Zuiun (Auspicious Cloud), two-seat Naval reconnaissance floatplane operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, Allied reporting name "Paul", shown here in USN markings.  There do not appear to be TAIC or FE numbers alloctated for this aircraft.

(USN Photos)

Aichi E16A Zuiun (Auspicious Cloud), two-seat Naval reconnaissance floatplane operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, Allied reporting name "Paul", shown here in USN markings.  There do not appear to be TAIC or FE numbers alloctated for this aircraft.

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