Warplanes of Japan: Mitsubishi F1M floatplane

Mitsubishi F1M1 floatplane

(IJNAF Photo)

The Mitsubishi F1M (Allied reporting name"Pete") is a Japanese reconnaissance floatplane of the Second WorldWar. It was the last biplane type of the Imperial Japanese Navy, with 944 builtbetween 1936 and 1944. The Navy designation was "Type Zero Observation Seaplane" (零式水上観測機).

In 1934, the Imperial Japanese Navy issued a specification to Mitsubishi, Aichiand Kawanishi for a replacement for its Nakajima E8N floatplanes, which wereused for short-ranged reconnaissance and observation missions from the Navy'swarships.[1] Mitsubishi's design, the Ka-17, given the short system designationF1M1 by the Japanese Navy, was a small all-metal biplane powered by a singleNakajima Hikari 1 radial engine rated at 610 kilowatts (820 hp), the sameengine as used by Aichi's competing F1A. It had elliptical wings and great carehad been taken to reduce drag, with the number of interplane struts and bracingwires minimised. The first of four F1M1s flew in June 1936.

While the F1M1 had better performance than the Aichi aircraft, it had poorstability both on the water and in the air, so the aircraft was redesigned toresolve these problems. The wings were redesigned, with straight taperedleading and trailing edges and rigged with greater dihedral, and the verticalfin and rudder were enlarged. The aircraft's floats were enlarged to increasebuoyancy, and the Hikari engine was replaced by a 652 kilowatts (875 hp)Mitsubishi Zuisei 14-cylinder radial, giving better forward visibility. Asmodified, the aircraft's handling characteristics were greatly improved, andthe modified aircraft was ordered into production as the Navy Type 0observation seaplane Model 11 (rei-shiki kansokuki ichi-ichi-gata, Reikan in short), with the short designation F1M2. 940 series aircraft were builtin total (342 by Mitsubishi and 598 by Sasebo Arsenal and 21st Arsenal) in addition to 4 prototypes (older publications present higher production figures,i.e., 1,016 or 1,118).

The F1M2 had a maximum speed of 368 km/h (230 mph) and operating range of up to1,072 km (670 mi) without external stores. An F1M airframe had a projectedoperational life of 350 flight hours, after which it needed replacing. Itprovided the Imperial Japanese Navy with a very versatile operations platform.
The F1M was armed with a maximum of three 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine guns (twofixed forward-firing and one flexible rear-firing) with provision for two 60 kg(132 lb) bombs.

The F1M was originally built as a catapult-launched reconnaissance float plane,specializing in gunnery spotting. The "Pete" took on a number oflocal roles including convoy escort, bomber, anti-submarine, maritime patrol,rescue, transport, and anti-shipping strike; for example sinking Motor TorpedoBoat PT-34 on 9 April 1942. The type was also used as an area-defense fighterand engaged in aerial combat in the Aleutians, the Solomons and several othertheaters. In the New Guinea front, it was often used in aerial combat with theAllied bombers and Allied fighters.

In 1945, at the war's end, Indonesians had taken some F1M2s to fight againstthe Dutch during the Indonesian National Revolution. In February 2023, four Mitsubishi F1M went on auction in the United States after being stored for more than 20 years. (Wikipedia)

(IJNAF Photos)

Mitsubishi F1M1 floatplanes in IJNAF service.

‍