Nakajima E8N "Dave"

     Known to the IJN as the Type 95 Reconnaissance Seaplane and to the Allies as "Dave," the E8N was a two-seat reconnaissance floatplane used from the mid-1930s until the beginning of WWII.  It replaced the aging E4N2 floatplane and introduced better equipment along with a larger engine.  It was used for artillery spotting, dive-bombing, and reconnaissance, and was often operated from naval vessels such as the Sendai-class light cruisers.  As they become outdated, however, the E8N was diverted to communication, liaison, and training roles.  A total of 755 planes were built.

     The E8N has a crew of two: pilot and observer.  Each crew has access to a single 7.7mm LMG.  The plane carries two 66-lb. bombs.  The E8N burns 23.5 gallons of fuel per hour.  A full load of fuel and ammo (excluding bombs) costs $22.

 

Subassemblies: Recon Fighter chassis +2; Recon Fighter wings with Biplane option +2; 1 fixed Skid +0; one Large Weapon Waterproofed pontoon [Body:U] +2; two Small Weapon Waterproofed pontoons [Wings:U] +0.

Powertrain:  470-kW Aerial HP gasoline engine with 470-kW prop; 60-gallon standard fuel tank; 4,000-kW battery.

Occ.:  2 CS Body

Cargo:  0 Body

 

Armor             F         RL           B           T           U

Body:           1/2C     1/2C       1/2C      1/2C      1/2C

Wings:         1/2C     1/2C       1/2C      1/2C      1/2C

Pontoons:      2/2       2/2          2/2         2/2        2/2

 

Weaponry:

2xAircraft LMG/7.7mm LMG [Body:F,B] (500 rounds each).

 

Equipment:

Body:  Navigation instruments, medium range radio transmitter, casemate mount.  Wings: one 66-lb. hardpoint each.

 

Statistics:

Size:  29'x36'x12'     Payload:  0.64 tons       Lwt.:  2.09 tons

Volume:  96            Maint.:  67 hours          Cost:  $8,975

HT:  6.    HPs:  15 Body, 50 each Wing, 6 Skid, 120 central Pontoon, 45 each wing Pontoon.

aSpeed:  186    aAccel:  7     aDecel:  8.5   aMR:  2   aSR:  1

Stall Speed: 53 mph.  Take Off Run: 401 yards.  Catapult Launch: 201 yards.  Landing Run: 331 yards.

wSpeed:  36     wAccel:  7     wDecel:  5 (8.5)   wMR:  0.25    wSR:  1

Draft: 1.2 feet.  Flotation Rating: 7,265 lbs.

 

Design Notes:

     Historical wing area was 285 sf.  Design loaded weight was 3,958 lbs.; this was increased 5% to the historical.  Design aSpeed without loaded hardpoints was 191 mph; this is reduced to 187 mph with loaded hardpoints.  Historical aSpeed is shown; GMs may wish to allow +2 mph to aSpeed per unloaded hardpoint.  MG load-outs and fuel capacity are a guess.  Historical loaded weight and wing area were used for all performance calculations.  Takeoff and landing runs are from the water; catapult takeoff distance was calculated from design gAccel.

 

Variants:

     The E8N1 (1935) featured a 433-kW engine.

 

From the Aerodrome for GURPS

© 2008 by Jim Antonicic