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 As they become outdated, however, the E8N was diverted to communication, liaison, and training roles.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