Kawanishi K-200
Encyclopedia
The Kawanishi
K-200 was a concept for a turbojet-powered flying boat
proposed in Japan late in World War II
. There is very little data on the K-200 and contemporary illustrations of the K-200 are based on speculation.
Drawing on the company's E11K1
and K-60 designs, the K-200 was to use six turbojets. The suggestion that the K-200 was intended to replace other long-range heavy flying boats in Imperial Japanese Navy
(IJN) service and that the K-200 was also proposed as the delivery platform to carry a Japanese nuclear weapon
to the United States are not supported with evidence.
The IJN may have asked Kawanishi to consider a turbojet powered flying boat or it may have been a company initiative. Support for the latter comes from the IJN's request for the Kawanishi H11K Soku and the K-60, both large flying boats, and thus the suggestion may have been put forth.
For such a large flying boat, the K-200 likely would have been powered by the Ne-330 turbojet. This was the last turbojet design in progress before the war ended and which had the highest thrust rating at 1,300 kg of thrust. However, the Ne-330 consumed 1.95 kg of fuel per kg of thrust and six Ne-330 engines would have resulted in the K-200 needing to devote a large portion of its weight for fuel. A consequence of this would be a rather short operational range, inferior to the main IJN flying boat, the Kawanishi H8K
"Emily", even through the speed would have been faster. This shorter range would have made the K-200 a poor candidate as an aircraft capable of reaching the U.S. to deliver an atomic weapon.
The engines were mounted on top of the wing, three per wing. This position would minimize water ingestion by the engines.
It is likely that the K-200 sported a weapon fit similar to the H8K
. This would have consisted of a Type 99 20mm cannon
in a tail turret and in a turret on the top of the fuselage, forward of the wings. Blisters on the forward port sides of the hull would have carried either the Type 99 or the Type 92 7.7mm machine-gun
. Another cannon was located in the nose. The K-200 may have also been capable of carrying torpedoes, depth charges, or bombs.
As a note, one such illustration of the K-200 looks much like the Russian Beriev R-1
.
The war ended before plans for the K-200 could be completed.
Kawanishi Aircraft Company
was a Japanese aircraft manufacturer during World War II. It was founded as Kawanishi Engineering Works in 1920 in Hyōgo Prefecture as an outgrowth of the Kawanishi conglomerate, which had been funding the Nakajima Aircraft Company. Kawanishi Kokuki KK was founded in 1928, and took over all assets...
K-200 was a concept for a turbojet-powered flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
proposed in Japan late in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. There is very little data on the K-200 and contemporary illustrations of the K-200 are based on speculation.
Drawing on the company's E11K1
Kawanishi E11K
|-See also:-Footnotes:In the Japanese Navy designation system, specifications were given a Shi number based on the year of the Emperor's reign it was issued. In this case 11-Shi stood for 1936, the 11th year of the Shōwa era...
and K-60 designs, the K-200 was to use six turbojets. The suggestion that the K-200 was intended to replace other long-range heavy flying boats in Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
(IJN) service and that the K-200 was also proposed as the delivery platform to carry a Japanese nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
to the United States are not supported with evidence.
The IJN may have asked Kawanishi to consider a turbojet powered flying boat or it may have been a company initiative. Support for the latter comes from the IJN's request for the Kawanishi H11K Soku and the K-60, both large flying boats, and thus the suggestion may have been put forth.
For such a large flying boat, the K-200 likely would have been powered by the Ne-330 turbojet. This was the last turbojet design in progress before the war ended and which had the highest thrust rating at 1,300 kg of thrust. However, the Ne-330 consumed 1.95 kg of fuel per kg of thrust and six Ne-330 engines would have resulted in the K-200 needing to devote a large portion of its weight for fuel. A consequence of this would be a rather short operational range, inferior to the main IJN flying boat, the Kawanishi H8K
Kawanishi H8K
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bridgeman, Leonard. "The Kawanishi H8K2 “Emily”" Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0....
"Emily", even through the speed would have been faster. This shorter range would have made the K-200 a poor candidate as an aircraft capable of reaching the U.S. to deliver an atomic weapon.
The engines were mounted on top of the wing, three per wing. This position would minimize water ingestion by the engines.
It is likely that the K-200 sported a weapon fit similar to the H8K
Kawanishi H8K
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bridgeman, Leonard. "The Kawanishi H8K2 “Emily”" Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0....
. This would have consisted of a Type 99 20mm cannon
Type 99 cannon
The Type 99-1 cannon and Type 99-2 cannon were Japanese versions of the Oerlikon FF and Oerlikon FFL. They were adopted by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1939 and served as their standard aircraft autocannon during World War II.-Adoption:...
in a tail turret and in a turret on the top of the fuselage, forward of the wings. Blisters on the forward port sides of the hull would have carried either the Type 99 or the Type 92 7.7mm machine-gun
Type 92 machine gun
The was developed for aerial use for the Imperial Japanese Navy before World War II. It was the standard hand-held machine gun in multi-place IJN aircraft during the most part of the Pacific War. It proved to be seriously inadequate...
. Another cannon was located in the nose. The K-200 may have also been capable of carrying torpedoes, depth charges, or bombs.
As a note, one such illustration of the K-200 looks much like the Russian Beriev R-1
Beriev R-1
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Yefim Gordon, Andrey Sal'nikov and Aleksandr Zablotskiy Beriev's Jet Flying Boats. Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-236-5...
.
The war ended before plans for the K-200 could be completed.