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Article Type: Military History
Article Date: June 22, 2001
It was natural to any strategy that the sea-bordered Italy would use floatplanes. The famous Fiat I.C.R.42 was a pontooned version of the Falco biplane but Italian thinking was that the performance was degraded with the float drag to the point where enemy land-based fighters would make it too vulnerable. The top speed was on par with the wheeled C.R.42 at 262 mph at 13,120 feet. For maneuverable craft to have its one big strength negated it was a stillborn line with only one prototype being completed.
Larger twin-engine recon-bombers were more in the order of need in 1941 when the Fiat R.S.14 began equipping squadrons on the Aegean Islands and on Sardinia. Of the 150 built only twelve were serviceable by the time of Italy's change of allegiance in October of 1943. The R.S.14 mounted two 870 hp Fiat A 74 R.C.38 14-cylinder radials that allowed a maximum speed of 242 mph at 13,120 feet though cruising speed was about 205 mph. It took fifteen minutes to climb to 16,400 feet that was the plane's service ceiling. The wingspan was 64' and loaded the plane weighed in at 17,637 lbs. Defensive armament consisted of a 12.7mm Scotti MG with 650 rounds in a dorsal turret and two 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT MGs on flexible lateral mounts each with 500 rounds. Offensive weapons were carried in a unique detachable weapons tray flush to the belly. Two 353 lb. depth charges, four 220 lb. bombs or six 88-110 lb bombs could be delivered. It had a crew of five and a range of 1,553 miles.
Preceding the R.S.14 in 1937 was a tri-motored five-seater, the C.R.D.A.CANT Z.506B Airone. The 86' wingspan carried three Alfa Romeo 126R.C.34 9-cylinder radials of 750 hp each giving power for 217 mph at 13,120. It could climb to that altitude in 20 minutes and on to its ceiling of 19,685 ft. in 24 minutes. With a load of 2.095 lbs. the 28,008 lb. Airone could fly 1,243 miles. At shorter ranges 2,645 lbs. of offensive bomb ordnance could be lifted or one 1,764 lb. torpedo. The dorsal turret housed the Scotti 12.7mm MG with 350 rounds while three 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT MGs with 5000 rounds each were used in ventral positions. In 1940-41 the Airone saw action bombing French and Greek targets and was used against the British Fleet in the Mediterranean. Twenty-eight of the original ninety-five continued after the Armistice and were used for transport and rescue. It was the only three-engine plane to see service except for the Ju 52/3m.
Besides the three BV Ha 139 transports in Germany, the only four-engine floatplane to live during the war was the C.R.D.A.CANT Z.511 of which two examples were built. This would have been an advanced and formidable transport aircraft with four 1,500 hp Piaggio P.XII R.C.35 18-cylinder radials able to propel the 73,987 lb. plane at 261 mph at 13.125 ft. It cruised at 205 mph and could climb to 13,125 ft. in 16 minutes and reach a ceiling of 22,965 feet. With a long range of 2,485 miles it could cruise for twelve hours. The 131' wing-spanned bomber had five 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT MGs.
The clean-looking Heinkel He 115 was used with good results in the early Norwegian campaign of 1940. The three-man twin-engine twin-float recon-bomber had a 73' wingspan and weighed in at 20,020 lbs. loaded. Two 970 hp BMW 132K 9-clyinders gave the He 115 a top speed of 203 mph at 11,150 ft. and 186 mph at sea level. It could climb to 5,000 ft in 6.4 minutes and had a stunning range of 2,080 miles with maximum fuel in the recon role. As a bomber with a 1,300-mile range it was able to tote 2,200 lbs of bombs, mines or a 1,760 lb torpedo. General armament was one 7.9mm MG 15 firing forward and another flexible one aft. A few had a 20mm MG 151 in the lower nose. A total of 217 of all models were built.
A successful twin-float transition was accomplished in the Ju 52/3m tri-plane. Some 450 were produced starting in 1934 and served handily during the Spanish Civil War and WWII from the fjords of Norway to North Africa. The three standard engines remained—830 hp BMW 1327 9-cylinder radials. Performance was eroded to only 163 mph at sea level with the weight and drag of the floats and climb taking a laborious 19 minutes to gain a 9,840-foot altitude. Its 930-mile range was ample and a ceiling of 16,580 feet achieved. As on many of the standard Ju 52s, a flexible dorsal 13mm MG 131 was mounted with two 7.9 mm MG 15s in lateral fuselage openings.
Most Spitfire floatplanes were based on the Mk. VB that managed 324 mph (2nd fastest) at 19,500 ft. from the Merlin 45 1,479 hp engine. It could climb at 2,240 fpm and had a range of 336 miles. Armament was the same as the Spit IX.
Even the redoubtable Fairley Swordfish biplane had a float version able to carry a torpedo or bombs. One of this type is credited with the sinking of U-64 in the 1940 2nd Battle of Narvik while based upon the H.M.S. Warspite.
Lackluster performance for the OS2U-3 was provided from a 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-8. The top speed of 172 mph was attained at 5,500 ft. and the plane struggled to 5,000 ft. in 7.4 minutes with a ceiling of 15,500 ft. Useful was the range at 1,480, with maximum fuel, allowing it to search for downed airmen or scout for subs. A single .30 caliber was mounted forward and a flexible .30 was employed in the rear. It was used in the Aleutians as a dive-bomber with its capability to haul 325 lbs of ordnance. An OS2U-3 rescued WWI ace Eddie Rickenbacker who was a passenger in a downed B-17. The Kingfisher taxied over forty miles of rough seas to safety with the survivors on her wings. 1,150 were produced.
An F4F Wildcat had floats attached for evaluation but with speed reduced to 266 mph. Soon thereafter the real need for a floatplane fighter was soon nonexistent and the concept was shelved.
One of the rugged C-47s was outfitted with a pair of floats bringing maximum speed down from 229 mph to 192 mph. Payload was reduced accordingly and the project terminated due to additional serviceability problems encountered.
While most floatplanes began as land-based designs with floats added, in Japan the reverse transition produced one of the best fighters of WWI in the Shiden (George). Kawanishi produced the N1K1 Kyofu (Rex) as a projected replacement for the 270 mph Nakajima A6M2 (Rufe) that was based on the venerable Zero. Both were single-float design. As the war progressed the need for the Kyofu (Mighty Wind in Japanese) was lessened and only ninety-seven machines were built to the Rufe's 327.
Kyofu's 1,460 hp. Mitsubishi Kasei 13 14-cylinder radial made the plane fast with 302 mph seen at 13,120 feet and a rapid climb to 16,400 ft. in 5.5 minutes. Maximum fuel allowed for a range of 1,036 miles. The 39' wing-spanned fighter had a ceiling of 36,645 ft. and weaponry consisted of two 20mm Type 99s and two 7.7mm Type 97 MGs.
The dubious distinction of dropping bombs on the United States goes to the Submarine launched Yokosuka E14Y1 (Glen) which lobbed two small bombs harmlessly into an Oregon forest in 1942. Several Glens reconned the Northwestern U.S. on various occasions with no consequence. 126 were built to serve aboard submarines knocked-down and stowed in a cylindrical hanger. I-15 to I-35 and I-9 to I-11 carried them. I-8 took one to Germany in 1943.
The two-seater had a wingspan of only 32' and with a humble 340 hp Tempu 12 9-cylinder radial good for only 153 mph at sea level. It took ten minutes to climb to 9,840 ft. and ceiling was 17,780 ft. The E14Y1 was light at 3,197 lbs. and the 548-mile range equaled about 5.5 hours of flight time. A lone 7.7mm MG fired forward and two 110 lb bombs could be attached.
The French had a potentially good design in the five-seat Bloch MB-480 twin-engine floatplane. A wing spanning 77' lifted the 22,050 lb. plane with the assistance of two 1,060 hp Gnome-Rhone 14N 2/3 14 cylinder radials. It could manage 205 mph at 4,920 feet and go 1,240 miles. It could deliver 2,712 lbs of bombs or two 1,477 lb torpedoes. Two 7.5mm Darne MGs and a 20mm Hispano cannon were its defense weapons. Only two were built.
One of the overall best in practicality was the Canadian Fairchild (Bristol) Bolingbroke III. It was based on the Blenheim twin-engine bomber and land-based versions were built for the RCAF throughout the war. The result was a very sleek and mean, ready-for-business looking aircraft squatting on its floats. The wing spanned 56' and supported two 995 hp Bristol Mercury XV 9-cylinder radials allowing for a top speed of 241 mph at 12,000 ft. Climb rate was 1,140 fpm and it had a ceiling of 23,800 feet. Weight was 14,800 lbs. loaded. Range was on the order of 1,400 miles and overall the floatplane had just a bit less performance, though equal level speed, than the Bolingbroke IV land plane. The floatplane could carry the same 1,000 lb. bomb load and had forward armament of one Browning .303 with a dorsal power turret mounting another. Skis or wheel could be alternatively attached for specified roles.
The landplane saw service in Alaska and the Aleutians but the floatplane was very limited in use in Canadian patrol sorties. At least eighteen were built of the initial 1938 contract for ninety-seven.
Canada enjoyed the ten-seat transport utility of the rugged Norseman V with it twin-floats. It had a top speed of 148 mph and could cruise a useful 550 miles with power from its 600 hp P & W R-1340-AN1 9-cylinder radial. Many bush pilots used them after the war.
Floatplanes, though usually slow and somewhat fragile, were put to good use by all combatants in early WWII. Only a few survived operational use throughout the war which had produced rapid advances in strategy and technology that precluded emphasis on floatplanes.
The websites are few and the info is scant:
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Floatplanes
by Jim "Twitch" TittleArticle Type: Military History
Article Date: June 22, 2001
Simply Defensive
It was a great idea owing that any ship could have its own air protection with a simple catapult and a crane for retrieval. Floatplanes were scouts for a convoy or fleet of warships searching for enemy subs or surface ships much farther than shipboard electronic surveillance could at the time. They could land and rescue downed airmen or sailors. Many could carry torpedoes and light bombs. While many were odd looking and slow several were potent weapons in air combat.Those Slick Italians
Italy had been dedicated to floatplane technology in the 1920s-30's with their efforts in the Schneider Trophy races. Between 1913-1931, when the race was held, the Italians won three of the eleven times it was run and placed high in several other contests. While their sleek race designs like the Macchi M-39 never made it to WWII floatplane configuration like the Supermarines of England did, they led the way with multi-engine floatplanes in concept at least. As with many Italian aeronautical designs, the limited involvement in the war forced the abandonment of many potentially good planes.It was natural to any strategy that the sea-bordered Italy would use floatplanes. The famous Fiat I.C.R.42 was a pontooned version of the Falco biplane but Italian thinking was that the performance was degraded with the float drag to the point where enemy land-based fighters would make it too vulnerable. The top speed was on par with the wheeled C.R.42 at 262 mph at 13,120 feet. For maneuverable craft to have its one big strength negated it was a stillborn line with only one prototype being completed.
Larger twin-engine recon-bombers were more in the order of need in 1941 when the Fiat R.S.14 began equipping squadrons on the Aegean Islands and on Sardinia. Of the 150 built only twelve were serviceable by the time of Italy's change of allegiance in October of 1943. The R.S.14 mounted two 870 hp Fiat A 74 R.C.38 14-cylinder radials that allowed a maximum speed of 242 mph at 13,120 feet though cruising speed was about 205 mph. It took fifteen minutes to climb to 16,400 feet that was the plane's service ceiling. The wingspan was 64' and loaded the plane weighed in at 17,637 lbs. Defensive armament consisted of a 12.7mm Scotti MG with 650 rounds in a dorsal turret and two 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT MGs on flexible lateral mounts each with 500 rounds. Offensive weapons were carried in a unique detachable weapons tray flush to the belly. Two 353 lb. depth charges, four 220 lb. bombs or six 88-110 lb bombs could be delivered. It had a crew of five and a range of 1,553 miles.
Preceding the R.S.14 in 1937 was a tri-motored five-seater, the C.R.D.A.CANT Z.506B Airone. The 86' wingspan carried three Alfa Romeo 126R.C.34 9-cylinder radials of 750 hp each giving power for 217 mph at 13,120. It could climb to that altitude in 20 minutes and on to its ceiling of 19,685 ft. in 24 minutes. With a load of 2.095 lbs. the 28,008 lb. Airone could fly 1,243 miles. At shorter ranges 2,645 lbs. of offensive bomb ordnance could be lifted or one 1,764 lb. torpedo. The dorsal turret housed the Scotti 12.7mm MG with 350 rounds while three 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT MGs with 5000 rounds each were used in ventral positions. In 1940-41 the Airone saw action bombing French and Greek targets and was used against the British Fleet in the Mediterranean. Twenty-eight of the original ninety-five continued after the Armistice and were used for transport and rescue. It was the only three-engine plane to see service except for the Ju 52/3m.
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| Z.511 4-Engine Floatplane |
Besides the three BV Ha 139 transports in Germany, the only four-engine floatplane to live during the war was the C.R.D.A.CANT Z.511 of which two examples were built. This would have been an advanced and formidable transport aircraft with four 1,500 hp Piaggio P.XII R.C.35 18-cylinder radials able to propel the 73,987 lb. plane at 261 mph at 13.125 ft. It cruised at 205 mph and could climb to 13,125 ft. in 16 minutes and reach a ceiling of 22,965 feet. With a long range of 2,485 miles it could cruise for twelve hours. The 131' wing-spanned bomber had five 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT MGs.
Sucessful German Designs
One of the most famous floats was the widely used Arado Ar 196. As of 1939 the two-seat type with its 40' wingspan was seen on the Bismark, Graf Spee and all German battleships. Though the 970 hp BMW 132K 9-cylinder radial only provided a speed of 193 mph at 13,120 feet, the armament of two 20mm MG FFs and a 7.9mm MG-17 firing forward with an MG-17 in the rear was quite adequate. Climb rate was a modest 985 fpm with a range of 670 miles and a ceiling of 23,000 ft. The Ar 196 could carry 220 lbs. of bombs. Though only 493 machines were built it was seen in every locale used in reconnoiter, anti-submarine, coastal patrol and light vessel attack roles.  |
| Arado AR 196 |
The clean-looking Heinkel He 115 was used with good results in the early Norwegian campaign of 1940. The three-man twin-engine twin-float recon-bomber had a 73' wingspan and weighed in at 20,020 lbs. loaded. Two 970 hp BMW 132K 9-clyinders gave the He 115 a top speed of 203 mph at 11,150 ft. and 186 mph at sea level. It could climb to 5,000 ft in 6.4 minutes and had a stunning range of 2,080 miles with maximum fuel in the recon role. As a bomber with a 1,300-mile range it was able to tote 2,200 lbs of bombs, mines or a 1,760 lb torpedo. General armament was one 7.9mm MG 15 firing forward and another flexible one aft. A few had a 20mm MG 151 in the lower nose. A total of 217 of all models were built.
A successful twin-float transition was accomplished in the Ju 52/3m tri-plane. Some 450 were produced starting in 1934 and served handily during the Spanish Civil War and WWII from the fjords of Norway to North Africa. The three standard engines remained—830 hp BMW 1327 9-cylinder radials. Performance was eroded to only 163 mph at sea level with the weight and drag of the floats and climb taking a laborious 19 minutes to gain a 9,840-foot altitude. Its 930-mile range was ample and a ceiling of 16,580 feet achieved. As on many of the standard Ju 52s, a flexible dorsal 13mm MG 131 was mounted with two 7.9 mm MG 15s in lateral fuselage openings.
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| Ju-52 seaplane from 'IL-2 Sturmovik' |
Quick Brits
In Great Britain Supermarine used it Schneider Trophy experience in development of the famous Spitfire line of fighters. With the Mk. IX floatplane came the distinction of the fastest wartime floatplane mantle. The IX could hit 377 mph at 19.700 ft. and still manage a climb rate of 3,800 fpm provided by its Merlin 66 V-12 liquid cooled engine of 1,720 hp. Range was 770 miles with a 50-gallon drop tank and the ceiling was 36,000 ft. The standard armament was retained as two 20mm Hispanos with 120 rpg and four Browning .303s with 350 rpg.  |
| Supermarine S.6 |
Most Spitfire floatplanes were based on the Mk. VB that managed 324 mph (2nd fastest) at 19,500 ft. from the Merlin 45 1,479 hp engine. It could climb at 2,240 fpm and had a range of 336 miles. Armament was the same as the Spit IX.
Even the redoubtable Fairley Swordfish biplane had a float version able to carry a torpedo or bombs. One of this type is credited with the sinking of U-64 in the 1940 2nd Battle of Narvik while based upon the H.M.S. Warspite.
American Entries
What the Ar 196 was to Germany, the two-seat Vought OS2U Kingfisher was to the U.S. The design differed from all the aforementioned floatplanes in that it mounted one float instead or two with an outrigger under each wingtip.  |
| Vought OS2U Kingfisher |
Lackluster performance for the OS2U-3 was provided from a 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-8. The top speed of 172 mph was attained at 5,500 ft. and the plane struggled to 5,000 ft. in 7.4 minutes with a ceiling of 15,500 ft. Useful was the range at 1,480, with maximum fuel, allowing it to search for downed airmen or scout for subs. A single .30 caliber was mounted forward and a flexible .30 was employed in the rear. It was used in the Aleutians as a dive-bomber with its capability to haul 325 lbs of ordnance. An OS2U-3 rescued WWI ace Eddie Rickenbacker who was a passenger in a downed B-17. The Kingfisher taxied over forty miles of rough seas to safety with the survivors on her wings. 1,150 were produced.
An F4F Wildcat had floats attached for evaluation but with speed reduced to 266 mph. Soon thereafter the real need for a floatplane fighter was soon nonexistent and the concept was shelved.
One of the rugged C-47s was outfitted with a pair of floats bringing maximum speed down from 229 mph to 192 mph. Payload was reduced accordingly and the project terminated due to additional serviceability problems encountered.
Japan's Famed Floatplanes
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| George's Father - The Kyofu |
While most floatplanes began as land-based designs with floats added, in Japan the reverse transition produced one of the best fighters of WWI in the Shiden (George). Kawanishi produced the N1K1 Kyofu (Rex) as a projected replacement for the 270 mph Nakajima A6M2 (Rufe) that was based on the venerable Zero. Both were single-float design. As the war progressed the need for the Kyofu (Mighty Wind in Japanese) was lessened and only ninety-seven machines were built to the Rufe's 327.
Kyofu's 1,460 hp. Mitsubishi Kasei 13 14-cylinder radial made the plane fast with 302 mph seen at 13,120 feet and a rapid climb to 16,400 ft. in 5.5 minutes. Maximum fuel allowed for a range of 1,036 miles. The 39' wing-spanned fighter had a ceiling of 36,645 ft. and weaponry consisted of two 20mm Type 99s and two 7.7mm Type 97 MGs.
 |
| Yokosuka E14Y1 (Glen) Bombed Oregon |
The dubious distinction of dropping bombs on the United States goes to the Submarine launched Yokosuka E14Y1 (Glen) which lobbed two small bombs harmlessly into an Oregon forest in 1942. Several Glens reconned the Northwestern U.S. on various occasions with no consequence. 126 were built to serve aboard submarines knocked-down and stowed in a cylindrical hanger. I-15 to I-35 and I-9 to I-11 carried them. I-8 took one to Germany in 1943.
The two-seater had a wingspan of only 32' and with a humble 340 hp Tempu 12 9-cylinder radial good for only 153 mph at sea level. It took ten minutes to climb to 9,840 ft. and ceiling was 17,780 ft. The E14Y1 was light at 3,197 lbs. and the 548-mile range equaled about 5.5 hours of flight time. A lone 7.7mm MG fired forward and two 110 lb bombs could be attached.
A Good French Float
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| Bloch MB-480 |
The French had a potentially good design in the five-seat Bloch MB-480 twin-engine floatplane. A wing spanning 77' lifted the 22,050 lb. plane with the assistance of two 1,060 hp Gnome-Rhone 14N 2/3 14 cylinder radials. It could manage 205 mph at 4,920 feet and go 1,240 miles. It could deliver 2,712 lbs of bombs or two 1,477 lb torpedoes. Two 7.5mm Darne MGs and a 20mm Hispano cannon were its defense weapons. Only two were built.
Canada Had Floats
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| A Wicked Profile - Fairchild (Bristol) Bolingbroke III |
One of the overall best in practicality was the Canadian Fairchild (Bristol) Bolingbroke III. It was based on the Blenheim twin-engine bomber and land-based versions were built for the RCAF throughout the war. The result was a very sleek and mean, ready-for-business looking aircraft squatting on its floats. The wing spanned 56' and supported two 995 hp Bristol Mercury XV 9-cylinder radials allowing for a top speed of 241 mph at 12,000 ft. Climb rate was 1,140 fpm and it had a ceiling of 23,800 feet. Weight was 14,800 lbs. loaded. Range was on the order of 1,400 miles and overall the floatplane had just a bit less performance, though equal level speed, than the Bolingbroke IV land plane. The floatplane could carry the same 1,000 lb. bomb load and had forward armament of one Browning .303 with a dorsal power turret mounting another. Skis or wheel could be alternatively attached for specified roles.
The landplane saw service in Alaska and the Aleutians but the floatplane was very limited in use in Canadian patrol sorties. At least eighteen were built of the initial 1938 contract for ninety-seven.
Canada enjoyed the ten-seat transport utility of the rugged Norseman V with it twin-floats. It had a top speed of 148 mph and could cruise a useful 550 miles with power from its 600 hp P & W R-1340-AN1 9-cylinder radial. Many bush pilots used them after the war.
Floatplanes, though usually slow and somewhat fragile, were put to good use by all combatants in early WWII. Only a few survived operational use throughout the war which had produced rapid advances in strategy and technology that precluded emphasis on floatplanes.
Sources
The websites are few and the info is scant:
- Web Sites:
- Myhrman Aeroplane Site
- IJN Aircraft Page
- WWII Japanese Aircraft Photos
- American Aces of WWII
- Schneider Trophy
- Pictures of the Battleship New Jersey (BB-62)
- Beriev's Soviet Floatplanes
- Myhrman Aeroplane Site
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| Screenshot from 1C Maddox Game's 'IL-2 Sturmovik': Soviet Beriev MBR-2 |
- Publications:
- Green, William
Bombers & Reconnaissance Aircraft Vol. 7
Doubleday & Co. NY 1967
- Green, William
Famous Bombers of the 2nd Word War
Doubleday & Co. NY 1960
- Green, William
Fighters Vol. 2
Doubleday & Co. NY 1961
- Green, William
Floatplanes Vol. 6
Doubleday & Co. NY 1962
- Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon
The Complete Book of Fighters
Salamander Books, London 1994
- Kinert, Reed
Racing Planes & Air Races Vol. 1
Aero Publishers, Fallbrook, CA 1969
- Thompson, Jonathan
Italian Civil & Military Aircraft
Aero Publishers, Fallbrook, CA 1963
- Green, William
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