Nakajima C3N
Nakajima Aircraft Company · Japan · first flew 1936 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Nakajima C3N-1, also designated Type 97 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft, was a prototype Japanese carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft of the 1930s. Only two examples were built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing all-metal monoplane with upward-folding wings
- Fixed tailwheel undercarriage with spatted main wheels
- Crew of three under a long canopy
Look for a low-wing single-engine monoplane with spatted fixed main wheels, folding wings and a long three-seat canopy.
Specifications
- The Nakajima C3N has a length of 10 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.95 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 387 km/h (240 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed in 1935 to an Imperial Japanese Navy requirement and had much in common with the Nakajima B5N. The first of two prototypes was completed in October 1936 and was powered by a Nakajima Hikari radial engine.
Variants
The type was adopted as the C3N-1 after testing and carrier qualification, but no production followed because the B5N was considered adequate in the reconnaissance role.
Where you'll see it
The two C3N-1s were sent to China in 1937 for tactical evaluation. They were used operationally for land-based reconnaissance in the Hankou and Shanghai regions.
Related aircraft
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