Nakajima E4N
Nakajima · Japan · first flew 1930 · light aircraft
The Nakajima E4N was a two-seat reconnaissance floatplane biplane built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the early 1930s. Launched by catapult from cruisers and battleships, it provided organic reconnaissance capability to fleet surface units.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.87 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Imperial Japanese Navy two-seat floatplane biplane for shipboard reconnaissance
- Twin main floats beneath the lower wing, small stabilising float under each wingtip
- Radial engine, unequal-span biplane wings
Identified by its twin-float biplane configuration, unequal-span wings with the upper wing noticeably larger, and the prominent radial engine; wing-tip stabilising floats are a useful identification feature.
Specifications
- The Nakajima E4N has a length of 8.87 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.98 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 232 km/h (144 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in the late 1920s, the E4N entered IJN service around 1931 and was used extensively aboard capital ships and cruisers during Japan's operations in China. It was gradually replaced by more capable monoplanes through the mid-1930s.
Variants
The E4N1 and E4N2 were the primary variants, with the E4N2 featuring a more powerful engine and revised float arrangement.
Where you'll see it
Operated from IJN cruisers and battleships throughout the early 1930s; phased out as monoplane floatplanes became available.
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- Nakajima A1N
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