Click to copy, then share by pasting into your messages, comments, social media posts and websites.
Click to copy, then add into your webpages so users can view and engage with this video from your site.
Report Content
We also accept reports via email. Please see the Guidelines Enforcement Process for instructions on how to make a request via email.
Thank you for submitting your report
We will investigate and take the appropriate action.
Why Not Wildcatfish Seaplane Fighters from CAM Ships?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F4F_Wildcat#F4F-3S_%22Wildcatfish%22
This floatplane version of the F4F-3 was developed for use at forward island [lagoon] bases in the Pacific, before the construction of [land] airfields. It was inspired by appearance of the A6M2-N "Rufe", a modification of the Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zeke". BuNo 4038 was modified to become the F4F-3S "Wildcatfish". Twin floats, manufactured by Edo Aircraft Corporation, were fitted. To restore the stability, small auxiliary fins were added to the tailplane. Because this was still insufficient, a ventral fin was added later.[44] The F4F-3S was first flown 28 February 1943.[45] The weight and drag of the floats reduced the maximum speed to 241 mph (388 km/h).
****
The USN had battleships operate their Kingfisher floatplanes IN THE ATLANTIC to provide air cover against German U-Boats; RECOVERING THEM after every mission by water landings.
The German maritime patrol bomber, the FW200 had a speed of only 224 mph!
The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, also known as Kurier to the Allies, was a German all-metal four-engined monoplane originally developed by Focke-Wulf as a long-range airliner. Wikipedia
Top speed: 224 mph
Why didn't floatplane Wildcats that could be re-used replace 1-time use Hurricats from CAM ships?
www.combatreform.org/seaplanefighters.htm
WW2 Japanese Seaplane Fighters
Here we see the Kamikawa Maru-class cargo ship, Kimikawa Maru, converted to a Tokusetsu Suijokibokan (special seaplane carrier) of the Imperial Japanese Navy, at Oominato in northern Honshu, in late 1942. As you can tell, this interesting ship and her sisters could carry a serious load of armed, and often very effective, floatplanes.
Constructed in the late 1930s through a joint endeavor of the Japanese shipping firm Ōsaka Mercantile and Kawasaki Kisen in the latter’s Kobe-based shipyard, the five 6,800-ton ships of the class were intended for the Japan-New York route, a trip of some 15,000 nautical miles. This was no sweat as, using a single efficient MAN-designed Kawasaki-made diesel, they had an incredible 35,000nm range at 17 knots.
By 1942, this airwing would grow to as many as 14 much more capable Aichi E13A Type Zero (Jake) armed reconnaissance planes and four Daves– the airwing Kamikawa Maru took to Alaska during the Midway operation. Later types like the Nakajima A6M2-N (Rufe) Type 2 Sui-Sen (‘Rufe’) floatplane version of the Zero fighter soon joined them.
A6M2-N Type 2 floatplane fighter, Sep-Oct 1942, on seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru
At least four Japanese navy pilots chalked up at least three kills while at the controls of floatplanes, most in the A6M-2N: CPO Shigeji Kawai, WO Kiyomi Katsuki, CPO Keizo Yamaza, and CPO Maruyama, although it should be noted that Katuski downed his first aircraft, a Dutch KNIL PBY, while flying an F1M2 Pete. Katsuki, who had 16 kills, spent at least some of his time flying from Kamikawa Maru.
In all, the K-Maru carriers were an interesting concept, a quick and easy way to send a small expeditionary airwing to sea short of converting the ships to more proper escort carriers such as done by the Allies.
A very interesting postwar interrogation of CDR Kintaro Miura, Kamikawa Maru‘s senior air officer from the outbreak of war until December 1942, is in the NHHC archives.
USN Seaplane Jet Fighters + Aircraft Battle Cruisers:
http://aviadejavu.ru/Site/Arts/Art33128.htm
http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/HI/HI-26/79-1.jpg
Note the 2-seat, J79 turbojet engined "SeaDart" with 1x ski--not the failed 2x--listening LockMartSky? They knew this, too in the past!
www.combatreform.org/seaplanefighters.htm
John 3:16
Semper Airborne!
James Bond is REAL.
Category | Science & Technology |
Sensitivity | Normal - Content that is suitable for ages 16 and over |
Warning - This video exceeds your sensitivity preference!
To dismiss this warning and continue to watch the video please click on the button below.
Note - Autoplay has been disabled for this video.