© 1997 Joao Paulo Juliao Matsuura

14th, 801st, 851st, 1001st, 1021st, Takuma, Toko, Yokohama and Yokosuka Chinjufu Kokutais.

Description: Four-engined long-range maritime reconnaissance flying-boat (H8K1 to H8K4) or transport flying-boat (H8K2-L). All-metal construction.

Accommodation: Crew of ten (H8K1 to H8K4). Crew of nine and 29 passengers or 64 troops (H8K2-L).

• Four Mitsubishi MK4A Kasei 11 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated at 1,530 hp for take-off, 1,410 hp at 2,000 m and 1,340 hp at 4,000 m, driving four-blade metal propellers (13-Shi prototype and early production H8K1s).
• Four Mitsubishi MK4B Kasei 12 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated at 1,530 hp for take-off, 1,480 hp at 2,000 m and 1,380 hp at 4,000 m, driving four-blade metal propellers (late production H8K1s).
• Four Mitsubishi MK4Q Kasei 22 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated at 1,850 hp for take-off, 1,680 hp at 2,100 m and 1,540 hp at 5,500 m, driving four-blade metal propellers (H8K2, H8K2-L and H8K3).
• Four Mitsubishi MK4T-B Kasei 25b fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated at 1,825 hp for take-off, driving four-blade metal propellers (H8K4).

• 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon in bow, dorsal and tail turrets and two beam blisters, and 7.7 mm Type 92 machine-guns in ventral, port and starboard hatches (13-Shi prototype).
• 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon in dorsal and tail turrets, and 7.7 mm Type 92 machine-guns in two beam blisters, ventral and cockpit hatches and bow turret (production H8K1s).
• 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon in bow, dorsal and tail turrets and two beam hatches, and 7.7 mm Type 92 machine-guns in ventral, port and starboard fuselage sides and cockpit hatches (H8K2, H8K3 and H8K4).
• External load: two 800 kg torpedoes, or eight 250 kg bombs, or sixteen 60 kg bombs or depth-charges (H8K1 to H8K4).

Production: A total of 167 H8Ks were built by Kawanishi Kokuki K.K. in their Naruo and Konan plants as follows:

• 1 H8K1 prototype (Dec 1940)
• 2 H8K1 pre-production aircraft (1941)
• 14 H8K1 production aircraft (1941-42)
• 112 H8K2 production aircraft (1943-45)
• 2 H8K3 prototypes (1944)
• (2) H8K4 prototypes modified from H8K3 frames (1945)
• 36 H8K2-L production aircraft (1943-45)