E16A Zuiun

The Aichi E16A Zuiun was a Japanese Imperial Navy reconnaissance floatplane that entered service in 1942. Designed by Aichi Kokuki as a replacement for the older E13A, the Zuiun combined a low‑wing monoplane layout with twin floats, allowing operations from battleships, carriers and seaplane tenders in the Pacific theatre. Powered by a 1,260 hp Mitsubishi Kinsei 43 radial engine, it could reach 470 km/h and had a range of roughly 2,400 km, giving it endurance for long‑range scouting and artillery‑spotting missions. Its crew of two sat under a glazed canopy, and the aircraft carried a modest payload of light bombs or depth charges for limited anti‑shipping work. Production ran from 1942 to 1945, with about 350 units built, most seeing action during the Solomon Islands and Philippines campaigns. Although outclassed later by faster land‑based aircraft, the E16A’s versatility and reliability made it a valuable asset for fleet commanders, influencing post‑war seaplane designs and demonstrating the practicality of float‑equipped reconnaissance platforms in naval warfare. After the war, several surviving examples were evaluated by Allied forces, and the design concepts of the Zuiun informed early Cold‑War maritime patrol aircraft such as the U.S. P2V Neptune.

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