Yokosuka H7Y

The Yokosuka H7Y was a Japanese twin‑engine, long‑range patrol flying boat developed by the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal in the late 1930s. Intended to replace the older H6K and to provide the Imperial Japanese Navy with a maritime reconnaissance aircraft capable of reaching distant Pacific islands, the H7Y first flew on 26 May 1939. Its sleek, all‑metal hull incorporated a high‑mounted wing and two Mitsubishi Kinsei 44 radial engines driving three‑bladed propellers, delivering a top speed of about 360 km/h and a remarkable range of roughly 7,300 km when equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks. The aircraft featured advanced navigation and radio equipment, a dorsal gun turret, and a ventral bomb‑bay that could carry torpedoes or depth charges, making it suitable for both scouting and anti‑shipping roles. Although only a handful were built before the program was cancelled in 1942 due to shifting wartime priorities and the emergence of land‑based long‑range bombers, the H7Y demonstrated significant strides in aerodynamics and fuel efficiency for flying boats. Its development highlighted Japan’s ambition to project power across vast oceanic distances and contributed valuable data that influenced later seaplane designs.