Japan's Aichi E16A Zuiun (auspicious cloud, cloud of good omens)
Allied Code Name: Paul

Photos
Design
Prototype
Production
Variants
Usage
Specifications

Photos

Aichi E16A Zuiun floatplane
Allied code name: Paul.
Public domain.

Design

The Aichi E16A floatplane was designed to be a successor to the Aichi E13A. In October 1940 Kishiro Matsuo and Yasushiro Ozawa started design work on the Aichi AM-22 and in January 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy put out the 16-Shi specification which was basically the AM-22 design. In July 1941 the requirements were modified and the AM-22 became the E16A1.

The E16A was of an all metal construction except for the wing tips and the tail, which were wood.

Stop Gap Dive Bomber

The E16A was modified by installing hydraulically operated dive brakes to allow it to dive bomb with one or two 500 lb / 250 kg bombs.

Prototype

The E16A prototype flew in May 1942. In August 1943 the final prototype was built.

Production

AM-22 prototype: 3
- Manufacturer: Aichi Kokuki K.K.
- Production: 1942
Aichi E16A1: 252
- Manufacturer: Aichi Kokuki K.K. at Eitoku (193), Nippon Hikoki K.K. at Tomioka (59)
- Production: January 1944 - May 1945 (Aichi), August 1944 - August 1945 (Nippon)
Aichi E16A2: 1
- Manufacturer: Aichi Kokuki K.K. at Eitoku
- Production: 1944
Total: 256
- Manufacturer: Aichi Kokuki K.K., Nippon Hikoki K.K.

Variants

AM-22 prototype:
Aichi E16A1: Production model.
Aichi E16A2: The engine was a Mitsubishi Kinsei 62 (1,560 HP). Was in prototype stage at end of war.

Usage

Units

Kokutais: 301st, 634th, Yokosuka

Became Operational

In January 1944 the E16A became operational in the Japanese Navy. They were deployed to the Philippine Islands a few months later where they suffered heavy losses.

Okinawa

The few surviving E16A1s were used in suicide attacks around Okinawa.

‹›

	Prototypes
Type	Reconnaissance floatplane
Crew	2
Engine (Type)	Mitsubishi MK8A Kinsei 51
Cylinders	Radial 14
Cooling	Air
Net HP	1,300
Propeller blades	3 metal constant speed
Dimensions
Span	41' 8" 12.7 m
Armament
Wings	2: 7.7 mm Type 97
Cockpit - Rear	1: 7.7 mm Type 92
Bombs	397 lb 180 kg

	Aichi E16A
Type	Reconnaissance floatplane
Crew	2
Engine (Type)	Mitsubishi Kinsei 51 or 54
Cylinders	Radial 14
Net HP	1,300
Propeller blades	3
Dimensions
Span	42' 12.8 m
Length	35' 6.5" 10.83 m
Height	15' 8.5" 4.78 m
Weight
Empty	6,493 lb 2,945 kg
Load - Normal	8,380 lb 3,800 kg
Load - Maximum	10,038 lb 4,553 kg
Performance
Speed at 18,045' / 5,500 m	274 mph 440 kph
Speed - cruising	207 mph 333 kph
Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m	4.7 minutes
Service ceiling	32,810' 10,000 m
Range	600 miles 965 kg
Range - Maximum	1,504 miles 2,420 km
Armament
Wings	2: 20 mm
Rear cockpit	1: 13 mm MG
Bombs	1: 550 lb 1: 250 kg
OR	2: 550 lb 2: 250 kg

	E16A1
Type	Reconnaissance floatplane
Crew	2
Engine (Type) - Early Production	Mitsubishi MK8A Kinsei 51
Engine (Type) - Late Production	Mitsubishi MK8D Kinsei 54
Cylinders	Radial 14
Cooling	Air
Net HP	1,300
Propeller blades	3 metal constant speed
Dimensions
Span	42' 11/32" 12.81 m
Length	35' 6.5" 10.833 m
Height	15' 8 5/8" 4.791 m
Wing area	301.388 sq ft 28 sq m
Weight
Empty	6,493 lb 2,945 kg
Load - Normal	8,598 lb 3,900 kg
Load - Maximum	10,038 lb 4,553 kg
Performance
Speed at 18,045' / 5,500 m	273 mph 237 knots
Speed - Cruising at 16,405' / 5,000 m	207 mph 180 knots
Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m	4 minutes 40 seconds
Service Ceiling	32,810' 10,000 m
Range	731 statute miles 635 nautical miles
Range - Maximum	1,504 statute miles 1,307 nautical miles
Armament
Wings	2: 20 mm Type 99 Model 2
Cockpit - Rear	1: 13 mm Type 2
Bombs	551 lb 250 kg

	E16A2
Type	Reconnaissance floatplane
Crew	2
Engine (Type)	Mitsubishi MK8P Kinsei 62
Cylinders	Radial 14
Cooling	Air
Net HP	1,560
Propeller blades	3 metal constant speed

Play

Sources:

Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
World War II Airplanes Volume 2, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, René J Francillon, 1970

Japan's Aichi E16A Zuiun (auspicious cloud, cloud of good omens) Allied Code Name: Paul