Nakajima-Fokker C2N Reconnaissance Aircraft

The Nakajima C2N was a reconnaissance version of the Fokker Super Universal passenger transport aircraft, produced under license in Japan by Nakajima.

The Super Universal was a high wing monoplane, with an uncowled radial engine. It had a welded steel tube fuselage with a fabric covering and wooden wings with a mix of plywood and fabric covering. Six had been imported to Japan in the late 1920s, and Nakajima had then gained a licence to produce the civil aircraft. Production began in September 1930 and continued at Nakajima until October 1936 when it moved to Manchuria.

In 1933 the Navy accepted two variants of the Super Universal for use as reconnaissance aircraft. The C2N1 Fokker Land-Based Reconnaissance Aircraft retained the wheels of the normal Super Universal while the C2N2 Fokker Reconnaissance Seaplane was given floats.

The Naval aircraft differed from the standard transport in a number of ways. They used Nakajima Kotobuki 1 and 2 engines in place of the Nakajima Jupiters of the army and civil aircraft. The cabin area was extended by about a rear and space was provided for aerial photographs and survey equipment.

The C2N was a reliable aircraft, but its limited range meant that it wasn't especially well suited to use over China or the vast distances of the Pacific, and so most of its Naval service was within Japan. The twenty aircraft were also used as transport and liaison aircraft.

Engine: Two Nakajima Kotobuki 1 or 2 nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engines
Power: 460hp each
Crew: 2
Span: 50ft 7.5in
Length: 36ft 4.5in
Height: 9ft 3in
Empty weight: 3,792lb
Loaded weight: 5,952lb  
Max speed: 143mph
Climb Rate: 17min 53sec to 6,562ft

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (22 August 2013), Nakajima-Fokker C2N Reconnaissance Aircraft , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_nakajima_fokker_C2N.html

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