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The Kawanishi H6K ‘Mavis’ and H8K ‘Emily’ were two of the best long range flying boats of the Second World War, and played an important role in Japan’s war plans, mainly as long range reconnaissance aircraft but also as long range bombers.
We start with a look at the development of Japanese flying boats. This was typical of the Japanese aviation industry, starting with British flying boats (Felixstowe F.5), then moving onto a mix of Japanese designs and further imports before producing world class aircraft of their own by the mid 1930s. The H6K ‘Mavis’ had the range and speed to match any of its international rivals but lacked protection. The H8K ‘Emily’ was one of the best flying boats of the Second World War, with very long range, much better protection and heavy defensive firepower. Both were very effective long range reconnaissance aircraft when they first entered service.
When we move onto the first of the combat chapters we find the big weakness in the Japanese system – a lack of numbers. In December 1941 the IJNAF only had two flying boat units, both equipped with the older H6K. A combined total of only 382 of the two aircraft were built, so they were always in short supply. This didn’t matter during the first triumphant phase of the war, where the Allies were outnumbered and outclassed. During this phase the H6K was used for reconnaissance and as a long range bomber, ranging ahead of the advancing Japanese.
The combat chapters mirror the overall pattern of the Japanese experience of the war – dramatic initial conquests, the first setbacks and defeats at Midway, the Coral Sea, Port Moresby and Guadalcanal, the defensive battles of 1943 and the ever worsing conditions of 1944-45. The scale of the Japanese conquests meant that the small number of flying boats had to cover vast areas of ocean, especially once the Americans moved onto the offensive.
We soon discover that the fundamental problem for these flying boats was the increasing risk of running into American carrier aircraft. Once the initiative had passed to the Americans they could pick where they would attack next. This often meant that one or two patrolling flying boats could end up unexpectedly running into a powerful American carrier force
Most of the combat chapters focus on individual missions, and in particular on combat involving the two types. We get some brief summaries, including a look at the success or failure of flying boats as long range bombers. One role they never got to try was long range attack on the US battlefleet as it fought its way across the Pacific towards Japan – the Americans refused to play into that plan, denying the Japanese the chance to try out that particular plan.
This is a useful examination of the career of these two very capable long range aircraft, whose crews suffered the same problems as other Japanese aviators, going from the triumphs of 1941-42 to the long war of attrition and eventual disaster.
Chapters
1 – IJNAF Maritime Patrol Aviation 1921-41
2 – Flying Boat Kokutai December 1941-April 1942
3 – Flying Boat Kokutai April-December 1942
4 – Defending the Barrier During 1943
5 – The Barrier Breaks in 1944
6 – The Final Months
Author: Edward M Young
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 98
Publisher: Paperback
Year: 2024