Special thanks to all of you for both your input and compliments. While waiting for the Hasegawa aircraft to arrive I began researching more regarding what specific aircraft were used on the Yamato. Keep in mind that the model kit comes with what I identify as two Aichi E13A's and two either Mitsubishi F1M2 Pete's or two Nakajima E8N's .
If you look close enough or at "everything" on the internet concerning modeling photos of aircraft sitting on the catapults of the IJN Yamato, you will soon find out that just about everybody has added just about any kind of seaplane to a Yamato model kit.
So I set out to try and determine exactly what aircraft and how many were deployed on the Yamato at any given time. Between Wikipedia, and several other sources to include a Japanese website titled, Baloons and Seaplanes for IJN Battleships", here is what I have found.
- When first comissioned the Yamato had up to 7 Nakajima E8N or E4N, or Kawanishi E7K aircraft. The E8 is a biplane that was used from 1935 to 1942.
A total of 755 E8Ns were built by Nakajima and Kawanishi, production continuing through 1940. It was subsequently shipped aboard all the capital ships then in service, mostly 16 cruisers and 5 seaplane tenders. Some aircraft remained in service with the fleet at the outbreak of the Pacific War, and one flew reconnaissance from the battleship Haruna during the Battle of Midway, but they were soon replaced by more modern aircraft. The Yamato could carry up to 7 of these aircraft with up to 5 being maintained in the internal hanger. In 1942 these aircraft were replaced with 4 E13A's and 3 F1M type aircraft.
- The Mitsubishi F1M (series) replaced the Nakajima variants sometime after April 1942.
The F1M was originally built as a catapult-launched reconnaissance float plane, specializing in gunnery spotting. The "Pete" took on a number of local roles including convoy escort, bomber, anti-submarine, maritime patrol, rescue, transport, and anti-shipping strikes. The type was also used as an area-defense fighter and engaged in aerial combat in the Aleutians, the Solomons and several other theaters. In the New Guinea front, it was often used in aerial combat with the Allied bombers and Allied fighters through 1945. The Yamato could carry up to 7 of these aircraft with up to 5 being maintained in the internal hanger.
- The Aichi E13 (series) was a long-range reconnaissance seaplane used by the Imperial Japanese Navy IJN from 1941 - 45.
In China, it operated from seaplane tenders and cruisers. Later, it was used as a scout for the Attack on Pearl Harbor, and was encountered in combat by the United States Navy during the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway. It was in service throughout the conflict, for coastal patrols, strikes against navigation, liaison, officer transports, castaway rescues, and other missions, along with some kamikaze missions in the last days of war. There is very little information regarding its actual deployment on the IJN Yamato but Military Wiki indicates the Yamato could carry up to 4 E13A's and 3 F1M type aircraft simultaneously.
Other IJN seaplane variants used during WW2 including the Kawanishi E15 series, Yokosuka E14 series, and Aichi E16 series, and M6 series have no record of ever being deployed or used on the IJN Yamato.
On the eve of the Allies' occupation of Japan, special-service officers of the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyed virtually all records, drawings, photographs, of or relating to the Yamato-class battleships, leaving only fragmentary records of the design characteristics and other technical matters. The destruction of these documents was so efficient that until 1948 the only known images of the Yamato and Musashi were those taken by United States Navy aircraft involved in the attacks on the two battleships. Although some additional photographs and information, from documents that were not destroyed, have come to light over the years, the loss of the majority of written records for the class has made extensive research into the Yamato class somewhat difficult. Because of the lack of written records, information on the class largely came from interviews of Japanese officers following Japan's surrender. So perhaps we will never fully know the exact aircraft configuration residing on the IJN Yamato at any specific engagement or time in history.
Clear as mud, right? I would show a complete listing of sources or references for this posting, but that would be significant. Basically, for most of the war the IJN Yamato would normally maintain an aerial armada consisting of 4 E13A's and 3 F1M type aircraft.
As always, if I missed anything or am off on this subject, please be a modeling buddy and let us all know. Till next time, stay safe, live - love - and be well, and model something!
v/r,
DRUMS / Ben