Role Patrol flying boat
Manufacturer Kawanishi
First flight 14 July 1936
Introduction January 1938
Retired 1945 (Japan)
Primary user IJN Air Service
Number built 215
Operational historyH6Ks were deployed from 1938 onwards, first seeing service in the Sino-Japanese War and were in widespread use by the time the Pacific War full-scale erupted, in 1942. At that time of the war, four kokutai operated a total of 66 H6K4s.[4]
The type had some success over South East Asia and the South West Pacific. H6Ks had excellent endurance, being able to undertake 24-hour patrols, and was often used for long-range reconnaissance and bombing missions. From bases in the Dutch East Indies, they were able to undertake missions over a large portion of Australia.
However, the H6K became vulnerable to a newer generation of heavier armed and faster fighters.[4] It continued in service throughout the war, in areas where the risk of interception was low. In front-line service, it was replaced by the Kawanishi H8K.
VariantsH6K1
Evaluation prototypes with four Nakajima Hikari 2 engines, 4 built.
H6K1 (Navy Flying Boat Type 97 Model 1)
Prototypes with 746 kW 1,000 hp Mitsubishi Kinsei 43 Engines, 3 converted from the original H6K1 prototypes.
H6K2 Model 11
First production model. Includes two H6K2-L officer transport modification, 10 built.
H6K2-L (Navy Transport Flying Boat Type 97)
Unarmed transport version of H6K2 powered by Mitsubishi Kinsei 43 engines, 16 built.
H6K3 Model 21
Modified transport version of H6K2 for VIPs and high ranking officers, 2 built.
H6K4 Model 22
Major production version, modified H6K2 with revised weapons, some with 694 kW (930 hp) Mitsubishi Kinsei 46 engines. Fuel capacity increased from 7,764 L (1,708 Imp gal) to 13,410 L (2,950 Imp gal). Includes two H6K4-L transport versions, 100 to 127 (if other numbers are all correct) built.
H6K4-L
Transport version of H6K4, similar to H6K2-L, but with Mitsubishi Kinsei 46 engines, 20 built and another two converted from the H6K4.
H6K5 Model 23
Fitted with 969 kW (1,300 hp) Mitsubishi Kinsei 51 or 53 engines and new upper turret replacing the open position, 36 built.
H6K Type 97
Operators IndonesiaAir Service Volunteer Corps - A single H6K5 flying boat was restored to flight by Indonesian forces during the Indonesian War of Independence.[5]
JapanImperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Imperial Japanese Airways
Used on the routes Yokohama-Saipan-Koror (Palau)-Timor, Saigon-Bangkok and Saipan-Truk-Ponape-Jaluit.[6]
INDONESIA
General characteristicsCrew: 9
Length: 25.63 m (84 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 40.00 m (131 ft 2 in)
Height: 6.27 m (20 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 170 m<sup2 (1,830 ft<sup2)
Empty weight: 11,707 kg (25,755 lb)
Loaded weight: 17,000 kg (37,400 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 21,500 kg (47,300 lb)
Powerplant: 4 × Mitsubishi Kinsei 43 or 46 14-cylinder, air-cooled, radial engines, 746 kW (1,000 hp) each
PerformanceMaximum speed: 331 km/h (211 mph)
Cruise speed: 138 mph
Range: 6,580 km (4,112 mi)
Service ceiling: 9,610 m (31,520 ft)
Rate of climb: 370 m/min (1,213 ft/min)
Wing loading: 100 kg/m<sup2 (20 lb/ft<sup2)
Power/mass: 0.17 kW/kg (0.11 hp/lb)
Armament1× 7.7 mm (0.30 in) Type 97 machine gun in nose
1× Type 97 machine gun in spine
2× Type 97 machine guns in waist blisters
1× 20 mm Type 99 cannon in tail turret
2× 800 kg (1,764 lb) torpedoes or 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of bombs
cocpit 
