Kyūshū Q1W

The design may have been derived from the German Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber, the Japanese Navy having received some examples for technical evaluation during the war.

The Navy ordered development as the 17-shi in September 1942, and the first test flight took place in September 1943. It entered service in January 1945. The Q1W carried two low-power engines, allowing for long periods of low-speed flight, and was the first purpose-designed anti-submarine warfare aircraft in the world.

In same period the K11W1 Shiragiku, a bomber training plane (also used in Kamikaze strikes) and the Q3W1 Nankai (South Sea), another specialized antisubmarine version, were constructed. The latter was of all-wood construction and was destroyed during its first flight.

Another specifically antisubmarine airplane was the Mitsubishi Q2M1 "Taiyō"(was derived from Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryū "Peggy" Torpedo-bomber), but this did not progress beyond the preliminary design stage.

Variants

• Q1W1 : one prototype.
• Q1W1 Tokai (East Sea) Mark 11 : production model.
• Q1W2 Mark 21 : modified with tail surfaces in wood.
• Q1W1-K Tokai-Ren (East Sea-Trainer) : trainer with capacity for four, all-wood construction (one example).

Specifications (Q1W1)

External links

• AirToAirCombat.com: Kyushu Q1W Tokai

See also