Kyushu K11W

K11W Shiragiku
300px
Kyūshū K11W in 1945 surrender markings (painted white and with green crosses in the place of the red Hinomarus).
Role	Bomber crew trainer (K11W1)
Manufacturer	Kyūshū Aircraft Company
First flight	1942
Introduction	1943
Primary user	Japan
Produced	1942-1945
Number built	798

The Kyūshū K11W Shiragiku (白菊, "White Chrysanthemum") made by the Kyūshū Aircraft Company, was a land-based bombing trainer aircraft which served in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in the latter years of World War II. As indicated by its Japanese designation, "training aircraft for on-board work" (機上作業練習機, kijō sagyō renshū-ki?), it was designed to train crews in operating equipment for bombing, navigation, and communication, as well as navigation techniques. A total of 798 K11Ws were manufactured, including a small number of K11W2 ASW and transport aircraft alongside the K11W1 trainer variant. These aircraft were also used in kamikaze mission during the last stages of the Pacific War.

Design and development

File:Kyushu K11W Shiragiku.jpg

A Kyushu K11W Shiragiku, note the non-retractable landing gear.

The Kyūshū K11W had a rather simple mid-wing layout. The crew consisted of a pilot and gunner/radio operator sitting in line under the canopy and the trainee bombardier, trainee navigator, and instructor in the lower fuselage beneath the wing.

The K11W served as the basis for the Q3W1 Nankai (南海, "South Sea") anti-submarine patrol aircraft, which did not progress beyond the development phase. It was enlarged, but unlike the K11W, had retracting landing gear.

Variants

File:Kyushu K11W Shiragiku in flight.jpg

A Kyushu K11W Shiragiku of the Tokushima Kōkūtai (Naval Air Group of Tokushima) in flight.

• K11W1 : The basic bomber crew trainer, of all-metal construction with fabric-covered control surfaces.
• K11W2 : Anti-submarine warfare and transport version of all-wood construction.
• Q3W1 Nankai : Dedicated Anti-submarine warfare aircraft based on the K11W. 1 built.

Specifications (K11W1)

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War

General characteristics

• Crew: 5
• Length: 10.24 m (33 ft 7⅛ in)
• Wingspan: 14.98 m (49 ft 1¾ in)
• Height: 3.93 m (12 ft 10¾ in)
• Wing area: 30.50m² (328 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,677 kg (3,697 lb)
• Loaded weight: 2,640 kg (5,820 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 2,800 kg (6,173 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hitachi GK2B Amakaze 21 9-cylinder air-cooled Radial engine, 384 kW (515 hp) (take-off power)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 230 km/h at 1,700 m (5,600 ft) (124 knots, 143 mph)
• Cruise speed: 175 km/h (95 knots, 109 mph) at 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
• Range: 1,760 km (950 nmi, 1093 mi)
• Service ceiling: 5,620 m (18,440 ft)
  
• Climb to 3,000 m (9,845 ft): 19 min 35 s

Armament

• Guns: 1 × 7.7 mm rear-firing machine gun
• Bombs: 2 × 30 kg (66 lb) bombs on training role, or 1 × 250 kg (550 lb) bomb on kamikaze missions

See also

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970 (2nd edition 1979). ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
• Mondey, David. The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press, 1996. ISBN 1-85152-966-7.

External links

• K11W at www.combinedfleet.com
• K11W at military.sakura.ne.jp (Japanese)