F1M "Pete" @·AIRCRAFTUBE

  • Mitsubishi F1M2 Mitsubishi F1M2
    Mitsubishi F1M2
  • Hoisted aboard<br>the Kamikawa Maru (1942) Hoisted aboard<br>the Kamikawa Maru (1942)
    Hoisted aboard
    the Kamikawa Maru (1942)
  • Launching Launching
    Launching
  • Being hoisted<br>by a ship's crane Being hoisted<br>by a ship's crane
    Being hoisted
    by a ship's crane
  • On its<br>beaching trolley On its<br>beaching trolley
    On its
    beaching trolley
  • Take-off Take-off
    Take-off
  • Crew and islanders on a<br>Pacific beach (colourised photo) Crew and islanders on a<br>Pacific beach (colourised photo)
    Crew and islanders on a
    Pacific beach (colourised photo)
  • Wrecks at Rekata Bay<br>(Santa Isabel Island, March 1944) Wrecks at Rekata Bay<br>(Santa Isabel Island, March 1944)
    Wrecks at Rekata Bay
    (Santa Isabel Island, March 1944)

Mitsubishi F1M "Pete"

The Mitsubishi F1M (Allied reporting name "Pete") was a Japanese observation floatplane of the Second World War. Officially designated "Navy Type 0 Observation Seaplane" (Rei-shiki suijô kansokuki, often shortened to Reikan or Zerokan), it was the last biplane type of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and the only aircraft ever to carry the "observation seaplane" (F) category letter. Designed for gunnery spotting from battleships and cruisers, it proved so manoeuvrable and versatile that it served throughout the Pacific War in many roles it was never intended for, from convoy escort to interceptor and dive bomber.

Design and development

In 1934 the Imperial Japanese Navy issued its 10-Shi specification to Mitsubishi, Aichi and Kawanishi for a replacement for the Nakajima E8N floatplanes, which were used for short-range reconnaissance and observation missions from the Navy's warships. Unlike earlier reconnaissance seaplanes, the new aircraft was expected to operate above an enemy fleet during a decisive battle, where it could meet enemy carrier fighters: it therefore had to climb fast, manoeuvre well and carry a fighter-like armament. Kawanishi withdrew from the competition, while Aichi offered the AB-13 (F1A).

Mitsubishi's design, the Ka-17, was drawn by a team led by Jôji Hattori and given the short designation F1M1 by the Navy. It was a small all-metal biplane (only the control surfaces were fabric-covered), with a single large central float and stabilising floats under the lower wing tips, and was powered by a 610 kW (820 hp) Nakajima Hikari 1 nine-cylinder radial engine, the same engine as the Aichi competitor. Its elliptical wings were tested in a wind tunnel to reduce drag, and the number of struts and bracing wires was kept to a minimum. The first of four F1M1 prototypes flew in June 1936.

The F1M1 was faster and climbed better than the Aichi F1A, but it suffered from poor directional stability in flight and a strong tendency to porpoise on the water. Mitsubishi therefore undertook a long series of modifications. The elliptical wings were replaced by new wings with straight tapered leading and trailing edges and increased dihedral, the vertical fin and rudder were much enlarged, and the floats were enlarged to increase buoyancy. The Hikari engine was replaced by a 652 kW (875 hp) Mitsubishi Zuisei 13 fourteen-cylinder radial under a longer, redesigned cowling which also improved the forward view.

Thus modified, the aircraft handled much better both on the water and in the air, and it was ordered into production as the Navy Type 0 Observation Seaplane Model 11, with the short designation F1M2. Because Mitsubishi was already busy with other types such as the A5M fighter, a new production line had to be set up, and large-scale production only got under way around 1941. Recent Japanese research quoted by Wieliczko gives a total of 940 production aircraft (342 by Mitsubishi in Nagoya and 598 by the 21st Naval Air Arsenal at Sasebo), in addition to the four prototypes; older publications give higher figures of 1,016, 1,118 or even 1,124 aircraft. Production ended in March 1944.

The F1M2 had a maximum speed of 370 km/h (230 mph) and a range of up to 1,072 km (670 mi) without external stores. It was armed with two fixed forward-firing 7.7 mm Type 97 machine guns in the upper fuselage and a flexible 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun for the observer, and could carry two 60 kg (132 lb) bombs under the wings. An F1M airframe had a projected operational life of 350 flight hours, after which it had to be replaced. For stowage aboard ship, the wings folded backwards alongside the fuselage, reducing the span from 11 m to about 5.3 m.

Operational history

The F1M2 was originally built as a catapult-launched observation floatplane specialising in gunnery spotting. It served aboard eight battleships (including Nagato and Yamato), nine cruisers and six seaplane tenders, as well as with numerous shore-based units, alongside the larger three-seat Aichi E13A. Its small size was an advantage in the cramped hangars of Japanese warships.

From the very first days of the Pacific War, F1M2s from seaplane tenders such as the Kamikawa Maru covered the landings in Malaya, the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies. On 6 December 1941, Kamikawa Maru launched her Petes against a Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed Hudson that had spotted the invasion convoy heading for Malaya, and on 16 February 1942 her F1M2s, together with Army Ki-27s, intercepted Dutch Martin B-10 bombers. On 9 April 1942, F1M2s dive-bombed and sank the American motor torpedo boat PT-34 in the Philippines.

The "Pete" took on a number of local roles including convoy escort, bomber, anti-submarine and maritime patrol, rescue, transport and anti-shipping strike. It was used most heavily in the Solomon Islands campaign, flying from seaplane bases such as Shortland and Rekata Bay alongside A6M2-N "Rufe" floatplane fighters. In September 1942, Petes armed with 60 kg bombs supported the attempt to recapture Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. In the hands of a capable pilot, the nimble biplane could be a dangerous opponent: Japanese records credit F1M crews with victories over American fighters such as the F4F Wildcat, P-38 and P-39, and they also attacked B-17 bombers. Its relatively low speed, however, left it largely unable to counter the faster Allied fighters such as the F4F and the P-40, and losses mounted.

The type also fought in the Aleutians, where F1M2s operating from seaplane tenders and from Kiska defended the Japanese garrisons against American aircraft, and in New Guinea, where it was used as a point-defence fighter. As the fighting moved across the Pacific, the F1M was mostly used for convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols, its short range being its main limitation. Late in the war, despite being thoroughly outclassed, it was stationed in the Home Islands as a point-defence fighter, and some were prepared for suicide missions carrying a single 250 kg bomb. In April 1945, Yamato's F1Ms were flown off before her last sortie; according to Japanese accounts, they circled above the battleship as she left Kure.

After the Japanese surrender, Indonesian nationalists took over some F1M2s, which they used against the Dutch during the Indonesian National Revolution.

Variants

  • F1M1 : Prototypes, with Nakajima Hikari 1 engine and elliptical wings. Four built.
  • F1M2 : Two-seat observation floatplane for the Imperial Japanese Navy, with Mitsubishi Zuisei 13 engine, straight-tapered wings and enlarged tail. Main production version.
  • F1M2-K : Two-seat training version with dual controls, converted from F1M2s.

Operators

  • Japan : Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.
  • Thailand : Royal Thai Navy.
  • Indonesia : Indonesian nationalist forces (aircraft taken over in 1945).

Surviving aircraft

No complete F1M has survived, but many wrecks remain in the Pacific, notably in Papua New Guinea (the "Deep Pete" at Kavieng and the "Pete" near Rabaul are popular dive sites), in the Solomon Islands and in the Marshall Islands. In February 2023, four F1M airframes recovered from the Pacific were put up for sale in the United States after being stored for more than 20 years. In 2025, a full-size replica was put on display at the Yamato Museum's temporary exhibition hall in Kure, during the renovation of the main museum.

References

  • Francillon, R.J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam, 1970.
  • Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Six: Floatplanes. London: Macdonald & Co., 1962.
  • Claringbould, Michael J. IJN Floatplanes in the South Pacific 1942-1944. Avonmore Books, 2022.
  • Wieliczko, Leszek A. "Mitsubishi F1M (Pete)". Technika Wojskowa Historia, Special 6(36)/2017.
  • Rickard, J. "Mitsubishi F1M 'Pete'". historyofwar.org, 2011.
  • Pacific Wrecks, "Kamikawa Maru" and "F1M2 Pete" pages.

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This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Mitsubishi F1M of Wikipedia ( authors )

Mitsubishi F1M "Pete"

  • Role : Observation and reconnaissance floatplane.
  • Manufacturer : Mitsubishi (and 21st Naval Air Arsenal, Sasebo).
  • Designer : Jôji Hattori.
  • First flight : June 1936.
  • Introduction : 1941.
  • Status : retired.
  • Primary users :
    • Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.
    • Royal Thai Navy.
  • Produced : 1936 to 1944.
  • Number built : 944 (940 production aircraft and 4 prototypes ; older sources give up to 1,118).

    • Specifications (F1M2)

  • Crew: two (pilot and observer).
  • Length: 31 ft 2 in (9.5 m).
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 1 in (11 m).
  • Height: 13 ft 1 in (4 m).
  • Wing area: 318 sq ft (29.5 m²).
  • Empty weight: 4,251 lb (1,928 kg).
  • Gross weight: 5,622 lb (2,550 kg).
  • Max takeoff weight: 6,296 lb (2,856 kg).
  • Powerplant: One Mitsubishi MK2C Zuisei 13 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine.
  • Power: 875 hp (652 kW) for takeoff, 800 hp (600 kW) at 11,500 ft (3,500 m).
  • Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch metal propeller.
  • Maximum speed: 230 mph (370 km/h, 200 kts) at 11,290 ft (3,440 m).
  • Range: 460 mi (740 km, 400 nmi).
  • Service ceiling: 30,970 ft (9,440 m).
  • Time to altitude: 16,400 ft (5,000 m) in 9 min 36 s.
  • Wing loading: 17.7 lb/sq ft (86.3 kg/m²).
  • Armament :
    • 2 × fixed forward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 97 machine guns.
    • 1 × flexible rearward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 92 machine gun.
    • 2 × 60 kg (132 lb) bombs (or a single 250 kg bomb for suicide missions).

— — — = = — — —

This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Mitsubishi F1M of Wikipedia ( authors )
Mitsubishi F1M "Pete" : Your comments on this subject
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