The F1M was a floatplane used widely by the Japanese Navy in several roles. It was a very clean biplane with one large central float and two underwing stabilizing floats. Aside from its original roles as short-range catapult-launched recon, convoy escort, and coastal patrol, it also saw service as a fighter and dive-bomber. Those carried by capital ships were sometimes used to spot for the ship’s main guns. The Pete was operated both from ships and shore bases. Slightly more than 1,100 were built.
The F1M2 had a crew of two: pilot (who fired the two Type 97 MGs and dropped any bombs) and observer/gunner (who manned fired the Type 92 MG). The F1M2 uses 29.3 gallons of aviation gas at routine usage.
Navy Type 0 Observation Seaplane Model 11 (Mitsubishi F1M2)
Subassemblies: Waterproofed Medium Fighter chassis with Good
streamlining +3, Light Fighter Wings with Biplane and Folding options +2,
one sealed Large AFV pontoon +3, two sealed Small Weapon pontoons [Body:U]
+0, one fixed skid +0.
P&P: 652-kW HP aerial gasoline engines with 652-kW prop
and 147-gallon standard fuel tanks [Body]; 2,000-kW batteries.
Occ: 2 XCS Cargo: 6.5 Body
| Armor | F | R/L | B | T | U |
| All | 2/2C | 2/2C | 2/2C | 2/2C | 2/2C |
| Pontoons | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Weaponry
2¥Aircraft LMG/7.7mm Type 97 [Body:F] (500 rounds each)
Aircraft LMG/7.7mm Type 92 [Body:B] (582 rounds)
2¥132-lb bombs [Wings:U]
Equipment
Body: Medium radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments,
autopilot, bombsight. WIngs: One 132-lb hardpoint each.
Statistics
| Size: 31'x36'x13' | Payload: 0.85 tons | Lwt: 2.81 tons |
| Volume: 200 vsp | Maint.: 54 hours | Price: $13,800 |
HT: 9
HP: 120 Body, 135 each Wing, 200 main Pontoon, 45 each Stabilizing
Pontoon, 36 Skid.
| aSpeed: 230 | aAccel: 7 | aDecel: 34 | aMR: 8.5 | aSR: 2 | |
| Stall: 60 mph | -2 mph per loaded hardpoint |
| wSpeed: 54 | gAccel: 7 | aDecel: 10 | aMR: 0.1 | aSR: 3 | |
| Draft: 1.2' | Float: 2.9 tons |
Design Notes
The historical wing area of 318 sf has been used. Design speed was
229 mph. Design flotation rating was 2.7 tons. Performance numbers do not
include loaded hardpoints.
The skid is located on the underside of the central float.
Variants
The original F1M1 used a 611-kW engine. It had poor performance on
water. Four were built.
An unknown number of F1M2-K trainers were built.