WATANA BE NAVY TYPE 96 RECONNAISSANCE SEAPLANE (E9W1) "SLIM"

The Watanabe E9W was a Japanese biplane seaplane from the interwar period and World War II. The drive was provided by a single engine Hitachi Tempu 11 with 340 hp. The prototype flight took place in 1935, and serial production continued in 1936-1937, ending with the production of about 30-40 copies of this aircraft. The deck armament consisted of a single 7.7 mm wz.92 machine gun. Watanabe E9W was created in response to the demand reported by the command of the Japanese Navy in the early 1930s for a submarine-capable seaplane. When designing the E9W, the Watanabe aviation company placed emphasis on its relatively low weight, the possibility of folding the wings and appropriate dimensions determined by the size of the submarine hangar. After successfully passing the tests, the Watanabe E9W began to enter the line in 1938 and was used primarily for patrol flights in the East China Sea. The last copies of this aircraft were withdrawn from service in 1942, in favor of the Yokosuka E14Y1 seaplanes.