Japanese Airborne Radars

[fontessa]

If we look closely at the T-31 transported to America, there is something on the tip of the stick. Isn't this a formation light? (not a landing light) The Takuma Naval Air Group was a training unit. There may have been times when trainees and instructors flew in formation. It was not equipped normally but was added at Takuma Naval Air Group. At Negishi, a larger light had beer attached. . . What do you think?

fontessa

[ShindenKai]

If we look closely at the T-31 transported to America, there is something on the tip of the stick. Isn't this a formation light? (not a landing light) The Takuma Naval Air Group was a training unit. There may have been times when trainees and instructors flew in formation. It was not equipped normally but was added at Takuma Naval Air Group. At Negishi, a larger light had beer attached. . . What do you think?
fontessa

It's quite possible. Maybe it was just a larger light?

[ShindenKai]

observation blister
It was more precisely 天測ドーム. According to Google Translate, its English translation is “astronomical dome”. I used this translation once, but I know it was called astrodome recently. It was here that sextants were used to observe the stars for astronomical navigation at night when drift measurements were not possible. So large bombers in WWII had it.
fontessa

Yes, that's correct.

[ShindenKai]

Kawanishi E7K with radar on top of the fuselage, behind the gunners position?? The following pics seem to show a small radome? Or is it radio direction finding gear?

[ShindenKai]

Couple pics of the same... and a bonus pic of an E7K being hoisted, excellent detail (no radar/rdf pod visible, if equip'd) notice also the hi-gloss of the doped fabric on the underside of the wing. Anyone know which ship it might be?

[fontessa]

Anyone know which ship it might be?

She was a Tokao class heavy cruiser. I found a pair of E7K photos. If they were the photos of the same ship, the white strip behind a meatball on the left photo E7K shows it belonged to the first ship of the 4th Squadron. If this photo was taken at the earlier stage of the war, the 1st ship of the 4th Squadron and 2nd Fleet Commanding Officer VADM Kondo Nobutake was aboard her, was Atago. The Lieutenant General's Flag should have been raised on her rear mast, but it was violently erased on the right photo. Since it was wartime, the aircraft number on the left E7K vertical stabilizer has also been deleted. These are my guess.

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後檣 2.jpg (99.99 KiB) Viewed 913 times

後檣 3.jpg (29.75 KiB) Viewed 907 times

fontessa

[ShindenKai]

Anyone know which ship it might be?

She was a Tokao class heavy cruiser. I found a pair of E7K photos. If they were the photos of the same ship, the white strip behind a meatball on the left photo E7K shows it belonged to the first ship of the 4th Squadron. If this photo was taken at the earlier stage of the war, the 1st ship of the 4th Squadron and 2nd Fleet Commanding Officer VADM Kondo Nobutake was aboard her, was Atago. The Lieutenant General's Flag should have been raised on her rear mast, but it was violently erased on the right photo. Since it was wartime, the aircraft number on the left E7K vertical stabilizer has also been deleted. These are my guess.
fontessa

Thank you Fontessa! "Violently erased" is a good way to say it!

Do you know if that dome on the E7K is for radar or RDF (radio direction finding gear)??

[fontessa]

Do you know if that dome on the E7K is for radar or RDF (radio direction finding gear)??

I have no idea, but absolutely not something related to radar.


Some comments for your photos;

fontessa

[ShindenKai]

Thanks for extra info Fontessa, is that 60kg Anti-Sub bomb a type of depth charge?

[Eugen Pinak]

Do you know if that dome on the E7K is for radar or RDF (radio direction finding gear)??

That's RDF antenna cover.

[fontessa]

is that 60kg Anti-Sub bomb a type of depth charge?

The fuze was originally a water pressure-sensitive type, but due to many problems, it was changed to a delay type with gunpowder combustion. An E7K could carry up to four 60kb anti-submarine bombs, which were released by reconnaissance personnel on the 2nd seat.

That's RDF antenna cover.

Do you mean Crucy Return Finder? This "Antenna Cover" looks flat rather than cylindrical, was that no problem?


fontessa

[ShindenKai]

is that 60kg Anti-Sub bomb a type of depth charge?

The fuze was originally a water pressure-sensitive type, but due to many problems, it was changed to a delay type with gunpowder combustion. An E7K could carry up to four 60kb anti-submarine bombs, which were released by reconnaissance personnel on the 2nd seat.

That's RDF antenna cover.

Do you mean Crucy Return Finder? This "Antenna Cover" looks flat rather than cylindrical, was that no problem?


fontessa

Thank you Fontessa.

Seems that its most likely a version of the Type 1 Mk3 RDF equipment, similar to the type installed in the Zero, behind the headrest, and didn't need the fairing because of its location. Ki-67 with tear-drop, RDF fairing, some Ki-46's also had a similar fairing.

[Eugen Pinak]

That's RDF antenna cover.

Do you mean Crucy Return Finder? This "Antenna Cover" looks flat rather than cylindrical, was that no problem?

I was puzzled as well, because this RDF antenna cover is indeed flat and doesn't look like it can be rotated. But that's what I've read in Japanese "Mechanism..." on E7K.
My guess: in all the photos of E7K in this topic RDF antenna cover is in the traveling position with only half of the RDF antenna is protruding from the hull. In the working position RDF antenna was raised higher so is can rotate to catch bearing on radio emission source.

[ShindenKai]

That's RDF antenna cover.

Do you mean Crucy Return Finder? This "Antenna Cover" looks flat rather than cylindrical, was that no problem?

I was puzzled as well, because this RDF antenna cover is indeed flat and doesn't look like it can be rotated. But that's what I've read in Japanese "Mechanism..." on E7K.
My guess: in all the photos of E7K in this topic RDF antenna cover is in the traveling position with only half of the RDF antenna is protruding from the hull. In the working position RDF antenna was raised higher so is can rotate to catch bearing on radio emission source.

The RDF "hoops/loops" rotate inside the fairing. It's shaped more like a small wing, it would be made from a material that does not block radio waves.

[fontessa]

I got a side view of E7K. According to it, the "Dome" seems to be "storage boxe" that can be installed on both sides. Even in the photos of E7K, it seems to be off the center line. But I'm not sure this is correct. However, if this were an RDF-related device, I would think that it would be mentioned in the description of the photo, but that is not the case at all.

94式水上偵察機 側面図.jpg (97.11 KiB) Viewed 783 times

fontessa