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Yokosuka E14Y (Glen)

1941 WORLD WAR 2

History of Yokosuka E14Y (Glenn)

The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) developed and operated a healthy fleet of seaplanes and airships for its role in World War II (1939-1945). Of course, this is largely out of necessity, as the country consists of a series of islands with no direct access to target areas outside of Japan. Notable in their approach was the use of submarine-launched seaplanes, which could be launched and recovered from specially modified Japanese Navy attack submarines. One such aircraft type was the Yokosuka E14Y, which the Allies called the "Glen".

It produced only 126, but its particular mission role dictated the small fleet of these aircraft it needed in the war.

The Yokosuka Naval Aviation Technical Arsenal is responsible for the development and production of these relatively compact seaplanes. The design follows a basic seaplane layout: the monoplane wings are mounted low and forward, and the traditional monoplane tail is mounted aft. Two crew members sat side by side under a heavy-frame canopy amidships - the pilot in front and the navigator/tail gunner in the rear. The gunner had access to a 7.7mm Type 92 machine gun mounted on a flexible arm, which could be stowed away when not in use.

Additionally, the aircraft can carry a modest bomb load of 2 x 168 lb bombs. The engine is mounted on the nose as usual. For landing and take-off on water, the aircraft is equipped with two pontoons.

Power comes from a single air-cooled Hitachi 'Tempu 12' 9-cylinder radial piston engine producing 340 hp and driving a three-bladed drawn propeller. Top achievable speeds can reach 153 mph, while cruising is usually done around 105 mph.

The range is 550 miles, and the plane's service is capped at 17,780 feet.

The E14Y aircraft were designed to be enclosed in hangars that were added to attack submarines, including types such as the I-21 and I-25. The hangar facility is usually attached to the front of the conning tower (sail), allowing the submarine to maintain its submersible and overall functionality. This will allow the boat to cruise above (or below) the water in the usual way, fully surfaced to reveal the hangar if necessary.

The planes inside are assembled to fly as usual, extending the submarine's range and providing vital information from a bird's-eye view. Since aircraft use buoys for water operations, they can be salvaged and reused later.

The E14Y is known for several major encounters on Allied terrain during World War II. She was the only plane to fly over New Zealand in March 1942 when an E14Y was photographing Allied troops in Wellington. The plane was launched from the submarine I-25.

Another launched from I-21 and flew over Oakland in late May.

Of all the E14Y's operations, perhaps the most notable was its transport (and subsequent bombing) of the United States in the so-called "Watchtower Raid". This happened on September 9, 1942, when an E14Y took off from I-25 near Brookings, Oregon. Two crew members and their aircraft flew over forested areas and dropped incendiary bombs, causing little damage but causing confusion and fear among locals.

This is the only time an enemy bomb has been dropped on American soil. There were no casualties, but it was a bold move by the Japanesesimilar to the April 1942 U.S. "Doolittle attack" on Tokyo, albeit on a much smaller scale.

E14Y aircraft were used until their value decreased (or their "passenger ships" were lost) due to changes in the course of the war. Submarine I-21 sank in September 1943 and I-21 in November.

Three of the five planned A1-type submarines - which were also designed to transport aircraft - have been completed. All three were killed in combat in World War II.