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Japan's Kyushu Q1W Tokai ("eastern sea") anti-submarine¹
Allied code name: Lorna¹

Kyushu Q1W Tokai anti-submarine¹:

Kyushu Q1W Tokai anti-submarine¹:

Design

The Kyushu Q1W Tokai was designed as a dedicated land based anti-submarine aircraft.¹ The Q1W was designed to meet a 1942 Japanese Navy Air Force requirement for over water operation and use dive bombing to deliver its attacks.¹

The overall construction was metal.¹

Radar

Early on the Q1W Tokai was fitted with a poor radar that was supplemented by a magnetic anomaly detector.¹

It was intended to fit the Q1W with better radar but it had development problems.¹

Since the radar was almost useless the Q1W crews relied on visual observation to find submarines.¹

Dive Flaps

The dive flaps could be extended 90 degrees.¹

Prototype

The Q1W prototype first flew in September 1943.¹

Production

Deliveries started in late 1944.¹

• Q1W1-K Tokai Ren: 1¹
• Total: 153¹

Variants

• Q1W1: Main production.¹
• Q1W1-K Tokai Ren: Trainer.¹ All wood construction.¹ Four seats.¹
• Q1W2: Rear fuselage was wood.¹

Usage

The Q1W Tokais were based in Japan, China, and Formosa.¹

Convoy Protection

The Q1W was used to protect convoys brining materials to Japan.¹

There is no record of a Q1W ever sinking a submarine.¹

	Kyushu Q1W Tokai1	Kyushu Q1W1 Tokai1
Type	Anti-submarine1
Crew	31
Engine (Type)	2: Hitachi GK2C Amakaze 311
Cylinders	Radial 91
Cooling
Net HP	610 each1
Propeller blades	3 each1
Dimensions
Span	52' 6"1 16 m1
Length	39' 8"1 11.17 m1
Height	13' 6"1 4.11 m1
Wing area
Weight
Empty		6,839 lb1 3,102 kg1
Loaded		10,582 lb1 4,800 kg1
Maximum load		11,742 lb1 5,318 kg1
Performance
Speed @ 4,395' / 1,340 m		200 mph1 322 kph1
Cruising speed		150 mph1 241 kph1
Climb
Climb to 6,560' / 2,000 m		8.7 minutes1
Service ceiling		14,730'1 4,490 m1
Range		834 miles1 1,342 km1
Armament
Rear cockpit	1: 7.7 mm MG1
Nose	2: 20 mm1
Bombs - external	2: 551 lb1 2: 250 kg1
OR	Depth charges1

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

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