Hiro H1H

H1H
Role	Patrol flying boat
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Hiro Naval Arsenal
First flight	1920s
Introduction	1920s
Retired	1938
Primary user	IJN Air Service
Number built	65
Developed from	Felixstowe F.5

The Hiro H1H (or Navy Type 15) was a 1920s Japanese bomber or reconnaissance biplane flying boat developed from the Felixstowe F.5 by the Hiro Naval Arsenal for the Imperial Japanese Navy. The aircraft were built by Hiro, the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal and Aichi.

Design and development

Following licence-production of the Felixstowe F.5 for the Imperial Japanese Navy the company developed an improved version known as the H1H or Navy Type 15. The aircraft was built with three different engine types fitted, the Navy Type 15-1 had longer span upper wings and the Navy Type 15-II had four-bladed propellers. Both the H4H1 and H4H2 remained in front-line naval service through the 1930s.

Variants

H1H1

Variant powered by two 450hp (336kW) Lorraine W-12 engines.

H1H2

Variant powered by either two 450hp (336kW) Lorraine W-12 or two 500hp (373kW) BMW VII engines.

H1H3

Variant powered by two 450hp (336kW) Lorraine W-12 engines.

Operators

Japan

• Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

Specifications (H1H1)

Data from

General characteristics

• Length: 49 ft 7 in (15.11 m)
• Wingspan: 75 ft 4½ in (22.97 m)
• Height: 17 ft 0½ in (5.19 m)
• Wing area: 1345.53 ft² (125 m²)
• Empty weight: 8862 lb (4020 kg)
• Gross weight: 13448 lb (6100 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Lorraine W-12 piston engine, 450 hp (336 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 106 mph (170 km/h)
• Endurance: 14 hours  30 min

Armament

2 × 7.7mm (0.303in) Machine Guns (one at bow cockpit and one midships)

up to 300kg (661) bombs

See also

• List of military aircraft of Japan

References

Bibliography

• Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.