Aichi E16A Zuiun

The Aichi E16A Zuiun (瑞雲, Auspicious Cloud), (Allied reporting name "Paul") was a twin-seat reconnaissance seaplane designed and produced by the Japanese aviation company Aichi Kokuki KK. It was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Designed as a replacement for the Aichi E13A, work began on the aircraft as the AM-22 in 1940, to which the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) drafted a new specification around in early 1941. It was a conventional low-wing monoplane furnished with floats and dive brakes; although atypical for a seaplane, the dive brakes had been added due to the aircraft's secondary role as a dive bomber. The aircraft was almost entirely made of metal and armed with three 7.7 mm machine guns, one of which was rear-facing and flexibly-mounted. In May 1942, the first prototype was completed. During the refinement of the design, such as to eliminate excessive buffeting, two additional prototypes with a greater wing span were completed. Quantity production of the E16A was authorised in August 1943. The type was produced by both Aichi and Nippon Hikoki K.K.. Introduced to service by the IJNAS in early 1944, by which point the Allies had seized air superiority, the E16A experienced a high attrition rate throughout its life, especially during the Philippines campaign. It was also used to conduct kamikaze attacks.