Translation of:
Famous Airplanes Of the World No. 44
Type 93 Navy Intermediate Seaplane Trainer
Yokosuka K5Y2


  • p. 4: K5Y2 late production plane, Otsu Navy Ku., August 1945
  • p. 6: K5Y2 early production plane, Kasumigaura Navy Ku., about 1938
  • p. 7: K5Y2 late production plane, Hakata Navy Ku., 1943
  • p. 8: K5Y2 late production plane, Kashima Navy Ku., 1944
  • p. 20: Type 93 Intermediate seaplane trainer (K5Y2)

p. 44

Type 93 Intermediate seaplane trainer (K5Y2)
Upper: In front of Kasumigaura seaplane base, K5Y2s belonging to Kasumigaura Ku. The planes are being pulled to the beach after finishing training. Although production of both K5Y1 and K5Y2 started almost simultaneously, until about 1939, both Kawanishi and Watanabe produced only a small number of about 200. From the data plate of the above plane "KA-622", saying "Kawanishi 17 manufacture date: 11-2-9" (11 is for Showa 11, 1936) we guess that this is a plane from the very first batch produced by the company.

Lower: K5Y2 belonging to Kasumigaura Ku., lined at the apron of Kasumigaura aquatic base. Each plane is marked with a number of the 800s. Taking into account the weight of the floats, the K5Y2 was 150 kg heavier than the K5Y1, when fully equipped, resulting in a natural decrease in performance. Although speed dropped by only 15 km/h, climbing power dropped a lot, resulting a 6-min. delay to reach 3.000 m, taking in all 19 min. 35 sec.

p. 45

"KA-836" floating at Kasumigaura. Comparing this plane with K5Y1, from the angle this photo was taken, it looks as if the upper wing [wing's edge?] is straight but in reality, it has a 1" 25 degree dihedral. The twin float's struts have a shape of reverse "W" and the aerodynamic drag looks excessive. The two numbers stenciled at the front part of the floats (89, 90) have no connection with the plane's number but they are consecutive numbers of the floats. The projections in the middle of the upper wing are for the wind generator/dynamo, which was often not installed.

p. 46,47

Kasumigaura aquatic base K5Y2s. Although the real reason is unknown, the tails of K5Y2s were not painted with the same regulations that the K5Y1s were painted. The tail's vertical area was increased (a measure to maintain the directional stability during landing and take off) and without taking into account the floats, the K5Y1's side profile changed a lot. At the back of the lower photo of page 46, the seaplanes with the 4 bladed propellers, are Type 14 Mk 3 reconnaissance seaplanes.

p. 48

"YO-21" belonging to Yokosuka Ku., standing beside the "YOKO-CHIN 74" (Shikisima) Type 2 Flying Boat model 11, belonging to Yokosuka Chinjufu [?] attached plane unit. The Type 93 intermediate trainer standing beside the navy's biggest plane looks like a toy. Yokosuka Kokutai, the most revered of the navy's Kokutais, being not an actual fighting unit, had a low fixed number of planes of each type. When the photo was taken, 1943, the K5Y2 didn't have a regularly fixed tail number.

p. 49

Upper: K5Y2s taking off from Kasumigaura, showing the unique wakes left by seaplanes with double floats. Until the beginning of the war, the seaplane's importance within the navy was high, so trainer seaplane's section was reinforced compared to the land planes. Especially for the planes carried by battleships, cruisers etc. great pilot skill was required to deal with the high waves of the open sea.
Lower: K5Y2s belonging to the same unit, flying over Kasumigaura in formation. Far away back to the right is mountain Tsukuba. Training over Kasumigaura, Tsuchiura, Yatabe, Kitaura etc. offered an unforgettable view and experience to the crews. At the beginning of the war, the core of Kasumigaura Kufs training seaplanes, constituted of K5Y2s and other types, bringing the total number to 96.

p. 50

Upper: "KASHI-503", a K5Y2 belonging to Kashi Ku., which had the same duties with Kasumigaura Ku., those of training seaplane pilots and was located at Kasumigaura. This plane is from the later production and the floats are different from the planes appearing in the other photos, which are of earlier type. The float's nose is wider and the rear section was changed from three to two steps.
Lower: A group of K5Y2s belonging to the Hakata Ku located at Hakata of Fukuoka prefecture. Unit's marking is "HATA." The Hakata Ku formed on November 15 of 1940 and was charged with seaplane pilot's training on handling and reconnaissance. But on April 1, 1944, it changed to training of land plane's pilots and the K5Y2s were transferred to other unit [units?].

p. 51

Upper: A group of K5Y2s belonging to the Takuma Ku are standing on the apron of Takuma base at Kagawa prefecture. The late production plane's front float strut can be clearly seen in this close up photo. The Takuma Ku was formed on June 1, 1943, was charged with the training of pilots in actual conditions and except K5Y2s, it had Type 90 trainer seaplanes, Type 93 intermediate trainers, Type 2 trainer flying boats, Type 2 flying boats, Momiji (Kyushu K11W1) etc.
Lower: Flying over the Setonai sea, "TAKU431" K5Y2 belonging to Takuma Ku. The plane's number is in white so it will be clearly visible on the deep green-black color of the upper surfaces. Except for the vertical tail, which was sprayed thickly, the fuselage was sprayed lightly. This view shows a good profile of the new type float.

p. 52

Upper 2 photos: The end of Type 93 intermediate trainer seaplane. Each plane belonging to the Takuma Ku at Takuma base, had its trolley and propeller removed and one of the float's struts broken by the US occupation forces so that they could never fly again. The application of deep green black paint on the upper and lower wing's leading edges shows these planes were painted in typical late-war camouflage.
Lower: At Shiga prefecture, in front of lake Biwa's Otsu base, a group of K5Y2s are standing on the apron, with their main wings and engines removed, waiting to be disposed. Pay attention to the application of deep green-black paint on fuselage's upper surfaces only. The camouflaged backward hangar and apron give a dreary feeling. To the right, with holes at their floats, are sunken Zuiuns.

p. 59

Lower: A commemoration photo of an intermediate seaplane trainer belonging to the Otsu Ku. After the end of the training course, and after being deployed to an operational unit, harder final training is awaiting the pilot; after this final training, he will become a crewmember.