Power was derived from an in-house Mitsubishi brand "Zuisei" Model 13 fourteen cylinder, twin-row radial piston engine of 875 horsepower. This helped to provide a maximum speed of 230 miles per hour, a range of 460 miles, and a service ceiling of 9,440 feet.
In terms of armament, the F1M carried 2 x 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns in fixed, forward-firing positions (to be managed by the pilot) and 1 x 7.7mm Type 2 machine gun on a trainable mount in the rear cockpit (for the observer). Its bombload tipped the scales at 265 pounds with a typical load out being 2 x 132lb weapons carried under the wings (one bomb to a wing).
Four prototypes of the F1M1 model emerged and these proved the design was not without flaws. Directional stability left something to be desired and water-handling characteristics were not entirely acceptable which forced an extensive period of testing and revision in which many facets of the aircraft were revised - often times for the better. The additional commitment led to the much improved F1M2 mark which became an excellent aircraft under the stresses of war. A two-seat version of this mark then appeared as the F1M2-K.
Mitsubishi managed the early production initiative for the IJN and totaled 524 aircraft before the charge fell to the 21st Naval Air Arsenal (Sasebo) and the remaining 590 aircraft followed to complete the 1,118 aircraft total (this total to include the four prototypes). The aircraft served on all manner of Japanese warships and became a proven performer, playing major and minor roles (including that of submarine-hunter and Search and Rescue) across a variety of major entanglements - from supporting amphibious assault operations to participation in famous battles such as the Battle of Midway during June of 1942. They were in play across the vastness of the Pacific campaign up until the end of the war in August of 1945 - such was its field value. By the end of the war, with the Japanese initiative all but lost to the advancing Allied tide, the remaining stock of F1M floatplanes was used as a local defense measure over the Japanese homeland where its value was decidedly reduced against better-performing, higher-flying aircraft used by the enemy.
To the Allies, the F1M was recognized under the codename of "Pete". The aircraft was also used by the forces of Indonesia and Thailand to an extent.
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