Power was from a single Hitachi "Tempu 12" 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine delivering 340 horsepower and driving a three-bladed propeller in puller fashion. Maximum achievable speed could reach 153 miles per hour while cruising was normally done near 105 miles per hour. Range was out to 550 miles and the aircraft's service ceiling reached 17,780 feet.
E14Y aircraft were designed to be enclosed in hangars added to attack submarines that included such types as the I-21 and I-25. The hangar facility was typically added to the front of the conning tower (sail) and allowed the submarine to retain its submersible capability and overall function. In this fashion, the boat could travel on the surface (or under it) in the usual way and, when required, completely surface to expose the hangar. The aircraft within was assembled and could be flown as normal, expanding the range of the submarine and providing important information from a bird's eye perspective. As the aircraft used floats for water-running, it could then be recovered and reused at a later time.
The E14Y has the distinction of several notable encounters over Allied terrain during World War 2. It is the only aircraft to have flown over the country of New Zealand when, in March of 1942, an E14Y photographed Allied forces at Wellington. This aircraft was launched from submarine I-25. Another, launched from I-21, flew over Auckland in late-May.
Perhaps the most notable of all the E14Y's actions was its flyover (and subsequent bombing) of the United States in what became known as "The Lookout Raid". This took place on September 9th, 1942 when an E14Y took off from I-25 near Brookings, Oregon. The two-crew and their aircraft flew over forested areas and dropped their incendiary bombs causing little damage but striking confusion and fear into the locals. This marked the only incident of enemy bombs being dropped on U.S. soil. No injuries were had but it was a bold initiative on the part of the Japanese - similar to America's "Doolittle Raid" on Tokyo itself in April of 1942 though on a much smaller scale.
E14Y aircraft operated until their value dwindled due to the changing fortunes of war (or their "host boats" were lost). Submarine I-21 was sunk in September of 1943 and I-21 followed in November. Three of the Type A1 submarines were completed from the five initially planned - these designed to carry the aircraft as well. All three were lost in the fighting of World War 2.
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