Hi all, I have been looking at the Mitsubishi F1M Pete, and just how versatile it was.
The question/s is how good was it at many of these jobs.
From Wiki
"The F1M was originally built as a catapult-launched reconnaissance float plane, specializing in gunnery spotting. The "Pete" took on a number of local roles including convoy escort, bomber, anti-submarine, maritime patrol, rescue, transport, and anti-shipping strike; for example sinking
Motor Torpedo Boat PT-34 on 9 April 1942. The type was also used as an area-defense fighter and engaged in aerial combat in the Aleutians, the Solomons and several other theaters. In the New Guinea front, it was often used in aerial combat with the Allied bombers and Allied fighters."
This sounds very impressive but look at some the jobs, like transport. One passenger? 100kg of cargo?
Now look at the Ryan ST.
Ex Dutch aircraft in Australia. around 108 delivered to the DEI and some of them were on floats.
Mainly trainers but possible transport? one passenger? fill the front cockpit with "stuff". At least they used a lot less fuel per transport mission
Ryans were fitted with one gun for training (I think out on the wing) and in South American service who knows for combat (strafing "rebels")
They were used for recon/patrol in the DEI campaign. How good they were at it is certainly subject to question.
Using a plane because it was the only thing available maybe more reflection on how desperate some situations were rather than how good or versatile a plane was.
Look at the Australian Wirraway trainer.
A fabric fuselaged Texan
One claimed a Ki-43. They were used for "the type performed aerial reconnaissance, photography, artillery spotting, communication, supply drops, dive-bombing, ground attack and propaganda drops" over New Guinea. Of note is the dive bombing. The standard plane could carry up to three 100lb bombs. A handful had dive brakes added and 135 were built with dive brakes and could lift two 500lbs and two 250lbs bombs (may have required leaving the rear seater on the ground and restricting the fuel load?). Supply of Lend Lease aircraft may have impacted their operational use?
Going back to the phrase "used as" they tried to use 8 Wirraway's to intercept around 100 Japanese bombers and fighters at Rabaul in Jan 1942. Only two survived without being shot down or heavily damaged. Granted those were impossible odds but "used as" does not mean successful.