Naval Aircraft Manufacturing Department

丙型, Type C

The 丙型 (Bǐng Xíng, Type C) (also sometimes Ping or Beeng, after the Chinese pronounciation) was a three-seat reconnaissance flying boat, with one pilot and two gunners. There was also space for 3 passengers. It’s full designation is 丙型拖進式雙翼水上轟炸機 (Bǐng Xíng Tuōjìn Shì Shuāng Yì Shuǐshàng Sōngzhàjī, Type C towed biplane water bomber). It was mainly constructed of fir and white chestnut wood.

Two aircraft were build. The first was build under the supervision of Russian lieutenant Mikhail Safonov and was completed in May 1924. On the 27th of May, Sofanov died when he crashed the plane. The second plane was finished in April 1925. A training aircraft called 江鹳 Jiāng guàn, “River stork” was possibly also build in April 1926, however no details are known, nor if this plane was actually build.

丁型, Type D

The 丁型 (Dīng Xíng, Type D) (also sometimes Ting , after the Chinese pronounciation) was a four-person torpedo bomber. It had two pilots side-by-side, with two gunner behind. A cabin inside the fuselage contained the bombing gear, but could also accomodate four passengers. A torpedo could be carried between the foats under the fuselage, no trails are known were a torpedo was dropped. Two aircraft were constructed, with possibly orders for two more in November 1929

• 海雕 (Hǎi diāo, Sea Eagle) was completed in August 1929. It was shipped from Fuchow to Shanghai in December 1929 by ship and assembled at the Kaochangmiao Naval Establishment by Captain Kao Shuching. On 19 February 1930 is was there succesfully tested, and by May it was prepared for shipment back to Shanghai.
• 海鷹 (Hǎi Yīng, Sea Hawk) was completed September 1929.
• 海鷗號 (Hǎi’ōu hào, Seagull)

戊型, Type E

The 戊型 (Wù Xíng, Type E) was a three person reconnaissance / general purpose floatplane. It was constructed using a wooden Warren truss fuselage with no metal fittings or wires. Three planes were created. Camera equipment could be installed.

In September 1927, Wang Zhu (王助), Deputy Director of the Naval Aircraft Engineering Bureau, led flight instructors Lin An (林安) and Chen Shenhu (陳神護), along with the aircraft Jiāng Guàn and Jiāng Lù, to Shanghai’s West Battery along the Huangpu River to carry out combat readiness missions. These planes were used operationally in the Northern Expedition on the banks of Huangpu River after the navy switched sides.

In May 1928, the Northeastern Navy dispatched the warships 海圻 (Haiqi) and 鎮海 (Zhenhai) to attack Wusongkou. Aircraft from the Zhenhai launched attacks on defensive forces. In response, A-3 and E-2 were deployed, successfully repelling the Northeastern Navy.

• 戊一江鸛 (Wù yī Jiāng Guàn, E-1 River Stork) was completed in April 1926 using an unspecified 100 hp inline engine, possibly a Hall-Scott A-7a.
• 戊二江鳧 (Wù Èr Jiāng Fú, E-2 River wigeon) was completed in April 1927 using a 100 Bristol Lucifer engine. Used an exhaust collection ring in front of the engine, with a long exhaust on the left side of the fuselage, setting it visually apart from the E-3.
• 戊三江鷺 (Wù Sì Jiāng Lù, E-3 River Heron) was completed in September 1927 using a 120-130 hp Bristol Lucifer engine. Records show that this aircraft was damaged in battle.

All aircraft were scrapped in February 1931.

Author’s note:

• Xiaoci states that there are four aircraft, but the aircraft visually as the A-4, is in contemporary sources labeled as 戊三, the A-3 (Photo nr. 2010-001-0052-086, Wong Tsoo’s album).
• The names of these aircraft aren’t printed on the side, and sources don’t quite agree what name bore what name (and if the 3th plane bore any name at all).

Due to these discrepancies, there may be some errors. The information should be regarded as the best-effort by the author to find the truth.

己型, Type F

The 己型 (Jǐ Xíng, Type F) (also sometimes Chi or Gi) was a two-seat advancer trainer. It could also be used as a bomber or liaison aircraft. Two aircraft were completed. It was powered by a 165 hp Wright R-504E Whirlwind engine. Opposed to most aircraft developed by Mawei, it was constructed using a tubular frame. This was supplemented by fir wood covering. The angle of the tail could be adjusted during flight.

• 江鴻 (Jiāng Hóng / Chiang Hung, River Wild Swan). Construction began in September 1929, and was completed in June 1930. It was test-flown by Commander Chen Wen-lin and Hans Bertram, a German pilot hired by the Chinese navy. After official testing it was flown from Fuzhou to Xiamen and Back. In 1930, pilot 許成啟 (Xǔ Chéngqǐ) flew the Jiāng Hóng to Wuhan, marking the longest flight ever achieved by an aircraft manufactured by the Naval Aircraft Manufacturing Department.
• 江雁 (Jiāng Yàn / Chiang Yen, River Wild Goose) was completed in August 1930. Chen and Bertram were planning to fly to Singapore from Amoy with this aricraft, but this flight was never performed.

庚型, Type G

The 庚型 (Gēng Xíng, Type G) (also sometimes Keng or Gen) was developed from the type F, based on two new requirements:

• It needed to be usable for both sea and land training. To accomplish this, the aircraft’s landing gear and floats were designed to be interchangeable. The landing gear and float support struts, as well as their connecting joints, formed a complete set of landing apparatus. The aircraft’s center of gravity was equipped with a suspension point to allow the entire plane to be hoisted for conversion between configurations in approximately ten minutes.
• Space efficiency. To accomplish this the Type G had foldable wings. The fuselage was made narrower, and the central section of the upper wing matched the width of the fuselage. The wing chord was shortened to reduce the space required when the wings were folded. Due to the shorter chord and reduced wing area, combined with a limited spar length, “high-lift” airfoil sections were employed. The mechanism connecting the wings to the fuselage was simplified, enabling the wings to be folded or unfolded in under a minute.

In addition to these changes, the Type G also had a smaller tail surface. The rectangular float-shape of the Type F was also redesigned. The top of the floats were semi-circular and the bottoms were V-shaped curves. This streamlined design reduced resistance both in the air and on water. The frame and covering methods underwent significant updates, though the floats’ interior and exterior were still coated with tung oil and raw lacquer. Both cockpits were equipped with controls.

Two aircraft were produced.

• 庚型一号 「江鶴」 (Gēng Xíng Yī Hào “Jiāng hè”, Type G No.1 “River Crane”)
  was completed and succesfully tested on October 5th, 1931.
• 庚型一号 「江鳳」 (Gēng Xíng Èr Hào “Jiāng Fèng“, Type G No.2 River Phoenix¹)
  The Jiāng Fèng was completed and successfully tested in October 1931. On June 13, German pilot Brill conducted a flight demonstration at Shanghai’s Jiangwan Airfield, using it’s floats. Brill . Later in the same month, Brill together with 曾詒經 (Zēng Yíjīng, Y K Tseng) made a tour up de the Yangtze river. Starting in Shanghai, they passed Zhenjiang, Nanjing, Wuhu, Anqing, Jiujiang, and Hankou, arriving in Yuezhou on June 27. They planned to continue to Changsha but returned to Shanghai for repairs due to water leakage in the floats caused by rough conditions on the Yangtze River.
  This long-distance flight aimed to assess the aircraft’s performance. The findings revealed that the floats were not robust enough to withstand significant wave impact, highlighting areas for improvement in the manufacturing process. After repairs, the Jiāng Fèng was refitted with landing gear for land operations and flew to Hangzhou and Xiamen.

辛型, Type H

The 辛型 (Xīn Xíng, Type H) (also sometimes Hsin) was developed as a replacement for the Aichi AB-3 for usage on the river cruiser 甯海 (Ning Hai, peaceful seas). In 1932, The navy reported that the the AB-3 wasn’t found satisfactory as it didn’t have folding wings, meaning it had to be disassembled for stowage. Therefore, an order was placed for a new plane. A new plane was designed by Mar Te-tsu. It was quite similar to the AB-3, but had folding wings. The engine used was a backup engine of the AB-3.

A single Type H was build, bearing the same name as the ship, Xīn Xíng (sometimes also written as 寧海). It was completed in July 1933. On August 6, Navy flight instructors He Jian and Xu Chengqi conducted test flights. On October 10 1934, Chengqi flew the aircraft to Nanjing’s Xiaguan district, where a handover ceremony was hosted by Chen Shaokuan to deliver the aircraft to the “Ning Hai” cruiser.

In August 1937, shortly after the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, China’s main fleet retreated from the south to the north and from the sea to the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. To block enemy advances, ships were scuttled along the Jiangyin stretch of the river to obstruct navigation, while resistance was mounted from the Jiangyin Fortress. The aircraft was transferred to the Aviation Committee under further orders, but its fate remains unknown. The cruisers Ning Hai, the Ping Hai were successively attacked by Japanese aircraft on August 23 and 24 and sunk near Jiangyin

Interestingly, the Ning Hai had provisions for two planes, however only one Type H was carried. The sister ship of the Ning Hai, the Ping Hai had it’s hangers removed and therefore didn’t need a plane.