The was a Japanese manufacturer of military
aircraft during
World War II. While it mainly manufactured other firms' designs, it was notable for the radical
J7W "Shinden" fighter. Named after
Kyushu
is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surroun ...
island where the company was based.
The company originated from
Fukuoka-based ''Watanabe Tekkōjo'' (Watanabe Steel Foundry), which started building aircraft in 1935. In 1943 the aircraft division was spun off as ''Kyūshū Hikōki'', while the original company was renamed ''Kyūshū Heiki'' (Kyūshū Armaments).
After the war, the company was renamed ''Watanabe Jidōsha Kōgyō'' (Watanabe Automobile Industries) and manufactured automobile bodies and parts. It was dissolved in 2001.
Products
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E9W - 'Slim' 1935 submarine-based reconnaissance
floatplane
A floatplane is a type of seaplane with one or more slender floats mounted under the fuselage to provide buoyancy. By contrast, a flying boat uses its fuselage for buoyancy. Either type of seaplane may also have landing gear suitable for land, ...
*
J7W 震電 ''Shinden'' (Magnificent Lightning) - 1945 pusher fighter prototype
*
K6W - WS-103 seaplane for
Royal Siamese Navy
The Royal Siamese Armed Forces (Thai: กองทัพหลวง) were the armed forces of the Thai monarchy from the 12th to 19th centuries. The term refers to the military forces of the Sukhothai Kingdom, the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the Thonburi ...
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K8W - 1938 floatplane trainer prototype, lost to the Kawanishi K8K
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K9W カエデ ''Momiji'' (Maple) - 'Cypress' 1939 basic trainer; license-built Bücker Bu 131 Jüngmann
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K10W - 'Oak' 1943 intermediate trainer
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K11W 白菊 ''Shiragiku'' (White Chrysanthemum) - 1943 crew trainer
*
Q1W 東海 ''Tokai'' (Eastern Sea) - 'Lorna' 1945 ASW/patrol aircraft
*
Q3W 南海 ''Nankai'' (South Sea) - 1945 ASW/patrol aircraft prototype based on the K11W
References
Defunct aircraft manufacturers of Japan
Kyushu
is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surroun ...
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