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It was designed for use as a reconnaissance aircraft, bomber, torpedo plane, or antisubmarine aircraft. Given the Allied code name 'Emily', the plane made its combat debut in an attack on Oahu, Hawaii, on the night of March 4-5, 1942 - the second attack on Pearl Harbor (Operation K). The Emily was widely used in the Pacific War despite the small number built, and it earned the respect of U.S. fighter pilots as being a difficult plane to attack and shoot down. The prototype H8K1 made its maiden flight in Jan. 1941. Production totaled only 167 aircraft, including thirty-six H8k2-L transports and two improved H8K3 variants. The 'Emily' was a high-wing aircraft with a deep, stepped fuselage; four radial engines were fitted in the wings and the aircraft had large, fixed stabilizing floats. The improved H8K2 had upgraded engines, fully protected fuel tanks, armor protection for the crew, and surface search radar. The H8K2-L Seiku (Clear Sky) was a transport variant that could be configured to carry up to sixty-four passengers. The experimental H8K3 variant had retractable wing-tip floats and a retractable dorsal gun turret.
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