Mitsubishi A6M Reisen (Zero Fighter)

Purpose: Long range single engine fighter to replace the A5M with the ability to launch from both land and carrier.

Original Specifications:

1. Maximum speed of 311 mph at 13,125ft
2. Climbing speed, 3,000m in 9 min 30 sec
3. Endurance, 1.5 to 2 hours at normal rated power or 6 to 8 hr at economical cruising speed with drop tanks
4. Armament, two 20mm cannon and two 7.7 mm machine guns with provision for two 132lb bombs
5. Provision for full radio equipment including direction finding equipment
6. Take-off run, less than 230 ft with 27 kt headwind
7. Manoeuvrability at least equal to that of the Type 96 Carrier Fighter

Revisions & Types - Major Revisions:

• A6M1 (two prototypes)
  • 780 hp Mitsubishi Zuisei 13 Engine
  • All Metal
  • Two blad variable pitch propeller (later replaced by a three blad constant speed unit)
• A6M2 - Type 0 Model 11
  • Nakajima NK1C Sakae 12 Engine
  • Reinforced read wing spar (began on 22nd airframe produced)
• A6M2 - Type 0 Model 21
  • Folding wingtips to fit the standard deck elevators (began on 65th airframe)
  • Aileron tab balance added (192nd airframe)
• A6M3 - Type 0 Model 22
  • 1130 hp Sakae 21 fourteen cylinder radial engine
  • Two-speed supercharger
  • firewall moved 8 inches aft
  • Fuel tank capacity droped from 98 litres to 60 litres
  • Supercharger air intake moved to the upper lip of the cowl
  • Ammo for 20mm wing guns increased from 60 rounds/gun to 100 rounds/gun beginning with the 4th airframe
  • 49 litre tanks were added in each wing outboard of the cannon bay
• A6M3a - Type 0 Model 22a
  • Long barrell 20mm Type 99 Model 2 Mk 3 cannons
• A6M3 - Type 0 Model 32 "Hap"
  • Folding wingtips removed
  • Clipped wings
• A6M4 (2 modified A6M2's as prototypes)
  • Turbosuper charged Sakae engine
• A6M5 Model 52
  • New wings with a heavier gauge skin
  • Redesigned non-folding wing-tips
  • Wing span reduced to 36' 11 1/16"
  • New thrust individual exhaust stacks providing some thrust augementation were fitted.
  • Weight increase of 416 lb
• A6M5a Model 52a
  • Even heavier gauge wing skin which allowed for an increse in diving speed to 460 mpg
  • Type 99 Model 2 Mk 3 cannons (100 rpg) replace by Type 99 Model 2 Mk4 Cannons (125 rpg)
• A6M5b Model 52b
  • Jointly developed by Mitsubishi and Dai-Ichi Kaigun Kokusho
  • Armored glass was installed just behind the windshield glass
  • Fuel tanks had auotmatic fire extinguishers
  • One 7.7mm Type 97 machine gun replaced by a 12.3mm Type 3 machine-gun.
• A6M5c Model 52c
  • Two additional 13.2 mm Type 3 machine-guns in the wing outboard of the cannon
  • Mounting an armor plate behind the pilots seat
  • Fitting a 30.8 gallon self-sealing fuel tank behind the cockpit
  • Installing wing racks for unguided air-to-air missiles.
  • Increased the thickness of the wing covering in the area of the gun bays.
• A6M5d-S (unofficial designation)
  • Night-fighter version
  • Obliquefiring 20mm cannon in the rear fuselage.
• A6M6c Model 53c
  • Water-methanol boosted Sakae 31 engine
• A6M7 Model 63
  • Designed to be a dive-bomber
  • Special bomb rack
  • Reinforced tailplane
  • Two 77 gallon wing drop tanks attached outboard of the 13.2 mm machine guns.
• A6M8 Model 64
  • Forward fuselage was redesigned to accomodate new engine.
  • 1560 hp Mitsubishi MK8P Kinsei 62
  • Removal of the fuselage-mounted guns
  • Fuel tank fire-extinguishing system improved.

Production

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Last Revision 02/01/00