Zero | Aircraft | Aircraft Links Zero - $5.95 The pre-series A6M2 Zero became known in 1940-41, when the fighter destroyed 266 confirmed aircraft in China. At the time of Pearl Harbor, there were 420 Zeros active in the Pacific. The carrier-borne Model 21 was the type encountered by the Americans, often much further from its carriers than expected, with a mission range of over 1600 statute miles. Mitsubishi A6M Zero WWII Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Reisen Zero This little Japanese Fighter was a real threat to Allied forces in the Pacific. With a little care you can glue clear plastic to the back of the canopy piece for a real neat effect. The markings of the model chosen are those of the first wave of Pearl Harbor attackers and certainly rounds out our WWII series of Top Ten Fighters. A6M2 of fighter complement of carrier Hiryu (signified by tail coding "BII") during attack on Pearl Harbor, December 1941. Cobalt blue tail band indicated flight leader and twin fuselage bands signified second carrier in 2nd Carrier Division (1 st Air Fleet).

The A6M Reisen (Zero Fighter) was unique among WWII combat aircraft in creating a myth. The Allies credited the Reisen with almost mystical powers of maneuver, fostering a myth of Japanese aerial invincibility. Everything to the Japanese that the Spitfire was to the British, the Reisen was a lightly constructed but extraordinarily capable fighter first flown on 1 April 1939, series aircraft entering service early in 1941. Excluding float-equipped and training versions a total of 10,449 Reisen's was manufactured. Here are photos of Fiddlers Zero patterns used with Coke's new Zero. How could I resist? The Quick Grip contact cement is working quite well. I hope Coke is producing larger size cans as these small ones are quite limiting. The fuselage took some finagling. Bob Reisen A6M Zero-Sen by Mitsubishi I threw some layers of transparency down on a water texture and had a bit of sunken Zeke under the waves. I just hopped into my Pacific Fighters simulator and took a photo of the Zero at the right angle. The frame I borrowed from my display of Russian aircraft stamps.

RM Dan When the Japanese Navy struck at Pearl Harbor on Sunday, 7 December 1941, the Americans already possessed files on the A6M in the form of detailed combat reports from Colonel Claire Chennault in far-off Chungking, China. Nobody had bothered to disseminate the information, and for a second time this agile and well armed fighter caused a great shock and made mincemeat of the motley collection of aircraft that opposed it. In six months the Sentais (fighter groups) equipped with the A6M had so dominated the sky that the Imperial forces had conquered over 12 million square miles, a far greater area than had ever previously been overrun by one nation. The A6M kept appearing in places where Japanese fighters had been judged 'impossible', sometimes almost 1,000 miles from the nearest advanced Japanese airbase or carrier. In combat it could outmaneuver practically every Allied fighter, and its firepower was also superior. The A6M came to symbolize the previously unappreciated fact that Japanese weapons were not made of bamboo and rice-paper, nor were they inferior copies of Occidental ones.

In its own homeland it was the focal point of a part-religious belief in Nipponese invincibility. The name of Jiro Horikoshi was better-known in Japan even than that of Reginald Mitchell in the UK, because he was the genius who had created the miraculous fighter that decimated its enemies. Of course the A6M was not really miraculous. Back in 1937 the British Gloster company had flown a prototype fighter that almost precisely paralleled the A6M in size, shape, weight, power and performance - and it was not even accepted for the RAF. At that time Horikoshi was making the first drawings of his new fighter to try to meet a newly issued Imperial Navy specification that called for a shipboard fighter with the maneuverability of his earlier A5M (one of the most agile aircraft ever built) despite the burden of two 20-mm cannon as well as the two machine-guns carried by the A5M, two 132-lb bombs, full radio, an engine to give a speed of 311 mph and an endurance of eight hours with a drop tank.

(It should be noted that the Imperial Navy measured speeds in knots, so that required of the new fighter was 270 knots.) A6M Known to the Japanese as the Reisen(Zero fighter) and to the Allies as the "Zeke", the A6M was one of the decisive weapons of WWII. The prototype flew in April 1939, and the production up to the end of the war amounted to some 10,450 fighters. The A6M2 entered service in summer of 1940, and for the first time a carrier fighter offered performance equal to or better than that of land based fighters. This is a model of one of the actual planes that attacked Pearl Harbor on the "day of infamy". Overall scheme was light gray with blue signifying the Second Air Division, the two stripes indicating the second ship. The tail code also meant the same (B=2ndAD, II=2nd ship) Construction Tips! This is another model that the nose fits over the fuselage (see Error alert on left). The ZERO fuselage is fairly rounded and needs no extra effort to shape.

Also, like our other WWII models, the wing fairing's are bent outward before the wing is attached. This is the prettiest model of the series and you really should buy a few dozen or so to recreate the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday December 7, 1941 Captain Joe Cangero writes: Toughest part of the model for me was gluing on the individual prop blades. I double up the blades before coloring the reverse side, but keeping them aligned while the glue dried was a bear. The spinner went together nicely, especially when I stuffed the inside with tissue paper to help hold the rounded shape. I did make a small round insert for the back of the spinner -- it made it real easy to then insert a toothpick into the back of the spinner and then into the front of the engine disc for a propeller that spins. I had to cut the engine disc down a bit because it seemed a little too big for the front ring and cowling.

Flat tooth picks between the folded main landing gear struts fit perfectly and added a lot of stability when a small piece at the top is popped into a hole drilled into the underside of the wing The result was wholly conventional, with stressed-skin structure, split flaps, wide-track inward-retracting landing gear and a radial engine driving a variable-pitch propeller. After some argument a sliding canopy was added over the cockpit, and the newly demanded cannon (Type 99 Model 1, derived from the Oerlikon) were fitted in the wings, outboard of the propeller disc. Its designation was naturally A6M,A for carrier-based fighter and 6M for the sixth such type by Mitsubishi. It's popular name was Reisen (Reisen, zero fighter), from the Japanese year 2600 (1940 A.D.). The first A6M1, with a 780-hp Mitsubishi Zuisei 13 engine, flew at Kagamigahara on 1 April1939, and showed outstanding qualities except in its speed of 304 mph which just missed the target.

A constant-speed propeller gave an increase in all-round performance, but more power was needed and on 28 December 1939 the third prototype, designated A6M2, flew with the 925-hp Nakajima Sakae 12. This prototype exceeded all expectations, and by July1940 the A6M2 had been cleared for production. It was decided to send 15 to China to test them in action with the 12th Rengo Kokutai. They got their first victim on 13 September 1940, and though two A6M2s were shot down by ground fire their air combat record was a remarkable 99 victories for no losses before they were redeployed for the war in the Pacific. From the 22nd A6M2 the rear spar was strengthened, and from the 65th the outermost 20 in of the wings was hinged to fold upwards manually. In June 1941 the A6M3 had these tips omitted, and with the 1,130-hp Sakae 21 engine offered higher speed and more rapid roll, though turn radius was slightly worsened.

At Pearl Harbor the Imperial Navy had 328 A6Ms embarked aboard carriers, and from the start they achieved complete mastery over the Curtiss P-40, Curtiss-Wright CW-21A, Brewster Buffalo, Hawker Hurricane I and other opponents. For example the hapless Buffaloes of the RAE, RAAF, RNZAF and Dutch East Indies were so out flown their 12.7-mm guns were replaced by 7.62-mm weapons, ammunition was cut by half and fuel by more than one-third, and still they could not bring their guns to bear over the more agile and much harder-hitting A6M. Not knowing what the fighter was called, the Allies named it 'Ben' then 'Ray' and finally 'Zeke'. The clipped-wing model was called 'Hap', until someone recalled that that was the nickname of the USAAF Chief of Staff, General H. H. Arnold, when it became 'Hamp'. When the type was recognized as merely another version of the 'Zeke' it was called 'Zeke 32'.

But desperate attempts to gather even pieces of the almost supernatural fighter proved elusive, until suddenly US troops found a perfect A6M2 in the Aleutians. Petty Officer Koga had taken off from the carrier Ryujo on 3 June to attack Dutch Harbor, but two bullets had severed the fuel supply pipe and he had glided in to the uninhabited island of Akutan. Landing on marshy ground, the A6M had somersaulted and Koga had broken his neck. The valuable prize was soon on test at NAS North Island, San Diego, where the myths were blown away and the A6M's numerous shortcomings revealed. For one thing, it is possible to do only so much on 1,130-hp. The A6M airframe was lightly built, and the vital parts were by Western standards deficient in armour. Tactics were worked out to gain superiority in combat, but at least as important was the first flight, on the other side of the United States, of the first Grumman F6F Hellcat in June 1942.

Larger and heavier than the A6M, this US Navy fighter had a 2,000-hp engine: this enabled it to be stronger, tougher and better protected and yet outfight the A6M in a dogfight. Another US Navy and Marines fighter, the bent-wing Vought F4U Corsair, was even more formidable, and the US Army's P-38 was not only much faster but could stay with an A6M at all heights above 10,000 ft despite being much larger. And all these Allied fighters had firepower that could actually cause an A6M to break up into pieces. Seaplane variant In autumn 1940 an Imperial Navy specification called for a fighter seaplane to operate over isolated beachheads and beyond the range even of the A6M, and, while the powerful Kawanishi NiKi (which in turn was eventually to lead to a formidable land-based fighter) was developed, the Nakajima company was instructed to build a seaplane A6M. The resulting A6M2-N flew on the day of Pearl Harbor and was soon in action.

Though as neat a conversion as could be imagined, it was inevitably inferior to Allied fighters and though 327 were delivered, the last in September 1943, they did not achieve very much. Another off-mainstream variant was the tandem dual control A6M2-K advanced trainer, which was the responsibility of the 21st Naval Air Arsenal, at Sasebo. Not even started until 1943, the first two-seater flew in November that year, and eventually 515 were built in two versions, with cannon and landing-gear doors removed to save weight. At Mitsubishi, Horikoshi had from 1940 pressed for a successor to the A6M, with his company's 2,200-hp MK9 engine, but this was repeatedly delayed, and the old A6M had to be kept in production, both at the parent firm and (in even greater numbers) by Nakajima. A 1943 attempt to improve performance at medium and high altitudes came to nothing: the 1st Air Technical Arsenal at Yokosuka fitted two A6M2s with turbo charged Sakae engines, but these were gravely unreliable.

Nothing could be done but hastily to contrive an interim improved version, the A6M5; and, like so many hasty interim fighters, such as the Spitfire Mk IX, it was made in greater numbers than all the others. The chief modification was a new wing, with fixed rounded tips of 36 ft in span and thicker skins to enable the new version to dive at much higher speeds; previously limitations in diving speed had made the Zero easy to catch. This added 416 lb to the weight, and did nothing for maneuverability, but a slight improvement in performance resulted from fitting individual or paired exhaust pipes to the 14 cylinders with nozzles arranged to give forward thrust at full power. Together with a careful detail refinement all this added up to a significantly better fighter, and when it reached combat units in numbers in the autumn of 1943, the A6M5 did something to redress the balance which had rather quickly tilted towards the US Navy with the entry to combat duty of the F6F Hellcat.

A 1943 attempt to improve performance at medium and high altitudes came to nothing: the 1st Air Technical Arsenal at Yokosuka fled two A6M2s with turbo charged Sakae engines, but these were gravely unreliable. Nothing could be done but hastily to contrive an interim improved version, the A6M5; and, like so many hasty interim fighters, such as the Spitfire Mk IX, it was made in greater numbers than all the others. The chief modification was a new wing, with fixed rounded tips of 36 ft span and thicker skins to enable the new version to dive at much higher speeds; previously limitations in diving speed had made the Zero easy to catch. This added 416 lb to the weight, and did nothing for maneuverability, but a slight improvement in performance resulted from fitting individual or paired exhaust pipes to the 14 cylinders with nozzles arranged to give forward thrust at full power.

Together with a careful detail refinement all this added up to a significantly better fighter, and when it reached combat units in numbers in the autumn of 1943, the A6M5 did something to redress the balance which had rather quickly tilted towards the US Navy with the entry to combat duty of the F6F Hellcat. Sheer lack of power in the Japanese fighter meant that it was far behind its opponent in armour and firepower, and in its ability to withstand battle damage. Lack of power was also the reason for the rate of climb falling off, compared with the lighter earlier versions, to levels below that of the heavyweight F6F. Even with thicker wing skins the A6M could not escape by diving away; in fact faced with an F6F, F4U or Spitfire Mk VIII there was no way an A6M pilot could survive except by exceptional flying, amazing luck or shooting down his opponent. And, as 1943 proceeded, this became more and more difficult. Fortune turns For one thing, the Allied fighters were not only getting dramatically superior but they were arriving in floods that completely overwhelmed the Japanese.

Even in 1941-2 the Zeros had been outnumbered, but they had been deployed in concentrated groups that gained total local control and inflicted catastrophic losses, whilst the motley collections of Allied machines were scattered and often under no central direction. By 1943 the US Navy, US Marines, US Army Air Force and British Commonwealth forces were all coordinated and enjoyed numerical superiority everywhere. Not least of the Imperial Navy's problems was its rapid attrition in aircraft-carriers. Even as early as the Battle of Midway in June 1942 - often regarded as the start of the turnaround in fortunes in the Pacific war - the great carriers Akagi, Hityu, Kaga and Sotyu were all sunk; the light carrier Shoho had been sunk a month earlier, and Ryujo went to the bottom in August 1942. These crippling losses in seagoing air power gravely restricted the Imperial Navy's ability ever again to achieve command of the sky, at any place or at any time. There was yet a further serious problem which had as much effect as all other factors combined. In air combat the man is every bit as important as the machine.

Even flying an inferior aircraft, in the rather primitive days of World War II, a brilliant and courageous pilot could often run up strings of victories over opponents flying faster or better-armed aircraft. In 1941 the Imperial Navy pilots had been well trained, and were aggressive and in most cases experienced. Many had seen a year or more of actual fighting in China or against the USSR, and in their hands a Zero was deadly. By 1943 hardly any of these pilots were still alive, and their replacements were by comparison ineffectual. The home-based training program was wholly inadequate, and by autumn 1944 the once-dominant Sentais were being reorganized into kamikaze (suicide) squads in a desperate attempt to stem the tide of Allied advance.

Improved armament Throughout the war the need for long range had been manifest, but whereas at the start the A6M had been supreme in this regard, especially after its experienced pilots had learned correct long-range cruise techniques at high boost pressure but low crankshaft revolutions, by 1943 the Sakae 21 had resulted in smaller fuselage tankage (in part rectified by adding two small 45-litre/9.9-Imp gal tanks in the outer wings) and appreciably higher fuel consumption. Crucial need to keep weight down precluded heavier armament, though the Type 99 cannon was improved through several versions with a longer barrel and higher muzzle velocity, rate of fire increased from 490 to an eventual 750 rounds per minute, and a 125-round belt in place of the original 100-round drum. The greater muzzle velocity had the possibly important effect of extending the effective range (typically from 12,624ft to 3,281ft, this was one factor where the A6M could have scored over the US fighters that relied on the 12.7-mm (0.5-in) Browning.

In practice, Japanese pilots lacked the shooting skill to open fire accurately at long ranges, and at normal air-combat distances the much more rapid rate of strikes from the typical US armament of six 12.7-mm (0.5-in) guns proved decisive. When fitted with the long-barrel belt-fed cannon the A6M5 became the A6M5a, available from production in the spring of 1944. Within weeks the A6M5b, was coming off the line, and this partly rectified one of the type's gravest shortcomings, lack of protection. The A6M5b had improved armour, automatic fire-extinguishers in the main fuel tanks and a slab of bullet-proof glass behind the windscreen. A small increase in firepower resulted from substituting the 13.2-mm Type 3 heavy machine-gun for one of the rifle caliber weapons ahead of the windscreen.

Hundreds of A6M5a and A6M5b fighters took part in the great battles around the Marianas and Philippines in the summer of 1944, but the first major engagement of the A6M5b was such a slaughter at the hands of F6Fs that US pilots called it 'The Marianas Turkey Shoot'. To a considerable degree this was because of the superior skill of the American pilots. Desperate Measures This debacle spurred the Imperial Navy into a further desperate attempt to improve the A6M, a requirement being issued for racks for underwing rockets, extra 13.2-mm guns outboard of the cannon, a large additional fuel tank behind the cockpit and a fully armored pilot seat. If the A6M had needed extra power beforehand, it doubly needed it now, but permission to fit a larger engine was not granted. After building 93 with the improvements demanded Mitsubishi did receive some Sakae 31 engines, with extra power gained by injecting water/methanol to prevent detonation at full throttle, but most of these engines were retained by the maker, Nakajima, which went into production with the resulting A6M6c at the end of 1944.

This was the final model of Reisen to see action, and it could not do more than earlier models to hold back the overwhelming advance of the Allied land, sea and air forces towards Japan. The A6M7 was equipped to carry a 551-lb bomb as well as outer-wing drop tanks. The A6M8 at last had a more powerful engine, the 1,560-hp Mitsubishi Kinsei 62, resulting in a slightly larger cowling and removal of the machine-guns previously fitted above it. This did not fly until May 1945 and no production aircraft could be completed. There were many experimental forms of armament and special equipment fits, but by far the most important were the kamikaze lash-ups with, usually, a 551-lb bomb hung on the rack normally used for the centerline drop tank.

Total production of the A6M was 10,449 (3,879 by Mitsubishi and 6,570 by Nakajima), and these were complemented by 327 Nakajima-built A6M2-Ns, and 515 A6M2-Ks and A6MS-Ks (236 by DaiNijuichi Kaigun Kokusho and 279 by Hitachi Kokuki KK). Mitsubishi A6M Zero: "Recognition of the Japanese Zero Fighter" 1943 USAAF; Ronald Reagan - YouTube Mitsubishi A6M Zero: "Recognition of the Japanese Zero Fighter" 1943 USAAF; Ronald Reagan Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Published on May 1, 2015 more at "Military training film on the characteristics, capabilities, weaknesses, and recognition of the World War II Japanese fighter aircraft, Mitsubishi A6M Rei Shiki Kanjo Sento Ki, known as the Zero." Starring Ronald Reagan as a fighter pilot who first mistakes a friendly aircraft for a Zero, but eventually gets it straight. Reupload of a previously uploaded film, in one piece instead of multiple parts, and with improved sound and video. US Army Training Film TF1-3302 Public domain film from the National Archives, slightly cropped to remove uneven edges, with the aspect ratio corrected, and mild video noise reduction applied.. The soundtrack was also processed with volume normalization, noise reduction, clipping reduction, and equalization. The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter, and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter.

The A6M was usually referred to by the Allies as the "Zero", from the 'Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter' designation. The official Allied reporting name was Zeke. When it was introduced early in World War II, the Zero was considered the most capable carrier-based fighter in the world, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range. In early combat operations, the Zero gained a legendary reputation as a "dogfighter", achieving the outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by mid-1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled the Allied pilots to engage the Zero on more equal terms... Although the Mitsubishi A6M was outdated by 1944, it was never totally supplanted by the newer Japanese aircraft types. During the final years of the War in the Pacific, the Zero was used in kamikaze operations. In the course of the war, more Zeros were built than any other Japanese aircraft... The Mitsubishi A5M fighter was just entering service in early 1937, when the Imperial Japanese Navy started looking for its eventual replacement. In May they issued specification 12-Shi for a new carrier-based fighter, sending it to Nakajima and Mitsubishi.

Both firms started preliminary design work while they awaited more definitive requirements to be handed over in a few months. Based on the experiences of the A5M in China, the Navy sent out updated requirements in October calling for a speed of 500 km/h (310 mph) at 4,000 m (13,120 ft) and a climb to 3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 3.5 min. With drop tanks, they wanted an endurance of two hours at normal power, or six to eight hours at economical cruising speed. Armament was to consist of two 20 mm cannons, two 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine guns and two 30 kg (70 lb) or 60 kg (130 lb) bombs. A complete radio set was to be mounted in all aircraft, along with a radio direction finder for long-range navigation. The maneuverability was to be at least equal to that of the A5M, while the wing span had to be less than 12 m (39 ft) to allow for use on aircraft carriers.

All this was to be achieved with available engines, a significant design limitation. (The Zero's power plant seldom reached 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) in any of its variants). Nakajima's team considered the new requirements unachievable and pulled out of the competition in January. Mitsubishi's chief designer, Jiro Horikoshi, felt that the requirements could be met, but only if the aircraft could be made as light as possible. Every possible weight-saving measure was incorporated into the design. Most of the aircraft was built of a new top-secret 7075 aluminium alloy developed by Sumitomo Metal Industries in 1936. Called Extra Super Duralumin (ESD), it was lighter and stronger than other alloys (e.g. 24S alloy) used at the time, but was more brittle and prone to corrosion... No armor was provided for the pilot, engine or other critical points of the aircraft, and self-sealing fuel tanks, which were becoming common at the time, were not used. This made the Zero lighter and more agile than most other aircraft at the start of the war, but also made it prone to catching fire and exploding when struck by enemy rounds.

With its low-wing cantilever monoplane layout, retractable, wide-set landing gear and enclosed cockpit, the Zero was one of the most modern aircraft in the world at the time of its introduction. It had a fairly high-lift, low-speed wing with a very low wing loading. This, combined with its light weight, resulted it a very low stalling speed of well below 60 kn (110 km/h; 69 mph). This was the main reason for its phenomenal maneuverability, allowing it to out-turn any Allied fighter of the time... Category Mitsubishi A6M - Japanese aircraft - World of Warplanes North American official forum World of Warplanes North American official forum 37 replies to this topic Glog97 #1 Posted 24 October 2011 - 01:52 PM Command Chief Master Sergeant Member since: 10-18-2011 Zero was a Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) army long range fighter. When it was introduced early in World War II, the Zero was considered the most capable carrier-based fighter in the world, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range.

In early combat operations, the Zero gained a legendary reputation as a "dogfighter", achieving the outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by mid-1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled the Allied pilots to engage the Zero on more equal terms.

General characteristics Length: 9.06 m (29 ft 9 in) Wingspan: 12.0 m (39 ft 4 in) Height: 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in) Wing area: 22.44 m² (241.5 ft²) Empty weight: 1,680 kg (3,704 lb) Loaded weight: 2,410 kg (5,313 lb) Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Sakae 12 radial engine, 709 kW (950 hp) Aspect ratio: 6.4 Never exceed speed: 660 km/h (356 kn, 410 mph) Maximum speed: 533 km/h (287 kn, 331 mph) at 4,550 m (14,930 ft) Range: 3,105 km (1,675 nmi, 1,929 mi) Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft) Rate of climb: 15.

7 m/s (3,100 ft/min) Wing loading: 107.4 kg/m² (22.0 lb/ft²) Power/mass: 294 W/kg (0.18 hp/lb) Armament Guns: Divergence of trajectories between 7.7 mm and 20mm ammunition 2× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns in the engine cowling, with 500 rounds per gun.

2× 20 mm Type 99 cannon in the wings, with 60 rounds per gun. Bombs: 2× 60 kg (132 lb) bombs or 1× fixed 250 kg (551 lb) bomb for kamikaze attacks A short video of the Zero Hope you like it... Because tomorrow, today will become yesterday, just as yesterday, today was tomorrow... TheoG #2 Posted 24 October 2011 - 11:46 PM Master Sergeant Member since: 10-24-2011 Zero looks a little weak, fast scout. Its maneuverable, but not good armor. I The guns look ok. Anyways nice intro. And as always, have a nice day! Signature made by CrashTailSpin, above. И как всегда, есть хороший день! And as always, have a nice day! METAL_BAWKSES #3 Posted 25 October 2011 - 05:59 PM Senior Airman Member since: 10-22-2011 Excellent choice for the video.

Battlefield is perhaps the best World War II documentary series I have ever seen. I highly recommend anyone with even a passing interest to check them out. I had a chance to see a Zero up close and personal a few years ago. Our city held an airshow, and it was one of the planes that attended. After a quick fly-by with an F6F Hellcat, the plane taxied over to the rest of the aircraft so people could check it out in greater detail. It had a dark green paint job with a white outline around the rising sun emblems on its wings and fuselage. Truly an elegant plane. It's a shame there are so few airworthy ones nowadays. Glog97 #4 Posted 25 October 2011 - 07:36 PM Command Chief Master Sergeant 10-18-2011 METAL_BAWKSES, on 25 October 2011 - 05:59 PM, said: Excellent choice for the video. Battlefield is perhaps the best World War II documentary series I have ever seen. I highly recommend anyone with even a passing interest to check them out.

Glad to see someone knows of it Because tomorrow, today will become yesterday, just as yesterday, today was tomorrow... AceCombatrix #5 Posted 24 November 2011 - 09:24 PM Master Sergeant Member since: 11-24-2011 The Mitsubishi A6M was the main fighting aircraft of the Japanese Empire during the war in the pacific. The A6M is best known by the name "Zero", which the allies gave it. Altough the official allied reporting name was "Zeke", soldiers soon started to call it Zero. Note: The name A6M comes from: A for Aircraft Carrier(because it was to be a carrier plane) 6 for the sixth model of this type and M for Mitsubishi, the manufacturer Development The development started soon after its predecessor, the A5M entered service First of all,both Mitsubish and Nakajima were given the task of designing a fighter plane.

Since it was to be a Carrier Plane, the Imperial Japanese Navy was given the task of specifying the requirements They included: At least a speed of 500km/h which is 310,69 mph Capable of reaching 4000m of altitude (about 13.000 feet) Two 20mm autocannons and two 7mm machine guns Capable of carrying two smaller 30 kg bombs or one bigger 60 kg bomb (70 and 130 lmb respectively) Small wingspan( under 12 m-39 feet) to be able to land on aircraft carriers In the end Mitshubishi managed to win the contest. The first prototypes were immediately used against the Chinese in 1940 The results of these prototypes were so good that production immediately started Combat performance Two A6Ms flying in China When the A6M was created, it was probably the best fighter in the world. It was faster and had more maneuverability than many other World War 2 Planes. However, these advantages came at a high price, since Mitsubishi decided to remove all armor, for the plane as well as for the pilot himself, to increase the speed.

Another very serious problem was, that the Zeroes did not use self sealing fuel tanks. Due to this, Zeroes were extremely flammable and tended to explode if they were shot at, risking the pilot's life At their first deployment, 13 Zeroes managed to shoot down several chinese fighters, without losing a single plane. The most famous sortie the Zeroes had, was the infamous assault on Pearl Harbor, where more than 100 of them were involved. Over 400 A6Ms were active in the whole pacific. Since their Operational Radius was very high, Allied Officers believed that there were even more. The Zeroes soon proved to be deadly to even the legendary Supermarine Spitfire, since it managed to easily outmaneuver the british fighter. In 1942 however, the Zeroes became endangered themselves. Allied Pilots discovered several tactics of easily finishing off the fragile fighters, for example the very sturdy, heavy P-40 Warhawks learned how to use their heavier armor against the A6Ms, attacking them while diving down, then pulling up again. Against this technique, the Zeroes could not use their high speed, making them vulnerable.

The fatal blow was when a US Army Team managed to secure an almost intact A6M which tried to crash land. The Americans soon learned the Mitshubishi's weaknesses. Later in the war, the situation became even more desperate for the Japanese, when the new P-38 Lightnings and especially the Vougt F-4 Corsairs entered service. Since those planes were newer they had more powerful engines, making them faster than the Zeroes, however without having to remove the armor plates. The Zeroe's motor was outdated and stronger motors were scarce, the A6Ms lost their most important strengths The Japanese Empire's newest creations could not be constructed in large numbers, because Japan lacked the ressources. Finally, due to the lack of armor, many experienced and valuabla pilots died in larger battles, while the US Forces, well armored and equipped with parachutes, had much less casualties. In the end, because they were almost useless in regular combat, especially without trained pilots, Zeroes were used as "Kamikaze" Japanese 神風- translated as "divine wind". Kamikaze operations were intentional crashes into enemy ships, bases etc. using aircrafts full of explosives and ammunition.

Though the psychological impact was big, the direct damage was often low, never justifying the high price of sacrificing a trained pilot. Technical Data Number built: 10,939( most produced japanese fighter) First flight: April 1939 Retired: 1945( End of the war) Crew: One Man( Pilot) Engine: Nakajima Sakae Radial Engine (709 kW) Aspect ratio: 6.4 Never exceed Speed( highest limit, if you fligh with higher speed, aircraft will be damaged) 660 km/h Max. Speed: 533km/h Highest reachable altitude: 10.000 km Climb rate: 15.7m/s Max.

Loading on wing: 104.7kg/m² Power: 294W/kg Double 20mm Type 99 autocannon (520 rounds/min) 60 rounds per gun Double 7.7mm Machine gun Rounds: 500/each Bombs: 2x 30 kg Bomb( later replaced with double 60kg) 250 kg Kamikaze Bomb Even though there was a large number of variants, the changes were often minimal A6M2 Type 0 Model 11 "Standard" early war model Introduction of foldable wingtips for use on carriers A6M3 Type 0 Model 32 Fitted with better engines, had smaller size and smaller fuel tank Was not liked by pilots due to smaller range A6M3 Type 0 Model 22 Model 22 was correction of 32's faults, larger fuel storage to regain the range lost A6M4 Type 0 Model 41 Two prototypes built.

Included new superchargers A6M5 Type 0 M 52 Model 52s at Kyushu, ready for a Kamikaze assault Designed to counter Hellcat and Corsair Among other features improved exhaust, better wing skinning Considered the most effective model A6M6 Type 0 M 53 Finally including self-sealing fuel tanks,different engine A6M8 Type 0 M 64 Different engine,modified cowling, different nose, removal of fuselage mg, mounting of a large spinner. No machine was ever completed due to destrution of japanese factories and war end. Survivors The Zero at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo Due to the high number of built planes, several still exist. Among others, some are displayed in: Tokyo( Yasukuni shrine), Hiroshima, Aichi US: Smithsonian Air and Space museum, etc.

UK: Duxford Some Zeroes were reconstructed to use them in WW2 Movies Ace Pilots Several pilots standing in front of the A6M, Photo taken 1943 at Kupang Hiroyoshi Nishizawa- 84 victories Power Plant: 1 ï¿½ 950 hp Nakajima Sakae 12 radial engine Range: 1,929 miles Ceiling: 33,000 ft. Armament Guns: 2 ï¿½ 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns (engine cowling), 2 ï¿½ 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 cannons (wings) Bombs: Combat- 2 ï¿½ 66 lb. and 1 ï¿½ 132 lb. bombs, Kamikaze: 2 x fixed 550 lb. bombs Operational History: Entering service in 1940, the A6M became known as the Zero based on its official designation of Type 0 Carrier Fighter.

In early 1940, the first A6M2, Model 11 Zeros arrived in China and quickly proved themselves as the best fighter in the conflict. Fitted with a 950 hp Nakajima Sakae 12 engine, the Zero swept Chinese opposition from the skies. With the new engine, the aircraft exceeded its design specifications and a new version with folding wingtips, the A6M2, Model 21, was pushed into production for carrier use. For much of World War II, the Model 21 was the version of the Zero that was encountered by Allied aviators. A superior dogfighter than the early Allied fighters, the Zero was able to out-maneuver its opposition. To combat this, Allied pilots developed specific tactics for dealing with the aircraft. These included the "Thach Weave," which required two Allied pilots working in tandem, and the "Boom-and-Zoom," which saw Allied pilots fighting on the dive or climb. In both cases, the Allies benefited from the Zero's complete lack of protection as a single burst of fire was generally enough to down the aircraft.

By late 1944, with most of its aircraft carriers sunk (and its most highly-trained aircrews gone), Japan resorted to desperate measures. These included ï¿½Kamikazeï¿½ (divine wind) suicide raids, wherein green pilots would turn their early-model Zeros into aerial bombs for attacks on Allied ships during the battles of Okinawa, Iwo Jima and the Philippines. Truly an ignominious end for one of historyï¿½s great warbirds 01-17-2012 dyndo101, on 10 January 2012 - 12:26 AM, said: The Japanese weren't just kamikazees they were shot down and were going to crash so in the process the idea was to do as much damage as possible to the enemy usually aiming at the location of the gunfire that shot them down if it was land based kinda hard to do if it was another plane. The Japanese weren't just kamikazes, but it became an accepted tactic towards the end of the war.

Attacks of opportunity happened too, but large numbers of zeros went into battle outfitted for the purpose of ramming ships, and with pilots trained and ordered to do just that, often attacking in organized waves. Look up the Battle of Okinawa, for a notable example of the tactic being employed. I'm really looking forward to piloting this plane. I wonder which allied fighters it will find itself matched against? Member since: 11-08-2011 The Zero was designed for maximum manouvrability and range, which resulted in a light structure, and not much protection, which went for most Japanese fighters in any case early on. The large amount of fuel was also a heat sink, making the planes pretty cold to fly. The Flying Tigers in the P40's in China had worked out that if you wanted to get away from a Japanese fighter, you were best off diving away from it, the structure of the Japanese aircraft didn't take the additional speed too kindly, but mixing with it in close combat was a big mistake. It was that ability of the Jap fighters that led to the replacement of the Polikarpov I-16's with biplane I-153's.

The US P-38 Lightning pilot Bing didn't even bother to manouvre, he restricted turns to a maximum of 15 degrees and kept the speed as high as he could. Any turns were done when he was out of range. Member since: 01-26-2012 Head to head or straight on the Zero was toast. In a turning fight Zero would make you toast. Most of the Zero high scoring aces were against the Chinese air force but a few flew against the U.S pilots and did well. Zero was a good airplane but the Japanese never made it to survive in a prolonged dogfight. The U.S. pilots were taught to shoot at the wing roots and the Zero would go Big Badda Boom. The Japanese thought the war would be won very quickly and the U.S. would want peace. It didn’t turn out that way. Again a good airplane. BMI sells self-sealing fuel tanks Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter - World War II Ceiling: 33,000 ft.

Armament Guns: 2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns (engine cowling), 2 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 cannons (wings) Bombs: Combat- 2 × 66 lb. and 1 × 132 lb. bombs, Kamikaze: 2 x fixed 550 lb. bombs A6M Zero - Design & Development: The design of the A6M Zero began in May 1937, shortly after the introduction of the Mitsubishi A5M fighter. Operating under the Imperial Japanese Navy's (IJN) specification "12-Shi," Mitsubishi and Nakajima commenced preliminary design work on a new carrier-based fighter, while waiting to receive the final requirements for the aircraft. These were issued by the IJN in October and were based upon the A5M's performance in the on-going Second Sino-Japanese War. The final specifications called for the aircraft to possess two 7.7 mm machine guns, as well as two 20 mm cannon.

In addition, each airplane was to have a radio direction finder for navigation and a full radio set. For performance, the IJN required that the new design be capable of 310 mph at 13,000 ft. and possess an endurance of two hours at normal power and six to eight hours at cruising speed (with drop tanks). As the aircraft was to be carrier-based, its wingspan was limited to 39 ft. (12m). Stunned by the navy's requirements, Nakajima pulled out of the project believing that such an aircraft could not be designed. At Mitsubishi, the company's chief designer, Jiro Horikoshi, began toying around potential designs. After initial testing, Horikoshi determined that the IJN's requirements could be met, but that the aircraft would have to be extremely light. Utilizing a new, top-secret aluminum, T-7178, he created an aircraft that sacrificed protection in favor of weight and speed. As a result, the new design lacked armor to protect the pilot, as well as the self-sealing fuel tanks that were becoming standard on military aircraft.

Possessing retractable landing gear and a low-wing monoplane design, the new A6M was one of the most modern fighters in the world when it completed testing. A6M Zero - Operational History: Entering service in 1940, the A6M became known as the Zero based on its official designation of Type 0 Carrier Fighter. In early 1940, the first A6M2, Model 11 Zeros arrived in China and quickly proved themselves as the best fighter in the conflict. Fitted with a 950 hp Nakajima Sakae 12 engine, the Zero swept Chinese opposition from the skies. With the new engine, the aircraft exceeded its design specifications and a new version with folding wingtips, the A6M2, Model 21, was pushed into production for carrier use. For much of World War II , the Model 21 was the version of the Zero that was encountered by Allied aviators. A superior dogfighter than the early Allied fighters, the Zero was able to out-maneuver its opposition. To combat this, Allied pilots developed specific tactics for dealing with the aircraft.

These included the "Thach Weave," which required two Allied pilots working in tandem, and the "Boom-and-Zoom," which saw Allied pilots fighting on the dive or climb. In both cases, the Allies benefited from the Zero's complete lack of protection as a single burst of fire was generally enough to down the aircraft. This contrasted with Allied fighters, such as the P-40 Warhawk and F4F Wildcat , which though less maneuverable, were extremely rugged and difficult to bring down. Nevertheless, the Zero was responsible for destroying at least 1,550 American aircraft between 1941 and 1945. Never substantially updated or replaced, the Zero remained the IJN's primary fighter throughout the war. With the arrival of new Allied fighters, such as the F6F Hellcat and F4U Corsair , the Zero was quickly eclipsed. Faced with superior opposition and a dwindling supply of trained pilots, the Zero saw its kill ratio drop from 1:1 to over 1:10. During the course of the war, over 11,000 A6M Zeros were produced.

While Japan was the only nation to employ the aircraft on a large scale, several captured Zeros were used by the newly-proclaimed Republic of Indonesia during the Indonesian National Revolution (1945-1949). Selected Sources Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero > National Museum of the US Air Force™ > Display PRINT | E-MAIL The Allies' main opponent in the Pacific air war, the Zero is the most famous symbol of Japanese air power during World War II. The fighter first flew in April 1939, and Mitsubishi, Nakajima, Hitachi and the Japanese navy produced 10,815 Zeros from 1940-1945. Zeros were produced in greater number than any other aircraft. Its distinctive design and historical impact make the Zero an important machine in air power history. The Zero got its name from its official designation, Navy Type Zero Carrier-Based Fighter (or Reisen), though the Allies code-named it "Zeke." The Zero was the successor to the A5M Type 96 "Claude." Mitsubishi designed the A6M from Navy requirements set out in 1937 for a fighter that was fast, maneuverable and had great range.

Designed as a carrier-borne fighter, it was exceptionally light compared to its opponents. This requirement was not only necessary to provide maneuverability but also was caused by the Zero's low-powered engine. Lack of interservice cooperation in engine development limited the horsepower available to Japanese designers. Other consequences included omitting armor protection for the pilot, not using self-sealing fuel tanks, and building lightweight wings as an integral part of the fuselage. The A6M first saw combat in China in the late summer of 1940, and it quickly helped Japan dominate the air in Asia. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, 125 Zeros from six aircraft carriers participated. In the early part of the war, Allied aircraft such as the Curtiss P-40 and Seversky P-35 were at a disadvantage in a dogfight with a Zero flown by a skilled pilot, and the A6M became a well-known and dangerous opponent. The Japanese advantage, however, began to disappear as American tactics evolved. American pilots gained experience fighting the Zero in China with the American Volunteer Group, known as the Flying Tigers, and at the Battle of Midway.

The key to fighting the Zero was to stay out of dogfights, and instead use superior armament and hit-and-run diving attacks against the relatively fragile A6M. American fighters introduced in 1943 were more powerful (2,000-hp engines), faster, and had much more firepower than the Zero. As Allied pilots used their heavily-armed aircraft to advantage, the Zero's dominance ended. At the same time, the number of American aircraft and pilots increased, and the number of experienced Japanese aircrew shrank. While development of the Zero continued by adding self-sealing tanks, armor plate and increasing horsepower to 1,150 hp, the later Zero was much heavier and thus less nimble. Weight increased 28 percent, but horsepower increased only 16 percent, degrading overall combat performance. Beginning around October 1944 during the battle for the Philippines, Zeros were used in kamikaze attacks. Kamikazes used A6Ms more than any other aircraft for these suicide missions. This Nakajima-built A6M2 was placed on display in 2004.

It was found in Papua New Guinea, near the city of Kavieng on New Ireland, and was probably one of the aircraft delivered to Rabaul and operated at Kavieng by the 6th Kokutai (Squadron) and later by the 253rd Kokutai. It is painted to represent a section leader's aircraft from the aircraft carrier Zuiho during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, March 1943, in which Allied air power won a major victory over Japanese sea power. American and Australian aircraft sank four Japanese destroyers and 15 troop ships, and shot down more than 50 Zeros, preventing Japanese reinforcements from reaching New Guinea. TECHNICAL NOTES: Armament: Two 20mm cannon, two 7.7mm machine guns Engine: Sakae 12 of 940 hp Maximum speed: 316 mph Click here to return to the World War II Gallery . Mitsubishi 'Zero' Fighter - World War II Technology World War II Technology The design of the A6M Zero began in May 1937, shortly after the introduction of the Mitsubishi A5M fighter.

Operating under the Imperial Japanese Navy's (IJN) specification "12-Shi," Mitsubishi and Nakajima commenced preliminary design work on a new carrier-based fighter, while waiting to receive the final requirements for the aircraft. These were issued by the IJN in October and were based upon the A5M's performance in the on-going Second Sino-Japanese War. The final specifications called for the aircraft to possess two 7.7 mm machine guns, as well as two 20 mm cannon. In addition, each airplane was to have a radio direction finder for navigation and a full radio set. For performance, the IJN required that the new design be capable of 310 mph at 13,000 ft. and possess an endurance of two hours at normal power and six to eight hours at cruising speed (with drop tanks). As the aircraft was to be carrier-based, its wingspan was limited to 39 ft. (12m). Stunned by the navy's requirements, Nakajima pulled out of the project believing that such an aircraft could not be designed. At Mitsubishi, the company's chief designer, Jiro Horikoshi, began toying around potential designs.

After initial testing, Horikoshi determined that the IJN's requirements could be met, but that the aircraft would have to be extremely light. Utilizing a new, top-secret aluminum, T-7178, he created an aircraft that sacrificed protection in favor of weight and speed. As a result, the new design lacked armor to protect the pilot, as well as the self-sealing fuel tanks that were becoming standard on military aircraft. Possessing retractable landing gear and a low-wing monoplane design, the new A6M was one of the most modern fighters in the world when it completed testing. A6M Zero - Operational History: Entering service in 1940, the A6M became known as the Zero based on its official designation of Type 0 Carrier Fighter. In early 1940, the first A6M2, Model 11 Zeros arrived in China and quickly proved themselves as the best fighter in the conflict. Fitted with a 950 hp Nakajima Sakae 12 engine, the Zero swept Chinese opposition from the skies.

With the new engine, the aircraft exceeded its design specifications and a new version with folding wingtips, the A6M2, Model 21, was pushed into production for carrier use. For much of World War II, the Model 21 was the version of the Zero that was encountered by Allied aviators. A superior dogfighter than the early Allied fighters, the Zero was able to out-maneuver its opposition. To combat this, Allied pilots developed specific tactics for dealing with the aircraft. These included the "Thach Weave," which required two Allied pilots working in tandem, and the "Boom-and-Zoom," which saw Allied pilots fighting on the dive or climb. In both cases, the Allies benefited from the Zero's complete lack of protection as a single burst of fire was generally enough to down the aircraft. This contrasted with Allied fighters, such as the P-40 Warhawk and F4F Wildcat , which though less maneuverable, were extremely rugged and difficult to bring down. Nevertheless, the Zero was responsible for destroying at least 1,550 American aircraft between 1941 and 1945.

Never substantially updated or replaced, the Zero remained the IJN's primary fighter throughout the war. With the arrival of new Allied fighters, such as the F6F Hellcat and F4U Corsair , the Zero was quickly eclipsed. Faced with superior opposition and a dwindling supply of trained pilots, the Zero saw its kill ratio drop from 1:1 to over 1:10. During the course of the war, over 11,000 A6M Zeros were produced. While Japan was the only nation to employ the aircraft on a large scale, several captured Zeros were used by the newly-proclaimed Republic of Indonesia during the Indonesian National Revolution (1945-1949). A6M Zero - Specifications: Length: 29 ft. 9 in. Wingspan: 39 ft. 4 in. Height: 10 ft. Wing Area: 241.5 sq. ft. Empty Weight: 3,704 lbs.

Power Plant: 1 × 950 hp Nakajima Sakae 12 radial engine Range: 1,929 miles Guns: 2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns (engine cowling), 2 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 cannons (wings) Bombs: Combat- 2 × 66 lb. and 1 × 132 lb. bombs, Kamikaze: 2 x fixed 550 lb. bombs Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen (Zero Fighter) Model 52 ZEKE | National Air and Space Museum National Air and Space Museum Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen (Zero Fighter)...

Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen (Zero Fighter) Model 52 ZEKE Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen (Zero Fighter) Model 52 ZEKE Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen (Zero Fighter) Model 52 ZEKE Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen (Zero Fighter) Model 52 ZEKE Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen (Zero Fighter) Model 52 ZEKE The Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen (Zero Fighter) Model 52 ZEKE on display in the National Air and Space Museum came from a group of Japanese aircraft captured on Saipan Island in April 1944. Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen Model 52 ZEKE Nose No other aircraft surpasses the Mitsubishi A6M Reisen ("ree-sin," Japanese for Zero Fighter) as the symbol of Japanese air power during World War II. Display Status: This object is on display in the World War II Aviation (DC) exhibition at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

SummaryLong Description Collection Item Summary: No other aircraft surpasses the Mitsubishi A6M Reisen ("ree-sin," Japanese for Zero Fighter) as the symbol of Japanese air power during World War II. Mitsubishi designed the Zero fighter but co-produced the airplane with Nakajima. The two companies built more than 10,000 Zeros between March 1939 and August 1945. Design work began in 1937 when the Japanese Navy staff directed Mitsubishi and Nakajima to submit proposals for a new aircraft to replace the Mitsubishi A5M carrier fighter (Allied codename CLAUDE). Combat trials began in China during July 1940 and by fall, Zero pilots felled nearly 100 Chinese aircraft for the loss of only two Zeros to friendly fire. We believe the A6M5 Zero Model 52 on display in the National Air and Space Museum came from a group of Japanese aircraft captured on Saipan Island in April 1944. Navy personnel removed 12 late-model Zeros from the island and sent them to the United States for evaluation.

The earliest records pertaining to the Museum's Zero show that it was evaluated in 1944 at Wright Field, Ohio, and the following year at Eglin Field, Florida. Collection Item Long Description: No other aircraft surpasses the Mitsubishi A6M Reisen ("rye-sin," Japanese for Zero Fighter) as the symbol of Japanese air power during World War II. Mitsubishi designed the Zero fighter but co-produced the airplane with Nakajima. The two companies built more than 10,000 Zeros between March 1939 and August 1945. Design work began in 1937 when the Japanese Navy staff directed Mitsubishi and Nakajima to submit proposals for a new aircraft to replace the Mitsubishi A5M carrier fighter (Allied codename CLAUDE). Combat trials began in China during July 1940 and by fall, Zero pilots felled nearly 100 Chinese aircraft for the loss of only two Zeros to friendly fire. Japanese naval aviators flew 328 combat-ready A6M2 Reisens against American forces at Pearl Harbor and in the Philippines.

The Reisen outclassed all Allied fighter aircraft for the first six months of the war until American carrier forces stopped the Japanese in the Coral Sea and at Midway in May and June 1942, respectively. The loss of four Japanese aircraft carriers at Midway underscored a deadly trend. The Japanese were losing experienced pilots and aircraft faster than they could replace them. Yet for almost two more years the ZEKE, as the Allies code-named it, remained an ominous threat. Key to the Zero's potent performance was weight. In May 1937, the Japanese naval staff issued preliminary specifications for a fighter to fly from aircraft carriers. To satisfy these demanding requirements, Mitsubishi designer Jiro Horikoshi and his team focused specifically on reducing airframe weight as much as possible. Horikoshi used a new lightweight aluminum alloy developed in Japan and he chose to omit armor plate and self-sealing fuel tanks from the design. These protective devices weighed hundred of kilograms and could not be incorporated if Mitsubishi hoped to meet the performance requirements specified by the navy. Yet the lack of these components eventually became the Zero's undoing. The Reisen was considerably lighter than American fighters.

It could climb faster and out-maneuver them in close combat or 'dog fighting.' But as combat experience mounted and training improved, the American tactics began to change. U. S. Navy and Army pilots avoided the turning and looping dogfight and began to engage the Zeros only when they could surprise the Japanese pilots by attacking with a height or speed advantage. This type of attack consisted of a single, straight pass with guns blazing. The American pilot then continued away from the Zero using his superior speed to zoom to safety or circle around at a distance and attack again. This idea and other tactics transformed pilots flying the Grumman F4F Wildcat (once considered totally obsolete against the Zero) into formidable opponents more than capable of destroying the Japanese fighter. The Allies began fielding aircraft superior to the Zero in 1942. Lockheed chief designer, Kelly Johnson, crafted the airplane that eventually destroyed more Japanese aircraft than any other, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. U. S. Army Air Forces Lightning pilots downed the first Zeros late in 1942, using their superior speed and climbing performance.

The F6F-3 Hellcat entered combat in August 1943 and the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine that propelled it also gave the Hellcat pilot enough speed and climb to engage or avoid the Zero without regard for the tactical situation. Japan's aviation industry continued to develop advanced fighters, but a number of problems plagued the complex process of perfecting and fielding these new airplanes and only limited numbers saw action. Consequently, the Zero remained in production throughout the war. The Japanese built a total of 11,291 Zeros and sub-variants related to it, more than any other Japanese warplane. The A6M5 Zero Model 52 on display in the National Air and Space Museum came from a group of 12 Japanese aircraft captured on Saipan Island in April 1944. Navy personnel removed the Zeros from the island and sent them to the United States for evaluation in July. The earliest records pertaining to the Museum's Zero show that it was evaluated in 1944 at Wright Field, Ohio, and the following year at Eglin Field, Florida.

The following movement history was taken from the AAF Form 61, Propeller Historical Record, and miscellaneous correspondence found in the Aeronautics Division curatorial file: -At Anacostia Naval Air Station across the river from Washington, D. C., September 1, 1944; 3:10 flying time (Allied) on the airplane by October 20, 1944. -At Eglin Field, Florida, January 3, 1945 to February 9, 1945. -At Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, April 18, 1945 to February 13, 1946. As of July 13, 1945, this Zero had flown for 93 hours and 15 minutes in Allied hands. -To Freeman Field, Indiana, by March 4, 1946, and departed Freeman Field on June 14, 1946. While in U. S. Navy and Army Air Forces custody, the aircraft was stripped of all markings and colors.

Today, the only remaining clue to the original identity of the airplane is the manufacturer's serial number 4340, etched and painted on major components. To prepare artifacts for exhibit in the new National Air and Space Museum building on the national Mall, technicians restored the Zero from August 1974 to July 1975. They discovered several Japanese messages scribed inside the metal skin of the aft fuselage: "Pray for absolute victory; Win the air war; Devastation of the American and the British; New Years Day, 1944." A rivet bucking bar tool and a U. S. Navy flashlight were also discovered inside the left wing. Curators selected the markings of an aircraft from the 261st Naval Air Corps because an aircraft of this unit was captured at Saipan. The 261st NAC was more commonly known as the Tiger Corps. It was activated on June 1, 1943, and was soon assigned to the newly organized 1st Air Fleet. The Tiger Corps moved to the Marianas on February 16, 1944, and participated in some of the fiercest fighting of the war.

Data Source Zero | Japanese aircraft | Britannica.com Japanese aircraft Alternative Titles: Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0, Reisen, Reisen Kanjikisen, Zeke Related Topics fighter aircraft Zero, also called Mitsubishi A6M or Navy Type 0, fighter aircraft , a single-seat, low-wing monoplane used with great effect by the Japanese during World War II . Designed by Horikoshi Jiro, it was the first carrier-based fighter capable of besting its land-based opponents. It was designed to specifications written in 1937, was first tested in 1939, and was placed in production and in operation in China in 1940. Although Allied forces code-named the aircraft “Zeke,” it was generally known as the Zero, a term derived from one of its Japanese names—Reisen Kanjikisen (Type Zero Carrier-based Fighter Airplane), abbreviated Reisen. The year its production began, 1940, was the 2,600th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of Japan’s legendary first emperor, Jimmu, hence the “zero” designation . Zero Model 52.

Paul Richter The Zero was made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and was first powered by a Nakajima Sakae radial air-cooled engine of 14 cylinders (two staggered rows of seven) that developed 1,020 horsepower. Later it used a 1,130-horsepower engine to turn its three-blade constant-speed propeller. Its top speed was 350 miles per hour (565 km/h) at nearly 20,000 feet (6,100 m), and it was armed with two 7.7-millimetre machine guns and two 20-millimetre cannons in its wings; it could carry two 132-pound (59.9-kilogram) bombs under the wings. When it first appeared, the Zero could outmaneuver every airplane it encountered. Moreover, its 156-gallon (591-litre) internal fuel tank was augmented with a 94-gallon external tank that could be dropped when empty, thus enabling the Zero to fly far beyond its expected range. The Allies did not field fighters that could defeat it in aerial combat until 1943.

Many Zeros were converted to kamikaze craft in the closing months of the war. In all, nearly 10,430 of them were built. Learn More in these related articles:

Question: In World War II, haw was the Japanese aircraft, the Mitsubishi A6M known to the Allies?
Answer: ZERO