Mitsubishi A5M
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The Mitsubishi A5M was the world's first monoplane shipboard fighter and the direct ancestor of the famous Mitsubishi A6M 'Zero'. The Allied code-name was Claude; the Japanese Navy designation was "Type 96 carrier-based fighter" (九六式艦上戦闘機).
Designed to a 1934 specification, the plane first flew on February 4, 1935. It exceeded most expectations, in particular top speed (215 mph (346 km/h) was specified, 280 mph (450 km/h) attained). After some work to improve stability, the aircraft entered service in early 1937, soon seeing action in the Sino-Japanese War.
There, they proved themselves the better of every aircraft they encountered, though the Mitsubishi team continued to improve the A5M, working through versions until the final A5M5, which added a ventral drop-tank for extended range.
A trainer version, the A5M4-K was also built (103 examples). This had twin cockpits and continued in use for fighter training long after the regular A5M left front-line service.
Almost all A5Ms had open cockpits; a closed cockpit was tried, but found little favor among Navy aviators. All had fixed, non-retractable undercarriage with (except for the trainers) wheel spats (fairings).
Some A5Ms were still in service at the beginning of World War II. United States intelligence sources believed the A5M was still the primary Navy fighter, but they had already been replaced by the A6M 'Zero' on first-line aircraft carriers and with the Tainan Air Group. Other Japanese carriers and air groups continued to use the A5M until production of the 'Zero' caught up with demand.
Most remaining airframes were used for kamikaze attacks in the closing months of the war.
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[edit] Versions
- Prototypes (Ka-14):difrent engines and design modifications,6
- A5M1 Navy Carrier-based figther,Model 1:first serie model.Engine Kotobuki 2 KAI I of 850 hp.
- A5M2/2a,Model 21:More Porwerfull engines.
- A5M2b,Model 22:Engine Kotobuki 3 of 640 hp.the first production examples with cover engines with NACA Engine Cover.
- A5M3a,Prototypes: Engine Hispano-Suiza 12 Xcrs of 610 hp
- A5M4,Model 24 (ex Model 4):A5M2b with difrent engine,cover cockpit,additional detachable fuel tank.the last production models (Model 34)with engine Kotobuki 41 KAI.
- A5M1-A5M4,constructed by Mitsubishi:780,Constructed for Watanabe:39,Manufactured by Naval Ohmura Arsenal:161.
- A5M4-K:Training two seat version of A5M4,constructed for Naval Ohmura Arsenal:103.
- Ki-18,Prototype:Land-based version for IJAAF,equal to A5M.engine Kotobuki 5 of 550 hp,1
- Ki-33,Prototypes:development of Ki-18 with difrent engine,cover cockpit2.
Total Production(all versions): 1,094 examples
[edit] Specifications (Mitsubishi A5M)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 7.6 m (24 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 11.0 m (36 ft 1 in)
- Height: 3.3 m (10 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 17.8 m² (191.6 ft²)
- Empty weight: 1,216 kg (2,681 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,676 kg (3,694 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Nakajima Kotobuki 41 9-cylinder radial engine, 585 kW (785 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 435 km/h (270 mph)
- Range: 1,200 km (746 mi)
- Service ceiling: 9,800 m (32,150 ft)
- Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
- Wing loading: 93.7 kg/m² (19.2 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 316 W/kg (0.192 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns: 2x 7.7 mm (0.303 in) fuselage-mounted machine guns
[edit] References
- Francillon, R. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Naval Institute Press, 1970.
[edit] Related content
Comparable aircraft
Polikarpov I-16 - P-26 Peashooter
Designation sequence
A2N - A3N - A4N - A5M - A6M - A7M
Related lists
List of military aircraft of Japan - List of fighter aircraft
