Mitsubishi A7M
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| A7M "Reppū" | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Carrier-based fighter |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi |
| Number built | 8 |
The Mitsubishi A7M Reppū (烈風, "Strong Gale") was designed as the successor to the Imperial Japanese Navy's A6M Zero, with development beginning in 1942. Performance objectives were to achieve superior speed, climb, diving, and armament over the Zero, as well as better maneuverability. As a result, the wing area and overall size were significantly greater, on par with the American P-47 Thunderbolt.
Development of the Zero successor was delayed due to Jiro Horikoshi's work on the Mitsubishi J2M Raiden, a land-based interceptor built to counter high-altitude bombers. However, high attrition rates of Zero fighter planes to the U.S. Navy's F4U Corsair and F6F Hellcat put a high priority on the Navy to bring about a successor. The development team, headed by Jiro Horikoshi, initially intended to develop a new engine, the Ha-43, for the airframe, but had to make do with the Nakajima Homare. The resulting A7M1 proved a mismatch between engine and airframe, and with a top speed barely exceeding that of the Zero, it was a disappointment. The navy ordered development to stop, but Mitsubishi continued on its own, eventually achieving a test flight with the completed Ha-43. The A7M2 achieved a top speed of 392 mph (628 km/h), while climb and other areas of performance surpassed the Zero, leading the Navy to change its mind and adopt the craft. The A7M2 was also equipped with automatic combat flaps, used earlier on the Kawanishi N1K-J, significantly improving maneuverability.
The A7M's allied codename was Sam. Eight prototypes were completed by the end of the war, but the type never saw combat.
[edit] Specifications (A7M2)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 10.99 m (36 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 14.00 m (45 ft 11 in)
- Height: ()
- Wing area: 332.2 ft² (30.86 m²)
- Empty weight: 9,700 lb (4,400 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Mitsubishi Ha-43 , 2,200 hp (1,640 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 630 km/h (390 mph)
Armament
- 2 × 20 mm cannon
- 2 × 13 mm cannon
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