Mitsubishi A7M
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| A7M "Reppū" | |
|---|---|
 Mitsubishi A7M |
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| Type | Carrier-based fighter |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi |
| Maiden flight | 1944 |
| Status | Prototype only |
| 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 was instructed to use the Nakajima Homare. The resulting A7M1, which first flew on 6 May 1944 demonstrated excellent handling and manoeuverability, but was underpowered, and with a top speed barely exceeding that of the Zero, it was a disappointment.[1] The navy ordered development to stop on 30 July 1944, but Mitsubishi obtained permission for development to continue using the Ha-43 engine, flying with the completed Ha-43 on 13 October 1944. 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.[2] 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. While it was hoped that the A7M would replace the A6M, production was disrupted by an earthquake in December 1944 in the Nagoya region, and by Allied bombing, with only Eight aircraft completed by the end of the war, with the type never seeing combat.
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[edit] Variants
- A7M1 : Initial model powered by 2,000 hp (1492 kW) Nakajima Homare 22 engine. Three built.
- A7M2 : Revised version with 2,200 Mitsubishi Ha-43 engine. Five prototypes.
- A7M3 : Proposed land-based fighter version with supercharged Ha-43 engine. Not built.
- A7M3-J : Proposed land-based fighter version. Not Built.
[edit] Specifications (A7M2)
Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 10.99 m (36 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 14.00 m (45 ft 11 in)
- Height: 4.28 m (14 ft 0½ in.)
- Wing area: 332.2 ft² (30.86 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,226 kg (7,112 lb)
- Loaded weight: 4,720 kg (10,406 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Mitsubishi Ha-43, 2,200 hp (1,640 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 630 km/h (339 knots, 390 mph) at 6,600 m (21,660 ft)
- Cruise speed: 417 km/h (225 knots, 259 mph)
- Service ceiling 10,900 m (15,760 ft)
- Endurance: 2.5 hr cruise + 30 min combat
- Climb to 6,000 m (13,100 ft): 6 min 7 sec
Armament
- 2 × 20 mm Type 99 cannon
- 2 × 13.2 mm Type 3 machine guns
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Francillon, René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970 (second edition 1979). ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
- Green, William. Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (seventh impression 1973). ISBN 0-356-01447-9.
[edit] External links
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