Japan's Mitsubishi A5M fighter; Mitsubishi Type 96 Carrier Fighter
Allied code name: Claude

Photos

Mitsubishi A5M, "Claude" fighter:	Mitsubishi A5M, Type 96, "Claude" fighter:	Mitsubishi A5M, Type 96, "Claude" fighter:	Mitsubishi A5M4, "Claude" fighter:
Mitsubishi A5M4K, Type 2, "Claude" fighter:

Design

The Mitsubishi A5M met a 1934 strict specification, the 9-Shi, that requested a fighter that could fit on an aircraft carrier, and was fast and manoeverable.^1,5 Mitsubishi came forward with the Ka-14 prototype.¹ The design team was led by Jiro Horikoshi.^3,5

Unique Features

For its time, the Type 96 had unique features incorporated into its design.⁴ It had flush rivets throughout and had washout type wings.⁴

Cockpit

The A5M's cockpit was open allowing for an excellent field of view for the pilot.^1,2,6

Fuselage

The fuselage of the A5M was a metal framework with aluminum stressed skin.¹

Undercarriage

The undercarriage of the A5M was fixed.^2,5,6

Wings

This was the Japanese Navy's first monoplane fighter.^2,4 The wings were placed low.⁶

Prototype

A total of nine prototypes were finished in January 1935.⁴

The Ka-14 prototype first flew on February 4, 1935 at Kagamigahara.^1,2,5

Japanese Army

The Ki-18 and Ki-33 prototypes were built for the Japanese Army in 1935 - 1936.² The Army choose to go with the more maneuverable Nakajima Ki-27.²

Production

The A5M1 was built at the Sasebo Naval Factory with 1,094 produced until 1940.¹ The A5M4 started production in 1938.²

• Mitsubishi Ka-14: 6²
• Mitsubishi Ki-18: 1²
• Mitsubishi Ki-33: 2²
• Mitsubishi A5M1, Mitsubishi A5M2, Mitsubishi A5M3, Mitsubishi A5M4, Mitsubishi A5M5: 982²
• Mitsubishi A5M4-K: 103²
  • Produced by Dai-Nijuchi until 1944.²
• Total: ~1,000⁴, 1,094^1,2,5
  • Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K.⁵
  • Production: 1936 - ?⁵
    • Produced by Mitsubishi until 1940, Watanabe until 1942, and Dai-Nijuichi until 1942.²

Variants

• Mitsubishi Ka-14: Initial prototype.¹ Had Nakajima Kotobuki 5 radial engine (600 HP).² It had an inverted gull wing, but all following models had straight wings.²
• Mitsubishi Ki-18: Prototype built for Japanese Army.²
• Mitsubishi Ki-33: Prototype built for Japanese Army.²
• Mitsubishi A5M:
• Mitsubishi A5M1a: Had 2 20 mm Oerlikon cannons.¹
• Mitsubishi Type 96 Model 1⁴: Had Kokobuki Improved Model 2 engine (460 HP).⁴
• Mitsubishi A5M2:
• Mitsubishi Type 96 Model 2.1⁴: Had Kokobuki Model 3 engine (600 HP).⁴
• Mitsubishi A5M2a: More powerful engine.²
• Mitsubishi Type 96 Model 2.2⁴: Larger fuselage with an enclosed cockpit.⁴
• Mitsubishi A5M2b: More powerful engine.² Used three bladed propellar.² Could carry small bombs or drop tanks under wings.²
• Mitsubishi A5M3: Experimental model.² Had Hispano-Suiza V 12 engine.² Had 20 mm cannon firing through propeller hub.²
• Mitsubishi Type 96 Model 4⁴: Had Kotobuki Model 4 engine (680 HP).⁴
• Mitsubishi A5M4: Main production model.² Had a 42 gallon / 160 liter drop tank.¹
• Mitsubishi A5M4-K: Trainer.² Two seat.²

Usage

First entered service in early 1937.^1,2

The A5M did have some landing accidents on rough air strips.¹ However, in the air they were extremely sturdy and one made it back to base with 1/3 of its port wing gone.¹

China

The A5M provided air superiority in the second Sino-Japanese war of 1937 - 1940.²

The first victories of the A5M was against Curtis Hawks of the Chinese Air Force.¹

Aces

A total of seven A5M pilots became aces, with Lt. Tetsuzo Iwamoto at the top with fourteen kills.¹

Carrier Operations

The A5Ms were used from aircraft carriers against Malaya and the Dutch East Indies.¹

Training

After May 1942 the A5Ms were sent back to Japan to be trainers.¹

Kamikaze

Some A5Ms were used in kamikaze attacks.¹

Specifications

	Mitsubishi A5M2	Mitsubishi A5M-12	Mitsubishi A5M2a2	Mitsubishi A5M2b2	Mitsubishi A5M41,2,5
Type	Carrier fighter2				Carrier fighter1, Fighter5
Crew	12				11,5
Engine (Type)		Nakajima Kotobuki 2 KAI2	Kotobuki 2 KAI 3A2	Kotobuki 32	Nakajima Kotobuki 411,5 Nakajima Kotobuki 41 KAI2
Cylinders		Radial 92			Radial 91,5
Cooling					Air1,5
Net HP		6302	6902	7152	7101,5, 7852
Propeller blades		22	22	32	21, 32
Fuel capacity	135 gallons6
Fuel capacity - drop tank					42 gallons1 160 liters1
Dimensions
Span	36'6, 36' 1"2 11 m2				36' 1"1,5 11 m1
Length	24' 7"6, 24' 9.75"2 7.56 m2				24' 10"1,5 7.57 m1
Height	9' 10"6, 10' 8.75"2 3.27 m2				10' 9"1,5 3.27 m1
Wing area	180 ft2 6				192 ft2 1 17.8 m2 1
Weight
Empty					2,675 lb1, 2,784 lb2 1,216 kg1, 1,263 kg2
Loaded	4,400 lb6				3,684 lb5, 3,751 lb1, 4,017 lb2 1,705 kg1, 1,822 kg2
Maximum load	4,700 lb6
Performance
Speed					270 mph1 440 kph1
Speed @ 9,845' / 3,000 m					270 mph2,5 434 kph2
Climb					2,790'/minute2 850 m/minute2
Climb to 9,800' / 3,000 m					3 minutes 35 second1
Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m					3.6 minutes2
Service ceiling					32,150'2,5, 32,200'1 9,800 m1,2
Range					746 miles5, 750 miles1 1,200 km1
Range with drop tanks					746 miles2 1,200 km2
Armament	2: 7.7 mm MG6				2: MG5
Upper fuselage	2: 7.7 mm MG2				2: 7.7 mm Type 89 MG1
Bombs	132 lb3				132 lb5
Bombs - under wings				2: 66 lb2 2: 30 kg2	2: 66 lb1,2 2: 30 kg1,2