Japan's Mitsubishi A6M2 Rei-sen (zero fighter) fighter
Navy Type 0
Allied code name: Hamp, Zeke

Photos

Design

Engine

The Sakae 12 engine resulted in the the carburetor intake being made integral in the cowling and placed in the lower part of it.⁵

Cockpit

At the rear the glass panels were shortened.⁵

Wings

The A6M2 Model 11s were tested on the Soryu in June 1940.⁵ It exceeded all expectations but it was found that the wing tips could sustain damage while being moved on the elevators.⁵ The Model 21 was designed with 20" on each end of the wing being able to fold upwards to make for more room on the elevators.⁵

Production

The A6M2 first flew on December 28, 1939.³

Variants

• Mitsubishi A6M2 Model 11⁴: Deliveries began in July 1940.³
• Mitsubishi A6M2 Model 21⁴, "Zeke 21"⁴: Had folding wings.³ These allowed for the Model 21 to ride a carrier's elevator easier as this made the wing span 20" shorter.⁴
• Mitsubishi A6M2-K: Trainer.³

Usage

The Model 11 saw its first combat in China⁴ and the first kills were in September 1940 when 13 A6M2s fought 27 Chinese Polikarpovs and shot all of them down.^3,4

Units

In central China the 12th Kokutai had around 30 Model 11s.⁵ In southern China the 14th Kokutai had around 9.⁵

Burma, Malaya, Pearl Harbor and the Philippine Islands

The A6M2 was the primary version that was used in the first months of the war in the Pacific.^2,3 It made up 2/3 of the Japanese Navy's fighter force.³

First Complete Airframe

In July 1942 the Americans were able to retrieve a complete A6M2 airframe from the Aleutian Islands, where it had been forced to land.² A report was issued on September 4, 1942, after tests were conducted.²

Specifications