Mitsubishi A6M Zero | |
|---|---|
| Državi | Japonska |
| Vlogo | Borec |
| Prva muha | 1. april 1939 |
| Zgrajena | 10939 |
Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" je velikoletno lovsko letalo, ki ga je prej proizvajalo podjetje Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, del Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, upravljala pa ga je cesarska japonska mornarica od leta 1940 do 1945. A6M je bil določen kot letalonosilka Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 (零 e-0艦 e-e戦闘-rei-shiki-kanjō-sentōki) ali Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen. A6M so njegovi piloti običajno omenili kot Reisen (零戦, ničelni borec), »0« kot zadnjo številko cesarskega leta 2600 (1940), ko je vstopil v službo pri cesarski mornarici. Uradno poročevalsko ime za zaveznike je bilo "Zeke", čeprav so zavezniki uporabljali kolokvialno tudi ime "Zero" (iz tipa 0).
| Nič A6M3 | |
|---|---|
| Fotograf | Neznano |
| Lokalizacijo | Neznano |
| Fotografije | 20 |
| Mitsubishi A6M Zero (Zeke) Sprehod Okoli | |
|---|---|
| Fotograf | Cees Hendriks |
| Lokalizacijo | Neznano |
| Fotografije | 22 |
| Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 22 Zero Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotograf | Vladimir Jakubov |
| Lokalizacijo | Spominski muzej vojne v Aucklandu< |
| Fotografije | 100 |
Glej tudi:
The Clipped-Wing Ocean Raider
V Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero (Type 0 Model 32 and 22) represented a pivotal mid-war evolution of Japan’s legendary carrier-borne fighter. Introduced to counter increasingly aggressive Allied air tactics, the A6M3 sacrificed a fraction of the original Zero’s legendary extreme range in exchange for greater speed, a faster roll rate, and better high-altitude performance. When Allied pilots first encountered the square-winged Model 32 variant over the Solomon Islands, its distinct silhouette initially fooled them into thinking they were fighting an entirely new aircraft type, which they designated with the code name “Hamp.”
| Attribute | Technical Specification (A6M3 Model 32) |
|---|---|
| Vlogo | Carrier-Based Fighter Aircraft |
| Posadke | 1 (Pilot) |
| Motor | 1 × Nakajima Sakae 21 14-cylinder radial engine (1,130 hp) |
| Maximum Speed | 544 km/h (338 mph) at 6,000 m |
| Razpon | ~2,380 km (1,478 miles) with drop tank |
| Service Ceiling | 11,050 m (36,250 ft) |
| Oborožitev | 2 × 20mm Type 99-1 cannons (wings), 2 × 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns (cowl) |
| Ammunition Load | Upgraded to 100 rounds per 20mm cannon (drum-fed) |
Design Engineering: Squared Wings and Supercharged Power
- The “Clipped” Wingtips: The most drastic visual shift on the A6M3 Model 32 was the removal of the folding wingtips. By squaring off the wings and shortening the wingspan by one meter, designers intentionally traded a bit of lift for an increased roll rate, allowing the plane to dive and bank sharply in dogfights.
- The Sakae 21 Engine: To unlock better performance, the A6M3 upgraded to the supercharged Sakae 21 engine. This engine was heavier and longer than the previous model, forcing engineers to shift the firewall rearward and redesign the forward fuselage cowling.
- Upgraded Cannon Punch: The signature 20mm wing cannons received a massive ammunition upgrade. The older 60-round drums were replaced with larger 100-round drums, significantly expanding the pilot’s sustained heavy firepower during extended air-to-air engagements.
- Aerodynamic Supercharging: The air intake for the engine’s two-speed supercharger was integrated neatly into the top lip of the engine cowling, ensuring a high-volume ram-air intake that optimized oxygen mixing at thin, high-altitude operational bands.
Operational History: The Battles of Guadalcanal and Rabaul
- The “Hamp” Identity Crisis: When the clipped-wing Model 32 first arrived in combat zones in 1942, US Intelligence misidentified it as a brand-new fighter type, assigning it the separate code name “Hamp.” Only after examining crashed specimens did they realize it was a modified Zero.
- The Price of Range: The structural shifts of the Model 32 required shrinking the main internal fuel tank. Flying out of the massive Japanese bastion at Rabaul, pilots found the reduced range made the grueling long-distance return trips from Guadalcanal incredibly risky.
- The Model 22 Correction: Recognizing the strategic need for range in the vast Pacific, Mitsubishi quickly introduced the Model 22 variation of the A6M3. This hybrid model kept the powerful Sakae 21 engine but re-installed the longer, traditional rounded wings and added fuel bladders.
- Clash with the New Wave: The A6M3 fought through the heaviest attrition phases of the Solomon Islands campaign. While it still easily outmaneuvered early Allied aircraft, it faced structural limits when attempting to catch heavy diving attacks from newer, heavily armored US fighters like the F4U Corsair.
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