Mitsubishi A5M
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| A5M | |
|---|---|
 An A5M Claude with arrestor hook and drop tank |
|
| Type | Carrier-based Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi |
| Maiden flight | February 4, 1935 |
| Introduced | 1937 |
| Retired | 1945 |
| Primary user | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Number built | 1,094 |
| Variants | Mitsubishi Ki-18 Mitsubishi Ki-33 |
The Mitsubishi A5M a Japanese carrier based fighter aircraft. It was the world's first monoplane shipboard fighter and the direct ancestor of the famous Mitsubishi A6M 'Zero'. The Allied code-name was Claude; the Japanese Navy designation was "Type 96 carrier-based fighter" (九六式艦上戦闘機).
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[edit] Design and development
In 1934, the Imperial Japanese Navy prepared a specification for an advanced fighter, requiring a maximum speed of 350 km/h (217 mph) at 3,000 m (9,840 ft) and able to climb to 5,000 m (16,400 ft) in 6.5 minutes.[1] This 9-shi (1934) specification produced designs from both Mitsubishi and Nakajima,[2].
Mitsubishi assigned the task of designing the new fighter to a team lead by Jiro Horikoshi (later responsible for the famous A6M Zero).[3] The resulting design, designated Ka-14 by Mitsubishi, was an all-metal low winged fighter, with a thin elliptical inverted Gull wing and a fixed undercarriage, which was chosen as the increase in performance (estimated as only a 3% increase in maximum speed) arising from use of a retractable undercarriage was not felt to justify the extra weight.[4] The first prototype, powered by a 600 hp Nakajima Kotobuki 5 radial engine, flew on February 4, 1935.[5] The aircraft far exceeded the requirements of the specification, with a maximum speed of 450 km/h (279 mph) being reached.[3] The second prototype was fitted with a revised, ungulled wing, and after various changes to maximise manouverability and reduce drag, was ordered into production as the A5M.
With the Ka-14 demonstrating excellent performance, the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force ordered a single modified prototype for evaluation as the Ki-18. While this demonstrated similar performance to the Navy aircraft and hence was far faster than the IJAAF's current fighter, the Kawasaki Ki-10 biplane, the type was rejected by the army owing to its reduced manouverability.[6] The Army then produced a specification for an improved advanced fighter to replace the Ki-10. Mitsubishi, busy turning the Ka-14 into the A5M, submitted a minimally changed aircraft as the Ki-33, this being defeated by Nakajima's competing aircraft, which was ordered into sevice as the Ki-27.[7]
[edit] Operational history
The aircraft entered service in early 1937, soon seeing action in pitched aerial battles at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, including air-to-air battles with the Chinese Air Force's Boeing P-26C Model 281 "Peashooters" in what was the world's first-ever aerial dogfighting and kills between monoplane fighters built of mostly metal.[citation needed]
There, they proved themselves the better of every aircraft they encountered, though the Mitsubishi team continued to improve the A5M, working through versions until the final A5M5, which added a ventral drop-tank for extended range.
A trainer version, the A5M4-K was also built (103 examples). This had twin cockpits and continued in use for fighter training long after the regular A5M left front-line service.
Almost all A5Ms had open cockpits; a closed cockpit was tried, but found little favor among Navy aviators. All had fixed, non-retractable undercarriage with (except for the trainers) wheel spats (fairings).
Some A5Ms were still in service at the beginning of World War II. United States intelligence sources believed the A5M was still the primary Navy fighter, but they had already been replaced by the A6M 'Zero' on first-line aircraft carriers and with the Tainan Air Group. Other Japanese carriers and air groups continued to use the A5M until production of the 'Zero' caught up with demand. The last combat actions with the A5M as a fighter took place at the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 May 1942, when two A5Ms and four A6Ms of the Japanese carrier Shōhō fought against the US planes that sunk their carrier[8]
Most remaining airframes were used for kamikaze attacks in the closing months of the war.
[edit] Versions
- Ka-14
- Six prototypes with various engines and design modifications.
- A5M1
- Navy carrier-based fighter, Model 1 : first production model with 850 hp Kotobuki 2 KAI I engine.
- A5M2/2a
- Model 21: More powerful engine.
- A5M2b
- Model 22: First production examples with NACA cowling and 640 hp Kotobuki 3 engine.
- A5M3a
- Prototypes with 601 hp Hispano-Suiza 12 Xcrs engine.
- A5M4
- Model 24 (ex-Model 4): The A5M2b with different engine, closed cockpit, additional detachable fuel tank. The last production models (Model 34) with Kotobuki 41 KAI engine.
- A5M1-A5M4
- 780 constructed by Mitsubishi. 39 constructed by Watanabe, 161 manufactured by Naval Ohmura Arsenal.
- A5M4-K
- Two seat trainer version of A5M4, 103 constructed by Naval Ohmura Arsenal.
- Ki-18
- Single prototype land-based version for IJAAF, based on the A5M. 550 hp Kotobuki 5 engine.
- Ki-33
- Two prototypes, a development of Ki-18 with a different engine, and closed cockpit.
- Total Production (all versions): 1,094
[edit] Specifications (Mitsubishi A5M4)
Data from The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II [9]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 7.55 m (24 ft 9¼ in)
- Wingspan: 11.0 m (36 ft 1 in)
- Height: 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 17.8 m² (191.6 ft²)
- Empty weight: 1,216 kg (2,681 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,705 kg (3,759 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,822 kg[10] (4,017 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Nakajima Kotobuki 41 9-cylinder radial engine, 585 kW (785 hp) at 3,000 m (9,840 ft)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 440 km/h (237 knots, 273 mph) at 3,000 m (9,840 ft)[10]
- Range: 1,200 km (649 NM, 746 mi)
- Service ceiling 9,800 m (32,150 ft)
- Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
- Wing loading: 95.8.7 kg/m² (19.6 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 0.34 kW/kg (0.21 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns: 2 × 7.7 mm Type 97 machine guns(0.303 in) fuselage-mounted machine guns
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Green and Swanborough 1982, p.27.
- ^ Mikesh and Abe 1990, p.234
- ^ a b Mikesh and Abe 1990, p.173.
- ^ Green and Swanborough 1982, p.28
- ^ Green and Swanborough 1982, p.29.
- ^ Green and Swanborough 1982, p.31.
- ^ Mikesh and Abe 1990, p.187-188.
- ^ Januszewski 2003, p. 47.
- ^ Mondey 1996, p.193.
- ^ a b Green and Swanborough 1982, p.39
[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.
- Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. "The Zero Precursor...Mitsubishi's A5M". Air Enthusiast. Number 19, August-November 1982. Pages 26-43.
- Januszewski, Tadeusz. Mitsubishi A5M Claude. Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2003. ISBN 83-917178-0-1.
- Mikesh, Robert and Abe, Shorzoe. Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941.London: Putnam, 1990. ISBN 0 85177 840 2.
- Mondey, David (editor). The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London:Chancellor, 1996. ISBN 1 85152 966 7.
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